The Weekly Post 2/21/13

Thursday February 21, 2013 Vol. 1, No. 1 Hot news tip?

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The Weekly Post debuts

By THE WEEKLY POST

What you’re holding in your hands is the first official copy of The Weekly Post, a weekly newspaper serving the communities of Brimfield, Edwards, Elmwood, Kickapoo, Laura, Yates City and Williamsfield.

The Weekly Post will be delivered every Thursday via mail and on newsracks to 5,000 readers in the abovementioned communities.

Our goal is to print informative, entertaining stories on government and schools, sports and business, culture and crime in our communities and in western Peoria County.

To do that we have assembled a veteran staff of journalists that includes writer Jeff Lampe, columnist/commentator Bill Knight, award-winning writer Terry Bibo and Keith Butterfield, a former Journal Star reporter and Caterpillar Inc. spokesman.

In addition to seasoned journalists, For The Weekly Post

we will feature local contributors such as Elmwood photographer Amy Davis, Brimfield businessman Roger Kepple, retired Elmwood teacher Mit Beres, Kasey Eberle of Brimfield, humorist Jon Gallagher, Melinda Cote of Kickapoo. We will also make space for works by students from area high schools and colleges.

Lampe, a long-time outdoors and sports writer for the Peoria Journal Star and Decatur Herald & Review, publishes the monthly Heartland Outdoors magazine. He and his wife Monica moved to Elmwood in 2004 and have three sons attending school in Elmwood: Henry, Victor and Walter.

In addition to leading the Elmwood All Outdoors Show since 2010, Lampe is an Elmwood city alderman and is active coaching youth sports. He and his wife help manage the Elmwood Township Community Center. Monica will help run The Weekly Post office.

Continued on Page 2

Highlights aplenty for retiring superintendent

By TERRY BIBO

BRIMFIELD – Ask Dennis McNamara if building a $16.8 million new school is the highlight of his career and he pauses.

“Yeah... ” says the retiring Superintendent of Brimfield Community Unit School District 309, who will retire in June.

Then he reconsiders.

Two of his students have gone on to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Others train as doctors, lawyers and electricians, he says.

In particular, he recalls one student who seemed destined to drop out of high school. All the kid wanted to do was work on cars. Redirected toward a college in Southern Illinois for a bachelor’s degree in auto For The Weekly Post

Stories? Ads?

Visit with a staffer from The Weekly Post Monday, Feb. 25 from noon to 1 p.m. in the Brimfield Public Library’s conference room.

mechanics, the student caught fire and now travels around the country as a trainer for General Motors.

“That is where you actually feel like you made a difference in someone’s life,” McNamara says. “He found his niche.”

Not to downplay the new school. When he first came here in 1990, a self-described “city boy” from Peoria, McNamara ran around shutting all the doors at the old building for security reasons. Then he

Dennis McNamara will retire as Superintendent of Brimfield CUSD 309 at the end of June.

found out that’s how already-secure country people handled air-conditioning.

Of course, that’s 23 years ago. In its second year of operation, the new building sports computerized geothermal heating – and locked-door security Continued on Page 2

Here is an artist’s rendition of the 100 block of E. Main St. in Elmwood after streetscaping improvements are completed. The first phase of the street improvement project will start this spring.

Elmwood streetscaping should begin in March

By BILL KNIGHT

ELMWOOD – Construction has been a fact of life in Elmwood since 2010 and that won’t change in the downtown square any time soon. Some may view that as an inconvenience, but the community will probably appreciate the dramatic improvements – and breathe easier – thanks to two state grants and a local zoning ordinance the City Council approved unanimously on Tuesday, Elmwood Mayor J.D. Hulslander said.

“It’ll definitely pay off in the long run,” said Hulslander, who conceded he has heard grumbling from merchants. “But we worked with the engineers, and the contractors are obligated to provide easy access to all the businesses throughout the project.”

As for the rest of the community, Hulslander said, “The way it’ll make the downtown look, it’ll be great for everybody.”

The council on Jan. 21 voted to accept a bid of $471,685.31 from Laverdiere Construction of Macomb for Phase I of the Downtown Streetscape Project, which will improve both sides of the 100 block of East Main St. The bid was about $26,000 higher than estimates, and the city has approached the Illinois Department of Transportation to address the shortfall.

Work is expected to begin next For The Weekly Post

Elmwood passes zoning

Elmwood now controls its own zoning, after the council’s unanimous approval of a new zoning ordinance and the appointment of a Zoning Commission.

The zoning law mostly means safety for residents, clarity for property owners and certainty for developers – all administered by Elmwood instead of Peoria County.

Discussions about zoning started after the June 5, 2010, tornado damaged dozens of local structures.

Builders complained about the county’s control of the process, different land-use priorities, and the inconvenience of traveling to the county courthouse.

Michael Seghetti, the Peoria attorney who assisted in developing the ordinance, explained that Elmwood’s zoning is based on the county’s laws, but was fine-tuned to Continued on Page 2

month and take about 11 weeks, although work will halt during the Strawberry Festival on June 4.

Phase I of the project, funded by a $515,112 grant from the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) and $128,000 from the city’s general revenue fund, will renovate sidewalks, gutters, curbs, crosswalks Continued on Page 2

Page 2

THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, February 21, 2013

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COUNCIL: Elevator expansion OKd Continued from Page 1

and ramps and add ornamental street lamps and hand rails and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements. Elmwood is responsible for 20 percent of IDOT’s anticipated construction costs of $445,300. However, all six bids were higher than IDOT estimates, and Laverdiere’s low bid was still $26,385.31 higher.

ITEP grants are intended to promote and develop streetscape beautification.

TERRA Engineering has been working with the city on the project.

Meanwhile, Phase II of the Streetscape was approved by the state for a $1.7 million grant, the only project to be funded from 12 counties in west-central Illinois’ District 4 and the eighth highest award out of 54 funded projects.

With designs and engineering yet to begin, the Phase II process will take months. The city’s 20 percent obligation for Phase II is about $426,000.

In other business, the council unani-

mously approved vacating parts of the right of way of Rose and Lynn streets adjacent to Ag-Land FS’s Elmwood Elevator, and an alley on the north side of the site if the corporation agrees to pay $20,000, reimburse the city for related legal fees and pay to relocate any affected infrastructure in connection with a planed $2.5 million expansion at South Magnolia Street location.

The council on Feb. 11 unanimously voted to support Ag-Land’s proposal and to negotiate with the company on city property needed for the expansion.

Ag-Land Grain Manager Chuck Doubet said the expansion will vastly improve collection of corn-chaff dust from the air and also reduce traffic.

“We think it’s a win-win for the company and the community,” Doubet said. “The new dust emission control unit will help eliminate the dust. The property taxes will increase with the increased value of the facility. And there’ll be jobs, in construction and in the operation itself.”

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Here is an artist’s rendition of the 100 block of E. Main St. in Elmwood after streetscaping improvements. This is the corner of Main and Magnolia.

POST: Paper will offer local news Continued from Page 1

Knight, recently retired as deputy director of Journalism at Western Illinois University, also worked at the Journal Star, and continues to write a syndicated column. He and his wife Terry Bibo have lived in Elmwood for 21 years; their son Russell Baker graduated from Elmwood High School in 2005 before graduating from Knox College and St. Louis University School of Law. Knight served on boards for Maple Lane Country Club, the Elmwood Fall Festival, and U of I Extension/Peoria County, and was active in Boy Scouts

and youth baseball.

The Post will operate out of an office at 115 W. Main St. in Elmwood. We will also have office hours in Brimfield.

Helping run the office is Shelly Brodine of Elmwood, who attended high school in Yates City. Brodine is married to Dan Brodine and has two children in the Elmwood schools: Parker and Paige. A third child, Ashley, is an Elmwood graduate.

We invite readers to submit story ideas, pictures and stories.

Contact Lampe at 309-231-6040, or jeff@wklypost.com. Better yet, stop by and visit our new office.

McNAMARA: Funding a worry Continued from Page 1

measures. It took years of work and expertise from people around the community to make a new building happen, McNamara says. But that’s not most important.

“Bricks and mortar certainly don’t make kids smarter,” he says. “Providing opportunities does.”

Considering the lingering effects of 2008, Brimfield is fortunate to have a low number of students eligible for the free-lunch program – 8 to 11 percent – and a relatively-strong housing market.

Unlike most small towns, it still has a manufacturing base with Kress Corp.

Oddly, such strengths can actually hurt when the state of Illinois thinks you can afford to take a hit.

Looking forward, McNamara doesn’t hesitate to name what he sees as the district’s biggest problem: erratic funding. The state owes Brimfield schools roughly $600,000.

“We got our first transportation payment a month ago,” he says. “But we didn’t stop running buses.”

Not only is funding reduced and delayed, he says. Low interest rates mean reserve funds don’t generate the money they used to make – and most of those funds are restricted anyway.

Scholarships and grants are harder to get. Students end up taking out bigger

loans and graduates have difficulty getting jobs to pay them off.

“It’s sad,” McNamara says. “I really am fearful for what the financial situation brings for the future for these kids.”

Ultimately, he says, taxpayers foot the bills. That has to be considered, especially when Springfield demands expensive changes in education without funding those changes. McNamara says he’s been “extremely blessed” with a dedicated staff that has made it possible to balance these needs.

Brimfield Education Association president Monica Carnall-Freaner echoes his fears.

“We’re always concerned about school funding. Fully funding as opposed to partially funding,” she says.

“All of these issues affect everybody.

They affect us and the kids and the community.”

Despite the challenges, and the official retirement, McNamara predicts he will still be involved in education.

“My mission has always been: This is children first and foremost,” he says.

“We’re providing opportunities for these kids to be productive citizens in society some day.”

The school is built. The mission goes on.

Terry Bibo can be reached at terry.bibo.freelance@gmail.com

ZONING: Elmwood in charge of destiny Continued from Page 1

address Elmwood’s characteristics.

“Changes we made in the language were housekeeping in nature,” Seghetti said, noting the ordinance takes effect 10 days after approval and authority will transfer automatically to the city.

“No one’s zoning changed,” added Pat Landes, a Peoria zoning expert who’s been a consultant in Elmwood’s zoning adoption process. “We changed the current code to tailor it to Elm-

We Cover The News of West-Central Illinois With A Passion

wood.”

Elmwood Director of Development Dick Taylor said, “Elmwood will be in charge of its destiny.”

