The Weekly Post
Thursday May 16, 2013 Vol. 1, No. 13 Hot news tip? Want to advertise? Call (309) 741-9790
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State releases Wildlife Prairie Park By JEFF LAMPE
EDWARDS – The experiment of a state-run Wildlife Prairie Park is over. The change is a welcome one in the views of many involved with the unique 2,000-acre Peoria County park. Gov. Pat Quinn was in town Saturday to sign legislation turning the park over to the Forest Park Foundation of Peoria. That ended more than 10 years of the park being run by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Transfer to the DNR had been a wish of park founder Bill Rutherford prior to his death. Weekly Post Staff Writer
But budget woes in the years since hampered DNR’s ability to maintain the park. House Bill 1292 transfers ownership to the Forest Park Foundation of Peoria, which will eventually hand the park over to the private, not-for-profit Friends of Wildlife Prairie Park. “(Private ownership means) every dollar that comes into the park stays in the park,” said Bill Cirone, president of the Friends of Wildlife Prairie Park board. That was the goal of legislation, which lawmakers have worked on for several years.
“This really has been a long time coming,” State Rep. Mike Unes, R-East Peoria said. “I think Governor Quinn recognizes that this is great news for the entire state. DNR for quite some time has been looking for more revenues, and this really takes a lot off (their) plate.” Unes and state Rep. Jehan A. Gordon-Booth co-sponsored the bill, which passed the legislature unanimously in both chambers. Said Unes, “As I look out here and think back to some of my Gov. Pat Quinn was in the area Saturday afternoon to greatest childhood memories, sign legislation turning Wildlife Prairie Park over to a prithey’re right here at this park.” vate, non-profit group. Photo by Paul McKim.
Billtown eyes school doors
PLANTERS ROLLING
By BILL KNIGHT
WILLIAMSFIELD – Fifteen exterior doors could be replaced at Williamsfield schools if the state of Illinois approves a grant for which the Billtown Board of Education OK’d applying last week. If the state approves, up to $50,000 may be granted to District 210, and the district would have to match state funds. The School Board also voted to apply for state Health Life Safety assistance in connection with the door project, which could cost an estimated $108,000, according to the school’s architect. “Since this is the second round of maintenance grants, a list of priorities will be followed – and because there is much less money available for the second round of money,” said Williamsfield Superintendent Mary Bush. “Health Life Safety projects will be listed as the second priority only after emergency projects.” The deadline for grant submissions is this month. The first round of maintenance grants had 691 districts receive funds, said Bush, who added that $9.8 million remains available for qualifying projects. If the Health Life Safety grant is approved by the state, the project would have to be finished in five years. In other business, Bush reported enrollments for fall Kindergarten and Pre-K classes, which are 23 for Kindergarten and 32 for Pre-K. “Another summer screening will occur,” Bush added. “We have morning and afternoon sessions.” Meanwhile, several coaches and sponsors were For The Weekly Post
Jeff Maher of Elmwood heads back for more seed corn Monday after planting a Peoria County field. Monday was the second day Maher had been able to plant this spring. Photo by Jeff Lampe.
Farmers planting corn ... finally By BILL KNIGHT
Hours after Monday’s frost warning expired with no apparent damage, Elmwood farmer Ted Mottaz said he was anxious to start planting corn, delayed for weeks because of wet and unseasonably cold conditions. “We haven’t put a seed in the ground yet,” said Mottaz, who’s on the board of the Illinois Corn Growers Association. “It’s still pretty wet, and when it gets ponded like this, it increases the possibility of mortality.” Peoria County harvested about 18 million bushels of corn last For The Weekly Post
year, averaging more than 161 bushels per acre, down from 168 bushels per acre in 2011. The slowest start to planting in decades could potentially affect the yield, the market and consumers’ pocketbooks. Current conditions mean just
17 percent of Illinois corn and hardly any of the state’s soybeans have been planted, according to Monday’s U.S. Department of Agriculture report. In contrast, 94 percent of corn was planted at this time last year. Since 2008, an average of 64 percent of the state’s corn and 8 percent of its soybeans would be planted by this week, according to the USDA. If corn is not planted this week, yields could be reduced by 1 percent per day during the following few weeks, agronomists say. And if planting still Continued on Page 2
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THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, May 16, 2013
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Clean-up on mind of FARMERS: Wet spring could hurt yields occurred by late June, Brimfield village board hasn’t yields could be down by half. Continued from Page 1
By TERRY BIBO
BRIMFIELD – May must be clean-up time for the Brimfield Village Board. Village trustees decided Monday to make another plea for homeowners to take care of their properties, including a possible reboot of Neighborhood Watch. And the village is seeking bids for garbage/recycling services since its contract expires Sept. 1. Board president Dan Fishel said Brimfield sends a letter to property owners each year asking people to tidy up things like abandoned vehicles and messy yards. He suggested, and trustees approved, a second letter allowing 30 days for problems to be remedied before intervention. “Some people just need a nudge like that,” Fishel said. Trustee Brian Porter suggested Village Clerk Holly Johnson mention the effort on Brimfield’s Facebook page. He asked if there was any interest in revisiting a Neighborhood Watch. Johnson said that query could be included in the update. After consulting with surrounding communities, the board will bid for expanded garbage service to include curbside recycling. Fishel For The Weekly Post
said recycling dumpsters in place are a burden on nearby homeowners. “It’s a shame. Those families that live by those dumpsters are picking up two-three times a week,” he said. “We don’t want to cancel the program (but) it’s not fair to them.” The current three-year contract with Quality Disposal Company costs $10.25 per month per residence for onceweekly curbside pick-up. No more than six 32-gallon containers weighing no more than 50 pounds apiece are accepted. The village hopes to get a five-year contract for the same service, plus no-sort curbside recycling every other week. Recycling would be voluntary; a free toter would be provided. Recycling dumpsters currently being abused would not be replaced. In other housekeeping matters, Fishel commended outgoing trustee Glenda Wilson and held the swearing-in for village board members following the April 9 election. Fishel and trustees Michael Meinders and Kevin Gilles were re-elected. Elected for the first time was Allison Porter, who is married to Brian Porter’s son, Brandon. Email Terry Bibo at
terry.bibo.freelance@gmail.com.
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“We’re very concerned,” Mottaz said. “How are we going to keep up with demand for ethanol, for food products and so on? Whether it’s profit margins or feed for cattle, there could be a domino effect. It’s not a major deal yet, but it all adds up.” In the Midwest, most farmers are in the same, soggy, boat. Farmers in Iowa and Indiana have planted 15 percent and 30 percent of planned corn (compared to 86 percent and 92 percent, respectively, in 2012), and Missouri is at 22 percent (92 percent last year) and Wisconsin at 14 percent (54 percent in 2012). Tim Foster, who farms corn and soybeans in the Elmwood and Trivoli area, said this week is really the cut-off date before yield losses will kick in. “I’m out here hunting and pecking, trying to find dry spots,” he said. “I’m looking to do a half field or whatever. Just to get started. [But] what really counts is the weather in July, in the growing season.” At the University of Illinois, crop sciences professor Emerson Nafziger agreed, adding that it’s not yet time to panic. “Early planting does not necessarily lead to high yields,” he said. “What happens after planting and through the rest of the season is more important. “So while yield potential will start to drop as we get further into May with planting, chances of a good corn crop remain high, as long as weather permits planting soon.” Another worry may be cutworms, according to Jill Scheidt, agronomy specialist with the University of Missouri Extension. “Right now the biggest concern
Jeff Maher is happy to get busy planting corn, though a wet spring did allow him more time to hunt morel mushrooms. “We had to work to find the mushrooms we did,” Maher said. Photo by Jeff Lampe.
in a late planting date for corn is the possibility of black cutworm feeding,” Scheidt said. “This year’s planting date should not be compared to last year’s average planting, which was 10 days ahead of normal.” Also, it’s not always wise to switch gears, she said. “If corn is planted, do not switch to a shorter maturity date variety,” said Scheidt, who noted maturity levels in corn will move faster with the increasing temperatures, and that changing to an earlier maturing variety could result in the corn pollinating too early in the season. Also, “if you are thinking about switching from corn to soybeans, [the] costs and benefits of switching may not prove wise until planting is delayed until the last week of May,” she said. Foster, who’s been farming for 37 years, said his planting has been late before. “A couple of times, I didn’t get corn in until the first part of June,” he said. “I don’t want to switch to beans. I applied anhydrous nitrogen to all my [corn] fields, which cost $90 to $100 an acre, and beans don’t require that.”
It’s not surprising that few people are as concerned about getting soybeans planted, Nafziger said. Although in recent years, early planting of soybeans helped increase yield potential, corn typically loses yield faster than soybean as planting is delayed. So it makes sense to plant corn first, before soybeans, which are more sensitive to day length, meaning later-planted soybeans flower in fewer days than earlierplanted ones. Other crops in Illinois show winter wheat to be about even, and hay down, the USDA reports. The Illinois winter wheat crop is expected to yield 63 bushels per acre based on conditions as of May 1, about even with last year, and hay stocks in the state on May 1 were at 155,000 tons, down 48 percent from a year ago. Meanwhile, weather forecasts for the area call for scattered thunderstorms in the next few days. “It can be frustrating,” Mottaz said. “We have to remember that Mother Nature’s in charge. Every time farmers see each other, we say, ‘Be safe; be alert.’ I see the frustration when I see [tractor] ruts in a field, but don’t take any chances.”
