www.arcolarecordherald.com
Volume 153 — Number 23
THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015
ONE SECTION — 10 PAGES
FATAL SHOOTING IN ARCOLA
Local Man
Shot Down By
Police Sunday
Arcola High School seniors who have been named 2015 Illinois State Scholars are pictured above. From left are
Emma Klopfleisch, Justin Kuhns and Taylor Edwards.
Three AHS Seniors State Scholars
Arcola High School Principal Lisa
Sigrist announces that three Arcola
High School students from the graduating class of 2015 have been recognized as Illinois State Scholars.
The Illinois Student Assistance
Commission, the state agency committed to helping to make college
accessible and affordable for Illinois
families, bestows this prestigious
recognition to top Illinois high school
students annually. This year, over
18,800 elite honorees join the other
top state students honored for their
academic achievements since the designation was first introduced in 1958.
Illinois State Scholars represent
approximately the top 10 percent of
high school seniors, hailing from 671
different high schools across the state.
Selection is based on SAT, ACT or
Prairie State Achievement Exam
scores, and/or class rank at the end of
the junior year. High school guidance
counselors work with ISAC to deter-
mine the winners.
Arcola High School students named
2015-16 Illinois State Scholars
include Taylor Edwards, Emma
Klopfleisch and Justin Kuhns.
“It is with great pride that we
announce this year’s group of Illinois
State Scholars,” said Eric Zarnikow,
ISAC executive director. “In addition
to congratulating our State Scholars
for their commitment and hard work,
we also want to commend their parents, teachers, coaches and mentors
for helping these students achieve
their goals. It really does take a village.”
Zarnikow continued, “ISAC wishes
all of the scholars at Arcola High
School the best as they pursue their
future education and careers.”
While this distinguished recognition does not include a monetary
prize, recipients are encouraged to
cite the honor on applications for college admission and scholarships. In
addition, students are urged to complete the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1.
The FAFSA determines eligibility
for federal and state aid, including
Illinois’ need-based Monetary Award
Program (MAP) grant, as well as for
many forms of aid offered through colleges.
A calendar of free financial aid and
college access events, including
FAFSA completion workshops to
assist students and families with the
form, is available on ISAC’s website,
www.isac.org.
Students can visit the agency’s website for a wealth of additional financial aid and college planning information and tools, as well as applications
for grants and scholarships administered by ISAC. In addition, students
can find out how to access free one-onone assistance and mentoring in the
college-going process.
On Sunday, January 11, at approximately 7:20 p.m., Illinois
State Police Zone 5 Investigations received a request from the
Arcola Police Department to investigate an officer-involved
shooting at a residence in their jurisdiction.
At approximately 5:39 p.m., Arcola police officers were dispatched to 224 Circle Drive, which is located in the Arco Acres
subdivision on the city’s north side, in response to a 911 call
reporting a domestic disturbance that involved an individual
armed with a handgun.
Officers from Tuscola Police Department, Arthur Police
Department and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office also
responded to assist.
During the course of their investigation, officers were confronted by the individual, who was reportedly armed with an
assault rifle and a handgun. During their encounter, officers
shot and fatally wounded the individual, who was identified
as Tommy E. Smith, 39, of Arcola.
According to a report from the state police, it was noted that
an autopsy was completed in Champaign on Tuesday by Dr.
Shiping Bao, M.D. The preliminary cause of death was found
to be gunshot wounds to the right chest and left neck.
Illinois State Police Zone 5 will be the lead agency in the
investigation. As of Monday afternoon, no further information
was being released by the Illinois State Police.
The public is reminded that criminal defendants are presumed innocent until the government is able to prove its
charges in court beyond a reasonable doubt.
This home at 224 Circle Drive in Arcola was the location of
a fatal shooting early Sunday evening.
Woman Gets 15 Years In Murder-For-Hire Scheme
By Chris Slack
An Arcola woman charged last
September in a murder-for-hire plot
was sentenced to prison in Douglas
County Circuit Court last week.
On January 6, Michelle L. Smith,
34, of Arcola pleaded guilty to
attempted solicitation of murder for
hire; the first count was dismissed.