Elmwood Mayor J.D. Hulslander appointed and the council approved the city Zoning Commission as Andrea Clark, Larry Cox, Jim Grimm, Pat McGuire, Tom Mottaz, Allan Naumann and Val Ramirez. Mottaz was appointed and approved as chair and Ramirez was appointed vice chair.

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THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, February 21, 2013

Page 3

THE WEEK AHEAD Community Events

s St. Jude Run – An informational meeting for the first St. Jude Kickapoo/Brimfield to Peoria Run will be held March 11 at 7 p.m. at the Kickapoo Sportsman’s Club, 11125 U.S. 150, Brimfield. Runners of any skill set will be accommodated in the new event.

Fund Raisers

s Chicken and noodles – Yates City’s Faith United Presbyterian Church, 107 W. Bishop St., will have a chicken & noodle dinner from 4-7 p.m. Saturday to benefit the Handicap-Accessible Door Fund and also the Farmington Food Pantry. The menu will feature “Nancy’s Noodles,” plus mashed potatoes, green beans, tea, lemonade or coffee, and dessert.

The dinner will cost $7 and $3 for children. s EEBY breakfast – March 2 is the date for the latest fund raiser breakfast for EEBY (Elmwood-Edwards-Brimfield-Yates City), which sends gift boxes to U.S. troops.

Set for 7-10 a.m. at the United Methodist Church, 821 W. Main St., the breakfast will offer sausage, fruit, biscuits & gravy, pastries, juices, milk and coffee, according to organizer Gerry Pettit.

The all-you-can-eat breakfast will cost $7 and $3 for kids 10 and younger. s Fish fry – St. Patrick’s Church in Elmwood has scheduled a fish fry for each Friday of Lent, continuing through March 22, at the parish hall, 802 W. Main St. Besides fish and/or shrimp, the menu includes baked potato or french fries, coleslaw, applesauce, roll, drink and dessert. The cost is $9 and $4 for children, and carryout orders also are available.

Benefit

s Caleb Siegel Benefit – A benefit for Caleb Siegel of West Peoria, whose family is well known in Brimfield and Elmwood, will be held Saturday at the Fraternal Order of Eagles at 1704 SE Lane in Peoria from 2-11 p.m. Proceeds will help Caleb pay for a bone marrow transplant. He suffers from a rare disorder called Franconi Anemia. Call Dawn Mennel at (309) 303-0564, Chuck Traver at (309) 370-4742 or Carrie Frazer at (309) 224-8465.

Youth Sports

s Youth Baseball – Brimfield Youth Baseball Association sign-up dates are March 2 and 9, 9 a.m. to noon at the Brimfield Grade School cafeteria. For more information contact Rick Miller at 264-4154 or Dan Keyt at 635-1384. s Youth Soccer – Registration for the Canton YMCA soccer program will be held March 2 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Elmwood Township Community Center. Teams are being organized for Elmwood, Brimfield and Farmington. There will also be soccer clinics for second through sixth graders starting March 5. Call Mark Sawyer at 647-1616.

Other Events

s Fish, tree sales – The Peoria County Soil & Water Conservation District fish and tree sale is ongoing. Tree orders are due by March 15, and grass carp fish orders are due by March 29. All other species orders are due April 10. Call (309) 691-7040, ext. 3 or obtain additional information and order access online at http://peoriacountyswcd.trip.od.com.

Availability in Fulton and Knox Counties is similar however deadlines may vary. Please contact the appropriate county district office for details. Fulton County SWCD: (309) 547-2215, ext. 3. Knox County SWCD: (309) 342-5714, ext. 3.

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Home Show features over 250 vendors

By KELLY O’BRIEN

PEORIA – Just a few weeks ago, Gertie the groundhog predicted an early spring for central Illinois. Maybe you pictured warmer temperatures and greener grass than the snowy scene greeting us right now.

But is your home really ready for spring already?

A trip to the Spring Home Show this FridaySunday at the Peoria Civic Center could help you prepare.

“Whether you are building a new home, remodeling your existing home, or just dreaming of projects for the future, the show offers a onestop shopping experience for local consumers,” said Lisa Scott, director of the Home Builders Association of Greater Peoria, which sponsors the event.

The largest consumer home expo in downstate Illinois, the Spring Home Show attracted more than 250 area exhibitors and 20,000 visitors last year. Scott expects similar numbers this year.

Attendees can expect an informative experience from expert advice by local builders and home-improvement professionals accessible on the show floor, to more extravagant displays, For The Weekly Post

The Spring Home Show being held at Peoria’s Civic Center this Friday through Sunday is the largest consumer home show in downstate Illinois, annually attracting more than 20,000 visitors. Submitted photo.

such as a completely furnished modular home built inside the Civic Center by Homeway Homes.

Also, live presentations will address common concerns. “Plaster Man” will demonstrate proper repair techniques for plaster and drywall problems.

Also, “Mole Hunter” Jeff Holper will teach effective ways to remove destructive moles from lawns.

The show targets do-ityourselfers, but has entertainment, too.

The well-known DiscConnected K9s – World Famous Frisbee Dogs, will perform throughout the weekend, and Mad Dog & Merrill of the TV’s “Midwest Grill’n” will share recipes on stage.

Also featured will be

the “Investing in America” custom motorcycle

by Orange County Choppers for GAF, the largest manufacturer of commercial and residential roofing. The bike, featured on Discovery Channel’s “American Chopper” in December, will be displayed in the River City Roofing booth.

“We’re a GAF Master Elite certified company serving within 50 miles of Peoria,” said River City Roofing owner

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Timothy Garrison. “GAF manufactures the shingles we install, so it helped us to secure this actual bike.”

Show hours are 4-9 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $7 for adults (age 18+), seniors (60+) are half price, and kids younger than 18 get in free.

For other information visit the Website www.OfficialHomeShow.com.

Page 4

THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, February 21, 2013

The Weekly Post www.wklypost.com

The Weekly Post is published every Thursday (except the last week of December and the last week of June) by Lampe Publications LLC, 115 W. Main St., Elmwood, IL 61529.

All phone numbers area code (309).

Postmaster – Send address changes to The Weekly Post, P.O. Box 745, Elmwood, IL 61529 Phone – 741-9790 Fax – 741-9365 Email – news@wklypost.com

Office Hours – 9-5 Mon-Wed, 9-12, 4-6 Thurs, 9-4 Fri News – Jeff Lampe 231-6040

Classified – Shelly Brodine 741-9790 Advertising – Jeff Lampe 231-6040

Contributors – Mit Beres, Terry Bibo, Keith Butterfield, Melinda Cote, Amy Davis, Kasey Eberle, Jon Gallagher, Roger Kepple and Bill Knight Deadlines – News due Tuesdays by noon. Retail ads Mondays by noon.

Classified ads Fridays by 2 p.m.

Subscriptions – One Year: In Illinois $100. Outside Illinois $150

Obituaries, Births, Weddings – Forms are available at our office at 115 W. Main St. in Elmwood.

Seen by 10,000+ readers every week!

www.wklypost.com

Betting that local news still matters Rambling through westcentral Illinois as people open their mailbox and say, “What is this?” uuu Good question. What is this new newspaper in your mailbox?

Why? And how?

First off, no, you do not owe anyJeff body for LAMPE this publication.

Thanks to the unwavering, even devious, encouragement of Bill Knight, we are starting a weekly newspaper that will be delivered to nearly 5,000 homes in Brimfield, Edwards, Elmwood, Kickapoo, Laura, Williamsfield and Yates City. Crazy? Probably, though my hungry kids hope not. To make this work we promise to report

the news of our communities. See, I still believe local news and opinion matters, particularly in small towns. While bigtown papers struggle as they cut staff and offer less for more, many weeklies are thriving. Why? Good weeklies provide local news people can’t otherwise find. That’s our goal. uuu “Why print a paper. Nobody reads any more,” you might still say. OK, so not everyone reads. Even so, one common comment from people since we started working on this project is that they look forward to catching up on local news. Time will tell if that was lip service. But where else are you going to find detailed statistics for the Elmwood boys basketball team? Where else are you going to read about Kickapoo getting a recycling bin? Where else can

you find 16 pages of hyperlocal news? uuu OK, admittedly, this first issue is a bit heavy on Elmwood information. That will not be the case every Thursday. But for the past few weeks I’ve basically been chained to the office trying to get this paper launched. About as far as I’ve roamed is Elmwood high school, which is where I cornered assistant basketball coach Josh Fugitt, who provided me the stats you will find in the sports section. My goal was to also provide stats for Brimfield and Williamsfield, but those will have to come later.

Fugitt, who could not outrun a chunky guy like me, was the only coach I could catch. But look out Bob Anderson, I’m on your tail. uuu Who will you read about in this column? Anyone

and everyone. And watch for nicknames, as they intrigue me. The best to cross my path lately is Chicken Hawk. Hmm. Maybe he is worthy of a feature. ... One thing you won’t see us do is put together a fake readership survey to placate our customers, such as the Peoria Journal Star is advertising right now. What a joke.

All the JS has done in the past three years is to cut staff and shrink the paper.

Now they are pretending to care what readers want?

Unless this survey can write a story, take a picture, build an ad or deliver a paper it will not help readers get what they want. ...

Parting shot: Instead of a survey, here is a plea, and a promise: Send us your story ideas and we will do our best to follow up on them. I mean it when I say that this is your paper.

Contact Jeff Lampe at 2316040 or jeff@wklypost.com

More opportunities ... at what cost?

All of us have had our lives influenced by social institutions – family, school, friends, organizations, church, etc. Everyone I’ve known has benefited from being exposed to a variety of such influences and, in most cases, one or Mit two of them BERES have shown greater appeal than others, and they helped determine a direction taken for life.

Sports has been one of those institutions and, as is the case with others, has seen its place in society change. The time now devoted to sports came at the expense of time spent on other activities, whether because of longer seasons, year-around training, younger players or opportunities for females.

Yes, a pivotal moment in the determination of the place of sports in American society and sports’

influence on our lives and our free time came with the passage of Title IX legislation 41 years ago.

The original law – the Education Amendments of 1972 – didn’t even explicitly mention sports. Its purpose was to require educational institutions to maintain policies, practices and programs that don’t discriminate against anyone based on sex.

