Dear Editor:

I am someone who has never written a letter to the editor but have the following thoughts to be weighing heavy on my heart and decided that it was time. Last year, during spring break, my family and I went to San Francisco, Cal. for a vacation. We got one of those wonderful deals in which you could stay in a very nice hotel, cheap air fare, etc. San Francisco and the surrounding area was absolutely beautiful but not one time did my family go out our hotel, eat a meal, or sight seeing that we did not also see homeless people. They were everywhere, sleeping in the corners of building entrances, digging out of trash cans and begging for money. I found my thoughts traveling back to a place called Millen, Ga. where I work at least 190 days out of the year. Like a ton of bricks it hit me that Jenkins County may be one of the poorest counties in these United States and in the state of Georgia, and yet, I don't see the homeless like I saw them in San Francisco and other areas that I visit. I am always amazed that even though we as a community are in financial crisis, those that are able never fail to take care of those who are in need.

As a counselor at the elementary school I deal with kids every day and their families who don't even have the "necessities" of life. However, I never worry for very long because all I have to do is put the word out there for a need and someone always steps up to the plate. One time in my adult life there was an extreme need at my house. I had a terminally ill little boy, along with three other wonderful children who needed care. Had it not been for the kindness and generosity of the folks in Millen, as well as Sylvania, my family would have lost everything. Folks in Millen have always taken care of their own. So, we can take pride in being a part of this community and can hold our head up high. Even in the worst of times, this community rallies together and pulls together. I am so proud to be a part!
Kim Alsup
Millen

Dear Editor,

The town hall meeting on October first drew a large crowd. We all came to what was touted as 'workforce development' but actually turned out to be a straw poll for the building of a prison in Jenkins County. That was dishonest and deceptive. Those of us who oppose the building of a prison (private, state or federal) in Jenkins County were left out of the vote and therefore your vote is flawed from the start.

The representative from Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) stated that their prison would be an economic boost for this county. Wow, that sounds good. Before we jump into this nice warm bath let's ask a few questions about what's in the tub.

First, who will be responsible for providing water and sewage for the facility? If it is our responsibility then how much will it cost? Where will we get the money?

Second, who will feed all those people? Will they have their own kitchen? Will they buy their supplies locally?

Third, where will the inmates come from? Will they be from metropolitan areas? If so, which metro areas? What will be the racial make up, and what impact will that racial make up have on our local race relations?

Fourth, what concessions are being made by our local government to entice CCA? If there are concessions, then how will those concessions affect the taxpayers?

Fifth, what are the requirements for employment with CCA? What percentage of local citizens will qualify for employment as opposed to those who will come from other areas and take their spending money somewhere else?

Sixth, what will be the impact on our local law enforcement departments? If a prisoner escapes, will we have to hunt them down?

Seventh, will we have to provide public defenders for inmates who commit crimes while incarcerated in this prison?

Eighth, what impact will the prison population have on local contractors? Will prisoners be put to work on jobs that are being done by local citizens? Jobs like carpentry, plumbing, electrical and painting for public works and non-profit organizations?

Ninth, what will the environmental impact of all the trash and sewage generated by the prison? Will the river be polluted?

Tenth and last, how will the prison affect our taxes? Will rental prices rise and property values escalate causing all of us to pay higher taxes?
Wayne Salter
Suburbs of Perkins