By Shannon K. Jones
Staff Reporter
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NEWBERRY - With the glare of razor wire in the background, Lt. Governor John Cherry stood before Newberry residents and community leaders on the prison lawn Wednesday, Aug. 10, declaring that Gov. Granholm will not sign any budget bill that does not include funding to keep Newberry prison and Camp Manistique open.
The two facilities were slated for closure after House Republicans passed a budget on June 9, eliminating funding for their operation. Since that time residents have been working to gain the attention of the legislature and created the "Save Newberry" coalition. Over the last few months the coalition's letter writing campaign and trips to Lansing have made their plight well known in the state capital.
"Lansing is listening," said Lt. Gov. Cherry. "There is no reason why common sense would even dictate closing such a facility."
In recent weeks word has been circulating amongst politicians that Newberry and Camp Manistique may receive a reprieve from the chopping block as GOP leaders are now saying that a $150 million increase in state tax collections could save the facilities.
"The fight is not over," said Representative Gary McDowell, D-Rudyard, accompanying the lieutenant governor. "Keep up the fight."
Combined, Newberry prison and Camp Manistique house 1,145 inmates and employ 345 full-time employees. The correctional facilities are vital to the local economy, according to Jack Yoak, president of the Michigan State Employees Association.
"Ten percent of the Luce County workforce is related to this facility," said Yoak. "This would be devastating to the U.P. The hard work, the letters and phone calls, will turn this thing around."
Currently, the issue remains unresolved but a new state budget must be set before Oct. 1.