Under this law, males and females are expected to receive fair and equal treatment in all arenas of public schooling: recruitment, admissions, educational programs and activities, course offerings and access, counseling, financial aid, employment assistance, facilities and housing, health and insurance benefits, marital and parental status, scholarships, sexual harassment, and … athletics.

Specifically, the statute reads, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity re-

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ceiving federal financial assistance.”

An admirable goal, perhaps. But one with unintended consequences.

Before, active participation in competitive sports was limited; most schools didn’t field girls teams. Discussion of that fact is often accompanied by the question, “Can you imagine?”

Indeed, Title IX was the turning point that led to sports opportunities for girls. No longer the exclusive bastion of boys and men, sports quickly came to belong to everyone.

But sports also became more of a driving force in families’ lives – especially demands on time and conflicting priorities that pulled parents and siblings in different directions.

This was a major change in the importance of sports as a focal point in our nation and our way of life. Daily newspapers’ sports sections had been where the triumphs and travails of men were told to Continued on Page 5

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THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, February 21, 2013

Page 5

GUEST VOICES Thank You!

™ Thank You for all the kind words of encouragement as we embark on this new business venture.

– The Lampe Family ™ Thank You to Bill Juraco for donating the desks in our office and hauling them all the way to Elmwood. No matter what anybody says, there are still plenty of good people out there willing to do nice things for others without personal gain or applause. Thanks!

– Jeff Lampe

BERES: Title IX meant less family time Continued from Page 4

readers who were men and women alike, but by men as one-time participants and women as observers.

Within a few years, sports covered volleyball, softball and sports played by high school girls and college women (and, eventually, professionals who came from athletic careers in school), albeit not usually on the front page.

Families found themselves with whole new areas of involvement for half the population, plus an abundance of recreational and adult organized athletic activities.

Where do we find the time?

People weren’t sitting around doing nothing before 1972, of course, but nowhere near as much of our time was spent on organized sport for kids.

Society – areas, towns, neighborhoods – went from six or seven kids putting together a pickup game of “pitcher’s hand out” on some sandlot to uniforms and umpires and coaches and parents driving children here and there and sitting in the stands watching and yelling – and sacrificing something they’d otherwise be doing.

I don’t know when the first game of T-ball was played, but it, too, gave us a whole new age group to include.

Sure, there have other factors squeezing families’ time, from the temptation to sit in air conditioning to watch TV, to an economy that almost requires second incomes instead of permitting a stay-at-home parent. But changes in sports have been significant.

As families adjust, what’s been gained – and what’s been lost? That’s something for future discussion.

Letter Policy

The Weekly Post welcomes letters from our readers. Email us at editor@wklypost.com or mail to: Letters, The Weekly Post, P.O. Box 745, Elmwood, IL 61529.

Include your first and last names, your full home address, home phone and a phone number where you can be reached during the day.

Letters should be no more than 250 words. Longer submissions of 500-600 words will be considered for our Other Voices feature. Letters will be edited and may be used in print or electronic form.

The Elmwood siren is wailing once again Attention Elmwood residents: They’ve fixed the fire siren.

I SAID, THEY FIXED THE SIREN! Sorry for yelling. I needed to do that just in case you were within two miles of the thing when it went off.

Two years ago, when I was moving back into my apartment following the tornado, I had my boss and a coworker help me. We were in front of the Post Office when the noon whistle went Jon off.

GALLAGHER These two city boys must’ve thought that a terrorist attack was imminent. One took up a defensive fighting position (like karate would help) and the other sort of ducked. Both ended up with their hands covering their ears.

“What was that?” one asked after the whistle died down. “You having another tornado?”

“Noon whistle,” I answered. It was February and the temperature was in single digits, so the possibility of a tornado was rather slim.

“These rednecks have to be told when it’s time to eat?” the boss asked.

I explained that it was a tradition, not only in Elmwood, but in almost every small Midwestern town. Neither of the city boys had heard of such a thing.

They should be here for a fire.

The fire whistle, perched on top of City Hall, has been around a long time, probably as long as anyone recalls.

Back when fire departments were first organized, they didn’t have sirens.

Usually there was a firehouse tower with a bell. If a fire broke out, someone ran to the firehouse and pulled on

ropes that rang the bell while someone else hooked up horses to the wagon.

Folks who were nearby dropped what they were doing and headed for the firehouse where they would jump on a wagon, find out where they were going, and head for the fire to form a bucket brigade. Bucket brigades were people who’d line up and hand buckets of water down a line to someone who would then throw it on the fire.

Eventually, wagons carried tanks with hand-pumps (which resulted in some fires actually being extinguished). Then in the early 1900s motorized trucks took over for horses.

Mack trucks and the Reo Motor Car Co. produced models such as the Reo Speed Wagon (did you know the band was named after a fire truck?).

About this time, bells began to be replaced by electronic sirens. Most small towns didn’t have the need or funds for full-time firefighters, so sirens, much louder than bells, were a way to call volunteer firefighters to the station.

Plus, whenever the siren sounded, others knew that fire trucks were about to race through town. This was important because there was still a lot of horse traffic in smaller towns so the siren let people know to get the horses off to the side of the road so they wouldn’t be spooked by fire engines.

The fire siren began to be used as a signal for other things, too. Many small communities, especially if they had a lot of farms close by, would (ahem) fire up the siren at noon so farmers and hired hands would know it was time for lunch. Back then they didn’t have cell phones.

The tradition of blowing the siren whenever there’s a fire continued, even through the days of firefighters carrying pagers to alert them to fires. (I’ve

A doubly happy birthday To the Editor: What is at the top of your todo list to celebrate your 65th birthday?

Well, my husband likes to go hunting. And our son and nephew talked him into going with them on a wild hog hunt in Missouri in the middle of a cold January.

My husband’s birthday is Jan. 19, so they planned the weekend months in advance. I have to admit I thoroughly enjoyed that they gave me a very quiet weekend to myself (an early birthday present for me, no doubt).

They left Friday and stayed in a warm hotel. Then their fun started Saturday, when three other members of the hunting party arrived and they checked in with the owner of the hoghunting area to get rules and territories they would hunt that night.

The hunters all saw a beautiful night full of stars ... the most my husband said he had seen in a long, long time.

The entire group admitted it was cold sitting out there and

they all said they should have taken more items to keep warm.

Our son heard some wild hogs.

Our nephew saw a small mountain lion in a tree.

But, alas, nobody saw any wild hogs.

They returned home about 9 on Sunday and my quiet weekend didn’t change very much, as they were tired and ready for their familiar beds.

It took several days for them to share more details about the pretty scenery and the rest of the weekend. I guess they enjoyed “the hunt” because they already talked about their next trip and which night-vision scopes they should buy for their rifles.

I just groaned, shook my head and said, “Whatever.”

But I do wonder when my next quiet weekend will be.

And at least I have time until September to decide what I want for my 65th birthday.

It will for sure not be a trip to Missouri for a wild hog hunt!

– Sue Powers Yates City

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seen firemen racing toward the station minutes before sirens sounded. At first I thought they were psychics.)

Sirens also still warn motorists that large trucks with excited drivers would soon be rolling, as well as alerting nosy people to prepare to follow the trucks and have fodder for gossip.

In Knoxville, where I spent the first 40-some years of my life, we didn’t have civil defense sirens like Elmwood. So the fire siren was used for civil defense, too. A few times when funnel clouds were sighted close to town, the siren would blast.

In Elmwood, I first became aware of the fire siren shortly after moving here.

My wife and I had just been married and returned from our honeymoon into a house behind City Hall. I’d heard the noon whistle and thought it was loud, but I hadn’t been treated to a full fire whistle yet.

That all changed one morning about 3 when the siren, about 50 feet from the bedroom, went off.

I’ve slept through ringing telephones and alarm clocks on occasion, but late me tell you, a fire siren that close to your open window will bring you straight up out of bed, speaking in tongues, and wondering why someone didn’t give you more advance warning about Armageddon.

It’s been quiet since the siren broke a few months ago, but it’s back, warning us of a fire somewhere in the community, shaking loose plaster in nearby houses, sending dogs into fits of howling, and waking babies in the middle of their naps.

I didn’t realize how much I hadn’t missed it.

St. Patrick’s Church Friday Fish Fry

802 W. Main St. • Elmwood

Delicious Shrimp or Catfish, Potato, Slaw, Roll & Drink

Every Friday During Lent Serving 4:30-6:30 February 15, 22 March 1,8,15 & 22

Carryouts Available – Call 742-4921

Page 6

THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, February 21, 2013

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CUB SCOUTS: A few scouts from Elmwood Cub Scout Pack 58 helped at Kiwanis’ recent pancake breakfast. Pictured are, front, left to right, Garrett German and Cory Alcaraz, and back, left to right, Ethan Anderson, Tyler Sheridan, Brendan Stevens and Tommy Stratton. Pack 58 will hold its annual Blue & Gold banquet Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Crossroads Church, 615 E. Ash St., according to pack leader Brett Stevens. Brimfield Pack 53 will hold its own Blue & Gold banquet in April. Photo by Bill Knight.

PUBLIC RECORD Police Reports

s Elmwood/Peoria County – The following are police reports from the Peoria County Sheriff and Elmwood Police Department.

• Elmwood police last week stepped up enforcement of school speed zones, issuing four tickets alone on Feb. 14 at the West Main Street and North Magnolia Street school crossings, where the speed limit is 20 mph when school children are present.

Police also remind motorists that cell-phone use while driving is illegal in school zones.

• Dale Coulter of Brimfield on Feb. 11 reported the burglary of items from his disabled car on Taylor Road, Sheriff’s officers said.

• Dwight King of Elmwood on Feb. 4 reported a house burglary at his residence, where televisions and other electronic items were stolen.

Detectives from the Peoria County Sheriff’s department are investigating.

• The Shell station at the Kickapoo exit off Interstate 74 reported multiple thefts of fuel on Feb. 7, police said.

• Deer remain a nuisance on the roads. For example, sheriff’s officers reported Daniel Keyt of Brimfield on Feb. 7 avoided a deer but struck a fence on Sommerfield Road, Lester Atwood of Elmwood on Feb. 10 struck a deer on Illinois Route 78; Amanda Farris of Bartonville on Feb. 13 struck a deer on Lamplighter Lane in Kick-

apoo; and Martha Regier of Princeville on Feb. 14 collided with a deer on Princeville-Jubilee Road.

