The family home took on new importance in 2020. The year that challenged the Peoria area’s health, business and employment in unprecedented ways saw home sales climb by 18.3 percent over 2019. In 2020, home sales increased by 28 percent in the third quarter and by 29 percent in the fourth quarter compared to the same periods in 2019, according to the Peoria Area Association of REALTORS (PAAR). A total of 6,778 homes were sold in 2020 compared to 5,729 in 2019. This is the highest amount recorded by PAAR going to back to 2005. Median sales price rose to…

Traffic citations & Ordinance violations 1-10-21 – David W. Ensley – Driving 15-20 mph above limit. 1-5-21 – Dana C. Mannon – Driving 15-20 mph above limit. Felonies & Misdemeanors 11-26-20 – Felony – Seirra N. DeLasso – Possession of meth and of a controlled substance. 11-25-20 – Criminal Misdemeanor – Joseph Barks – Criminal trespass to land, disorderly conduct and dog running at large. Incidents & Accidents Stark County 1-6 -21 – A deer-related vehicle accident occurred on Route 93 near the intersection of 950E. The driver involved was Matthew M. Bruecks, 41, Bradford, who was headed east when…

By JEFF LAMPE For The Prairie News The guessing game continues for school sports in Illinois. While a vaccine is being distributed and some parts of the state appear to be headed for less strict COVID-19 mitigations today, there is still much uncertainty about when and if seasons will start. At present, all IHSA and IESA sports are on a holding pattern. And though both of the sanctioning bodies met with top officials from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Gov. JB Pritzker’s staff on Jan. 6, it is uncertain whether sports can resume any time soon. “We don’t necessarily…

Toulon council discusses development By JOHN A. BALLENTINE For The Prairie News TOULON – The Toulon City Council participated in a lengthy discussion and presentation concerning economic development at its meeting Monday. Kyle Howard, a Toulon native who now lives in St. Charles, gave a presentation outlining the possibility of Toulon developing its downtown with new businesses in storefronts that are currently vacant. Howard has been aiding with management of Julie’s Cafe Market on Main in Toulon. Howard said he would like to obtain locally made products, such as beef, pork and produce, “and take that to build off of.” Besides…

Maybe the euphoria of a season sweep of the Patriots is clouding my mind, but suddenly I find plenty of blessings to count as we head into the New Year. • Chainsaws. I might not have survived 2020 without Stihl chainsaws and a timber filled with trees that need tending. The most notable discovery this year came from a blowndown box elder that yielded a copious amount of candy cane logs – with bright red streaks running through the split wood. We may use some of the box elder logs for bowls or other decorative items. • Vaccines. Residents of…

Minimum wage up to $11 per hour By JEFF LAMPE Weekly Post Staff Writer Despite COVID-19 restrictions that limited the Illinois General Assembly to four days of meetings last spring, there are new laws of note that take effect on Jan. 1, 2021. • The minimum wage in Illinois increases from $10 to $11 per hour, the third increase in a plan that will boost the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025. • Thanks to House Bills 246/2265, public school students will learn about the roles and contributions of the LGBTQ+ community while middle schoolers will receive a…

By BILL KNIGHT For The Weekly Post ELMWOOD – The Board of Education on Monday reached an agreement with Midwest Transit Equipment, based in Kankakee, to extend the current bus lease to take advantage of changes in operations during the pandemic. “Due to the lack of extended usage of the buses, the ‘normal’ wear and tear has been minimal, and Midwest Transit has offered to extend the lease for one more year at the same cost and terms as the previous contract,” commented Superintendent Chad Wagner. “The administration believes that we can eliminate one of the buses, as we have…

By JEFF LAMPE Weekly Post Staff Writer WILLIAMSFIELD – An all-sports MidCounty sports coop for students from ROWVA, Galva and Williamsfield high schools appears very unlikely. That’s the news out of Monday’s meeting of the Williamsfield School Board, which participated in a ZOOM session with school board members from ROWVA and Galva. Discussion centered on possibly expanding the coop beyond football and cross country, the sports that the three schools currently share. While the ROWVA board voted 7-0 in favor of expanding the coop, the idea met with resistance in Williamsfield and Galva, according to Williamsfield Superintendent Tim Farquer. “My…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Canton man leads police on chase into Norris FARMINGTON – A driver, pursued by Canton resident Kyle Shawgo, contacted Farmington police who witnessed Shawgo on Fort Street trying to run the driver off the road, according to a Dec. 11 Farmington police report. When officers attempted to pull both vehicles over, Shawgo led police on a pursuit into Norris, where they terminated the chase. Canton officers later took Shawgo, 26, into custody, charging him with 2 counts of aggravated assault, aggravated…

By JEFF LAMPE For The Weekly Post ELMWOOD – Second-graders in Elmwood Grade School got an unexpected early Christmas present on Monday courtesy of a former Elmwood teacher. The late L.A. “Betty” Lewellyn was a second-grade teacher at Elmwood for 26 years before retiring in 1978. She later passed away in 2009. But earlier this month, one of her daughters, Janet Millspaugh, emailed current Elmwood teacher Vicki Warner inquiring about giving a year-end Christmas gift to students in Lewellyn’s memory. Warner said the idea “brought tears to my eyes.” Lewellyn was Warner’s second-grade teacher and made a definite impression on…