![\"allen_and_kraft\"](\"https:\/\/www.azuse.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/allen_and_kraft-300x129.jpg\")
<\/a><\/center><\/p>\nSomeone sent us a link <\/a>on Facebook about two veterans, Kirk Allen and John Kraft, who got tired of the corruption in their county, Edgar County, IL and decided that they’d do something about the local government which overspent into $79 million of debt for their 18,000 constituents. Allen and Kraft founded the Edgar County Watchdogs;<\/p>\n Through a combination of public pressure, Freedom of Information filings, lawsuits, and media exposure, they have created a system that deeply threatens Illinois\u2019 corrupt, entrenched political establishment. They operate a blog called Illinois Leaks that exposes corruption at the state and local levels. The blog is so popular that, it is trusted more than the local paper.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The main thrust of the article though, is about the time that they arrested the entire Clark County Park District Board for violation of the Illinois Open Meetings Act.<\/p>\n When asked if there would be public comment, one of the board members said, \u201cI vote no.\u201d Followed by five other board members.<\/p>\n Board attorney, Kate Yargus, could be heard on video saying there would be no public comment that night, and told the board members they were \u201cfree to go,\u201d even after Kraft\u2019s citizen\u2019s arrest announcement. She tried to cite statute to Kraft, but before she could finish, he said, \u201cJust sit down, you are making yourself look like a fool.\u201d<\/p>\n Deputies were dispatched to the scene, but instead, Clark County Sheriff, Jerry Parsley, personally responded that night. Parsley said he knew it was a heated situation and felt it would be best if he handled it. He said that Kraft handled the citizen\u2019s arrest responsibly, and the board was definitely in violation of the Open Meetings Act by not allowing the public to speak.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not that they should have. They\u2019re mandated to,\u201d Parsley said. \u201cThe people need to have their voice. It\u2019s not a dictatorship. It\u2019s a democracy.\u201d<\/p>\n The sheriff arrested six of the board members.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Here’s a link to Illinois Leaks<\/a>. These guys kick serious ass.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"