On a business trip through Adams County last week, my business associate and I had an opportunity to receive first hand the gracious hospitality and professionalism of it residents.

We had a business meeting at the Corrections Corporation of America facility.  In my efforts to prepare for entry to the facility, I inadvertently locked my keys in my vehicle. This is never a good thing, and especially so when you are traveler in an unknown city with few contacts.

My business associate and I mentioned this to the person at the front office, Miss Barlow. In a matter of a few minutes she took it upon herself to reach out to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office to ask if a deputy could stop at the facility to assist in opening the vehicle. When my business meeting was conducted, CCA Warden Vance Laughlin and CCA Personnel Investigator Paulette Benefield each personally stayed with us in the parking lot and engaging us in conversation to take our minds off the frustration and foolishness of locking the keys in the vehicle.

Criminal Deputy Fredrick Lane arrived no more than a half hour after our meeting was over. He rolled into the parking lot, exchanged a very polite hello and “which car is it,” popped it open and said thanks to us and drove away. It was we who also said thanks to him, the facility staff and to Natchez.

It was a good deed. It could not have ended better. It was the best experience of the day.

Larry Bell