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THANK YOU
The Rodney G. Blodgett Family wants to express our sincere thanks to our friends, relatives, all the medical caregivers. Pastor Chris Deacon, for all the prayers, the TLC and the many memorials. We all deeply appreciate everything you have done for us. We especially want to thank – The Masonic Lodge, the Elba Salem Fire Department, the American Legion,
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THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, May 16, 2013
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THE WEEK AHEAD HOT PICKS This Week!
s Class Day – Elmwood High School recognizes scholarship winners Friday at 9 a.m. during Class Day in the high school auditorium. s Stufflebeam benefit – Longtime Brimfield math teacher Alan Stufflebeam will benefit from a fund raiser and dance Saturday at the Brimfield American Legion Hall starting at 3 p.m. s Customer appreciation – Farmers State Bank Customer Appreciation Day is Saturday. Staff and directors serve grilled pork chops and drinks from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot behind the bank.
This Week’s Events
s Edwards flood benefit – A benefit to help victims of the flooding in Edwards is Friday and Saturday. Friday is the time to drop off bedding, towels, clothing and household goods at Elmwood Grade School Gym from 5-8 p.m. On Saturday Edwards flood victims can pick up items at the gym from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. From 2-4 p.m. Elmwood residents are welcome to take remaining items. Monetary donations are welcome at Farmers State Bank in Elmwood to the Edwards Flood Victims Fund. Call Melissa Turner (309) 251-9633 or Julie May (309) 3706555. s Mental illness meeting – National Alliance of Mental Illness support group meetings will be May 16 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Methodist Medical Center. Individuals participating in recovery meet in Room G303. Call (309) 472-5907. Family and friends of people with brain disorders meet in the Atrium Conference Room. Call (309) 360-1143. s Craft night – A craft night for women 18 and older is tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Morrison & Mary Wiley Library in Elmwood. Design a garden sphere. s Fiber arts event – The 8th annual Fiber Arts May Event is May 18 at Camp Wokonda in Chillicothe, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Bishop Hill Fiber Guild and is open to all who enjoy working with fiber.
Bring your own food or a covered dish to share. Coffee and tea provided. Cost $5. Preregistation requested. Email Janet Daum at spinit@sbcglobal.net or call (309) 547-2456. s Blood drive – The First Presbyterian Church at 208 N. Lilac St. in Elmwood is hosting a blood drive from 2-6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21. To learn more or make an appointment to donate blood, visit redcrossblood.org or call toll-free (800) 733-2767.
Future Events
s Craft program – A mother-daughter craft program will be held May 23 at 6 p.m. at Morrison & Mary Wiley Library in Elmwood. Learn to make a flower vase. s Summer reading – Registration runs through May 25 for the Summer Reading program at Morrison & Mary Wiley Library in Elmwood. The program starts June 7 and is open to children age 4 as of June 1 through sixth grade. Volunteers are also needed. Email elmlib@elmnet.net s Yates City alumni – The Yates City Alumni Banquet All-School Reunion (for anyone who ever attended Yates City School) is Saturday, May 25 at the Yates City Community Center. Doors open at 6 p.m., meal is at 6:30. Tickets are $15 per person. Reservations required. Call (309) 358-1467. s Poetry reading – George Tanner will read poetry at Morrison & Mary Wiley Library in Elmwood on May 30 at 6:30 p.m. No registration required.
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BILLTOWN: Numerous board approvals Continued from Page 1
confirmed, including Bob Anderson as Athletic Director, Becky Blankenship as sponsor of Spanish Club and both Middle School and High School Scholastic Bowl teams; and Lori Secrist as sponsor of Science Club, Science Olympiad and National Honor Society. Others approved were Ann Banks (assistant Middle School track coach) Alberta LaFollette (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America), Becky Nichols (music contests), Brandon Owens (head coach, Middle School track), Darrin Peterson (head
coach, High School softball co-op with Galva) and Kathy Wight (Student Council). Also, newly elected board members Gina O’Dell, Angela Powell and Tom Kordewick were sworn in. Kordewick and O’Dell are newly seated; Powell has been serving as an appointed board member. The School Board’s new officers are President Janet Collopy, Vice-president Robert Rask and Secretary Vicki Massie. Dixie Brown is returning as school Treasurer. Jennifer Beard and Alan Wight left the board after eight years of service.
We Are Seeking Names of Active Military Members To Recognize in Future Issues Call 309-741-9790 or email news@wklypost.com
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THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, May 16, 2013
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The Weekly Post is published every Thursday (except the last weeks of December and June) by Lampe Publications LLC, 115 W. Main St., Elmwood, IL 61529. All phone numbers listed are in area code (309).
Postmaster – Send address changes to The Weekly Post, P.O. Box 745, Elmwood, IL 61529 Phone – 741-9790 Fax – 741-9365 Email – news@wklypost.com Website – www.wklypost.com (Under construction) Office Hours – Mon-Wed 9-5, Thurs 9-12, Fri 9-4 News – Jeff Lampe 231-6040 Classifieds – Shelly Brodine 741-9790 Advertising – Steve Neal 696-6130 Regular Contributors – Mit Beres, Terry Bibo, Keith Butterfield, Melinda Cote, Amy Davis, Kasey Eberle, Jon Gallagher, Bill Knight, Crystal Prahl and Gabbie Sloan Deadlines – News due Tuesdays by noon. Retail ads and classifieds due Mondays by noon. Circulation – The paper is delivered via mail for free in Brimfield, Dahinda Edwards, Elmwood, Kickapoo, Laura, Oak Hill, Williamsfield and Yates City. Subscriptions are available outside the communities listed above. A one-year subscription is $100. Obituaries, Births, Weddings – Forms are available at our office at 115 W. Main St. in Elmwood.
Of festivals, hedge apples, Spe and morels
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Meet us on Thursday, May 16, 5:45 pm At the Peoria Public Library, North Branch, 3100 Grand Parkway, Peoria, IL 61615
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Rambling through west-central Illinois pondering the origins of small-town festivals. uuu Summer is fast approaching and this year’s festival lineup looks promising. I am eager to see the Bourgoin Monument Co. Diamond T truck that Francis Barton had restored at a cost of $80,000. That vehicle will be on display at Elmwood’s Strawberry Festival on June 1. I’m also interJeff ested to see how LAMPE long it takes Pat Hanley to find me in the beer tent at Brimfield Old Settler’s Days in August. ... Speaking of summer fun, Harry McFall of Elmwood has an intriguing idea. I was not aware the Mayor of Oak Hill has held an informal Hedge Apple Festival in Oak Hill in the fall to celebrate his birthday. Harry says the Mayor rides around on a mower tooting his own horn, which is believable.
There may even have been a poem about the event penned by Mrs. Mayor (which we would love to feature in this space). Anyway, Harry wants to make the Hedge Apple Festival a formal event and is willing to pay a prize for the best float in the parade. We’ll offer matching funds if the idea takes off. I’ll keep you posted. uuu Mushroom season took forever to get going but shows no sign of ending soon. If you can fight through tall grass, ticks and undergrowth, you should find morels for at least another week. ... Never should have sent a free subscription of The Weekly Post to my parents. Now I’ve got my English professor father heckling me about grammar and typos and writing letters to the editor. Uh, Dad, it’s bandwagon, not band wagon. ... Driving through Elmwood recently I got worried. The sign in front of St. Patrick’s Church was obviously wrong. All it said was “Spe Gaudentes.” I figured Larry Hayes had lost some letters, or his marbles, while
Why should we help the Palace? To the Editor: I would like to comment regarding The Palace Theater article in (the May 9) paper. I read the article and the more I read, the more upset I got. Why is it Elmwood’s or other town’s responsibility to help with updates to the Theater? I’ve been in Elmwood 16 years and I don’t want the Theater to close, but I don't agree asking people for money to help with maintaining updates to any business. I also didn’t agree years ago when there was a fund-raiser for updates to be made to the Theater when it is something that should have been doing all along to the building. It is up to every business owner to maintain and do updates to their own building. – Jill Gensler, Elmwood
Chicken love misguided
To the Editor: I have been misrepresented by my glib but gullible son whose boyhood ambition was to “be a pig farmer” because he said he liked that smell. Actually I’m not “bitter” about chickens, I just dislike them though I enjoy fresh eggs and eating fried chicken. Maybe if Jeff had spent time around chickens rather than hogs (though I admit hogs are smarter than chickens – but then anything is), maybe if he’d cleaned out a chicken house (coops are only for pets), maybe then with experience rather than a chip on his shoulder he wouldn't be jumping on the pet bird band wagon. – Dave Lampe, Buffalo, N.Y.
We Cover The News of West-Central Illinois With A Passion
changing words. But Dorothy Naumann explained, “It means ‘Our Joy is in Hope.’ I think Larry put it up to get some comments.” Well, that worked. But please don’t relate the incident to my old Latin teacher Mrs. Murette, who still scares me. uuu Thanks to Linda Sager and Marilyn Stewart for decorating the windows in our 115 W. Main St. office in Elmwood: one in Americana, the other as a fishing scene. We hope to change displays from time to time. Please stop by with your ideas. ... Springfield is finally passing a worthwhile bill – raising the speed limit to 70 mph on interstate highways and tollways. All that’s left to make it law is expected House approval and a signature from Gov. Quinn. ... Song of the Week: The Black Crowes’ “Sometimes Salvation.” Hope they play that one May 28 at the Peoria Civic Center. ... Parting shot: This Pandora thing is really a life saver. Contact Jeff Lampe at 231-6040 or jeff@wklypost.com
Letter Policy The Weekly Post welcomes letters from readers. Email us at editor@wklypost.com or mail to: Letters, The Weekly Post, P.O. Box 745, Elmwood, IL 61529. Include your first and last name, your full home address, home phone and a phone number where you can be reached during the day. Letters should be no more than 300 words and must be signed. Longer submissions of 500-600 words will be considered for our Other Voices feature. Letters will be edited and may be used in print or electronic form.
