Snarky Media Report

  BUSH AND THE BADGE HE LOST ABC Enforcement agent Michael Bush lost his ABC badge and ID card while he was on duty with the Arkansas National Guard at Fort Chaffee in June of this year.   It is also important to note that Bush frequently attends training for all sorts of things, most of which have nothing to do with his duties at the ABC.  It must be nice to enhance ones credentials for a future position at the taxpayers expense.  ********* CLICK TO READ AN ARKANSAS TIMES ARTICLE THAT FEATURES BUSH

  ROBERTS When Governor Asa Hutchinson appointed a little known Saline County divorce attorney, Gary "Bud" Ray Roberts, to head the ABC Administration, he stated “ I am pleased to announce Bud Roberts as the new Director of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Bud’s breadth of experience in Arkansas law, in addition to the knowledge he possesses of the issues related to ABC, makes him the right choice as new director .” CLICK TO VIEW PRESS RELEASE ABOUT ROBERTS   This blog has published stories that have demonstrated that Roberts has no legal experience whatsoever in matters before the ABC. It seems that Roberts has told individuals that he doesn't know much about the goings on at the ABC and that Mary Robin Casteel, "is probably the most knowledgeable person in the state on this subject". Casteel actually filled the director's spot just before Robert's was appointed. CASTEEL   Perhaps Roberts should resign and save the taxpayers the $89,857.46 salary he receives...

  ABC ENFORCEMENT SETS A DECEMBER PARTY DAY WITH FUN ACTIVITIES. According to information obtained from the ABC, the ABC Enforcement staff plan to spend the entire day of December 17, 2015 partying. From  10:30 AM until 12:30 PM they will be celebrating Xmas with a $10.00 gift exchange and a meal. XMAS PARTY NOTICE EMAILED TO ABC ENFORCEMENT STAFF BY MILINDA BROWN Then after lunch, from 1:30 PM until 3:30 PM, they will continue the party. NOTICE EMAILED TO ABC ENFORCEMENT STAFF BY MILINDA BROWN Rest assured we will make inquiries to the ABC to find out how much this day cost the taxpayers (expenses, gasoline for agents to travel to Little Rock, etc).

Documents filed in a  lawsuit brought by Rep. Julie Mayberry against the ABC Board regarding their decision to approve a permit for a liquor store within 1000 feet of a school, a violation of state law by the way, indicate that the ABC only wants to adhere to opinions of the Arkansas Attorney General when it benefits them. ABC staff attorney Mary Robin Casteel questioned the relevance of an opinion made by Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge.   CASTEEL THINKS RUTLEDGE'S OPINION ABOUT WHAT A CONSTITUTES A SCHOOLHOUSE STINKS Rutledge issued an opinion (prepared by an assistant), Opinion No. 2015-040 which clearly stated that a daycare center, under Arkansas law, was to be considered a schoolhouse in connection with the ABC's 1000 foot requirement. The opinion cited case law that backed up her opinion. In the ABC's response, Casteel stated that the ABC Board back in 1993 defined what they considered a schoolhouse to be.  The ABC Board's definition is flawed, in fact...