Posted on 01/08/2003 9:15:36 PM PST by BraveMan
Arrange these problems in order of importance: the threat of war in Iraq, the words Brett Favre and retirement in the same sentence, Wisconsin's giant budget deficit, all that extra white space next to this column, overcooked beef riblets served to inmate Robert S. Schmidt at the Washington County Jail.
OK, pencils down. If you ranked the ruined riblets any higher than third place, you need to try again.
Schmidt thought it was a serious enough issue to send me a copy of the complaint he filed with the jail last month.
"I was served a food plate tonight that was completely burned black and hard. I asked for a different tray and the guard said I could not have one. I know the jail has extra trays and the trustees get all the food they want, so I should not be refused to have a tray that is edible," Schmidt beefed.
Sgt. Wanda Fairly (an excellent name for a jail guard) responded: "There was not any extra trays; however, there was edible food on the tray, you just chose not to eat it."
Just to prove that newspapers don't throw away every single letter we get from our incarcerated readers, I traveled to West Bend on Tuesday for a lunch of jail food.
I want to stress that the Washington County Jail is not open to the public as an eatery. Sheriff Jack Theusch graciously invited me to check out the cuisine when I told him about Schmidt's complaint.
On the drive out there I was thinking that in some ways a rock-hard riblet could be a plus in jail. You could file it into a shiv or use it to jam a door lock.
Here's what I learned from my visit. Schmidt is right - there is a problem with the food at the Washington County Jail.
It's too good.
In fact, I asked if I could return for dinner Tuesday evening when the menu was two pork rib patties with sauerkraut, mashed potatoes and gravy, buttered carrots, bread, choice of coffee or chocolate milk, and - I swear to God - "almost heaven torte" for dessert.
They could film a movie at this jail - "The Stripsteak Redemption."
"They eat like kings around here," said head cook Karen Kutz as she handed me a five-compartment tray with an insulated lid.
Inside was my lunch: a thick hamburger with ketchup, mustard and three pickles on the side, creamy macaroni and cheese, half an orange, a granola bar that was homemade like most of the desserts here, and a sassy full-bodied Chardonnay to wash it all down. All right, actually it was orange drink in a coffee cup, but this was one fine lunch that I'm sure would prepare any inmate for another afternoon of doing nothing.
Kutz and her crew feed about 200 people three times a day. According to the sheriff and to jail administrator Shirley K. Miller, they hear very few complaints about the food or the service.
Schmidt's actions speak louder than his words. The food may be bad in his opinion, but he keeps coming back. This time it was for bail jumping.
The jail gets a lot of repeaters. Good food brings customers back, it's that simple. Plus the price is right, and there's no tipping.
Some of the inmates with Huber release privileges leave the jail to attend work. The kitchen crew makes each one a bagged lunch. They hand the sacks to them at the door like Beaver's mom did on the show.
The law says only that the jail must provide a balanced diet. Of course, food allergies must be kept in mind. You don't want to give the prisoners anything to make them break out. (Sorry, old joke.)
Schmidt also is upset about a new $25 booking fee being charged by the jail. This keeps up and he just might take his business elsewhere.
BTW, Brett Favre is an overrated QB. Did anybody see him the last two weeks? Absolutely awful. Just like he was in the playoff game last year against St. Louis.
And that's no baloney.
;-)
If we keep feeding them this we won't have to bother to execute them. Not bad when you think about it.
Ummm, yea. (I almost had it blocked out; thanks!) The Humble Pie is not too bad. It's an acquired taste . . .
Check into Taycheda. "Chilimac", (generic Ragu, chili powder, and macaroni) is the standard meal. Millions of dollars disappear from the grocery budget. The FBI is there investigating regularly. The warden keeps getting fired/rehired. Surrounding the whole thing are suggestions of the warden receiving the position due to nepotism by "our fine conservative friend" Tommy Thompson.
Find the connection between the people and I bet youll find where all the money goes.
LOL !! Thanks for the post and ping, Brave !...Schmidt's actions speak louder than his words. The food may be bad in his opinion, but he keeps coming back. This time it was for bail jumping.
The jail gets a lot of repeaters. Good food brings customers back, it's that simple. Plus the price is right, and there's no tipping.
Some of the inmates with Huber release privileges leave the jail to attend work. The kitchen crew makes each one a bagged lunch. They hand the sacks to them at the door like Beaver's mom did on the show.
The law says only that the jail must provide a balanced diet. Of course, food allergies must be kept in mind. You don't want to give the prisoners anything to make them break out. (Sorry, old joke.)
Schmidt also is upset about a new $25 booking fee being charged by the jail. This keeps up and he just might take his business elsewhere.
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