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THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, May 16, 2013
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GUEST VOICES
Not a fan of playing the dating game We’re coming up on the third year anniversary of my divorce. My ex and I remain close, close enough that following the tornado, she allowed me to move back in with her for 257 days while they fixed my apartment. Not that either of us were counting or anything. In that time, I’ve gotten used to my independence. I like being able to come home when I want, Jon leave when I GALLAGHER want, stay up ’til whatever time I want, and not have to battle someone else for the TV remote control. The truth of the matter is, I hardly ever go out; I’m usually home by 6 p.m. if I do; I go to sleep when I fall asleep (usually in the last few innings of the Dodgers game); and I watch about three channels on TV. It’s not exactly an active lifestyle. I’ve had several friends offer to set me up with friends on blind dates. Since the divorce – come to think of it, since moving back into my apartment – I’ve been on exactly three dates. I like it like that. There are various reasons why I don’t date, with the main reason
being that I like my independence. However, there are others. First, I have an 8-year-old daughter. I don’t get to spend much time with her, so the time that I do spend with her is very special. I’m very jealous of that time. Phone calls often go unanswered during the times when she visits me, I don’t answer emails or play on the computer, and I – believe it or not – don’t watch ballgames. (Okay, maybe an inning or two, but that’s only so I can teach her the finer points of the game.) The second reason I don’t date is because dating costs money – serious money. You have to pay for dinners and movies. You have to buy gas to get there. You have an extra person for the Christmas list. There are birthdays to buy presents for. It just seems to be a never-ending series of reaching for my debit card. And since I don’t have a lot of money, I’d rather spend it on my daughters (all three of them). Like I said, I have been talked into blind dates on three different occasions. A friend who worked security at one of the Peoria hospitals set me up on one date. It was a doozy. When I met the woman, the first thing I noticed was all the metal sticking out of her head. Her face sort of looked like a pin cushion.
Now, I try never to judge someone on their outward appearance, but she had so many piercings, I couldn’t look at her face and not wonder why she wasn’t in excruciating pain. There’s no way she could have gotten through a metal detector at an airport. In fact, when she walked by my refrigerator, I noticed all the magnets on the door were straining valiantly to stay attached instead of flying off and smacking onto her face. If that wasn’t enough, both arms were filled, from knuckles to shoulders, with tattoos. She called them her “sleeves.” The one on her left arm had an elaborate scene with a guy on a horse with a castle in the background. There was nothing where the guy’s face went. She said it was blank so when she found her “Prince Charming,” she could have his likeness tattooed there. (I’m betting if she ever finds him, his face will be full of metal.) My second blind date was a little better. A friend who’s in law enforcement and his wife, who’s a lawyer, set me up with a relatively normal female with no piercings (that I could see) and no ink (that I could see). She wasn’t bad looking (when you look like I do, you can’t be too choosy), but when she laughed, it sounded like baby seals were being slaughtered.
carpenter or mechanic. I don’t even know how to change the oil in my car. I walked into Tool Day thinking it would be pointless and a waste of time. But after three hours I did not want to leave. Going from station to station, I was amazed by the sheer number of tools that I had never even seen before. At each station I was introduced to a new trade – plumbing, masonry, gardening, electricity, painting, dry-walling and mechanics. When we had the chance to go back to class or stay outside, I decided to stay outside for just a little longer. Instead of just hearing about tools, my classmates and I now had the chance to use them. The first station I went to was carpentry, and I must admit I’m not the best with power tools. But the instructors showed me how to use a drill and even let me saw. At the plumbing station I hooked up a sink. I literally set up a sink and it was surprisingly fun. I went to the masonry station
and learned how to work with cement and bricks. I trimmed a tree at the gardening station. I learned about primer and ended up painting a door at the dry-wall station. And then I went to the mechanic station and the next thing I knew I was taking a lawn mower apart. I’ve never even used a lawn mower, let alone tried to dismantle it. But with the help of the instructor and my classmate Kyle Alcaraz, soon I had successfully taken it apart and put it back together again. By the end of the school day I had a newfound appreciation and knowledge of tools and their application. Tool Day showed me how oblivious I really was. Even though I won’t end up going to a trade school, I will use the things I learned at Tool Day in my future. When I’m a homeowner someday, I hope I can look back and remember everything I learned at tool day – and be thankful that I went.
Continued on Page 6
Trojan Tool Day exceeded expectations It was a Sunday night and I was begging my mother to let me stay home from school the next day. Before we had left school on Friday, the junior and sophomore class at Elmwood High School had been told that Monday was the first Trojan Tool Day. Instead of English or HisGabbie tory class, I was SLOAN going to have to spend three hours listening to people talk about tools. And I was dreading it. “Just let me at least stay at home for the first part of the day,” I said to my mother. As with most of my excuses, my mother saw straight through it. She made it clear that I was going to Tool Day – and that I was going to learn something. I was not thrilled the next morning. I didn’t like tools. I was not going to be a plumber, mason,
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KAYTE LaFOLLETT Monmouth College Graduate Summa Cum Laude We Are So Proud of You! Love, Your Family We Cover The News of West-Central Illinois With A Passion
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209 E. Cypress, Elmwood – $212,500 Charming 2-Story Home, 4BR, 2BA 3-Car Garage, MF Laundry, Full Basement
19014 W. Route 150, Brimfield – $189,900 4 Br, 2 BA, 1.37 acres, Brimfield Schools
Pending 5 Acres Kellstadt Road, Brimfield 3.327 acres 00 Route 150, just west of Kickapoo 6.928 Acres, Kickapoo Edwards 412 S. Kellogg, Yates City 135 Clinton Street, Brimfield 15015 W. Winchester, Brimfield
Thinking of Buying or Selling? Please Call!
(309) 678-9010
Real Estate & Personal Property Auction Located at: 231 N. Washington Street, Brimfield, IL 61517 Saturday, June 8th , 2013 @ 10 a.m. Real Estate Description: Two Bedroom Ranch home situated on double corner lot near churches & businesses. Built in the 1800s, the front of the brick home still maintains that unique look. The home has eat-in kitchen, living room, den and utility room. Covered front porch & side enclosed porch provides good entries. It also has a double garage, blacktop drive and plenty of trees. Call today for an appointment to view or visit the Open House. Call the auctioneer: 309-370-5305. Legal Description: Town of Brimfield NW ¼ SEC 24-10N-5E Lots 1-2 BLK 20 Pin#06-24-106-001
Open House: Sunday, May 19th 2013 • 1-3pm Terms for Real Estate: 10 percent down at time of final accepted bid. Remainder paid at time of closing in 30 days, when Title Insurance policy will be given. Owner reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids. Property is subject to sale prior of auction. Both buyer & seller will be required to sign written agreement furnished day of auction. Property will be sold “As Is” & not subject to loan approval. Personal Property to be auctioned immediately following the sale of above Real Estate
1936 Gibson l4 Guitar-1817 Violin w/wood case-Antique Furniture-Antiques-Pottery-Sterling-China-Glass-Collectables-Red Wing-Waterford Crystal-Lead CrystalCut Glass-Pocket Watches-Quilt-Minks-Display Case Items-Paintings-Paper-1938 Leather H.S. Football Helmet- Appliances- Modern Furniture-Household-Riding Mowers-Lawnboy Elec Start-Yard Carts-Tools-Shop-Garden: To view complete sale bill & photos; www.culverauctions.com or www.biddersandbuyers.com Auctioneers Note: This is a must see property and offers an outstanding selection of personal property to be sold immediately following the sale of the real estate. Statements day of auction supersede all others. TERMS: CASH OR CHECK • NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCIDENTS • LUNCH STAND • RESTROOM
Owner; Helen M. Ward – POA; Vicki V. Colvin Culver Auction Service Lic#440.000447 Greg Culver, Farmington. IL 61631 ph:309-370-5305 Tim Placher, Lacon, IL. Lic#440.000339 • Jimmy Johnson Lic#441.001594
Page 6
THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, May 16, 2013
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Vandals damage Elmwood properties last Thursday
ELMWOOD – A series of acts of vandalism was reported in Elmwood last Thursday (May 9), according to police. Incidents ranged from eggs being thrown at homes in the 200 and 400 blocks of North Laurel Street, and mailboxes damaged by what appeared to be a baseball bat, including in the 200 block of East Maple. Elmwood police are continuing to investigate.
Peoria motorist collides with Victoria driver
Brandon Gaines, 22, of Peoria about 4:30 p.m. Friday (May 10) was southbound on U.S. Route 150 in Millbrook Township when his car drifted into the northbound lane and struck a car driven by Thomas Rakestraw, 60, of Victoria, according to police reports. Gaines had a minor injury and Rakestraw was transported to his home. Both vehicles were towed from the scene of the accident. Brimfield firefighters, BYE ambulance and AMT ambulance all responded to the call.
Four deer-auto mishaps reported in Peoria Co.
