Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Texarkana Inmates Assist In Clean-Up

Help can come from some strange places during times of need.

When tornadoes struck Nevada County on March 1, the clean up effort was aided by inmates from the Texarkana Regional Correctional Center.

In fact, according to Charles Backus, Nevada County Offices of Emergency Services Coordinator, some 28 inmates came to the Prescott area to help with the clean up effort.

This was also done, in part, with the effort of Nevada County Judge James Roy Brown, who requested the help.

Ordinarily, inmates are not allowed on private property when they are out on a work detail, such as picking trash up along the highways.

However, Gov. Mike Huckabee signed an emergency measure allowing the inmates to go on private property in times of a disaster.

Backus said these inmates worked to remove debris from property, as well as cleaning up along county and state roads.

The 28 inmates were supervised by four guards, who watched as they picked up litter, tin, pieces of lumber, limbs and other debris from residences damaged by the storms.

And, while these men were serving time for crimes they committed, they also showed their compassion for others by turning in valuables they found while cleaning up other people's property.

Their efforts were rewarded as local businesses and restaurants supplied them food and drink they ordinarily don't get as part of their prison fare.

"They did a fantastic job," Backus said. "They worked hard and fast. The extra help they provided was greatly appreciated."

The work detail was approved by David White, warden of the correctional center.