tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post7066309643064125559..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: TYC's Marlin unit will become adult prisonGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-13572481803093050932007-06-25T13:26:00.000-05:002007-06-25T13:26:00.000-05:00Gosh.. how I love to read this!!"That was not the ...Gosh.. how I love to read this!!<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>"That was not the policy I asked for, and we're going to change that policy," Jay Kimbrough, the agency's conservator, said when asked Thursday about the apparent conflict between the policy and Harrell's past.<BR/><BR/>"It was my intention that our policy follow that of (the Texas Department of Criminal Justice), that people who had Class A and B misdemeanors in the past five years not be allowed to work in correctional positions. But TDCJ does allow people with misdemeanor convictions to work in other positions, and that's what I intended to allow at TYC."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-15563546220717747062007-06-10T21:51:00.000-05:002007-06-10T21:51:00.000-05:00i think one post on the appropriate string would h...i think one post on the appropriate string would have been enough. Wow...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-54618821318185565602007-06-08T23:19:00.000-05:002007-06-08T23:19:00.000-05:00Wow.. Our new Boss is now official.. Ed Owens ..ac...Wow.. Our new Boss is now official.. Ed Owens ..accepted. Per the News Station....Now we have him for 2 years. and guess who took his old job???? Pope, yes.... Pope!! God Help us all.<BR/>And with Dr. Novy taking over Rehab and all of Education.. God Help us all.<BR/>Yes, he is letting Venita take over Special Ed.. but, remember..he is a Micro Manager..so it really does not matter who he appts, he is still really in charge!! God Help us allAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-64923388157628754252007-06-07T22:57:00.000-05:002007-06-07T22:57:00.000-05:00Have any come from MOAU?Have any come from MOAU?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-75441329667607134482007-06-07T11:40:00.000-05:002007-06-07T11:40:00.000-05:00WTSS is continuing to take youth. If I am not mis...WTSS is continuing to take youth. If I am not mistaken, most facility populations have dropped. We have received several students from Brownwood.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-60558526526201176332007-06-06T22:00:00.000-05:002007-06-06T22:00:00.000-05:00Not to stir up rumors but the West Texas populatio...Not to stir up rumors but the West Texas population just keeps on dropping. On one of these strings it was posted that WTSS was not taking in any new youth. Can someone confirm this?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-4515275071570426832007-06-05T09:42:00.000-05:002007-06-05T09:42:00.000-05:00I am not bashing the folks at Pyote. I admire all...I am not bashing the folks at Pyote. I admire all the work that you do and know some of the staff from WTSS and they are great. I am just saying, some of us could not handle living in Monahans, we are use to a big city. Does not make us any better, etc. I personally would love to live in the mountains where no one is, or an island, where no one is close by. I can't stand the heat out there or the snakes!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-52303986239490488072007-06-05T08:07:00.000-05:002007-06-05T08:07:00.000-05:00to anonymous @4:18 - How do you know you wouldn't ...to anonymous @4:18 - How do you know you wouldn't like it in Pyote? Have you ever been here? Monahans ISD is one of the best school disctricts in the state, state of the art equipment and facilities and great FOOTBALL! WTSS is peaceful and quiet and we have some great scenery - if you don't mind a little wildlife here and there. And you can't beat the friendly people here...I can't help but promote it...I belong to the Chamber of Commerce so I would be remiss if I did not:) Despite the 'information' the media has put out, we are very proud of our facility and have numerous employees who have been with us for more than 20 years. There must be something worthwhile here for people to stick with us for so long. <BR/><BR/>I choose to remain positive about all of this although it is growing more difficult every day. However, I believe the field staff are, for the most part, united in our mission to help these kids and as long as we keep that mission in sight, I believe we will work this all out and be better for it - eventually.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-684070484064323072007-06-04T21:22:00.000-05:002007-06-04T21:22:00.000-05:00You made an excellent point 8:06. It does seem tha...You made an excellent point 8:06. It does seem that TYC intends to keep their long-time tradition of keeping secrets. But we already know that it doesn't matter how much sh!t gets covered up...it still going to stink!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-89122549112719325362007-06-04T08:06:00.000-05:002007-06-04T08:06:00.000-05:00There are still department heads that need to be r...There are still department heads that need to be replaced.Start looking at Parole.They are leaving us in the dark.No one is saying anthing.This secrecy is what got TYC leadereship in trouble in the first place.The practice is to make themselves look good in front of the new guys running the agency.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-80784524404227012152007-06-03T00:48:00.000-05:002007-06-03T00:48:00.000-05:00I hear anons 4:18 and 11:03. Something is definit...I hear anons 4:18 and 11:03. Something is definitely going down, and I feel it every single day. We have TDCJ staff "helping out" at our facility (VFCA) because there are not enough JCO's. No logic there. If we weren't on the list for closing, then why don't they hire new staff to cover the shortage? Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out. People are quiting right and left; many of them in high ranking positions. Teachers are looking for jobs too, but who wants to hire them? After all, it was a TYC Principal in West Texas that started this mess...at school no less!! Oh what a tangled web we weave... When will this nightmare ever end? All we want to know is what is REALLY going on on, and how much time we have so we can plan accordingly. The uncertainty is maddening and not fair to any of us AT ALL.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-46495730518252259682007-06-02T23:05:00.000-05:002007-06-02T23:05:00.000-05:00To all my brothers and sisters in TYC - irregardle...To all my brothers and sisters in TYC - irregardless of where you are stationed....I understand your frustration, as I feel it myself. Whether we are Education, JCO, psychology, PSW, nutrition or supporrt service... or the medical staff on the campus - WE ARE TYC. We work together daily in the care of these kids. Sometimes sacrificing time with our own families for the good of the team.<BR/><BR/>But now - we feel under the gun and at the mercy of powers that seem to have no regard to our lives, feelings, livlihood. And to put it plainly - it sucks the big one. <BR/><BR/>And to make matters worse - it seems like they are spitting in our faces by the clandestine manuvers that come so easy to those in ultimate power. <BR/><BR/>The answer - hopefully it is forthcoming. Hopefully it will be straight and without clauses that only a Harvard lawyer can decipher. Just know my brother and sister - that we are all in this boat and hope that soon life will have a semblance of normalcy. God bless us all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-27833985119470946572007-06-02T23:04:00.000-05:002007-06-02T23:04:00.000-05:00Whitsfoe- Check out Whitmire's cash on hand.Last f...Whitsfoe- Check out Whitmire's cash on hand.Last filed in Jan. 2007 he is at 3 million?<BR/><BR/>Wonder why so much?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-72659690636409827992007-06-02T20:03:00.000-05:002007-06-02T20:03:00.000-05:00I agree with everyone. CO does not care about what...I agree with everyone. CO does not care about what the people in the field need. Guess they have forgotten who really is important in the daily operations of TYC. Those new policies and changes can not happen if JCO's and other staff are not there to make those changes. We have a right to be informed on the might happens and is going to happen changes, closures, etc. We have families also. We are those kids family when we are at work. When staff just leaves it hurts the kids.That is another support system that just walked out on them.<BR/> Corsicana is losing staff right and left. The education dept has about 5-6 teachers looking for jobs. What CO has came up with for teachers there is unbelievable.Wanting them to become certified in several core subject areas. Teachers in the public school settings are hardly ever certified in several areas. CO says find another job, now is the time. I don't see teachers beating down the door to come to work there. It has taken two years nearly to hire the vacant spots now and one has not been filled as of today.<BR/> What teacher would want to come to work or apply at a scandal ridden place with Sex Abuse all over the newspapers!On top of that post a job application that says work over time and on call. You have to work 12 months out of the year. But CO wants to make it harder on the ones that are there and have been there for years.<BR/> Now there is newspaper articles saying that the Legislator is not happy with CRTC. First we have ever heard about this. Maybe we are up for down the road changes or closure. Find another job, you bet and most are looking.This is not the way to keep employees and not just Education staff. CO is sending the message that we are not needed and can be replaced at the drop of the hat and that is not the way to treat those who are doing the job. That makes for disgruntled employees and moral is lower than it has ever been in this agency. CO needs to change their way a bit , don't you think?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-90564516911809724462007-06-02T16:18:00.000-05:002007-06-02T16:18:00.000-05:00So, has anyone realized that now that TYC is disch...So, has anyone realized that now that TYC is discharging all youth that are 19 and above and the impact it is going to have? All these TDCJ people have come in, taken over, and now that we are getting rid of alot of the youth, they have made their agency more populated, therefore breaking down our agency even more. They don't want to hire us TYC folks, but they want our facilities, wake up people. Juvenile justice and rehabilitation is going to all but be forgotten. Put the youth in jail, etc. Is it me, or does anyone else see anything wrong here? Am I blind, or just plain. Meanwhile, if you are not yet looking, you may want to start job hunting before it is too late. I notice that it was sure quiet about Marlin until now, Victory Field, San Saba, I would be looking if I were you. But we did keep West Texas I guess, no offense to you Pyote folks, but I don't know too many of my co-workers or their families that want to go and live there.Realitycheckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01066754391578716603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-64871774008605251252007-05-31T23:43:00.000-05:002007-05-31T23:43:00.000-05:00Has anyone out there heard anything about Victory ...Has anyone out there heard anything about Victory Field becoming a TDCJ facility? If so, I'd like to hear about it. The word is out that we are NOT built for TYC.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-59769072646203337162007-05-31T23:22:00.000-05:002007-05-31T23:22:00.000-05:00Hopefully the former TYC employees can get jobs at...Hopefully the former TYC employees can get jobs at the prison unit once the changeover is complete. If you can work in TYC then you can adapt to TDCJ without much problem. I know because I have worked for both and I actually preferred the structure of TDCJ.