Haleigh Marie Cummings #17 6/26/09 - 8/6/09

[Heart]

Putnam County faces jail dilemma

By Larry Sullivan
Published: Saturday, August 1, 2009 2:35 AM EDT
Poor design, chronic overcrowding and a lack of guards have combined for a volatile mix at Putnam County's jail.

The situation, which has garnered attention after two prisoners escaped in April and went on a deadly crime spree, has prompted newly elected Sheriff Jeff Hardy to seek 29 additional employees right away and push for new facilities.

"The obvious answer is we need a new correctional facility," Hardy said.

Built in 1987 near the intersection of State Road 19 and U.S. 17 in Palatka, the jail was made to house 178 inmates, then expanded for another 53.

On Friday, there were 329 prisoners.

Despite the increase in prisoners, the number of correctional officers is the same.

Putnam's jail has an inmate-guard ratio of 40 to 1, well above the national average of 14 to 1.

The jail's design makes running the facility difficult, officials say.

Problems range from a lack of drains that make cleanup difficult to faulty wiring and electronics to an inefficient layout that hampers security and emergency response.

The jail is not air-conditioned and there is no system to remove humidity. Rust is destroying components and the heat can be brutal. Temperatures reached 111 degrees during May's heat wave, conditions endured by employees and inmates alike.

Four prisoners have committed suicide in the last 18 months, and others have tried to kill themselves.

Also, maintenance at the jail has been deferred. Broken electric locks went unrepaired for more than a year and the investigation into April's escape found broken perimeter fences and employees taking shortcuts from proper procedures.

"When taking into consideration the design and present condition of the facility, the span of control for inmates far exceeds that which we are capable of handling in a safe and prudent manner," jail administrator Maj. John Griffin wrote in a June 12 memo to Hardy.

Griffin was appointed to the post in the wake of last jailbreak, when Timothy Fletcher and Doni Brown used a jack to pry their way out of the jail on April 15. Authorities say they killed Fletcher's stepgrandmother in Bardin and stole seven vehicles before they were caught three days later.

"The maximum capacity for the design of the jail is 231," Griffin wrote in the memo. "This translates to housing almost 100 inmates beyond what we are capable of doing on any given day and maintain compliance with the Florida Model Jail Standards."

Griffin asked that jail improvements "be given a high-level priority."

Though aware of the jail issue, Putnam County officials have stalled taking action for years, hoping to use tax revenue from the now-delayed expansion of Seminole Electric's Palatka plant to fund improvements.

On Wednesday, Board of County Commissioners Chairwoman Nancy Harris acknowledged the situation had to be faced.

"We are going to have to do something, we know that," she said.

"We have to look at what's available and what we can do. But we have got to, in the near future, plan on doing an expansion in the least expensive and most cost-effective manner."

One option is to house inmates in tents.

Putnam officials, including Hardy and three county commissioners, recently toured a complex of four tents in Brevard County near Titusville.

Each large green tent houses 100 low-risk inmates and was built for about $800,000 using inmate labor.

Brevard Sheriff Jack Parker said he turned to the heavy-duty tents when voters repeatedly rejected tax increases to expand the jail, which was housing nearly four times as many inmates as it was designed to hold.

"It was the most dangerous jail in the state," he said.

Each tent has concrete floors, showers, attorney-inmate areas and dormitory style bunking. The tents were not cooled, but are heavily insulated and stay at about 80 degrees.

Dehumidifiers keep the tent interiors comfortable and minimize deterioration.

Brevard's jail chief Susan Jeter said the tough plastic canvas is warranted for 20 years and the aluminum frame for 30 years.

Hardy said the tents were a strong option.

"I do recognize the tough economic times that we're in and I do believe that this is a short-term solution to alleviate some of the severe overcrowding that we have in our jail facility," he said.

Also on the tour were commissioners Kenny Eubanks and Chip Laibl and County Administrator Rick Leary.

Hardy praised the county officials for making the trip to Titusville to see the tents.

