More research needed on jail - Letter to the Editor

POSTED: July 28, 2010 Letter to Daily Mining Gazette

To the editor:

With all the discussion regarding a new jail for Houghton County, I am convinced that there has not been enough information on the real facts of costs, now and in the future. One person says 80 beds are enough, another says 110 beds are needed. Wow, something so important and it's not clear what size is needed.

Let's discuss Camp Kitwen. Here is a great facility sitting empty. What a waste. Has anyone considered making it a four-county jail: Houghton, Baraga, Keweenaw and Ontonagon? All of these counties need more space and a new jail. This could spread the cost and help everyone. Also, this facility has the room for expansion if needed.

As far as the state is concerned, I'll bet we could get Camp Kitwen for the right price. It is costing all of us taxpayers money while it sits empty.

I am sure our state representatives could convince our people in Lansing to do the right thing. In any case, I think much more thought and research must be done before I will vote to increase taxes.

Vernon LeBlanc

Calumet

http://mininggazette.com/page/content.detail/id/511027.html?nav=5004

‘No’ to jail in bad economy - Letter to the Editor

POSTED: July 21, 2010 Letter to Daily Mining Gazette
To the editor:
Yes, it would be nice if it were a perfect world with no crime, but it is not. More taxes is not the answer in these economic times.
The working class people are struggling right now to make ends meet. Does our local government want to go down the same path of destruction as our federal government? Courthouse and jail employees have made it for years with this situation. Why can't we wait until the economy gets better? Then let's look at all the possibilities for the taxpayers.
Tom Heikkinen
Chassell

http://mininggazette.com/page/content.detail/id/510932.html

Poll Responses (as of 7/28/2010)

Inmate escapes the jail - Daily Mining Gazette

POSTED: July 20, 2010

HOUGHTON - Police are on the lookout for an escaped inmate from the Houghton County Jail.
Keith Harri, 23, of Calumet, escaped from the jail around 1:10 p.m. His whereabouts are unknown.
He is 5 feet, 9 inches tall with short blond hair and hazel eyes. He was last seen wearing an orange Houghton County jumpsuit with no shoes.

Harri is charged with breaking and entering and a count of receiving and concealing stolen property. A preliminary hearing on the charges is scheduled for Aug. 2 in 97th District Court.
He is in jail for violating his parole on a burglary sentence.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Houghton County Sheriff's Department at 482-0055.

 http://mininggazette.com/page/content.detail/id/510917.html?nav=5006

Current Jail Adequate - Letter to the Editor

POSTED: July 16, 2010 Letter to Daily Mining Gazette

To the editor:
New jail for $15 million? Hello!
Has our sheriff and county board been over-worked and had heat stroke?
Our present facility is more than adequate with maybe a little paint, etc.
A jail should be crowded, hot in the summer, cold in the winter, food a little lousy, a place nobody would wants to return to. If it ain't broke, don't fix it or replace it.
Bob Lean
Bootjack

 Article poll responses (as of July 20, 2010)

http://mininggazette.com/page/content.detail/id/510874.html

Houghton residents protest new justice center - TV-6 video

Video is posted to the TV-6 website.

http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/news/story.aspx?id=482711

www.HoughtonCountyJusticeCenter.com

This Blog has been moved to neutral URL www.HoughtonCountyJusticeCenter.com it can still be accessed at it's original site of GardensNotGuardTowers.blogspot.com

In moving the blog to a neutral site we lost all previous comments (both pro and con). We apologize for the loss of comments and encourage all Houghton County residents to use this site to post their opinions and information about this proposed project. Our goal is to inform Houghton County Voters of the facts about this project and Bond proposal.

Houghton residents protest new justice center

TV-6 - FOX-UP - MARQUETTE -- A group of Houghton residents have been fighting the new plans for a justice center from the beginning and it doesn't look like they're giving up anytime soon.

Tuesday night the Houghton county board of commissioners voted three to one in favor of putting the $15 million bond issue to a vote on the November ballot.

The decision came after more than an hour of protests from a roomful of mostly Houghton residents.

"I think people agree that there's a need and realize their responsibility to meet that need but there's a lot of disagreement over the solution that's been proposed. I believe the voters will turn it down," said George Dewey, Houghton resident.

"We've exhaustedly looked at options and tried to consider what was realistic and functional for the needs of the facility," said Barry Fink, Study Committee Co-chair.

The proposed justice center will include a 110-bed jail and work camp, the sheriff's office and district court.

Full story: http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/news/story.aspx?id=482711