Thomson federal prison could get inmates in mid-March

THOMSON, Ill. (AP) - Thomson Correctional Center in northwest Illinois could see federal inmates move in next month as hiring ramps up.

The (Dixon) Telegraph (http://bit.ly/1K42CD5 ) reports hiring is being done in phases, with 300 employees coming in during the first round. Most of the early hires are being transferred from other prisons and can train less-experienced staff.

"Recruiting and hiring is going well," said Michelle Gonyea, a prison spokeswoman in Thomson. "More than 100 people are working, and we're still on track to start receiving minimum-security prisoners by the middle of this spring."

About 200 minimum-security inmates will do work on the grounds and indoors.

The prison is expected to employ more than 1,000 people when it's fully open. Donald Hudson was named warden in August, and a job fair was held in September. Two associate wardens are now on staff.

Thomson Village President Vicky Trager said the area is starting to see the economic impact.

"There has been a small increase in traffic, and people are here looking for places to live," Trager said. "While they look, folks are staying in area hotels, eating at our restaurants, and shopping at our stores."

Thomson Correctional Center was built by the state in 2001, but it didn't open fully due to budget troubles. The last state inmates moved out in 2010, and the federal government bought it for $165 million in 2012.

The prison was at one point under consideration by the Obama administration as a new site for inmates from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

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Information from: Dixon Telegraph, http://www.saukvalley.com