Thursday June 13, 2013 Vol. 1, No. 17 REMEMBER, FATHER’S DAY IS SUNDAY!

The Weekly Post “We Cover The News of West-Central Illinois With A Passion”

****************ECRWSS*****

PRSRT. STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Elmwood, Illinois Permit No. 13

FREE!

Carrier Route Presort RURAL BOXHOLDER LOCAL P.O. BOXHOLDER

Serving Brimfield, Dahinda, Edwards, Elmwood, Kickapoo, Laura, Oak Hill, Williamsfield and Yates City

Compliments of Our Fine Advertisers!

Funding problems impact extracurriculars By BILL KNIGHT

When schools feel financial pressure and look for places to cut, some eyes land on extracurricular activities – to the tune of $3.5 billion nationally in the last two years, according to the advocacy group Up2Us. In Illinois, such moves have seen Galesburg School District 205 raise sports fees from $110 to up to $200 per sport; Jacksonville District 117 cut extracurricular activities’ funding by 10 percent; Mokena District 159 dropping extracurricular activities (which were For The Weekly Post

retained because parent low-income families hit Gone Fishin’ harder because of rising groups raised money to unWe will not pubderwrite them); and Chamcosts or that they live in lish an edition of paign District 4 consider districts with fewer reeliminating coaches’ stipends The Weekly Post sources to maintain exon June 27. We or coaching positions. tracurricular activities). will resume publiExtracurriculars have not “At a time when an estication on July 2. yet been cut at Brimfield, mated 80 percent of Elmwood or Williamsfield. school districts are elimiBecause of tight fiscal conditions, nating jobs and making cuts to other trends nationwide include reduced vital educational programs, many will budgets, higher “pay to play” fees for argue that sports must also take a hit,” extracurricular (or “co-curricular”) ac- says Up2Us in its report “Going, tivities, fewer opportunities for such Going Gone: The Decline of Youth activities, and growing inequities (with Sports.”

MY PLACE FUND RAISER

“This viewpoint is shortsighted. Sports programs are one of the most cost-effective activities that promote positive youth development.” Brimfield High School Principal and incoming District Superintendent Joe Blessman recently said, “We haven’t looked at cutting athletic programs yet, but we’re in the business of educating kids. If this inequality of funding isn’t addressed, that may be a conversation that will have to start.” That would be a shame, according to the National Federation of High Continued on Page 2

Brimfield adds new business By TERRY BIBO

BRIMFIELD – One new business will move in; one old business may go to the dogs. At its Monday meeting, the Brimfield Village Board of Trustees voted 4-0 for the annexation, an annexation agreement and rezoning, which will allow Iowa-based TRECK LLC. to open a Specialty Sprayers retail store here. “If allowable, we’d like to break ground at the end of this month, beginning of July,” said TRECK project manager Bill Garrett. The company purchased 15 acres of land east of Maher Road along U.S. Route 150. It will use three acres of that parcel to sell mostly farm-related equipment from nozzles and hoses to sprayer booms. “Eighty-five percent of our business is the agricultural industry, or turf business,” Garrett said, adding that Brimfield is well-located for the company’s purposes. “There’s a lot of farming ... a good number of our customers are within 100 miles.” Rezoning the property from R-1 residential to C-2 commercial was approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals on June 4. A brief hearing before the village board’s regular meeting brought out a few questions. “Is that zoning for the whole 15 acres or just three?” asked Rita Kress of Kress Corp. “Just three,” Garrett said. Eventually, TRECK would like to sell the remaining 12 acres, he said. After the meeting, Garrett added the potential land sale is part of the reason he doesn’t have a firm number for the total project cost. For The Weekly Post

