Community needs new juvenile facility

We visited our local Juvenile Detention Center on North Boyer Avenue during their open house.  It is hard to believe that the personnel there are able to do job they do with the facilities they have to work with.  We commend them and our hearts go out to them.

Anyone, and everyone, should visit the Detention Center at the next open house to get an appreciation for the job they are doing and the antiquated facilities they have to work with. 

Many of our offenders are sent to Coeur d’Alene because we do not have the room for them.  This is very costly and helps Kootenai County finance and improve their own facility.  We should be keeping that money in Bonner County, not giving it to Kootenai County.

During our visit we were the only ones taking advantage of the opportunity to tour this facility.  It was really an eye-opener.  Please take the time to go to the next open house, scheduled for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Monday, July 27.  Think about the juveniles you know that are, or have been, in trouble; then think about them and their families when those juveniles are incarcerated in Coeur d’Alene.  We really do need a local facility.

Vote yes for the juvenile facility levy Aug. 4.

LARRY and JOYCE SMITH

Sandpoint