Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Prison Board Makes Visit

Prescott put its best foot forward Thursday in making a presentation to the site selection committee for a medium security prison.

The committee, primarily from the Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC), was given the red carpet treatment beginning with a presentation of what Prescott and Nevada County have to offer as the site of the proposed medium security prison.

The meeting began at the community room of the Christus St. Michael Health Center with State Sen. Mike Ross welcoming everyone.

Walt Denton, director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office, gave the actual presentation, showing why Prescott should be picked as the prison site.

He said this facility wouldn't just be for Prescott and Nevada County, but for all of Southwest Arkansas.

Denton's presentation included aerial shots of the site on Washington Road where the city has an option on land for the prison.

The area, he said, is bordered on two sides by paved roads, has two potential sites for interstate access and is primarily agriculture in current usage.

The 408 acres is basically a flat block of land and would be given to the ADC if Prescott is picked for the location of the prison. In addition, Denton said, the city would provide utilities to the location as well, again at no cost to the ADC.

Denton told the committee in Southwest Arkansas there is an available labor force of 65,000 for potential employees to staff the unit, showing the labor pool is here now and will be in the future.

"If there are any specific needs you have," he said, "let us know. We'll accommodate you as best we can."

By being located near Interstate 30, he continued, there are a wealth of amenities to be found in this area. Airports with commercial service are within a 30 minute drive, while the educational opportunities abound.

Henderson State University and Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia are a half-hour away, while Texarkana Community College and East Texas State University, also in Texarkana, are both less than an hour from Prescott.

The University of Arkansas Community College at Hope is a scant 20 minute drive. UACCH, he said, will cater to the needs of the prison with its nursing and criminal justice programs.

These facilities, Denton said, are handy and used by people from Prescott and Nevada County regularly.

Turning to the medical end, Denton said Christus St. Michael's is an invaluable asset in Prescott.

Other nearby medical facilities include Medical Park Hospital in Hope, Baptist Medical Center in Arkadelphia and St. Michael's Health Center in Texarkana.

Don Beeler, chief executive officer with St. Michael's, gave his input on the importance of the prison locating in Prescott.

He told the panel St. Michael's is committed to the health care needs of those in the area, as are MPH and Baptist. All these medical facilities, he said, offer quality care and a wide variety of medical services.

Beeler said with the jails in Texarkana, St. Michael's is used to dealing with the security measures needed by law enforcement when an inmate requires medical assistance.

"We're ready to do it here, too," he said.

Jimmy Leopard, CEO at MPH, also spoke to the committee in a show of support.

He said MPH is 18 minutes away from Prescott on Highway 67, and can be reached faster by using I-30.

MPH, he continued, is licensed for 91 beds and is a fully accredited facility offering emergency room services, surgical services, along with obstetric and pediatric capabilities.

More medical specialties are being added at the hospital, Leopard said. Future plans are to add a urology department.

At this time the only limitations MPH has is in cancer testing and invasive cardiology (open heart work), but the basic surgical needs of most patients can be met at MPH.

"We're excited about anything that would strengthen the area," he said. "We're glad to help with any project."

A representative from Baptist also agreed to support the prison's health care needs.

He said Baptist provides many of the same services offered by St. Michael's and MPH, has worked in rural health clinics and will help in any way possible to get the prison to locate in Prescott.

State Rep. Percy Malone also made a pitch to get the prison to locate in Prescott.

He said the committee needs to give SWAR serious consideration, and, as evidenced by the presentation and show of support, Prescott wants the unit badly.

The support Malone spoke of came from the fact of the medical personnel being on hand along with law enforcement officers from the region as well as political leaders. Hope Mayor Dennis Ramsey and Texarkana Mayor Danny Gray being there seeking approval of Prescott as being the site picked for the prison.

Denton said SWAR pulled together to show support for Prescott getting this project. The communities here, he added, have reciprocal relationships with one another.

"We want to make sure you're happy here," he said, "and will make this one of the strongest and successful projects to date. From the site to all utilities and services we want you to know we'll do everything in our power to bring you here."

Texarkana's Mayor Gray said the ADC has had a long relationship with Texarkana, with the city supplying services to the prison there.

"We're a regional area now," Gray told the committee, "not just Texarkana. Southwest Arkansas is one of the most improved areas of the state."

Gray said Texarkana will do what it can to help get the facility located in Prescott and the needs of the prison are met. "You won't find a better place than here," he said.

Hope's Mayor Ramsey said he was impressed with the presentation made by Prescott for the prison.

The presentation, he said, speaks volumes for Prescott, and the region with the regional support being offered. "This isn't just a Prescott and Nevada County project," Ramsey said, "it's a SWAR project."

Judy Davis, the executive director with the Hempstead County Economic Development Commission, offered the HCEDC's support in getting the prison to locate in Prescott as well.

This project, she said, is fun because the people involved are from Arkansas and know what the area has to offer. Most projects involve people from out of state who must be convinced to locate in Arkansas.

Davis said there are many people in this area with degrees who are unemployed or underemployed. They stay here because they love this area and this is where they want to live and raise their families.

These people, she said, would provide a good work force for such a facility.

Ross took center stage again, saying the ADC has the opportunity to bring good jobs to this area.

While Prescott do