PRISON SUPPORTERS TO ANNOUNCE POSSIBLE SITES FOR NEW FACILITY

ANNA, Ill. -- A four-county support group will announce four potential Southern Illinois locations for a proposed super-maximum security prison this week.

The Union County Economic Development Corporation's regional prison project committee will announce the proposed sites during a special conference, to be held at Shawnee Community College Tuesday, starting at 9 a.m.

A regional effort is under way to bring the proposed prison and its more than 300 jobs to Southern Illinois.

A four-county resolution, signed by officials from Alexander, Johnson, Pulaski and Union counties, has been submitted to all 177 Illinois legislators.

The Illinois legislation and Gov. Jim Edgar have okayed the proposal to build a $60 million, free-standing, super-maximum-security prison to house the most violent of the state's more than 32,000 inmates.

Illinois houses 32,000 inmates in prisons meant for less than 21,000. The Corrections Department says prisons will reach maximum capacity - 36,000 inmates - by next July, if present trends continue.

The Union County Economic Development Corporation has been conducting a petition drive over the past few months and has more than 6,000 signatures from residents of the four counties who favor the selection of a Southern Illinois site for the new facility.

"We wanted community support to attract the attention of the Department of Corrections," said Jerry Reppert, president of the group. "We have discussed the proposed prison with a number of people throughout four counties, including senior citizens, and have received support in most cases."

Reppert said the prison committee would propose four sites for the prison: two in Union County and one each in Alexander and Pulaski counties.