Jail tours to be given this weekend

BEATRICE – The public gets the chance to see what Gage County is up against regarding jail space and facility conditions….this weekend.....and you won't have to bond out.

Tours of the Gage County Detention Center will be provided both Saturday and Sunday, from one p.m. until five p.m., each day.

County Law Enforcement Committee Chairman Gary Lytle says the goal is to provide information.

"Our hope is to see a lot of people from the community show up and walk through, to see the jail. It's necessary to keep this moving on 20 to 30 minutes, on a tour. It is an old facility...and older facility...and there's a lot of different levels every place you go. You've got one or two stairs, to several stairs...so a lot of movement up and down as you move through the facility. Very important that if you have cellphones, pocket knives....any of those items, they would be left in your vehicle before you come in for a tour through the facility."

Recently, county officials held two townhall sessions at Beatrice High School, as officials consider whether to put together a plan that could be the subject of a bond issue, in this November election.

The public does not need to register to take a tour of the jail. Citizens can park at the Jail parking area or around the courthouse. A security check will be conducted.