The Department of Corrections is expected to hand out around 60 layoff notices to employees at the Kinross Prison Complex, including Hiawatha, Kinross, Chippewa and Straits Correctional Facilities.

Those from Hiawatha Correctional Facility who are not laid off will be notified as to which facility they will transfer to when the prison closes August 8.

The warden says approximately 20 employees requested to transfer out of the area.

A county commissioner says the loss of people in the community will be devastating to the small area.

9&10's Christina Vecchioni and photojournalist Aaron Smith have the story.