(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…

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…