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JERSEY COUNTY
JERSEYVILLE, IL 62052
INSIDE NEWS
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JOURNAL VOL. 12, NO. 19 - 75¢
MAY 7, 2014
Federal charge brought against CHS teacher Bob CROSSEN Jersey County Journal A Calhoun High School teacher is facing state and federal charges after she allegedly left a type-written letter indicating a bomb was located in the high school building. During a detention hearing May 5 in East St. Louis, U.S. Magistrate Judge Donald Wilkerson ordered Michelle Lynn Smith be remanded to the custody of the United States Marshals because she is a danger to the community and herself. The motion for detention filed May 5 notes the evidence in the case is strong
and Smith admitted to the offense. It also states the false threat was dangerous to the community. Smith, 36, is a Jerseyville resident employed as a special education teacher at Calhoun High School. Smith was charged with falsely making a terrorist threat in Calhoun County, and an arrest warrant was issued May 1. The Calhoun Community Unit School District 40 board held a special board meeting May 5 where it approved to move forward with the dismissal of Smith from her duties. Superintendent Kate Sievers said Smith has a right to a hearing before being dismissed, and if she chooses to
have one, the district will contact the Illinois State Board of Education for a hearing officer. The local charge alleged Smith left a typed letter indicating the presence of a bomb in the school April 28 at approximately 1 p.m. All students were evacuated from the building upon discovery of the letter, and no explosive device was found, according to an Illinois State Police press release issued May 1. A federal charge for conveying a false threat has also been brought against Smith. Filed May 1, the criminal complaint alleged Smith left a threatening note, insinuating a bomb
was in the building. According to the complaint, the letter stated “This school is going down today. KABOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!,” and that “Everyone is going down, the school will b n flames.” In its final sentences, the letter stated “So long and GOOD-BYE!!!!!!!!!” Video surveillance is in place at the school and was used in identifying individuals who may have left the letter in the woman’s bathroom at the high school in the afternoon of April 28. Smith was identified as one of the individuals who entered the room prior to the threatening letter being found. (See, charge, a2)
FIESTA!
Elementary to boost security with grant funds By ROBERT LYONS Jersey County Journal New intercom and surveillance systems will be installed at West Elementary School, greatly improving safety and security at the building, according to district administrators. On Friday, the state announced Jersey Community Unit School District No. 100 had received a $67,100 grant to be used to enhance security. Administrator Alan Churchman said the entirety of the grant would be dedicated to West. “The intercom system is obsolete in that building,” Churchman said. “There is not two-way communication between the classrooms and the office, which is crucial in time of an emergency.” There hasn’t been an emer-
Eva's 1st birthday. See page A8
SCHOOL
Farmers State Bank makes donation to JCUSD. See page C2
Michael R. Weaver/Jersey County Journal
See page C10
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TOP STORIES ONLINE
Week of April 30 -May 6
April 30 - May 6
1- Federal charge brought against CHS teacher 2- JCHS educator earns Teacher of the Year Award 3- Jersey sweeps Senior Night meet 4- Elementary to boost security with grant funds 5- Illinois American Water acquiring private waterline
INDEX Court. . . . . . . . . . . . . D4 News . . . . A2,A3,A5,B1,B4 Obituaries . . . . . . . . A6 Editorial . . . . . . . . . . A4 Our Town . . . . . . . . A10 Public Notice . . . . D1,4 Sports. . . . . . . . . C910 OBITUARIES:
CARTER, CATT, CLENDENEN, FLYNN, HINDLEY, ROGERS, SAUNDERS, SLOVER.
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gency in which the intercom system has hindered the safety of students, but Churchman said it has been identified as a primary need by emergency management officials during evaluations of the building. “Each teacher will have an actual phone in their classroom that they can utilize to call the office,” he said. “They can even call outside in a time of emergency to notify police.” The grant money will also be used to purchase security cameras throughout the building, which houses pre-K through first grade students. “Our No. 1 priority, for any school district, is keeping kids safe,” Superintendent Lori Hopkins said. “Then education is always second.” Jersey Community Unit School District is one of 448 (See, fundS, a2)
Jerseyville resident defrauds employer of more than $400,000
SPORTS
Jersey squads eyeing winning seasons
MIChELLE LYNN SMITh
Five-year-old Trevor Rodney dances with his mother, Angel, Friday night during Jerseyville Parks and Recreation Department's Mother/Son Fiesta.
