By JEFF LAMPE For The Prairie News PEORIA ‑ In a dark, cold corridor in the U.S. Courthouse Thursday morning, Jason Musselman exchanged hugs and tears with his parents. Less than one hour later, Musselman was handcuffed and led out of Courtroom A by two U.S. Marshals after pleading guilty to three felony child pornography charges. Musselman pleaded guilty to production, distribution and possession of child pornography and now faces 15-30 years in a federal prison, according to his attorney Kevin Sullivan of Peoria. Judge James E. Shadid scheduled Musselman’s sentencing for March 23, 2023, at 10 a.m. Shadid also…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Incidents & Accidents Stark County 10-26 – A two-vehicle accident occurred at 310 Diagonal St. in Wyoming. Driver Joshua M. Belville, 31, of Wyoming, attempted to back out of a private drive and was struck by an oncoming vehicle driven by a 17-year-old Wyoming girl. No injuries were reported but both vehicles sustained estimated damages over $1,500. No tickets were issued. 10-27 – A two-vehicle accident occurred at the intersection of W. Clinton and N. Union St. in Toulon. Drivers involved…

By NICK VLAHOS For The Weekly Post PRINCEVILLE – Future police protection in Princeville might not be as comprehensive as it is now. Or it might remain the same but cost local taxpayers more money. Peoria County Sheriff Chris Watkins plans to offer options for the Princeville Village Board to consider before it decides whether to renew its service contract. A decision is likely later this month or in early December. With a projected increase of about $35,000 over a five-year period, the status quo – eight hours of patrols, seven days a week – might be a difficult sell. “I…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Police reports • TRIVOLI – An Elmwood-area couple was arrested after being accused of trespassing at a construction site and operating heavy equipment there without authorization. Noah D. Sorensen, 24, and Carrollyn R. Sorensen, 25, were apprehended about 4 p.m. Sunday at the site, in the 6600 block of N. Dog Town Lane. They were among at least six people there, including 5- and 3-year-old children, according to a Peoria County Sheriff’s Office report. Those children and Noah Sorensen were in…

By JOHN A. BALLENTINE For The Prairie News TOULON – Incumbent Steven V. Sloan has been reelected as Stark County Sheriff by the slim margin of 154 votes over challenger Charles Demetreon. With all nine Stark County precincts reporting and a total of 2,345 of 3,732 registered voters casting a ballot (62.8 percent), Tuesday’s general election enjoyed higher turnout than usual. Total votes cast for the sheriff’s race was 2,250, with 1,202 for Sloan and 1,048 for Demetreon. That represents an 87.2 percent vote for sheriff. Worth noting is that results are unofficial until all mail-in votes are tallied and…

By JEFF LAMPE and NICK VLAHOS For The Weekly Post Republicans Jon Webb and Jack Harlan will join Chris Watkins as new sheriffs in The Weekly Post circulation area. While Watkins, a Republican, was appointed sheriff of Peoria County after winning the June 28 primary, Webb and Harlan had opponents in Tuesday’s general election. In Fulton County, Webb defeated Democrat Ryan Maricle, taking 55 percent of votes in the once staunchly Democratic county. Four-term incumbent Jeff Standard, a Democrat, did not run but endorsed Webb. “My mind is just full with emotion,” the 36-year-old Webb said. “I am very eager to get started….

Rambling through central Illinois, waiting for the other shoe to drop. • • • In 55 years of spending far too much time thinking about football, last Saturday was the first time I went to a game excited to watch a punter. El Paso-Gridley punter Declan Duley is a University of Illinois recruit who has been billed as the No. 1 punter in the country. We don’t see that kind of hype very often around here. But while he booted some impressive, towering kicks in practice, Duley went 1-for-3 on field goals and had his lone punt blocked by Farmington’s…

By JOHN A. BALLENTINE For The Prairie News TOULON – It has been over 20 years in the making, but Stark County – which is the last of 102 Illinois counties to receive E911 service – will begin constructing a new E911 Service Communications Center in Toulon. Officials from Stark and Peoria counties held a groundreaking last Friday for the center, which will be attached and east of the existing jail building. The two counties have entered an agreement on E911 service. In addition, a new 180-foot radio tower will be installed to better transmit and receive emergency calls that…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Traffic citations & Ordinance violations 10-20 – Jermaine G. Hickman – Driving 15-20 mph above limit and operating an uninsured vehicle. 10-26 – Adrin S. Ward – Driving 21-25 mph above limit. 10-26 – Alonso Favela – Driving 11-14 mph above limit. 10-26 – Toby J. Roberts – Driving 21-25 mph above limit. 10-26 – Ashley A. Mancera – Driving 21-25 mph above limit. 10-27 – Noah E. Clay – Driving 15-20 mph above limit. 10-27 – Kaden M. Rutherford –…

By JEFF LAMPE For The Weekly Post FARMINGTON – Some day, Virgil Haggard will have a heckuva story to tell his kids and grandkids. “Did I ever tell you the one about me blocking a kick by the best high school punter in the U.S.?” the Farmington senior center will ask. Unlike many parental memories, this one will be accurate. And Haggard won’t even have to embellish how important his block was in a playoff game filled with wacky pitches, diving catches and big plays of all sorts. That Farmington rallied from a 14-0 deficit to beat El Paso-Gridley, 40-30, in…