A consultant has offered a series of recommendations for the future of the Clinton County Jail.

County officials last year announced plans to attach an addition to the existing jail, which was built in 1976.

The report by the DLR Group of Kansas City said the county should secure an architect to develop cost estimates.

“If the decision is made to not construct a new facility, the county should immediately proceed to develop formal agreements with surrounding counties to house Clinton County’s inmates,” the report said.

DLR officials said the county should consider housing its minimum to medium security prisoners at the Daviess-DeKalb County Regional Jail in Pattonsburg, Mo., and its maximum and high-medium inmates at the Platte County Jail.

The best course of action, according to DLR, is for the county to proceed with plans to build a new 60-bed jail designed to accommodate future expansion.

Princeton plans for festival

The Princeton, Mo., Chamber of Commerce is working on plans for this year’s Calamity Jane Days. The woman known more formally as Martha Jane Cannary was born in Princeton in 1852.

Calamity Jane spent her childhood in Princeton before she became a legendary character associated with the heyday of the Wild West.

An old-time photographer, blacksmiths, an Old West melodrama, shootout and parade are among the events for the festival, held annually during the third weekend of September.

Squaw Creek deer hunts

Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge will conduct a one-weekend managed deer hunt on the refuge in early 2009.

Dates for the hunt have been set for Jan. 3 and 4. Only four antler-less deer may be harvested by permit. The hunt will include one accessible blind for wheelchair-bound hunters. Muzzleloading firearms will be the legal method to harvest deer.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Missouri Department of Conservation are co-sponsoring the hunt.

Applications must be submitted to the conservation department now through Aug. 15. Applications are made either by using a touch-tone phone to call the interactive voice response telephone system. The number is (800) 829-2956 and may be dialed between 4 a.m. and midnight. Applications may also be submitted by visiting the Internet at www.mdc.mo.gov/hunt/deer.

Call the refuge at (660) 442-3187 or conservation district office in St. Joseph at 271-3100 for more information.

Ray Scherer can be reached

at rscherer@npgco.com.