By NICK VLAHOSFor The Weekly Post PRINCEVILLE – More municipal money will be spent on the shuttered Princeville Aquatic Center. But not much more, and not with majority support from village trustees. Village President Jeff Troutman broke a 3-3 tie July 16 to approve paying for a survey of the aquatic-center property. An attorney for a not-for-profit group that seeks to reopen the swimming-pool complex asked the village to fund the survey, according to Troutman. The survey might cost about $1,000; Troutman said he didn’t know the exact figure. But in the 10 months or so since trustees voted to close…

By JEFF LAMPEFor The Weekly Post ELMWOOD – Elmwood CUSD 322 students will have new after-school care providers for the 2024-25 school year. The Elmwood School Board on Monday approved a three-year after-care program with the Greater Peoria YMCA. The YMCA will replace Right at School, which handled after-school programing last year.“I think it will be a better service for our families,” said Joel Schmieg, who was presiding over his first meeting as superintendent. Schmieg noted that the YMCA is a partner in a proposed Wellness Center in Elmwood, which could offer expanded programming down the road if the facility is built….

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.Police reports • BRIMFIELD – A North Dakota woman was suspected of drunken driving following a single-vehicle accident in Brimfield. A 2024 Chevrolet Tahoe sport-utility vehicle driven by Jodi E. Phillips, 38, of Williston was found about 9 p.m. July 9 in a ditch in front of Casey’s, 215 E. Knoxville St. A Peoria County Sheriff’s Office report about the incident was heavily redacted, but Brimfield firefighters and BYE Ambulance Service responded.Phillips was arrested and transported to the Peoria County Jail. She was accused of driving under…

By NICK VLAHOS andJEFF LAMPEFor The Weekly Post The eerie sound of tornado sirens wailing Monday night were a precursor to high winds that left damage in their wake across the area. Storms felled trees, flooded roads and disrupted electricity service for thousands. Farmington was among the hardest-hit communities. Power poles on Main Street, Knox Road 2300 East and Industry Road were broken, according to the Fulton County Emergency Services and Disaster Agency. Power lines and tree branches also were felled, but no building damage or injuries were reported, Farmington Police Chief Chris Darsham said. According to the police chief, tornado sirens…

By JEFF LAMPEFor The Prairie News WYOMING – The Stark County School Board on Monday approved a plan to add vape detectors to restrooms in the Junior-Senio High School. Principal Megan McGann recommended adding vape detectors to reduce the number of incidents and increase student security. Heart Technologies will install the vape detectors for $35,083. The board also approved athletic/activity fees for the upcoming year. The cost is $60 per student and capped at $120 per family. The free and reduced fee will be $30 per student and $60 per family. Superintendent Brett Elliott reported that work on the new gym…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Traffic Citations &Ordinance Violations 7-8 – Lakeshia D. Jones, 37, Kewanee, was fined for improper lane usage. The citation was issued after Jones reported to authorities that she had fallen asleep while driving on Illinois Route 91 north of Toulon and drove her vehicle into the ditch. 7-9 – Jaylon A. Reints, 19, Rock Falls, was cited for speeding 78 mph in a 55 zone, driving on a suspended registration and driving without vehicle insurance. His vehicle was impounded and he was issued a court date…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Police reports • DAHINDA – A pool party in Dahinda resulted in a fistfight, followed by a local man’s arrest. According to a Knox County Sheriff’s Office report, 47-year-old Jason M. Scott encouraged women to take off the tops of their swimsuits during the party, which took place June 30 at a residence in the 1400 block of Wenona St. For unknown reasons, Scott became upset later and held a woman’s head under water until the two hosts, a man and a woman, intervened. After that,…

By MOLLY RICHESONand JEFF LAMPEFor The Weekly Post BRIMFIELD – The Brimfield Village Board has approved GFL Environmental of Peoria tohandle the village’s waste-disposal services.  The board voted at its July 1 meeting to allow GFL, which is in the process of acquiring G&O Disposal of Elmwood, to take over an existing contract with no changes through 2027. G&O Owner Gary Maness spoke at the meeting and said then he expected a smooth transition between companies, adding that all employees were keeping their jobs and that garbage pickup schedules would remain unchanged. On Tuesday, Maness said, “There’s no finalized paperwork. We’re exploring the…

By NICK VLAHOSFor The Weekly Post WILLIAMSFIELD – Rolf Sivertsen knows a primary expectation regarding his new job is to leave it as quickly and as seamlessly as possible. That’s fine with him. “’Steward’ is what I’d call it,” the new Williamsfield School District interim superintendent said. “I’m being trusted by the people in this community to take care of their district to the best of my ability until they can get a replacement in here.” A former superintendent at Canton and Varna-based Midland, Sivertsen helped oversee his first Williamsfield School Board meeting Monday night. He became interim superintendent July 1…

By NICK VLAHOSFor The Weekly Post PRINCEVILLE – Businesses in Princeville probably will be receiving regular messages from the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office. Newly appointed Princeville officer Shawn Yarger has started placing cards in doors of local businesses. The cards indicate Yarger has checked to see if the buildings are secure.“I would like business owners in town to know I’m checking the building, and that’s what this card means,” Yarger said. The date and business name are included on the card. So are the time checked and comments from Yarger regarding the state of the property at the time he checked….