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CALHOUN NEWS-HERALD

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INSIDE NEWS

A look back to 1988 in Hamburg. See page B1

NEWS

HARDIN, ILLINOIS 62047

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

VOLUME 141 - ISSUE 37

Smith pleads guilty to bomb threat By BOB CROSSEN Calhoun News-Herald A woman charged for making a bomb threat at Calhoun High School last spring pleaded guilty to the charge of conveying a false threat Sept. 2. Michelle Lynn Smith, 36, received a federal charge of conveying a false threat May 1, in addition to a charge of falsely making a terrorist threat in Calhoun County. Smith is a Jerseyville resident and former special education teacher in the Calhoun Community Unit 40 School District. The school board voted to dismiss Smith from her duties May 5, and Superintendent Kate Sievers said Smith did not request a hearing with the Illinois State Board of Education in regards to her dismissal.

The jury pre-trial in Calhoun County was continued to Sept. 22. The bomb threat was made April 28 and all students were immediately evacuated from Calhoun High School and no students were injured. An explosive device was not found at the school after a search. The charges stem from a threatening note found in the Calhoun High School women’s bathroom April 28. In the stipulation of facts filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois Sept. 2, the count for conveying a false threat indicates Smith left a note in the high school with the words, “This school is going down today. KABOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!” The letter also stated Smith was “tired of all the people here,” and “Don’t matter, this place sucks and will not be here for long. So long

and GOOD-BYE!!!!!!!” Video surveillance at the high school was used to identify individuals who entered the women’s restroom that may have left the threatening note in the afternoon of April 28, and Smith was identified as a possible suspect. She was taken into custody April 29 and transported to Jersey County Jail before law enforcement officials conducted interviews with faculty and staff who entered the room. Those interviewed agreed to voice stress analysis exams (a lie detector test), including Smith who was interviewed after the test and admitted to creating the threatening document. “Smith also stated she used the first or second computer in a row of five computers which students have access to in her room,” the complaint filed May 1, states. “Smith stated she used one of those two computers

because someone was already logged onto it so she was not required to use her login information.” Smith was previously employed at the Calhoun Elementary School, and in 2007 and 2008, similar threats were made there. Court documents from January 2008 in Jersey County show Smith was charged with two separate misdemeanor counts of harassment by phone. One count alleged she had threatened Calhoun Elementary School principal Kathy Schell by telephone, and another count indicates Smith made several calls to the home of William Goetten with the intent to threaten the Goetten family. The charges were not prosecuted, but Smith was directed to seek psychiatric counseling. She was forbidden from making contact with the Schell and Goetten families.

COUNTY NEWS

Postal worker pleads guilty to mail theft

Nelson throws first pitch at Cardinals game. See page A2

SCHOOL

Toppmeyer earns master’s degree. See page B1

SPORTS

Kallal crowned Miss Calhoun County

Michael Weaver/Calhoun News-Herald

Molly Kallal, 19, waves to the crowd after being crowned Miss Calhoun County Sunday night in Hardin. Kallal beat out three other contestants to win the crown. She is the daughter of Eric and Lisa Kallal of Hardin.

Bob CROSSEN Calhoun News-Herald A postal worker employed in Kampsville and Hardin pleaded guilty to stealing mail that had been deposited for delivery. Abra K. Albrecht, 31 of Carrollton, pleaded guilty to a federal indictment charge for stealing the mail, according to a press release from the United States Attorney Stephen R. Wigginton issued Sept. 9. Albrecht’s sentence will be up to five years in prison in addition to a $250,000 fine and up to three years of supervised release. According to the press release, Albrecht admitted to the mail theft and that “she had taken a debit card from a letter that had been entrusted to her for delivery and then used that card for her own personal gain.” Albrecht was identified by surveillance video when she used the stolen debit card, and that led to her arrest.

Mayor gathers board feedback on website

Warriors stumble against Camp Point Central. See page C6

NEWS

What's happening between the rivers. See page C5

ONLINE

calhounnewsherald.com

CALHOUN NEWSHERALD • Index • Our Town . . . . . . B2 News . . . . . . . . . C5 Public Notice . . . D4 Real Estate . . .D2-3 Correspondence C5 Social . . . . . . . . . A4 Sports . . . . . . . . C6 Obituaries in this issue: None listed