St. Jude benefit tops $95,000 By JEFF LAMPE

YATES CITY – Given the way this wet spring has gone, the question seemed logical. “Are you worried about rain?” someone asked Jody McKinty heading into last weekend. “Nope. God has it covered,” she answered. Maybe McKinty knows something. For the 11th straight year her My Place St. Jude Benefit enjoyed perfect weather, large crowds and yet another increase in overall funds raised. This year’s all-day event generated $95,000.45 for St. Jude’s – Weekly Post Staff Writer

up from last year’s total of $81,000. Overall in 11 years the event has raised $443,416. “We’re extremely pleased,” said McKinty, who praised Sharon Coykendall and a group of close to 100 volunteers who worked at the all-day festival/fund raiser. “At 6 a.m. on Saturday we probably had 30-40 people helping set up the auction stuff,” she said. The only event impacted by weather was the new tractor ride, which attracted about a dozen participants (including Eric Windish above left, photo by Amy Davis). Many other likely drivers were busy in the field planting beans.

Crowds packed the area around My Place in Yates City for Saturday’s St. Jude fund raiser that included adult and youth events. Photos by Alicia Provence.

Continued on Page 6

Page 2

THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, June 13, 2013

www.wklypost.com

CLASSIFIED ADS FOR RENT

• FOR RENT: 2 Bedroom apartment in Williamsfield. Includes washer, dryer, stove and refrigerator. NO PETS. $400 per month plus deposit. Call (309) 221-5514 • FOR RENT: 1 Bedroom apartment in Williamsfield. Includes stove and refrigerator. NO PETS. $325 per month plus deposit. Call (309) 2215514

HELP WANTED

• AD SALES: Advertising sales representative wanted for small, growing publishing company. Some phone sales, some face-to-face. Part-time. Flexible hours. (309) 2316040. • ENGINE TECH: Small engine technician, part time, hours flexible, good pay for right candidate. (309)

ent service at very competitive rates!

Classified Rates

Classified ads cost $7 for up to 20 words and must be prepaid. Call (309) 741-9790 or visit The Weekly Post at 115 W. Main St. in Elmwood.

336-3257.

WANTED

• GUNS: New and used guns wanted. We buy collections, single pieces, ammunition and related items. (309) 264-5054. • DECOYS, CALLS: Seeking old duck decoys, duck paintings, duck calls and other items related to waterfowl hunting. 309-741-9790.

THANK YOU!

FOR SALE

• ROOSTERS: Bantam Roosters 9 months old - $1 each (enough to cover this ad) just north of Elmwood (309) 363-8837

SERVICES

• SELL LAND: LandGuys.Net, Don Wagner 309-335-2894, Looking for listings: hunting land, recreational farms! Full-time land brokers. Excell-

I would like to thank my family and friends who made my birthday party one to be remembered the rest of my life. The many cards were beautiful, the gifts, and the flower arrangements were beautiful too. A special thanks to Peggy who worked so hard to make it perfect. Love to All, Florence Cox

EXTRACURRICULARS: Studies show benefits Continued from Page 1

Gospel at The Palace Saturday, June 29 3 p.m. Palace Theatre, Elmwood Gary Herren

Instrumental Artist of the Year and vocalist

Cathy J. Reynolds

4-Time Southern Gospel Artist of the Year

Matt Barber

Crooner performing your favorites Join us for an afternoon of music and ministry with Southern Gospel, Inspirational and Oldies songs.

D.E. Boland Mechanical, Inc. “We Really Get Into Our Work”

Backhoe • Dozer • Semi Trenching • Track Hoe Underground Boring Water & Sewer Lines Plumbing • Heating Air Conditioning

(309) 691-9180 Shop • (309) 267-6166 Cell

PALACE THEATER

Elmwood, IL • 309-742-4211

Starts Friday! Fri - 7 pm Sat - 2:30, 7, 9:20 pm Sun, Tues, Wed - 2:30 & 7 pm Mon, Thurs - 7 pm