• Adam Schelske, 17, of Brimfield on Feb. 6 was arrested for illegal transportation of alcohol and having alcohol in his system under the state’s “zero tolerance” law, according to police reports. s Yates City – For the month of January, the Yates City police department handled: 7 traffic stops, 7 warnings, 1 ordinance and 9 reports. Reports were as follows: • Jan. 2, two medical calls • Jan. 4, suspicious person • Jan. 7, follow-up on car burglaries • Jan. 12, suspicious incident involving vehicle registration • Jan. 15, domestic dispute • Jan. 22, person down, private property accident • Jan. 24, parking violation, ordinance warning • Jan. 29, alarm ringing.

The department also spent $36.92 with MCTC Telephone, $35 with Supreme Radio and $1,117.32 with Lou Lakis Ford.

Real Estate Transactions 9809 N. Fox Creek Drive, Brimfield, Vance W. Weisbruch, Patricia A. Parett and Susan E. Wright to Benjamin Mackey and Leanne Skuse, $231,000.

Anniversaries

Bob and Betty Pacey of Brimfield will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on Feb. 28.

IN BRIEF FSB bank board adds Doug Whitney

ELMWOOD – Douglas Whitney of Elmwood has joined the Farmers State Bank board of directors. A Peoria native, Whitney moved to Elmwood in June 1996 with his wife, Traci, and their two children.

Whitney is President of Whitney & Associates, Peoria, a firm specializing in geotechnical engineering, subsurface investigations, construction materials testing and environmental investigations.

Whitney is actively involved in many local organizations. Whitney is the third generation to serve on the Farmers State Bank Board of Directors, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, L. Richard Whitney and uncle, George I. Whitney.

Brimfield library iPad drawing

BRIMFIELD – Want to win a free iPad? Then log on to Facebook and add the Brimfield Public Library to your list of “likes.”

One lucky resident of the Brimfield Public Library District winner will be drawn on Saturday, Feb. 22, and will be announced on the library’s Facebook page and via its Twitter address, @Brim-

field_PL. The winner has until Wednesday, Feb. 27 to claim the prize or a new winner will be selected.

March.

Don Dean, Bruce Howard and Gene Shissler remain on the society’s board of directors.

Officers elected at EDA meeting

Shed deer antler contest underway

ELMWOOD – Jason Centers was elected vice president and Steve Davis secretary at the January 23 meeting of the Elmwood Development Association (EDA), which returned president Amy Davis and treasurer Jennifer Beard to their positions.

Dick Taylor, Economic Development Officer for the city, said loan money from the U.S. Department of Agriculture remains available for businesses.

Interested Elmwood businesspeople should contact Taylor at City Hall: (309) 742-2351.

Elmwood historical society elections

ELMWOOD – The Elmwood Historical Society in January re-elected president Doug Whitney, vice president Charlotte Haley, treasurer Dan Keefer and secretary Wanda DeMent, and approved Cathy Meyers’ proposal to lead work to bring the Lorado Taft Museum archives up to date.

The group will meet at 7 on Tuesday evening at the museum; published reports incorrectly said the next meeting was in

ELMWOOD – Whitetail bucks have been dropping their antlers all winter and now Elmwood Insurance Agency, Inc. is giving outdoors enthusiasts a chance to seek out those unique trophies.

EIA, located at 102 E. Main St. in Elmwood, is holding a shed antler contest through April 15.

All entries will received a free t-shirt and the top three antlers will be officially measured.

Highest scoring antler wins a $25 first prize.

While full heads are welcome to be submitted for display at the insurance agency’s office, only shed antlers will be considered for contest purposes. Call (309) 742-2141 to learn more.

Leitch named to seven committees

PEORIA – State Rep. David Leitch (R-Peoria) was named to seven committees for the 98th General Assembly, including the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules. He has also been named Deputy Republican Leader for Downstate.

CLASSIFIED ADS FOR SALE

FISHING GEAR: Old fishing gear free to a good home. Various rods and reels in different states of repair and disrepair. Ideally the rods would go to a home with some youngsters eager to start fishing.

Or to a high school bass angler. 309-231-6040

VACUUM CLEANER: Kirby Upright Sweeper, Model

610 D, instructional CD, attachments, carpet shampooer, $700. 309-635-3791 PLATE BOAT: 2007 AAD custom 20-foot plate boat, 115 hp Yamaha four-stroke, 84” beam, livewell, jackplate, tandem-axle trailer, beckbeer69@hotmail.com

WANTED

DECOYS, CALLS: Seeking old duck decoys and duck calls. 309-741-9790

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Classified Rates

Classified ads cost $7 for up to 20 words and must be prepaid.

Call (309) 741-9790 or visit The Weekly Post at 115 W. Main St. in Elmwood. Forms will soon be available at www.wklypost.com.

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THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, February 21, 2013

Page 7

A WONDERFUL LIFE

Lott, Keefer shared friendship and faith

By BILL KNIGHT

ELMWOOD – Some big-city cynics might look at the wife of a banker and the wife of a janitor and see class differences. Bettye Lott and Susie Keefer would laugh.

They were classy ladies.

“They were dear, dear friends,” recalls Bettye’s daughter, Pam Paige.

Bettye and Susie died a few weeks apart this winter, and it’s still hard to imagine.

Sometimes it takes a while for absences to sink in.

This month, when early robins seem to shiver amid the dormant shrubs in Elmwood’s Central Park, and generations of churchgoers turned out for Ash Wednesday, realization hit.

“That’s right,” it was thought. “Bettye and Susie are gone.”

For The Weekly Post

It’s like hearing it anew, although Bettye and Suzie died on Dec. 16 and Jan. 19, respectively.

The friends were much different but a lot alike. Bettye was married to Farmers State Bank owner Bob Lott, and Susie to grade school custodian Wes Keefer. However – typical of many rural communities – they socialized and shared many experiences, especially the knack for letting quiet smiles light up rooms.

Bettye went to DePauw University, where she was in a sorority, then worked for a time as an administrator at Frances Shimer College in Northwest Illinois. She married Bob Lott in Louisville in 1943.

Susie was born in Belgium and worked as a clerk and translator for the U.S. Army after World War II. She mar-

ried Wes Keefer and they lived in Elmwood starting in 1948.

For a bit, Susie worked at Farmers State Bank, but as Wes went on to work maintenance and construction at Illinois Central College and Jobst, she spent more time raising her kids. Still, she volunteered at Wildlife Prairie Park and Proctor Hospital, and taught French at Bradley University.

Although Bettye had earned a college degree and worked at a college, she became a student of Susie’s when Bettye decided to learn French. Suzie – who also was fluent in German as well as English – was patient and helped Bettye prepare for a three-week tour of France.

At home, both women had gone through the ecumenical Christian renewal program called Cursillo, and for years

they took part in an interdenominational prayer group with several locals, from Presbyterians and Methodists to St. Patrick’s Father John Horn.

Susie enjoyed music from the Big Band era and playing cards, especially pinochle, and cheering for her beloved Chicago Cubs.

Bettye enjoyed gardening and planting trees and bushes around Elmwood, and was active in the E.O.W. Literary Society (which met Every Other Wednesday). She especially liked Ralph Waldo Emerson and had saved the line, “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”

Susie and Bettye were classy; grand ladies.

It seems odd to use that past tense “were,” and every now and then – like a clap of thun-

OBITUARIES Leo J. Rahn

KICKAPOO – Leo J. Rahn, 79, of Kickapoo, died on Feb. 14 at Methodist Medical Center.

Born Aug. 15, 1933, in Peoria to Joseph and Estella (Wissing) Rahn, he married Donna M. Clark on Oct. 6, 1953 in Brimfield. She survives.

Also surviving are his children, Linda (Randy) Siegel of Kickapoo, Joseph (Cindy) Rahn of Elmwood, Sharon (Dale) Lynn of Chillicothe, Julie (John) Wieland of Brimfield, and Connie (Steve) Schindler of Laura; nine grandchildren; two great-granddaughters; one brother, Robert Rahn of Kickapoo; and two sisters, Helen Meyer of Bartonville and Mary (Raymond) Stenger of Kickapoo.

Leo was a U.S. Army veteran.

Funeral Mass was held on Feb. 19 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Kickapoo. Burial will be in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Kickapoo.

To send condolences, visit www.wrightandsalmon.com.

Betty Morgan

CANTON – Betty M. Morgan, 70, of Cuba, the grandmother of an Elmwood man, died on Feb. 13 at Graham Hospital in Canton.

She was born Oct. 21, 1942, in Kirksville, Mo., the daughter of Franklin L. and Leota M. (Creason) Dobbs. She married Howard S. Morgan on Sept. 3, 1960, in Kirksville, Mo. He died on Jan. 17, 2013.

Surviving are one son; one daughter; one daughter-in-law; five grandchildren, including Jacob (Taylor) Morgan of Elmwood; two great-grandchildren; and one sister.

A memorial was held Feb. 17 in Cuba. Burial of ashes will be in Cuba Cemetery at a later date.

To send condolences, visit www.henrylange.com.

Today’s Obituaries

• Leo J. Rahn, 79, Kickapoo • Betty M. Morgan, 70, Cuba • William H. Kellogg, 87, Laura • Charles E. Foster, 49, Elmwood • Sammy Marksity, 71, Williamsfield

William Kellogg

LAURA – William H. Kellogg, 87, of rural Laura died Feb. 11 at Cornerstone Rehabilitation & Health Care Center in Peoria Heights.

Born Oct. 5, 1925, in rural Laura, the son of Samuel A. and Ella B. Oakes Kellogg, he married Lois Zimmerman on Dec. 27, 1951, in Syracuse, Ind. She died in October of 1982. He then married Judy Baum in 1990 in Williamsfield. She survives.

Also surviving are six children, including Tanya Bycroft of Elmwood, 18 grandchildren, and three sisters.

Funeral services were Feb. 15 at Hammitt-Hott Funeral Home in Princeville. Burial was in French Grove Cemetery in rural Elmwood.

Condolences may be left at www.hammitthott.com.

Charles E. Foster

ELMWOOD – Charles E. “Chuck” Foster, 49, of Elmwood, died 11:26 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15 at Graham Hospital Emergency Room in Canton.

Born March 18, 1963 in Peoria,

to Archie and Roberta (Hall) Foster, he married Tina Keel on July 31, 1983 in Peoria. She survives.

