Many employees get extra holiday

Thanks to the way the holidays fall on the calendar this year, Missouri state government employees will be getting an extra holiday. In recent years, they have been given the Friday after Thanksgiving Day as a holiday and this year they will also get Dec. 26 because it falls on a Friday.

An executive order signed by Gov. Bob Holden last month grants the extra day and gives the state workers a four-day holiday for Christmas. In addition to giving most state government workers the extra day off, it also means facilities such as state prisons and mental health centers will operate on a holiday schedule both the days after Thanksgiving Day and Christmas this year.

The Friday after Thanksgiving Day is not a declared legal state holiday and workers get it off only by an executive order from the governor which must be issued on a year-by-year basis. There have been years when such an order has not been issued.

While the federal government – including services such as mail delivery – will have holidays both Thanksgiving Day and Christmas, the federal workers don’t get the “Friday after” benefit that state workers do.

The St. Francois County Courthouse will be closed both Thursday and Friday to give employees a four-day weekend for Thanksgiving. The County Jail will operate on a holiday schedule for that same period, meaning the Sheriff’s Office will be closed and the department operating on the holiday schedule.

Presiding Commissioner Jim Henson said the courthouse will also be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but will be open the day after Christmas on a normal schedule.

Gary Cleve, county executive director for the St. Francois/Iron County Farm Service Agency announced that the FSA county office will be closed Thursday for Thanksgiving, but will reopen for business on Friday.

Most area cities are also observing a long holiday weekend for Thanksgiving Day and many may also have an extended holiday for Christmas.

The city of Park Hills is one of those opting for the long weekend, but it is not a bonus for the workers. They are getting Friday off in place of another holiday they chose to work earlier this year.

The Park Hills municipal offices, Public Library, police station and other facilities will be closed both Thursday and Friday.

For this holiday the trash collection normally done on Thursday will be done Wednesday in Park Hills. Residents served by Friday trash collection will have their trash picked up on Monday, according to city officials.

The schedule for the Christmas holidays has yet to be determined. It will be the topic of discussion at a meeting of the Park Hills City Council’s Personnel Committee this afternoon and formal action taken at the December 9 council meeting.

Farmington City Hall will close Thursday and Friday. Regular hours will resume Monday.

The Leadwood City Hall will be closed on both Thursday and Friday with regular hours resuming on Monday.

Bismarck City Hall will honor the Thanksgiving holiday by being closed on Thursday and Friday.

The Desloge and Leadington City Halls will also be closed on Thursday and Friday and will resume regular hours on Monday.

The Bonne Terre City Hall will be closed Thursday and Friday. Residents with Friday trash service should place their trash out on Wednesday for pick up. Recycling will not be picked up this week. Regular trash and recycling schedules will resume next week.

The Daily Journal will publish on Thanksgiving day.