It looks as if Logan County Coroner Mary Givens has found a home for her office. Givens has been searching for sometime now for a place she can work in and out of on a 24-7 basis.

Soon she will be located in the Maple Grove Cemetery in the maintenance section of the sexton offices.

Givens came to the county months ago saying she really needed a place she could work out of, one that would support a cooler for bodies she may have to hold for more than one day. Givens said the office needed to have a concrete floor, running water, electricity and a place she could access anytime of the day or night.

A search began with county Judge/Executive Logan Chick and Givens working together on finding such a place. Givens has been using the cooler at Logan Memorial Hospital to store the deceased before being transported to either a funeral home or to a medical examiners office for an autopsy. Sometimes, Givens admits, she has to hold onto a body longer until she can reach the family, which could be out of town or unreachable.

Givens said Logan Memorial Hospital has been very gracious to allow her access to its cooler, however, it is only two drawers and the hospital may need that space themselves.

Chick talked to Russellville Mayor Mark Stratton, asking him if the city had anywhere that fit the coroner’s needs. After looking around, Stratton contacted Sexton Kenny Gregory and asked him if there was any space at the cemetery offices.

“I’ve been wanting to move Kenny’s office to the Sexton House, to have a steady movement in and out,” said Stratton. The Sexton House has been vacated for sometime now.

Stratton said Mary came down to look at Gregory’s old office, but in fact liked the maintenance portion of the building better, said Stratton.

“I think this will work. It has a concrete floor and a mop sink,” said the mayor. “I think Mary liked that part of the building better,” added Stratton.

Givens says she is just glad to be able to have an office. She has applied for a grant with the state to be able to get funds to purchase a three drawer cooler. If she gets the monies, the cooler will be placed in the new location and will then be considered a morgue.

“I am happy a place was finally found,” said Givens.

Judge/Executive Logan Chick agreed with Givens and was grateful to the City of Russellville for providing the space.

“The city government seems to be going really well. Mark and I work well together and I think this is something that will benefit us all,” said Chick.

Mayor Stratton added that when he was asked about a place to house a morgue, he began right away trying to find one.

“We are just trying to help where we are needed to help,” said Stratton.