Also surviving are his father, Archie Foster of Elmwood; two children, Lynn (Paul Simpson) Foster of Knoxville and Austin Foster of Elmwood; three brothers, Rodney (Cindy), Billy, and Bobby, all of Elmwood; two sisters, Beth and Lynn, both of Elmwood; and two grandchildren.

Funeral services are Friday, Feb. 22 at 1 p.m. at Oaks-Hines Funeral Home in Elmwood. Visitation is 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery.

To leave condolences, visit www.oakshinesfuneralhome.com.

Sammy Marksity

WILLIAMSFIELD – Sammy George Marksity Sr., 71, of Williamsfield died on Feb. 9 from injuries sustained in an accident in Gilson.

He was born Feb. 27, 1941, in South Pekin, the son of George Samuel and Francis Lillian (Combis) Marksity. He married Karen Elizabeth Neff on Sept. 6, 1964, in Rockford.

She survives, as well as three children; three sisters; and five grandchildren.

He was a U.S. Army veteran.

Cremation has been accorded, and a memorial service will be held at a later date. Rux Funeral Home in Williamsfield is in charge of arrangements.

Condolences may be left at www.ruxfuneralhome.com.

Call (309) 676-6729 to donate!

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The late Susie Keefer and Bettye Lott of Elmwood were close friends.

der or that soft sound a leaf makes scraping across the sidewalk – it’s thought, “Oh, yeah. Susie and Bettye aren’t here anymore.”

However, so much of what they left – from family to flowers to faith – remains that it’s comforting to feel their presence in the small miracles, like a good book or a double pinochle, lovely blossoms or a win at Wrigley Field.

Page 8

THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, February 21, 2013

Brimfield recycling available

By KASEY EBERLE

BRIMFIELD – Residents looking to recycle cans, cardboard and plastics in Brimfield and Kickapoo still have plenty of options.

Recycling containers are made available in front of the Brimfield Village Maintenance Building, located on the west side of town across from the newer car wash off of U. S. Route 150.

Brimfield’s recycling services of more than four years are open to the public and accessible to anyone.

A recycling bin has also been added in Kickapoo at the township building thanks to funding by the Brimfield Public Library, which collects donations to offset the $50 per month fee.

The library and the Village of Brimfield also each contribute toward recycling in Brimfield.

“Recycling in Brimfield is so easy,” Lonye Gilles told me during a recent visit. “No sorting is necessary. At our house, we have a trash can right outside the door. Everything that can be recycled goes into it.

“When it gets full, we simply take it to the recycling bins on the west side [of Brimfield]. Why throw it into the garbage to go into a landfill when putting it into a separate can for recycling is as just easy?”

Gilles, character educator and health care supervisor of Brimfield School For The Weekly Post

District, was named Peoria County Recycling Educator of the Year for 2010.

She said that community involvement in the Brimfield recycling program inspired her to help coordinate the grade school’s plan involving staff and students alike.

In Brimfield and Kickapoo you may drop off paper items, magazines and even those old and outdated telephone books you have taking up space around the home or office. Computer and office paper are also items accepted for recycling, however, please refrain from contributing construction paper in to the containers.

Other items including cardboard can be added to the containers. Please remember to break down any boxes to further conserve much needed space.

Aluminum, steel tin cans, and light steel such as coat hangers, bicycles, shelves, and such are also items welcome to be added for recycling.

Numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 plastics – numbers that are listed within the recycling triangle, including grocery bags and bubble wrap may also be added.

Because the Brimfield Recycling Program is co-mingled, it is not necessary that items be sorted as of now.

Additional information on the local recycling program can also be found online by visiting the library Website at www.brimfieldlibrary.org.

CONGRATULATIONS! Brimfield High School Illinois State Scholars

CHRISTOPHER LANCE

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Lance

BRIANNA STREITMATTER

MEGAN MEINKE

Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Meinke

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EAGLE AWARD: Seth Koll received his Boy Scouts of America Eagle award last Saturday at a ceremony at St. Patrick’s Church. The 18-year-old member of Edwards Troop 352 accomplished his Eagle by earning more than 21 merit badges and completing a project to erect three scoreboards at Sweetwater Park.

The Elmwood High School senior, son of Douglas and Heidi Koll, said he plans to attend Eureka College and study actuarial science and mathematics education. Bill Knight photo.

Early better for student aid filing

By MELINDA COTE

Late winter is a busy time of year, with basketball and Scholastic Bowl tournaments, Girl Scout cookies, Lent, taxes … and “FASFA” – the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The absolute deadline for filing the FAFSA isn’t until June 30. However, since colleges need time to assemble financial-aid packages for students, the sooner a FAFSA is received, the better the chance students from Brimfield, Elmwood and Williamsfield have for obtaining financial aid.

Who should apply? Any area student planning to attend college in 2013 and hoping for financial aid of any kind must submit a FAFSA application to the U.S. Department of Education, which provides more than $150 billion to college students in federal grants, loans and work-study funds. Information on the application will determine eligibility for assistance.

Filing a FAFSA online isn’t as easy as that sounds – but it can be handled if you’re prepared. Parents need to gather several types of documents needed to file the FAFSA, and doing so beforehand saves save time and headaches.

First: a PIN. Everyone must file for a personal identification number. Firsttime filers must request a PIN at www.pin.edu.gov. Parents with more than one child in college may use the same PIN to electronically sign all applications. The student’s name, date of For The Weekly Post

NOLAN STREITMATTER

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Streitmatter David Streitmatter The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) salutes the top achievers in the high school class of 2012.

Illinois State Scholar winners rank in the top 10 percent of high school seniors. Selection is based on SAT, ACT and/or Prairie State Achievement scores, and/or class rank at the end of the junior year. While the prestigious recognition does not include a monetary award, recipients are encouraged to cite the honor on applications for college admission and scholarships.

CONGRATULATIONS!

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birth, address and Social Security number all are required to apply for a PIN. An electronic PIN will be given immediately if desired, or a paper copy can be delivered by mail. Information provided will be forwarded to the Social Security Administration for verification. Once verified, the PIN may be used to access and update personal information.

Second: Federal tax information. Information from the IRS 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ is required in order to file the FAFSA, and information from both the student and the parents’ tax returns are required. Taxes do not have to be filed; estimates may be made.

Bank account balances (both checking and savings), plus investments (including stocks, bonds and real estate, as well as farm and business assets for both the student and parents) also must be reported.

Students also will need a copy of their driver’s licenses.

Next: School Codes. Colleges that are being considered by the student must be listed on the application. Find codes at www.fafsa.ed.gov/.

Last: Don’t forget to “sign” the application. The final step in completing the FAFSA is to sign the application – with the PIN. Check progress on the application a week to 10 days later at the FAFSA web site.

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THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, February 21, 2013

Page 9

EDUCATION

School board eyes facilities

By BILL KNIGHT

ELMWOOD – Elmwood schools are exceptionally good, according to the state of Illinois, but that designation refers to instruction, not infrastructure.

So short-term fixes and long-term solutions to building woes compete for resources of District 322, which at its Jan. 28 meeting discussed sweltering classrooms and leaking roofs as well as hiring special-education aides, paying for fence repairs and receiving a state award for excellence at its elementary school.

Grade school students need more comfortable classrooms, the board agreed, but providing air conditioning could range from $10,000 for residential-grade units to $68,000 for commercial units to $190,000 for a “chiller” system, according to an architect – plus improved ceiling insulation.

“Our teachers are good stewards and advocates for their students,” said board member Dean Cantu. “Getting window units is kicking the problem down the road, and too often temporary remedies can become long-term problems.”

Superintendent Roger Alvey said he’d bring to future meetings more information on possible costs and funding choices. He added that an investigation into minor roof leaks revealed additional damage, and repairs to the roof and support trusses may be For The Weekly Post

necessary.

An architect is inspecting the ceiling and roof this month.

Meanwhile, Elmwood Elementary School Principal Tony Frost announced that the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) notified him that the school earned an Academic Excellence Award for 2012.

Nearby, Brimfield and Princeville grade schools also received the honor.

Elmwood Elementary also is one of 16 Illinois schools nominated by the ISBE for the 2013 National Blue Ribbon Schools award. Winners will be announced in the fall.

In other business, Frost reported that the grade-school entrance will have a new security arrangement including two sets of locked doors, Alvey clarified that a $40,000 Illinois Clean Energy Foundation grant will pay for 90 percent of the Wind-for-Schools program, and that the district scored 3.9 out of 4 in its ISBE financial profile.

Also, Jeanne Blessman and Julie Wagner all were hired as special-education aides, for the high school and grade school, respectively, bills were approved to pay more than $3,000 to fix fences damaged in minor vehicle accidents.

Counselor Janelle Meyers reported that students have completed MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) tests, which this year will be broken down by grade levels and subjects to permit better analysis for trends.

Fourth graders at Elmwood Elementary School attended their fourth annual Veteran’s Party for Valentines on Feb. 15. Students sang anthems of the five branches of the military, as well as “God Bless the USA.” Photo by Amy Davis.

Kindergarten open house

BRIMFIELD – The 2013-14 Kindergarten open house and registration is Thursday, March 7 at 6 p.m. at Brimfield Grade School. If you have a child who will be kindergarten eligible (5 years old by Sept. 1), please contact the grade school office at 446-3366.

You will have access to meeting teachers and visiting classrooms and can take a bus ride.

Williamsfield upgrading phones

WILLIAMSFIELD – The Williamsfield School Board last week accepted a bid from Heart Technologies to upgrade the telephone and public-address systems.

The bid of $73,583.21 was low bid received. The project should be finished by the end of the school year.

In other business, the board OK’d a $25 preregistration fee for stu-

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dents attending the Galesburg Area Vocational Center. The fee is due March 15 and will be applied to GAVC’s the total registration fee of $175.

Brimfield Grade School honored

BRIMFIELD – Brimfield Grade School has earned Academic Excellence and Academic Improvement awards from Illinois State Board of Education. Elmwood Elementary School was also honored by the board.

Page 10

THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, February 21, 2013

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Decades of happy landings at Tri-County Airport

By KEITH BUTTERFIELD

YATES CITY – Travel writer Henry Minizburg in his 2001 book “Why I Hate Flying: Tales for the Tormented Traveler” lamented that the trouble with flying is “we always have to return to airports. Think of how much fun flying would be if we didn’t have to return to airports.”

Many a weary air traveler might have shared such thoughts – perhaps not appreciating that having an airport seems to beat most imaginable alternatives.

