Why were there no prosecutions of Sheriff Ray Byrd when the Department of Corrections thought enough evidence existed that Act 309 inmates were doing work for him. That type of work was prosecuted in Lonoke County, but not Pulaski County.
Who wants to be the first to list the personal work occuring in the Perry County Jail today?
Here is the story from the Democrat Gazette in which ADC spokesperson Tyler mentions the Perry County problem. Click on the comments section to see the full article.
"The committee canceled the Perry County sheriff ’s office participation last year because the prisoners did work for the sheriff, Tyler said. The Searcy County sheriff ’s office was dropped two years ago for inappropriate use of inmate labor but was reinstated after a new sheriff took office, Tyler said."
Friday, July 4, 2008
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Hunting Clubs in Perry County
Hunting clubs are nothing new in Arkansas. Across the state, groups of men lease the hunting rights from private landowners (often the large timber companies) and set up a camp. In many cases, these clubs are multigenerational and are an important way for fathers to pass on traditions to sons.
In Perry County, these traditions are not just hunting deer. The Perry County hunt clubs like Harmony Hunt Club (off of Hwy 9/10) and the Maumelle/Wye Mtn Hunt Club (on Wye Mt off of hwy 300) both on Deltic Timber property have a deep history in Arkansas political power. They are close enough to Little Rock to be convenient but far enough away to be private. It is through these clubs that political deals have been forged.
These clubs are the same ones that were involved with using state prisoners as a private labor force to cook and clean that finally brought media attention which ended the practice in the 50's and 60's.
These camps are still open and the labor force hasn't changed much. They continue to be the seat of much political influence and continue to cement the ties between Perry County and the state capitol.
In Perry County, these traditions are not just hunting deer. The Perry County hunt clubs like Harmony Hunt Club (off of Hwy 9/10) and the Maumelle/Wye Mtn Hunt Club (on Wye Mt off of hwy 300) both on Deltic Timber property have a deep history in Arkansas political power. They are close enough to Little Rock to be convenient but far enough away to be private. It is through these clubs that political deals have been forged.
These clubs are the same ones that were involved with using state prisoners as a private labor force to cook and clean that finally brought media attention which ended the practice in the 50's and 60's.
These camps are still open and the labor force hasn't changed much. They continue to be the seat of much political influence and continue to cement the ties between Perry County and the state capitol.
Election "Irregularities" in Perry County
The statewide newspaper reports today on the results of election monitoring in St. Francis County. the state board of election commissioners listed multiple violations of election conduct at polling locations in that county.
Those types of activities are nothing new in Perry County and in other counties across the state. The lack of punishment for those who commit election violations threatens the very idea of free and fair elections in Arkansas.
In Perry County:
1) Poll Workers routinely instruct voters not only how to use a ballot, but also who to vote for
2) Poll Workers have actually voted for voters in Perry County. In some cases when the voter is actually present. In other cases when they are not.
3) The voting machines do not have a certified "open" tally receipt and a certified "closed" tally receipt. What that means is that votes could easily be cast prior to the election day and counted on election night
4) Poll Workers have been known to call voters to remind them to vote in the election
5) Campaigning inside the polling location is not new to Perry County
6) Poll workers have been known to refuse to allow registered voters to actually cast a ballot in the county
7) No certified paper receipt of the voting tally from the electronic voting machine actually exists.
8) Poll Workers refuse to follow the state law that allows voters to change their voter registration information at the polls.
9) No level of security and chain of custody is followed in Perry County
Those types of activities are nothing new in Perry County and in other counties across the state. The lack of punishment for those who commit election violations threatens the very idea of free and fair elections in Arkansas.
In Perry County:
1) Poll Workers routinely instruct voters not only how to use a ballot, but also who to vote for
2) Poll Workers have actually voted for voters in Perry County. In some cases when the voter is actually present. In other cases when they are not.
3) The voting machines do not have a certified "open" tally receipt and a certified "closed" tally receipt. What that means is that votes could easily be cast prior to the election day and counted on election night
4) Poll Workers have been known to call voters to remind them to vote in the election
5) Campaigning inside the polling location is not new to Perry County
6) Poll workers have been known to refuse to allow registered voters to actually cast a ballot in the county
7) No certified paper receipt of the voting tally from the electronic voting machine actually exists.
8) Poll Workers refuse to follow the state law that allows voters to change their voter registration information at the polls.
9) No level of security and chain of custody is followed in Perry County
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