Thursday Oct. 1, 2015 Vol. 3, No. 30
The Weekly Post
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“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
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Spoon River Drive expands, contracts By BILL KNIGHT
In 140 miles of road through Fulton County and a few surrounding towns, the Spoon River Scenic Drive will feature the early fall colors that attract visitors on the self-guided motor tour of the countryside, plus homemade food of all kinds and hundreds of vendors selling antiques and collectibles, flowers and plants, crafts and candles, art and furniture and more. The Spoon River Drive is this Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 3-4) and next weekend, Oct. 10-11. The overall number of sanctioned vendors is down about 30 percent from last year; there’s a detour along one stretch of highway; and a few familiar stops aren’t participating. HowFor The Weekly Post
ever, there are new attractions such as four “up-and-coming” area bands set to perform at Reed Park in Farmington, new and favorite foods from the likes of Farmington’s Crave and the Peoria barbecue caterer Hick’ry Stick, wine and beer-tasting, new vendors in Elmwood and Farmington, and the village of Vermont added to participating communities. “We’re finalizing everything now, from vendors to handicapped parking” said Casandra Zissen, co-chair of Farmington’s Spoon River Drive activities along with Dick Perardi. “Crave is bringing fried macaroni balls and Italian beef,” she added, “and we’ll be having pancakes and sausage.”
A few miles north, Elmwood is marking its third year of taking part by showcasing about 30 vendors, according to Dick Taylor, who’s helping coordinate the city’s stop this year. “Also, Kickapoo Creek Winery will be here on the corner lot with winetasting,” Taylor said. While dozens of vendors will set up throughout Elmwood’s Central Park, the “taste tent” will be on the grassy lot across the street at the intersection of Main and Magnolia Streets because, as existing businesses, they apparently can’t set up in Central Park, which somehow ended up being zoned residential, not commercial, Taylor said. “That’s something we’ll have to Continued on Page 7
FARMINGTON HOMECOMING
Leaves are starting to turn at Reed Park in Farmington, where Casandra Zissen is finalizing plans for the Spoon River Scenic Drive stop there. Photo by Bill Knight.
Construction progressing at Elmwood By BILL KNIGHT
ELMWOOD – Outside school hallways, construction on the junior high addition remains on schedule, Superintendent Chad Wagner told the Board of Education at its meeting on Monday (Sept. 28). Interior heating and air conditioning work is about done, and a slab for two new classrooms on the west side of the building is set to be poured this week. “We’re still on schedule but – knock on wood – anything can happen, as we’ve seen in the area,” Wagner said. Some construction-related questions were among eight inquiries made by Board member Claude Keefer earlier Monday. Asking about boilers, water heaters and flues, as well as compensation details, Keefer said he had no issues. “I just want information,’ he explained. Wagner said adding a third boiler is possible “if needed,” but said it has not been studied yet, For The Weekly Post
Local man is cooking up a storm By BILL KNIGHT
BRIMFIELD – Pampering people is the goal for 66-yearold chef Bill More, but there can be challenges to what’s become his thriving second career. “I had a wedding event in East Peoria in 2013 right after the tornado there, and there was no power,” said More, who lives on a rural wooded lot east of town. “So there was some worry. But what are you going to do? You have to be flexible. So I used their gas stove and we For The Weekly Post
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Farmington’s Homecoming last Friday featured a well-attended parade with floats from each class and plenty of hayracks filled with folks – including one (at right) for members of the Class of 1960, in town for their 55th class reunion. Photos by Dave Giagnoni.
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