Thursday, October 30, 1997
Work stoppage averted
By SANDRA CHITTUM
Correspondent
ANSON -- A threatened peaceful work stoppage by Jones County
Jail inmates did not materialize Wednesday.
Inmates who are allowed to work outside on work crews gave
notice last week that they would no longer work, effective Wednesday,
because of a smoking ban instituted by Jones County Sheriff Robby
Wedeking.
The ban prohibited smoking by the prisoners outside the jail,
extending a ban against smoking by anyone -- employees included
-- inside the jail.
Officials said a compromise was reached late Tuesday evening
between the sheriff and the inmates. Details of the agreement
were not released, and Wedeking was not available for comment
Wednesday.
County Judge Brad Rowland said he did not know the details
of the agreement, but was relieved to see the inmates at work
Wednesday.
"The sheriff told me a compromise was reached, and the
inmate work crew will continue to work without a problem,"
Rowland said.
County commissioners on Tuesday effectively backed the inmates,
saying that the sheriff's budget would be cut by about $29,500
-- the salaries for work crew coordinators -- if the inmate work
crews no longer maintained the interior and exterior of the courthouse,
sheriff's office, city parks and attractions, highways, cemeteries,
fair grounds, Opera House and probation offices.
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Copyright ©1997,
Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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