Eighth committee member resigns

An eighth person resigned Monday from serving on a Curry County citizens’ committee to evaluate jail issues.

Retired newspaper publisher Wayland Thomas submitted a letter of resignation which cited a need for freedom for the committees from “undue influence from commission oversight.”

In his letter, Thomas said he feels the committee is being steered toward temporary detention facilities and said while that may be one option, he feels all options need to be explored.

During a Thursday meeting of the citizens’ courthouse committee, six members walked out after media was asked to leave and the meeting was closed. A seventh member resigned the next day.

Thomas’ resignation from the jail committee leaves three remaining members.

There are six remaining members on the courthouse committee.

The committees were created by the commission to study and make recommendations regarding jail and courthouse issues after voters heavily defeated two Nov. 2 bond issues aimed at building a new $33 million jail and courthouse.