I was so GLAD to see this posted: >I've not always had success dealing with his staff, either. But one thing >that >really got my attention when I visited the office a couple of years ago >was the lack of fire-safety practices employed in >the records area. Not only do the enployees smoke profusely, there is no >prohibition of smoking for anyome using the stored records. If a fire >ocurrs, remember >that you read about that possibility here. :>) I, too, was at the Courthouse a couple of years ago. I am a former Museum professional and very much concerned about preserving documents of all kinds. I was absolutely appalled to see local attorneys, paralegals, etcl, well dressed, and obviously known to the courthouse officials (everyone first-naming each other) bending over record ledgers WITH LIGHTED CIGARETTES AND AN INCH OF ASH dangling from their mouths as they turned pages. I have researched in more than a dozens states and countless courthouses. I have NEVER seen anything like this. It is a total disregard not only from a fire safety perspective, but smoke is very deteriorating to documents. This reflects a very non-caring attitude about public safety and preserving McDowell's heritage as well. Sandy L. Sandra Lake Lassen Certified Genealogical Records Specialist Living and working in Ashe Co., NC, heart o' the misty mountains