Thursday April 7, 2016 Vol. 4, No. 6
The Weekly Post
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Man shot in Farmington after assaulting officer By BILL KNIGHT and JEFF LAMPE
FARMINGTON – An Elmwood man with a troubled past was shot in the leg Sunday afternoon after assaulting a Farmington police officer, and he now faces attempted murder charges. Less than two weeks before his next status hearing on a 2015 domestic battery charge, 21-year-old Austin Foster was shot about 3:30 p.m. on Sunday after a fight with officer Jennifer Parkinson, 42, who was responding to an alleged domestic battery emergency. For The Weekly Post
Foster, of Elmwood, was shot in the upper thigh, sources say, after he attacked Parkinson, a 12year veteran of the Farmington police force who has been a full-time officer since 2009. A 911 call about the incident was received at 3:14 p.m., and offiFoster cers from Farmington and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department responded.
“A Farmington Police Department officer located the suspected vehicle and initiated a traffic stop on Park Road, approximately 1/4 mile west of Lightfoot Road,” said Illinois State Police Master Sgt. David Roll. “The officer ordered a male suspect out of the vehicle. Shortly thereafter, the male suspect charged the officer and began striking the officer in the head. “The suspect continued to fight with the officer and took the officer to the ground. While on top of the officer, the suspect continued to strike the officer
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Elm Haven building on the market
THE STATE OF THE PARKS
Mini-golf a highlight of Williamsfield park plans
By BILL KNIGHT
ELMWOOD – The three-story brick structure that has anchored the southeast corner of the square here for decades went on sale last week, and long-time owner Julie Hauter said she has faith the community will see this landmark back in service. “It’s been serving Elmwood through Inside the years,” she says, “and it’s served Brimfield considers well. And now it’s Kress Corp time for it to serve expansion the community Page 12. again.” A few inquiries have been made since a red sign went up, she said. “Maybe someone from another town will come and buy it,” she says. “I came from another town, Pekin. When I came over to look at it, I knew before I saw the inside that I was going to buy it. The Lord provided. “I decided I don’t want to be tied down and staying in one spot now,” For The Weekly Post
By JEFF LAMPE
WILLIAMSFIELD – Members of a relatively new group of park enthusiasts here are looking to the past for inspiration for one of several new projects planned. Work starts this weekend at DoubetBenjamin Park in Williamsfield to Our Parks create a three-hole miniature golf This is the “course.” The new second story in course harkens a series on back to the 1920s, parks in local communities. according to Andrew Fritz. It was then that Ralph Norman operated a miniature golf course in downtown Williamsfield. “It cost 5 cents to play back in The Depression,” Fritz said. A building from Norman’s course has been restored by Williamsfield FFA vol-
in the head and face.” The struggle continued until Parkinson was able to use her firearm to fire one round, striking the suspect in the upper leg/groin area. The gunshot injury apparently was a through-andthrough wound, sources said, and not life-threatening. Foster was Life-Flighted to a Peoria medical center, where Parkinson also was transported for treatment of severe bruising and an evaluation for a possible concussion, according to police.
Weekly Post Staff Writer
Doubet-Benjamin Park offers nearly 30 acres of rolling grass and plantings, a hiking-biking trail, playground equipment, a pavilion and benches on the north end of Williamsfield. Photo by Jeff Lampe.
unteers and was moved to Doubet-Benjamin Park. Fritz said holes on the course will be designed to showcase scenes that are evocative of the area. That’s one of several improvements members of the Williamsfield Parks Association (WPA) have outlined for Doubet-Benjamin Park, a 30-acre expanse located on the north end of town within a short walk of Williamsfield schools. Donated to Williamsfield in the 1990s, the park is maintained by the village.
“Volunteers have always handled capital improvements,” Fritz said. “Slowly but surely we’ve built up a pavilion and a gazebo and trees and plant beds and a walking-biking trail.” WPA started work last year with resurfacing of the half-mile trail through the park. “Volunteers did the work in one work day,” Fritz said. While hiking or biking, there’s plenty Continued on Page 2
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