Month: November 2022

Rambling through central Illinois, waiting for the other shoe to drop. • • • In 55 years of spending far too much time thinking about football, last Saturday was the first time I went to a game excited to watch a punter. El Paso-Gridley punter Declan Duley is a University of Illinois recruit who has been billed as the No. 1 punter in the country. We don’t see that kind of hype very often around here. But while he booted some impressive, towering kicks in practice, Duley went 1-for-3 on field goals and had his lone punt blocked by Farmington’s…

By JOHN A. BALLENTINE For The Prairie News TOULON – It has been over 20 years in the making, but Stark County – which is the last of 102 Illinois counties to receive E911 service – will begin constructing a new E911 Service Communications Center in Toulon. Officials from Stark and Peoria counties held a groundreaking last Friday for the center, which will be attached and east of the existing jail building. The two counties have entered an agreement on E911 service. In addition, a new 180-foot radio tower will be installed to better transmit and receive emergency calls that…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Traffic citations & Ordinance violations 10-20 – Jermaine G. Hickman – Driving 15-20 mph above limit and operating an uninsured vehicle. 10-26 – Adrin S. Ward – Driving 21-25 mph above limit. 10-26 – Alonso Favela – Driving 11-14 mph above limit. 10-26 – Toby J. Roberts – Driving 21-25 mph above limit. 10-26 – Ashley A. Mancera – Driving 21-25 mph above limit. 10-27 – Noah E. Clay – Driving 15-20 mph above limit. 10-27 – Kaden M. Rutherford –…

By JEFF LAMPE For The Weekly Post FARMINGTON – Some day, Virgil Haggard will have a heckuva story to tell his kids and grandkids. “Did I ever tell you the one about me blocking a kick by the best high school punter in the U.S.?” the Farmington senior center will ask. Unlike many parental memories, this one will be accurate. And Haggard won’t even have to embellish how important his block was in a playoff game filled with wacky pitches, diving catches and big plays of all sorts. That Farmington rallied from a 14-0 deficit to beat El Paso-Gridley, 40-30, in…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Police reports • FARMINGTON – A Farmington woman was cited for falsely reporting her baby girl was abducted by the baby’s father, according to authorities. Story S. Hewitt, 40, called Farmington police about 8:15 p.m. Oct. 26 and reported she had argued with the baby’s father. According to her, he then took the baby from a residence in the 100 block of E. Court St. and told Hewitt he wasn’t bringing her back, a police report stated. Police called the father…

By JEFF LAMPE For The Weekly Post Two candidates are running for Knox County Sheriff. Here are questions and answers from the two candidates, Republican Jack Harlan and Democrat James Robertson. Question: Why are you running for Sheriff? Jack Harlan: I served this great nation for over 20 years in peacetime and war and took an oath to serve and protect the Constitution of the United States and the people, just like every current public servant has. We need a strong leader who will ensure all laws are enforced equally, hold people accountable, and protect and defend our Constitutional rights. I know…

By JEFF LAMPE For The Weekly Post Most attention will be on major statewide races in Illinois for the upcoming Nov. 8 general election. Illinois leadership roles of governor, attorney general, secretary of state, comptroller and treasurer will all be decided in less than two weeks, though more and more votes are being cast already in early opportunities. Voters will also voice their opinion on a Workers’ Right Amendment that would “add a new section to the Bill of Rights Article of the Illinois Constitution that would guarantee workers the fundamental right to organize and to bargain collectively.” Democrat Tammy Duckworth…