FARM CARE
FARM MANAGEMENT • REAL ESTATE SALES • 312 W. MAIN, ELMWOOD – Immaculate, well-maintained home near schools, library & business district, 3BR, 3 bath, wood floors & much more! 28’x24’ garage w/loft. $197,900 $192,500 • 415 E. CYPRESS, ELMWOOD – 3 BR, 2 BA, full basement, deck, pool, corner lot, locally constructed in 1993 w/2”x6” walls, very clean. Move-In Condition! $146,900 • 206 N. MAGNOLIA, ELMWOOD – Cute house within eye view of Central Park, 2 BR, all appliances stay, new roof with 50-year warranty just installed, detached garage. $72,900 • 109 S. WESTFIELD DR., ELMWOOD – One owner, immaculate home! 3BR, 2.5 baths, vaulted ceilings, wood floors and full basement. Hurry! $229,500
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The Peoria County Sheriff’s Office reported four area accidents involving vehicles striking deer in the roadway in the last 10 days: • Deb Himegarner, 53, of Elmwood about 5:30 a.m. on May 8 was eastbound on Interstate 74 in Rosefield Township when her 2007 Ford Explorer struck a deer. She wasn’t injured. • Robert Henry, 64, of Princeville about 6 a.m. on May 9
was eastbound on Interstate 74 in Kickapoo Township when four deer ran into his path. He avoided three of them, but his 2012 Chevrolet struck the fourth. He wasn’t injured. • Gervine Moutombo, 30, of Galesburg, about 8 p.m. on Maay 12 was westbound on Interstate 74 in Brimfield Township when a deer ran into the road and his 2002 Toyota struck it. He wasn’t injured. • Robert Engle, 29, of Chillicothe, about 5:30 a.m. May 13 was westbound on Interstate 74 in Jubileee Township when a deer ran into the path of his 2002 Buick, which struck it. Engles wasn’t injured.
Edwards juvenile booked in Dunlap school theft
EDWARDS – A 17-year-old Edwards youth was arrested in connection with the theft of musical instruments and related items from Dunlap High School, according to the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office. He was booked on May 8 and jailed in the Peoria County Jail on a charge of theft of goods worth more than $300.
Elmwood enforcing grass-weed ordinance
ELMWOOD – Three properties in the 300 block of Fremont, two lots in the 700 block of South Althea Street, and one each on the 200 block of East Maple and 2000 block of West Willow all were notified of violations of a city ordinance on the height of grass and weeds. Property owners were warned and given deadlines to address the problem, according to police.
Police Reports
• Theft charges – Peoria County Sheriff’s officers on May 9 arrested 27-year-old Sonny Eldridge of Brimfield on a charge of theft. He was transported to the Peoria County Jail, where he was booked. • Failure to appear – Peoria Police Department officers arrested 28-year-old Kara Kyle of Edwards on May 9 on two charges of failure to appear. She was booked into the Peoria County Jail, according to the Peoria Sheriff’s Office. • Driving without license – Gene Venzon, 46, of Elmwood about 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday (May 8) was arrested for driving while his license is suspended and for failing to have valid insurance after the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office received several calls that his 2001 Ford van was being driven recklessly. The vehicle was impounded. • Driving without license II – Justin Goodwin, 29 of Rotonda West, Fla., last Tuesday (May 7) was ticketed for driving while his license was suspended and warned of a defective windshield in the Dodge sedan he was driving, and for illegal transportation of alcohol, according to Elmwood police. • Asleep at the wheel – Mary M. Sue, 50 of Bloomingdale, Ohio about 2:45 p.m. May 6 was northbound on Princeville-Jubilee Road when she dozed off, she told police, and lost control of her 201 Honda, which crossed both lanes of traffic before skidding into the southbound ditch and striking a utility pole. No injuries were reported.
GALLAGHER: A laugh that could kill baby seals Continued from Page 5
Evidently my friends Soupy and Denise had never heard her laugh either because the first time she did, they nearly wrecked their car. Those who have read this column or have met me know that I like to joke around. On this particular night, I quickly learned to keep my mouth shut. At the restaurant we went to, I said something mildly amusing, and she laughed. Half the restaurant stopped whatever they were doing and looked at us. The other half hid under their tables. Afterward, we talked; it turned out that she and I had very little in common. We supported different candidates for President, we didn’t agree on abortion, gun control, or religion. To top it off, she was a San Francisco Giants fan, a fact that had I known earlier, would have made for a much shorter, less laughable, date. That was last fall, headed into the World Series. I understand the Giants may have won that, but as a true-blue Dodgers fan, I refuse
to admit it. A few weeks ago, Soupy and Denise were determined to set me up again. I resisted. A lot. When he would call to find a time when I was free, I’d make up stuff to make it sound like I was busy. I didn’t want another date. Then, in a weaker moment (I was half asleep), he found a Sunday when I wasn’t busy. He was adamant about setting me up with a girl his wife knew. She was good looking, had a good sense of humor without an obnoxious laugh, and was a “professional.” The professional part worried me a lot. But I finally agreed. Soupy also told me he’d take care of the expenses for the evening, so I was in. We went to see “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone” with Steve Carell and Jim Carrey. I’ve been known to do a few magic shows in my day, but this wasn’t my choice; I was overruled 3-1. Afterward, we had a nice meal at Golden Corral. “Amy,” as we’ll call her, was in
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her early 40s, very attractive and had a wonderful sense of humor. She had pierced ears (I can live with that), no ink (she hates tattoos) and loves baseball and basketball. Her sense of humor was good and she laughed, without setting off alarms, at my silly jokes. I actually had a good time! The trouble is (or was) that she lives near Springfield. A hundred miles is a long ways to drive for a date, especially when you’re on a limited income like mine. She wasn’t interested in a romantic relationship now anyway, but she seemed open to getting together once in a while in Peoria for a movie as friends (she’s in town once a month). I came home basking in knowing that there are some good people out there still who I can be friends with. I made a note that not all blind dates are bad because I actually had fun. And it was then that I realized what had happened. She wasn’t MY blind date ... I WAS HERS!
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THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, May 16, 2013
Brimfield HS honors top students By MELINDA COTE
BRIMFIELD – Brimfield High School recently held its 29th Academic Awards Banquet/National Honor Society induction in the school gym. Recognition was given to students receiving various college and university scholarships and local scholarships. An invocation was delivered by Nicholas Liese, followed by a potluck dinner. National Honor Society President Tabetha Dungan was master of ceremonies. Local scholarship recipients and award winners were: • Britta Courter: Prairieland Scholar Athlete Award; • Emily Davis: Brimfield Area Health Services; • Tabetha Dungan: Cynthia J Fuller Memorial Scholarship, Henrietta Memler Memorial Scholarship, William Cinnamon Memorial Vocational Scholarship, Prairieland Scholar Athlete Award; For The Weekly Post
Brimfield High School academic honorees: First Row (left to right) Brianna Streitmatter, Emily Davis and Megan Meinke. Second Row (l to r) Aaron Herrmann, Anna Ellison, Christopher Lance and Tabetha Dungan. Photo by Melinda Cote.
• Anna Ellison: Tommy Hoerr Memorial Fund Scholarship; • Katelyn Fricke: Prairieland Scholar Athlete Award; • Aaron Herrmann: Brimfield Bank Scholarship, Brimfield Community Dream Scholarship, Tom Harmon Memorial Scholarship, Peoria County Farm Bureau Foundation Award, Prairieland Scholar Athlete Award; • Christopher Lance: Brimfield Community Dream Scholarship,
BHS History Award, BHS Volunteer of the Year, Illinois State Scholar; • Megan Meinke: Brimfield Area Health Services, Brimfield Community Dream Scholarship, Lincoln Senior Award, BHS Science Award, Illinois State Scholar; • Katilyn Milton: Prairieland Scholar Athlete Award; • Brianna Streitmatter: Brimfield Community Dream Scholarship, DAR Good Citizen
Award, BHS Math Award, Illinois State Scholar; • Nolan Streitmatter: Illinois State Scholar; • Emily Wagner: BHS History Award. Also recognized were those earning Prairie State Achievement Awards, members of the WYSE and Scholastic Bowl teams and the volunteer group “HANDS.” The event concluded with the induction of new National Honor Society members in a candlelight service.
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Page 7
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THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, May 16, 2013
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PICTURE PAGE
Members of the Brimfield High School Chorus performed at the Peoria County Courthouse in April. Photo by Melinda Cote.
Mothers and daughters made jewelry during a craft time at Morrison and Mary Wiley Library in Elmwood. Photo by Amy Davis. Dora The Explorer (right) paid a visit to St. Mary’s School in Kickapoo in April. Photo by Melinda Cote.
Williamsfield’s “Paris Romance” prom court was (left to right), Katie Yelm, Macy Senders, Queen Katie Graff, King Dalton Groeper, Braden Stegall and Travis Smith. The prom was held at Kewanee Dunes. Photo by Kathy Wight.
A wet shrew scrambled to safety as floodwaters doused Edwards in April. Photo by Crystal Prahl.
SubmitYour Photos For Future Issues! Email Pictures to: news@wklypost.com
Youngsters got a chance to try their hand at milking a wooden cow in late April at Faith United Presbyterian Church’s Open House in Yates City.
Elmwood grade schoolers helped raise more than $7,000 for St. Jude in April by walking Laps for Life around the high school track. Photo by Amy Davis.
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Page 9
Harold Flinn: Ghost Soldier featured in PBS documentary By TERRY BIBO
MAQUON – Apparently, Harold Flinn’s status as a ghost soldier remains a pretty well-kept secret. The Maquon man took part in a specially classified mission during World War II. He recounted his role for a television documentary and attended a February advance screening in Chicago. Yet even though “The Ghost Army” will premiere at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 21, on WTVP Channel 47, the station’s director of promotions didn’t recognize his name. “This is the first I’m hearing about it,” said Stacey Tomczyk, who quickly checked and learned there will be multiple showings of the program over the next couple weeks. Oh well. Flinn is used to flying under the radar. “It was a job to do and you did it,” he shrugged for a 2004 newspaper column. For more than 50 years, he was not allowed to tell anyone what he really did during World War II. Now 88, Flinn is one of the few left alive from a bizarre – yet successful – effort to dupe Hitler’s forces with a combination of Hollywood-style bravado and illusion. Instigated by actor Douglas Fairbanks Jr., the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops used inflatable rubber tanks and sound effects to fool the Germans about the size and location of Allied Forces. “Each deception required that they impersonate a different (and vastly larger) U.S. unit,” says ghostarmy.org. “Like actors in a repertory theater, they would mount an ever-changing multimedia show tailored to each deception. “The men immersed themselves in their roles, even hanging out at local cafes and spinning their counterfeit stories for spies who might lurk in the shadows.” For The Weekly Post
Ghost Army veteran Harold Flinn, left, of Maquon is pictured with documentary directory Rick Beyer. Submitted photo.
