Pubdate: Tue, 20 Nov 2001
Source: Kingsport Times-News (TN)
Copyright: 2001 Kingsport Publishing Corporation
Contact:  http://www.timesnews.net/index.cgi
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1437
Note:  Will not publish letters in print editions from online users who do 
not reside in print circulation area, unless they are former residents or 
have some current connection to Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee.
Author: Walter Littrell
Note: For information about how to arrange tours for school children, see 
last paragraph

NEW FEDERAL PRISON EXPECTED TO INJECT MORE THAN $25 MILLION ANNUALLY INTO 
LOCAL ECONOMY

HICKORY FLATS - Approximately 300 people turned out Monday for the grand 
opening of the new federal prison at Hickory Flats.

The opening ceremonies were hosted by U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher, D-9th 
District, who said he sought to locate the prison in Lee County as a way to 
create jobs and stimulate economic development to provide a better future 
for area citizens.

Boucher said he has been working since the early 1990s to bring the prison 
to Lee County after he introduced Bureau of Prison officials to the area.

"To date, the prison represents the largest investment in the history of 
Lee County," Boucher said of the $100 million facility.

Boucher also noted that an additional $13 million has been provided to the 
local economy for the development of water and sewer systems that will 
serve not only the prison but also Jonesville and Pennington Gap.

A new airport under construction at Flatwoods is also a result of the 
prison and has brought another $6 million investment to the region, he 
said. The airport will serve the prison but will also help make the county 
more attractive to businesses and industries considering expanding to the 
county, Boucher said.

"All this has created a new confidence in the future of Lee County. The 
county is making great strides, and the federal prison is at the base of 
that progress," said Boucher as he welcomed federal prison officials to the 
area and thanked all those who took part in bringing the facility to Lee 
County.

Boucher said the prison has already employed 267 workers in various 
positions and will have 417 employees within four months. The prison is 
expected to inject more than $25 million annually into the local economy 
through salaries to employees and from the purchase of goods and services 
in the private sector.

Mike Adams, warden of the new facility, introduced his staff and said he 
began volunteering to come to Lee County five years ago. Adams said this 
assignment makes his 15th with the Bureau of Prisons since 1969, and this 
makes the fifth facility at which he has worked.

Adams said by the time the prison is completely staffed, he expects at 
least 275 jobs will be held by residents of Lee, Wise and Scott counties.

Applicants for those jobs must not have passed their 37th birthday, with 
the exception of doctors, nurses and clergy members.

Lee County Board of Supervisors Chairman D.J. Barker thanked all those 
present for coming out to show their support for the prison and said more 
than 40 Lee Countians have already been hired. He thanked all those who 
worked to bring those jobs to the county.

"So many have worked hard to make this day a reality, but none have worked 
harder than Congressman Rick Boucher," he said.

Barker also thanked U.S. Sens. Chuck Robb and John Warner for their support 
and gave special thanks to Ron Flanary and the staff at the Lenowisco 
Planning District Commission for all their efforts to secure funding and 
oversee projects involved with the prison.

During an hour-long tour of the facility, Bill Story, executive assistant 
to Adams, said all inmates will be required to work while incarcerated at 
the prison. In addition to those who will work in the kitchen - doing 
everything from cooking and serving to cleaning - 330 inmates will be 
employed by Unicor, the prison industry, making athletic jackets for the 
U.S. Army. Those workers will be paid 12 cents per hour and up, depending 
on their skill level. For those inmates who owe fines, 50 percent of their 
earnings will go toward those, and inmates who owe child support will have 
to make payments from their earnings as well, he said.

The prison will house 1,536 inmates in the high-security cells and can hold 
up to 224 inmates in a special housing unit built for troublesome 
prisoners. There they will be locked down 23 hours a day. The prison 
compound will also include a minimum-security work camp for nonviolent 
prisoners with shorter sentences.

Inmates will start arriving at the work camp in about a month, while the 
high-security inmates will start arriving in January or February.

Most inmates will be locked down from 10 at night until 6 in the morning 
and will work from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., said Story. After work, inmates 
will have mail call, supper and a recreation period. The recreation 
facilities will only contain aerobic equipment and nothing to develop upper 
body strength, he said.

The security perimeter consists of a fence with a state-of-the-art taut 
wire system that will sound an alarm should someone push on the wire. 
Inside that there is a patrol road nearly one mile in length, six guard 
towers, and a secure corridor that connects all areas within the compound.

A double fence topped with razor wire also surrounds the complex, and 
guards are authorized to use deadly force when necessary, Story said.

Most inmates will have been convicted of drug offenses, but the prison will 
also house those convicted of robbery; arms, explosives and arson crimes; 
immigration offenses; and other violent offenses. It will also be home to 
sex offenders, those who are a threat to government officials, and inmates 
who have a history of prison disturbances.

The prison will also be offering tours Tuesday from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. and 
will be giving tours to school children on Nov. 29. School districts 
interested in arranging tours should contact Story at (276)546-9105.
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