| Before over 100 members of the Muscogee Creek Nation and various city and state officials, ground was broken for the new Reintegration Program expansion Friday morning. |  |
| The multi-million dollar project is designed to provide a new administration building as well as dormitories for male and female tribal members with felony backgrounds. Located on East Corporation near the I-40/Indian Nation turnpike intersection, the program has been in operation for over ten years. The new facility will provide training for former offenders to receive training in truck driving, welding and other occupations. It is designed to give them work skills that will help them find employment. |
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| One of the longtime staff members, Fredo (Chubby) Anderson, was recognized for his years of working with various offenders. Calling him the, "epitome of what reintegration and being a great person is about," Keith Green said he is a great role model and leads by example. |
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| During his time with the Creek Nation, Anderson has attended court and parole hearings for both men and women inmates and provides tours of the prisons for adults and youth offenders as requested. Anderson will be remembered with a special street sign designating the road into the site as "Chubby Anderson Way."  "Our elders used to say if people are down, we offer them a hand," said chief George Tiger. He said reintegration is not, "about where they have been but where they are going."Program director Tony Fish said the program is designed to make their clients successful and not get into trouble again. "Today is a great day for Muscogee Creek Nation, the Reintegration program and citizens of Henryetta," he said. Dr. Wayne Johnson, secretary of training and education with the Creek Nation, said the groundbreaking is going to help meet the needs of the tribal members. Some 12 to 16 months of construction is expected before the new facility is completed. |
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See the video video of the groundbreaking ceremony here. Photographs of the groundbreaking:    1/5     |
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