Tuesday, October 13, 2020

WCCF News (10/2020): What's Happening at Wilkinson County Correctional Facility

By Roscoe Barnes III, PhD
Chaplain/PIO, Wilkinson County Correctional Facility
#MTCChangesLives


This is a collection of news briefs I compiled for The Woodville Republican (Woodville, Miss.). The collection is set to appear as a quarter-page ad on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020. Wilkinson County Correctional Facility (WCCF), Woodville, where I serve as chaplain and public information officer (PIO), publishes news in this format each quarter in the local newspaper.

WCCF News 

What’s Happening at

Wilkinson County Correctional Facility

(October 2020)

 

Wilkinson County Achieves National Accreditation

Wilkinson County Correctional Facility (WCCF) is being recommended to receive accreditation by the American Correctional Association (ACA). This achievement was announced following a three-day audit in September. The facility achieved 100% on mandatory standards and 95% on non-mandatory standards. The certification will become official early next year at the ACA winter conference.

WCCF holds facility-wide Church Services

WCCF began holding facility-wide praise and worship services in September that included speakers and musicians as special guests. In addition to Troy Arbuthnot of Woodville, speakers included Nelson Fears of Alabama, and Adrian Fairchild of Valley Park. Bands and musicians included The Vocaleers of Baton Rouge, and the group, Forgiven, whose members hail from different parts of Mississippi. More than 60 offenders promptly responded to the ministers’ message and invitation to receive Christ. Water baptisms are being planned for the newly converted.

Staff honored as Employees of the Month

WCCF honored two staff members for their hard work over the past two months. In addition to Deputy Warden of Operations Secretary Rachel Hickombottom, who was named Employee of the Month for August, the facility recognized Zone Sgt. Vanessa Turner as Employee of the Month for September.

WCCF holds Labor Day festivities

The facility held a Labor Day weekend event that generated excitement among the men it serves. The festivities began on Saturday with games organized by Recreation Specialist Emily Guth. They included horseshoes, softball toss, a free throw competition, and a sack race. The men enjoyed refreshments during the festivities. On Monday, the facility had a barbecue. Warden Scott Middlebrooks and the men in the maintenance department did the grilling. “Everyone seemed to have a great time,” said Middlebrooks.

Supervisors of the Quarter recognized

WCCF recognized Unit Manager Dorothy Turner as Supervisor of the Quarter for the second quarter. Maintenance Supervisor T.J. Arbuthnot received the honor for the third quarter. “We appreciate all the hard work and accomplishments they both have made in their respective departments because of their leadership,” said Warden Scott Middlebrooks.

WCCF creates walking club

The staff of WCCF can now walk as a form of exercise on company time. The facility has created a fitness program called “Witness the Fitness Walking Club.” It allows the staff to go outside the facility at 4 p.m. each day and walk around the perimeter as a form of exercise. Two laps equal 1.3 miles. Since the start of the program in early August, some of the staff members have walked up to 14 laps in a single evening.

Anthony named Training Lieutenant

Dwyane Anthony is the facility’s new Training Lieutenant. He received the promotion in August, after having served as a GED instructor. “Mr. Anthony’s 30 plus years in corrections will serve vital in his new role teaching and mentoring new staff,” said Warden Scott Middlebrooks. “I look forward to working with him in his new position.” Anthony is a 1982 graduate of Wilkinson County High School. He is the pastor of King Emanuel Baptist Church. “My plan is to lead by example,” Anthony said. “I look forward to teaching officers the correct way to apply themselves to their jobs.”

#PrivatePrisons #Corrections #MTCChangesLives 

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ROSCOE BARNES III, Ph.D., is a writer, chaplain, historian, and former newspaper reporter. He is the author of more than a dozen books and Gospel tracts. For more information about his work and history, see his Personal Profile here or visit his website: http://www.roscoebarnes.net. Connect with him on Twitter (@roscoebarnes3) or by email: roscoebarnes3@yahoo.com.

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