Symbolic ground breaking for new jail

Sheriff Mike Crenshaw led several Oconee County leaders and others in turning shovels today for that new $16 million Oconee County jail. And dirt was being moved while this morning’s ceremony proceeded. The contractor is projecting a date for completion of May 2015—just a little more than a year away. With good weather, New South Construction just may reach that target, considering that the jail cells are pre-built, as are some of the materials that’ll be used in the construction. Crenshaw is looking forward to actual construction, and he admitted to 96.3/WGOG NEWS that he and his staff have already begun to plan how to vacate the old jail and move into the new one next door. The new jail is to hold at least 200 prisoners a day, compared with the current permitted capacity of the 35-year old jail. And Crenshaw is promising the new jail will be state-of-art so far as is safety and security are concerned.