All Tickets $4

PG-13

Schools (NFHS). “Interscholastic sports and finearts activities promote citizenship and sportsmanship,” NFHS reports. “They instill a sense of pride in community, teach lifelong lessons of teamwork and self-discipline, and facilitate the physical and emotional development of our nation’s youth. “Unfortunately, there appears to be a creeping indifference toward support for high school activity programs by the general public. This neglect undermines the educational mission of our schools and the potential prosperity of our communities.” Indeed, numerous studies show an array of benefits to students. Participants complete homework more often, have stronger connections to school, peers and adults outside the classroom, are less likely to get in to trouble, and are more likely to be active adults. Up2Us, based in New York, is a national organization promoting school sports. Its advisers include Dr. Don Hellison, Professor of Education at the University of Illinois and Co-Director of the Responsible Youth through Sport Program. He says, “Physical activity programs … are active, interactive and highly emotional. Opportunities for positive growth in conflict resolution, cooperation and teambuilding, goal-setting, and leadership abound.” In presenting staff’s estimate of Elmwood District 322’s co-curricular financials, Superintendent Roger Alvey said, “Co-curricular activities are a huge part of the educational experience.” Back to cost-effectiveness, such co-curricular activity programs usually make up just 1 to 3 per-

Estimate of Elmwood CUSD 322 co-curricular activities budgets Activity 5th/6th girls basketball 5th/6th boys basketball 5th/6thScholastic Bowl JH girls basketball JH boys basketball JH track JH volleyball JH baseball JH softball JH cross country JH Scholastic Bowl JH Science Olympiad JH Speech JH Cheerleading JH Athletic Director Varsity football JV football Varsity cross country Varsity basketball JV basketball HS speech Pom pon Varsity girls basketball JV girls basketball Varsity boys track Varsity girls track HS Scholastic Bowl HS cheerleading HS play director HS athletic director HS FFA

Expenses 2,158 2,588 849 6,030.76 9,008.26 9,583.79 3,201.68 3,094.29 2,044.29 1,924.95 582.29 835 867 1,309 2,621 23,846.58 5,445 11,373.78 9,966.57 3,371 1,144 2,707.14 9,485.33 3,559 4,894.71 5,415.71 3,272.55 1,995.87 1,535 6,340.92 3,427.60

TOTALS

-$144,478

Transportation Revenue 80 764 280 818

Fees 450 450

1,986 2,730 348 1,372 730 630 1,510 686 16 120

1,801 2,990 1,051

540 640 1,940 380 460 320 620

4,686

9,688

1,140

1,428 4,978

3,384

1,020 960

36 1,202 1,560

3,812

480

1,652 1,684 412

780 720

-28,126

cent of schools’ overall budgets. Elmwood’s 2012-13 budget for Direct Expenditures was $6,658,874, meaning co-curricular activities net-loss funding of $139,396.07 was only 2 percent. Therefore, school activity programs seem to be one of education’s best bargains. Programs ranging from sports, music and speech to drama, debate and Scholastic Bowl all offer youth lifelong lessons that compliment the academic lessons taught in classrooms. NFHS summarizes core benefits: • Activities support the academic mission of schools. They aren’t a diversion but an extension of a good educational program. Students who participate

SMITHERS UPHOLSTERY

For all your Upholstery Needs!

29 E. Fort St. Farmington, IL 61531

309-742-8372 309-635-6250

smithersupholstery@hotmail.com

We Cover The News of West-Central Illinois With A Passion

24,308

10,900

Profit/Loss -1,024 -1,600 -849 -5,675.76 -8,108.26 -7,991.79 -3,142.68 -3,364.29 -2,354.29 -2,814.95 -1,268.29 -851 -987 -1,309 -2,621 -17,704.60 -5,445 -11,781.80 -10,600.60 -3,371 -1,180 -3,909.14 -6,753.33 -3,559 -5,766.71 -6,379.71 -3,684.55 -1,995.87 -1,535 -6,340.92 -3,427.60 -139,396.07

in activity programs tend to have higher grade-point averages, better attendance records, lower dropout rates and fewer discipline problems than other students. • Activities are inherently educational. Activity programs provide valuable lessons for practical situations – teamwork, sportsmanship, winning and losing, and hard work. Through participation in activity programs, students learn self-discipline, build self-confidence and develop skills to handle competitive situations. • Activities foster success in later life. Participation in high school activities is often a predictor of later success – in college, careers and becoming a contributing member of society.

