A Thorp icon has passed to her next life. Lillian Teclaw Kaczmarek left her earthly family on Sunday, December 18. Lil will be remembered by many as the witty lady behind the bar at Leon and Lil’s in downtown Thorp for many years. She was an excellent bartender and peppered her conversation with many quips that were classics. “Hello darlin” was one I was often greeted with. Lil was my wife’s last aunt on the Kaczmarek side of the family. Every visit we ever made to her apartment was a delightful experience, as it was always a time for reminiscing and family stories. *** During the holidays, I am going to use this column to mostly share information from the 2022 Annual Report of the Stanley Correctional Institution, which covers the time period July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022. In his introductory comments Warden Chris Buesgen notes that the institution continues to be challenged by a vacancy rate of around 35 percent for uniformed staff (guards), which regularly requires overtime. As of June 30, 2022, there were 87 vacant positions for uniform staff and 17 vacancies for non-uniform staff. It is necessary to tell the reader that this report will refer to the people incarcerated at SCI as inmates for us lay people, while the correct institution term is “Person In Our Care. *** Fast Facts. The Stanley Correctional Institution (SCI) officially opened January 1, 2003. It is a medium security prison, which has an operating capacity of 1500. On June 20, 2022 the population was 1538. The prison site contains 100 acres with 45 acres secured by a perimeter fence. SCI’s operating budget is $40,108, 573, which includes salaries, benefits, supplies and services, fuel and utilities and repair and maintenance. Staffing includes 237 positions designated as uniform staff – guards and sergeants and 133 non-uniform staff – professionals, managers and office workers. *** SCI’s Mission and Goals. The Mission of SCI is to maintain a safe and secure institution and provide the inmates an opportunity for self-improvement. Among the objectives are to ensure public, staff and inmate safety by the enforcement and application of established correctional practices. To develop individualized correction strategies based on the needs of each inmate. To ensure future success by being willing and open to explore new ideas and make changes. To provide programs that lead to a positive work environment and to provide support for employees dealing with difficult situations and incidents they may encounter. To teach, model and reinforce respectful relationships. To provide a harassment free environment. To be sensitive and responsive to victim issues. *** Fiscal Year 2022 Expenditures. Permanent Salaries $21,519,187. Fringe Benefits – $10,742,287. Limited Term Employees Salaries – $165,893. Supplies and Services – $4,450,721. Capital Expenditures – $337,111. Fuel and Utilities – $2,407,843. Repair and Maintenance – $372,365. Purchase of Services for Offenders – $59,481. PIOC (Inmate) Enterprises – $210,427. *** Revenue Collected From PIOC (Inmates) in 2022. Victim Witness – $29,550. DNA $59,088. Medical Co-Payments $15,225. Child Support – $65,461. Court Ordered Restitution $225,841. Institution Restitution – $14,247. *** Community Relations Board. Since its opening in 2003, SCI has had a Community Relations Board which provides a link between the correctional facility and the community. The Board holds a spring and fall meetings during which attendees learn of happenings and issues taking place at SCI and during which any questions or issues can be raised from the community side. *** SCI 2022 Accomplishments and Highlights. Food Service provides meals at an average cost of $1.17 per meal. * The Bee Program ended the season with 11 hives and harvested 190 lbs of honey from 220 frames. * Contact with family and friends included a total of 10,671 visits (both in person and video visits) with 19,630 visitors. * Program Completions: Anger Management – 0 completions. Domestic Violence – 14 completions. Thinking for a Change – 20 completions and Substance Abuse Disorder – 19 completions. * A service dog training program – Can Do Canines – has been operating at SCI since February 2016. The program maintains up to 16 dogs that undergo thorough training with inmates teaching the dogs obedience, and in some cases assistance dog skills. * Planning continues for a new Health Services Unit with tentative completion to be 2023-2024. * A new Armory and lock shop was reported as opening in September 2022. * SCI is environmentally responsible through composting efforts. They are licensed by the DNR and they continue to reduce food waste costs by $20,000 annually. * Recruitment efforts take place year round. * 14,464 lbs of produce were harvested from 2.84 acres of gardens, at an estimated cost savings of $15,621 for institution meals. *** SCI has five housing units and each unit is program specific. Unit 1 is a Mental Health Unit that houses inmates with mental health issues that may contribute to behavioral issues. It provides a safe environment in which inmates can learn to develop skills that will help enable a successful transition to another living unit. * Unit 2 serves Earned Release Program housing with some also needing to deal with Substance Abuse. It also has a quiet wing where homework can be accomplished by those working towards release. * Unit 3 houses inmates enrolled in Cognitive Behavioral Programming, which includes Thinking for Change, Domestic Violence and Anger Management. The unit also houses institutional workers, and those enrolled in education and vocational programs. New to Unit 3 this year is a Certified Peer Specialist Program, which provides support, guidance, encouragement, empathy and empowerment to the 25 inmates that are receiving assistance. * Unit 4 houses inmates who are identified as having educational/ academic needs and general population inmates. There are tutors and a lab located on the unit to provide extra support to those working on completing GED and or a High School Equivalency Diploma. Unit 4 also houses inmates hired throughout the institution, i. e. dining room workers, laundry workers, etc. Unit 5 – to be continued next week. *** Smile time. We live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so that stupid people won’t be offended. +++ I can’t believe we don’t have world peace after changing the name on pancake boxes and syrup bottles. +++ It’s better to grow old with a sense of humor rather than to grow old with no sense at all. +++ Do you know one nice thing about winter? Hum – neither do I. +++ Sometimes saying nothing is the best answer. You see, silence can never be misquoted. +++ My wife came home from shopping at Walmart complaining about the checkout lady being a royal bitch. I asked if she was at the self-checkout. And that is how the fight started. +++ The wife said. “Our new neighbor’s are so in love. He kisses her, strokes her hair and hugs her. Why don’t you do that?” The husband said, “Because I don’t know her that well, yet.” +++ When I lost the fingers on my right hand in a freak accident, I asked the doctor if I would still be able to write with it. He said, “Probably, but I wouldn’t count on it.”

BY DAVID JANKOSKI