McDowell Firing Range dedicated

New facility will serve prison, law enforcement, school and concealed carry classes

Credit: photo Britt Combs

After the speeches, presentations and ribbon cuttings, came the moment of truth. With a sharp BANG!, Marion Correctional Institution Capt. Hubert Corpening made it official. The firing range is open for business.

By: Britt Combs | McDowell News
Published: June 17, 2009

McDowell leaders joined Wednesday to dedicate a new firing range, located behind the McDowell County Public Works' transfer station on N.C. 226 South. The facility was opened with speeches and presentations, as the gloomy sky did not dampen the optimistic view of the future for the community.
The shooting range will be used for law enforcement and correction officers' training as well as McDowell Tech's Basic Law Enforcement Training programs and concealed carry permit classes.
Administrator Sid Harkleroad of the Marion Correctional Institution welcomed a series of speakers who recounted the efforts to make the new training facility a reality.
Chairman David Walker of the McDowell County Board of Commissioners said he was anxious to try out the range for himself.
President Bryan Wilson of McDowell Technical Community College said the need for the new range was great.
"We provide DOC training for five counties," Wilson said. "That makes up half of the school's continuing education hours. Without this new facility, we would have lost some of that business."
It was generally agreed by the speakers that the move would better enable local and regional law enforcement, the school, the corrections officers and Forest Service. It is, said Sheriff Dudley Greene, a symbol of the commitment to cooperation that is a hallmark of McDowell County.
Harkleroad thanked, among many others, the Marion Minimum Security unit, "both staff and inmates," for the hours of work they had invested in getting the shooting range ready.
With that, he, and corrections officers Hubert Corpening and Vernon Richards fired the first shots. With those shots, Harkleroad commented, prisoners were no longer allowed on the grounds.