Does Anyone have any suggestions????

Sorry, this is kinda long... I went to visit my husband for the first time after being transferred from S.V.S.P. - Saturday, 09/03/05, we had a marvelous time together. On Sunday (09/04/05) & Today (09/05/05) it was a totally different story. These two days is where our lives took a major turn for the worst.... Saturday, we went to take a picture and "Mr. CO" yelled at us telling us that our picture had to be "shoulder to shoulder" yet everyone else taking pictures were holding each other and/or had their arms around each other. We did nothing to get that sort of treatment (my husband and I are real SQUARES). Then on Monday (09/05/05) I was absolutly astonished that there were no vendors that brought in any food, though we were assured that they would be coming. I didn't care so much about the adults not getting to eat... What angered me to high heaven was the fact that there were small children there visiting their fathers and there was NOTHING AT ALL to feed these poor blessed babies. Today when I left (1:00 p.m.), I was leaving with two young ladies that had young children (STARVING of course!!!). Me and one of the ladies were engaged in a conversation and I had brought up the fact that S.V.S.P. had vendors that served FAT cheesburgers, Burritos, and Pizza and then gave props to S.V.S.P. for having consideration for their "guests" and then said that "this place is all about themselves", (The "Ms. CO" had the audacity to go get herself a big 'ol phatty lunch" from the "CO Kitchen" and proceeded to gobble it all down right in front of everyone) So, as I'm telling the young lady how family and friends got fed at S.V.S.P. the "Ms. CO" sat there and interrupted me and straight up YELLED at me telling me "If you have a problem about something you can talk to the visiting Sargeant" I was like "excuse me?" (#1 there is no rule or regulation about visitors conversing with one another #2, It was by no means any of her concern!!!). So I explained to her that "I know what to do, thank you." She then proceeded to tell me "We got rules and regulations around here that are to be followed and you don't know how to follow them." I just turned around because I wasn't about to argue with anyone that obviously has issues with me. SO after we walked out, the other female visitor advised me that "Ms. CO" wrote me and my husbands name down and that I should expect to have problems the next time I go to see him.

Whew... Thank you for "listening" so far.... Now, to my question... Does anyone have any advise?????????????? My poor husband doesn't know that "Ms CO" had words with me yet because they had already taken him back to strip him out.... HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I do not want them retaliating against me or my husband.

Thank You,
Tyme_warped_01

The vendor they have NOW are horrible... same thing happened on 4th of July weekend. I will pm you if it is ok to tell you what others have done and including myself as I won't post a lot of stuff out here incase some of the wonderful :rolleyes: CO's are reading this page Just let me know if it is ok or not please on this post or end me a pm and I'll answer you.

Thanks for the post, you beat me to it! I was one of the ones that had to leave early because our children were starving. There were about 4 families on our yard that had to leave because of hungry kids.

Avenal is in the middle of no where and I know I'm not the only one that traveled a great distance just to have to leave because our children couldn't eat. One mom asked if she could leave, feed her children and come back and was told no.

Thanks!

Bec

May I ask what yard this was on?
I also know it happened to yard 5 this past weekend

We were on 3 yard but I got the impression that none of the yards had food today.

This is just not right...how horrible! I believe that the Ombudsman & Warden for Avenal need to be notified about the situation because this is a huge health issue!!!

My experience so far, is that the warden doesn't care. This is what also upsets the staff. She cares about nothing, other than how she looks to her higher ups.
If your hubby gets to call you, let him know on the phone.

Actually that was a dumb question as to what yard it was I knew that D'OH!!!
I can tell you this much the vendors we had prior to this company was GREAT always filled and loads of stuff like cheesecakes and all that ... this one sucks bigtime.
Mendoza-Powers is the ACTING warden and she was in this position prior to them actually getting a Warden but when he was making changes for the good guess what he was GONE! He quit said there was to much resistance ...so she is it again.
I would definately let everyone I know what happened this past weekend. A friend of mine was on 5 yard and they ran out of beverages again also just like they did over 4th of July...
Call the CDC main center in Sacremento as well, Like Bob-bi-lu said it is a health issue for all ...PLUS ummm aren't the inmates suppose to get 3 meals a day??? Well if they are on visiting how are they getting a meal???? I would think that is a violation of their own terms there.
Like I said call CDC, Warden, Ombudsman, senators and representatives that you know care about the prison system.
I have found that Senator Romero's office and Spiers office will help out also ...
If I can help I will because my mother is older and needs several small meals a day with her diabeties and she is coming out in October to see Steve.

