NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Police reports • ELMWOOD – Danielle N. Minton, 29, of Elmwood was charged on June 7 with domestic battery. • ELMWOOD – Elmwood police officers have been busy of late reminding residents that it is illegal to dump, deposit or otherwise blow grass clippings into the street while mowing. Officer Mike Darrah noted there is actually a state law that spells out the regulation against putting grass clippings on public roadways. • BRIMFIELD – A 70-year old woman from Aledo hurt…

Many churches gathering again By LORI HEROLD For The Weekly Post While the majority of local churches have resumed worship services, it may be a while before sanctuaries are filled with bare-faced parishioners shaking hands and sharing hugs. The return to services in sanctuaries – that began last weekend and continues this weekend – has been well-received, according to local ministers. “Older people say how wonderful it is to be in front of the altar again,” said Pastor Michael Liese, of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Brimfield. That being said, area churches emphasize that people should stay home if they…

Memories linger, but little other evidence left of county’s costliest twister By JEFF LAMPEWeekly Post Staff Writer ELMWOOD – The tent is still missing. Ten years later and there’s still been no word of someone finding the large, canvas food tent that was set up in Central Park for the Strawberry Festival that Saturday. “I’ve never heard anything about that tent since. I have no idea where it went,” said Pat McGuire, one of the Strawberry Festival organizers. “But I do remember the firemen coming into the tent and telling us to get out. [Husband Jim McGuire] and I were the…

By John A. Ballentine LaFAYETTE – After two months of not having a monthly meeting, the Village of LaFayette board of trustees resumed Monday evening and approved March’s, April’s, May’s and some of June’s business on the agenda. March 2 was the last time the board of trustees had met before COVID-19 restrictions were put in place. Residents of LaFayette will not be charged for water during May per the board’s decision to not impose that fee. “This will be the only time this will happen,” Village President Greg Bartley said. The board then discussed village ditches, in particular the…

By Carol Townsend GALVA – A public hearing was held Tuesday at City Hall for Mary’s Family Dining. The hearing was held for the City of Galva to apply for a CDBG grant for $25,000 for the establishment. The council then held a special city council with zoom over the computers with all of the council members present. They approved the resolution of support and passed the participation to apply for the grant. Mary’s Family Dining was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and just opened last Friday evening for the bar only with outside tables. • Library opens – The…

(Peoria, IL) – On Wednesday, June 3, 2020, at approximately 11:26 pm, Peoria Police responded to the area of the 1700 block of N Bigelow regarding a ShotSpotter alert indicating 5 rounds fired. In addition, 9-1-1 calls were received regarding a shooting in the area. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male victim with apparent gunshot wounds to the chest. The victim was transported to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria with life threatening injuries. Despite aggressive resuscitative efforts, the victim, 30-year-old Ryan William Greenwood, of N. Bigelow Street, Peoria, was pronounced deceased at the hospital at 11:52pm. Autopsy…

Traffic citations & Ordinance violations 5-22-20 – Cameron S. Nickerson – Driving 21-25 mph above limit. 5-19-20 – Tiamera M. Wolin – Driving 21-25 mph above limit. 5-23-20 – Kimberly M. Hess – Speeding 35+ mph over limit. 5-21-20 – Laquisha L. Williams – Driving 21-25 mph above limit. 5-21-20 – Laquisha L. Williams – Driver’s license expired more than a year. 5-27-20 – Dustin R. Williams – Driving 15-20 mph above limit. 5-30-20 – Justin W. Collins – Driving 21-25 mph above the limit. 5-29-20 – Adrianna G. Hughes – Driving 21-25 mph above limit. 5-29-20 – Christian D….

Some restaurants, churches reopening By Jeff Lampe Reality is returning to central Illinois, slowly but surely. One of the more visible signs of the shift to Phase 3 of the Illinois Restore plan has been diners eating outside restaurants and taverns that until May 29 had been limited to carry-out only. The chance to enjoy a sit-down meal cooked by someone else was well-received by diners across the area, who took advantage of beautiful weather to sample meals at local establishments. “We were very busy last Saturday and we did OK with it on Friday too,” said Jeanne Foffel, who…

By Jeff Lampe Businesses across Illinois will breathe a sigh of relief today (May 29) – even if the breath they exhale is filtered by a state-mandated mask. The long-awaited reopening of Illinois’ economy starts today following two months of closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After meeting a variety of scientific thresholds in terms of COVID-19 cases, testing, etc., Illinois shifts into Phase 3 of the Restore Illinois plan, which spells out steps to reopen from restrictions. A late addition to the list of businesses that can expand operations are bars and restaurants, which will be able to offer…

For years now I’ve read articles about the downfall of democracy and how democratic societies are doomed to fail. Maybe. But among the many lessons of the coronavirus is this one: we need democracy. By that I mean, we need the balancing act that is our government, no matter how flawed, divided and frustrating it may be. Last week, the Illinois Legislature met in Springfield after having been absent for far too long. In their absence, what happened? Gov. JB Pritzker was given free reign over the state. Whether the governor’s handling of the pandemic crisis was done well or…