Just 1,100 strong, the Special Troops fought their own brand of warfare from D-Day to the Rhine River. A part of the “sonic deception” company, Flinn commanded a half-track which broadcast the sound of tanks. The idea was to draw enemy fire away from the real tanks – and if damaged the half-track was equipped to self-destruct in seconds before it could fall into enemy hands and the ghost army could be discovered. Other deceptions involved the skills of artists, engineers, set designers and even fashion designers. (The late Peoria architect Leslie Kenyon was a part of the Special Troops and once referred to his fellow G.I. Bill Blass as “the biggest crybaby of the bunch.”) All along, the mission was kept so secret that Flinn didn’t get any acknowledgement of his service until the French government gave him a medal around the 5oth anniversary of D-Day. Filmmaker Rick Beyer spent a good chunk of the last eight years working on “The Ghost Army” and Flinn is one of 19 veterans at the heart of the effort. He told ghostarmy.org that he was “hooked” when the niece of one ghost soldier brought out his watercolors and told him the story in a coffee shop. “Since then I’ve been determined to bring the amazing story of these creative soldiers to the world,” Beyer said. Email Bibo at terry.bibo.freelance@gmail.com
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Page 10
THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, May 16, 2013
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OBITUARIES
Judith Aberle
EDWARDS – Judith E. Aberle, 75, of Edwards died Friday (May 10) at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria. Cremation rites have been accorded and a celebration of life will be announced at a later date. The Cremation Society of MidIllinois Co. Pekin/Peoria is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be made at csmico.com.
Marie Huber
FAIRBURY – Marie Katherine Hoerr Huber, 85, of Morton, formerly of Peoria and Fairbury and sister of a Brimfield man and an Edwards Man, died on Sunday (May 5) at Apostolic Christian Restmor in Morton. She married Reuben E. Huber in Peoria in 1948. He survives. Also surviving are three brothers,
John (Dorothy) Hoerr of Edwards, George Hoerr of Brimfield and Jim (Virginia) Hoerr of Peoria; three sisters; 10 children;18 grandchildren; and six greatgrandchildren. Funeral services were scheduled for Saturday (May 11) at the Apostolic Christian Church of Fairbury, and burial in the Fairbury Apostolic Christian Cemetery. An online guest book is at www.duffypilsmemorialhome.com.
Audrey Redlingshafer
ELMWOOD – Audrey Irene Redlingshafer, 85, of Elmwood passes away Sunday, May 5 at 9:45 p.m. at Sunset Manor Care in Canton. The daughter of William V. and Nellie I. (Shimp) VanPetten, she was born Feb. 13, 1928 in rural Wyoming. She married John H.
Today’s Obituaries
• Judith Aberle, 75, Edwards • Joyce Bosch, 66, Metamora • Erma Brooks, 82, Peoria • Marie Huber, 85, Morton • James Koller, 56, Princeville • Audrey Redlingshafer, 85, Elmwood
Redlingshafer. on Aug. 25, 1944 in Pekin. He preceded her in death. Surviving are one son, Mike Redlingshafer of Elmwood, three daughters, Rita Hassal of Rockville, Md., Gayle Berman of Efrat, Israel, and Angela Green of Tucson, Ariz. Burial was to be at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Farmington.
A WONDERFUL LIFE
No strangers to Ada, a smiling greeter By BILL KNIGHT
ELMWOOD – If Elmwood had a Welcome Wagon over the last few decades, Ada Stodgel would’ve been the wagonmaster. Stodgel, who passed away in March, had a distinctive greeting for friends, customers or people she’d just met: “HAY-low!” she’d say, with gusto and a smile. It’s no wonder she doted over what son Bo remembers as her favorite flower, the yellow rose, a symbol of joy and friendship. Stodgel “She loved roses, especially yellow roses,” Bo recalls. “She had a few bushes in the yard and it always seemed like some in the house.” Besides attending to flowers, Ada also attended to people, whose first impressions of the Congerville native were her sparkling eyes and energy. “At any gathering of family or a group of friends, if someone new came or a friend of a friend or whatever – people she’d never met, she’d be right there, talking,” Bo says. “There were no strangers. “If she ever felt any trepidation about anyone, she held it inside and didn’t judge,” he adds. “She always smiled on the outside.” Ada was 71 when she died, leaving behind husband Jim, 4 For The Weekly Post
children, 12 grandkids, 2 greatgrandkids, and flocks of birds. “She loved cardinals,” Bo says. “There are cardinal plaques and dishes all over. She loved cardinals the birds. She wasn’t really into sports that much. But her love of birds corresponded well with Dad, who’s a big baseball fan – a Cardinals fan.” Geri Pettit, a friend of Stodgel’s for 24 years, became even closer after 2001, when the two connected to show appreciation for Americans in the military with EEBY, a group that started sending gift boxes to people serving overseas. Ada’s husband Jim served in the Navy during the Korean War and sons Bo and Andrew were in the military. Pettit says Ada’s interest in the computer really helped EEBY. “Ada loved the computer and spent hours those first years thinking of ideas to raise money to keep the boxes going,” says Geri, who mentioned cards Ada created. “She [also] designed and made magnets, a huge moneymaker.” Ada worked at various jobs in Normal, Farmington and Elmwood, including Jordan's Mobil, where she ran the register and sort of held court with mechanics, customers and people who stopped in for coffee or conversation. Years ago, she also had been involved with TOPS (“Take Off Pounds Sensibly”), which for her became more of an excuse to socialize than a support group for
weight loss, Bo says. “She jumped into community groups,” he says. “She just liked people, doing things with others – and for others.” For EEBY’s project, Stodgel each month created an activity booklet with Elmwood resident Deb Himegarner, and their collaboration of jokes and puzzles and so on, which went in to each box, ended with Ada’s death. “Those will never be sent again,” Pettit says. “That was something special between Ada and Deb, and they had an agreement that they would come to an end when either one became unable to carry on.” Ada carried on after she had a heart attack – on Valentine’s Day. “She really didn’t take her health too seriously,” Bo says. “She was both stubborn and worried, I guess, and kind of wrote off doctors. But while she was at OSF, she walked the halls and she kept busy [and] active.” Despite surgery, the longtime voice of joy and friendship was silenced March 27. “It will never be the same,” Pettit says. “Ada will never be forgotten, and each month as we pack Care boxes, we will think about our friend.” One can only think about arriving at the Pearly Gates, with St. Peter at the entrance – and an effervescent voice nearby saying, “HAY-low!”
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THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, May 16, 2013
OBITUARIES Joyce Bosch
METAMORA – Joyce Bosch, 66, sister of a Brimfield woman, died May 12 at her Metamora home. Surviving are her husband, Ronald G. Bosch; two children, Shanon Bosch and Ronald Bosch II, both of Metamora; two sisters, Brenda Schwark of Brimfield and Joanne (Lynn) Greene of Hopedale; and sister-in-law, Carmen Merry of Peoria. Cremation has been accorded. Memorial services will be at 6 p.m. Thursday (May 16) at Davison-Fulton Woodland Chapel in Peoria. Family will receive friends one hour before services on Thursday at the chapel. Inurnment will be in Parkview Cemetery in Peoria at a later date. Online condolences may be made at www.Davison-Fulton.com.
Erma Brooks
PEORIA – Erma Mae Brooks, 82, the mother of a Williamsfield woman, died on Friday (May 10) at Methodist Medical Center in Peoria. Surviving are daughter Lynette K. Brooks of Williamsfield; one brother, Robert S. (Patricia Belt) Chandlee of Galesburg; and many nephews and nieces. Cremation has been accorded. Serv-
ices will be at later date.
James Koller
PRINCEVILLE – James D. Koller, 56, of Princeville, brother of a Brimfield man, died at 10:15 p.m. Sunday (May 12) at Proctor Hospital in Peoria. Surviving are one daughter, Jennifer (Kris) Prather of Lincoln; two sons, Anthony (Angela) Koller and Jeremy (Celeste) Williams, both of Princeville; six grandchildren; two brothers, Chuck (Kathy) Koller of Brimfield and Everett “Gene” Koller of Princeville; and one sister, Donna (Steve) Sutherland of Spring Bay. A celebration of life service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday (May 16) at Hammitt-Hott Funeral Home, Princeville. Visitation will be from 4:30 to 7 p.m. that day at the funeral home. Cremation will be accorded following the services and burial of ashes will be at a later date in St. Mary of the Woods Cemetery, Princeville. Private condolences may be made via www.hammitthott.com.
