Another Month: Dwight Still Uncertain about Future of Prison
By: Kim Behrens
Updated: September 5, 2012
DWIGHT--It's been a long hard battle for people in Dwight as they've learned to live each day not knowing if their largest employer will eventually close.
Ken Adams and his wife are worn out, tired of waiting.
"I think Governor Quinn has his mind made up, it was made up at the very beginning," said Adams. "No hope. I think it's a done deal with Quinn."
That's why the family put their home on the market in hopes of leaving Illinois and its troubles behind.
"We're moving to Kentucky, had the house on the market two years now."
But Adams says sales are tough because no one wants to face the uncertainty in Dwight.
While a judge recently granted a temporary restraining order preventing Governor Pat Quinn from shutting down state prisons like Dwight many people including village mayor Bill Wilkey aren't' sure how to react.
"Tomorrow might be a different picture so how can I...I mean...how can you do anything?" asks Wilkey.
Now the AFSCME Union representing prison workers and the state have till the end of the month to solve problems resulting from moving more inmates to already overcrowded prisons.
"It's a dangerous situation," said Dwight prison guard Shane Long. "I mean the safety and security of staff as well as offenders is key here."
While some doubt the governor will change his mind and stop the facility closures all together...there are prison workers hanging on to one last once of hope...
As the justice system continues to rule on their side say maybe just maybe, they'll eventually win the final battle.
"It's not a huge, huge step," said Long. "But it's in the right direction and that's the whole goal here."
If Governor Quinn gets his way and shuts down state prisons, AFSCME says it'll fight to make sure existing facilities meet the health and safety needs of inmates and employees.
Quinn proposed shutting down the prisons earlier this year to save Illinois money.
Ken Adams and his wife are worn out, tired of waiting.
"I think Governor Quinn has his mind made up, it was made up at the very beginning," said Adams. "No hope. I think it's a done deal with Quinn."
That's why the family put their home on the market in hopes of leaving Illinois and its troubles behind.
"We're moving to Kentucky, had the house on the market two years now."
But Adams says sales are tough because no one wants to face the uncertainty in Dwight.
While a judge recently granted a temporary restraining order preventing Governor Pat Quinn from shutting down state prisons like Dwight many people including village mayor Bill Wilkey aren't' sure how to react.
"Tomorrow might be a different picture so how can I...I mean...how can you do anything?" asks Wilkey.
Now the AFSCME Union representing prison workers and the state have till the end of the month to solve problems resulting from moving more inmates to already overcrowded prisons.
"It's a dangerous situation," said Dwight prison guard Shane Long. "I mean the safety and security of staff as well as offenders is key here."
While some doubt the governor will change his mind and stop the facility closures all together...there are prison workers hanging on to one last once of hope...
As the justice system continues to rule on their side say maybe just maybe, they'll eventually win the final battle.
"It's not a huge, huge step," said Long. "But it's in the right direction and that's the whole goal here."
If Governor Quinn gets his way and shuts down state prisons, AFSCME says it'll fight to make sure existing facilities meet the health and safety needs of inmates and employees.
Quinn proposed shutting down the prisons earlier this year to save Illinois money.
