General
Kirk Lane named new Benton police chief
Kirk Lane, whose reputation as a police officer has been clouded by accusations that he was involved in the murders of Kevin Ives and Don Henry, the subjects of my book, The Boys on the Tracks, has been appointed the new chief of police for the city of Benton, 26 miles south of Little Rock. Lane has steadfastly denied the allegations leveled by Linda Ives, the mother of one of the boys. Last night, the Benton City Council split 5-5 on a vote to override the appointment of Lane by the city’s mayor. A two-thirds majority was needed to remove Lane from the office. See the report by KTHV for more about the objections raised by Benton residents, as well as Lane’s response that he too is a victim of the long-unsolved murders because of the taint on his career. Since 1999, Lane has worked as a captain with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office Investigation and Narcotics Division.
A special "Merry Christmas" to our service men and women
In the past several years I’ve received a number of letters from members of our armed forces. These are men and women who, while serving our country, often in faraway places, have taken the time to read about the murders of three children in West Memphis and the further tragedy that has followed. (One particularly eloquent such letter tops the “letters” column today.)
What always strikes me when I hear from one of these military supporters is that they, more than most of us, are putting their lives on the line to defend the very freedoms that were—and remain—so trampled in the case of the WM3. The freedom to write and to read. The freedom to explore and practice religions that are outside of the mainstream. The freedom to dress differently. The freedom to listen to music and to support artists who may not be other folks’ cup of tea. The freedom, in short, to be different.
It is ironic that we have so many service men and women working to instill the ideals of democracy in other lands, while Jason Baldwin, Jessie Misskelly Jr., and Damien Echols await even a modicum of justice here at home. I always think that my own state of Arkansas has especially let them down by allowing the ideals they represent to be so badly treated here.
I know something about the sacrifices that these men and women—and their families—make. My son is in the Air Force. My son-in-law, who’s in the Army Reserve, is headed back for his second stint in Iraq. So I have a big space in my heart for members of our military and their families.
Here’s my wish to them all:
Merry Christmas. May your holidays be happy and comfortable, wherever you may be. May you enjoy the warmth of time with your loved ones, or feel it across the miles. And may you be safe during these holidays and throughout the coming year. ~Mara
