Prison staff win one for Special Olympics

Members of the Putnamville Correctional Facility won first place in the Special Olympics Plane Pull at the Indianapolis Airport this week and presented the Olympic Committee with more than $1,600 in donations.    

A 20-man team made up of K-9 and Emergency Squad staff from the Putnamville Correctional Facility, competed in the "Public Safety Division" by pulling a 147,000 pound Fed Ex Jet across the tarmac in 7.728 seconds for the win. In a separate event, a three-man team, from the Putnamville Correctional Facility, took first place in its division by pulling the jet by itself.  One spectator commented that this was the sixth annual event attended and in all that time he had never seen the plane pulled by only three men.

"The greatest award that we received was seeing the smiles on the kid's faces.  It was all about what we could do for them" stated K-9 Commander Tony Keith from the Putnamville Correctional Facility.

Other Division competitors included Miami Correctional Facility, Plainfield Correctional Facility, Marion County and Indianapolis Police Depar-tments and the Fisher Police Department. "Everybody gave 100 percent of themselves, I was proud to stand on the same field with these guys" said Keith. "Their accomplishments reflect the support from staff and members of the community, but, the real winners are the Special Olympic athletes" stated Michael J. Osburn, Superintendent of the Putnam-ville Correctional Facility. 

Emergency Response Operation's Director, Mike Jayne, awarded the Putnamville team first place for collecting the largest amount of money in donations, from the Department of Correction, for the Special Olympics.

"Correctional employees are committed to providing a service for our communities, and, I can't think of a better cause to benefit from their services. 

"I commend the efforts of the staff at the Putnamville Correctional Facility and congratulate them for their achievements" stated J. David Donahue, Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Correction.

The Putnamville Corre-ctional Facility staff extends their appreciation and thanks to the community for their support and monetary donations.