Thursday May 10, 2018 Vol. 6, No. 11 Hot news tip? Want to advertise? Call (309) 741-9790
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Farmington will get $739,170 for Streetscape By BILL KNIGHT
FARMINGTON – The City of Farmington on Monday was notified it will receive $739,170 in funding for a project to improve its business district on East Fort Street, one of 53 projects listed as approved by the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP). For The Weekly Post
Administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation and helped by federal funds, ITEP will spend $37 million in transportation-related projects. More than 200 applications had requested about $252 million. “By investing in our local communities, we are strengthening our state’s transportation system as a whole,” said
Illinois Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn. “Each of these investments embodies our core mission at IDOT and brings us a step closer to our goal of a multimodal transportation system that benefits all residents of Illinois.” One of six projects approved from IDOT Region 4, Farmington requested $1.2
million to address curbs and sidewalks, street lighting, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access, all between the intersection of Main and Fort Streets, and North Cone Street. Since funding is some $460,000 less than sought, adjustments will be made, according to Mayor Kent Kowal. “We’re going to consult Continued on Page 8
ALAMAR ACRES
Draft horse dreams fulfilled
By JEFF LAMPE
ELMWOOD – The Elmwood Zoning Board of Appeals cleared one more hurdle Tuesday night for a proposed $1.9million medical clinic and $13-milion dollar wellness center on the north end of town. The Zoning Board voted unanimously to rezone a 10-acre parcel located north of Southgate Drive and west of Illinois Route 78 from an R-2 Medium Density Residential District to a C-2 General Commercial District. The Zoning Board was also unanimous in granting a special use permit for a structure larger than 15,000 square feet and a variance from requirements calling for a transitional buffer on the west side of the property. Approval of the Zoning Board’s recommendations was expected to take place Wednesday during a special meeting of the Elmwood City Council. That would clear the way for Graham Health Systems to build a $1.9-million medical clinic comparable in scope to the facility they run in Farmington. “We’d like to start this in July if all goes well and open in February or March of 2019,” Graham President and CEO Robert Senneff said. P.J. Hoerr will be general contractor for the roughly 6,400-square-foot clinic, Weekly Post Staff Writer
Knoblochs raise Clydesdales on farm outside Princeville By EMILY GREEN
PRINCEVILLE –Nestled on the northeast edge of Princeville lies a farming operation that differs from those typically found in Illinois: a Clydesdale Breeding Farm. Alan and Mary Ann Knobloch, owners of Alamar Acres, purchased their first few Clydesdales in 1999 and now run a busy operation with Canadian partners and anywhere from 1520 horses in their pastures at a time. Alan Knobloch always had an interest in draft horse farming, as both his grandfathers, “reminisced about the days of old and the draft horse teams they farmed with.” He pursued the interest after learning he and his family were not suited for town life. Alan and Mary Ann, along with their three daughters, had made the move into the town of Princeville in
Zoning hurdle cleared for Graham clinic
For The Weekly Post
Each year, 7-10 Clydesdale foals are born at Alamar Acres, a horse-breeding farm located northeast of Princeville and operated by Alan and Mary Ann Knobloch. Photo by Emily Green.
1995, after a lifetime of involvement in farming. Deciding to move back into a farming lifestyle, they purchased a small acreage and house just outside of town. Initially, the Knoblochs planned to work the nine acres with a team of horses and antique farm equipment. The family soon found themselves
scrapping the plan to work the land, and bought several Clydesdales mares with plans to breed. These horses, standing 18 hands tall with distinctive feathering, are an uncommon, but popular breed in the draft horse industry. The family saw an opportunity in this low supply and Continued on Page 2
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