"I'm glad to see they are engaged and that they care," he said.

lsullivan@palatkadailynews.com

http://www.palatkadailynews.com/articles/2009/08/01/news/news01.txt

[Heart]

Watch "Hog Waller" video here:

http://www.palatkadailynews.com/articles/2009/08/01/news/news04.tnv

[Heart]

Hogwaller draws folks looking for mud

By Chris DeVitto
Published: Saturday, August 1, 2009 2:35 AM EDT
Stranded trucks, sheriff's deputies and muddy people might be found on one of the county's dirt roads after a heavy rain.

But on the last weekend of each month, it's not only normal, but people revel in it.

The Hogwaller Mud Bog on County Road 310, about 15 miles southwest of Palatka, is 100 acres of pure joy for people who like horsepower and mud.

more...

http://www.palatkadailynews.com/articles/2009/08/01/news/news02.txt

Watch "Hog Waller" video here:

http://www.palatkadailynews.com/articles/2009/08/01/news/news04.tnv

[GramaMonkey]

Hello Grama... come on in an play...

Hello mlee & Others....

Just doing the reading at the moment.  Watching the traffic lights, go from stop, go and caution. 

The walk/no walk hand signal is up to - - - WAIT.  Wouldn't want to get run over in the traffic, ya know.   

Meet you all at the next intersection......

Code for?  [/color] [/size]

BACK OFF...DON'T COMMENT...DON'T GET INVOLVED INTO THAT CONVERSATION.

NEXT INTERSECTION -  CONTINUE WHEN THE COMMENTS ARE NOT SO HEATED. 

[MuffyBee]

Hello Grama... come on in an play...

Hello mlee & Others....

Just doing the reading at the moment.  Watching the traffic lights, go from stop, go and caution. 

The walk/no walk hand signal is up to - - - WAIT.  Wouldn't want to get run over in the traffic, ya know.   

Meet you all at the next intersection......

Code for?  [/color] [/size]

BACK OFF...DON'T COMMENT...DON'T GET INVOLVED INTO THAT CONVERSATION.

NEXT INTERSECTION -  CONTINUE WHEN THE COMMENTS ARE NOT SO HEATED. 

Who the he77 are you to tell posters to comment or not comment on this forum?  BTW this is a missing child's thread.  Quite, quite OT...

WHAT DOES ANY OF THIS HAVE TO DO WITH FINDING HALEIGH??

[MuffyBee]

My apologies to you Klaasend.  It's not my intention to disrupt a thread.  You probably didn't need my input or help, but I'm about sick of some this stuff.  It just doesn't belong here imo.  Of course, move or delete as you see fit.   

[klaasend]

IMO, the only ones getting "heated" are those that want to place blame on anyone other than Ron and Misty, the last people seen with Haleigh.

[klaasend]

My apologies to you Klaasend.  It's not my intention to disrupt a thread.  You probably didn't need my input or help, but I'm about sick of some this stuff.  It just doesn't belong here imo.  Of course, move or delete as you see fit.   

No apology necessary Muffy - you are a moderator and are moderating.   

[GramaMonkey]

Hello Grama... come on in an play...

Hello mlee & Others....

Just doing the reading at the moment.  Watching the traffic lights, go from stop, go and caution. 

The walk/no walk hand signal is up to - - - WAIT.  Wouldn't want to get run over in the traffic, ya know.   

Meet you all at the next intersection......

NEXT INTERSECTION -  CONTINUE WHEN THE COMMENTS ARE NOT SO HEATED.  [/color][/b]

Who the he77 are you to tell posters to comment or not comment on this forum?  BTW this is a missing child's thread.  Quite, quite OT...

WHAT DOES ANY OF THIS HAVE TO DO WITH FINDING HALEIGH??

EXCUSE ME!!!! THAT COMMENT WAS NOT MADE TO ANY POSTERS....IT WAS A COMMENT - THOUGHT TO MYSELF.

BESIDES I DO TAKE OFFENSE TO YOUR LANGUAGE.

