Thursday Dec. 24, 2015 Vol. 3, No. 42
The Weekly Post
Happy Holidays!
“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
Carrier Route Presort RURAL BOXHOLDER LOCAL P.O. BOXHOLDER
FREE!
Area Troop produced nine Eagle Scouts this year By BILL KNIGHT
BRIMFIELD – Two parks and an area church benefited from more than 1,300 hours of work by nine young men in a productive year for Boy Scout Troop 352, which this month recognized its eighth and ninth Eagle Scouts in 2015. Collin Chaney (from Elmwood) and Bradley Grothaus (Edwards) on Dec. 14 earned their Eagle Scout rank in a Court of Honor by Troop 352, sponsored by Brimfield Evangelical Free Church. They follow fellow Troop members Kelby Barnewolt (Brimfield), Dean Burwell For The Weekly Post
Collection bins take donations elsewhere
(Elmwood), Ben Camp (Springfield), Matthew Gerontes (Brimfield), Austin Golemon (Brimfield), Hayden Golemon (Brimfield) and Elijah McKim (Hanna City, now London Mills). The highest advancement rank in Boy Scouting, the Eagle rank is attained by just 7 percent of Scouters, according to the BSA. To earn the rank, Scouts must progress through five other ranks, earn 21 merit badges in subjects ranging from “Citizenship in the Community” and “Family Life” to “Environmental Science” and “Personal Management,” and develop and lead an ap-
proved service project. Troop 352’s nine Eagle Scouts from 2015 earned a total of 252 merit badges and completed the following projects: • Barnewolt worked with others to build a picket fence at the schoolhouse at Wildlife Prairie Park south of Edwards; • Burwell organized construction of a Rosary garden at St. Patrick’s Church in Elmwood; • Camp led a group in rebuilding the West Trail to Walden Pond at Wildlife Prairie Park • Chaney worked with volContinued on Page 2
Nine members of Boy Scout Troop 352 earned Eagle Scout status in 2015: Top row (left to right): Elijah McKim, Ben Camp, Matthew Gerontes and Hayden Golemon. Front row (l to r): Bradley Grothaus, Collin Chaney, Kelby Barnewolt and Dean Burwell. Not pictured: Austin Golemon.
STAR WARS DEBUTS
By TERRY BIBO
For The Weekly Post
Continued on Page 10
BRIMFIELD – After months of uncertainty, Brimfield Union School District 309 Superintendent Joe Blessman’s contract was renewed – for one year. Dozens of onlookers applauded after the 7-0 vote at the Dec. 16 meeting. The board had moved into the cafeteria/common area, expecting a large crowd, but Greg Micklos was the only person on the agenda to speak. “Mr. Blessman has shown he has the expertise to balance all these items,” Micklos said, citing BUSD’s budgetary, sports and academic success. “I ask you make the right decision by extending his contract.” After a relatively brief executive session – about half an hour, compared to multi-hour sessions earlier in the year – the board did so, quickly For The Weekly Post
By BILL KNIGHT
ELMWOOD – West-central Illinois charities say some steel bins placed in area parking lots to collect clothing and shoes may not help the needy as much as people assume. The donations are more likely to go to for-profit ventures since many such collection boxes are operated by companies that sell the donated material, usually to foreign markets. One of the largest such forprofit enterprises is USAgain, which has about 10,000 bins in 17 states, and 20 in the area, including the east parking lot at the Elmwood school district, the Edwards Tap and Korean
Brimfield OK’s one-year deal for Blessman
Members of the Casey family of Princeville were among those who dressed up for the premiere of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” last week at Peoria’s Carmike Theatre at the Shoppes at Grand Prairie. From left to right are Josie Casey (Jedi), Kim Casey (Princess Leia), someone dressed up as a Wookiee, William Casey (young Jedi) and someone in a Storm Trooper costume. Photo by Collin Fairfield.
Continued on Page 2