Franklin County community expresses concerns over future prison [Video]

CHARLESTON, Ark. — Residents and local leaders are speaking out after Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced plans to construct a prison in Franklin County.

On Oct. 31, Sanders announced the purchase of over 800 acres in Charleston, which the state intends to build a prison on. In a press release and radio interview, she explained that the project would alleviate the state’s prison bed shortage and offer well-paying jobs for hundreds in the community.

The governor called it the “single largest economic investment in the history of Franklin County” during the interview, explaining that the location was chosen for being secluded but also being close enough to areas to form a sizeable workforce. The prison would employ 800 people and hold around 3,000 beds.

However, the announcement has not gone over well with locals who are …