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| Residents fighting to keep Tamms Prison operationa |
| By semissourian.com - Joe Gamm ~ Southeast Missourian |
| Published: 07/16/2012 |
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Tamms, Ill -- Two sides are marshaling their forces in a fight that could decide the future of communities in Southern Illinois. When Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn used his veto power to slash funding for several facilities in the region, many members of the General Assembly saw the act as a shot across their bow. "The governor's decision to turn his back on Southern Illinois will be a major blow to our region's economy and the hundreds of families that have been working hard and playing by the rules just to make a living," said state Sen. Gary Forby in his weekly newsletter. Using line-item vetoes, Quinn slashed funding for Tamms Correctional Center, the Murray Developmental Center and the Murphysboro Youth Center, as well as other facilities spread throughout the state. The state is trying to cut waste, said Kelly Kraft, the governor's assistant budget director. "When we take a look at the state budget, we have to look at all areas of the state budgets and we have to find efficiencies," she said. "These problems have come home to roost. Is it popular to say we are going to close these facilities that communities have relied on for a long time? No." With 293 employees Tamms is a significant employer in the region. According to the state Department of Corrections, the facility cost $28.7 million to operate in fiscal year 2009, $25.3 million in 2010, $26.1 million in 2011, and $25.6 million in 2012. Following the governor's veto reduction in revenue, only $5 million has been slated for the facility's operation in 2013. State Rep. Brandon Phelps said he is seeking support to overturn the veto. "Right now, we're trying to speak to a lot of members on both sides of the aisle about overriding the governor's veto. He keeps making the excuse that it's too expensive to operate Tamms. We put money in the budget to repurpose Tamms to a minimum-security facility," Phelps said. The facility holds the state's worst offenders, said state Rep. Mike Bost. Since Tamms began operating in the mid-'90s, gang violence, murders and contract killings within the prison system have been reduced, Bost said. "You don't go to Tamms because you stole a loaf of bread," he said. "What gets you to Tamms is, whenever you're put in other prisons and your behavior in there makes it so you're not capable of even staying with other inmates." Department of Corrections data show there were 168 prisoners in the super-maximum security area of the prison Wednesday. There were 186 in the facility's minimum-security work camp. Read More. |
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He has blue eyes. Cold like steel. His legs are wide. Like tree trunks. And he has a shock of red hair, red, like the fires of hell. His antics were known from town to town as he was a droll card and often known as a droll farceur. Hamilton Lindley with his madcap pantaloon is a zany adventurer and a cavorter with a motley troupe of buffoons.