Political TSUNAMI

NEWS RELEASE
Small Town Suffers at Hands of Legislature!
Community Rallies in Wake of Political Tsunami
Story and Photos by Gina Harman gina@velvetgreencreations.com
Special thank you to Chris Homan for her editing expertise!

A wave of dread and anxiety loomed in the horizon while employees and citizens rallied near the Newberry Correctional Facility on June 17^th in Newberry Michigan. The rally was one response from a community shaken by calls from both State House and Senate Republicans to eliminate its 1145 bed correctional facility that is less than 10 yrs old. The entire community and surrounding area in the eastern UP is caught up in a seemingly unstoppable struggle for political power in Lansing.

People who gathered from 6am to 6 pm stood for hours in a show of solidarity, raised signs in their hands, while sharing stories from their hearts.

History has taken its’ toll on the Luce County area with the closure of the Newberry Regional Mental Health Center in 1992, which had been in operation for 97 years and, at one time, employed 600. That closure forced many families to move and more than 15 businesses to close. It also devastated the school district, the community’s civic organizations, and churches. In 1995, the conversion of the Mental Health Center property into a Prison restored hope to the families and businesses that remained. The local economy had just begun to heal and grow when plans to close the prison were announced in early June. That threat has put life in this community of 2,300 on hold. Property values have already declined, orders for new cars have been cancelled, and construction projects have been postponed. Families have put off vacations, home improvements, and plans to attend college.

With an open heart, those attending the rally shared their concerns and stories about the proposed closing of NCF. The ordeal has been a nightmare for many residents that consider the State Legislators’ planned closure to be purely political rather than based on economic logic or good public policy.

Karen Wendt - pictured on left, is the local coordinator for Michigan Works. She offered her story while standing in the picket line on Friday. Karen’s husband, John, is a Corrections Officer, a volunteer fireman, and the Vice President for the area’s Little League. Together they have three children Christopher, Casey, and Franky.

Karen explained, “We experienced a similar hardship with the closing of the State Mental Hospital. Our business folded up back when the

facility shut its’ doors in the 90’s. During that time, we were enduring statewide budget cuts, it wasn’t isolated just to Luce County, but it was devastating to the community. We lost many friends, businesses and fought hard to become a solvent community again. This dream then became a reality with the Newberry Correctional Facility. But now, because of the political games that are being played, they have targeted our community and made this an isolated issue.”

“I’m trying to figure out a way to explain to my children why their dad may have to leave our area for work. We have a home here that we have to continue to live in and pay for. We have to worry about raising our children in a school system with no money, a hospital with only the bare necessities and a community with little to offer.”

“As the coordinator for Michigan Works, there have been a tremendous number of phone calls from Corrections Officers that have been with the system for 10 years or less. They are terrified about what their options are and inquiring about any training that may be available for other careers. They want help with relocation and the whole issue of rights to unemployment. At this time, there are no answers for them.”

Gazing over the crowd, I looked into the eyes the many who gathered in protest. Dan Whitmer is a Correctional Officer who took the road less traveled to the Upper Peninsula for the sake of his family. “I am feeling pain for my town,” Dan said. “ I quit a higher paying job downstate to take this job ten years ago. I came up here to provide a better life for my children away from the busy streets of Detroit. How do they justify funding a poorly run private prison over a productive well run facility that graduates more prisoners with GEDs than anyone else in the Nation?”

Dan Whitmer, standing in far right in picture.

Business owners Denise McLean and her husband John, parents of three boys, survived the Hospital’s closing and face a future of uncertainty. Denise spoke quietly, “When we went through this with the State Hospital closing, we saw the devastation it caused throughout the community. Our business never fully recovered. If the NCF were to close, I don’t believe we would survive. This budget proposal could ultimately affect my entire family. My oldest son attends NMU. They are facing extreme cuts from the State. Our other two sons attend the Tahquamenon Schools, and they are facing a loss of funding. My father recently had a stroke, and if our hospital wasn’t in operation, my father could have ended up paralyzed or much worse. This (budget) affects the entire community and the whole Upper Peninsula.”

Pictured to left is Denise McLean and her son Johnny. She owns McLeans Sales/JcPenny in downtown Newberry.

Incredible anxiety has been placed on the shoulders of NCF employees families. Both Amy and Scott Inhout are Corrections Officers here in Newberry. Their son David is very concerned with the future of their household.

“I’m sad because I might lose my house and my friends. I am so sad that I would rather live with my grandma than have to move. But that would be hard because I would miss my family.” David Inhout

David’s mother shared her feelings about the recent threat. “When we first found out, we were basically paralyzed. The stress that it has caused makes our everyday activities very difficult. It’s always in the back of our minds that we may be leaving our community and home that we have enjoyed for our entire lives. Explain to my 12 yr old son David why we may have to move – it’s very hard.

It’s difficult knowing that politics has complete control over our lives and that our future is in the Republicans’ hands.” - Pictured here is Scott, David, and Amy Inhout respectively.

	As I walked through the crowds and looked upon so many faces, there was one that stood quietly alone. Al Garavaglia traveled to Newberry to lend a hand to a group with a cause and struggle that was all too familiar and a community dear to his heart. He recalled, “At one time, the GM truck and bus plant that I retired from employed over 17,000 people. Now they are down to a mere 5,000 employees. I came here from Rexton to support our community. I am a UAW member, and I don’t like to learn about any jobs leaving and resulting in privatization.
I hate to see any loss of benefits, pensions, and lowered wages, and that’s what privatization does. I am glad to be here to support this community and hopefully keep the jobs here.” The overwhelming feeling throughout the crowd was mutual; incredulous disbelief and anger about the heartless partisan maneuvers on display in the State legislature. The Newberry Correctional Facility reduces recidivism through its outstanding educational program. There has not been a prison in the entire Nation that can compare to the success of this facility in Luce County.
“This community has always welcomed society’s unwanted. We have always done a good job embracing people shunned by others, and we don’t deserve this,” remarked Janet Linck of the Save Newberry Committee.

The fight to keep their community alive has become a loud cry for help. A visit to www.savenewberry.com provides more information, a way to make a donation, the latest news, a chance to express feelings in the guest books and to sign an online petition.

Newberry will finally have an opportunity to carry its message to the State’s Capitol on Tuesday, June 21^st. A Senate appropriations hearing is scheduled to allow community leaders (after-the-fact) to speak for the community they love.

Supporters will accompany them in the journey to Lansing to protect what is dear to them, a place quietly surrounded by forests and nature. A loving community located in the heart of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Pictured here is Jack L. Yoak - President of the Michigan State Employees Association and Lisa Saunders to the left.