I, as well as many other African Americans, began 2013 basking in the afterglow of the re-election of President Barack Obama as this nation’s first black chief executive.
Leave it to a few Illinois political knuckleheads to ruin my Black History Month celebration with more examples of their inability to simply abide by the law.
It all began on February 11, with the revelation that Joann Reed, village clerk for Alorton (IL), was  arraigned on four felony counts for allegedly smuggling a cell phone and food (contraband) into the Alorton village jail (on February 3) and giving it to her niece, Jennifer Harris, who has been charged in the felony assault of a pregnant woman.
Reed, who also worked as a records clerk for the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department and is a candidate for mayor, was released after posting a $3,000 cash bond and is suspended with pay and cannot set foot in the Sheriff’s Department while on bail as a condition of her release.
According to an Alorton police department report, Reed’s niece admitted that it was her “auntie” who provided her with the cell phone when questioned. Now that’s gratitude for you.
As for Joann Reed, I don’t know whether to chalk it up to stupidity, poor judgment, bad timing or all three, but it’s definitely embarrassing for the village of Alorton which currently has an ex-mayor (Randy McCallum) in federal prison for attempting to distribute cocaine, as well as their former police chief (Michael Baxton) who is incarcerated for theft after being busted in a sting operation.
Then there’s 54 year-old George “Little Jack” Edwards. Remember “Little Jack,” the former head of East St. Louis’ demolition department? He pleaded guilty (back in 2007) to wire fraud in an extortion case that targeted former Cardinals second baseman Ronnie Belliard.
Edwards attempted to extort $150,000 in hush money from Belliard who he alleged impregnated his daughter following an encounter at a St. Louis nightclub.
In addition, Edwards was also on federal probation for a 1985 charge of distribution of a controlled substance.
Well, Edwards’ supervised release has been revoked after federal agents recently searched his residence in January and allegedly found drugs. At press time Edwards was “in transit,” i.e., headed back to prison according to the U.S. probation office.
My grandfather used to say that there’s no fool like an old fool. “Little Jack” is the personification, if not the poster child, for that bit of wisdom.
In fact, I propose that “Little Jack” change his nickname to “Can’t Get Right” (from the movie character in the movie “Life”) because he truly is a pathetic and unrepentant individual.
Then, finally, there’s Jesse Jackson Jr. the former Illinois Representative (and son of Rev. Jesse Jackson) who pleaded guilty, in federal court, to spending $750,000 in campaign funds on personal items.
Jackson faces 46 to 57 months in prison for an orgy of spending on everything including a $43,350 gold-plated Rolex men’s watch to $60,857 on nightclubs, restaurants and lounges and $5,814.43 on alcohol.
Jackson’s wife Sandra even got in on the act, spending $5,150 on fur capes and parkas. She faces a maximum of three years in prison and had been a Chicago alderman before resigning during the federal investigation.
It is Biblical that “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). Then, again, I wonder what the Bible says about “fixing stupid”?
If you like my column, then you will love my radio show on WGNU-920am every Sunday from 4-5 pm. Please tune-in and call-in. I love to hear from my St. Louis American readers. Email: jtingram_1960@yahoo.com Twitter@JamesTIngram.
