Commissioners Eye $4 Million County Jail by CLIFF AVERY a New Facility, While Temporarily Staff Writer Refurbishing the Old Jail
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Southwest Collection 91 77 Texas Tech University Box 4090 Lubbock's Home Owned TEXAS PRESS Lubbock, TX 79409 ASSOCIATION AWARD WINNER WEST 19, 7 FIFTEEN CENTS Wednesday, August 24, 1977 Twenty Pages TEXAS TIMES (in 2 sections) Dedicated to Informing the Citizens of West Texas Commissioners Eye $4 Million County Jail By CLIFF AVERY a new facility, while temporarily Staff Writer refurbishing the old jail. Plans for a new county Maeker's plans allow for a P&R Board Says 'Yes' To jail—with an estimated price tag capacity of 335 inmates, end of $4 million, including a new about thirty percent could be heating and cooling plant for housed in single-person cells. county buildings—will go to the Plans also call for large, Mural, 'No' to Park Name state's commission on jail semi-open exercise areas in the The city parks board Tuesday handed a group of Park," Cleveland told the Times after the session standards and to a federal judge middle of the cell blocks. East Lubbock citizens who want one of the Canyon between Strong and the board. after county commissioners gave Bids on the new facility may be Lakes designated as "Roots Park,", complete with The Cleveland motion also tabled any action on planners the green light Monday. opened as soon as February. mural, a victory and a defeat Tuesday. the matter until more planning could be Commissioners initially seemed Maeker noted that the plans The board voted, in effect, that the park couldn't accomplished. reluctant to abandon the old are flexible enough to allow the be named "Roots," because it would not be named After the motion passed unanimously, Strong county lockup and intensely city government to place' its for an individual and because the whole Canyon asked if this meant the Committee could not quizzed County Planner Arnold prisoners there, if the city council Lakes project already had a name—The continue its research. Maeker about the project which and county commissioners can Yellowhouse Canyon Lakes. But the board said it "The only problem would be whether we want to has been on the drawing board for agree on a policy level. encouraged the Roots Committee's research and designate it as Roots Park," Chairman Henry several months. Monday's unveiling of the plans indicated initial approval for a mural. Huneke replied, "Parks are usually named after "I sure hate to lose the old jail," marked the first appearance of After an extensive presentation by Roots people who have made a contribution or a service. Pct. 1 Commissioner Edgar any hard figures for a cost of a Committee spokesman Eric Strong, Board Member The whole thing does have a name." Chance said, adding he felt the new jail. Adolphus Cleveland formally moved a precisely- Huneke urged the Roots Committee, which did third or fourth floor could be used Throughout the inmate law for dormitory housing of inmates. worded package, that said "yes" to a mural and not attend the meeting in the numbers Strong suit—commissioners argued they But after long discussion, "no" to a "Roots" park. anticipated, to keep in contact with city staff had been setting asside funds for Maeker won the point, arguing Cleveland's motion commended and encouraged members. a new jail, and had not delayed that the extensive renovation the Roots Committee and said the board would He also suggested that because of the problems improvements on the old jail. required to comply with the "look with favor" on the development of a Roots of vandalism of a mural, "pick out a spot and keep it Now, the county fathers are mural, depicting scenes from East Lubbock inside." state's jail standard and the expected to draw heavily on a long-term costs of hiring jailers to history. Immediately after the meeting, Strong said he buildup of federal revenue But the four-part motion also expressed a was pleased with the parks board action since it supervise the inmates would sharing funds for the new jail. obliterate the estimated quarter- "general board feeling" that the park, adjacent to had given the committee the go-ahead to continue "Through January of 1980, we Lake No. 6 in the Canyon Lakes Project and across its research. million dollar saving in new can get by with $4 million in from the Mae Simmons Park, would not be named "We'll come back with a plan," he told the Times. construction. revenue sharing and the perma- "Roots." "In two years time, as I see it, Strong indicated that he may seek national grants nent improvements fund," Coun- "The board will not think about naming it Roots you would have spent everything to help fund the drive. ty Auditor Dale Gallimore told you saved," Maeker said. the