Public offices, banks, post offices and public schools in Mingo County and elsewhere in the Tug Valley area will be closed Monday, Jan. 18, in observance of the birthday of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Offices in the Mingo County Court House; Magistrate Court, County Health Department and Williamson Public Library in Memorial Building; the Williamson Post Office and schools will be closed for the one day only and will resume normal activities on Tuesday.

The Williamson Daily News does not publish on Mondays so will not issue any paper on that day.

Police officers, firemen and other emergency personnel will maintain services with skeleton crews on the one day.

Dr. King is remembered for pursuing his “Dream” in life of avoiding extreme or radical actions. U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd pays tribute to King this week in his column, Byrd’s-Eye View, noting King’s efforts toward change and non-violence resulted in the most important and sweeping social transformations in American history.

The Reverend Doctor paid a supreme price for his efforts when bullets from an assassin’s gun cut short his life span on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tenn.