Many concerned with the impact of proposed prison on life in Adair County; protest secrecy which surrounded plan to turn Columbia into a prison-town

Sooner or later there will be break-out

and inmates will be loose on my street

People are fearful. There are a lot of elderly people who live here. Nobody on my street wants the new prison.

Sooner or later someone will be break out and a dangerous prisoner will be loose on my street.

I don't think it was done right from the start. Why was it just arbitrarily announced that it would be in Columbia, and why right behind the Nazarene Church?

This town is too small for a prison. I think it should be put in a bigger city.

I'll sign a petition to keep it out as soon as someone starts it.

Mrs. Russell Turner

Hwy 55 South

Columbia, KY 42728

A petition has been started. It is headed, "Petition to Stop the Prison," and reads, "By our signature below, we state that we object to locating a maximum-security juvenile prison in Adair County."

Each page of the petition has places for 20 petitioners, with lines for each to affix their signature, their printed name, address (optional), and a phone number.

The petitions will be collected by Hazel Parson, Columbia 520-384-3485. -Ed.

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Secrecy, lack of answers at juvenile prison meeting are complaints

There a re several things which really bother me about the way the proposed prison is unfolding.

First and foremost is the way it happened-cloaked in secrecy for months, while many falsehoods were told to keep it guarded.

Secondly, I was disappointed in the cavalier manner in which citizens' questions about the new facility were handled at Mayor Hardwick's prison meeting. We attended. We asked questions, but we still didn't get answers. Among the things we still want to know are:

-What kind of security there will be in case of an escape?

-What was so dangerous about the juvenile prison the state recently closed in Louisville?

-Could a more desirable location be found for the prison?

-What are the ages of the juvenile defenders and what crimes have they committed?

-Why weren't local citizens involved from the beginning?

-How much more prevalent communicable diseases are in juvenile prisons than in the community at large?

Of course, this is only a short list of questions. There are many more?

Apparently the Mayor was under the impression that he needed a fast remedy for all the failures of his administration, especially where the local economy is concerned. He must have been thinking, "This is an election year. I need some quick-fix, Band-aid, low level, Louisville castoff jobs and some votes, and I need them now!"

Jane Aaron

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Is prison worth it?

My letter is concerning the recent forum held about the possible prison locating in Columbia.

My personal opinion is that it is a bad idea, because, for instance:

1) Property values will suffer.

2) Living in fear of the worst.

3) Only 40 jobs (approximately) for local people.

Is it really worth 40 jobs?

Dewayne Coffey

Russell Springs

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Building more prisons to stop crime is like trying to stop a fatal epidemic by building more graveyards.-Bob Gangi, Correctional Association of NY

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People will be afraid

I attended the public forum on Thursday, August 27, 1998. The community should have known about the (prison) before a decision was made.

The area may gain jobs, but there will also be a lot of people in the community who will be afraid to step outside at any given time.

I think the citizens of this community were hurt because no one knew about it until it was a done deal.

Jamie Clemons

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Thinks there should have been vote

I attended the public forum Thursday, August 27.

I am from Taylor County and I am currently attending Columbiana Institute.

From observing the matter, the biggest concern I encountered was the secrecy surrounding in the prison. I think the matter downgraded the opinions of the people of Adair County.

The people seemed to feel like they had been left out of the this decision.

The public officials answering questions at the forum downplayed the importance of whether or not the people should have been informed. They simply described it as an opportunity to bring jobs to the county. Forty jobs do not seem like a lot compared to this type of facility and the impact it is having on the community. I personally believe this matter should have been voted on. This is a serious matter that should have been voted on. This will forever change the lifestyle of this community.

Sharren Shirrell

Campbellsville, KY

Note: There was not enough room to run all the anti-Prison letters. We did not receive any pro-Prison letters, and we received only one pro-Prison phone call, from Tim Bradshaw. --Ed