COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- A Richland County magistrate will resume holding court later this month after mold has been removed from the rented courtroom he used.
The State newspaper reported that Dentsville Magistrate Phil Newsom said Monday he's moving back into the office that he had to leave in August because of mold.
Newsom says he'll start hearing cases in about two weeks.
Administrator Milton Pope says the courtroom was approved for occupancy after what Newsom says was a third round of air-quality testing.
Building owner Bill Theus says he spent more than $20,000 to replace duct work and clean the walls and carpet twice. He blamed the old on an air conditioning problem that he says has been fixed.
Newsom says he and his staff had been essentially unable to hold court since Aug. 27.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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