Published: November 16, 2009 09:46 am      

Thomson area residents react to prison plan

THOMSON, Ill. — Plenty of citizens had one topic on their mind Sunday morning — the possibility the Thomson prison could be considered for housing Guantanamo Bay detainees.

“I think it’s a wonderful thing. I think it’s great,” said Nick Holmes, of Savanna, Ill., at the Thomson Casey’s gas station. “They built it six to eight years ago and never used it”

Holmes said he felt the maximum security prison needed to be utilized. He said otherwise, all of the time, money and effort put into the prison, is just going to waste.

Barry Schaley, of Morrison, Ill., is often in Thomson and said he agreed the prison should not be left empty or close to it. He said he did not feel it would hurt anything to put the detainees in the maximum security prison.

Jesse and Carol Bundy, of Savanna, agreed they are for the detainees being housed in the facility. The couple had stopped in to have a bite to eat at Dusty’s Pizza Plus. Jesse Bundy said he felt it did not make a difference who was housed in the prison as long as it was used.

“It doesn’t do anyone any good being empty,” said Carol Bundy. She said when they first heard that Guantanamo Bay was going to be closed, months ago, she had thought the Thomson prison would be a great place to house the detainees. She said if it could bring jobs to the area, it would be a great thing.

“That would be good for the economy around here. We could definitely use it,” said Roger Deyo, of Thomson.

Deyo said he thinks Thomson’s economy isn’t too bad. However, he said he thinks this would give the local economy a definite boost.

“It definitely could do a lot for this little town,” said Deyo.

Steve Luecking, of Chicago, who considers himself a part-time resident of Thomson, said he is not concerned with having the detainees in the community. Luecking, who is retired and has a second home in Thomson, said he was aware a maximum security prison was located there when he moved into the community.

“I’d rather have them (detainees) than actual criminals,” said Luecking. He said he felt these prisoners would most likely be less dangerous than other maximum security inmates, such as murderers.

“This way you have the prison being used for a good purpose,” said Luecking,

Thomson’s Village President Jerry “Duke” Hebeler said no decisions have been made so far. He said they are considering the impact this would have on the communities both economically and in terms of safety. He said he feels the area would still be secure and safety would remain a primary concern.

“After having limbo for the last eight years of not being open, we are open to any and all alternatives,” said Hebeler. “It’s going to help it (the surrounding communities), revenue-wise and economy. Because, they’re talking 1,800, approximately 1,800 to 3,000 jobs after it’s all done. And that’s good benefits and wages too.”

Hebeler said this plan could cause an estimated billion dollars to be spent locally. He said everything depends on what the local response is to the plan.

“The people in all the surrounding communities got to support this,” said Hebeler. He said if the people decide they do not want to have the Guantanamo Bay detainees at the Thomson prison, other states, including Colorado, Montana and Michigan, would be happy to take them.