Daily Archives: December 22, 2013

Jon Herskovitz / Reuters

Inmate Arnold Darby was once one of the most prodigious bootmakers in the Texas prison system, turning out more than 1,000 pairs for lawman, FBI agents and the governor's office.

By Jon Herskovitz, Reuters

HUNTSVILLE, Texas - Lawmen would come from across Texas just to walk a few miles in the boots made by inmate Arnold Darby.

Darby, 64, soft-spoken, bespectacled and tattooed, was once one of the most prodigious bootmakers in the Texas prison system, turning out more than a thousand pairs of custom-made footwear for police, FBI agents and the governor's office, prison officials said.

But freedom put an end to that.

After 37 years behind bars, serving time for robbery and murder, Darby was released on parole in 2011.

The highly skilled bootmaker was looking to open his own shop in a state that loves its boots. But lacking start-up cash, he settled for making boxes at a food-processing plant.

After only a year on the outside, Darby violated parole by driving while intoxicated and was sent back to prison.

This time, however, he has not been in the new unit long enough to earn what is considered a privileged position in a workshop, and the once-vaunted jailhouse cobbler is not sure if he will ever make boots again.

Read this article:
Freedom puts an end to jailhouse cobbler's career

Russellville's Freedom House is undergoing a change in leadership after the termination of its director, Gary Rhodes.

After he was initially placed on administrative leave without pay, Rhodes' employment was terminated pending the outcome of an investigation. Request for details regarding Rhodes' termination were referred to an attorney, who did not return a request for comment made Thursday.

Arkansas River Valley Area Council (ARVAC) Executive Director Stephanie Ellis said a decision has not been made to hire a replacement for Rhodes at this time. She said she has a commitment to move forward while restructuring the operations of the agency and its programs to better serve the community and people.

ARVAC is a parent company to Freedom House, which itself has helped more than 14,000 clients over 39 years. ARVAC's Freedom House is a 501(c)3, nonprofit alcohol and drug treatment center funded through state and federal grants, subcontracts through other agencies and generous donations.

A statement issued by ARVAC indicated while there was a threat of losing Freedom House funding, Ellis was able to secure partnerships to ensure that ARVAC's Freedom House will continue to provide services for those in need in the community.

"I believe in ARVAC and am led by our Mission; I view my employees and the clients we serve as family, so failure is not an option," Ellis said.

Freedom House offers programs and services with a holistic approach to heal mind, body and spirit. These services include observational detoxification, residential and outpatient treatment and a transitional living program. With a staff of regional alcohol and drug detoxification specialists, and bilingual counselors, as well as community outreach personnel, Ellis said, our number one priority in community action is to ensure that the needs of the community are met. When you keep the person served as the priority, everything falls into place."

For more information, please call Freedom House at 968-7086 or the ARVAC headquarters at (479) 229-4861 or visit http://www.arvacinc.org.

Read the original:
Freedom House remains open after termination of director