Justices from the Lawrence County Quorum Court unanimously voted to approve an application to lure a state maximum security prison. Last week’s 5-4 decision to shoot down the proposal drew the ire of many constituents, who wanted the economic benefits associated with bringing in the $100 million jail. Those benefits were expressed during last night’s special meeting in Walnut Ridge. The Sun Newspaper reports those who spoke in favor of the jail included Former Arkansas Department of Correction Chief Deputy Director G. David Guntharp. The Lawrence County native addressed some of the safety concerns by saying the prison is safe and said the county would benefit by having the jail in the region. The jail could bring at least 500 jobs with it. Some of the justices, who voted against the prison last week, said they voted for it last night because of the overwhelming support it has in the county. County Judge Dale Freeman says he has 400-acres ready for the facility and he says Walnut Ridge would be a perfect location for such a facility, due to its airports and two colleges in town. Communities have been given until October 24 to submit paperwork if they want to host the new facility.
Johnathan Reaves is the News Director for KASU Public Radio. As part of an Air Force Family, he moved to Arkansas from Minot, North Dakota in 1986. He was first bitten by the radio bug after he graduated from Gosnell High School in 1992. While working on his undergraduate degree, he worked at KOSE, a small 1,000 watt AM commercial station in Osceola, Arkansas. Upon graduation from Arkansas State University in 1996 with a degree in Radio-Television Broadcast News, he decided that he wanted to stay in radio news. He moved to Stuttgart, Arkansas and worked for East Arkansas Broadcasters as news director and was there for 16 years.