The search for the two convicted murderers who
escaped from the Clinton Correctional Facility in upstate New York is very
close to my hometown of Burke, New York.
I still have cousins in that area and a lot of memories of going to Owls
Head, New York where the latest search is taking place. Some of my relatives
had a camp on a lake near Owls Head and I spent a lot of time enjoying summer
vacations there.
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| Prison is in the middle county at the top of NY State. |
The scene of the latest search is only 17.5 miles
from where I grew up and very close to a border check point that leads into
Canada. When I was young our family could have walked a mile to the Canadian
border and crossed over without being stopped. The border is much more secure
today.
My father spent much of his spare time roaming the
woods and the hills where the police are now searching. He was a member of a
hunting club like the one where the escapees’ DNA was found.
Upstate New York, especially those counties closest
to the Canadian border, has a very large prison population. That area of the
state is very sparsely populated and rugged, with forests and thick underbrush,
and small towns scattered across the Adirondack Mountain region. The prisons are
considered an economic lifesaver for a region that has few jobs and
opportunities. The population of a county with a prison grows by approximately
30%—counting the inmates, prison staff, and families of inmates who move to the
area. An increase in the prison population grows the county census and
increases the amount of grants and representation at the State Capitol in
Albany, New York. So unless there is a rare prison break, it is a win-win for
the locals. This year I suspect a lot of locals are staying away from their
summer camps on remote lakes until the escapees are caught.
Upstate New York is anything but peaceful and quiet
these days. I’m praying that the police soon apprehend the convicts so that my
family and other folks in that region can enjoy the little bit of summer they
get for two months every year.
That sure brings it close to hand. I hope they are caught very soon. It would be terrible to feel trapped in your own home because of the danger of falling into the hands of these escapees. I hope all your friends and loved ones are safe.
ReplyDeleteHopefully they will be caught without a lot of gunfire and returned to prison where they belong. Then peace will be returned to the area.
ReplyDeleteThanks Frieda. Since I am your Middle Sis & enjoyed summer & fall months in the Adirondacks for many years, I hope & pray for wisdom & safety for all our family, friends, & residents there. I know the few local hotels & motels are filled up with search teams, reporters etc.
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