[Heart]

Sam Watkins
Southern Rock / Country

Missing child needs her medicine!

AUSTIN, Texas
http://www.myspace.com/samwatkinsrock

Wayanne Kruger leaves a message plus her advertising avi on Sam Watkins myspace page regarding raising money for HaLeigh.

Watch Here Benefit Concert For Haleigh Ann Marie Cummings By Entertainer Sam Watkins
Benefit Concert For Haleigh Ann Marie Cummings By Entertainer Sam Watkins
Free clip from TIGERBABE72 on YouTube
Jul 31, 2009 3:29
Benefit fund raiser for Haleigh Cummings

http://www.casttv.com/video/9b53cr1/benefit-c...

[MuffyBee]

Grama~  You need to tell yourself to get back on topic in this thread.  BTW, Klaas was here and read my post and didn't find my language to be offensive.  SHE'S the admin here and SHE calls the shots, not you.  I listen to her, not you.  And you too would do well to listen to her. 

This is a missing child's thread and I won't carry this any further.  I suggest you do the same.

[MuffyBee]

Keep Hope Alive for Haleigh

[klaasend]

Heart - out of curiosity, what does the HOG WALLER contest have to do with the Haleigh Cummings case?

[Searching]

Sad, no new news on Haleigh, again remains the same.

I don't wanna step on toes but think Gramma was just answering the question about what her other post was code for.

The mud bog info Heart posted I think was in reply to the questions/chatter of RC 4-wheeling and mud bogging.

Hope all are well.

[MuffyBee]

Keep Hope Alive for Haleigh

[Heart]

Heart - out of curiosity, what does the HOG WALLER contest have to do with the Haleigh Cummings case?

Klaasend, as I understand it this is something that Ronald Cummings did in the past and/ or could be currently participating in or attending. 

If you feel that it is not fitting, then you can remove it.

Thanks,

Heart

[GramaMonkey]

If both of you would go back and read the discussion that was taking place between Searching and Island Monkey, you will see that it was getting quite heated as to if HaLeigh was deceased or ALIVE.

I was lurking, mlee INVITED ME TO JOIN IN.  My reply to mlee was the traffic signals and WAIT....

I decided to NOT STEP INTO THE HEATED CONVERSATION...MY CHOICE.

I DID NOT ATTEMPT to SWAY other members whether to post or not to post.  That was your posting...not mine.

CODE???  What Code???  Another posting that was nothing ...but an attempt to stay out of this converstion.


Yes, I do take offense to the language, Muffy Bee.  If Klaas approves it....so be it...she is NOT ME.  Seeing that you are a MOD, I didn't expect such language to be posted by yourself, did not think you would lower yourself to that level.  Guess I was wrong.

SINCE YOU Klaas think that you know my opinion to this case.  AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED BOTH RON AND MISTY HAVE BEEN GUILTY SINCE DAY ONE.

A BIT DIFFERENT THAN YOU THOUGHT.

Edited by klaasend....
When did I say anything about YOUR opinion?  Please don't read more into what I post that what is there.

[mytime]

I find it shocking and disturbing that any of the players involved in this case could out smart LE! 

[klaasend]

Heart - out of curiosity, what does the HOG WALLER contest have to do with the Haleigh Cummings case?

Klaasend, as I understand it this is something that Ronald Cummings did in the past and/ or could be currently participating in or attending. 

If you feel that it is not fitting, then you can remove it.

Thanks,

Heart

No, just an explanation would be nice.  Do you see Ron at the event? 

[MuffyBee]

GRAMAMONKEY~I SAID I WAS GOING TO DROP IT, AND I ASKED YOU TO DROP IT.  SINCE YOU DIDN'T DROP IT, I'M LOCKING THIS THREAD FOR THE NEXT FIVE MINUTES.  WHEN I UNLOCK IT, I EXPECT THE TOPIC BEING DISCUSSED HERE TO BE HALEIGH MARIE CUMMINGS.