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…

By JOHN A. BALLENTINEFor The Weekly Post BRIMFIELD – Brimfield’s Board of Education held its monthly meeting on May 12 in order to approve a tentative amended budget and have it on display for 30 days before final approval on June 16th. The public hearing date is the same as the final approval date. The board approved $18,085 from ESSER II funding to purchase replacement tables for the grade school cafeteria. In his report, School Superintendent Tony Shinall said the U.S. Department of Agriculture is expanding the free lunch for all K-12 students through the 2021-22 school year. Shinall said the…

By JEFF LAMPE For The Weekly Post PRINCEVILLE – Princeville had to move its high school graduation to the last day of school on Wednesday, May 26, at 6 p.m. in the high school gymnasium after nine seniors had to be quarantined May 16-26. Also to be held on May 26 was the 8th grade recognition program at 8:15 a.m. That was one topic of discussion at the May 18 meeting of the school board, during which the board handled a variety of regular tasks. Those tasks included approving setting an amended budget hearing for Tuesday, June 16, at 6:45 p.m….

By JEFF LAMPE and PHIL JOHNSON For The Prairie News The Stark County girls track team appears to be peaking in time for next Friday’s Class 1A sectional meet at Knoxville. The Lady Rebels fared well at their last two meets, winning five events in a portion of the Lincoln Trail Conference meet held Tuesday night in Galva and winning the Dale Collis Invitational on May 19, also at Galva. The Stark County boys team has also fared well, winning three events Tuesday in the LTC meet and placing second on May 19. SC girls winners at the LTC were: Lindley Johnston…