Thursday February 9, 2017 Vol. 4, No. 48
The Weekly Post
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“We Cover The News of West-Central Illinois With A Passion” Serving the fine communities of Brimfield, Dahinda, Duncan, Edwards, Elmwood, Farmington, Kickapoo, Laura, Monica, Oak Hill, Princeville, Williamsfield and Yates City
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Williamsfield planning park, water improvements By BILL KNIGHT
WILLIAMSFIELD – Discussions to improve local infrastructure started at the Village Board’s meeting Friday (Feb. 3), when ideas ranged from Doubet-Benjamin Park to downtown water run-off. “For the good of the community, the best thing we can do is improve infrastructure,” said Village President Mick Gray, “and that not only means streets and the Route 180 project but broadband service and more.” For The Weekly Post
Already, the Illinois Department of Transportation is starting preliminary work on the highway improvement, and both Mid-Century and MediaCom are upgrading broadband service here, he said. “What bothers me the most is the drainage in the downtown area,” Gray added, “so we’re going to have the engineers [from Bruner, Cooper & Zuck in Galesburg] study it to determine its operation and come up with some solutions and costs.” Also, long-term needs such as re-
placing aging water mains and pipes remain a goal, he said. “There may be federal money available if the Trump administration delivers on promises to invest in infrastructure,” Gray said. In a report on local parks, Trustee Pam Courson outlined the Parks Association’s 2017 wish list, which includes an arboretum/memorial, a bird sanctuary and the addition of a skylight to the bathrooms, but the most ambitious parks project is underway with its “Playground BarnContinued on Page 11
This is an example of the playground equipment Williamsfield hopes to add to Doubet-Benjamin Park
Brimfield sued over U.S. 150 zoning decision
MEET MRS. LINCOLN
History first for one-woman show By BILL KNIGHT
PRINCEVILLE – The name Mary Todd Lincoln is somewhat familiar, as is the character herself – if you’ve read any of the 20-some books or seen the many movies on her husband’s presidency. But when actress, singer and librarian Laura Keyes presents her afternoon program “Mrs. Lincoln in Love” at the Princeville Heritage Museum on Saturday, Feb. 18, Mary Todd Lincoln will come to life. With as much accuracy as a professional librarian can muster. “After selecting a character, I start to get a feeling for who they are as a person,” Keyes has said. “I For The Weekly Post
learn how they think, learn the personality, their passions, social status and even their pet peeves.” Striving to achieve accuracy and convey the time period while also entertaining audiences, Keyes then writes a monologue and is pain-staking in using historical costumes and props, she says. “I do my best to faithfully and accurately portray these characters, which means much research is required,” she’s said. Keyes, 34, earned a Bachelor’s degree in English from Northern Illinois University and a Master’s in Library Science from the University of Wisconsin, and now lives in Freeport, where she works as
By TERRY BIBO
BRIMFIELD – Cross Creek Farms and Dennis Gilles are suing the village and TRECK L.L.C. over rezoning and a special use permit along U.S. Route 150. The complaint was filed Jan. 23 in the Tenth Judicial Circuit Court. Inside Although Monday • Farmington is night’s regular village paying TIF funds to board meeting was its school district. dispatched in eight Page 7. minutes, trustees en• The Elmwood tered executive sesCity Council heard traffic complaints. sion to discuss their Page 10. legal options. “We just discussed the case in some detail with (our) attorney,” President Dan Fishel said Tuesday. “Our attorney is planning a response in the next couple weeks.” On Nov. 7, the board rezoned a 12-acre parcel from R-1 residential to C-2 commercial for a multi-business complex, with trustee Mike Meinders the lone voice in opposition. A vote on an accompanying special use permit was delayed, in part because the For The Weekly Post
Laura Keyes (left and in mugshot at left), appearing at a 2015 Conference of the Illinois Council for the Social Studies, is shown with Lincoln actor Kevin Wood and Bradley educator and Elmwood resident Dean Cantu.
Freeport Public Library’s director of Adult Services. She’s traced her fascination with the stage to being cast as Dorothy in a 5th
grade production of “The Wizard of Oz,” but she’s remained involved since, participating in drama club at Continued on Page 2
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