Month: December 2022

By JEFF LAMPEFor The Weekly Post  “What are the big white birds I’ve been seeing?” That question, asked increasingly over the past few years, has a simple and encouraging answer: Trumpeter swans. Thanks to protections from hunting and active breeding programs in several states, trumpeter swans are recolonizing areas of the Midwest – including Illinois – where they were eliminated from by 1900. In addition to numerous reports of breeding swans in Illinois, the large birds are increasingly over-wintering in central Illinois. In the past few years, flocks have spent time resting in fields throughout The Weekly Post circulation area. For the…

By NICK VLAHOSFor The Weekly Post The Princeville Holiday Tournament received an early Christmas present, courtesy of Brimfield. When the boys basketball tournament begins Monday, Brimfield will be among its eight teams, although that wasn’t the case originally. Brimfield will replace DePue, which was the subject of a scheduling mix-up.A change in DePue administration and coaching left its officials unaware the school was obligated to play at Princeville, according to Princes Athletics Director Jeff Kratzer. He was unaware of a conflict until after he sent an early-December email regarding the tourney seeding meeting, which was Sunday. “The new AD emailed back…

Turnovers hurt in loss to West Central By JEFF LAMPEFor The Weekly Post MONMOUTH – Turnovers and the flu conspired to keep Elmwood (10-3) out of the title game at the United Tournament last week. After winning its first two tournament games, Elmwood lost to West Central, 50-40, on Dec. 13.The Lady Trojans then went on to rout Farmington in the third-place game, 55-20, on Dec. 15. Illini Bluffs (11-4) beat West Central in the tourney title game, 57-41. That was the game Elmwood had planned to play, but those plans were cast aside when the Lady Trojans turned the ball…

By NICK VLAHOSFor The Weekly Post GALESBURG – Finding a positive identification for certain human remains found in October in Maquon might take two or three more months, according to a Knox County Sheriff’s Office investigator. Meanwhile, a woman arrested following the discovery remains in the Knox County Jail as her case proceeds through circuit court after additional charges were filed. A University of Illinois forensic pathologist is to analyze additional samples from the remains found Oct. 7 in a storage unit, Sgt. Brad Davis said last week. Initial samples contained insufficient DNA. That isn’t uncommon in a body as badly…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.Police reports• FARMINGTON – A disturbance at a Farmington residence led to the arrests of two Chillicothe women.Amanda M. McMurtry, 35, and Brittany S. Walliker, 33, were accused of mob action in connection with the incident, on Dec. 17 at about 10:30 p.m. in the 100 block of N. Cedar St. McMurtry also was accused of battery, and Walliker was accused of domestic battery.It appears the women arrived at the Cedar Street address to pick up Walliker’s son, according to a Farmington…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Incidents & AccidentsStark County 11-30 – A deer-related vehicle accident occurred on Route 17 near the intersection of 950E. The driver involved was Venette S. Pittman, 78, of Toulon. No injuries were reported but damages to the vehicle were estimated over $1,500.12-9 – A deer-related vehicle accident occurred on the Modena Road, one-quarter mile west of 1000E. The driver involved was Ahern R. Holler, 23, of Henry. No injuries were reported but damages to the vehicle were estimated over $1,500.12-5 –…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Princeville 2-year-old wanders off from homePRINCEVILLE – A 2-year-old boy not dressed for cold weather wandered from his residence to another, apparently in search of Princeville Grade School. The incident happened about 10 a.m. Dec. 8, according to the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office. A woman who resides on North Town Avenue heard a light tapping at her front door. The child at the door said he was looking for an orange building, the same color as the grade school, where his…

Rambling through central Illinois, remembering Yukon Cornelius. • • • Should someone under age 21 be allowed to own a gun or ammunition? Isn’t that a constitutional right? Or is it only OK for people under 21 to touch guns while toiling in the military and putting their lives at risk? And when will we finally decide what age constitutes adulthood? 18? 21? 75? Those are among many questions worth asking in regards to House Bill 5855, which will generate plenty of headlines between now and its appearance during the Jan. 4-10 lame-duck session of the Illinois legislature. Worth noting…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Traffic citations & Ordinance violations 11-26 – Kyla R. Cassidy – Operating a vehicle with suspended registration and operating an uninsured vehicle. 11-28 – Lucas A. Clayes – Driving 15-20 mph above limit. Felonies & Misdemeanors 10-14 – Felony – Zachary D. Jacobson was arrested for unlawful possession of a controlled substance. 11-26 – Domestic violence – Collin P. Murphy was arrested for domestic battery/physical contact and criminal damage to property. Incidents & Accidents Stark County 1-9 – A deer-related vehicle…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Edwards man jailed for hitting father of fiancee • EDWARDS – An Edwards man punched in the face the father of his fiancée during an altercation that involved all three, according to authorities. Trevor L. Smith, 24, was arrested following the incident, which happened about 5:30 a.m. Dec. 2 at a residence in the 6300 block of N. Grace Lane in rural Edwards. Events culminated with an intoxicated Smith punching the 59-year-old victim, according to a Peoria County Sheriff’s Office report….