With little recognition TDCJ prison work squads drive local progress by providing top-notch labor to Cherokee County
BY LELAND ACKER
They are not given awards at the Annual Chamber of Commerce Banquet, nor are they recognized for their labor. More than likely, they will not find thank you cards in their mailboxes. None-the-less, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice work squads from the Skyview/ Hodge units continue to work to make Rusk a better place.

"The effects of their help is immeasurable," said Rusk City Manager Mike Murray. "There is no way we could have made the progress we have made without their help."

Each work squad consists of inmates from the TDCJ Skyview/Hodge units, which are supervised by correctional officers on the job sites. The squads have tackled everything from painting the buildings at the Good Samaritan to refurbishing the Rusk public swimming pool.

"They are extremely helpful," Mr. Murray said, noting that the work squads had built the cashiers' stand in City Hall, repaved the city's sidewalks and helped refurbish the civic

center. "They saved us a great deal of money allowing us to do a great amount of things."

Dr. James Largent, superintendent for Rusk ISD, said he hopes to continue working with the TDCJ work squads on future projects at the district's campuses.

"They've been a tremendous help, especially during the summer months when most of our staff is gone," he said, explaining the work squads had helped install new roofs on the restrooms at Eagle Stadium, cleared underbrush from the campuses and upgraded the baseball and softball fields. "We appreciate the squads, officers and Warden Todd Foxworth for supporting our local schools in this way."

Bob Goldsberry, executive director for the Rusk Chamber of Commerce, said the remodeling work performed on the chamber offices by the work squads proved to be a big boost for the chamber.

"We view the chamber offices as the gateway to the community," Mr. Goldsberry said. "Having an updated office shows visitors that Rusk is moving forward into the 21st century."

Dolly Lofton, of the Good Samaritan of Rusk, said the work squads provided a valuable service.

"They painted and trimmed the main building, pulled up the (old) linoleum and painted the floors, walls and shelves," she said, adding the squads made crucial repairs to the buildings as well. The work squads work for very little. Many times, the only pay they get is lunch.

Warden Todd Foxworth (fourth from left) gathers with volunteers at the Good Samaritan in Rusk to view the renovations performed by the TDCJ work squads to the building. Work squads painted and trimmed the main building, painted the interior of the building and made minor repairs. PHOTO: TARA CROSBY

Non-profit entities who request the services of the work squads are asked to provide lunch and the materials needed to do the job. For the first 10 months of 2007, 159 inmates inmates contributed a combined 9,948 hours of labor valued at $113,570. Mr. Murray, Dr. Largent, Mr. Goldsberry and Mrs. Lofton praised their work quality.

"They were very professional," Mrs. Lofton said. "They can all be professional painters when they get out. I'd hire them."

"They do very high quality work," Mr. Murray said. "They are a talented bunch of workers and the officers are great."

"They do a great job," Dr. Largent said. "They seem to be happy to be helping and are proud of the work they are doing."

TDCJ projects The Texas Department of Criminal Justice's work squad has contributed almost 10,000 man hours in community service projects around Cherokee County, including cities, schools, chambers and other non-profit organizations. Valuing the offenders' time at $10 per hour, the work crews have saved local entities more than $113,000 in labor during the first 10 months of the year.

"I have nothing but compliments," Mr. Goldsberry said. "They were very professional and did a tremendous job."

The labor of the work squads has been crucial to the city of Rusk, Mr. Murray said. The squads have repaved the downtown sidewalks, repaired and repainted the city pool, repaired washed out culverts at the Texas State Railroad, rebuilt the dog kennels where strays are kept and hung and taken down the Christmas decorations every year.

"Rusk would be a less attractive place without the squads," Mr. Murray said. "We wouldn't function as well without them."