News from August 26, 2004 issue


County buys land for regional jail
In a bold step toward progress on the jail front, Crittenden County magistrates approved last week the purchase of two lots and took an option on a third where it plans to build a regional jail.

While it's still unclear exactly how or when a multi-county jail will be built, the county's fiscal court decided it was prudent to go ahead and buy the property it wanted and which had recently been put on the market.

The two lots it will buy from Rucker, LCC are vacant homes, one on West Carlisle and one on West Depot. Attorney Bart Frazer is the managing member of the limited liability corporation.

The third lot, which includes an occupied house, is owned by Stoney and Candy Mills. The county will purchase the two-lot parcel for $62,500. A recent appraisal valued the properties at $98,500. The lots are located directly behind the existing jail. The county paid the Millses $500 for a six-month option to purchase their property for $32,000.

Crittenden County Judge-Executive Fred Brown said that Livingston County remains on board with the regional jail concept and has approved the site. Brown said the three properties behind the current jail would give the county plenty of room to build a 100- or 150-bed jail.

While other counties have expressed interest in contracting with the Crittenden-Livingston jail, if it is built, they are not going to be primary partners. Union County, for instance, has shown a great deal of interest in using a regional jail to keep some of its inmates, but will not join the coalition in all likelihood, Brown said.

An architect has already completed preliminary figures for what it would cost to build a regional jail. CMW of Lexington, the same company that designed the proposed new city hall, says a 100-bed jail would cost about $3.6 million. A 150-bed facility would be about $4.5 million. Other architectural firms and contractors are being contacted for price comparison.

Crittenden County has bonding power to raise up to $6.5 million on its own, the judge-executive said. Livingston County has additional bonding power, giving the two counties plenty of financial resources to complete the project.

Brown said the county will borrow the money from Farmers Bank to buy the two properties behind the existing jail. Terms of the loan were not complete as of early this week. The judge said that if the regional jail concept falls apart and one is not built on the property, the county would likely sell the land.

"I see more momentum for this regional jail idea than I've seen before," said County Attorney Alan Stout. "I think it's something that needs to be done."

The regional jail concept has been tried twice in the last 10 years, but political wrangling has strangled the idea each time, largely in arguments over where it would be located. It appears now, that the location issue has been settled and the project will move forward, Brown said.

Church among victims of spree
The Crittenden sheriff is investigating three break-ins, one at a church, one at a residence and one vehicle.

Sheriff Wayne Agent said about $25 cash, a Crate PA system and a Fender Bassman guitar amplifier were taken from Glendale General Baptist Church in rural Crittenden County Aug. 18.

Burglars made their way into the church through a locked back door.
The previous day, Aug. 17, Valerie Barnes reported $1,500 worth of CDs taken from her vehicle on View Road Agent said thieves removed the stereo from the car and were apparently were trying to get the speakers. He questions whether the burglars were interrupted by an approaching car, because both the stereo and speakers were left in the vehicle.

The third burglary last week took place Aug. 15 at a residence on Forest Grove Road. The homeowner, Carol Hawkins, was away from home when thieves broke into his home and took two guns.

Agent encourages anyone with information to call the TipLine at 965-3000.

Frazer heading to NYC with GOP
For Bart Frazer, there's not much anxiety about terror threats and heavy security as he prepares for a trip to New York City late this week where the local attorney will take part in the Republican National Convention as a Kentucky delegate.

The anticipation and excitement of attending his first national convention next week is outweighing some of the hype about the possibility of terror or protests in the city, Frazer said.

"It's not a concern until somebody brings it up," he said with a half-hearted smile. "I just think it's going to be a long week of security check after security check.

"Yes, it's on your mind, but what do you say?" he added. "They've made some changes in security since the last convention four years ago when Alan Stout went. Now, you have to wear photo ID tags around your neck."

Organizers and national security agencies are being especially vigilant about this convention and last month's Democratic event in Boston. With possible terrorist attacks likely between now and the Nov. 2 general election, many think the country's gathering of political figures and President Bush supporters at New York is an attractive target.

Frazer, like Brooks & Dunn, the country music duo that's heading the entertainment, isn't tucking tail and running.

In fact, he's looking at the trip as an opportunity of a lifetime. Following in the footsteps of his grandfather, affectionately known to many as "Old Bob" Frazer makes his selection as a delegate even more meaningful and a bit sentimental. The photo shown above is one taken by Time Magazine of Frazer's grandfather on the floor of the 1964 convention in San Francisco.

"Old Bob went in 1960 and 1964," Frazer said, pointing to conventions where Richard Nixon and Barry Goldwater received nominations. Neither, however, won the presidency in those races.

"I hope to break the streak," Frazer said. "My wife Sharie is really looking forward to going, too."

Although being a Republican really wasn't an option growing up in a heavily leaning conservative family, Frazer credits his wife for getting him more involved in politics.

"She took me to my first Republican barbecue in 1989 while we were still dating."

The Frazers will visit former Crittenden County resident Greta Guggenheim their first night in New York then move over to the Westin Time Square hotel which is just over a block away from the convention site at Madison Square Garden.

Getting an opportunity to rub shoulders with political heavyweights ­ literally at overcrowded receptions ­ is perhaps the biggest deal, Frazer said.

"Plus we will get to see places in New York City that you only hear or read about.

"The main thing I want to do is to be a good delegate and represent Crittenden County well," he adds. "I am confident it will be safe. There are going to be thousands of extra security guards. If there is some type of attack, it would almost guarantee Bush's re-election and I don't think the bad guys want to deal with him anymore."