Carbon County has named an acting warden to replace Timothy Fritz, who was fired Thursday.

The commissioners approved a motion for an intergovernmental agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections to provide professional services, including naming an acting warden, at the Carbon County Correctional Facility until a new warden is hired.

John Wetzel, secretary of corrections for the state, said that the acting warden will be Laura Banta, who is currently the acting superintendent at SCI Retreat near Wilkes-Barre.

Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein mentioned Banta is a Panther Valley graduate.

“The cool part is the acting warden, Laura Banta, actually grew up here,” Wetzel said. “And I think that is really critical because the big difference between state prisons and county jails … is that the county jail needs to reflect the community.”

He added that the state is the county’s consultant on this process and will provide help in any way possible to get back on track and hire the right person for the position.

Nothstein applauded the prison board on making the “difficult decision.”