Thursday November 13, 2014 Vol. 2, No. 38
The Weekly Post
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Enterprise Zone could aid recovery in rural areas By BILL KNIGHT
An economic rebound in rural areas has lagged behind suburban or metro areas since the Great Recession, according to a USDA report issued in August, and Peoria County is coordinating a multi-community Enterprise Zone application that could help by encouraging employers to expand or locate in small towns and unincorporated areas. The public-private partnership approach, if OK’d by the Peoria County For The Weekly Post
Weekly Post Area Population Changes Community 2000 2010 Change Brimfield 933 868 -7.0 Elmwood 1,945 2,097 +7.8 Farmington 2,601 2,448 -5.9 Princeville 1,621 1,738 +7.2 Williamsfield 620 578 -6.8 Yates City 725 693 -4.4 SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau
Board at its meeting today (Nov. 13) would create a Rural Peoria Enterprise Zone, a corridor of viable spaces stretch-
ing from Chillicothe west past Princeville, then south to Elmwood and Hanna City. It includes 3.03 square miles in unincorporated areas of the County, plus 0.64 square miles in Chillicothe, 0.54 square miles in Princeville, 0.11 square miles in Elmwood, and 0.03 square miles in Hanna City. If approved, the application would take effect on Jan. 1, 2016, and last at least 10 years. Illinois’ Enterprise Zone Program since 1982 has been designed to stimu-
Golemon writes on Heaven, Hell in first book
By BILL KNIGHT
For The Weekly Post
Brimfield High School senior Austin Golemon, 17, recently self-published ”Fallen Angels,” the first in what he plans to be a four-book series. Photo by Cheryl Harlow.
Farmington supports school funding bill By MICHELLE SHERMAN
FARMINGTON – The Farmington Community Unit School District 265 Board of Education on Monday (Nov. 10) lent its support to Illinois Senate Bill 16, which would change the way Illinois school districts are funded. District 265 joins more than 170 groups, school districts and superintendents that publicly have declared For The Weekly Post
WILLIAMSFIELD – Hours after an onsite assessment Monday by OSF HealthCare Emergency Medical Services Coordinator Melissa Stokes and an inspector from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) that shut down one ambulance but approved another, Williamsfield Fire Protection District trustees said their EMS roster is down to four Emergency Medical Technicians and their interim EMS coordinator Jodi Goodwin is stepping down. Almost 50 people attended the regular monthly meeting, where trustees tried to explain the situation without ignoring advice from their attorneys to remain mum. The District and its ambulance service face a $90,000 fine and revocation of the license to operate after a complaint that requirements concerning oxygen tanks weren’t met, according to IDPH. “It would appear to some that we’re not doing anything,” said trustee Dan Gentry. “We’re working furiously [but] IDPH is refusing to cooperate. “Unfortunately, we can’t disclose everything,” he continued. “We wish we could. We’re extremely frustrated by the delays [and] demands made that we cannot accede to.” One demand from the State is to hire a doctor to oversee the program, said GenFor The Weekly Post
By CHERYL HARLOW
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Williamsfield EMS: State not cooperating
BRIMFIELD HIGH SCHOOL AUTHOR
BRIMFIELD – War is raging between the forces of Heaven and Hell, which are fighting to gain influence in the world of men. After thousands of years, Hell gathers its armies for a final push to destroy the world and enslave all. But before orders can be given, the leader of Hell’s armies vanishes. Along the way, four young adults search to learn who they are and what role they play in the battle between good and evil. If this sounds exciting and innovative, consider that the storyline came from the mind of a student at Brimfield High School. Senior Austin Golemon has written and self-published “Fallen Angels,” a 212-page novel. Golemon plans it to be the first book in a four-
late economic growth and neighborhood revitalization in economically depressed areas through state and local tax incentives, regulatory relief, and improved governmental services in areas designated by state and local government. The purpose of the joint application, according to Mark Rothert, Assistant Peoria County Administrator for Economic Development, is to create a better chance of being selected, act regionally with cooperating municipalities, and
their support to reworking the formula to determine how much money a district receives per student. Backed by Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria), SB16 passed the Illinois Senate this spring. The measure is up for debate in the House on Nov. 18. “We are disproportionately punished based on our geography,” said Superintendent John Asplund. “We have kids who go home to a lot more homes (than
elsewhere in the state) where their basic necessities are not being met.” Funding to Illinois schools is determined through a “statutorily defined funding formula,” according to the Illinois State Board of Education. In this formula, the amount of money a school receives is primarily dependent upon the Equalized Assessed Valuation (EAV) of the property within the disContinued on Page 13
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