Page 11
April 2013 Real Estate Transactions Date 04/02 04/03 04/03 04/03 04/03 04/04 04/05 04/05 17204 04/08 04/10 04/11 04/18 04/22 04/22 04/23 04/23 04/23 04/25 04/29 04/29
Address 10814 N. Autumn/Brimfield Lt 60 in Timber Bridge Sub/Brimfield 303 S. Knox/Elmwood 605 Chestnut/Elmwood 607 E. Cypless/Elmwood Lt 61 Timber Bridge Sub/Brimfield Lot 8 Town of Edwards/Kickapoo 6805 N. Water Oak Drive/Edwards W. Broad Street/Brimfield 607 W. Dearborn Street/Elmwood 110 E. Ash St/Elmwood Lot 3 White Fir Drive/Kickapoo Lot 56 Fairground Acres Ext 3/Elmwood 12815 N Jubilee Hills Drive/Brimfield 8614 W. Schmitt Lane/Edwards 14821 Windsong Drive/Brimfield 22907 N. Route 78/Laura 12201 W. U S Route 150/Brimfield Pt of Se Qtr 33-10-5/Brimfield Lot 534 Sommer Place Sec 5/Kickapoo 6913 N. Grand Fir Drive/Edwards
Amount $276,000 $32,000 $120,000 $169,900 $63,814 $26,100 $5,000 $96,000 $31,500 $73,000 $68,405 $42,000 $33,000 $370,000 $458,000 $104,000 $145,500 $290,000 $4,000 $53,000 $307,000
Grantor/grantee Cross Creek Farms/Blessman Cross Creek Farms/B.J. Armstrong Inc. Cox Jr./Barton Spackman/Ramirez Peoria County Sheriff/HUD Cross Creek Farms Inc./Wasson Harper/Bishop Summer Park LLC/Signature 04/08 Koll/Koll Martin/Curtis HUD/Simpson-Humes Copper Creek Holdings/Dean Custom Bldrs Elmwood Dev. Co./Darrell Dunbar Const. Parker/Eid Doyle/Gingrey Morton Comm. Bank/Jacobson Beardsley/Elwell Bowers, Voros, Powers/Rakestraw Emerick Enterprises Inc./Zimmerman Summer Park LLC/Ironwood Homes Inc. Raczkowski/Kasper
NOTE: Listing reflects minimum of $40,000 for sale of residence.
Obituary Policy: We print basic obituaries for free. Longer obituaries cost $1 per column inch.and $5 per picture. Forms are available at The Weekly Post, 115 W. Main St.; Elmwood, IL. Or call 309-741-9790.
Area crime rate down in April By BILL KNIGHT
Whether the weather’s cool temperatures or large amounts of rainfall were a factor, the seven townships in The Weekly Post’s circulation area had a quiet April, according to the Peoria Sheriff’s Department. Brimfield city and township together had 2 cases of battery, 1 burglary, 3 drug cases, 1 theft, 4 incidents of vandalism or criminal damage to property, 1 Driving Under the Influence, 1 accident without an injury and 4 traffic tickets issued. Elmwood city and township together had 2 accidents without an injury and 1 For The Weekly Post
traffic ticket. Jubilee had 1 accident with an injury, 1 accident without an injury and 1 traffic ticket. Kickapoo had 4 thefts, 3 incidents of vandalism/criminal damage to property, 5 accidents without an injury and 1 traffic ticket. Millbrook had no reported crimes, no traffic tickets and no accidents. Radnor had 2 Driving Under the Influence, 2 accidents with an injury, 2 accidents without an injury and 8 traffic tickets issued. Rosefield had 2 accidents without an injury.
Legion selling poppies to help veterans
Depending on weather, American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary members may be out distributing “poppy” memorials for the next two weekends to raise money for veterans programs, according to Judy Johnson of Williamsfield Post 371. “I think we’ll have Girl Scouts helping with the poppies,” she said. “And we From Weekly Post Staff Reports
have canisters [for donations] out, too.” Paper poppies are offered to those who contribute to the drive, proceeds from which are donated to the Legion’s state organization and veterans homes like those in Danville, LaSalle, and Quincy. Brimfield American Legion Post 452 and its Auxiliary and Elmwood American Legion Post 638 and its Auxiliary also are expected to take part.
Area Church Listings Sponsor This Listing Call (309) 231-6040
BRIMFIELD Baptist Church S. Jefferson St., Brimfield (309) 446-9754 Brimfield Evangelical Free Church 11724 N. Maher Rd, Brimfield (309) 446-3571 Brimfield United Methodist Church 135 S. Galena St., Brimfield (309) 446-9310 St. Joseph’s Catholic Church 314 W. Clay St., Brimfield (309) 446-3275 St. Paul’s Lutheran 228 W. Clay St., Brimfield (309) 446-3233 Union Church Pastor Stephen Barch 105 W. Clay St., Brimfield (309) 446-3811 Zion Episcopal Church 205 E. Van Buren St.,Brimfield (309) 446-3811
DAHINDA
Bethel Bible Church 9728 W. Powder Mill Rd. Edwards (309) 676-3217 Christ Alive! Community Church Pastor Lance Zaerr 9320 W US Highway 150 Edwards (309) 231-8272 www.christalivecc.com Sun. School: 9:15 am Worship: 10:30 am Evangel Community Church 7614 N. Heinz Lane Edwards (309) 692-2024 Korean Presbyterian Church of Peoria 7910 N. Ford Rd., Edwards (309) 683-8556 United Methodist Church W. Powdermill Rd., Edwards (309) 676-3139
ELMWOOD
DOUGLAS
Crossroads Assembly of God Pastor Tim Cavallo 615 E. Ash St., Elmwood (309) 830-4259 Sun. Worship: 10:30 am
United Methodist Church Douglas Worship: 8:30 a.m.
Elmwood Baptist Church 701 W. Dearborn, Elmwood (309) 742-7631
EDWARDS
First Presbyterian Church of Elmwood 201 W. Evergreen, Elmwood (309) 742-2631
United Methodist Church 739 Victoria St., Dahinda (309)-639-2768
Bethany Baptist Church 7422 N. Heinz Lane, Edwards (309) 692-1755
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St. Patricks Catholic Church Father Paul Stiene 802 W. Main St., Elmwood (309) 742-4921 United Methodist Church 821 W. Main St., Elmwood (309) 742-7221
KICKAPOO St. Mary’s 9910 W. Knox St., Kickapoo (309) 691-2030
LAURA Laura United Methodist Church 20300 W. Walnut Creek Rd. Laura (309) 995-3371
WILLIAMSFIELD St. James Catholic Church 111 S. Olive St., Williamsfield (309) 446-3275 Williamsfield United Methodist Church Pastor Jennifer Seder 430 N. Chicago Ave. Williamsfield (309) 639-2389
YATES CITY Faith United Presbyterian Church Rev. Chris Deacon 107 W. Bishop St. Yates City, IL 61572 (309) 358-1170 Worship: 9 am Sun. School: 10:15 am Thurs. Chancel Choir: 7:30 pm
Page 12
THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, May 16, 2013
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IN BRIEF Kathryn Caulkins wins PEO award
ELMWOOD – Kathryn Elizabeth Caulkins is winner of the PEO Chapter AO/IL of Elmwood’s STAR Scholarship for 2013. Each PEO Chapter may honor Caulkins only one candidate for the annual STAR competition. These
outstanding students are then eligible for a variety of honors and monetary awards given by PEO International. Katie, the daughter of Tracy and Lori Caulkins, Brimfield, has distinguished herself academically, athletically, and artistically. Ranked first in her class, she has represented Elmwood High School in Illinois High School Association Scholastic Bowl competition for the past four years. She was chosen volley-
ball captain this year. For the past four years, she has appeared in her school’s dramatic productions. In addition, she finds time to help her community through organizations such as Key Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the National Honor Society. She is a counselor at Faith Bible Camp at Yates City, and she is an aide in the threeyear-old classroom at Northwoods Community Church, Peoria. This service to commu-
nity is balanced by a broad world view. Katie’s cultural development has been influenced by three exchange students who have stayed in her home, visitors from Germany, Brazil and Vietnam. With the professional goal of becoming an English teacher, Katie says she “hopes to become extraordinary,” by studying abroad at the sites of great literary masterpieces and then imparting to her students a love of the written word and curiosity about other great civilizations.
Western Illinois honors scholars
Western Illinois University. Craig Himegarner of Elmwood was a Chemistry Department Scholar and will graduate Magna Cum Laude; Allison Johnston will graduate Cum Laude in elementary education; and Sagan N. Drake of Brimfield was a Theatre honors scholar.
This n’ That
Williamsfield will add a middle school cross country program next fall with Ann Banks to serve as volunteer coach. ... Bradley University stu-
MACOMB – Three local students earned honors scholars awards at
BRIMFIELD SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD, ADMINISTRATION, STAFF AND STUDENTS
WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE
JEANNIE BLANE ON BEING NAMED
2013 PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR ILLINOIS PRINCIPAL ASSOCIATION CENTRAL ILLINOIS VALLEY REGION
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dent Abby Schierer of Brimfield was initiated into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. ... Illinois Central College will offer its Summer Explorer Camp from June 3 to August 9 for children ages 612 and will be staffed from 6:45 a.m.-5 p.m. Cost is $150, per week plus the one-time supply fee of $55 for those campers attending four weeks or more. Call (309) 694-5116.
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THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, May 16, 2013
Page 13
1. ANIMAL KINGDOM: By what other name are a cat's whiskers known? 2. ANCIENT WORLD: Where is the Acropolis? 3. HISTORY: Who was the commanding Union general at the Battle of Gettysburg? 4. MEDICINE: What is scoliosis? 5. GEOGRAPHY: What two countries share Niagara Falls? 6. MOVIES: What was the name of Gary Cooper's character in "High Noon"? 7. ENTERTAINMENT: What kind of horse was Trigger, Roy Roger's trusty steed? 8. SCIENCE: What metal is liquid at room temperature? 9. ANATOMY: Where is the medulla oblongata located? 10. LITERATURE: Who created the "Tom Swift" series of novels? Answers 1. Vibrissae, or "tactile hairs" 2. Athens 3. George Meade 4. Curvature of the spine 5. U.S. and Canada 6. Will Kane 7. Palomino 8. Mercury 9. Lower part of the brain stem 10. Edward Stratemeyer
FOR ANSWERS SEE PAGE 8
IN BRIEF
Yates City closer to water solution
YATES CITY – Yates City water customers along Knox Road 2150 should get new wells this summer, as the Village Board last week met with residents and gave them agreements to consider before the June meeting. The board accepted a bid from All-Type Concrete Construction of Bartonville to replace 85 feet of curb on Main Street and some sidewalk along Central Park, and also approved renewing the water-testing contract with PDC for four years. Discussions continue on complying with a new state requirement for signs with different reflective properties. Chuck Eiker from Yates City Public Works will bring more information to the next meeting.
