By JOHN A. BALLENTINEFor The Prairie News TOULON – The Toulon City Council heard that almost all of the unfinished business agenda items are in progress during a meeting on Jan. 8. Giffin Engineering Representative Justin Reeise provided an update on the unsewered community planning report grant. The city is waiting for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to complete its process for construction and a start date. Reeise said the project, impacting northwest residents of Toulon, will likely be done in the spring or early summer. There was no update about engineering plans for Toulon’s water mains. Two local contractors…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Police reports• MAPLETON – Public-safety representatives rescued someone who was lost and injured in woods north of Mapleton. The unidentified male telephoned for help about 3:45 a.m. Jan. 2 in the 9300 block of W. Lake Camelot Drive, according to the Logan-Trivoli Fire Protection District. He had fallen in the woods and injured his leg.Drones and a computer application helped firefighters and Peoria County Sheriff’s Office deputies locate the victim about 5 a.m. He was carried to the road in a basket, then was transported to…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Incidents & AccidentsStark County1-3 – Bryan P. Desch, 42, Peoria, was ticketed for driving on a revoked driver’s license. He was issued a notice to appear in court.1-4 – Gene Gill, rural Wyoming, reported criminal damage to property. He reported the discovery of a broken window in his tractor and holes poked in the oil and air filters. The incident is under investigation.1-5 – Dylan M. Wates, 24, Kewanee, was taken into custody by the Stark County Sheriff’s Office and arrested on two outstanding Henry County…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Traffic Citations &Ordinance Violations12-18 – Lisa D. Westefer – Driving 11-14 mph above limit.12-18 – Daniel R. Zarate – Speeding 35+ mph over the limit.12-23 – Madison L. Schwigen – Speeding 26-34 mph over the limit.12-24 – Jeffery G. Whitehead – Speeding 35+ mph over the limit. Misdemeanors& Felonies10-7 – DUI – Douglas G. Beeler – Driving under the influence of alcohol & unlicensed.10-27 – DUI – A.J. Thomas Jr. – Driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence of alcohol BAC .08 and…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Police reports• ELMWOOD – A Yates City man was accused of spending $350 in counterfeit money at an Elmwood business.The transaction took place shortly after 8 p.m. Dec. 8 at Dollar General, 812 W. Main St. A man later identified at 36-year-old Chance D. Blankers handed the cashier the money to recharge his mobile-payment account, according to an Elmwood Police Department report.Later, the cashier and store manager realized the three $100 bills and a $50 bill were fakes. Elmwood and Yates City officers tracked down Blankers…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Police reports• OAK HILL – A Brimfield man was arrested after an early-morning confrontation with two women at an Oak Hill-area residence. Peoria County Sheriff’s Office deputies were summoned shortly before 7 a.m. Dec. 10 to the 16900 block of W. Oak Hill Cemetery Rd. There they found Dylan J. Snider, 31, who according to a sheriff’s- office report arrived at the residence about 4 a.m. One victim accused Snider of hitting her in the face with an empty beer case. The other accused him of grabbing…

By Jeff Lampe Driving in the dark through northern Iowa last week, our senses were still under constant assault. Most obvious on the landscape were blinking red lights for miles in all directions. Those flashing lights mark are indicators of wind-turbine fields that since 1983 have spread steadily across Iowa. The lights are noteworthy, but not as intrusive as the smells. All the way across U.S. Route 20, our noses were buffeted by the scent of animals living in confined buildings: hogs, dairy cattle, chickens and turkeys, stinky all of them. My youngest son was with me for the drive…

Traffic Citations &Ordinance Violations12-4 – Renee L. Brown – Driving 21-25 mph above the limit. Incidents & AccidentsStark County12-6 – William D. Lubben, 27, Peoria, was ticketed for driving without headlights when required and for driving on an expired driver’s license.12-7 – A deer-related vehicle accident occurred near the intersection of 300N and 800 E. The driver was Wesley J. Morrissey, 38, of Wyoming. No injuries reported. The vehicle sustained over $1,500 in estimated damages.12-7 – A deer-related vehicle accident occurred on Route. 17 east of the 950E intersection. The driver was John Boarman, 61, of Toulon. No injuries reported….

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Police reports• FARMINGTON – An employee of a Farmington laundromat-bar admitted to stealing more than $500 in cash and goods from it.The thefts attributed to Carrie A. Denniston, 50, of Gilson took place between Sept. 18 and Nov. 29 at Spin City Laundromat, 217 S. Main St., according to a Farmington Police Department report. Security footage showed Denniston taking money from the cash register and inserting it into video-gambling machines while she worked, Spin City owners reported. Video also revealed Denniston absconding with pizzas, toilet paper…

By JEFF LAMPE Preparing for the first snow of the year has become hit and miss around here. Quite often, predicted storms do not materialize, so there’s a temptation to shrug off forecasts calling for white stuff. Ahh, but when the weathermen are correct, it’s wonderful. After draining and storing hoses, raking last leaves, cleaning up after the dog, placing scrapers back in vehicles, getting ice-melt together, locating shovels and generally readying for winter, anything less than measurable precipitation is disappointing. So Sunday was cause for celebration, except for driving the oldest to the airport at 5 a.m. That’s one…