Hyman Foundation Leased Prison

RALEIGH — U.S. Rep. Frank Ballance, a Warren County Democrat and also chairman of the John A. Hyman Memorial Youth Foundation, helped the foundation obtain a lease on a 35-acre former prison site. The five-year lease for $1 per year has an option for the foundation to renew for another five years. It is dated May 25, 2001, and signed by Gov. Mike Easley and by Hyman Vice President Helen Ophelia of Rich Square. The foundation runs substance abuse programs. It has yet to use the property, which was originally going to be used by local residents for an animal shelter.