PALMYRA, MO. -- UPDATED: May 16 at 3:55 p.m.

Repairs on a Marion County jail cell are complete, after an inmate attempted an escape last year.

An inmate busted this second story window and surrounding bricks in December.

Now, with everything back to normal, Sheriff Jimmy Shinn says more renovations are in the works. Bars will be installed in the second floor windows in the next two weeks. Right now, only the first floor windows are barred, and the inmates realize that.

Shinn says more renovations are in the works, but some will have to wait until he can fit them into the budget.

"One of my goals when I first became sheriff was to get this place under surveillance with recorded cameras and that type of equipment. This facility didn't have any type of cameras in it whatsoever.Now we do have the eight cameras, but we need another ten tp put in," said Shinn.

A couple weeks back, a team of specialists also came in and checked all the locks and doors within the facility to ensure each one worked properly.

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UPDATE: January 4, 2011 at 4:54 p.m.

Repairs are almost complete on a cell damaged by last week's escape attempt at the Marion County Jail. A second floor inmate busted a window and surrounding bricks.

A tarp now lays over the repairs to keep the cold out of remaining cells. Sheriff Jimmy Shinn says there are thousands of dollars worth in damage.

He has several proposals in the works to prevent further escape attempts.

"You'll see on the first level windows, there is also a steel bar that goes across the exterior windows that are riveted into the concrete blocks. My proposal is going to be researching bids from area construction companies here in Marion County to get them done on the second level windows, which they are not," said Shinn.

Shinn also has asked that more security cameras be placed around the building's exterior.

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Monday, December 27, 2010 

The Marion County Sheriff's office is investigating an attempted escape from the county jail.

William Curtis Fitzpatrick was found in his cell early Monday morning with what deputies say was evidence of an escape attempt.

Some glass blocks were also found lying outside the perimeter of the jail.

A full head count was done, and everyone was accounted for.

Fitzpatrick is in jail on burglary charges.