Same Court Hearing, Different Reporting; Facts Vs. Misinformation –

Shelby Co., Ill. (ECWd) –

We find it amazing how the “Chicago-based” newspaper, the Shelbyville Eagle, which is based out of Cook County in a suburb of the city of Chicago, Illinois, can get something so wrong, especially a front-page story.

The Shelby County Court Hearing on State’s Attorney Woolery’s subpoenas to the County Board Chairman and the contracted auditing firm, the respondent’s motions to quash and for sanctions, ended with the court quashing (See page 17, lines 19 and 20) the subpoenas and auditing State’s Attorney Woolery’s MX cases (See page 17, lines 9 thru 12). Shelby County residents wouldn’t know this by reading their local newspaper.

The obvious problems start with the title – The county board chair and State’s Attorney did not “settle” any dispute – the Court quashed the subpoenas.

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Here are the questions we sent to the Shelbyville Eagle; they have not responded as of publication:

Shelbyville Eagle,

We read your August 24, 2024, article written by Sharon Barricklow, entitled “County Board Chair, State’s Attorney settle dispute” – and have some questions and requests for comment.

We plan to publish an article on these issues later today.

• Why would you state the subpoenas were “dismissed” when the court transcripts clearly indicate they were “quashed” – there is a big difference in their definitions.
• Why would you report that Orman provided copies of the draft audit reports to a “political website” when the testimony in court, and the court transcripts, both state that Orman never provided any draft audits to “Illinois Leaks” or the “Edgar County Watchdogs”?
  • For the record, Orman never provided us with any draft audits, they came from the Treasurer as reflected in the court transcripts.

• Why would you report that “Orman responded to a Freedom of Information Act request from the Edgar County Watchdogs who then shared both draft audits on their Facebook page”?
  • Again, as stated in the court hearing and in the transcripts, Orman provided us nothing – it is not our fault the current State’s Attorney made a statement of fact to the court which was false. The transcript reflects it was addressed by Robert Hanlon during the hearing.
  • We shared the draft audits on our webpage (something you apparently do not have).  The audits were not published or shared on our Facebook page.

• Why would you reference a “political website”? Which “political website”?
  • For the record, we (Illinoisleaks.com and Edgarcountywatchdogs.com) are not a “political website” as you appear to imply in the article.
  • We are a news media organization (Edgar County Watchdogs, Inc.) set up as an 501(c)(4) and registered with the Illinois Secretary of State as a not-for-profit and News Media Organization.
  • We are, individually and as an organization, members of the Society of Professional Journalists, Chicago Headline Club, Investigative Reporters and Editors, and the Media Law Resource Center.
  • We routinely participate in Extended Media Coverage in the courtroom and have been granted media access to every courtroom we have sought access to.
  • We were granted leave to file an Amici Curiae Brief to the Illinois Supreme Court as a media organization.
  • Seventeen News Media Organizations filed an Amici to the Illinois Supreme Court supporting one of our FOIA lawsuits (The Associated Press, Better Government Association, Chicago Public Media, Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune Company LLC, Illinois Broadcasters Association, Illinois Press Association, Injustice Watch, The Media Institute, National Freedom of Information Coalition, National Press Club Journalism Institute, The National Press Club, National Press Photographers Association, News/Media Alliance, Pro Publica, Inc., Society of Professional Journalists, and the Tully Center for Free Speech, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press).
  • We have been granted media credentials by the Illinois Secretary of State (for the House Floor) and the United States White House Press Pool, to name a few.

• Why would you report that Benford, Brown and Associates are a “McHenry County” accounting firm, when they are clearly located in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County?
• Why would you report Robert Hanlon asked the Judge to sanction Woolery for “requesting the subpoenas to Orman and Benford Brown”?
  • The sanctions requested were not for Woolery’s “requesting” the subpoenas to anyone.  The sanctions were requested for all the violations of the rules made on the subpoenas, as confirmed by the judge and clearly in the transcript. We note, Woolery did not dispute a single allegation outlined in the motion.

• Why would you report the sanctions were rejected?

• • For the record, the sanctions asked for included three parts, as confirmed in the transcript.  The judge denied 2 of the three parts.  To say the sanctions were rejected is only partially true as the judge did in fact audit Woolery’s record as requested in the sanctions motion.

• Why would you report that a “stop payment” order would be issued for IDOT funds directed at the county?

• • For the record, the letter from IDOT on this matter did not indicate IDOT funds directed at the county would be stopped if the audit was not completed but rather that there were two specific grants that would be subject to stop payment.  That is a whole lot different than “IDOT funds directed at the county”.

Thanks for your prompt consideration,

John Kraft

Edgar County Watchdogs, Inc.