Molleck Electric Contractors Inc.

Free Estimates • Residential & Commercial

Phil Molleck, Owner

309-253-6363

www.wklypost.com

THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, June 13, 2013

Page 3

THE WEEK AHEAD HOT PICKS This Week!

s E-Book Training – Learn to download free ebooks to your electronic devices on Thursday, June 13, from 4-6 p.m. at Salem Township Library in Yates City. Call (309) 358-1678. s Kevin Winters benefit – A benefit for Kevin Winters, who is suffering from cancer, will be held Saturday at Burnzee’s Bar & Grill in Brimfield. Benefit ride starts at noon. Bags tournament 11 a.m. to 12. Dinner starts at 5 p.m. Auction at 6 p.m. Entertainment will be offered all day. Call Angela Patterson at (309) 370-0896 or Janet Metzger at (309) 369-8473.

This Week’s Events

s Craft night – Mother-daughter craft night at Morrison and Mary Wiley Library in Elmwood is today at 6 p.m. Children must be 6. Ladies Craft Night is June 20 at 6:30 p.m. s Summer reading – Wildlife Prairie Park has a program on Animals that Like to Shake It, Shake It Friday at Elmwood’s Morrison and Mary Wiley Library summer reading program from 10:30-11:15 a.m. Programs are open to program registrants only. Call (309) 742-2431. s BBQ contest – The Smoke on the Prairie BBQ competition is Friday and Saturday in downtown Brimfield. Bags tournament Saturday. Call Josh Helms at (309) 256-0541. s Bird watching – Wildlife Prairie park presents a bird watching program June 18 at 10:30 a.m. at Salem Township Library in Yates City. Call (309) 358-1678. s Summer Reading – Salem Township Library in Yates City has two summer reading programs. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” for ages 10-13 is June 18

and 25 at 2 p.m. “We The People” for ages 5-9 is June 19 and 26 at 2 p.m. Call (309) 358-1678.

Future Events

s Harvest Home dinner – The Harvest Home dinner is Thursday, June 20 at the Yates City Community Center. Carryouts available. Cost is $8. s Food pantry party – A street party will be held June 23 near the Brimfield Union Church, 2-4 p.m. Come share ice cream, dessert and fun. Donations are welcome. s Bike race – The Jubilee Challenge mountain bike race is June 23 at Jubilee College State Park. Visit pambamtb.com. s Mental health meeting – National Alliance on Mental Illness has a Connections meeting for individuals in recovery June 20 from 7-8:30 p.m. in Room G303 at UnityPoint HealthMethodist. Call (309) 472-5907. A meeting for family and friends of people with brain disorders is also June 20 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Atrium Conference Room at UnityPoint Health. Call (309) 360-1143.

NEW LIST: 11816 W. DUBOIS RD. BRIMFIELD: Fabulous 4 BR home, 1.5 acres, gourmet kitchen, great master suite, ! LE PENDING SA3-car garage.NICE! $379,900 vaulted ceilings, FP, NEW LIST: 14903 W. TODD SCHOOL RD. GLASFORD: Beautiful location, 3 BR, 2 BA ranch, 2.3 acres, walkout basement, Newer: windows, roof, central air, siding and more! $169,900 NEW LIST: 210 E. MAIN ST., ELMWOOD: 2-3 BR home, close to town square, zoned commercial, newer roof, gutters, $49,900 siding & porch. 711 N. HURFF, ELMWOOD: 4-5 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath, new construction located on 9th Fairway with over one acre! Over 14ft. vaulted great room w/stone fireplace & exposed trusses, granite in kitchen, master suite w/whirlpool tub & custom tile shower, 3 plus garage plus many nice amenities! $375,000 316 OAK HILL, HAPPY HOLLOW: Nicely remodeled 2 BR ranch, fireplaced family room, heated workshop, gazebo, access to stocked lake, trails, leased land. REDUCED! $47,900 RESERVE YOUR BUILDING LOT NOW: Newer Elmwood subdivision, underground utilities, close to country club, shopping & schools. Call Now! PENDING 409 E. Main St., Elmwood 305 N. Marietta, Yates City 11929 N. Devinwood, Dunlap 306 W. Southgate, Dr., Elmwood 204 E. Butternut, Elmwood 210 E. Cypress, Elmwood

