NEW FEDERAL PRISON EXPECTED TO INJECT MORE THAN $25 MILLION ANNUALLY INTO
LOCAL ECONOMY

HICKORY FLATS - Approximately 300 people turned out Monday for the grand
opening of the new federal prison at Hickory Flats.

The opening ceremonies were hosted by U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher, D-9th
District, who said he sought to locate the prison in Lee County as a way to
create jobs and stimulate economic development to provide a better future
for area citizens.

Boucher said he has been working since the early 1990s to bring the prison
to Lee County after he introduced Bureau of Prison officials to the area.

"To date, the prison represents the largest investment in the history of
Lee County," Boucher said of the $100 million facility.

Boucher also noted that an additional $13 million has been provided to the
local economy for the development of water and sewer systems that will
serve not only the prison but also Jonesville and Pennington Gap.

A new airport under construction at Flatwoods is also a result of the
prison and has brought another $6 million investment to the region, he
said. The airport will serve the prison but will also help make the county
more attractive to businesses and industries considering expanding to the
county, Boucher said.

"All this has created a new confidence in the future of Lee County. The
county is making great strides, and the federal prison is at the base of
that progress," said Boucher as he welcomed federal prison officials to the
area and thanked all those who took part in bringing the facility to Lee
County.

Boucher said the prison has already employed 267 workers in various
positions and will have 417 employees within four months. The prison is
expected to inject more than $25 million annually into the local economy
through salaries to employees and from the purchase of goods and services
in the private sector.

Mike Adams, warden of the new facility, introduced his staff and said he
began volunteering to come to Lee County five years ago. Adams said this
assignment makes his 15th with the Bureau of Prisons since 1969, and this
makes the fifth facility at which he has worked.

Adams said by the time the prison is completely staffed, he expects at
least 275 jobs will be held by residents of Lee, Wise and Scott counties.

Applicants for those jobs must not have passed their 37th birthday, with
the exception of doctors, nurses and clergy members.

Lee County Board of Supervisors Chairman D.J. Barker thanked all those
present for coming out to show their support for the prison and said more
than 40 Lee Countians have already been hired. He thanked all those who
worked to bring those jobs to the county.

"So many have worked hard to make this day a reality, but none have worked
harder than Congressman Rick Boucher," he said.

Barker also thanked U.S. Sens. Chuck Robb and John Warner for their support
and gave special thanks to Ron Flanary and the staff at the Lenowisco
Planning District Commission for all their efforts to secure funding and
oversee projects involved with the prison.

During an hour-long tour of the facility, Bill Story, executive assistant
to Adams, said all inmates will be required to work while incarcerated at
the prison. In addition to those who will work in the kitchen - doing
everything from cooking and serving to cleaning - 330 inmates will be
employed by Unicor, the prison industry, making athletic jackets for the
U.S. Army. Those workers will be paid 12 cents per hour and up, depending
on their skill level. For those inmates who owe fines, 50 percent of their
earnings will go toward those, and inmates who owe child support will have
to make payments from their earnings as well, he said.

The prison will house 1,536 inmates in the high-security cells and can hold
up to 224 inmates in a special housing unit built for troublesome
prisoners. There they will be locked down 23 hours a day. The prison
compound will also include a minimum-security work camp for nonviolent
prisoners with shorter sentences.

Inmates will start arriving at the work camp in about a month, while the
high-security inmates will start arriving in January or February.

Most inmates will be locked down from 10 at night until 6 in the morning
and will work from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., said Story. After work, inmates
will have mail call, supper and a recreation period. The recreation
facilities will only contain aerobic equipment and nothing to develop upper
body strength, he said.

The security perimeter consists of a fence with a state-of-the-art taut
wire system that will sound an alarm should someone push on the wire.
Inside that there is a patrol road nearly one mile in length, six guard
towers, and a secure corridor that connects all areas within the compound.

A double fence topped with razor wire also surrounds the complex, and
guards are authorized to use deadly force when necessary, Story said.

Most inmates will have been convicted of drug offenses, but the prison will
also house those convicted of robbery; arms, explosives and arson crimes;
immigration offenses; and other violent offenses. It will also be home to
sex offenders, those who are a threat to government officials, and inmates
who have a history of prison disturbances.

The prison will also be offering tours Tuesday from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. and
will be giving tours to school children on Nov. 29. School districts
interested in arranging tours should contact Story at (276)546-9105.