14 JUN 07: WALK-OFF HOMERS

The Muscogee County Prison Warden found himself answering questions Wednesday about several recent escapes. Four inmates have walked off from work details in the last 12 months -- without even realizing they're forfeiting any chance to receive unemployment checks.

The latest "walkaway" of a prison inmate occurred Tuesday, when Jeremiah Webb disappeared for several hours. He was quickly captured - perhaps because it's hard to get a motel room for the night when you're wearing "INMATE" on your shirt, and you don't have a credit card.

(Jeremiah Webb walked away from a work crew at the METRA bus terminal. This man clearly was NOT thinking - because you'd want to flee at a place that's crowded.)

Prison Warden Phil Adamson admitted he's always concerned about the possibility of inmates walking off during work details. You know what they say - the cigarettes always taste better on the other side of the maintenance truck.

Warden Phil Adamson says many prison walkaways try to flee across the state line into Alabama, because they know Columbus Police won't chase them down there. What does it say about law enforcement in our country when inmates would rather face pursuit by the F.B.I.?

Warden Phil Adamson actually suggested some prison inmates walk away for reasons going beyond mere freedom. He said some flee because they've just received a phone call about family problems. So perhaps the first place jailers check in their search is the Pastoral Institute....

But Warden Phil Adamson defended the policy of letting inmates do work details across Columbus. He said it saves the city millions of dollars for staffing -- money which probably isn't spent on police overtime, to hunt the walkaways down.

I've seen plenty of prison work crews around Columbus over the last ten years. Morning jogs on the Riverwalk would take me not simply past inmates trimming weeds and cutting grass -- but running through them. One of these days I'll remember NOT to wear orange T-shirts at times like that....

From what I've seen of prison work crews, a lot depends on the guard who's supervising the inmates. Some position themselves carefully, so they can see the prisoners at all times. Others turn their backs on so many inmates that you'd think they were trying out for jobs as basketball referees.

(I don't recall seeing that many weapons on the prison guards who oversee work crews. Maybe they simply borrow an inmate's weed trimmer, when there's a threat of unrest.)

The state of Alabama made national news several years ago, by bringing back "chain gangs" for inmates. The prison workers in Columbus don't wear chains, or any other kind of restraint -- and the prisoners who ride lawnmowers clearly would have an advantage racing up Broadway.

If the Muscogee County Prison wants to reduce the number of walkaway inmates, maybe the warden should find a way to keep the work crews together. Perhaps the answer in 2007 is a set of long bungee cords -- or getting a set of modified pagers from Outback Steakhouse.

E-MAIL UPDATE: One of our readers keeps analyzing the new Muscogee County School District budget....

Dr.Phillips of MCSD said in Tue's paper when asked about filling the post of athletic director for the county,"We will continue to manage it." "We were able to manage it for years before the position existed."....The big question is then "why" fill the position? Charlie is gone..His ego does not need to be patted on the back any more.

Perhaps Charles Flowers' place in the budget is being taken by that "another administrator," which brought a complaint here earlier this week. Or maybe the new "district spokesperson" will take over the Athletic Director duties, and make policies through news releases.

Let's see what else filled the news holes around here Wednesday....

+ Columbus Police announced the owner of Best Pawn Shop on Holly Avenue has been arrested, on charges of knowingly buying stolen merchandise. If he's convicted, a judge should order the name changed to Worst Pawn Shop.

+ Chattahoochee County residents were advised to boil their water, after lightning broke a water main. What a wonderful history lesson this can become - as parents tell children to "remember the main."

+ The Troup County Development Authority told WRBL the first building is finished at the Kia plant in West Point. It's a training center - and we assume it's already fully stocked with Korean-English dictionaries.

+ A national survey found foreclosures across Georgia have jumped 44 percent in a year. From what I can tell, the number of free seminars on how to get rich from foreclosed property is up almost as much....

+ Alabama's governor signed the statewide school construction bond issue. So the question arises again - if the Phenix City School District is getting about four million dollars from the bond issue, why does it need a property tax increase in late August? To get even with Russell County, for proposing that soft drink tax?

+ Environmental groups rallied at the Georgia Capitol against a proposed coal-fired power plant along the Chattahoochee River in Early County. Apparently the activists' motto is: Early to bed - period.

+ Instant Message to the heretofore-unknown group "Bloggers in the Chattahoochee Valley": Thank you OHHH so much for the award! I hope you understand that this blog HAS to promote itself - because not enough donations have come in to pay for a public relations agent.

SCHEDULED FRIDAY: It's time to take a long-awaited walk.... and we may post late as a result....

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