Monday groundbreaking for courthouse at 10 a.m.

U.S. Sen. Kit Bond and U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson will be in Cape Girardeau on Monday as part of a groundbreaking ceremony for Cape Girardeau's new federal courthouse.

The ceremony begins at 10 a.m.

Construction on the $49.3 million project will begin immediately. The GSA and local officials have been involved in a "design-build" concept, which designs not only the structure, but the construction process as well.

The building, to be located at the corner of Independence and Frederick streets west of Cape Girardeau City Hall, is scheduled for completion in January 2006. It will have three courtrooms and house the 97 employees of the federal court and other related government agencies.

Bond will be the keynote speaker at Monday's ceremony. Emerson, Mayor Jay Knudtson, chamber of commerce president John Mehner and Judge Stephen Limbaugh Sr. will also attend.