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Focus on vacant or neglected properties has paid off By JEFF LAMPEFor The Weekly Post FARMINGTON – A concentrated effort to deal with vacant and neglected buildings and trailer homes in Farmington appears to be paying off. At Monday’s meeting of the Farmington City Council, Police Chief Chris Darsham reported he has received responses regarding 21 of 30 vacant or neglected buildings or trailer homes currently in violation of city codes. A few other responses arrived Tuesday morning, the chief said, though he has not processed them yet. Letters were sent to owners of the properties along with a form now…

By NICK VLAHOSFor The Weekly Post PRINCEVILLE – The Peoria County Sheriff’s Office deputy who for a decade has been stationed in the Princeville School District has been removed from that job. An internal investigation resulted in the action taken against Deputy Crystal Strauss, Sheriff Chris Watkins stated Monday. Strauss, who became the Princeville school resource officer in September 2015, has been reassigned to patrol duties. The Strauss investigation regarded alleged policy violations, according to Watkins. He was not more specific. The Princeville SRO job opening has been posted internally. Watkins expects it to be filled next week. According to Princeville…

By JEFF LAMPEFor The Prairie News and The Weekly Post BRADFORD – New hope has emerged for the future of Saint John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church in Bradford. Slated for permanent closure by the Diocese of Peoria after a final service on April 19, the church has attracted interest from the Byzantine Catholic Church. Working with local supporters, a group is exploring using St. John’s to establish a mission church for the Ohio-based Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma. Residents of Bradford and the surrounding area are invited to a community informational meeting on Jan. 18 at 3 p.m. at the…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.Police reports • PRINCEVILLE – A 77-year-old Princeville woman was the victim of a scam, according to authorities.The scammer absconded with about $25,000, according to the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office. The theft was reported at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 9. An Asian male is the suspect. The sheriff’s office indicated the suspect was impersonating a federal agent. • EDWARDS – A Hanna City man was accused of domestic battery regarding an incident at an Edwards-area residence. Randy C. Cusack, 58, was arrested shortly before 4 p.m. Dec. 5…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.Incidents & AccidentsStark County12-28 – Joseph M. Clark, 19, East Peoria, was cited for disregarding a stop sign.12-30 – Shauna C. Cooper, 47, Princeville, was cited for driving a vehicle without a valid registration. The vehicle was towed and impounded and Cooper was issued a court date to appear.12-31 – Bailey E. Leverette, 26, Galva, was cited for speeding 67 mph in a 45 zone.12-31 – Kaiden G. Sarnes, 18, Princeville, was cited for operation of an uninsured vehicle. He was issued a court date to appear.12-31…

Incidents & AccidentsStark County12-15 – Tiara R. Henderson, 26, Toulon, was cited for speeding 75 mph in a 55 zone.12-16 – Hannah E. Robinson, 18, Toulon, was cited for speeding 80 mph in a 55 zone.12-18 – Jerry E. Sander, 52, LaFayette, was arrested for domestic battery. Sander was taken into custody and extradited to the Bureau County Jail. On Dec. 19, Sander appeared in court and was released with conditions to have no contact with the victim. He was scheduled with a new court date.12-19 – Dustin L. Waldron, 37, East Peoria, was cited for driving without a valid…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.Police reports • FARMINGTON – A Canton woman admitted she stole a donation jar from a Farmington business, according to authorities. Security video revealed Nicole M. Van Dusen, 42, took the jar from atop a slot machine at Sneaky Pete’s In & Out Gaming Parlor, 43 E. Fort St., and put it in her bag shortly after 6:30 p.m. Nov. 20, according to a Farmington police report. The jar, for the benefit of the police department, contained $16. Van Dusen said she gave $6 from the jar…

The Weekly Post and The Prairie News will not publish a December 25/26 edition. Our offices will be closed the week of Christmas. We will resume operations as normal on December 29 and we will publish a Jan. 1 and Jan. 2 edition. Ad deadline for the Jan 1st ed. of The Weekly Post and Jan 2nd ed. of the Prairie News is Monday Dec. 29 by noon. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us at The Weekly Post and The Prairie News!

• • • Want to predict the worst weather day of the winter? Just circle whatever day is selected for our Native Seed Celebration, which we had to postpone last Saturday. Trust me, for me to postpone an event takes some actual weather. Among my many frustrations is seeing things canceled a night in advance because of predicted bad weather … only to wake to sunny skies and dry roads. Another pet peeve is how many people who act so worried about road conditions can be seen in their vehicles later that same day, driving to get milk or other…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.Police reports Incidents & AccidentsStark County 12-7 – Aaron B. Bell, 39, Peoria, was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle. He was also cited for driving while his license was revoked, operating an uninsured vehicle and driving on a suspended registration. He was extradited to the Bureau County Jail. On Dec. 9, Bell was released with a notice to appear.12-7 – A traffic stop on Illinois Route 17 and 1500E resulted in three arrests Myla A. Reno, 20, and Christian M. Barajas, 20, both of Henry,…