Thursday October 23, 2014 Vol. 2, No. 35
The Weekly Post
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District 16 Peoria County Board campaign heats up By BILL KNIGHT
ELMWOOD – The turnout was sparse but partisan allegations were plentiful in incumbent Brad Harding’s remarks during a Saturday-morning forum with Peoria County Board District 16 challenger Dick Burns. Organized by the nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria, the hourlong give-and-take from citizens’ questions was moderated by Roberta Parks from UnityPoint’s foundation. For The Weekly Post
Harding’s comments repeatedly made party affiliation an issue. “I represent that conservative Republican brand,” said Harding, who added that “Democrats will increase taxes. “The Democrat Party has added $150 million [in debt] to the County,” he said. In fact, recent County budgets had overwhelming bipartisan support. The 2014 budget was sponsored by Republican Mary Ardapple (Dist. 11) and passed 17-1, with Harding the Nay vote; the 2013 budget
Brad Harding (left) and Dick Burns were in Elmwood last Saturday for a League of Women Voters forum. Photo by Bill Knight.
was seconded by Republican Bob Baietto (Dist. 12) and passed 15-1, with Harding
again the Nay vote. At one point Saturday, Harding – seeking his third
term representing some of The Weekly Post’s circulation area, including all or parts of Elmwood, Logan, Rosefield and Trivoli Townships – linked Democrats in Springfield and Washington with the 10-8 Democrat-Republican composition of Peoria’s County Board. However, he also said that “Washington deals with issues we don’t in Peoria, notably our roads and safety,” and later added, “Springfield stole our money,” referring to less Motor Fuel Tax revenues comContinued on Page 13
Brimfield may halt Wednesday night activities
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Parrish returns to her roots in Elmwood store
By TERRY BIBO
BRIMFIELD – Brimfield Unit School District 309 is considering a policy change. It says: “114.1 Wednesday Evening Activities. Whenever possible, and unless otherwise authorized by the Superintendent, all school facilities and complexes shall not be used by anyone for any reason past the time of 6 p.m. on Wednesday evenings. There shall be no exceptions for practice, unless authorized by the Superintendent during IESA and IHSA State Tournament series.” This means: To accommodate boys and girls sports practices, some teams may have to report at 6 a.m. Rehearsals for plays and programs must wrap up before 6 p.m. – no late, last-minute run-throughs, drama queens. And Biddy Basketball may have to find another spot on a crowded schedule. The policy change had its first reading at the Oct. 15 meeting. Both Superintendent Joe Blessman and Brimfield Grade School Principal Jeannie Blane said they will enforce whatever the board decides. Neither appeared enthusiastic about the prospect. “It might not be ideal, but it can work,” said Blessman. “I don’t consider Biddy Basketball a school sport, but it does affect the parents,” said Blane. “I feel bad we have to make a policy ... It should be common sense.” The idea is to keep Wednesday evenings For The Weekly Post
By CHERYL HARLOW
ELMWOOD – Call it serendipity. Tracy Parrish has ended up right back where she started. She and her husband Brian are the new owners of Every Little Thing, a consignment and gift store in Elmwood that formerly housed The Country Florist, where Tracy worked during the early years of her marriage. Tracy Parrish worked as a designer for Crawford Home Furnishings in Canton for the past seven years before purchasing Every Little Thing on Sept. 2. “My husband liked the idea of me working in the town that we live in For The Weekly Post
Tracy Parrish has returned to a building she knows well as new owner of Every Little Thing in Elmwood. Photo by Cheryl Harlow.
and not having to drive far, but was concerned about the financial investment of owning your own business,” she said. After three months of prayer and careful deliberation, the Parrishes purchased the business from Jason
and Jodi Centers. Parrish said she has little consignment experience and is busy networking with other consignment owners to learn the best and most efficient way of doing things. She has collaborated Continued on Page 8
Spoon River Drive squabble in Farmington By MICHELLE SHERMAN
FARMINGTON – Following a minor altercation, the Farmington City Council is on the hunt for someone else to manage the Reed Park site for the Spoon River Scenic Drive. At its Oct. 6 meeting, Nick Ulm of Farmington Masonic Lodge 192 told For The Weekly Post
the council that during the first weekend of the Drive, site organizer Jim Smalley pulled up a sign advertising turkey strips prepared by the Masons and returned it to him. The Masons had, in previous years, sold ham and beans within Reed Park. But when they changed the menu in 2013, Ulm said Smalley told him the Masons “would never be al-
lowed back in Reed Park” as a food vendor. All proceeds from the Masons’ annual Drive sales go toward providing a college scholarship to a Farmington High School graduate as well as other charitable programs. The council was unsure, at the Oct. 6 meeting, to whom Smalley anContinued on Page 8
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