By BILL KNIGHT For The Weekly Post PRINCEVILLE – The Village Board discussed the tabled Tri County Phased Reopening Plan last week, but Trustees took a cautious approach to relaxing measures intended to protect the public from the COVID-19 virus. “We’ll decide at our June 1 meeting how to proceed,” said Village President Jeff Troutman. “The governor has already edited some things in his [“Restore Illinois”] plan, so we’re looking at giving it through the holidays before we act.” Gov. J.B. Pritzker has said all regions of Illinois are on track to move to the next phase of his five-phase…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Police report • BRIMFIELD – Alex Keith Cusack, 32, of Brimfield was charged with domestic battery on May 21. Marriage license • Haley Marie Fjelstad of Roscoe and Daniel Jacob Klein of Speer The Weekly Post public record for 5-21-20 Peoria County releases April crime statistics Statistics for crimes against people and crimes against property in some places have fallen with the pandemic’s stay-at-home recommendations and travel restrictions. But comparing Peoria Sheriff’s Department data from February, March and April for the…

By BILL KNIGHT For The Weekly Post Business districts in The Weekly Post area communities seem like something out of an old “Twilight Zone” episode: eerily quiet, with closed shops, few vehicles and fewer pedestrians, all affected by the pandemic and precautions to avoid it. The resulting economic woes are because of the COVID19 virus and publichealth safeguards that included closing many businesses, which laid off employees. Some lost jobs will be temporary; others permanent. In March, rural employment dropped by less of a percentage than cities, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): down 300,000 (1.2 percent)…

By BILL KNIGHT After pandemic precautions, some places are reopening due to public concerns or political pressure, and there’s cautious optimism. Local politicians were even scheduled to gather in Peoria Wednesdaymorning to announce a proposed Heart of Illinois SubRegion Reopening Plan (See story, here). However, pitfalls remain, ranging from new outbreaks to legal liability. Despite not meeting White House guidelines on testing, tracing, treating/quarantining, dozens of states and a few communities are relaxing requirements or defying orders (such as East Peoria and Woodford County), with others possibly lifting restrictions. In Illinois, Gov. JB Pritzker’s “Restore Illinois” plan has five phases…

By The Weekly Post Against a backdrop of Illinois’single-highest total of new COVID-19 cases in a day and Gov. JB Pritzker threatening to withhold aid to counties that disobey his edicts, central Illinois politicians were set to announce a local reopening plan Wednesday in Peoria. City of Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis, Peoria County Board Chairman Andrew Rand, and Peoria City/ County Health Department Administrator Monica Hendrickson were to give an overview of their proposed Heart of Illinois Sub-Region Reopening Plan at a virtual press conference on Wednesday at 11 a.m. The meeting was to be livestreamed on Peoria County’s Facebook…

By Jeff Lampe While a group of Peoria-area politicians would like to speed up the process of reopening the local economy, most signs point to a more gradual May 29 reopening of the economy for The Prairie News area. Under Gov. JB Pritzker’s Restore Illinois plan, the state is divided into four regions. Our area is in the 27-county North Central Region, which includes Peoria, Knox, Stark and Fulton counties. The Restore Illinois plan also created five phases of restoration. Since May 1, we have operated under Phase 2. Certain health metrics must be met for a region to advance to…

Traffic citations & Ordinance violations 5-12-20 – Robert I. Carter – Operating an uninsured motor vehicle. 5-12-20 – Jeremy D. Randle – Speeding 35+ mph over the limit. 5-8-20 – Robert P. Kitterman – Driving 15-20 mph above the limit. 5-15-20 – Mickinzie K. Mararity – Driving 15-20 mph above the limit. Midemeanors & Felonies 5-14-20 – Harlan L. Grant, Jr. – Driving under the influence of alcohol and Driving under the influence/BAC over 0.08. Incidents & Accidents Stark County Report 5-16-20 – A deer-related vehicle accident occurred on 1600E and 50N. The driver involved was identified as Lisa M….

Traffic citations & Ordinance violations 5-4-20 – Michael S. Avery – Driving 21-25 mph above limit. 5-1-20 – Zachary L. Graham – Slow Vehicle/Amber signal. 5-5-20 – Alecia D. Dozard – Disregard official traffic control device. 5-10-20 – Clara M. Milby – Driving 15-20 mph above limit. 5-9-20 – Rajeshkumar B. Patel – Driving 21-25 mph above limit. 5-10-20 – Michael J. Sadowski – Leaving the scene. 5-10-20 – Michael J. Sadowski – Improper taffic lane usage. 5-10-20 – Michael J. Sadowski – Transporataion/carry alcoholic liquor. 5-10-20 – Jacob L. S. Skinner – Speeding 26-34 mph over the limit. Incidents…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Police reports .• BRIMFIELD – Dale J. Coulter, 25, of Brimfield was charged on May 2 with residential burglary, carry/possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm without a permit, unlawful possession of cannabis, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. • FARMINGTON – Larry Wilson, 35, of Farmington was arrested on April 2 on a Fulton County Warrant for failure to appear in court in regard to an uninsured vehicle, according to a Farmington police report. • FARMINGTON – Miranda Turner,…

By John A. Ballentine TOULON – The Toulon City Council passed by a 4-2 vote an intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Princeville to jointly purchase a jetter for $22,000. Toulon’s cost would therefore be $11,000. The jetter is utilized to flush out sewer lines with high-pressured water. “It’s a piece of equipment you don’t use very often,” Mayor Larry Hollis stated. Hollis went on to explain that when the jetter is needed, it would be less expensive than hiring a company to clear out a sewer line. The council discussed the two-year option clause of the agreement, which upon…