New State Street restaurant looks to offer family, fun atmosphere By ROBERT LYONS Jersey County Journal Last week, a sign popped up in a window of the recently vacated 118 S. State Street to announce the coming of a new restaurant. Todd Iverson, co-owner of Ruby and Ellie’s Dollarama, has been “itching” to get back into the restaurant business since selling his Bloomington-based Super
“We want to be a real family-friendly place. We want a place the ball team can go out and eat pizza, drink soda and watch the Cardinals game.”
Todd Iverson Owner Gyros in 2012. He is now in the process of converting the former Ming’s Buffet into State Street Bar and Grill. “We want to be a real familyfriendly place,” Iverson said. “We want a place the ball team can go out and eat pizza, drink soda and watch the Cardinals game.” Planning to feature 18 large TVs and a game area for children, Iverson said what he plans to bring to Jerseyville is something residents normally had to leave town to find. “I think we’re going to fill a little niche that isn’t here in town, yet,” he said. “My goal is
to attract people to town, instead of having them go away from town.” After a few failed go-rounds as a Chinese eatery, the building became vacant. However, Iverson recognized that – with its size, centralized location and adequate parking – the building is perfect for the family restaurant he wants to open. “This building is empty and it’s more of an eyesore, I think, than anything,” Iverson said. “I think what you’re going to see is a completely new look. It’s not going to be a Chinese restaurant.” Renovations are underway to create Iverson’s vision out of the former buffet. He said the results will be a unique addition to the Jerseyville restaurant scene. “We’re not going to be open like a regular bar,” he said. “We’re going to close at 11 o’clock Sunday through Thursday and midnight on Friday and Saturday. Our whole thing is we want to be a family-friendly bar, where you can take the kids.” There will also be a separate dining area, to be named The Dugout, which will hold up to 50 people and can be booked for meetings, parties and private dinners. Iverson was an owner of Super Gyros in Bloomington from 2001 to 2012, so he has experience running a successful eatery. While the menu at State Street Bar & Grill will include favorites such as gyros, Italian beef and baklava, Iverson said the new Jerseyville restaurant will mostly serve “American” food. “I’ve actually had people ask me, ‘Hey, are you opening up (See, reStaurant, a2)
Enterprise zone establishment in limbo prise zone became a lesser priority for the county. Last fall, former Jersey County Business Association (JCBA) CEO Alan Gilmore along with Greene County Economic (See, limbo, a2)
By BOB CROSSEN Jersey County Journal With a continued debate on Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL) and contentious local elections, applying for an enter-
Staff REPORT Jersey County Journal A Jerseyville woman has pleaded guilty in federal court to defrauding her former employer out of more than $400,000. According to documents filed in the Southern District of Illinois federal court, Stacy Jo Kanallakan used her position of accountant at Madison County-based Teslar Laboratories, Inc. (TLI), to embezzle the money over a six-year period. Kanallakan, according to the court documents, was hired by TLI in 1999 and, among other duties, was in charge of payroll. In November 2005 Kanallakan began defrauding the company
by increasing the direct deposits to her own account, as well as issuing checks to herself, the court documents allege. TLI used Liberty Bank for payroll purposes, which is based in Wisconsin. Because interstate wire communication was used to receive a fraudulent payment, Kanallakan’s alleged crime constitutes wire fraud. The same day the federal charges were filed (May 2), Kanallakan signed a plea agreement, and pleaded guilty. By accepting responsibility, Kanallakan’s offense level is a 20. With virtually no criminal history, Kanallakan could be facing between 33 and 41 months of imprisonment, if the (See, defraud, a2)
Robert Lyons/Jersey County Journal
JCHS
PRESENTS PROM COURT
The 2014 Jersey Community high School prom court is, front row, left to right: Samantha Critchfield, Lindsey Shaw, Kaylin Smith and Lily Tepen. Second row: Abby Rogers, Courtney Maher and Morgan Mann. Third row: Scott Turner, Garrett Brangenberg and Chase Davis. Fourth row: Jacob hahn, Aaron helfer and Alex Croxford. Back: Brendan Goldacker. Prom will be held Saturday, May 10 at JChS. Outdoor walk-ins will be held east of the tennis courts beginning at 6:30 p.m. Limited bleacher seating will be available. Prom coronation will be at 10 p.m. in the JChS cafeteria. C
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