But such musings don’t trouble Dave and Cathy Shipley of rural Brimfield and a group of private aviators who enjoy flying from – and returning to – the Shipleys’ Tri-County Airport near Yates City.

An airport – in various forms – has existed since the late 1940s on the 28 acres amidst former strip-mine and current farm land along Illinois Route 8 about two miles west of Yates City.

Dave Shipley says, “Many probably don’t even know there is an airport here,” but adds that over the years, many Knox and Peoria County aviators, plus private fliers from much farther away, have enjoyed its lush grass For The Weekly Post

runway and aircraft support offerings.

For example, one of the partners a while back was a commercial pilot based in Chicago, and the airfield has hosted many casual “fly-in” visitors, such as those who pop in (or, down) with their aircraft to shop on the annual Spoon River Drive before heading off into the blue yonder a few hours later.

But the operation today has come a long way from its start as a private flying club on a coal-mining company’s land, even earning a coveted award for private airports in 2008.

Reflecting on his long-term affiliation with the airport, Dave Shipley remembers several partnerships in which he’s participated to keep the operation going. The last one ended with the passing of his long-time friend and fellow private aviator Charles Sauerwein, who also hailed from the Brimfield area.

The partnerships and operating agreements all had twists and turns, some taken out of necessity, at times. Shipley’s experience started not long after he started using the airport in 1984, when the mining company that owned the ground decided to sell to another group (“unless we wanted to buy it”).

And the ownership/operations changes continued with the inevitable

“I always wanted to fly. Running the airport combines my hobby with a business and offers me the best of both worlds,” says Tri-County Airport owner Dave Shipley. Photo by Keith Butterfield.

changes that life’s journey brings for individuals, including different interests, priorities, families, aging and deaths.

But today, it’s the Shipleys who have been the sole owners for the past several years, and who have continued to improve the operation. Shipley says he’s learned to keep his business model focused and not stray from it.

“We want to offer value for nominal price,” he says. “Our value is in providing storage for aircraft.”

Accordingly, the 31 hangar spaces mostly house planes today, though there are a few spaces occupied by other “recreational” type items, like boats and trailers. Also finding a nice fit at the airport is a radio-controlled

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flying group, which uses the runway and hangar space.

A recent achievement – and affirmation that the Shipleys had the business model right – was the airport’s 2008 designation as Private Airport of the Year by the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration-affiliated Division of Aeronautics. The award recognized the Shipleys’ overall excellence in the development and ongoing operation of the airport.

In the private airport industry, it’s THE award, Shipley says.

“The odds of winning are less than winning the lottery,” he says.

Construction of a new airport office, Continued on Page 11

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THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, February 21, 2013

AIRPORT: Flying hobby pays for self

FAITH MATTERS

Book links humor, religion

By BILL KNIGHT

Reasonable people may jump to the conclusion that a book written by a professor of pastoral theology at Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Shawnee, Kan., has to be deadly dry.

They’d be wrong.

Wholly wrong.

Holy wrong, even.

Rather than deadly dry, “Laughter in a Time of Turmoil: Humor as Spiritual Practice,” by Dr. Richard P. Olson, is lively fun.

Further, the 40-year Baptist pastor has written a title that’s at once silly and serious, simultaneously inspiring and also a refreshing diversion from holy-roller pomposity.

Offering thoughtful descriptions of various types of humor and why they work, Olson touches on Sara’s smile, Jesus’ joy and other perspectives that are less historical and more hysterical.

“I am persuaded,” Olson writes, “that a healthy dose of humor, play and lively, supportive friends can help one heal when bruised, and can provide the needed rest/recuperation when one is fatigued, burned out, weary and stressed out, to uphold those who take on the heavy responsibilities for the Christian cause.”

The book, just published by Wipf & Stock in Eugene, Ore., is eminently For The Weekly Post

quotable. For example, there’s Dr. Eugene J. Fisher, Distinguished Professor of Catholic-Jewish Studies at Saint Leo University and author of “The Divine Comedy: Humor in The Bible” in Religious Education: The official journal of the Religious Education Association.

Fisher writes, “The Hebrew Scriptures are filled with a sense of playfulness, especially with the language …

Satire, gentle wit, and even farce abound in almost every book … The Hebrew Bible sings. It laughs. It makes bad jokes and shows a tendency for slapstick.”

Presbyterian minister M. Conrad Hyers, author of “And God Created Laughter: The Bible as Divine Comedy,” writes, “Faith without humor becomes fanaticism. Humor without faith becomes cynicism.”

Olson – who recommends more individuals and more congregations and other faith communities use more humor – adds, “Humor is a precondition to our healing and our growing in holiness. It helps us to get out of the way, to loosen our grip, to lessen our need to control, and to let God be God. It helps us in this because it encourages us not to take ourselves too seriously, for when we do, it is almost impossible to grow in holiness.”

Laughter in a Time of Turmoil is a 196-page paperback that retails for $23; ISBN-10: 1610978668 and ISBN13: 978-1610978668

Area Church Listings

BRIMFIELD Baptist Church S. Jefferson St., Brimfield (309) 446-9754 Brimfield Evangelical Free Church 11724 N. Maher Rd Brimfield (309) 446-3571 Brimfield United Methodist Church Pastor Leonard Thomas 135 S. Galena St., Brimfield (309) 446-9310 St. Joseph’s Catholic Church 314 W. Clay St., Brimfield (309) 446-3275 www.stjosephbrimfield.org St. Paul’s Lutheran Rev. Michael Liese 228 W. Clay St., Brimfield (309) 446-3233 Sunday – 10 a.m. service Union Church 105 W. Clay St., Brimfield (309) 446-3811 Pastor Stephen Barch Zion Episcopal Church 205 E. Van Buren St. Brimfield (309) 446-3811

EDWARDS Bethany Baptist Church 7422 N. Heinz Lane Edwards (309) 692-1755 Bethel Bible Church 9728 W. Powder Mill Rd. Edwards (309) 676-3217

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Call (309) 231-6040 Christ Alive! Community Church 9320 West US Highway 150 Edwards Korean Presbyterian Church of Peoria 7910 N. Ford Rd., Edwards (309) 683-8556

Page 11

Continued from Page 10

as well as a flight-planning and lounge area three years ago put a real capstone on the pride and care the Shipleys have for the operation.

There are several continuing touches – including Dave’s addition of several hangar buildings on the site (with some help from family and friends), to the golf-course-fairway quality to which he mows and trims the 2,900foot by 150-foot runway and grounds every two weeks throughout the spring, summer and fall.

It’s always been about his love of flying, he says.

As a young man, “I always wanted to fly,” says Dave, adding that he couldn’t afford a plane – or the traditional flight training, for that matter.

So, he took his entire ground-school training without ever being in a plane.

“It’s not the way I’d recommend doing

Get Fit in 2013!

At the Elmwood Township Community Center What You Get • Exercise Equipment • Volleyball • Treadmills • Basketball • Tumbling • Pickleball Coming Soon!

• New Weight Room

KICKAPOO St. Mary’s 9910 W. Knox St. Kickapoo (309) 691-2030

ELMWOOD

LAURA Lafa United Methodist Church Pastor Kristi Berkebile Hopp 20300 W. Walnut Creek Rd. Laura (309) 995-3371

WILLIAMSFIELD St. James Catholic Church 111 S. Olive St. Williamsfield (309) 446-3275 Sunday – 8:30 a.m.

Williamsfield United Methodist Church Pastor Jennifer Seder 430 N. Chicago Ave. Williamsfield (309) 639-2389 Sunday – 11 a.m.

YATES CITY Faith United Presbyterian Church 107 W. Bishop St. Yates City, IL 61572 (309) 358-1170

Annual membership costs: $200 for a family $150 for an individual

(NOTE: Add $25 if you live outside Elmwood or Rosefield townships)

www.elmwoodtownshipcc.com

Call 309-231-3350 or 309-231-6040

Sunday – 10 a.m. mass United Methodist Church Pastor Mark Graham 821 W. Main St., Elmwood (309) 742-7221 www.elmwoodumc.org Sunday Sunday school 9 a.m.

New Day Worship 9 a.m., Service 10:30 a.m.

Crossroads Assembly of God Pastor Tim Cavallo 701 W. Dearborn St. Elmwood Sunday – 10:30 a.m. service (309) 830-4259 Elmwood Baptist Church Pastor Dennis FitzgeraldPastor Jay Richerson 701 W. Dearborn, Elmwood (309) 742-7631 Sunday – 10:30 a.m., 6 p.m. services Wednesday – 7 p.m. service First Presbyterian Church of Elmwood 201 W. Evergreen, Elmwood (309) 742-2631 Sunday – 10:30 a.m. service St. Patricks Catholic Church Father Paul Stein 802 W. Main St., Elmwood (309) 742-4921 Saturday – 4 p.m. mass

it,” he says, “but I knew if I could pass that, I would fly.”

Over his 30 years as a pilot, he’s enjoyed owning multiple aircraft. (“I had three at one time,” he says, grinning).

Today he enjoys his 1969 Cessna 172.

As for the future of the airport, Shipley says the past is probably prologue.

Private aviation – aircraft, venues and practices – have changed over the last few decades and that will be ongoing.

But whether it’s providing a place for the growth of experimental “home builders” of aircraft, radio-controlled aircraft for hobbyists, or just having a place to enjoy his family and grandchildren and his hobby, Shipley looks forward to spending it at his airport.

“I have a hobby that pretty much pays for itself,” he says with a smile, adding that he’s happy he’s also providing a service to others who enjoy similar interests.

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Page 12

THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, February 21, 2013

Congratulations

JEFF

www.wklypost.com

THE FARM FIELD

Warning light on for corn

By WILLIAM C. BAILEY

It was hard to comment about the rain we had last month without someone saying, “Yes, but we need more of it.”

We all remember last year’s dry summer and fall. In August I wrote about the effects of the drought on the corn crop with a special point made about the importance of the coming season.

So, with an eye toward the soon-tobe-planted corn and soybean crops, consider how the weather is treating downstate Illinois and other corn- and soybean-producing states.

The most recent data, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, indicates drought conditions continue to plague Iowa, which received only extremely limited precipitation for all of January.

Almost half of the state is reported to be “very short” of topsoil moisture. A similar situation holds for Kansas – nearly half the state is also reported to be “very short” of moisture.

