By MOLLY RICHESONFor The Weekly Post ELMWOOD – The City of Elmwood has lost $1 million in federal funding for planned improvements of its wastewater lagoons. U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen had requested funding in May 2024 to remove sludge from the bottom of the wastewater lagoon’s four cells (ponds) and to replace the system’s existing rock filter in the 2025 fiscal year. Wrote Sorensen in his request, “The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the lagoons discharge into a nearby creek which empties into the Illinois River. This project will protect the waterways from contamination by sewage.” At…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Police reports• HANNA CITY – An Elmwood man was found dead about 2:30 a.m. on March 22 behind dumpsters at a business in the 12900 block of W. Farmington Rd., according to the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office. Keith A. Siegel, 39, was pronounced dead at the scene. Security-camera footage indicated Siegel might have fallen from a retaining wall and struck his head. An autopsy revealed Siegel died from traumatic closed-head injuries, according to the Peoria County Coroner’s Office. Toxicology results are pending. About four hours earlier on…

Rambling through central Illinois, happy to see tom turkeys fanning and strutting on camera. • • • Hollywood paid a visit to Elmwood’s Palace Theatre last Saturday and the result was interesting, to say the least. No question if Elmwood had paid for a movie to be filmed in town, it would not have included cursing, a sex scene, nudity and a grisly murder. But the city did not pay to be the setting for director David Ferino’s first full-length narrative feature “Wardcliffe,” which packed a lot into its 75-minute run time. And while Saturday’s showing no doubt ruffled some…

By NICK VLAHOSFor The Weekly Post BRIMFIELD – The Brimfield Indians are being threatened again. A bill making its way through the Illinois House of Representatives would prohibit school districts from using Native American mascots for their sports teams. That includes Brimfield, where the Indians nickname has been in place for at least 100 years.Brimfield Superintendent Chad Jones said his district is preparing for a ban but prefers the status quo. “We try to be proactive in the fact that we’re proud of our mascot, but if it’s something the lawmakers in Springfield take from us, we’ll make accommodations for it,”…

By JEFF LAMPEFor The Weekly Post FARMINGTON – A crowded field of six is vying for three four-year positions on the Farmington CUSD 265 School Board. Based on responses from some who attended a March 12 Meet the Candidates forum, choosing among the six may not be an easy choice when the April 1 election arrives.Kent Kowal, moderator of the candidate forum attended by a crowd of about 45, said afterward he was so impressed with the candidates it will be difficult to decide how to cast his votes. The field includes three incumbents – Dustin Blunier, Keith Deppermann and Daniel Gorsuch…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Stark Co. drops charges against Powell TOULON – Stark County has dropped charges filed against Amanda Powell on Oct. 11 after a multi-task police raid of the Wyoming apartment she shares with Caleb Deck.That apartment is located at 111 E. Williams St. Powell was arrested and taken to the Bureau County Jail after the raid along with Deck. “After I received the evidence and charges for Amanda Powell, I determined that the charges were more appropriate for Caleb Deck and not for Amanda Powell,” Stark County…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Police reports• TRIVOLI – A Hanna City woman was accused of drunken driving following a two-vehicle crash west of Trivoli. Jenni M. Nagel, 44, was driving a northbound 2006 Chevrolet Astro about 11:15 p.m. Feb. 28 on Stone School Road when the vehicle did not stop at an intersection with Illinois Route 116, per a Peoria County Sheriff’s Office report. The front passenger-side bumper of the Astro struck the rear of an eastbound 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt driven by Jeremy S. Kling of Farmington. The Astro continued…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Traffic citations &Ordinance violations3-7 – Grace M. Greulich – No valid registration for a vehicle and for a horse trailer. Incidents & AccidentsStark County3-4 – Anabelle E. Twomey, 23, Galva, was cited for improper lane usage and possession of a controlled substance. She was released with a notice to appear and the vehicle was towed to the Stark County impound lot.3-5 – Caleb A. Deck, 47, Wyoming, was arrested for domestic battery. He was taken into custody and later transported to Bureau County Jail.3-6 – Colin…

By NICK VLAHOSFor The Weekly Post PRINCEVILLE – Compared to most recent election campaigns for more prominent public offices, the one for Princeville village president is the lowest of keys. Incumbent Jeff Troutman and challenger Rick Pope, a village trustee, haven’t been conducting candidate forums. Yard signs for either campaign appear to be nonexistent.Pope and Troutman have served together for years in village government and in other areas, including the Akron-Princeville fire department and ambulance service. Familiarity doesn’t appear to have breeded contempt. The candidates’ messaging, such as it is, pits continuity against substitution. “The village is doing a great job…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Police reports • KICKAPOO – An Edwards woman was accused of multiple crimes, including drunken driving, following a two-vehicle head-on wreck south of Kickapoo. Jessica M. Reynolds, 30, was driving a 2007 Lincoln Town Car shortly before 8:45 p.m. Feb. 23 in the 7400 block of N. Kickapoo-Edwards Rd. when her vehicle collided with a 2017 Ford Explorer, according to Peoria County Sheriff’s Office reports. The other driver, Elaine Long of Galesburg, said she was driving south on Kickapoo-Edwards Road when Reynolds’ vehicle exited a gasoline…