40th Anniversary – 6/9/73 to 6/9/13

LifeFest funds Whitney’s Walk By BILL KNIGHT

BRIMFIELD – On its 10th anniversary, Whitney’s Walk for Life is contracting and expanding leading up to July 27’s big event at Jubilee College State Park on U.S. Route 150 between Brimfield and Kickapoo. The traditional June spaghetti supper in Brimfield was cancelled, but this Saturday’s LifeFest in nearby Farmington got bigger – and better, organizers say. “The spaghetti supper turnout was getting smaller every year, especially the last couple of years,” says Jamie Sanders of Mental Health America of Illinois Valley (MHAIV), which helps coordinate the series of benefits. “At LifeFest, we expect to draw people from throughout the area.” Scheduled for noon to midnight Saturday at the Farmington Moose Lodge, 1001 E. Fort St., LifeFest was the second largest donor to Whitney’s Walk during the past two years. The 2013 LifeFest is in memory of Jeromy Haist and Brady Threw. Haist took his own life in 2003; Threw in 2004. Whitney’s Walk for Life itself was founded by the family and friends of Whitney Ann Grotts, following the 16-year-old Brimfield girl’s death by suicide in 2004. Created to increase awareness about depression and teen suicide, Whitney's Walk works with local survivors, schools and mental-health advocates to reduce suicides, the second-leading cause of death in Illinois for people 15 to 24 years old. About one in five young people have some type of mental health problem, For The Weekly Post

but only 20 percent of those youth receive the help they need, according to MHAIV, which adds that since 2004 more than $600,000 has been raised for depression awareness and suicide prevention efforts in central Illinois. Hundreds of people have attended previous LifeFests, which raised $7,000 in 2011 and $8,600 last year, says Sanders, who says that LifeFest’s honorary chair this spring is Karen Grotts, Whitney’s mother. “It’s a way we recognize and thank a special volunteer,” Sanders says. “Karen and (husband) Earl and the whole Grotts family have been an inspiration and have supported this effort since its beginning.” Whitney’s aunt, Janet Fishel, and grandmother, Bev Hopkins, have been active in planning, too, Sanders says. Whitney’s Walk is the largest fund raiser for MHAIV, which receives 90 percent of the proceeds; the remainder is donated to the Whitney Grotts Fund of the Community Foundation of Central Illinois. LifeFest for the first time this year is presenting “The Ultimate Backyard Challenge” from noon to 6 p.m. Open to all ages, it will feature 18 different competitions, from bags, yard darts and croquet, to ring toss, a football throw and “hillbilly golf.” Saturday’s LifeFest also will have a spaghetti supper from 6 to 8 p.m. followed by live music by the band Private Blend; a large silent auction and a live auction of select items from 9-10 p.m. Contact Mick Threw at (309) 3700433, Deb Threw at (309) 397-7282 or Chris Garcia at (309) 657-0898.

ED & SUE DeVRIES

We Cover The News of West-Central Illinois With A Passion

It was a hot day in June, As the organ played a tune. We walked down the aisle, It seemed like a mile. But when the vows were done, We all had lots of fun It’s been 40 years ago, We’ve had many highs and even some lows. But, through thick and thin, This match has been a WIN. So let’s give some cheers, And hope for more years. You are my spouse and BEST FRIEND,

And I don’t want this to end!! Love, Susan

Page 4

THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, June 13, 2013

The Weekly Post

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 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.