I was reading this site earlier and found this thread of the link that is posted ANYONE including myself that has problem with Avenal might want to try some of these things. I plan to do this when needed as well as my other suggestions I have listed below ...

GOODLUCK Ladies ... our men DEPEND on us

http://prisontalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=145499

Hi I have not been to Avenal to visit yet, but I am planning to go later this month. I live 4 hours away and am planing on staying in a motel over night. I think someone needs to know about the food issue thats terrible.

My husband is on yard 3 and he has had problems with certin lady co and she was not giving him his mail and phone time. I emailed the obudsman office and the inspector general. I know this is a small issue, but when all you have is mail and phone calls and someone makes it ugly to even try to get them it really makes me mad. My husband is not the only one who has had problems with this co, is there anyone else out there on yard 3 who has had any problems? Would love to hear about them. Any suggestions on what else to do!

Zunigun,
I know exactly which female CO your referring to... she works the 2pm-10pm shift I'm sure and ask your hubby if they call her Chucky that is what the former guys on that yard called her. This so called woman has been moved from yard to yard for complaints on her... She turns the tv off when the guys are watching something. Always accussing them of talking about her when they aren't...
SHE IS NUTS!!!!
I would call the warden for SURE and call the inspector generals office as well.
I notified the mailroom when it happened to me personally and then I also emailed and called Senator Romero's office...and the Warden!!!
After about 2-3 weeks we didn't have the problems anymore but I do know she messed with other guys after that...
She reads their mail and then taunts them about what is said and what they say in their letters to loved ones.
Your friend and mine knows more of what I have told her and she can let you know what I told her... trust me I didn't have anymore problems after that :thumbsup: Forgot to add... Call the prison ask for the mailroom and then Mrs. Andrews she is a civilian and is in charge of the mailroom .... tell her you know the letters are getting through to the yard but that your hubby isn't getting them and / or pages are missing or whatever the situation is and let her know your not getting the letters back...
This CO has been seen taking pages out of letter going in and throwing them away PLUS on the outgoing mail that she reads she has done the same PLUS thrown away the orders the guys mail to us.

oh my goodness, my fiance gets shipped there next week, this sounds aweful. I'm praying that things will change for the better for all involved. I will be making my way to visit after a while from san Diego anyone else? how far is the hotels/motels and in what city. Anyone know the amount of time it takes to get there from San diego? Let me know
sharin

Let me say this about that. I am in the processs of attempting to cure a few of these issues. If it works out, I'll certainly post it here for all to see. Until it happens, I'll just keep on after it.

Sharon
Here is the list of hotels ..
MOTEL 6 - Coalinga East (http://www.motel6.com/reservations/motel_detail.asp?MotelId=1356&state=CA&full=Coalinga East&city=Coalinga)
Coalinga, CA, USA #1356
Hwy Locator: I-5/Westside Freeway at SR 198
Phone: (559) 935-1536 or (800)446-8356

Coalinga Travelodge
25278 West Dorris Ave
South I-5, Exit Hwy 198
Coalinga , California 93210
United States
559-935-2063
www.travelodge.com (http://www.travelodge.com)

if your coming from San Deigo then you can also stay in Kettleman City it is only about 15 miles from the prison from there... The only hotel I remember is Best Western and it's about 85.00 a nite there in Kettlemans... nice though each room has a refridge, microwave and other goodies....
www.bestwestern.com (http://www.bestwestern.com/)

There is a gas station there that is normally cheaper on fuel also PLUS ... you have and In & Out there as well not sure of what else sorry ....
if you need anything else just ask me either on the boards or in pm and I'll try to help ....
Goodluck

Does anyone know if there are any problems going on at Avenal right now. I haven't heard from my husband in 2 days and that is extremely unusual. He is on yard 3.
Is there a direct # to call about lock downs besides the 800#?

My man is on 3 yard and I talked to him yesterday. The wait for the phones was terrible, I gues there is only one phone working. I don't know if that is just for his building or for the yard, I would guess that's his building. Anyway, he usually doesn't call on the weekends because the phones are always full.

As of about 5:30pm last night all was ok on the yard!

Hope you hear from him soon!