By BOB CROSSEN Calhoun News-Herald Hardin residents could soon have an easy way to interact with the village public works department when a village website launches with a community calendar and a feature to report issues in town. Matt Haug, Hardin mayor, debuted the functions of the website during a regular meeting of the board of trustees Sept. 8. During the previous regular meeting, Haug indicated he would like the village to look into a website for an easier way to disseminate information. Clicking through different sections, Haug showed the board a page for the village history and a community calendar, which could be easily updated for events or village business like hydrant flushing, boil orders or other important information. The function with the most impact, however, is a system where

those with an account on the website would be able to report public works problems or other issues to the city through an interactive map. “We can create the categories we want: water, sidewalks, streets,” Haug said. “It gives us an issue list. People can, once they have an account, they can go in and submit issues and locate them.” Visible on the prototype site was a map with several markers with problems ranging from cracked sidewalks, potholes on village roads and water issues. To the left of the map was a list of those issues as well as their status. Some showed they were acknowledged by the city while others said they were completed or had not yet been seen. When the information is submitted, Haug said the site administrator – be it a single person, the full board or a city employee – would be able to acknowledge the issue and leave a status update.

By BOB CROSSEN Calhoun News-Herald Calhoun County employees will receive a little more time away from the office this Christmas with changes to the holiday schedule. On Thursday, the board approved to offer a half-day off on Christmas Eve in 2014, meaning county offices would close at noon that day.

“I think in 2016, it’s something we need to negotiate.” Chairman

“It gives us an issue list. People can, once they have an account, they can go in and submit issues and locate them.”

Matt Haug Hardin mayor of events to the calendar and anonymous tips for the police department. Board member Eric Kallal and City Clerk Danielle Hurley both expressed excitement over the site’s

functionality and stated they’d like to have it completed. Hurley said she would like to have pictures of the village and some photos from events on the page, as well, and Haug said the prototype is simply an outline of what functions the site could fulfill. Adding photos would not be difficult. Haug said hosting the site would be an expense to the city, although it would likely be less than $10 per month to do so. The board agreed to move forward with the site’s launch, although a date for that launch has not been determined. The board also discussed what action could be taken regarding water runoff into the yards and homes of people living in west Hardin. Gene Breden, village building inspector, said a resident on a private road placed a steel container on his property and also changed the grade to allow for that steel container and added a driveway to it.

“Just south of the building and his home – he’s putting a new home up there now – there is a drainage ditch that runs through there, but the driveway crosses that drainage ditch and effectively blocks it,” Breden said. Because of the changes to the grade and the ditch, he said homes to the south of the property are being flooded by water runoff that was not a problem beforehand. In some cases the runoff has been so bad that mud has built up to the vents underneath a doublewide home and has soaked all the insulation. City Attorney Laef Lorton said those living in homes that are sustaining damage from the water would have cause for a private legal suit. He said he would see what action the city could take by reviewing the village ordinances. Breden said the problem would be fixed if a culvert were installed (See, MayOR, A2)

Commissioners shift 2015 holiday schedule for county employees

Doug Wilschetz

In addition to the option for reporting, Haug said the village could create numerous forms residents could fill out including Freedom of Information Act requests, addition

The motion also exchanged Lincoln’s birthday in 2015, which falls on a Thursday, to give general county offices the day off on Christmas even in 2015. The exchange also renamed Washington’s birthday to President’s Day, which falls on a Monday, to observe both presidents’ birthdays. Holidays for county employees have fluctuated each year with changes often involving time off around Christmas or exchanging one holiday for another. Last September, discussions

revolved around a full day off on Christmas Eve and exchanging New Year’s Eve for Columbus day. The board made no changes at that time, stating it would address those concerns with the 2014 schedule. When discussing the schedule for this year during a meeting Sept. 4, Chairman Doug Wilschetz suggested the commissioners give county offices a paid half-day off Dec. 24, in addition to the holiday schedule described by the court system. He said the problem in the past stemmed from overtime pay for sheriff’s office workers, but with the establishment of the union contract, those concerns are no longer an issue. Commissioner Gene Breden said he did not favor giving the employees the extra time off because it would be a perk for county employees at the expense of taxpayers. “They’re just like every other worker in Calhoun County,” Breden said. “I just think it’s a perk that we’re singling out the county workers to say, ‘Hey, we’re going to give you this perk because the taxpayers are going to pay for it.’” Commissioner Phil Robeen said the sheriff’s department workers would feel left out because they have to work that day to maintain 24/7 emergency services to county residents. County employees already receive 12 holi(See, COMMISSIONERS, A2)

Bob Crossen/Calhoun News-Herald

Buggin' out in the parade

Left to right in front, Circuit Judge Charles H.W. Burch, Samantha Macauley and County Circuit Clerk Yvonne Macauley wave to the crowd in their beetle and bug exterminator costumes as they pass by members of the crowd during the Calhoun County Fair Parade Sept. 7. The group took a fun stab at the parade theme of The Beatles with their costumes. C