Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, December 25, 1994 TAG: 9412270053
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV8 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
WYTHEVILLE - Wythe County has gotten positive reports from other localities where Corrections Corporation of America has built facilities in recent years.
CCA is scheduled to build Virginia's first private prison about two miles east of Wytheville in 1995.
Wythe County Administrator Billy Branson asked officials in Texas and Florida about CCA's performance in their communities.
Cleveland, Texas, City Manager Barbara Burns said she had found CCA a cooperative company with which to work. She said it took part in community activities - the local chamber of commerce and other civic groups have used the jail for banquets and its trusties to provide services for the gatherings - and was well accepted by area citizens.
CCA has had a jail there for about five years.
Bay County, Fla., entered into a contract with CCA in 1985 to operate its jail. Since then, County Manager Dan Duda said, the county has had no jail problems or lawsuits stemming from jail operations.
The state of Florida is pleased with CCA and has contracted with it for a new prison to be built in Bay County, Duda said, and also has signed a 20-year contract for CCA to house state prisoners.
Venus, Texas, City Manager John Daniels told Branson that CCA kept all the promises it made before coming there.
CCA took part in community activities, including building a community ball field and paying for a scoreboard and accessories, Daniels said. The company has given the area an economic boost, increased city revenues, employed local people and bought its supplies locally, he said.
CCA runs a 1,336-prisoner center in Clifton, Tenn., that opened in March 1992. Branson suggested that Wythe County send a delegation of elected officials and other residents there to observe the operation.
Branson said he has asked Benny Burkett, executive director of the Joint Wythe County Public Service Authority, and county Social Services Director Mike Hall to make inquiries about CCA with economic development and social services people in areas where CCA has facilities.
Contracts awarded for bridge work
WYTHEVILLE - The Commonwealth Transportation Board awarded two contracts in Wythe County this month.
Robertson Construction Co. Inc. of Salem got a $422,932 contract to reconstruct the Virginia 609 bridge over Shorts Creek near the intersection with U.S. 52. D&D Construction Co. of Chilhowie was awarded a $29,357 contract to repair the slope at the east end of the Virginia 619 bridge over Cripple Creek.
Weather permitting, preliminary work on these projects could start in January.
College to offer 17 at-home courses
WYTHEVILLE - Seventeen home study courses will be offered by Wytheville Community College starting in January.
In these courses, students do not attend traditional classes but work at home using print materials, audiotapes, videotapes and other devices.
All classes except those in the child-care field will meet initially on campus at 7 p.m. Jan. 5 in the Grayson Hall Commons for course orientation and to receive handout materials and buy textbooks.
Course materials and testing opportunities will be available all semester at the college's Student Support Services office in Bland Hall on campus, at its Galax Education Center, or its Smyth County Education Center at Atkins.
Two economics courses, a psychology course and a marketing course are offered as telecourses through Blue Ridge Public Television. Transfer and occupational courses are also among those offered.
Further information is available from Dan Jones, business, humanities and social science division chairman, at 228-5541, ext. 235, or toll-free from outside Wythe County, (800)468-1195.
by CNB