By JEFF LAMPEFor The Weekly Post FARMINGTON – One year ago, Farmington football was loaded with 21 seniors and 19 returning starters – a talented core that put together the finest season in school history. This year, the Farmers return just two starters to a defense that was the heart of their success in last year’s run to the Class 2A semifinals. Five returnees are back on offense but the quarterback position is still uncertain. Down year? Hold on a second, says Coach Toby Vallas, pointing 23 seniors on the 2025 roster – many of whom are finally getting their chance…

By NICK VLAHOSFor The Weekly Post PRINCEVILLE – Noah Geiger has been reporting about Princeville sports for a while. This football season, he and his Princes teammates hope to provide plenty of headlines. A running back and linebacker, Geiger is one of about a dozen Princeville seniors returning from a 7-3 team that advanced to the first round of the Class 1A state playoffs. That 60-30 home loss to Stockton was a sour ending to a sweet 7-3 season. “If you hear me get mad today, you might hear me yell about Stockton,” Princeville Coach Jon Carruthers said before a…

By JEFF LAMPEFor The Weekly Post ELMWOOD – Among the job duties of a school superintendent is handling budget matters for a school district. That list may also soon include driving a bus, at least for Elmwood CUSD 322. A shortage of bus drivers has led Elmwood Superintendent Joel Schmieg to pursue the steps to become a driver. Schmieg outlined the driver shortage and discussed the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget at Monday’s school board meeting. “We need two full-time bus drivers to sustain our current routes and that’s even after we reduced our routes,” Schmieg said. He noted parents would…

School board makes its case By NICK VLAHOSFor The Weekly Post PRINCEVILLE – The Princeville School District wants more of a say in how the village handles tax-increment financing. The school district also appears to want more of that property-tax revenue, too.School Superintendent Tony Shinall and two district board members stated their case during a Village Board TIF Committee meeting Aug. 19. They suggested a TIF-induced limit on the school’s share of property-tax increases in most of the village impacts operations adversely. “We feel like there’s a lack of collaboration and urgency,” said School Board member Erin Murphy. “That’s why we’re…

Misdemeanors &Felonies 7-14 – Michael D. Jones – Driving under the influence of a drug, DUI any amount of a drug, uninsured vehicle and no valid registration. 8-16 – Dustin D. Lindsley – Driving under the influence of a drug, suspended license, unlawful use of cannabis, driving 15-20 mph above limit, suspended registration, operating wipers without headlights, registration light and seat belt required. Incidents & AccidentsStark County 8-16 – Arthur G. Neal was cited for driving without a license.8-20 – Beau A. Spencer, 20, Walnut, ticketed for driving on an expired registration.8-21 – Alexia J. Cardenas, 20, Hampton, cited for…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.Police reports • KICKAPOO – Someone impersonating a Peoria County Sheriff’s Office employee apparently tried to steal currency from a Kickapoo business, authorities stated. The incident at Kickabrew Coffee Co., 9927 U.S. Route 150, was reported shortly after noon July 24, according to a sheriff’s-office report. A caller identified himself as a sheriff’s-office employee who was investigating counterfeit bills. He asked the proprietor to empty his safe and place that money outside. The caller then would retrieve the cash.The sheriff’s office was investigating. According to Sheriff Chris…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.Incidents & AccidentsStark County8-10 – Jason Banwart, 20, Congerville, was cited for speeding 74 mph in a 55 mph zone.8-12 – Yasmin U. Perez, 31, Kewanee, was cited for driving without a valid driver’s license, operating an uninsured vehicle and driving a vehicle with a loud or missing muffler. Her vehicle was impounded.8-13 – Drake B. Walker, 25, Galesburg, was cited for illegal transportation of alcohol by a driver, illegal possession of cannabis by a driver and driving on suspended registration for mandatory insurance. Walker was also…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.Police reports • DAHINDA – A Gilson man was killed in a two-vehicle crash south of Dahinda. The accident happened shortly before 4 p.m. Aug. 12 in the 1600 block of U.S. Route 150, according to the Knox County Sheriff’s Office. The victim was 75-year-old Rex Gibbs, whom the Knox County Coroner’s Office pronounced dead at the scene. He died of blunt-force trauma, according to Coroner Jacque Dare.Gibbs was aboard a southbound Kubota side-by-side that apparently crossed the road in front of an eastbound 2013 Chrysler sedan….

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Traffic citations &Ordinance violations8-4 – Kayleb D. Nevarez – Unlawful cannabis possession, speeding 35+ mph over the limit, driving 15-20 mph above the limit, uninsured vehicle, modify location of registration plate, no valid registation and mirrors violation.Incidents & AccidentsStark County7-29 – Chet D. Gillespie, 18, Toulon, cited for speeding 80 mph in a 55 zone.7-29 – Erika P. Campos, 42, Hinsdale, cited for speeding 73 mph in a 55 zone.8-1 – Nathaniel C. Cation, 46, Peoria, cited for speeding 80 mph in a 55 zone.8-2 –…

Farmington, Brimfield form 14-under team By JEFF LAMPEFor The Weekly Post On the field, Elmwood-Brimfield and Farmington remain football rivals at most levels.Not everywhere, though, at least not in JFL action. Players from Brimfield and Farmington JFL leagues are playing on the same 14-and-under team this season. As practices neared in late July, it became apparent that Farmington did not have enough players register for that age group and Brimfield had 16, just one over the minimum. “Playing against the likes of Washington, (Peoria) Richwoods, Woodruff and Dunlap – all having teams with 30-plus players – it’s a tough task…