Lynch at Large

Today's Log Cabin Democrat finally gets around to covering the story which dominated the Saturday statewide Democrat-Gazette. Despite a seemingly ineffective special prosecutor investigation by Stephen Tabor of Fort Smith, state auditors have unearthed significant amounts of money owed the county. Unfortunately, the usually diligent Log Cabin Democrat fails to outline the improprieties with the same detail as the Democrat-Gazette report. These are numbers well over 30k. Many county employees, including the sheriff Marty Montgomery, are named in the earlier report.

A few years ago, Arkansas Attorney General Steve Clark was run out of office, criminally prosecuted, subjected to a fine, and deprived of his law license because of similar allegations.

Fortunately, there is at least one public official in Faulkner County who has not stuck their head completely up the unspeakable orifice. The Log Cabin Democrat reports:

Justice of the Peace Catherin Blankenship said she expects the Quorum Court will address the issues brought forth by the audit.

"I don't see where we have a choice," she said. "If you look at that report, it says several times the Quorum Court needs to take action."

Blankenship said it came as no surprise to her that money was still owed to the county.

"The numbers didn't add up," she said. "I take time to keep up with the budget. I hate to say I don't take anybody's word for it, but you have to check the facts."

She added, "This is an ugly thing to have to deal with in county government, but we have to do it and see it through. It's not a pleasant thing, but it's a necessary thing."

An ugly thing, indeed. Ms. Blankenship does have a gift for understatement.