Newton County jail could be ready by summer

By By William F. West / community editor
Jan. 16, 2003
DECATUR A Jackson contractor said Wednesday he hopes to complete Newton County's new jail by this summer.
Bubba Bonds, president of the Newton County Board of Supervisors, said he's pleased with the company and its work so far.
Supervisors awarded the $2 million project to Benchmark after the original firm, Warren Construction of Crystal Springs, ended up in bankruptcy.
Supervisors broke ground last spring at the site off Highway 15 South of Decatur, but work stopped during the summer.
Bonds said the new jail will have more than 60 beds, replacing an aging 18-bed jail in the county courthouse downtown. He said plans also call for relocating the Newton County Sheriff's Department from downtown to the new jail.