Forty-nine inmates were transferred to other jails after Ray County Sheriff Gary Blackwell suddenly announced the closing of the Ray County Jail on Jan. 1, his first day in office. Blackwell transferred custody of the inmates to other facilities, including Lafayette County Jail, Harrison County Jail and Daviess-Dekalb Regional Jail. However, this decision comes with financial implications for the county. Blackwell said he closed the jail for the safety and security of the inmates and staff. “I toured the jail with the Ray County Commissioners,” said Blackwell in a previous press release. “They were pretty shocked. I determined at that point, it was best that we close the jail, at least temporarily, to evaluate the conditions and possibilities of improvement.” The jail was reported to have several pressing sanitary plumbing issues, including water lines that freeze in cold temperatures. Additionally, there are electrical problems, inadequate lighting and damage caused by escape…