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…

By JEFF LAMPE For The Weekly Post  FARMINGTON – Wearing masks will be optional for Farmington students when they return to school this year. That was among the points in a back-to-school plan approved by the school board at its July 19 meeting by a 4-3 vote. Voting against the plan were board members Travis Mahr, Keith Depperman and Eric Stanley. And while masks will be optional in school – unless positivity rates increase or guidelines change – wearing masks will be required of students who ride the buses based on Centers for Disease Control policies regarding public transportation. Remote learning…

By JOHN A. BALLENTINE For The Weekly Post BRIMFIELD – After a special meeting on July 14 that drew nearly 100 people, the Brimfield Board of Education met again on July 21 to finish a return-to-school plan. The crowd at the July 21 meeting was closer to 30 people, including a Peoria County Sheriff’s deputy, and was more reserved than during the previous meeting, when 11 audience members spoke. Board members discussed remote learning, quarantining and contact tracing, mask requirements and vaccinations. A number of changes to the school plan were suggested by board members, some of which became part of…

Traffic citations & Ordinance violations 7-11 – Kristopher J. Kyarsgaard – Driving 21-25 mph above limit. 7-14 – Felicia M. Potter – Operating an uninsured vehicle. 7-24 – Wade A. Hunt – Driving 21-25 mph above limit. 7-24 – Brooke L. Everette – Speeding 35+ mph over limit. 7-25 – Preston L. Nanninga – Unlicensed and headlight violation.. Incidents & Accidents Stark County 7-6 – A deer-related accident occurred on Route 40 near the intersection of 1750N. The driver involved was Chad M. Cade, 26, of Lacon, No injuries were reported. Damages were estimated at over $1,500. 7-17 – A…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Scuffle leaves Brimfield man, officer with injuries BRIMFIELD – Four people wound up with injuries on June 29 stemming from an incident at a Brimfield residence, according to a Peoria County Sheriff’s report. Police were called to the scene and were signalled to go inside by a man outside of the residence. While entering, an officer saw Sean A. Eeten, 45, exiting the residence. When the officer attempted to engage with Eeten, Eeten walked away and tried to enter a vehicle,…

By JEFF LAMPE For The Weekly Post Back to school preparations include a unique twist this summer. In addition to shopping for shoes, clothes and books, many parents have been attending school board meetings in numbers seldom seen. Usual crowds of 5-10 people ballooned to nearly 100 in some cases in the past month. The reason for all the sudden school board interest? To get the lowdown on rules regarding COVID-19, specifically in regard to wearing of masks for the 2021-22 school year. So far, three local districts – Farmington, Brimfield and Elmwood – passed plans that make mask wearing optional or…

Of the value of heart doctors & Sir Chuck My rambling path never crossed that of the late Dr. Dale Geiss, which is good and bad, it seems. Bad because he sounds like a fascinating and inspiring man. Good because meeting Geiss would likely have meant my ticker needed work and he would have probably told me to stop eating pie for breakfast. Geiss was a heart surgeon and, by most accounts, he was one of the best in Peoria, where he spent much of his career. His accomplishments at OSF St. Francis Hospital are legendary and former coworkers speak with…