Thursday May 11, 2017 Vol. 5, No. 11
The Weekly Post
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Farmington superintendent moving on to Galesburg By BILL KNIGHT
FARMINGTON – Eight days after Farmington Superintendent John Asplund was named a “2017 Superintendent of Distinction” by the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA), the 46-year-old administrator was named the next superintendent for Galesburg District 205. There, the school board at a special meeting last Tuesday night (May 2) approved hiring him as superintendent starting July 1. Galesburg’s board unanimously approved a fiveyear contract with Asplund with an initial salary of $188,000 plus an For The Weekly Post
agreement for five days of work this month and next at $785 per day to help the transition. The IASA had praised Asplund’s endeavors to help turn school libraries into active research centers, and earning recognition for a greencleaning initiative, but their mention of the school’s solar array is the most memorable moment from his years here, Asplund agreed. “We have had many achievements of which I am proud here at Farmington, but if I had to pick one I would say the solar array is something that helped us stand out,” he told The Weekly Post. “At the time, it was the largest solar array ever
constructed on a public school facility in the entire country.” There have been disappointments, too, of course. “State funding would have to be at the top of the list,” he said. “The state continues to ask for more and giving schools less support. Illinois has had a broken financial system for decades and it is beyond embarrassing and mystifying that our elected officials can't work together to help get this state on solid financial ground.” Disappointing or exhilarating, Asplund’s time at Farmington helped him prepare for challenges ahead, he Continued on Page 2
Farmington school superintendent John Asplund (left) was honored by area school administrators and Illinois State Superintendent of Education Tony Smith (right) on April 24. Last week, Galesburg named him their next superintendent.
Gardening skill best taught by family members
NEW GROCERS IN ELMWOOD
Elmwood OK’s loan for grocery store deal
By RHONDA FERREE
By BILL KNIGHT
ELMWOOD – The City Council at a special meeting Friday (May 6) unanimously approved the Elmwood Revolving Loan Fund Committee’s recommendation to loan $30,000 toward a $345,000 project to buy, clean, renovate and re-stock the grocery store at the corner of Rose and Hawthorn Streets. Christina and Aaron Bean plan to purchase the real estate where Elmwood Foods is currently operating. A new limited liability corporation headed by Christina will operate the retailer and hold its liquor license, according to lawyer Bob Potts. The name of the store will be
URBANA – Like many life skills, gardening is often learned directly from family members. Grandparents might recruit the grandkids to help water transplants or drop in seeds, setting the stage for a lifetime love of gardening. INSIDE “Gardening is classified as a life skill beSection 2 cause it not only • Butterflies, bleedallows you to grow ing hearts and pest food for yourself and control are all feafamily, but it also intured in our gardening corporates many skills section. Page 13 such as math, reading, science, and even history,” says University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator Bruce J. Black. “Like many people, I got bit by the gardening bug while learning how to grow vegetables and flowers from my grandparents and my mother,” Black says. “When I was learning this skill and developing my passion, I did not realFor The Weekly Post
For The Weekly Post
Aaron and Christina Bean of Elmwood plan to purchase the Elmwood Foods store and property, thanks in part to a $30,000 loan from the City of Elmwood. Photo by Jeff Lampe.
Bean’s Family Market according to Aaron Bean. “We’re looking at maybe taking possession on June 1, but that’s still kind of up in the air,” Aaron Bean said. The financing is a “gap loan,” said Elmwood Economic Development Officer Dick Taylor, designed to help the buyers with the transaction. The loan’s revenues will come
from the City’s Revolving Loan Fund, which has a fund balance of $92,670.51. The 10-year loan to the Beans will have a 2-percent interest rate. The City will have “third position” behind Jim and Jeff Wagoner of Brimfield (who own the mortgage on the land), and the main lender, which is the Bank of Yates City, Potts said. Continued on Page 2
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