Pike County supervisors have canceled a public hearing that had been scheduled for Dec. 14 on a proposal to locate a private prison in the county.

Britt Herrin, executive director of Pike County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development District, said this week that Corrections Corporation of America, which proposes building the prison in the Metro-Pike Industrial Park, wants to wait until after the Christmas holidays.

Meanwhile, CCA officials hope to meet individually or in small groups with some of the prison’s critics.

“They felt that was a prudent way to discuss the project with people who are emotional about it,” Herrin said.

A tour of a CCA prison at Woodville is still scheduled for Dec. 13.

A prison to house illegal aliens was considered for the area in 2001 but fell victim to federal budget cuts in 2001 following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.