“We’ll talk about how many we’re going to have to buy,” Village Board President Brian Miars said. “Every town is going to have to do this. We’ve been operating for how many years? It seems like another way to get us to spend money.” In other business, Randy Blodgett stepped down as a Village Trustee after more than 12 years of service. Miars will appoint someone. – Bill Knight
has 30 years experience as a collector and with artifact digs. People are invited to bring in arrowheads and artifacts. Sampson can determine their history, age and purpose. Knox County Historic Sites was established in 1951 and manages several historic sites in Knoxville including the historic Courthouse Museum.
Indian artifact seminar Sunday
KNOXVILLE – Knox County Historic Sites will present a program on Indian artifacts in our region this Sunday from 2-4 p.m. at the new Knox County Museum on the northeast corner of the square. Guest Kelvin Sampson from Dickson Mounds Museum will speak. He
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(c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.
Page 14
THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, May 16, 2013
Scoutmaster reflects on 65 years of ‘passing it on’ By MALLORY HARTIGAN
EDWARDS – An interest in passing on the principles of scouting has kept Paul McKim of Edwards serving the Boys Scouts of America – and hundreds of area youths – for more than six decades. McKim, 86, has been a Scoutmaster for 65 years. Since 1960, countless boys have grown up and excelled under his guidance, many earning the prestigious Eagle Scout award. McKim started his journey with Scouts at age 9 as a Cub Scout, eventually making his way to Boy Scout when he was 11. However, his troop McKim itself was missing the leadership of a Scoutmaster. “There was no adult leading us, guiding us, or coaching me to become an Eagle,” McKim says. “As soon as I turned 21, I was still there and going to college at Michigan State for engineering. And I just became Scoutmaster since I was the minimum age.” His first Scout to become an Eagle Scout encouraged him most, however. “You know how you get some gratification or appreciation from helping?” McKim says. “I saw what it did for him and that really became the starting point for me with the Scouts.” McKim says his reason for continuing for so long is simple: For all his service, the Boy Scout experience has been rewarding for him, too. Over the decades, McKim has received several awards from the Boy For The Weekly Post
Scouts of America. In 1986, McKim was presented with the District Award of Merit, followed by the Silver Beaver Award in 1993. In those 65 years, McKim has led four troops, in Lansing, Mich., Peoria and Edwards. He also served as the Assistant Scoutmaster of a troop in Brooklyn Park, Minn., while working there for Caterpillar, Inc. When it comes to his philosophy for the Scouts, McKim relates back to a concept he once heard in church. “ ‘Pass it on’,” McKim says. “I want to pass on Scouting to youth and hopefully they will want to as well.” McKim recently returned from an annual campout at New Salem State Park, where the boys hiked the Lincoln Trail. Now his boys are planning service projects for next month. Service is a staple for Boy Scouts, McKim says. “One of the boys, Austin Golemon, recently painted the building on the [Kickapoo] ballpark as his Eagle Scout project,” McKim says. His troop’s other Eagle Scout projects have ranged from carving out a hiking trail through Detweiller Park in Peoria to re-establishing elm trees throughout Elmwood. McKim also volunteers at Wildlife Prairie Park near Edwards and the Midwest Agriculture Museum. As for this year, McKim says he is looking forward to his favorite event: the National Boy Scout Jamboree, to which his troops plans to bring dozens of Scouts and leaders. Organizers of the Jamboree – McKim’s 12th – expect about 50,000 Scouts and 8,000 staff to attend the July 14-24 event in West Virginia.
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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Jon Scotti, Elmwood
Bob Shoop is one of the greatest players in Elmwood Trojan football history. He received first-team All-State honors in the late 1960s. His great nephew has been a current EHS senior football offensive guard and linebacker Jon “Scotto Boy” Scotti. The legendary uncle encouraged his nephew to be a Trojan gridiron player in his freshman year of 2009. For Jon, it led to opening daylight as a blocker for Trojan running backs in 2011 and 2012 on back-to-back 10-win seasons. This in an example in which love of sport is passed down through the generations to be an element of success for EHS athletics! Along with the fun of playing football, Jon appreciated being part of the “Trojan Football Family” (working together for success and learning life lesson). Along with his uncle, Jon has been inspired by his parents, Greg and Jill, coach Todd Hollis and pro athletes Tim Tebow, Kurt Warner, and Jim Thome. He has a number of favorite sports teams: Bradley basketball, University of Notre Dame football and hockey, Chicago Bulls and the Chicago White Sox. In the classroom, Jonathan excels at writing. He’s also busy at EHS in Key Club, National Honor Society, as student council president and senior class president. After his EHS career culminates later this month, Jon plans to attend Illinois Central College to go into nursing. Scotti’s biggest thrill has been being a part of these most recent epic Trojan football teams. His all-state uncle is one reason this happened. Hopefully, someday, Jonathan “Scotto Boy” Scotti will inspire a youngster to be a Trojan athlete. It would surely be a recipe for success!
– Phil Johnson
The Week BASEBALL Wednesday (May 8) Results • Williamsfield-Galva 6, ROWVA 3 • Brimfield-Elmwood 12, Princeville 1 Friday (May 10) Results • B-E. 12, S. Fulton 5 Saturday (May 11) Results • Galesburg 4, B-E 2 • B-E 12, Pekin 2 • Normal U-High 10, B-E 0 • Mercer Co. 5, W-G 1 • Mercer Co. 14, W-G 5 Class 2A Brimfield Regional Wednesday, May 15 • Game 2, 4:30 pm – (1) Brimfield-Elmwood vs. Kewanee Thursday, May 16 • Game 3, 4:30 pm – (2) Wethersfield vs. (3) Farmington Saturday, May 18 • Game 4,10:00 am – Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3 Winner adv. to Monmouth Sectional Thurs., May 23, 4 pm, vs. Winner Sherrard Reg. Class 1A Varna Midland Regional Wednesday, May 15 • Game 2 at 4:15 pm: (1) Williamsfield-G vs. Princeville Thursday, May 16 • Game 3,4:15 pm – (2) Varna Midland vs. (3) Stark County Saturday, May 18 • Game 4,11:00 am – Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3 Winner adv. to Illinois Wesleyan Sectional Wed., May 22, 6 pm, vs. Winner Delavan Reg. SOFTBALL Wednesday (May 8) Results • Brimfield-Elm. 3, Abingdon 1 Friday (May 10) Results • Limestone 2, B-E 1 (8) • Normal West 11, B-E 0 (5) Saturday (May 11) Results • LaSalle-Peru 12, B-E 2 • Yorkville 2, B-E 0 • Normal U-High 11, B-E 0 BOYS TRACK 2013 Class 1A State Qualifying Standards Long Jump - 21-0 Pole Vault - 13-0 High Jump - 6-3 Shot Put - 49-0 Triple Jump - 42-0 Discus Throw - 143-0 4x800 Relay - 8:24.24 FAT 4x100 Relay - 44.64 FAT 3200 Run - 10:04.00 FAT 110 High Hurdles - 15.54 FAT 100 Dash - 11.14 FAT 800 Run - 2:01.24 FAT 4x200 Relay - 1:33.74 FAT 400 Dash - 51.74 FAT
SCOREBOARD
FRICKE: Being in a fast heat will help Continued from Page 16
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“It’s definitely been a slower year for everyone because of all the bad weather,” she said. Hopefully that will change at state. “She has a chance to run a good time,” E-B coach Brett Morse said. Fricke will be in the fast heat of the 3,200 that includes several familiar faces on the distance-running circuit: Ivy Handley of Decatur St. Teresa (11:20.20), Brittney Burmester of Red Bud (11:24.97), Haley Miller of Tremont (11:26.08) and Megan Burgener of St. Teresa (11:28.68). “She will run as good as her competition. Being in the fast heat really pushes a runner,” Morse said of Fricke, who recently signed her letter of intent to attend Missouri-Rolla, where she
E-B boys track headed to Sherrard By GABBIE SLOAN
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The Elmwood-Brimfield boys track team heads to Sherrard Friday for what has the potential to be a good sectional meet. “If the weather cooperates we should be able to get the 4x800 and a few other individuals to state,” E-B Coach Gregg Meyers said. Senior Noah Isbell and sophomore Nate Herridge are running in the 3200. “Noah has a really good chance,” Meyers said, “and Nate does too.” Weekly Post Staff Writer
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will cross country and track. Fricke will run the 1,600 on Thursday at about 1:48 p.m. The final of the 3,200 is Saturday, which is also when finals of the 1,600 will be run. E-B’s 4x800 relay also qualified for state, placing second at Monmouth in 10:24.46. The relay includes Mariah Dunniway, Olivia Althiser, Jordan McCoy and Gab Nelson. E-B’s relay time is 18th out of 31 qualifiers. However, Eureka is ranked fourth (10:06.79) and at a previous meet the E-B girls were only 10 seconds behind them. “If we go down and run what we can, we have a decent shot at making it to the finals,” Morse said of his relay, which competes in Charleston Thursday morning.
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Junior Collin Reicheneker and senior Jake Callister will both be running in the 800. “They should do pretty well,” Meyers said. Sophomore Kelly Hoffman and freshman Matt Osmulski are in the 1600. Junior Ben Adkins is going to run the 400. Overall, E-B is hoping for good weather, which offers a better opportunity to meet state qualifying standards or end up placing in the top two. “It will be interesting to see what happens,” Meyers said.
