Thursday May 18, 2017 Vol. 5, No. 12 Hot news tip? Want to advertise? Call (309) 741-9790
The Weekly Post
PRSRT. STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Elmwood, Illinois Permit No. 13
Serving the fine communities of Brimfield, Dahinda, Douglas, Duncan, Edwards, Elmore, Elmwood, Farmington, Kickapoo, Laura, Monica, Oak Hill, Princeville, Williamsfield and Yates City
By JEFF LAMPE
PRINCEVILLE – At first, the meetings were small enough to hold in a member’s home. But as time went on, the Princeville Woman’s Club attracted enough members to warrant moving to a larger hall better able to accommodate a crowd. Sixty years later, the charitable women’s group is still in need of a hall for its monthly meetings and is still finding ways to make life better in Princeville. “Our impact is local, our reach is global,” said President Mary Arnold, noting that the Princeville group is part of the General Federation of Woman’s Clubs.
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To celebrate its 60th anniversary, the Woman’s Club is holding an open house Sunday (May 21) from 2-4 p.m. at the Princeville Methodist Church. “Everyone is welcome. It’s just an open house and we’re serving cake and punch and coffee,” Arnold said. “Stop by, sign in and say hello to us.” Arnold is always glad to talk about a group that has done plenty to help the Princeville community. One key function of the Woman’s Club is the awarding of three $500 scholarships to Princeville High School seniors each year. But that’s not all. In ad-
By BILL KNIGHT
ELMWOOD – Despite 80-some years of wiring rural America for electricity and telephone, fewer than 1 in 30 U.S. co-ops are expanding into internet service. Fortunately for Weekly Post consumers interested in broadband access, Mid Century Communications is an exception that proves the rule. The rule is that cooperatives for decades have shown themselves to be efficient utility alternatives, putting customers above corporate shareholders. Historically, serving small towns and rural areas was too costly for large utility companies. Small communities and rural residents don’t offer the customers per mile that cities do, and towns also can be distant from generating sources, so it takes more infrastructure to connect fewer customers. But since incorporating in 1950, Mid Century has served small-town and rural customers, steadily expanding its geoFor The Weekly Post
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DOWN AND READY Mid Century Communications CEO Jim Broemmer stands along an Elmwood street lined with signs announcing customers who have signed up to receive fiber optic Internet and phone service. Photo by Bill Knight
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Elmwood council ponders budget matters By BILL KNIGHT
ELMWOOD – The City Council on Tuesday night spent most of a 37minute meeting discussing how to plan expenditures for the 2017-2018 Fiscal Year, from preparations for a new budget to a new ordinance conforming to state law on expenses for travel, meals and lodging. The latter discussion was on why and how: Why the Council was considering a change, and How it would affect the current practice. The Why was easy: Gov. Bruce For The Weekly Post
Brimfield-Elmwood third baseman Lindsay Stenger is down and ready in Tuesday’s softball regional game. Stenger scored twice in an 11-1 win over Annawan-Wethersfield. Photo by Collin Fairfield. Details, Page 19.
Rauner last summer signed a new law, the “Local Government Travel Expense Control Act,” which went into effect Jan. 1. It requires local public agencies to regulate reimbursements for travel, meals and lodging, prohibits reimbursements for entertainment or alcohol, sets restrictions on the amounts for qualified expenses and mandates reimbursements to be documented and open to public review. “By the end of June, we have to start using the standards set by the state,” said Mayor Bryan Davis.
In Elmwood, where such travel reimbursements are rare, officials or employees would have to apply for reimbursement using a City form, and the Council would approve reimbursements. Most local governments in the area have passed similar ordinances. The discussion on the next budget was more detailed, yet also general enough to help newcomers. Alderman Bob Paige explained a worksheet for the annual appropriations ordinance, which must be apContinued on Page 10