Work Camp tour slated

If you missed your chance for a tour of the McCook Work Ethic Camp when it was completed two years ago, another opportunity is in the planning stages.

April 30 will mark the two year anniversary for the corrections facility and Raleigh Haas, Director of the camp, brought into focus some of the negative perceptions still plaguing the McCook Work Ethic Camp Wednesday during the Community Involvement Committee meeting.

Citing a North Platte Telegraph interview with Lincoln County District Judge John Murphy, Haas revealed how serious these negative perceptions can be, especially when they are found at the judicial level.

The community group spent the better part of an hour brainstorming ideas for repeating the open house receptions conducted immediately prior to the opening in 2001. "The two-day open house would have two points of focus," concluded Haas at the end of the discussion.

"One will focus on information of interest to the general public," said Haas.

"The second reception will present demographics, program descriptions, and up-close observation of the offenders for the benefit of judges, probation officers and legislators.

"In order for this program to be successful, the judiciary system, including lawyers, probation officers and judges, need to understand what it is we are trying to do here." said Raleigh.

An open house planning meeting was set for Thursday, Feb. 13, at noon.

In other business:

- The population of offenders at the Work Ethic Camp, a recent source of concern, has reached a new benchmark high, with 79 offenders registered and lodged at the camp north of McCook as of Jan. 15. Sixty-six of the offenders are male, and 13 are female.

- To date the camp has admitted 325 offenders with 199 successfully completing the program and 47 removed from the program.

- Dr. Don Marchant, Superintendent of McCook Schools, expressed thanks for the offenders' work around the school building facilities, and complimented them for the professional attitudes displayed while working around the public.

Marie Owen, Director of the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce agreed and commented favorably about how well the offenders attend to the various tasks.

"The Christmas lights were taken down, inventoried, and packed away very neatly," she said. "This program is a wonderful opportunity for these young men and women, and for our community as well."

- Haas updated the group on the status of the University of Nebraska at Kearney is conducting on behalf of the State Department of Correctional Services. Program evaluators will make their first visit to the facility Jan. 23 to begin the three year study.

Attending the meeting were: Raleigh Haas, Rick Hallett, Greg Bates, Troy Hoppes, Leann Miller, Stacy Burkert, Kim McConville, Greg Dankleff, Cindy Fritsche, Tracy Loker, Lynn Pinkal, Dawn Cribbs, Dennis Berry, Dr. Don Marchant and Marie Owen.