Bentley fundraiser last Friday

Last Friday there was a fundraiser for the Beth Bentley family of Woodstock. The fundraiser was held at Gus's Roadhouse, and a committee rounded up many donations for silent auctions.

According to the Events tab on the Beth Bentley-Missing page on Facebook, donations included Bull Valley Golf Course golf for four, Woodstock Country Club golf for four, a Swanky Spa Gift Certificate, a Dog-n-Suds Gift Certificate, a night at the Courtyard Marriott in Elmhurst, a Wisconsin Dells Fun Card (2), Legoland Passes, $25 Gift Certificate to Scoops, Boone Creek golf for four, and week-end use of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Merchants were very generous to donate to a fundraiser for an individual and her family, and these merchants (and the others) deserve a huge and public thank-you. Keep them in mind when you plan your next shopping trip.

During the weeks leading up to the fundraiser and while contributions were being solicited for the CHASE Bank account that was opened as part of the Find Beth Bentley Search Fund trust, a number of posters asked if disbursement of these funds would be made public. Administrators of the Facebook missing-person site for Beth seemed to be supportive of transparency.

It is surprising that no comments regarding the fundraiser have been posted on the Facebook pages by the committee. It's almost like it never happened. And yet another fundraiser might be in the works to raise more money.

Down south a number of concerned folks in the Mt. Vernon/Centralia area are even talking about putting together a fundraiser there.

Without any word from the several law enforcement agencies involved, it is impossible to know whether this case is moving from a "simple" runaway situation toward a crime. It could be that evidence of criminal activities is developing, even if not directly related to Beth's disappearance.

Will an increase in the $5,000 reward help? Some think so; others do not. If Beth just ran away, the reward won't grow. It's not illegal to run away. If foul play or illegal activity is involved, a larger reward might loosen some lips.

Will the committee divulge the amount raised on Friday night or will the trustees disclose the total in the CHASE Bank account?