Wayne County Commissioners, Thursday, are bidding good-bye to the former prison next door that was closed last year. Bids will be advertised for a contractor to take it down.
The white-washed, two story prison was built in 1935. The prison had become over crowded at times and was found to be generally out of date as well as in deteriorating condition. These factors, as well as the enormous cost to the county to board female prisoners and other inmates at other facilities, prompted the construction of the correctional facility. The new prison has been fully in use since August 2008.
Commissioner Anthony Herzog stated that the space created will be used for county employee parking, Some visitor parking may also be included.
He emphasized that the older stone jail house, which was built in 1859, is being kept. The Old Stone Jail, as it is called, is open for public tours on certain dates, conducted by the Wayne County Historical Society.
• Blue Valentine Pennsylvania LLC was given permission to film a [portion of their movie at the gym/cafeteria of the Park Street Complex. The movie, “Blue Valentine” is a billed as a romantic comedy and is being produced by Surpin & Mayersohn LLP of Los Angeles. A tentative date of June 11th was named for the filming at this site.
• Frank Smith, County Emergency Management Coordinator, announced that he is retiring, effective May 30. The retirement/resignation was accepted with both regret and congratulations.
Wayne County Commissioners meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. at the Courthouse.