Warden addresses First Friday

The warden who came last September to run the Federal Correctional Institution in Marianna was guest speaker at the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce First Friday breakfast.
Ike Eichenlaub focused his talk on the things he has learned rising through the ranks to his current position.
Treating inmates and staff with respect and dignity, communicating often with both,  and creating a good atmosphere for conflict resolution are some key elements of a healthy prison environment, he said.
Eichenlaub said that, when he arrived, he spent several weeks listening to learn, rather than making immediate sweeping changes.
In that time, he said, he learned much conflict existed at the institution.
He did not specify the nature of the conflict, but said to address the problem he set up a new dispute mediation process which engaged both union and management representatives in efforts toward conflict resolution.
He said he thinks great strides have been made as a result, and that there’s a more harmonious environment at the federal prison now.
In the question and answer period following his talk, Eichenlaub was asked whether the prison was over capacity, as so many state and federal prisons are these days.
Eichenlaub estimated Marianna FCI was over capacity by 30 to 40 percent. But when asked for further information after the meeting, said that the figure is somewhat misleading, in that it is an average based on a square-footage formula that doesn’t necessarily reflect the full picture. He said there’s in actuality plenty of room for inmates as they go about their daily lives and move about in the institution.

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The top of the century plant at the Russ House is seen in this photo taken from the house’s second floor balcony. - Mark Skinner / Floridan

Upcoming events on the chamber calendar

• On June 18, chamber of commerce Ambassadors are sponsoring a golf tournament being held to raise money for the Russ House Foundation. It will be held at the Indian Springs Golf Course. The team-play event kicks off with noon registration and tee-off at 1 p.m.
• On July 8, the Florida National Guard’s 144th Transportation Company will head for training before being deployed overseas to Iraq. The chamber of commerce will participate in an pre-deployment event Sunday, July 5, at 10 a.m. in the National Guard armory to honor the troops and their families. The chamber will also help sponsor the troops’ departure breakfast just before they roll out on July 8.
• On July 11, several area artists will participate in an outdoor “Quick Draw” of the century plant, now in the early stages of blooming in front of chamber headquarters in the Russ House. The public is invited to come out and watch from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The century plant art will be offered for immediate sale, along with other, previously prepared art pieces. Participating artists will donated 50 percent of their sales to benefit the Russ House Foundation. Also, roughly a dozen buds from the century plant will be auctioned off that day to benefit the foundation.