MONROVIA, Sept. 18 -- Along the winding banks of the St. Paul River, a cluster of settlements older than the Liberian republic's modern institutions sits in quiet disrepair. Potholed roads swallow vehicles whole. Clinics operate without adequate staff or supplies.

By Obediah Johnson

Schoolchildren study in buildings that have not seen a fresh coat of paint, let alone a renovation, in a generation. These are not remote, unknown villages - they are Arthington, Clay-Ashland, Millsburg, Royesville, and Cheesmanburg, five of the most historically significant communities in the entire nation.

Now, Montserrado County District 17 Representative Bernard Benson - popularly known by his moniker "DJ Blue" - has decided he can no longer watch in si...