Thursday March 23, 2017 Vol. 5, No. 4
The Weekly Post
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No charges yet after altercation involving bus driver By JEFF LAMPE
EDWARDS – No arrests have yet been made after an altercation between the parent of an Elmwood Grade School student and an Elmwood bus driver left the 72-year-old driver bloody and bruised last week. According to police reports, Nathan R. Williams, 34, of Edwards boarded an Elmwood school bus last Wednesday morning at a stop in Edwards. Roy “Dean” Mahurin, 72, was driving the bus on his usual route. The two were involved in an altercation that left Mahurin bleeding from the head. Williams sufWeekly Post Staff Writer
fered cuts on his hand and knee. No arrests were initially made after the incident, but Elmwood Superintendent Chad Wagner has since been in contact with the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department and the State’s Attorney office and said the school plans to press charges. “I have been in com- Williams munication with several members of the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department, as the incident occurred in their jurisdiction,” Wagner
said. “Sheriff [Michael] McCoy has informed me that the incident has been referred to Mr. Jerry Brady, the State’s Attorney, and that the situation is being thoroughly investigated. “A school bus is an extension of our school, and anyone who puts our students or employees at risk should be held accountable.” Accounts of what happened during the altercation differ based on police reports. Williams told Elmwood police that he boarded the bus because Mahurin had poked his son in the chest on Tuesday evening while breaking up a fight and had previously had issues with the boy.
Local farmers worked together last week to send 29 bales of hay to aid a Kansas rancher impacted by wildfires that scorched more than 2 million acres in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and Colorado. From left to right are: Budd Benson of Oneida, Larry Leady of London Mills, Kyle Thurman of Abingdon, Dylan Dare of Avon, David Dare of Avon and Brendan Henson of Oneida. Photo by Jeff Lampe. See story, Page 2.
By JEFF LAMPE
FARMINGTON – The City Council on Monday voted unanimously to enter into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Illinois American Water for the city’s water system. Illinois American, a Bolingbrook division of American Water, headquartered in New Jersey, last month raised
WILLIAMSFIELD – After two years of discussion and numerous votes, the Williamsfield School Board has approved plans to create new office space for administrators. The board voted 5-2 last Wednesday to award a $486,100 bid to Laverdiere Construction to consolidate administrative offices, to replace the school’s main water line and to create a Inside new main entrance on the • The Princeville south end of the school. school seeks Voting against the bid nearly $225,000 were Bob Rask and Brian from village TIF Howard. funds. Page 7. The board also unanimously approved a budget request for the $220,000 STEM Lab remodel in space formerly occupied by some administrative offices. A proposal is expected to be presented at the next board meeting, April 10 at 7:30 p.m. While Howard and several speakers during the public comment session cautioned against the expense of the project and discussed possible alternatives, the majority favored moving Weekly Post Staff Writer
Farmington sells water system to Illinois American For The Weekly Post
Continued on Page 2
Williamsfield OK’s office consolidation
HELPING VICTIMS OF WILDFIRES
By BILL KNIGHT
Williams said he decided to board the bus to “confront” the driver, according to police reports. Mahurin said he broke up a fight Tuesday night involving Williams’ son, but did not touch the boy. He reported the incident to Elmwood Elementary School Principal Tony Frost. In regards to the altercation, Williams said Mahurin pushed him off the bus after he had reached the second step. He said he started to fall and grabbed the driver to regain his balance. According to Williams, Mahurin fell and hit his head on the ground, breaking the driver’s
its offer from $3,450,000 up to $3,750,000, depending on three independent appraisals. A second proposal, from Kankakeebased Aqua Illinois, had initially offered the $3,750,000 purchase price. The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) must still approve the transaction, and Illinois American Senior Manager for Business Development Bob
Johnson after the vote said ICC’s process could take nine months to complete. “It was a difficult decision,” said Mayor Kent Kowal. “We had two fine companies [bid]. It was the same money, and same employment [arrangement], basically, and their references were all good. It seemed that Continued on Page 10
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