What a shame. Lawrence County has an excellent sheriff. He and his department have worked well with the various local police departments and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

The state of Ohio continually finds our jail lacking and it seemed the $250,000 from the Sherman Thompson Towers appeared at the time it was sorely needed for a larger, updated facility — an act from above, providence, a higher power?

The citizens of Lawrence County have generously voted for levies for improved and newer schools. Civic organizations — Friends of Ironton, Ironton aLive, Ironton In Bloom, Coal Grove Betterment Club, Lawrence County Young Professionals, garden clubs and traditional civic groups — have worked very hard to make our area more appealing.

But no jail. What is the problem? Is the money here? If there isn’t money for the move to an almost ready facility, there certainly isn’t enough for a new jail. What is proposed? Ignoring the situation will not make it go away.

If there is no place to put criminals in order to keep the citizens safe, all of the efforts of so many have been in vain. What a shame.

 

Mary W. Riley

Ironton