By LORI HEROLD For The Weekly Post FARMINGTON – If the smiles in the Brimfield community seem a little brighter lately, it’s because there’s a new dentist in town. Construction on the Brimfield Family Dentistry building located at 232 E. Knoxville St. in Brimfield was completed on April 1 and its six rooms are now in use for patients needing any of the basics of general dental care as well as IV sedation, dental implants, root canals and wisdom tooth extractions. Those interested in seeing and learning about the area’s newest dentistry practice are invited to an open house on Aug….

Police reports • FARMINGTON – Eric Brand, 40, of Farmington was charged on Aug. 16 with driving while license revoked and no rear registration plate light, according to a Farmington police report. His car was towed. • HANNA CITY – Aleigha M. Miller, 23, of Hanna City was charged on Aug. 16 with two counts of failure to appear in court, according to a Peoria County Sheriff’s report. • YATES CITY – Dale E. Broadfield, 58, of Yates City was charged on Aug. 16 with domestic battery, according to a Peoria County Sheriff’s report. • ELMWOOD – Agnes S. Garner,…

Traffic citations & Ordinance violations 8-28 – Emma A. Corkill – Driving 21-25 mph above limit. 8-28 – Madelyn L. Wilson – Speeding 26-34 mph over the limit. 8-28 – Pablo X. Garcia – Driving 15-20 mph above limit. 8-29 – Beth A. Wheelhouse – Improper traffic lane usage, failure to reduce speed and transportation of alcoholic liquor. Felonies & Misdemeanors 8-29 – DUI Traffic – Beth A. Wheelhouse – Two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol with a blood alcohol content in excess of 0.08. 8-8 – Criminal Misdemeanor – Paige R. Tracy – Resisting a peace…

Brimfield reverses decision on masks By JEFF LAMPE and PETER HANCOCK For The Weekly Post BRIMFIELD – After a lengthy and emotional meeting last Wednesday, the Brimfield School Board reversed its stance on wearing masks in school. The board had previously opted to follow its own Return to School plan when classes started on Aug. 18, which meant mask wearing was optional so long as local COVID case numbers remained under a certain threshold. But Brimfield schools were placed on probation by the Illinois State Board of Education, and board members voted 4-2 at the Aug. 18 special meeting to heed Gov….

By JEFF LAMPE For The Weekly Post ELMWOOD – With an unusually small senior class of five, Elmwood-Brimfield won’t have its usual depth and will likely play more starters both ways than was once the custom for the Trojans. But that’s OK with Coach Todd Hollis, who says the seniors have been great leaders and deserve to play both sides of the ball, anyway. Hollis said he was looking back through game films of his first two playoff teams and was struck by how many players on those teams started on offense and defense. “So the two-way doesn’t matter. If they’re…

By JEFF LAMPE For The Weekly Post ONEIDA – A promising offseason ran into a rocky interruption in mid-August when the new ROWVA-Williamsfield football co-op was temporarily sidelined for a COVID-19 outbreak. As a result, R-W had to call off its Community Night on Aug. 20 and there was no team picture taken. The lack of practice also put third-year Coach Grant Gullstrand – who generally likes to keep information close to the vest anyway – at some disadvantage in finalizing a starting lineup. “We haven’t practiced for the last 10 days and I’m not listing any starters,” Gullstrand said on…

By JEFF LAMPE For The Weekly Post PRINCEVILLE – Sometimes, a very strong senior class can leave a void that is hard to fill in a football program. So it was with remorse and intrigue that Princeville bid adieu to last year’s strong senior group, which led the Princes to a 5-1 record.  But so far, Coach Jon Carruthers has mostly praise for his nine returning seniors and for a group of 10 juniors who also figure to play a key role. “We didn’t play a full season last year, but that was one of the stronger senior classes we’ve had….

By JEFF LAMPE For The Weekly Post FARMINGTON – Chris Haggard looks around him and sees lots of new faces filling key roles for the Farmington football team. A three-year starter on the line, Haggard has a simple message for those inexperienced teammates, many of whom gravitate toward the senior. “He’s got many young guys around him and has taken them under his wing,” Coach Toby Vallas said. “But he doesn’t want to be their buddy. He wants them to be their best.” At stake is a six-year regular season home win streak that stretches back to Aug. 28, 2015, and a…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Police reports • FARMINGTON – Three Farmington residents were charged with illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor on Aug. 12 according to a Fulton County Sheriff’s report. Charged were Ellise D. Anderson, 18, Alexis J. Lansford, 18, and Todd M. Way, 20, all of Farmington. Marriage licenses • Joanna Lynn Sanstra and Aaron Nicholas Bernal, both of Elmwood.

By JEFF LAMPE For The Weekly Post ELMWOOD – Moments into a school board meeting that had drawn an unusually large crowd of more than 30 people, Elmwood Superintendent Chad Wagner made an announcement. “We are not going to be mandating masks,” Wagner said. “For non-vaccinated people it is recommended to wear masks. That’s it.” From there the board went on to discuss and to vote on a return-to-school plan that features optional mask wearing and no provisions for remote learning. Instead, students who are unable to attend school will participate in what Wagner called “synchronous learning” by following a…