She was sentenced to 15 years in
the
Illinois
Department
of
Corrections, with 104 days of credit
for time already served. She was
also sentenced to two years of
mandatory supervised release.
Smith was charged in Douglas
County Circuit Court on September
26 with solicitation of murder for
hire and attempted solicitation of
murder for hire. Both are Class X
felony charges.
Smith allegedly, with the intent
that the offense of first-degree murder be committed, procured another
to commit that offense pursuant to
an agreement in which she would
pay money in exchange for the murder being committed.
According to a report filed by the
Illinois State Police, on September
22, Steve Holt, an assumed name,
contacted Inspector Adam Jenkins
of the East Central Illinois Task
Force and advised him that he had
been approached by Smith, an
acquaintance, on September 21
regarding the possibility of him
finding another individual to murder Danielle Chalfont.
According to Holt, he and Smith
were having a discussion regarding
Smith’s current boyfriend, Gary
Chalfont, and their relationship. In
the police report, Smith said that
Gary Chalfont had been very distant from her. Smith reportedly told
Holt to harass Danielle Chalfont as
he had done in the past and that
Gary Chalfont would pay him to do
that. Smith then informed Holt that
she would “rather just see her go
away.”
See Woman Sentenced...p. 3
WHAT’S ON THE COMMUNITY AGENDA?
FAFSA Completion
Night At AHS
The Arcola High School guidance department
will be hosting a FAFSA completion night on
Wednesday, January 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the
high school computer lab. This event is free and
open to anyone who is currently attending college
or will be starting college in the fall.
Participants will need their tax information and
children's Social Security numbers. Bilingual presenters will be available to assist those who do not
speak English. Please contact the guidance department at 268-4962 if you have questions or need
additional information.
Additional announcements are included below:
Spring Soccer Registration
Arcola Recreation spring 2015 soccer registration
will be held at the Arcola Moore Park soccer concession stand for ages preschool (4 yrs old) through
eighth grade on Saturday, January 31, from 9 a.m.
to noon and Saturday, February 7, from 9 a.m. to
noon. For more information, please visit the website
at www.arcolarec.org/soccer or email: [email protected].
Chamber Community Dance
The Arcola Chamber of Commerce will sponsor
its annual community dance February 21 at the
Best Western PLUS hotel, located on the Green
Mill Village property in Arcola. The dance is open
to the general public; it is not restricted to those
who are Chamber members. The theme of this
year’s community dance will revolve around the
roaring 20s, the Great Gatsby. For more information, call the Chamber of Commerce at 268-4530.
Senior Citizens Potluck
The Arcola senior citizens will have their monthly potluck lunch at 11:30 a.m. Friday, January 16,
at the Arcola Senior Center. Bring a dish to share.
All senior citizens are welcome to attend.
Jaycees Regular Meetings
The Arcola Jaycees have their meetings every
first and third Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at
It’ll Do. All persons age 21 to 41 are invited to
attend.
IN THIS WEEK’S ISSUE
Arcola Rotary Club Meeting
The next meeting of the Arcola Sunrise Rotary
Club will be at 7:15 a.m. Thursday, January 15, at
the Dutch Kitchen. The Rotary Club meets each
Thursday. For membership information, contact
club President Bill Wagoner at
[email protected].
R-H Newsstand
Locations
The Arcola Record-Herald is available each
week at these area locations:
In Arcola: Casey’s General Store, Arcola IGA,
Browne’s Pharmacy, Arcola Country Store &
Gas, Vyverberg’s, Dutch Kitchen, Country
Charm, Hen House and Jack Flash.
Rural Arcola: Country Salvage.
In Chesterville: Korner Cafe.
In Hindsboro: Quick Gits (formerly Five N’s).
In Tuscola: Tuscola IGA.
Classifieds ..........................................8
Courthouse News..............................4
Obituaries ..........................................5
HOW TO REACH US
• To fax news and advertising materials to
the Record-Herald, please call 217-2684938. The deadline is 5 p.m. each Monday.
Find the R-H on the web at
www.arcolarecordherald.com
• The newspaper’s mailing address is
118 E. Main St., Arcola, IL 61910.
Phone 268-4950.
• E-mail the newspaper at:
[email protected]