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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels June 10, 2004 Security is the issue in Maple Street neighborhood We are deeply alarmed at the plan by the county to house individuals judged as criminally insane at 330 Maple St. in a residential neighborhood without the advice or awareness of the city of Ashland that this was about to occur. Having worked in such facilities in her past, Maggie Wells understands the large gap between supposedly sound lockdown vs. the security reality in these types of facilities. There is often little relationship between what is supposed to occur and the day-to-day reality of managing such a residence. It is unreasonable that this facility can be prepared within the next week to provide adequate security for those judged criminally insane. Approximately a month ago, a severely disabled although not criminal patient from the Linda Vista Care Center walked away from the center to the top of Wimer Street with a walker, where neighbors discovered him and helped him by calling the police. He was completely delusional and should not have been out of the facility, but he just walked away. The employee who came to retrieve him after he was missing for over an hour seemed primarily concerned about her job; not the patient, nor the security breach. That situation could just as easily occur at 330 Maple. Security is only as safe as its weakest link, which unfortunately often comes down to a lack of human attention in these times of strapped revenue. A person found to be criminally insane represents a far different experience than the bewildered man we engaged in our neighborhood last month. It is extremely difficult in the courts to be judged criminally insane; someone who carries that designation is a potential threat of extremely violent crime, including murder and rape. It's a serious concern to the neighborhood, particularly the elderly and the children, and we resent the city not having any say with the county. We completely reject the comments of County Health Commissioner Hank Collins who said that he didn't think it was necessary to inform the public, and that in hindsight he was sorry. Our sense is that he is sorry only that the story leaked out before the plan was implemented. We urge the city council to get an immediate temporary order to prevent this move until all the facts are known and the community is assured that safety is foolproof. Ken & Maggie Wells Ashland DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams