NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Traffic citations &Ordinance violations 6-14 – Zachary T. DeWeese – Driving 15-20 mph above limit.6-15 – Taran L. J. Kindred – Driving 21-25 mph above limit. Incidents & AccidentsStark County 6-8 – Thomas A. Null, 58, Bradford, was cited for driving on an expired vehicle registration.6-9 – Trevor L. Shimmin, 25, Normal, was ticketed for speeding 67 mph in a 55 zone and for driving without vehicle insurance. He was released with a court date.6-10 – Grace N. Bach, 22, Princeville, was cited for speeding 74…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.Police reports • PEORIA – A Princeville-area woman was arrested after she abandoned a damaged vehicle on a Peoria thoroughfare, then claimed she wasn’t the driver, according to authorities. Peoria police responded about noon May 27 to the 8800 block of N. Orange Prairie Rd., where they found a 2012 Nissan Leaf stopped in the farthest-right southbound lane. The vehicle’s front passenger-side tire was deflated and the rear passenger-side rim was damaged, a police report stated. A witness reported a woman fled the scene on foot into…

Free concerts and family events at Bishop Hill for annual festival BISHOP HILL – The annual Midsommar Music Festival returns here on June 21. Highlights of the traditional Swedish holiday festival include free concerts in the park, a Swedish Maypole celebration and more. Attendees are asked to bring their own lawnchairs to better enjoy the day’s concerts. Celebrating Midsommar, one of the two most popular holidays in Sweden – the other being Christmas – is a very ancient practice, dating back to pre-Christian times. It has its roots in pagan rituals to welcome summer and the season of fertility. In…

By JOHN A. BALLENTINEFor The Prairie News TOULON – The Toulon City Council on Monday passed a motion to hire Peerless Well and Pump, Inc., of Dubuque, Iowa, to perform necessary repairs on the city’s No. 1 well. Total cost is not to exceeed $45,000 for Peerless to pull the well parts out, including the pump, and replace it with a new one if required. During the council’s May meeting, Mayor Larry Hollis said an immediate repair was required for a leak in well No. 1. At that time, an estimate was to be obtained for the cost of a…

By JOHN A. BALLENTINEFor The Prairie News TOULON – After a closed session Tuesday evening to discuss the purchase of real property, the Stark County Board of Supervisors hired the services of an architect firm. Board Chair Kari Bush said Mackinaw-based Atelier, P.C.was hired to design the new highway building.No other details on plans for the new building were provided during or after the board meeting.This was the board’s eighth closed-session discussion on the topic of purchasing real property since May 2024. In the closed session Tuesday were board members Bush, Vice-Chair Robin Nowlan, Tom Howes, Jamie Schaffer, Adam Wilson, Melissa…

By NICK VLAHOSFor The Weekly Post ELMWOOD – A new restaurant in Elmwood is receiving some city financial assistance for its signage.During its meeting June 3, the Elmwood City Council approved a $1,027.57 tax-increment-financing grant to Otera Brinson, proprietor of Elmwood Junk Food Café, 102 W. Main St. That’s half the cost of the sign and installation, according to Amy Davis, the city economic-development director. Elmwood Junk Food Café opened June 4. Chicago-style hot dogs, baked potatoes with toppings and meatball submarine sandwiches are among the menu items. The cafe occupies space a Subway restaurant once filled. “This building came open…

Rambling through central Illinois, pondering fathers. • • • For a long time, Father’s Day was an issue for me. My Dad was 12 hours away and getting him a card and gift required foresight – not my strength when it comes to most things outside of work. Too many times FedEx rushed him cards or Amazon overnighted gifts. Then there was the envy. Seeing other sons and dads fishing, golfing and grilling made me jealous. No card or gift can replace the simple satisfaction of time together. Worse yet was the guilt of having left the family, heightened on…

Traffic citations &Ordinance violations 6-8 – Emily J. Burdett – Uninsured vehicle.6-8 – Thomas A. Null – Expired registration.6-9 – James D. Stutler – Uninsured vehicle.6-9 – Trevor L. Shimmin – Uninsured vehicle, driving 11-14 mph above limit.6-9 – Aaron T. Arduini – Speeding 25-34 mph over limit. Misdemeanors &Felonies6-2 – Criminal misdemeanor – Caleb A. Deck – Escape: Did not report to Stark County Jail on June 2 at 9 a.m. and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Incidents & AccidentsStark County6-2 – Melvin O. Rodriguez Espinoza, 19, Wyoming, cited for driving without vehicle insurance, while his license…

By NICK VLAHOSFor The Weekly Post PEORIA – An out-of-court settlement was reached in a civil lawsuit on behalf of a Princeville-area woman killed in a two-vehicle crash last year. The settlement of $300,000 was to be paid to the estate of Nevaeh Mitchell, according to documents filed April 30 in Peoria County Circuit Court. The lawsuit her estate filed against the other driver, Levi Dietz, was dismissed with prejudice. That means the case is closed permanently and cannot be refiled. Mitchell, 18, died May 4, 2024, when her vehicle collided head-on with Dietz’s vehicle on Orange Prairie Road north of…

By NICK VLAHOSFor The Weekly Post WILLIAMSFIELD – A shuttered-restaurant site in Williamsfield will have an added attraction to help lure a new tenant. The Williamsfield Village Board decided June 2 to expand by one the number of video-gambling licenses in town, to four. That would allow the building at 102 E. Gale St., which has housed several restaurants in recent years, to house alcohol and gaming. Building owner Lee Strom requested the gaming expansion, according to Village President Robert Johnson.“He has several people interested in setting up a restaurant in there, but they want to have gaming machines and they…