Month: March 2023
Of bluebells, a late trey & cats scratching
Rambling through central Illinois, happy to report the bluebells are starting to poke through the leaf litter and promise to put on a fantastic show later this spring. • • • Callers have been wondering if we will have stories about political races before the April 4 election. Yes! Watch for stories on the Brimfield and Williamsfield school board elections and the contested race for Farmington mayor in the next two editions. … Anyone who saw Elmwood get thumped by Illini Bluffs (32-5) in the sectional had to be impressed by IB. Some even pondered whether IB had what it…
JH wrestling team
yields state champ
By JEFF LAMPEFor The Weekly Post FARMINGTON – School boards make decisions every month across Illinois, often with little obvious change.Occasionally though, a vote leads to a clear consequence – sometimes even a state championship, as was the case in Farmington. In the first year of establishing a junior high wrestling program, Farmington saw sixth-grader Isaac Showalter go undefeated in his 70-pound weight class en route to an IESA Class A state championship last weekend.Showalter and fellow junior high qualifier Chase Frye were part of a contingent of wrestlers on hand to be recognized by the school board at its monthly…
Elmwood renews downtown TIF, four taxing bodies to get cut
By NICK VLAHOSFor The Weekly Post ELMWOOD – A quartet of local taxing bodies is to receive new revenue from a renewed Elmwood tax-increment-financing district. During its meeting March 7, the Elmwood City Council approved a 10-year extension of the Central Business District TIF area. The vote followed talks among city officials and representatives of the Elmwood Rural Fire Protection District, Elmwood Township and the Elmwood School District. Under the renewal terms, those entities and the Elmwood road and bridge fund are to receive 50 percent of downtown-TIF revenue paid from 2024 to 2028, in proportion with their property-tax rates. The…
Billtown’s final gaming license goes to Ladd’s
By NICK VLAHOSFor The Weekly Post WILLIAMSFIELD – Ladd’s Food Mart is to receive the final video-gambling license the current Williamsfield Village Board intends to issue. The board decided March 6 to cap at three the number of video-gambling permit holders in town, according to Village President Matt Tonkin. Only one Billtown business offers video gambling – Double Take Bar & Grill, 111 N. Oak St. Another license has been granted for a combination gambling parlor-laundromat being constructed across the street from Double Take, according to Tonkin. “I’m not a fan of gambling,” he said. “It’s just a shame that’s where…
Williamsfield school board OKs spring coaches
By JEFF LAMPEFor The Weekly Post WILLIAMSFIELD – The Williamsfield School Board approved spring coaches and passed a threat assesment plan Monday at its regular montly meeting. Approved as spring high school coaches were the following.• Baseball – Paid coaches are Arnie Gonzalez, Mike Weitekamp, Jeremy King and Brian McGarry. Volunteer coaches are Dan Self, Brent Stewart, Charlie Sams, Tim Farquer, James Sams, Mike Smith and Steve DeWitt.• Softball – Paid coaches are Beau Burnett, Cory Garza, Chad Reed and Paige Collopy. Volunteer coaches are Denny Smith, Ryan West and Alycea Burnett. The board also approved Mary Kay Bronny for concussion…
The Weekly Post public record for 3-16-23
NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Elmwood man faces sexual abuse charges• PEORIA – A 69-year-old Elmwood man faces between three and seven years in prison if convicted of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Robert R. Arnold was indicted and arraigned last week in Peoria County Circuit Court. He pleaded not guilty and was being held in the Peoria County Jail on $75,000 bond. He needed to post $7,500 to be released.According to the indictment, Arnold is accused of knowingly committing sexual conduct with someone at least 13…
Elmwood votes to extend sports co-op
Brimfield school board V.P. anticipatessimilar vote from his group in March By JEFF LAMPEFor The Weekly Post ELMWOOD – The ball is in Brimfield’s court regarding the future of a long-standing sports cooperative agreement with Elmwood. The Elmwood School Board on Monday voted 5-1 in favor of extending the co-op as it currently exists for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. Kevin Windish cast the lone dissenting vote after indicating he would prefer to wait until March for a decision. The Brimfield School Board is scheduled to discuss the co-op again at its March 15 meeting, after tabling a vote on Feb….
The Prairie News public record for 3-3-23
NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Traffic citations &Ordinance violations2-24 – Dale J. Ensley – Unlicensed, operating an uninsured vehicle and driving 15-20 mph above limit.Misdemeanors &Felonies2-23 – Criminal felony – Rachel W. Newton – Meth delivery and possession of meth.2-23 – Criminal felony – Matthew R. Hollis – Meth delivery, possession of meth, suspended vehicle registration, uninsured vehicle and head/tail/sidelight violation.Incidents & AccidentsStark County2-19 – David S. Dailey, 41, Galva, was cited for driving without vehicle insurance and for driving on a suspended license.2-22 – Jacob…
The Weekly Post public record for 3-2-23
NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.Farmington man faces fraudulent check charges• FARMINGTON – A Farmington man faces a Fulton County Circuit Court hearing after he was accused of cashing $4,850 in fraudulent checks at a local bank office.Clinton J. Shaffer, 46, was charged with deceptive practices, according to the Farmington Police Department. He is to appear in court at 9 a.m. March 15 in Lewistown, per the Fulton County State’s Attorney’s Office.Shaffer submitted nine checks between Dec. 16-27 to the Farmington branch of the Bank of Yates…