By BILL KNIGHT For The Weekly Post Rural communities had about 900,000 fewer jobs this August than August of 2019, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). However, the outlook is improving from earlier this year, and rural America is holding on to jobs better than urban or suburban areas. Besides the number of jobs, the average jobless rates also are better in rural areas than metro areas. In The Weekly Post area, Fulton, Knox and Peoria Counties all lost jobs in the year-to-year comparison, but the percentage declines in Fulton and Knox weren’t as bad as the national…

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By BILL KNIGHT For The Weekly Post FARMINGTON – The Board of Education on Monday approved a plan to reopen schools next month for in-person instruction by a 5-1 vote, with some concerns, especially the lack of an option for remote-learning for some parents. Kelly Brewer voted no, stressing the lack of alternatives for households that may have family members who are atrisk during the ongoing pandemic. Superintendent Zac Chatterton said Farmington’s plan complies with guidelines issued by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and Illinois Department of Public Health. However, “this is a framework,” Chatterton said. “There are…

By BILL KNIGHT For The Weekly Post PRINCEVILLE – The possibility of schools reopening next month has split parents about returning their kids to classrooms, and there’s little clarity coming from the federal government. President Trump on July 8 said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is “asking schools to do very impractical things” and asked the CDC to revise its recommendations, but the next day CDC Director Robert Redfield said it will not change its guidelines. Meanwhile superintendents in The Weekly Post area on July 2 conferred with the Regional Office of Education (ROE), and Princeville’s district on…

By John A. Ballentine BRADFORD – The Village of Bradford has recently raised the water rate by $9 to $80 per month. According to Village President Henry Waldinger, “Other towns are much higher than Bradford’s rate and we are falling behind.” Also, Waldinger pointed out that since the COVID-19 pandemic began, people have been flushing so-called “flushable wipes” down into the sewer lines, plus maintenance personnel have found sheets and jeans in the sewer system. “The wipes, sheets and jeans get into the sewer pumps and plug them up, which causes the pumps to burn up. It cost the village…

By Ben Steinbach WYOMING – The City Council heard about plans for Saturday’s Sidewalk Sales and a visit by St. Jude runners during a busy meeting on July 13. Economic Development Advisor Denny Rewerts told the council that Wyoming will be hosting a St. Jude run Saturday from 8 am until 12 pm. Several businesses will be holding sidewalk sales, and there will be a bake sale and raffle at the Paramount Theater, along with free popcorn. Spectators are also encouraged to make signs to cheer on runners as they travel from Kewanee to Peoria. The council assembled early with…

By Carol Townsend GALVA – The City Council accepted the only proposal for the Galva Opera House block at a special meeting Monday night. The proposal came from Brian Anderson of Galva, owner of Anderson Family Coffee which opened in Galva in 2019. Anderson offered the City of Galva $25,000 and will receive the deed once he presents receipts for $60,000 in materials for repairs, which must be done within two years. The City of Galva purchased the property for a price of $25,000 a few years ago when someone had purchased the structure for back taxes. City administrator David…

Traffic citations & Ordinance violations 7-2-20 – Derryk L. Ainsworth – Driving 21-25 mph above limit. 7-2-20 – Timothy L. Cravens – Driving 21-25 mph above limit. 7-9-20 – Robert W. Auer – Driving 21-25 mph above limit. 7-8-20 – Saif U. Shah – Driving 21-25 mph above limit. 7-11-20 – Crystiona K. F. Barnwell – Speeding 26-34 mph over limit. 7-10-20 – Jeremiah L. Ramsey – Driving 15-20 mph above limit. 7-13-20 – Laurence A. Roddy, Jr. – Speeding 35+ mph over limit. 7-13-20 – Laurence A. Roddy, Jr. – No valid registration. 7-13-20 – Laurence A. Roddy Jr….

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Police reports • BRIMFIELD – A Brimfield woman said she was bitten by an older female neighbor who was disgruntled about the way her younger neighbor handled her garbage, though no charges were filed and no medical attention was administered. According to a July 8 Peoria County Sheriff’s report, the younger woman said there was no room in the recycling can, so she put recyclables with regular garbage. The older neighbor, agitated, came to the younger woman’s door, yelled at the…