Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer Monday issued an executive order closing state offices Wednesday to observe a day of mourning for President George H.W. Bush. This follows President Donald Trump’s national day of mourning declaration Sunday.
Locally, the Great Bend Post Office will be closed with only parcels being delivered. There will be no letter delivery and the office will not be open for retail business.
This means those who receive the Great Bend Tribune via mail will not receive their paper Wednesday. Delivery will be delayed until Thursday.
However, Barton County and City of Great Bend officials said their offices will remain open. Great Bend schools and Barton Community College will also be in session.
In addition, with some exceptions including Barton County District Court which will remain open, state courts will close Wednesday in concurrence with actions taken by the federal government and Colyer.
In its order, the Kansas Supreme Court gave chief judges of each of the state’s 31 judicial districts discretion to conduct court proceedings that day if they are in the best interest of justice.
Persons who are scheduled to be in state court Wednesday should check with the court where the proceeding is scheduled to verify whether it will take place. A list of state courts and their contact information is available at kscourts.org/kansas-courts/district-courts/default.asp.
Limited efiling support will be available to attorneys during regular business hours by telephone, 844-892-3721, or by email at kansassupport@tybera.com.
No hearings are scheduled Wednesday before either the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeals. The Kansas Judicial Center will be closed.
Those seeking services from other state offices should call first to see if services are available.
Colyer’s executive order
In his order, Colyer noted that as the 41st President of the United States, Bush was a dedicated statesman who led our country through a time of change following the Cold War. His courage, dedication and leadership were evident throughout his lifetime of public service in many different roles, including serving with distinction in the United States Navy, as a delegate to the United Nations, envoy to China and director of the Central Intelligence Agency prior to being elected President.
Colyer also noted that state offices have been closed to mourn the deaths of other presidents, including Kennedy, Eisenhower, Truman, Johnson, Reagan and Ford.
“Now, therefore, pursuant to the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Kansas, I hereby designate Wednesday, December 5, 2018 as a legal holiday in observance of the National day of Mourning for President George H.W. Bush and order that State of Kansas offices are to be closed in observance of the holiday.”
