The Beloit Auction Service sold an oil painting by an American impressionist for a record amount Wednesday night, according to auction-goer and Beloit College Professor Darrah Chavey.

      The sale price, $168,000, may surprise some in the art world, who have been referring to Beloit as some "podunk town outside of Chicago." Chavey says the painting, by Franics Coates Jones, was sent to Beloit for auction from Texas because of the reputation of auctioneer Richard Ranft.