In contrast, Indiana received 144 percent of normal precipitation during January.

Another publication, the U.S. Drought Monitor, shows more than 80 percent of Minnesota is classified as being in extreme or severe drought and all of Iowa is rated between moderate to exceptional drought.

A year ago at this time, 60 percent of Iowa received no drought ratings at all.

Last year on January 30, Illinois was experiencing the opposite of the curDirector, WIU School of Agriculture

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rent situation –no county in Illinois was classified as having any drought indications.

Today, nearly two thirds of Illinois is classified as either in moderate drought or abnormally dry. Western Peoria County and all of Knox County are abnormally dry.

Clearly, 2013 is starting a lot dryer than last year.

The point of going through all of these numbers is that while a slightlywetter-than-normal January certainly helps the moisture situation for Illinois farmers, there is a long way to go to even get back to normal.

We’ll probably continue to hear, when it rains, “We need more of it.”

So where does this leave agriculture as we look toward the next crop of corn and soybeans?

U.S. ending stocks of corn (the total amount of corn left at the end of the crop year) are at their second-lowest level, with the stocks-to-use ratio (a measure of how much of a buffer those stocks represent) at a record low level.

A similar situation, but slightly more dire, exists for soybeans. Both soybean ending stocks and the stocks-to-use ratio for this crop year are at their lowest level since at least 1980.

We really do need to get more rain.

The past several planting seasons have been wetter than normal. While it is always difficult for farmers to watch the rain come down when they need to be out in their fields, this year they might be willing to take a rain delay or two on their field work.

Brimfield FFA seeking members

By KASEY EBERLE

The Brimfield FFA Chapter is working to assemble its annual FFA Alumnae Roster. The chapter would like to reach out to new or returning members.

Membership is affordable at an annual or life membership level.

And you do need not to have been a prior FFA member or student at Brimfield to become a member. Anyone and everyone is welcome!

If you moved to the area after high school and support agriculture, or perhaps participated in FFA back home, Brimfield FFA welcomes you as a member.

Is your son or daughter enrolled in an agriculture course in school? You too, are welcome to join.

Becoming a new member or maintaining Alumni membership allows the Brimfield FFA students to participate and compete at a local, state and national level involving chapter membership.

Sustaining an active For The Weekly Post

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local alumni roster also provides eligibility and funding for scholarships to be used for educational and leadership camps where expense would otherwise have to be furnished 100 percent out-of-pocket.

FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success.

For additional information or to learn what the FFA organization offers students and alumni, please visit the website IllinoisFFA.org or nationally at FFA.org.

Please also feel free follow the Brimfield FFA chapter’s participation through the school district’s website at www.Brimfield309.org.

An annual membership level includes dues in the amount of $15 each year. A lifetime membership level involves a one-time payment of $200.

Membership for 2013 is due March 1.

Contact Kasey Eberle-

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Simmons at (309) 6788407, or mail your dues made payable to ‘Brimfield FFA Alumni’ to: Brimfield High School; Attn: Brimfield FFA; Alumni; 323 E. Clinton Street; Brimfield, IL 61517

www.wklypost.com

THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, February 21, 2013

FOR ANSWERS SEE PAGE 12

Page 13

1. LITERATURE: Who created the character of Walter Mitty?

2. GEOGRAPHY: Which Central American country has coastline only on the Pacific side?

3. GAMES: How many players are on a volleyball team?

4. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president eventually courted and married a woman who was briefly his schoolteacher?

5. HISTORY: What was the name of the system of racial segregation used in South Africa in the second half of the 20th century?

6. MYTHOLOGY: Which Greek heroine refused to marry any man who could not beat her in a foot race?

7. ANCIENT WORLD: What field of study was Euclid known for?

8. MUSIC: What is a hurdy-gurdy?

9. FIRSTS: Who was the first (and only) woman to win the Medal of Honor?

10. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Why is a catamaran different from other boats?

Answers 1. James Thurber 2. El Salvador 3. Six 4. Millard Fillmore. Millard and Abigail Fillmore were only a couple of years apart in age.

5. Apartheid 6. Atalanta 7. Mathematics, specifically geometry 8. A hand-cranked string instrument 9. Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, for her medical work during the Civil War 10. It has two hulls (c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Page 14

THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, February 21, 2013

Authorities warn of phone bank scams

By BILL KNIGHT

ELMWOOD – Apparent attempts at fraud by phone and by email were reported by residents of Elmwood earlier this month.

A woman on Elmwood’s northwest side on Feb. 5 reported receiving a phone call from someone claiming to represent Publishers Clearing House and notifying her that she had won more than $1 million.

The caller said that a check would be delivered that morning and that a check for $1,200 for “fees” was required in order to receive the winnings.

The Elmwood woman hung up but received two similar calls before calling Elmwood police.

Officer Larry Hammer responded but no one purporting to be from a sweepstakes showed up to collect the fees.

Police ask people who receive such suspicious calls to phone 911. The For The Weekly Post

real Publishers Clearing House warns of such scams on the web page: info.pch.com/consumerinformation/fraud-protection.

Elsewhere, current and previous Elmnet customers reported suspicious emails with the subject line “Security Update from Key Bank.”

Elmwood’s Farmers State Bank, which has no ties to the fraudulent email, expressed customers concerns to Key Bank.

FSB President Jennifer Beard said Elmnet subscribers should not click on the email, nor should they click on any of the attachments.

The real Key Bank has requested that Elmnet subscribers receiving the email should forward it to Key Bank’s identity-theft protection desk, which can be reached at: emailfraud@keybank.com

www.wklypost.com

REMEMBER WHEN

1870s ELMWOOD: This photo from 1870 shows the old Chronicle Printing Office and other stores located on the corner of Main and Magnolia in Elmwood that was destroyed by the tornado in 2010. The small building on the corner across the street enclosed a cistern used by firefighters. Photo courtesy of Bruce Howard.

Extension surveying multigenerational needs

By BILL KNIGHT

The University of Illinois Extension and Elmwood’s Multigenerational Planning committee this week begins surveying area residents to gauge interest in community activities.

“We have created a survey that will allow people of all ages to vote on the types of activities and courses they would like to see in Elmwood,” said Ashley Walls, a U of I Urban Planning graduate student coordinating the community planning effort with Extension education Kathy Brown.

For The Weekly Post

“For example, would you like to see a bicycling group, participate in a knitting course or partake in some fun gaming activities?”

Walls added.

The survey will be distributed at school, churches, civic organizations and local drop boxes where people can be picked up and dropped off. Those sites are Elmwood City Hall, Elmwood Community Bank, Farmers State Bank, Jordan's Mobil Service Center, and the Morrison & Mary Wiley Library The survey also can be com-

We Cover The News of West-Central Illinois With A Passion

pleted online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ElmwoodACTIVITIES The committee will compile survey data after March 25, 2013.

Once tallied, the survey results will be shared by the committee, which will begin looking for ways to meet people’s needs and hopes.

The committee asked that people with questions or those seeking additional surveys to distribute email Amy Davis (sigmund14@frontier.com) or Doug Whitney (whitney@whitneyassociates.com).

www.wklypost.com

The SCOREBOARD Week

Elmwood High School Boys Basketball Stats (Regular Season) Points Per Game Average Nick Jehle 17.5 Jake Soehn 11.2 Tommy Ramsay 9.6 Cal Vrchota 9.1 Jake Osmulski 5.0 C. Reicheneker 4.2 Colby Brown 4.1 Matt Jehle 1.2 Kyle Alcaraz 1.0 Austin Teel 0.9 Trent Scotti 0.9 Jake Callister 0.8 Matt Almasi 0.8 Dan Kepple 0.7 Zack Dwyer 0.0 Tom Almasi 0.0 Rebounds PG Average Cal Vrchota 6.7 Jake Soehn 5.8 Nick Jehle 3.8 Jake Osmulski 2.6 Tommy Ramsay 1.9 C. Reicheneker 1.9 Trent Scotti 1.3 Colby Brown 1.2 Assists PG Average Tomm Ramsay 3.7 Jake Osmulski 1.8 Jake Soehn 1.5 Nick Jehle 1.5 Austin Teel 1.0 Free Throw Percentage (Minimum 10 Attempts)

Tommy Ramsay .793 Jake Soehn .653 Nick Jehle .643 C. Reicheneker .560 Jake Osmulski .533 Field Goal Percentage Cal Vrchota .705 Jake Osmulski .549 Colby Brown .495 C. Reicheneker .482 Tommy Ramsay .466 Jake Soehn .439 Nick Jehle .425 3-Point FG Percentage (Minimum 10 Attempts)

Tommy Ramsay C. Reicheneker Nick Jehle Matt Jehle Jake Soehn Colby Brown

.442 .385 .369 .300 .287 .278

NOTE: We will print selected season statistics for Brimfield and Williamsfield boys and girls basketball teams and for Elmwood girls teams as they become available.

Elmwood JV shootout ahead

ELMWOOD – Elmwood High School will play host to its fifth annual Trojan Frosh-Soph basketball shootout Feb. 23 and 25.

Participating teams are from Kewanee, Illini Bluffs, Canton, North Fulton and United.

Games start at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Each team will play twice that day.

So far this year the Elmwood JV team remains unbeaten with a record of 20-0. The Elmwood JV will play Kewanee at 10:20 a.m. on Saturday and then face United at 3:40 p.m.

Based on Saturday’s results, teams will play on Monday, Feb. 25 for fifth place, third place and the championship.

The fifth-place game starts at 5 p.m. with the other two games to follow – meaning the championship should tip off around 8 p.m.

THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, February 21, 2013

Page 15

MARCH MADNESS: Lewis, Mathews led teams Continued from Page 16

went on to lead the Bombers in scoring every game that season.

Ironically, in the biggest win of the year – a thrilling 66-65 sectional defeat of Rock Island Alleman – Lewis did not post the game winner. That honor went to Troy Endress on a rebound of a Lewis shot with under 7 seconds left.

“I’ve had a lot of people tell me that was one of the best high school ballgames they have ever seen,” Williamsfield Coach Bob Anderson said.

The next step was not as kind, as Williamsfield fell 65-53 to St. Francis de Sales in the quarterfinals at Peoria’s Civic Center. After leading 29-26 at halftime as Lewis scored 18 of 20 in one stretch, Williamsfield (28-3) could not hold off the bigger, faster Pioneers – whose enrollment of 520 wasn’t far off the population of Williamsfield.

