FOR

FOR

“While I live in the County, we own a business and several pieces of property adjacent to the Hospital. Our store that my wife runs is two blocks North. Our family's office (and another business) is on Polk Street less than a block away. My kids are up there almost everyday. And I'm all in favor of this! This would be a huge economical impact for our area. I read a stat recently that said that for every dollar in payroll spent in a town with less than 50k population, that dollar is spent seven to nine times before it leaves the local economy. If their numbers are correct, that close to 30 million dollar effect on our region. That's huge.” — Thomas Martin *** “When it is your daughter, sister, grandchild or whoever it is that has lived in an abusive situation where someone has fed them drugs and caused them to be addicted to the point that they may be incarcerated in a facility like this, I'm sure you will be glad they are here where you can conveniently see them and support them. And when it is your family or even yourself in that situation, you think back to all the horrible insinuations you have stereotyped the whole group of women. And then wonder why so many women let people abide and control them. Happens EVERYDAY everywhere. Just no one talks about it! But when you have someone on that side of the fence, please don't get back on here crying about how everyone is against you but doesn't know your story. Some of these women may need a place to go. This could actually be a safe place they end up. Maybe there should be an 'Open House' Before stereotyping. Let the people who think this would be a bad idea hear from the people who have been helped by facilities like this! I totally agree with Fred Hollowell. Ask from the experienced in a community that has had a place like this before. You wanna build it in Marion? Build it across the interstate from the schools. Right in view. Show these little wanna be gangsters and 'hardcore' kids that think they are unstoppable where they will end up! Make us a city of example. Don't hide it! Don't be afraid of what you don't know. Put it out there in view! Show the people traveling through our truck stop and interstate exchange town that we are a community that isn't afraid. That we won't put up with any more 'trash' coming through our towns. Because wake up people. It's in Marion too. Put it anywhere you want but don't be ashamed of our communities having a solution to a bad problem. Ok I will climb down off my soapbox now that I'm sure my opinion has upset many people not that I've said it but because it is true and the truth makes people very defensive.” — Colleen Forrest *** “I personally don't particularly like the idea, but everyone deserves a second chance and If this is a rehab facility then part of their rehab should be to make their environment better, meaning they should use their time and learn skills that help renovate and beautify that facility. Gives them purpose and makes the facility better making West Memphis better.” — Kristina Semiche *** “I guess I don't understand the reasoning behind worrying about 'criminals' being in our area. We have some of the highest drug abuse rates around right here in Crittenden County. Lots of women from our community end up being sent to a place like this. I guess my point is, I don't feel threatened by someone in a facility that is already detoxed from drugs (they will do that in the jail that they are put in after being arrested) that is in a really good drug rehab program. People who are addicted to drugs are all around us, Living in our neighborhoods, in line with us in Kroger, eating at Mi Pueblo or whatever and they are still on the drugs. I feel more at risk with the general population walking around me that are free to come and rob me than I would from these women.” — Stefanie Dostal *** “I support the ACC coming to West Memphis. I have lived in West Memphis a long time and believe the ACC coming to our old hospital building would be very positive thing for both the City of West Memphis and the people who would be housed there and need a helping hand to reintegrate them into society. I truly believe the impact will be postive for all of us.” — Stacey Morris *** “We are OK with it. There are problems in every community in this country. West Memphis is no different, better or worse. We believe it could be a good thing to be the community that welcomed an opportunity to be part of the solution and not ignore the problems. I know I would be grateful for a facility like this that would increase the chance my mother, my sister, my daughter, my wife would not return to a life of crime and addiction.” — Brad and Cheryl Roe *** “I whole-heartedly support this. All of these women made a poor choice in life. We are ALL guilty of that! It's only by the grace of God that some of us are not right alongside these women in prison today!” — Deborah Conlee *** “I had mixed feelings at first. After attending the town hall meeting I had a better understanding. Everyone makes mistakes & should be given a second chance. With that being said, I support the idea.” — Debbie

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*** “I would rather someone else pay for the facility than it come out of my tax money. People are worried that these women are felons or drug addicts and believe they should not be there. But on one hand they will be in an institution that will be guarded. My opinion and my opinion only is we live in a society where these very people are in the general population meaning there are many that are not in prison that are stealing and on drugs, they are at restaurants, the schools, churches, local government. Every day the prison systems release prisoners that have done worse crimes than drugs and theft yet we are not trying to stop that. Quite the opposite we whine and cry when the systems says it needs more money. As far as people saying it should be decided by the people of west memphis, maybe, it is in there back yard but I dont want to have to pay for a vacant building that criminals can break into and cause more damage. Many don't understand the major liabilities that the county will have if it is left vacant, and I don't see too many people knocking each other down to use the facility.” — Linely Holloway *** “It beats the alternative: empty, boarded up building, throwing away money every month for anything for the building, paying tons of money to have it demolished. Would I want it next door to my house? Probably not. Does it bother me for it to be in my county or in the town next to mine? No! I've lived much closer to the exact same kind of facility (except for men) in Osceola, though. It did not affect my property value or even my life! My husband still works in Osceola and drives past that facility every day! His plant is just past it on the road; he said it didn't have a fence around it at 1st, and the prisoners would be out in the yard playing basketball. When it got a fence, the prisoners were the ones that built it!! His place of work has never had a single problem related to this facility.” — Melanie Lane Beyer *** “I support this. Anything that brings jobs to the county is a good thing. It relieves the county of the obligation to maintain the building, and keeps it from just falling down to the ground like East Broadway. And another reason… the patients of the facility have families… they will come to town to visit… they will spend $ here… bringing in tax revenue to WM. I think it's the best of a bad situation.” — Gary Masner Jr. *** “I too support the ACC coming to the old hospital building. If we as a community can offer hope and a hand up to our fellow man (women in this case) then we are following the precepts that Jesus gave us to care for the downtrodden.” — Jerry Blansett *** “As the father of a drug abuser and felon I wish to thank all those who can see past mistakes and forgive those who make them.” — Kenneth Snyder *** “For. We have Oakridge which is a rehab facility already here on 7th street and houses children and the elderly who have mental health issues some of which are very serious and dangerous individuals which very few in West Memphis probably even are aware of!!! This facility would help women who deserve a second chance and Im sure not all from Pine Bluff will transfer to this area. Evennif only did get 10 jobs, which I doubt, thats 10 more than we had before AND our city isn't paying the utilities and the high price tag to demolish the building later. As far as it being in the middle of our city and to close to our schools and kids – the jail is basically a stones throw from the huge Marion school campus and those are NOT non-viloent offenders. Look, it may not be the greatest option but for West Memphis I just think its the best option we have. We're finally headed in a forward direction with a new hospital and some new growth with some new business being built. I just don’t see this as a negative as long as its secure, safe and run well. Its not like our police department isn't able to respond timely. Being so close to the police department is a plus in my book.” — Lisa Plaisance

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*** “I live in West Memphis and I think it's a good idea. Something needs to be done with the old hospital building. We all know what happens when a business stays vacant for very long. New tenant new jobs-win win!” — Angie Brewer “Better than the building sitting empty like many other ones in West Memphis. It would provide jobs, and provide assistance to women who need it.” — Shawn Martin Elliott “For it. It is my job to help people who are addict's. These ladies need help and what a privilege it would be for our city to take on this job. Plus it would be great to put my degree to use.” — Cheryl Wigginton