DARKE COUNTY — The Darke County Courthouse is celebrating 150 years.

This year, 2024, marks the 150th anniversary of the Darke County Courthouse. In celebration of this event the court has invited all fifth graders from our Darke County public schools to visit the Courthouse. A date has not been set for their visit.

The students will visit the following offices and officials: Security & Darke County Sheriff, County Auditor, County Recorder, County Treasurer, Clerk of Courts, County Prosecutor, Adult Probation Department, as well as the Municipal Court and Court of Common Pleas.

During the visit, a representative of each county office will welcome the students, describe what each location and office does for the county and the community, inform students about their staff and what it takes to work there, and answer questions.

As part of the celebration, Judge Travis L. Fliehman and the Court of Common Pleas will present two mock trials at the courthouse for select high school students to attend. Deborah Quigley, Darke County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, and Alexander Pendl, local defense attorney, will be presenting.

The attorneys will make opening statements, call and examine witnesses, and provide closing arguments. Some of the students will participate as jurors and deliberate on a verdict. Judge Fliehman will preside over the case and provide instructions to the student jurors.

The hope is these events will be a great opportunity for students to visit the courthouse and learn more about the operations of local government.