Thursday March 17, 2016 Vol. 4, No. 3
The Weekly Post
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Trump wins state, Clinton leads; fire annexation OK’d By BILL KNIGHT and JEFF LAMPE
While Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton grabbed the boldest headlines out of Tuesday’s Primary Election in Illinois, a few contested local races were decided and a referendum on Elmwood’s Fire Department annexing to the Elmwood Rural Fire Protection District (ERFPD) passed overwhelmingly. The annexation decision was approved For The Weekly Post
Budget cuts pave way for County surplus By BILL KNIGHT
Some Edwards residents are waiting to complete buyouts to flood-damaged homes; communities including Princeville and Elmwood are waiting to hear about state approval of a rural enterprise zone request, and motorists from throughout Peoria County are waiting for a way to address needed work on roads and bridges. However, for a turnaround in County finances, the wait seems Rand over. That’s according to the State of the County address by County Board chair Andrew Rand Friday (March 11) at Ravinia on the Lakes. “We’re not backward or upside down,” he said. “Just the opposite. “We’ll finish 2015 with a $1.5 million surplus,” he said, stressing the speech’s theme: “Positively local!” Citing savings from a workforce reduction of 16 percent, overall expenses down 3.6 percent from 2014, and collaboration between Board members and elected officials, Rand said, “We have restored Peoria County’s strong financial For The Weekly Post
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by 78.8 percent of voters and now goes to the ERFPD Trustees, who can accept or reject the annexation. If trustees Dave Wagner, Jay McKinty and Thomas Shissler approve the move, Elmwood City residents’ taxes will decline slightly and rural residents’ taxes will increase about a nickel per $100 of Equalized Assessed Valuation annually. In area contests, Jodi Hoos defeated Sonni Williams in a tight race for the
Democratic nomination to fill retired Judge Michael Brandt’s seat as 10th Circuit Judge. With 95.8 percent of precints reporting, Hoos led Williams 52.4 percent to 47.6 percent. In November, she’ll face Republican Tim Cusack, who ran unopposed on the GOP ballot. For U.S. Senate, with 73 percent of precints reporting, Democrat Tammy Duckworth had received 63.3 percent of the vote and in the November election
SIGNS OF SPRING
Baseball, not weather says spring!
will face incumbent Mark Kirk, who defeated James Marter in the primary with 71 percent of the vote. For the Republican nomination to challenge incumbent Democrat Cheri Bustos for the 17th Congressional District, Patrick Harlan was leading Jack Boccarossa and will face the two-term Democrat in the fall. With 75 percent of precincts reporting, Harlan had 75.9 percent of the vote. Continued on Page 2
Farmington considering curriculum By BILL KNIGHT
FARMINGTON – High school students in District 265 could see new dual-credit courses, plus new offerings in agriculture, earth & space science and career planning under a recommendation presented by the Curriculum Committee at the Board of Education’s Monday meeting. The curriculum revision proposal – unanimously accepted by the board as a first-reading in a non-binding vote – includes six new 1-credit Ag courses for Juniors and Seniors, and a 1-credit Earth Science course as well as a Civics Course now required by the State. The dual-credit courses with Illinois Central College would be two sections of Western Civilization and Music Appreciation. Meanwhile, the option to pursue an additional solar-power system that could supplement the District’s current array and save the District about $750,000 over 25 years was approved by consensus so a grant application can be completed. Steve Smith from the Farnsworth Group, which helped with the current system, reflected on its success and For The Weekly Post
By BILL KNIGHT
Taking a load of brush to Elmwood’s burn pile on the edge of Sweetwater Park last week, I noticed how the five ball diamonds there are already smooth and ready for action even as youth leagues are still signing up and coaches fretting over rosters and practice times. “Ah,” I thought. “Spring.” Alfred, Lord Tennyson wrote, “In the Spring a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love,” and in Ecclesiastes, Solomon noted, “For everything there is a season … a time to seek, and a time to lose...” As Major League Baseball’s Spring Training games got underway this month, our fancies turned to this new season, when everything’s fresh, everyone’s got a chance, and possibilities seem endless. Small-town ballparks’ dirt infields are prepped; birds are returning, robins scurrying in the dormant grass; cutoffs and sleeveless shirts are brought out of closets; and summer For The Weekly Post
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