Times. But Gallimore said "The critical issue is manage- that if commissioners start ment (of the planned jail). You spending on other projects, "we'll Mrs. Johnson Speaks Here Foster can save some money on be cutting it close." Mrs. Ila Mae Johnson, construction, but how you're One of those "othe r president of the Women's Grandparents going to operate it is the thing Lubbock County's that's going to eat your may be Auxiliary B.M.E. State Conven- spearheading a regional detention tion, was guest speaker at the County Judge Rod Shaw Needed observed that even though the facility for the South Plains Women's Annual Day program at In recent years many services juveniles. A committee of the New Hope Baptist Church last county could ask for variances in and programs have been the State Commission on Jail South Plains Association of Sunday morning. The theme for developed in an effort to make life Governments (SPAG) has recom- the program was: "Thy Will Be Standards guidelines, "since the more meaningful for the mature jail doesn't meet standards mended the County pursue a Done." citizens of our nation. The Foster regional juvenile hall, which A special welcome was given to anyway, it's going to be hard to Grandparent Program, sponsored get the variance when we're would be a pilot project for the the large number of ladies who by the Federal Agency ACTION, building a new one." rest of the state. attended the program by Mrs. has been in operation in the U.S. Commissioners have been on Commissioners were to have Winnie Faye Morgan. A response since 1965 and has been very the ropes about building a new met with the committee late was given by Mrs. C.L. Peoples. successful in meeting many of the jail since events landed a one-two Tuesday afternoon. Sister Florenczo Stokley gave a Mrs. Ila Mae Johnson needs of our citizens who are over punch in recent months. Last Commissioners also agreed reading while Sister Eula Faye 60 years of age and are no longer Monday to seek a trim of the Precious Brown and Clara December, the long-awaited jail Williams sang a solo. in the regular work force. county welfare department staff, Colquitt. standards effectively ruled out Other musical selections in- The Lubbock State School that certifies that poor people Captains reports and offeratory renovation of the present lockup. cluded a duet, "Give Me My Foster Grandparent Project is need financial assistance. The was made by Sisters Clara Then, in April, U.S. Dist. Judge Flowers," by Sisters Shirley funded and administered by Halbert Woodward ordered commissioners, on recommenda- Williams and G.H. Davis; and Blakemore, Elnora Johnson, ACTION and the Texas Depart- sweeping changes in operating tion of Pct. 4 Commissioner Alton Sister Bernice Kelly. Berdie Hall and Dorothy Kinner. ment of Mental Health and the jail, ruling in an inmate Brazell, hope that some of the A special presentation was Mental Retardation and has been lawsuit that jail conditions staff's function can be shifted to made by Sister C.M. Howard. in operation since July 1972. The violated prisoners' constitutional the Lubbock County Hospital Expressions were given by Sister Booster Club project is authorized for 60 Foster rights. District which also certifies Elmora Dyer, president; and Grandparents. Since the project Since then, commissioners have indigents who need county help in Rev. A.L. Dunn, pastor. The Dunbar Booster Club will began 125 persons have received been grappling with how to build paying for medical expenses. Sister Lena Sheffield intro- hold its first booster meeting orientation and have served at duced the speaker of the hour. Monday, August 29. It will be the school. Fifteen Foster Meditation period was conducted held at 7:00 p.m. in room 107 at Grandparents have served in the by Sisters Susie Williams, the school. Continued On Page Nine Early Settlers Round Up A Success Over five hundred Lubbockites "If we all stick together, we will "Nobody Knows The Trouble I attended the second annual Early be proud of our accomplish- See," and led the singing of Settlers Round Up last Thursday ments," he told the group. "America" and "Battle Hymn of evening at the American Legion During his twenty minute the Republic" with the audience. Hall, Post 808, in Yellowhouse presentation, the audience ap- Mrs. Edna Raye Walker served Canyon. "This will become an plauded him several times on as pianist. annual affair since so many people what he was saying. "We are all Invocation was given by Rev. voted to continue such an effort," Americans and we have certain J. Phenix and benediction by said George Woods, co-chairper- principles to uphold, but we can't Rev. Adolphus Cleveland. T.J. son of the program. forget how important it is for us Patterson introduced the speaker to have togetherness," he said.