Felonies & Misdemeanors 1-28-20 – Felony: Donna J. Bantz – Meth delivery and possession of meth. Incidents & Accidents Stark County 6-4 – Accident Correction: The Stark County Sheriff’s Office released corrected information from a traffic accident reported last week that misidentified the driver. The deer-related accident that occurred on Route 93 at the intersection of 1100E involved driver James E. Stotler, 50, of Bradford. 6-8 – Colton J. Potter, 29, Toulon, was arrested for criminal trespass and disorderly conduct. He was taken into custody and transported to the Stark County Jail. The following day he was released from custody…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Police reports • FARMINGTON – Michael Gabbert, 31, of Peoria Heights was charged on May 30 with unlawful tinting of windows, driving while license is revoked and operating an uninsured vehicle, according to a Farmington police report. • FARMINGTON – Police were called to the Farmington Pizza Company restaurant on May 5, where burglary to a motor vehicle was taking place, according to a Farmington police report. Ray Ban aviator sunglasses and a toolbox containing socket sets were taken. A radio…

Traffic citations & Ordinance violations 5-24 – Zachary P. Traenkenschuh – Driving 15-20 mph above limit. 5-24 – Andrew B. Bates – Driving 21-25 mph above limit. 5-23 – Chad E. Loy – Driving 21-25 mph above limit. 5-23 – Penny L. Wilson – Driving 21-25 mph above limit. 5-23 – Kayla A. Schlenker – Driving 15-20 mph above limit. 5-23 – Daniel M. Jackson, Jr. – Driving 15-20 mph above limit and operating uninsured motor vehicle. Incidents & Accidents Stark County 5-28 – A 16-year-old Wyoming juvenile was reported missing. 5-28 – Cassel O.R. Taylor, 23, Kewanee, was arrested…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Elmwood man arrested for multiple driving violations ELMWOOD – Dakota Porter, 20, of Elmwood was arrested Monday and charged by Elmwood police and Peoria County Sheriff’s officers with several traffic-related violations. An Elmwood police officer was first informed by citizens before 11 a.m. on Monday about a reckless driver. Witnesses said the driver, who officers later determined was Porter, was driving at a high rate of speed, ran over a curb, knocked down a garbage can, struck a truck and then…

By JEFF LAMPE For The Weekly Post PRINCEVILLE – The Princeville Village Board gave tentative approval to a Village of Princeville Comprehensive Plan during its May 18 meeting. The next step for the board is to pass an ordinance that will make the plan official, according to Village President Jeff Troutman. The plan spells out what the village wants to do in a buffer zone that extends to 1.5 miles around the village’s corporate limits. “Anything that builds in that zone has to come before village approval instead of just receiving [Peoria County] approval,” Troutman said. Troutman said there is no…

Planning ongoing for proposed Elmwood Wellness Center By JEFF LAMPE Weekly Post Staff Writer RUSHVILLE – Tim Ward smiled as he stopped to watch elderly couples playing pickleball on two shiny new courts, while walkers traversed an elevated walking path above the gym floor. “That’s the beauty of this place,” Ward said last week, gesturing to the gym that sits in the center of the new Rushville Fitness & Community Center. “We’d never be able to do anything like this in Rushville without this place.” Ward was one of the driving forces behind construction and planning of the 30,000-square-foot facility that was built…

Strawberry Festival first of many By JEFF LAMPE For The Weekly Post ELMWOOD – Event season returns to the area this weekend, as Elmwood welcomes back its 33rd annual Strawberry Festival on Saturday – the first of several summer events that will return from postponement one year ago. And after that one-year hiatus caused by COVID-19, festival committee member Jill Gensler thinks there will be plenty of pent up hunger for food, crafts and fun. “I think if the weather holds out for us, it will be really busy,” Gensler said. “I think people just want out of their houses and want something…

B-E softball 13-1 after outscoring last four foes 46-2 By JEFF LAMPE For The Weekly Post The potent Brimfield-Elmwood softball team shows no signs of slowing, winning its last four games by a combined tally of 46-2. B-E (13-1) was a 16-1 blowout winner at Knoxville on Monday, as the team had 16 hits including five triples, four doubles and a home run by Maddie Hessing. CJ Troxell drove in four runs against Knoxville and Kierra Johnson and Molly Malone each had three RBI. Haley Wallace had two doubles and a triple in the win and Kylee Vaughn had three hits. Hessing…

Rambling though central Illinois, pondering rodent genetics. • • • Squirrel talk abounds after a recent mention in this space of a black squirrel near my home in Elmwood. Well that little rascal, or one of his ancestors, frequented Laurel Street five years ago and has returned recently to frolic near the home of Susie Reicheneker, who has also got pictures of a white-tailed squirrel last fall. David Vaughan reports he has also seen a black squirrel on East Ash Street. I’ve learned that black squirrels are actually a color phase of grey squirrels that is becoming more common across…

By JEFF LAMPE For The Weekly Post ELMWOOD – The Elmwood School Board heard discussion about installing a new HVAC system in the Elementary School Monday during its regular meeting. A possible problem is, similar discussions are happening – or will happen – at school districts across Illinois, and likely across the United States. That’s thanks to the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) – approximately $13.2 billion set aside by Congress as relief funds for schools as part of the CARES Act. Elmwood plans to receive $258,365 from the second round of ESSER grants, after receiving $58,000 in…