Menominee County Courthouse, Offices Close Monday Due to Blizzard Conditions

The Menominee County Courthouse shut its doors Monday as a powerful blizzard swept across northeastern Wisconsin, with the Wisconsin Court System listing Menominee County among numerous counties on its statewide closure page due to severe winter weather conditions.

County offices closed alongside the courthouse, with a notice posted to Facebook urging residents to stay off the roads. "Due to the approaching winter blizzard and hazardous travel conditions expected across the area, Menominee County offices will be closed on Monday, March 16, to ensure the safety of our employees and the public," the notice read. "Road conditions may become dangerous as heavy snowfall and strong winds move through the region."

The Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin extended the shutdown further, closing MITW facilities in tandem with county government. "Authorities strongly encourage everyone to stay home during this weather event," the tribe posted on Facebook. "If you must travel, please use extreme caution."

Emergency services remained operational throughout the closure. Residents were directed to call 911 for emergencies, though officials asked the public to allow road crews time to clear roadways.

Menominee County was not alone. Door County closed all county government locations except essential services, citing historic winter storm Elsa. Oconto, Green Lake, and Waushara counties also shuttered non-essential offices. In Marinette County, all Circuit Court proceedings were cancelled, with hearings to be rescheduled within ten days and a Notice of Hearing to be sent to affected parties.

The scale of the storm put the closures in sharp relief. Green Bay recorded 17.1 inches of snow on March 15 alone, shattering the previous record of 6 inches set for that date in 1959, according to the National Weather Service. It ranked as the third highest single-day snowfall total in the city's recorded history, behind 17.8 inches on January 9, 1889, and 24 inches on March 1, 1888. A blizzard warning remained in effect for northeastern Wisconsin until 4 p.m. Monday, and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation warned drivers to limit travel, with regional advisories flagging conditions as posing "immediate and extreme danger."

Several banks and credit unions also closed branches across the region. Stephenson National Bank & Trust shuttered locations in Green Bay, Marinette, Oconto, Crivitz, Wausaukee, and Pembine, as well as its Michigan branches in Menominee and Marquette. Nicolet National Bank closed branches throughout northeastern and central Wisconsin and Michigan, with its Medford location opening at noon. Capital Credit Union, Community First Credit Union, Fox Communities Credit Union, PCM Credit Union, and Bay Bank were all closed, with most expected to return to normal hours Tuesday, March 17.