Thursday April 14, 2016 Vol. 4, No. 7
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
Kickapoo artist/author publishes children’s book
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By BILL KNIGHT
FARMINGTON – Not only is it possible there’ll be no “Friday night lights” this fall if the 10-month state budget stalemate isn’t resolved by July 1. There may be no lights at all. Farmington Central Superintendent John Asplund is expected to notify parents today (Thursday) of the dire circumstances Farmington and other schools face, he told the Board of EducaInside tion on Monday. Williamsfield “I don’t think is readying most people know for a school what’s going on,” he renovation said. “If the state Page 14. doesn’t have a budget next year – that’s July 1, right around the corner – [schools] will be treated just like everybody else [and not receive funds]. We may be forced to delay the start of school, operate on a reduced number of days, or completely shut down.” Farmington schools already are dealing with a reduction of more than $1.1 million since 2008, and if the state stops payments June 30 and exFor The Weekly Post
By CHERYL HARLOW For The Weekly Post
PRSRT. STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Elmwood, Illinois Permit No. 13
Schools face severe state fund cutbacks
GYPSY GIVER AND THE THIEF
With a passion for art and a story to tell, Kickapoo resident Nicole Blackburn knew right away what she wanted to do for her senior project at Bradley University back in 2008. Blackburn, who has a degree in graphic design, decided to take that project and turn it into a children’s book with beautiful, whimsical illustrations and a message of hope and generosity. The book, “Gypsy Giver and the Thief,” is set in a fictional medieval times kingdom and tells the story of a young gypsy dancer who uses the coins she earns to buy food and clothing for the poor. The gypsy girl, Stacia teaches an important lesson about giving to a young thief in the story. “The moral of the story is do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” Blackburn explained recently
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Gypsy girl Stacia, above, is the heroine of “Gypsy Giver and the Thief,” a children’s book illustrated and written by Kickapoo resident Nicole Blackburn. Blackburn is pictured below right in a photo taken by Cheryl Harlow.
during an interview at Ludy’s in Kickapoo. “And I hope the colorful illustrations and message about the power of giving create a sense of wonder in kids.” Blackburn grew up in Kickapoo and attended St. Mary’s School, where last year she had the privilege of sharing her book with the entire school during a Grandparent’s Day event. “It filled me with joy to see how entranced the kids were with the story and how they interacted and responded to it,” Blackburn said. Equally inspiring was that many of the grandparents said afterwards that the message of the story was an encouragement to them, Blackburn said. While growing up in Kickapoo,
Blackburn, an only child, fell in love with stories, as her parents Gary and Kathy Blackburn spent many hours reading to her. Her imagination and Continued on Page 12
Continued on Page 10
Princeville parks welcome public By BILL KNIGHT
PRINCEVILLE – Next month, the community’s parks will be showcased as hundreds of kids from 30 teams from throughout the area will come to town to play baseball in the annual St. Jude fund raiser in memory of Brad Wallin. “It’ll be the weekend after Memorial Day and we’ll have different age groups,” says Village Board Trustee Jeff For The Weekly Post
Troutman, who with fellow Trustees Teresa Gilroy and Randy Haley serves on the Board’s Property Our Parks CommitThis is the tee overthird story in a seeing series on parks parks. “It’s in local the third communities. year for it, I think, and there’ll be at least 15 games over five days, mostly
at Cutter’s Grove Park.” Cutter’s Grove, on the south side of town, is one of three Princeville parks, along with Stevens Square in the business district and Troutman Park – outside the village and run instead by a non-profit group on which Jeff also sits. “The more the merrier,” says Troutman, the son of 85year-old Dean Troutman, whose 75-day, 700-mile trek Continued on Page 2
New playground equipment at Troutman Park on the north end of Princeville is available to the public for daily use. Photo by Bill Knight.