Thursday Sept. 17, 2015 Vol. 3, No. 28
The Weekly Post
Hot news tip? Want to advertise? Call (309) 741-9790
“We Cover The News of West-Central Illinois With A Passion” Serving the fine communities of Brimfield, Dahinda, Duncan, Edwards, Elmwood, Farmington, Kickapoo, Laura, Monica, Oak Hill, Princeville, Williamsfield and Yates City
****************ECRWSS*****
PRSRT. STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Elmwood, Illinois Permit No. 13
FREE!
Carrier Route Presort RURAL BOXHOLDER LOCAL P.O. BOXHOLDER
Compliments of Our Fine Advertisers!
Board OK’s Akron Services elevator zoning requests By BILL KNIGHT
In a split vote, Peoria County’s Zoning Board of Appeals on Thursday (Sept. 10) approved rezoning and special-use permits for Akron Services to sell and store chemicals, and bin and dry crops at the former Cramer Elevator, about two miles east of Farmington. The vote rejected suggested compromises and discounted claims that approval runs counter to the County’s land-use standards Voting in favor of the reFor The Weekly Post
Education guru visits Billtown
quests, with minor restrictions on parking and landscaping, were ZBA chair John Birdoes, Loren Bailliez, Linda O'Brien, William O'Brien and Richard Heinz, who conceded his family does business with Akron but voted anyway. Voting against the requests were Jim Bateman and Andrew Keyt. Akron wants to buy parcels to remove at least three structures there, erect a new grain bin in the next two years and an additional grain bin in about five
years, plus offer anhydrous ammonia and other chemicals. Adjacent, however, is Sun Dappled Farms, a small organic operation run by Kate Potter and Kris Potter Percy, who raise various fruits and vegetables without chemicals, plus grassfed beef and pastured chickens. Citing 153 consents and 254 objections, the Planning and Zoning Department recommended approval. The proposal now moves to the Land Use & Infrastructure Committee Sept. 28, and the County Board Oct. 8
(to be held at Limestone High School), but no new testimony will be permitted. The five-hour hearing featured seven farmers supporting the proposal on the basis of convenience, trust and need. Eric Stanley, who said he was married to an Akron employee and formerly worked there, said he also sees the existing elevator as decaying infrastructure that could be fixed. The ZBA also heard legal, medical and sometimes emotional appeals from opponents.
FUN-FILLED WEEKEND
By BILL KNIGHT
WILLIAMSFIELD – U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan’s five-day “Ready for Success” bus tour through six states stopped at Williamsfield schools Tuesday afternoon to look at the use of educational technology in general and Internet-related work in particular. Williamsfield students in preK and Kindergarten use iPads; each grade 1-4 has a set of Chromebooks; and all students in Grades 5-12 have their own Chromebooks. “We continue to expand our use of Open Education Resources,” said Superintendent Tim Farquer. “As we enter our next implementation phase, we will begin to vet existing learning resources and publish our own into the OER environment for others to use.” The school recently added Advanced-Placement biology to its curriculum, which already features AP computer science, and plans significant AP expansion next year, Farquer said. Internet access was one of
Continued on Page 9
New Taft bust on display at cemetery walk By BILL KNIGHT
For The Weekly Post
Continued on Page 7
The board occasionally asked questions but had little discussion before voting. Kris Potter Percy, a physician, shared health and safety concerns such as increased truck traffic, diesel exhaust, noise and the presence of chemicals next to “where we live, work and sleep.” Potter attorney Michael Evans suggested making Akron’s assurances – keeping GMO dust and storm water runoff from the Potters’ land, limiting noise, and
ELMWOOD – History will mix with art on Saturday, when award-winning sculptor John McClarey will spend a few hours during Saturday’s Elmwood Township Cemetery Walk demonstrating his work with a Lorado Taft piece. Concentrating on Abraham Lincoln, McClarey’s work is on display at sites such as the Peoria County Courthouse, across the street from the Lincoln Museum and Library in Springfield, and even the Russian State Library for Foreign Literature in Moscow. Sculptor John McAlthough he’s Clarey’s bust of Lorado been recognized Taft will be in Elmwood with the Lincoln Saturday. Forum’s Richard Nelson Current Award of Achievement and the State of Illinois’ Order of Lincoln honor, McClarey also has sculpted historical figures such as abolitionist and jourFor The Weekly Post
ABOVE: A team carries buckets of bricks for the Ag Olympics event at Ag Day in Williamsfield last Sunday. Photo by Joanie Stiers. See Story, Page 8. BELOW: A carnival, Harry Potter and bingo took over Elmwood for Fall Festival. Photo by Amy Davis.
Continued on Page 2