Yes there is only 1 phone and something jumped off last night after Night Yard so they (Yard 3) are on a "modified" lockdown. Don't know about the other 5 yards though.

hey Steve's girl, thanks a lot for the info. I'll definately keep you in mind once i get close to getting ready to go up that way probably wont be for a few months since i think it's about a five hour drive, trying to find someone in San Diego who may be interested in sharing some expense once i do get to go. I know people are kind of shakey on going places w/ unknown people so I need to try to meet some one well in advance if you know what i mean. Okay once again thanks for the info. I'll keep you in mind.
Sharon

We (including myself) are waaaayyyy of topic here! This thread was about all of us starving and watching our children starve on Labor Day. Let's try to get back on tack....

With that said, I talked to one of the Visiting Lieutenants and he assured me that there are aware of the problem and it sound's like they will probably be looking for a new vendor soon.

All I will say is, that knowledge has gone alot higher than the Lt.
I'll let you know.

I found a hotel called the The Lodging Inn its close but is it still there, I have phone number 559-386-5100 but have tried to call yet. does anyone know about this one?



Sharon
Here is the list of hotels ..
MOTEL 6 - Coalinga East (http://www.motel6.com/reservations/motel_detail.asp?MotelId=1356&state=CA&full=Coalinga East&city=Coalinga)
Coalinga, CA, USA #1356
Hwy Locator: I-5/Westside Freeway at SR 198
Phone: (559) 935-1536 or (800)446-8356

Coalinga Travelodge
25278 West Dorris Ave
South I-5, Exit Hwy 198
Coalinga , California 93210
United States
559-935-2063
www.travelodge.com (http://www.travelodge.com)

if your coming from San Deigo then you can also stay in Kettleman City it is only about 15 miles from the prison from there... The only hotel I remember is Best Western and it's about 85.00 a nite there in Kettlemans... nice though each room has a refridge, microwave and other goodies....
www.bestwestern.com (http://www.bestwestern.com/)

There is a gas station there that is normally cheaper on fuel also PLUS ... you have and In & Out there as well not sure of what else sorry ....
if you need anything else just ask me either on the boards or in pm and I'll try to help ....
Goodluck

Hi Sharon4Troy :) I was reading your post that your is going to Avenal.I need to car pool with someone so I can see my man. wanted to take my 5 year old son. but reading the other post i dont think thats wise he loves to eat.so i will leave him home. I live in Bonita area.and the gas prices are high but pay for it there and back. IF anyone is reading this post the offer stands. I miss my man so much

Babymookgotti:)

Zunigan,
I have seen it and several others within Coalinga and Avenal ... personally I won't stay there and I don't know anyone that has ...
my one friend stayed at one of them when they first went to Avenal from High Desert and they checked out before even thinking of staying and got a full refund but I'm not really sure what the name of it was ..they now stay at the Motel 6 in Coalinga...

This next time around I am going to try the Best Western in Kettleman's City it's higher but it offers so much more and when your killing time after the visits it's nice to have 'things' to do at the hotel plus it's only 15 miles from the prison and it's closer to LA for me when I leave. The also offer rollaway bed, suites, and lots of other goodies like a hot tub :)

My mans going there tomorrow too this place sounds crazy LOL let me know what you find out.

Avenal crazy :haha: :haha: now that is a joke, sorry I'll behave now, I'll tell you in all honesty. We have been there for over 4 years and it used to be NOT bad at all, but with all the changes going on it's horrible. The inmates are cramped, visiting cramped. Tempers on edge with both some CO's and inmates. I am hoping like mad he gets out of there and transfered to another prison although I have met some wonderful people thru that facility. Wives, girlfriends and inmates. Those I will miss but I will not miss the facility itself.
As far as the CO's there are some that are fantastic, and treat the inmates with respect and they get it back from the guys. They actually don't have a problem smiling, laughing and joking with families ...that makes the visiting process even better. But, on the down side, WOW you have some real idiots!!! Heaven forbid if they smile, their faces would crack :haha: , but we have that in ever job and aspect of life we all meet people like that. Any other questions feel free to ask away, I'll tell you what I know, experienced or can find out lol...GOODLUCK to you both...
Oh and try to stay in either Coalina, Kettleman's City ... don't go into the town of Avenal and stay some don't look to terrific... unless you can get in touch with some local ladies that rent out rooms in their homes and then those are fantastic as well....

Hi, I've been reading alot of posts that are in here and it makes me start to worry about my boyfriend who is also the father of my oldest son, we just started writing to each other again and my first letters when he had just gotten transferred to Avenal didn't get through they'd get sent back 3 weeks later already opened. I know this is probably a crazy question but is there any way for them to make phone calls besides collect?

Nope. The only way they can call is collect. Your letters may have included content that is not allowed. No pictures of prisons or prison grounds. No articles about other prisons, etc...