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| Carlson: Folks in Clinton see jobs, not fear |
| By desmoinesregister.com |
| Published: 11/19/2009 |
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Clinton, Ia. - Mention the massive prison across the Mississippi River and you see a lot of smiles in this city. People here know all about the federal government's tentative plans to transfer alleged terrorists from the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to a maximum-security facility a 15-minute drive away in Thomson, Ill. And they are a bit amused by some media reports that area residents are worried that terrorists will be running loose in the streets. "I've talked to probably 15 or 20 people about this," said Dick McLane, a retired Clinton business owner. "I haven't heard a single person say they're worried about a terrorist breaking out or about this area becoming a terrorist target." It's turned into a catfight among politicians, but a lot of people who live here are smiling at what may be about to happen 12 miles away. They say turning the Illinois-owned Thomson Correctional Center into a federally run "Guantanamo North" would bring up to 3,000 jobs to this part of the country, which is very good news. Clinton is the economic hub of the area, where people from both sides of the river shop and do business. Some of the new prison employees would move to the area and plenty likely would live in Clinton County. The prison itself would employ about 900 people, and some members of the U.S. military also would move to the area. The other jobs would come in businesses that support a fully operational federal prison. Read More. |
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