AMORY, Miss. (WTVA) -- It's Friday and the work on the road is almost over for some of Monroe County's state inmates.
All week, they have worked along roadsides.
They keep a fast pace and no one knows that better than jailer Mickey Davis.
"They step on [and] move on pretty good. We usually make about eight miles a day," Davis said
Those eight miles may seem like long ones, but these state inmates have it covered.
Davis says they are making a difference.
"Their [roads] are a lot better than they were whenever I first started working here. We pick up 35-50 bags a day," Davis added.
That effort has gained them a top honor with the Mississippi Department of Transportation.
Only one county in each of MDOT's three districts is selected for outstanding work and Monroe County wins the top honor.
"MDOT has been really good to work with us. We have generated over $21,000 that's going to the county from the state," Sheriff Cecil Cantrell said.
Not only does MDOT pay for cleanup, they offer up some wheels as a prize.
Monroe County will receive an almost new van to continue cleanup efforts.
Cantrell says it's important to make a good impression on those who live here as well as those passing through.
"Alabama and the Mississippi line come in over around the Gattman area and we want to make sure that when people come into our state that they are coming into a clean county. And, we want Monroe County to be a good, clean county and we're moving in that direction to do that," Cantrell added.
Sheriff Cantrell says the Inmate Litter Pick-Up program is operated through the Monroe County State Inmate Work Center.
