Kentucky sheriff goes down

On the CBS website for 60 Minutes, there is a headline for the story about former Sheriff Lawrence Hodge of Whitley County, Ky.

The headline is "Corrupt Kentucky sheriff brought down by reporters".

Federal investigators weren't able to take down Hodge, but two local newspaper people, Samantha Swindler, 27, and Adam Sulfridge, 20, got the job done. Hodge was considered "dirty", but collecting the evidence needed in court was another matter. A young woman editor and a 20-year-old college student did the necessary digging and gathered the proof needed for prosecution.

Comments in the story included "good old boy system" and "corrupt politics" Well, have we got some of that right here in McHenry County?

What we don't have is a newspaper willing to find out. We need a daily newspaper with the guts to actually investigate.

Hodge ran for re-election in May 2010 but was defeated. Six months later Hodge was indicted. In May 2011 Hodge pled guilty to extortion, money-laundering and distributing drugs. He was sentenced to 15 years in Federal prison. He had colluded with a local lawyer on "deals".

The young male reporter said at the end of the 60 Minutes segment that the real story was that a bunch of people came together and cleaned up their county.

Right here in McHenry County we have had recent references in court - right out in public view - of the following:

Theft
Official misconduct
Misappropriation of funds
Murder-for-hire solicitation
Trafficking in illegal immigrants
Fraudulent loan documents

And what will be done about it? Anything?