MINERAL COUNTY- The Mineral County Board of Commissioners opted to keep county offices closed for Columbus Day this year regardless of the changes made in Colorado State Legislature earlier this year. According to reports from the Associated Press, Colorado State adopted a new bill in March that replaced Columbus Day with Frances Cabrini Day.

Cabrini is well-known in Colorado for the charitable and beneficial work she completed during her lifetime. According to sources, Cabrini was responsible for creating numerous schools, hospitals, orphanages in the United States and other countries. Colorado State Governor Jared Polis abolished Columbus Day, which is celebrated Oct. 12, to Frances Cabrini Day which will be recognized for the first time this year Oct. 5.

Mineral County Commissioners discussed changing the holiday, but due to the difficulties it would present this year, opted to keep the Columbus Day holiday in their county-wide holiday schedule. Commissioners agreed for the time being that it would be in the best interest of the county to keep the holiday schedule the same and to consider the new holiday in the new year.

Many other states including New York and Illinois in honoring Cabrini in favor of Columbus. The new holiday is also the first paid holiday recognized by the U.S. that honors a woman. Cabrini also known as Mother Cabrini was a Roman Catholic nun who founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, an institute that focused on helping Italian immigrants coming to the U.S.