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-40118607542526827252007-05-31T21:43:00.000-05:002007-05-31T21:43:00.000-05:00Sheffield Boot Camp is the MODEL our current leade...Sheffield Boot Camp is the MODEL our current leaders whine about, except for the fact it is remote and not in whitmires District. Come Gallegos stand up for your district and tell Whitty Hell No you cant have Sheffield.<BR/><BR/>The Texas Youth Commission just built mobile home pads next to the facility for 16 homes (cost about $300,000 just two years ago), last I heard the Katrina folks did not use their alloted trailers, make a deal and bring them to Sheffield. This would solve your housing problem and keep a very good program in place. <BR/><BR/>But wait that would take thought and insight, something this agency has been lacking. Hell move El Paso next to Sheffield and this could justify saving the place.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-55132699905213991952007-05-31T21:14:00.000-05:002007-05-31T21:14:00.000-05:00Whitmire was defeated in the 1992 (?) democratic e...Whitmire was defeated in the 1992 (?) democratic election, but came back in a run-off and has run unopposed ever since then…. He’s looking to take the lead role in a new HBO gangster series that’ll replace the Sopranos…. Well, at least until the elections come around…. Any word on the guy that defeated him? Is he still alive?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-47530755946759315102007-05-31T20:51:00.000-05:002007-05-31T20:51:00.000-05:00Hell we all knew Marlin was going... logistics wit...Hell we all knew Marlin was going... logistics with Mart I, II right up the road with empty beds because they couldn't fill the place with employees was a given. John Shero fits a need for TDCJ given it was built for them anyway.<BR/><BR/>But folks, wait. I want to call attention to the Sheffield Boot Camp.<BR/><BR/>We spent 8.9 million on that facility and it’s a state of the art facility, acoustic boards to drown out the noise, technology via the surveillance system like none other. Its capacity is 120. And let me tell you, some of the finest Texas you'd ever want to meet live out there. So what, everyone is in everyone's business... they don't seem to mind that. Kids from the intercity get BIG time country values.<BR/><BR/>I live in Austin but I love going out there. Deer hunting... whew... the best. <BR/><BR/>BUT the fact remains... we built a state of the art facility there when "Robin Hood" was still alive which caused the Irran/Sheffield school district to keep a hell of a lot money in the district given that kids in TYC were counted for in their "average daily attendance." Not that Robin Hood is dead, so are they --- an astonishing 8.9 million dollars later, not counting the houses we built out there which blow away ANY state housing we offer anywhere else.<BR/><BR/>I'd hate to see my 8.9 mill go and collect dust. If they look at that place, and how nice it is, I'd hope TDC would do something with it... if not, cap it at 96 beds and let's let those cadets enjoy some good country values. Many that graduated from there are in Iraq now.<BR/><BR/>Evins deserves to go before Sheffield. They've been a problem since I've been in TYC for 14 years now... TDCJ can use those open bays all they want. Besides, we don't really like the fact that so many drugs are coming in the Valley and making in that facility.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-50152835347183879312007-05-31T20:14:00.000-05:002007-05-31T20:14:00.000-05:00@7:56 - Good question, and hard to tell. To judge ...@7:56 - Good question, and hard to tell. To judge for yourself I'd suggest watching some of the hearings on TYC BEFORE the media storm, e.g., the one in Edinburg on 8/30/06, video feed <A HREF="http://www.senate.state.tx.us/avarchives/ram.php?ram=00002901" REL="nofollow">here</A>. Maybe that will give some clue to root motivations beyond what's been said since the news broke, which has all been pretty much political theater. Also look at the <A HREF="http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/billtext/html/SB00103I.htm" REL="nofollow">filed version of SB 103</A> to see what his committee wanted to do BEFORE Pyote.<BR/><BR/>And if you come to any conclusions, naturally, please share them. :)Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-27819530215199044642007-05-31T19:56:00.000-05:002007-05-31T19:56:00.000-05:00I would still like to know exactly what is on Sena...I would still like to know exactly what is on Senator John Whitmire's agenda....<BR/><BR/>The extreme hostility to employees of TYC, the favoritism of TDCJ, the potential gain in revenue for urban areas.... <BR/><BR/>Can someone with more political "know" than me please expound on this? ThanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-60018805352711385002007-05-31T19:45:00.000-05:002007-05-31T19:45:00.000-05:00Just looked up salaries on the UTMB website for ps...Just looked up salaries on the UTMB website for psychologists.<BR/><BR/>A staff psychologist ranges 36,230 - 59,780.<BR/>A responsible psychologist ( masters level with 2 years experience) ranges 43,250 - 71,360.<BR/><BR/>Heck - considering my salary with TYC - I say I hope UTMB does take over psychology. My kids "gotta eat". :-OAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-45672231633448745362007-05-31T18:57:00.000-05:002007-05-31T18:57:00.000-05:00Just got word that UTMB received 44 million for yo...Just got word that UTMB received 44 million for youth services from appropriations in the next biennium. Haven't heard the dollar amount for TYC. Any news on that?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-59938676485333032792007-05-31T18:53:00.000-05:002007-05-31T18:53:00.000-05:00Dr. Pap - amen brother (or sister)As a USN veteran...Dr. Pap - amen brother (or sister)<BR/><BR/>As a USN veteran you are right on. Have your brother's back and he'll have yours. From the top of the order to the bottom.<BR/><BR/>A lesson not seemed to have been learned in the lege or CO.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com