Today is a Federal and state holiday, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  Locally, governmental offices will be closed and there is a MLK Day service planned at a Summerville church.

King Day is held the third Monday of each January to celebrate the life of the slain civil rights activist. MLK Jr. Day is one of several holidays whose date changes each year in accordance with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. Others include President’s Day, Memorial Day, Columbus Day, Labor Day and Veterans Day. The purpose of the act, which became law in 1968, is to increase the number of three-day weekends for federal employees.

Locally, state, county and municipal governmental offices will be closed.  Also the U.S. Post Office will not deliver mail today and banks will be closed.  Trion City Schools are closed today and Chattooga County Schools are already closed because of the four-day school week.

An ecumenical service with community leaders speaking will be held this evening at 5 PM at the New Spirit and Truth of Jesus Christ Church on Scoggins Street in Summerville.  Summerville Mayor Harry Harvey will be the keynote speaker at this evening’s meeting.  The church says the purpose of the meeting is “to promote praise, peace, love and togetherness; to be one community in the spirit and purpose of Martin Luther King, Jr. and ….lift up Jesus”.