NEWTON, IL. (ECWd) –
Watch our video report on the federal lawsuit, and the “incident” after the last school board meeting adjourned.
School Board Member Melissa Stanley made false 911 call after School Board Meeting –
After the December 18, 2017 school board meeting, and according to the Police Reports, it was reported to Dispatch that: “2 men from Edgar County Watchdogs yelling and screaming at Board Members” and “the men were in Holly Farley’s face” and “yelling at her and point his finger in her face” – all of that is a lie as the video proves. We have been advised that this is not the first time she has been alleged to have filed a false police report.
Speaking of finger-pointing “in my face” – this pic is a double-pointer:
Here is my narrative of the meeting video (below) that I sent to the Newton Police Department:
At 5:37 Motion to adjourn.
At this point, since there was no longer a lawful (according to the Open Meetings Act) “School Board Meeting” in progress there could not possibly have been a “School Board Disruption” as was reported. Also at this point, there could never have been a “Disturbing Lawful Assembly” since the meeting was over and there was no “lawful” assembly. Additionally, no one ever asked me to be quiet, to not ask questions, to shut up, to lower my voice, to back up and give them more room, or to leave the room or building – which is further evidence that nothing was disturbed, and nothing was alarming any one of those present.
Immediately following, I slowly approached the board from in front, standing at least 5-6 feet from any one of the Board members and on the audience side of the table.
My first comment was that I realized the meeting was over, and that I was going to ask them a question while they were packing up to leave the building.
Almost immediately after I started asking my question, I was rudely interrupted (in a loud voice) by board member Farley when she made wild and unsubstantiated claims that another board member may have been involved in my questioning, even calling us “friends.” She continued to talk over my questions by raising her voice, causing me to elevate the volume of my voice.
Farley raised the volume of her voice again, causing me to raise mine again. Then, Board member Stanley joined with Farley while both of them were talking with raised voices – to the point of “yelling and screaming” at me. A few seconds later, the board clerk got involved and said something – but I kept asking my questions.
There was absolutely no appearance of any board member feeling apprehensive or threatened during this interchange of ideas. One board member even approached me from behind to unplug her computer, the other members remained seated.
AT NO TIME did any member of the board ask me to lower my tone of voice, to stop asking questions, or to leave the room or building.
Once board member Stanley realized she might be talking to someone who would not buy into their version of events, she left the room to call the Police and falsely report what happened.
It is clear in the video that I, John Kraft, was never “yelling or screaming” at any board member (at least no more than two of the board members would be considered yelling and screaming at me). It is also clear that neither I, nor Kirk Allen “caused a disturbance” – if anything, a disturbance might have been caused by board members Farley and Stanley when they were interrupting the question(s) I have of the board.
AT NO TIME was I “in Holly Farley’s face” nor did I ever “point a finger in her face” as board member Stanley would like you to believe. You cannot get in anyone’s face from 5 to 6 feet away and on the opposite side of a large u-shaped conference table.
FINALLY, AT NO TIME was Kirk Allen ever involved in the discussion, nor did he ever leave his seat in the audience seating area.
Watch the video – fast-forward to the 5:37 mark:
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