Law and Order in the Ozarks (Part LXXXI): Community food room to use "old jail"

Finally, the "old jail" in Newton County has found a use. I've written a lot about the county's travails regarding the century-old jail, such as here, here and here. Now, the May 18, 2011 issue of the Newton County Times reports that the Newton County Food Room will relocate into the historic jail. "An army of volunteers were at work scrubbing and painting walls in the main floor of the old jail Monday morning, May 16." A donor gave the supplies to clean up the jail.

Because the building is on the National Register of Historic Places, its exterior must be maintained, but the interior has been remodeled a number of times over the years. The story states:

The front reception area will be maintained except for the third class partition between the public and the former dispatcher's desk has been removed. Behind it in the front office is where most of the commonly distributed foods will be stored. Refrigerators and freezers will be moved into rooms along the east side of the building and the cells in the back of the building will serve as the warehouse for food stocks.

The food room serves about 300 families each month. The charitable organization, sponsored by the county's churches, will not be paying rent to the county, but it will pay utilities.