“We’ve been underdogs in every game in the postseason,” Anderson said after the game.

“What’s greater than any accomplishment or victory we had all year is how proud I am that these kids played so hard.”

That despite using just six players and giving many inches to most opponents.

“That team had a star in Lewis and every one was all comfortable with that. The players were all comfortable with their roles,” Anderson said. “That was a very mentally tough team.”

Lewis wound up an all-stater

and topped his coach’s career scoring mark at Williamsfield with more than 2,300 points.

Williamsfield’s other regional titles came in 1964 under the one-class system and then in the two-class system in 1982, 1985 and in 2007 – three times when the squad was seeded third.

But Anderson said his best team of all might have been the 1996 squad that included Lewis (28 ppg as a junior) and Donovan Klein (19 ppg). That team lost in the regional final to Princeville, which had upset Farmington in the semifinals.

BRIMFIELD The Indians also made a run to the Class A quarterfinals at Assembly Hall in 1979 under the late coach Don Mathews, whose teams had an impressive fhree-year record of 81-6 from 1976-1979.

That hot streak included regional titles in 1978 and 1979, the only two Brimfield has won prior to winning Class 1A regionals each of the last three years under Coach Scott Carlson during a 92-7 run.

Mathews’ 1979 team went 29-2 and was led by his son Eddie, a second-team all-state senior guard who averaged 23 points per game. Eddie Mathews wound up topping 2,000 points for his prep career and later played at Bradley.

Brimfield also had depth that year, as 6-foot-3 transfer Duane Dunn averaged 17 ppg, 6-3 center Greg Nevells chipped in 12 ppg and Joe Hanks and Rod

McKown were good for 11 and 10 ppg respectively.

But after tight wins in the sectional final over Monmouth (53-52) and Lena-Winslow in the Sweet 16 (53-50), Brimfield ran into a quarterfinal buzzsaw.

Eventual thirdplace finisher Timothy Christian shot 73 Don Mathews percent in its 7443 victory, including a floorlength basket at the end of the first half.

“It’s not right when the other team shoots 73 percent,” Don Mathews said at the time. “We thought maybe if we stopped their inside game they might have trouble with their outside game. But they didn’t.”

That did nothing to diminish Don Mathew’s record at Brimfield, which had gone 27-128 in the seven years prior to him taking over as head coach.

“My dad took a lot of pride in Brimfield and the basketball team, and that gym was our home,” said Eddie Mathews, who followed his father into coaching and is at Limestone.

Last year’s Brimfield squad looked primed to follow in the footsteps of the 1979 team after rolling to an unbeaten 33-0 record and a No. 1 ranking in the final polls heading into the supersectional.

Led by second-team all-stater Danny Dwyer and honorable

mention pick Nick Unes, Brimfield posted the school’s best winning percentage and tied for overall wins.

But the Cinderella season unwound in an upset 58-48 loss to No. 7 Carrollton.

Even so, Brimfield fought to the end in that game. After falling behind 41-24 at one point, Brimfield went on a 20-8 run to close the gap to 49-44 with 3:26 remaining. Ultimately that was not quite enough, as Carrollton went 7-for-12 from the free throw line down the stretch.

ELMWOOD Shortly after the split to twoclass basketball in 1971-72, the Elmwood Trojans looked to be a basketball program on the rise. Elmwood won its first regional title in 1973.

The problem for Trojans fans, though, is they are still waiting for a second regional win – a drought of 40 years.

YATES CITY The Illinois High School Association records show only one postseason title for Yates City, that a district crown back in 1957. Those were the one-class days when small schools had to first battle through district competition in order to face larger schools in the regional.

But there’s no question Yates City gets some credit for a few regionals won by Farmington, in particular while 6-7 Josh Watznauer and 6-4 Matt Goedecke were leading the Farmers to fourth in 2007.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK WWW.PEKININSURANCE.COM

Noah Isbell, Elmwood

Allow me to mention myself in this article.

Noah Isbell is one of my teacher assistants. Thus he aided Coach Gregg Meyers, me and others in organizing the 2012 sectional cross country meet.

When Noah finished the sectional first out of about 150 runners, he was obviously both tired and excited. “You won the race you made the plans for. You do it all!” I said to him at the finish line. It was a cool moment.

Noah is like many other EHS student-athletes, he is very busy. We like that!

Along with his sectional championship, Noah took 11th at state. He has also been a mile and twomile runner in track. Breaking the 10-minute mark in the two-mile is his greatest track thrill.

Noah has been surrounded by running most of his years. His father, Terry, ran at Farmington and Bradley University. His older sisters, Liz and Kate, were EHS harriers and tracksters. Noah also speaks of inspiration from his mother, Lynn, and grandmother, Jessie Isbell. Other great supporters include Coach Meyers, brothers Job and Paul and his many teammates.

Noah is considering Bradley and SIU-Edwardsville for college and aspires to study to be an electrical engineer. Noah also enjoys reading, wakeboarding on water, kayaking, snowboarding and jamming to heavy metal music. It would seem EHS senior Noah Isbell does it all!

– Phil Johnson

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THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, February 21, 2013

Weekly Post Sports

Local teams favored in boys regional

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MARCH MADNESS MEMORIES

By JEFF LAMPE

The history of boys basketball teams in The Weekly Post circulation area proves at least one thing: the value of a regional championship should not be understated.

In the past 41 years of two- and four-class boys basketball, Brimfield, Elmwood and Williamsfield have combined for 11 regional plaques according to records kept by the Illinois High School Association.

Three teams.

Four decades.

Eleven titles.

Obviously, winning a regional championship is no easy task.

But heading into this Regional Wins week, our local high 1964 – Williamsfield schools were favored 1973 – Elmwood to add to that total 1978 – Brimfield after earning the top 1979 – Brimfield three seeds for the 1982 – Williamsfield Class 1A Princeville 1985 – Williamsfield Regional. And No. 3 1997 – Williamsfield seed Williamsfield 2007 – Williamsfield 2010 – Brimfield (23-9) held up its end 2011 – Brimfield on Tuesday, defeating 2012 – Brimfield Lewistown, 56-49.

2013 – TBA As a result the Bombers earned a semifinal matchup with No. 2 seed Brimfield (21-6) on Wednesday, a game that was decided after our press time. Brimfield had won the first two meetings by a combined four points.

Also Wednesday, top-seed Elmwood (24-5) put its nine-game winning streak on the line against Princeville. The host team reached the semifinals with a 41-37 victory over Stark County.

Winners of Wednesday’s games advance to Friday’s finale at 7:30 p.m. at Princeville. As is often the case in regionals, all title game scenarios involve rematches. Elmwood owns two wins over Brimfield, for instance, but has dropped two games to Williamsfield.

Friday’s winner advances to a sectional semifinal Tuesday, Feb. 26 at Brown County High School in Mount Sterling.

In the case of top-seeded Elmwood, a regional win would represent a significant achievement the likes of which have not been seen in generations. Elmwood’s last regional championship was in 1973 – a time when the parents of some of this year’s team members were still youngsters.

Check back next week for a regional recap.

Weekly Post Staff Writer

Billtown, Brimfield own Elite 8 visits

By JEFF LAMPE

They may not have had a player over 6-foot-2, but the 1997 Williamsfield Bombers boys basketball team still stands tall among The Weekly Post teams in terms of postseason success.

A review of March Madness Memories for Brimfield, Elmwood and Williamsfield shows two state Weekly Post Staff Writer

trips among several successful seasons – most recently Billtown’s 1997 Elite Eight berth. Here’s a look at postseason memories for our area schools.

WILLIAMSFIELD The tone for this season was set in the opening game, as Travis Lewis poured in 54 points for Williamsfield in a 73-60 win over Delavan. Lewis Continued on Page 15

Swimmer just misses state

Christmas break as an example. While friends on the Brimfield basketball team Weekly Post Staff Writer An uncommon red t-shirt sold surpris- rested, Bennett spent his holiday in twoingly well at Brimfield High School this a-days, shuttling between pools at Peoyear, considering there is no team to buy ria Manual and Washington’s Five Points Recreation Center. them. But who wouldn’t All the swimming has want to wear the rarest of helped Bennett improve Brimfield athletic garb? rapidly, which is good since Who else can say they own he did not start swimming a “Brimfield Swimming” tcompetitively until eighth shirt? grade. That happened at the Not many. Junior Austin urging of family friends Jeff Bennett was the lone swimand Timberly Miller of Edmer on the Brimfield “team” wards. and may well be the first In“I was terrible at first,” dian to compete in a secAustin Bennett of Ed- said Bennett, a member of tional, which he did last wards competed in his Peoria’s Developmental OrSaturday for the third third straight state ganized Competitive Swimstraight year. swimming sectional ming team. “I thought about At the East Moline Seclast weekend. stopping just because I wastional Bennett placed second n’t getting better. Then last year I really in the 500 freestyle in a time of 4:49, just two seconds off the state qualifying started improving.”

Next school year Bennett has the standard. Bennett’s 200 individual medadded goal of reaching the state meet. ley time was 2:03, four seconds off the Beyond that is an even more lofty ambistate standard. Swimmers can qualify tion. “I think it would be really cool to for the state meet by winning at secgo to Rio (for the Olympics) in 2016,” tional or by meeting the time standard. he said. Sounds like plenty more two-aThe sectional was part of a rigorous days are in the works. season of practice for Bennett. Take

By JEFF LAMPE

We Cover The News of West-Central Illinois With A Passion

SCHEDULE The Week

FRIDAY, Feb. 22 • 7:30 p.m. – Princeville Boys Basketball Regional Final, at Princeville

TUESDAY, Feb. 26 • 7:30 p.m. – Boys Basketball Sectional Semifinal: Winner of Princeville Regional vs.

Winner of GriggsvillePerry Regional, at Brown County HS in Mount Sterling, 7:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, March 1 • 7:30 p.m. – Boys Basketball Sectional Final, at Mount Sterling

TUESDAY, March 5 • 7:30 p.m. – Boys Basketball Supersectional, at Jacksonville

FRIDAY, March 8 • 2 p.m. – Class 1A Boys Basketball State Tournament, at Peoria Civic Center

SATURDAY, March 9 • 12:15 p.m. – Class 1A Third-Place, at Peoria Civic Center • 2 p.m. – Class 1A Championship, at Peoria Civic Center