Inmate Work Crews To Help Forest Service Clear Trail

Inmate work crews will spend a week in the mountains this summer, helping the Forest Service clear 26 miles of the Skyline Trail from Howell Canyon to the City of Rocks National Reserve.

Prisoners convicted of nonviolent crimes will be sentenced to the work program during two six-day camps, Dennis Dexter, administrator of the Mini-Cassia Criminal Justice Center, said Wednesday.

One camp will be for adults and the other for juveniles. Ten inmates will be assigned to each camp, and judges are willing to hand down enough sentences for a third camp if it is needed to accomplish the trail work.

Zeke Zimmerman, recreation specialist for the Burley and Twin Falls ranger districts of the Sawtooth National Forest, said the Skyline Trail is popular with horseback riders and mountain bikers.