Waco Tribune-Herald, May 29, 2007 MARLIN - After years of economic downturn in Marlin, the possibility that a hospital for female prisoners could soon fill the city's vacant Veterans Affairs hospital is providing residents with hope that better days are on the way. "It's the talk of the town," said Karen Meyer, a justice of the peace and flower shop owner who served as mayor when the VA facility was closed as a hospital in 2002. It was used as a community clinic until 2005 but has been completely shut down since then. Spurring their excitement is the $10.3 million that state Sen. Kip Averitt, R-McGregor, has secured in the $152.5 billion budget lawmakers approved this week for the first year of the prison hospital's operation. Another $3 million he secured in 2005 as well as $500,000 from this year's legislative session will go toward adding security features to convert the 56-year-old VA hospital into a prison facility. The medical positions would be managed by the University of Texas Medical Branch, which contracts with the state to provide medical care for prisoners. A TDCJ spokeswoman said the number of security and maintenance jobs that would be created has not been determined.