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SOFTBALL: Rematch for title? Continued from Page 16
Melanie Edmonds fires a ball in from the outfield for the Williamsfield-Galva softball team, which headed into action Wednesday in a regional game with Princeville. Photo by Stephanie DeWitt.
Jones said. “It was nice to see our approach up there.” Next up for the Lady Indians is a likely rematch with No. 2 seed Farmington at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Farmington won the regular-season meeting 4-1 shortly after regional seedings were released. “We know everybody has labeled Farmington as the team to beat in this regional, so we have to be ready,” Jones said. “All the pressure is really on them.” Jones said he is uncertain who he will pitch in the title game, but said he might opt for using both Gorham and junior Bekka Roberts. Meanwhile, WilliamsfieldGalva (4-10) headed into action Wednesday against No. 2
seed Princeville at the Lowpoint-Washburn Regional. A win there would move the Lady Bombers into an 11 a.m. Saturday matchup with top-seed Stark County, a 19-1 winner over Lowpoint-Washburn on Tuesday.
Class 1A Postseason Lowpoint-Washburn Regional Wednesday, May 15 • Game 3, 4:30 pm – (2) Princeville vs. (3) Williamsfield-Galva Saturday, May 18 • Game 4, 11 am – Stark County vs. Winner Game 3 Winner advances to Varna Midland Sectional Wednesday, May 22, 4:30 pm, vs. Winner Putnam Co. Regional Class 2A Postseason Brimfield Regional Wednesday, May 15 • Game 3, 4:30 pm – (2) Farmington vs. (3) Peoria Christian Saturday, May 18 • Game 4, 2 pm – Brimfield-Elmwood vs. Winner Game 3 Winner advances to Biggsville Sectional Wednesday, May 22, 4:30 pm, vs. Winner Tremont Regional
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Baseball teams hope for best as postseason opens By JEFF LAMPE
Charlie Sams headed into Wednesday ready to pitch his ace. Steve Paxson was planning to save his top gun. So begins the chess game of postseason baseball, a time when coaches try to wring the most out of their pitching while facing a single-elimination format. For Sams and top-seed Williamsfield-Galva (11-7), the stakes were high heading into Wednesday’s Class 1A game against Princeville in the Varna Regional. Neither school in the coop has won a baseball regional. “I’m optimistic but scared at the same time,” Sams said. “We want to come in focused but loose.” Billtown planned to hand the ball to ace James Doubet Wednesday. “If we win he’ll be able to recover in three days,” Sams said. “He bounces back a little quicker than Tyler (Doubet).” Should W-G win Wednesday, Tyler Doubet would get the start on Saturday in the 11 a.m. regional final at Varna. And Tyler Doubet pitched well in his last outing, fanning 11 in five innings against Mercer County on Saturday before hitting his pitch count. W-G lost a pair of games last Saturday to Mercer County. Prior to that the team topped ROWVA 6-3 last Wednesday behind three RBIs from Tyler Doubet and another pitching win for James Doubet (5-1), who fanned eight Weekly Post Staff Writer
but walked seven. Brimfield-Elmwood (19-7) planned to pitch senior Nick Jehle on Wednesday against Knoxville in the semifinals of its own Class 2A regional. With a win, that would leave ace Matt Dwyer for Saturday’s 10 a.m. final against the Wethersfield vs. Farmington winner. Both pitchers had strong outings last week. Jehle was up 5-1 against South Fulton last Friday when he left the Prairieland Conference Tournament final in the sixth. While South Fulton rallied against relievers, Jehle sparked a seven-run eighth with a grand slam. The next day Dwyer had Class 3A Galesburg down 1-0 into the sixth inning before running out of gas in an eventual 4-2 loss. Also Saturday, B-E topped Pekin 122 in five innings with Carson Cuevas on the hill and then dropped a 10-0 decision to Normal U-High. “I feel like we’re going to be really tough to beat with Matt on the mound. I think we’ve got as good of a shot as anybody when he is pitching,” Paxson said. “And Nick Jehle has really thrown well in his last two outings.” B-E has also been explosive at the plate, as in last week’s 12-1 win over Princeville during which Jason Harkness had a grand slam. “We’ve got a pretty good lineup top to bottom,” Paxson said. “It’s whether or not we can get the hits when we need them with two outs.”
IESA: Second for Elmwood and Harkness Continued from Page 16
Senior pitcher James Doubet has been a key on the mound and at bat this year for the WilliamsfieldGalva baseball team, which headed into Wednesday’s regional action with a record of 11-7. Photo by Stephanie DeWitt.
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as he goes through high school.” Two other area boys placed in the 8A meet. Also from Elmwood, defending state shot put champion Jackson Harkness placed second in the event with a throw of 46 feet. Harkness placed fourth in discus with a throw of 138 feet. Harkness also qualified for the 4x400, which placed eighth and included Groeper, Matthew Jordan and Sam Marincic. Eighth-grader Hayden Golemon from Kickapoo St. Mary’s placed second overall in the boys 110 hurdles with a time of 16.22. Grace Nogaj from Kickapoo St. Mary’s was the lone girl from area athletes to place in the top five at the state meet. Nogaj ended up placing third in the 400 with a time of 1:05.03.
Page 16
THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, May 16, 2013
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Brimfield softball bounces back By JEFF LAMPE
BRIMFIELD – There is a danger in losing games. Sure playing better competition makes you better. But it can also sap you. Make you want to quit. And after enduring a five-game losing streak against bigger schools last weekend, there were some worries about the promising Brimfield-Elmwood softball team heading into the postseason. After Tuesday, those worries are gone. Playing at home in its Class 2A Regional, top-seed Brimfield looked strong and confident in a 10-0, five-inning win over Knoxville. “It was good to see the girls play well and have that kind of confidence out there,” B-E Coach Scott Jones said. “One of the girls afterwards said, ‘Things were so much Weekly Post Staff Writer
Sophomore Kendra Gorham gets ready to throw another pitch in Brimfield-Elmwood’s 10-0 Class 2A regional semifinal win over Knoxville on Tuesday. Photos by Jeff Lampe.
Brimfield-Elmwood coach Scott Jones applauds the effort by his team in a 10-0 win over Knoxville.
slower out there today compared to the weekend.’” You’ll have that when you step down from playing Class 3A and Class 4A powers and face teams with similar enrollments.
By GABBIE SLOAN
EAST PEORIA – Isaiah Groeper of Elmwood won his second state high jump championship Saturday at the Illinois Elementary Schools Association’s Class A state track meet. Competing in the Boys 8A meet, Groeper cleared 5 feet, 8 inches – the same height cleared by Doug Wallen of Champaign St. Matthew. Groeper won the tiebreaker based on fewer misses. He also narrowly defeated Wallen at last year’s meet. Isaiah Groeper holds the Groeper’s finish second-place trophy he helped Elmwood place second to Bis- helped Elmwood win atlast Saturday’s IESA Boys marck-Henning in 8A meet in East Peoria. team standings. Photo by Cathy Jordan. “I really enjoyed coaching Isaiah. He gave a great effort and was really coach-able,” Coach Jim Valla said. Valla also said that if Isaiah continues on the same path he is now, “He will keep getting better Weekly Post Staff Writer
By GABBIE SLOAN
ELMWOOD – Training with boys this year has helped Katelyn Fricke keep up with the elite girls in Illinois this spring. Based on a strong sectional meet last Friday, Elmwood-Brimfield senior Fricke will run the 1,600 and 3,200 in the state meet Thursday and Saturday at O’Brien Stadium on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. This is Fricke’s first year qualifying for state, as she was an alternate her freshman and sophomore years. “I’m more excited than nervous,” Fricke said. “I’ll just get my nerves out in the mile and the next day I’ll come back ready for the two-mile.” To reach state Fricke placed first in the 3,200 at the Mon-
Continued on Page 15
Groeper wins IESA high jump crown
PREP SPOTLIGHT
Fricke leads E-B track qualifiers
Certainly the losing streak didn’t seem to bother sophomore pitcher Kendra Gorham, who fanned eight, issued no walks and allowed just one hit in Tuesday’s victory. Gorham also had a big single that plated three runs in the Lady Indians’ five-run second inning. “She threw lights out tonight. The first batter she got behind 3-0 and then she threw three strikes to get her out,” Jones said. “She fought right back. That’s the mental toughness we wanted from her.” B-E also got two RBIs from Paige Carver, a double from Ryleigh Keith and an RBI hit from Morgan Ledbetter. Hits were at a premium, though, as the Lady Indians showed good discipline and drew numerous walks. “We had good situational hitting up there and good eyes all night,”
Weekly Post Staff Writer
mouth Class 1A sectional in a time of 12:05.74 – a 30-second improvement and personal best. At Monmouth, Fricke was second in the 1,600 in 5:42.77. The girls had two days of rest before the sectional meet, and Fricke thinks that contributed to her doing well. “Doing well in the mile put me in a great mood for the two mile,” Fricke said. “It was all really exciting.” To medal at state, Fricke will need similar improvement, as her
ElmwoodBrimfield senior Katelyn Fricke qualified for the Class 1A state track meet in the 3,200 and 1,600. Photo by Gabbie Sloan.
time ranks 14th best among 29 Class 1A state qualifiers and her 1,600 time is 24th in a field of 33. Fricke this year trained with the boys distance runners and, while the weather was not ideal, training with the boys did present a new challenge. “It was really good to get pushed,” she said. Fricke’s goal is to get a personal best in the 3,200, which she said is her better race. Continued on Page 14
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Continued on Page 15