Chain gang working to save prison

Just nine days after launching the Save the Prison campaign, several thousand dollars in donations have come in.

Even better, instead of asking what they can do, people are coming up with their own fund-raising projects to help keep open the portcullis to the Yuma Territorial Prison.

And each idea forges another link in the chain gang for the historic attraction.

The Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area launched the campaign after the Arizona State Parks Board voted to close the Yuma Territorial Prison March 29 in response to state budget cuts enacted late last year.

"It's exciting to think that a lot of people want to help," said Susan Sternitzke, Heritage Festivals coordinator, who hosted a meeting Friday to promote the Save the Prison campaign.

She noted that in a week, $11,000 has been donated toward the $50,000 sought from the community by March 29 to match funds pledged by the Heritage Area to keep the prison open. That includes $5,000 donated by The Foothills Bank to jump-start the effort.

Some of the fund-raisers are a run/walk, Zumba class, elementary students collecting pennies and groups like the Outlaws of Yuma performing (11 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. Sunday at Yuma Park and Swap.

In another development, more than 2,000 people have joined the campaign's Facebook in the two days it has been up. They're posting photographs of the prison they visited when they were children, they're posting their special Save the Prison fund-raising events and they're offering their skills and resources to the cause.

"We're hearing from people from all the over the country," Sternitzke said, "from Wisconsin to California wanting to help."

Soon that will be easier. Sternitzke said that by Sunday, people will be able to make donations online at savetheprison.com.

Donations can also be dropped off at a branch of The Foothills Bank or mailed to YCNHA c/o The Foothills Bank, 2285 S. 4th Ave., Yuma, AZ 85364.

Meanwhile, the Yuma Territorial Prison Chain Gang is having a domino effect only days into the campaign.

Yuma City Councilman Cody Beeson described how it was with him. He and friend Ron Hayes were having lunch and started talking. The talk spread to others. Soon, graphic designers were offering to design T-shirts and retailers were offering to sell them.

Then local artist Steve Embry offered to paint the prison to be auctioned off.

And so his gang started adding links, Beeson said.

Kate Barrington got to thinking about prison-related stuff and Johnny Cash singing the "Fulsom Prison Blues" came to mind. So she's made arrangements with a noted Cash impersonator in Las Vegas to perform his Folsom Prison show at a special event.

That event, called the 3:10 to Yuma in honor of the movie by the same name, will be held — fittingly — on March 10 at the prison, Sternitzke said.

"People are coming out of the woodwork to help," she said. "And we've invited Hollywood to participate."

Details are still being worked out, like the time, she said. But one that's been determined is that admission will be free.

"The idea is that night we want the community to come out," Sternitzke said. 'We want to let them know it's their prison again."

For more information about the Yuma Territorial Prison Chain Gang, call Sternitzke at 782-5712 or e-mail SusanS@YumaHeritage.com.

Joyce Lobeck can be reached at jlobeck@yumasun.com or 539-6853.