Build It … But Will They Come?

Construction on a new prison in Bonne Terrs is almost completed and the facility will soon be ready to house inmates. But there is no money budgeted to operate the prison and that has a lot of people concerned. Among them is Bonne Terre mayor Sue Wilke, who welcomes a suggestion to shut down the aging Jefferson City prison and move the inmates to her community. The Mayor says the opening of the prison will bring Bonne Terre and the surrounding area a huge economic boost. The opening has been postponed several times since the scheduled April, 1999, date.