It's final! Two Bridges Regional Jail Corrections Administrator Wayne Applebee has submitted his resignation and will be moving on to Sarasota County, Florida the first of the year, according to a letter submitted to Lincoln County Commissioner Sheridan Bond, and Jail Authority chairman dated Friday, October 12.

"I make this decision with mixed emotions because of my great admiration of the jail authority members and staff who have supported me immensely in my role," Applebee wrote. "Words alone cannot express my sincere appreciation for the best corrections staff any jail has ever seen."

"However, I am very excited about the professional opportunity afforded to me in Sarasota County, Florida. I thoroughly enjoyed working for the jail authority and will utilize my experience with all of you to be successful in the future."

Applebee's resignation will be effective January 4, 2008. Using his accrued earned leave time, his last day on the job will be November 29.

Applebee's new position will be the Criminal Justice Coordinator in Sarasota County. The Florida county plans to build a 750-bed facility and part of his job will be to help with that and to work with the county to improve efficiencies with the criminal justice department.

He was hired as the Two Bridges Regional Jail Corrections Administrator in January 2005, and took the lead in overseeing the building and the operations of the first regional jail, this side of Virginia since it opened in November 2006. The Jail Authority's Executive Committee will meet Thursday about 8:30 a.m. to discuss his replacement.

"Wayne has the highest integrity of any man I have ever met," Bond said last week when discussing the possibility of Applebee leaving his position.

"If he decides to leave, he will be greatly missed by everyone," Bond said. "We are thankful for the time we had him.