Quote of the Week: – “If the new American father feels bewildered and even defeated, let him take comfort from the fact that whatever he does in any fathering situation has a 50 percent chance of being right.” – Bill Cosby

Seen by 13,112+ readers every week!

www.wklypost.com

My contribution to Fathering 101 class

Not long after we arrived home with the first boy, my wife looked over at me and said, “Can you believe they just let us take him home!” Actually, it was unbelievable. I had no more idea how to raise a kid Jeff than how to LAMPE raise the dead. Now compare that to our working lives. We must sit through years of schooling before performing monumental tasks like figuring taxes. There are licensing bodies for countless “professionals” who don’t really seem to need a license. And if you want to become a plumber, be ready to toil as an apprentice for years. But parenting? Go ahead. Take that baby home and good luck! There’s not much training and not enough guidelines that actually make sense when tested.

In the case of our oldest, the most valuable instruction I recall was a kind nurse taking pity on me and showing me how to clean the boy’s rump after a particularly nasty episode. A few days later, wheeling my wife out of St. Francis, a thought crossed my addled mind: “There ought to be a mandatory class on being a father.” Nothing has happened since to change my view on the potential for Fathering 101. Some will argue for Parenting 101, but to me mothers are way more natural at taking care of kids. I tend to agree with Ernest Hemingway, who wrote, “To be a successful father ... there’s one absolute rule: when you have a kid, don’t look at it for the first two years.” Other than that, one of the few oft-repeated sayings that rings true is to, “Enjoy it while it lasts because it all happens so fast.” The “too fast” part I am living

first-hand. What nobody has explained is how to slow “it” down. Or how to avoid the feeling life is spinning out of control as “it” is happening. But as parents we do what we can. For me, when faced with uncertainty, I try to simplify. Deep breaths help. Counting to 10 is good. And coaching sports has worked wonders, but not for reasons you might think. Some of my best fathering has been in the truck, driving home from a game with the radio off, a boy nearby and tension of the competition slipping away. Sure, there have been hard rides and hard lessons. But there are many more return trips from Monmouth, Macomb, Kickapoo and other sundry corners of this huge state when I have been smart enough to shut up and listen for words I now cherish. “Dad, do you know what...”

Contact Jeff Lampe at 231-6040 or jeff@wklypost.com

The Internet makes for pointless writers I’m not a journalist but I understand some of its (traditional) rules. First among them is to “write the headline first;” that is, begin with the most important information you have to convey. Then, as you move through the article, write more and more details of less and less overall importance so that an editor Randy can cut the artiFRITZ cle at any paragraph and still have a good story. The Internet has, it seems, made that old standard completely inapplicable. As I rely more and more on the Internet for national and international stories (relying on The Weekly Post, of course, for local news), I am finding a disturbing trend. It takes authors forever to

get to the point. To wit: OSMADOLDA BEAUTY CONTEST RELIES ON OUTDATED SWIMSUIT COMPETITION Amelda is a striking, tall young lady from West Honekat. She loves her little dog Spot and her parents and little sister. She has blue hair, blonde eyes, and that kind of freckled face that young men find adorable. Mom is 45 and dad only two years older, and both have been proud of their elder daughter from the moment of her birth. She got good grades throughout public school and plans on attending Frankenheimer Junior College, where she will major in baton twirling. Her little sister, Johannah, is eager to follow in her sister’s footsteps, so when Amelda entered the county beauty contest,

the younger sister was more than willing to help. “Can I help?,” she gushed. Mom and Dad are very proud, of course. Mom might have been a bit put off by her elder daughter’s reliance on a more “traditional” method of “putting herself out there,” but never mind: Amelda is an adult, after all, and can make her own way. No such qualms with Dad who is as proud of his elder daughter as ever. “I’m proud of her,” he said. Spot seems eager also. His tail is wagging and he’s panting with eager anticipation. Spot lives in a cute little dog house just off the back porch of the small but practical little cottage where the family lives. The truth, though, is that Spot usually spends his nights nestled Continued on Page 5

JC & R POWER EQUIPMENT Ariens • Gravely • Husqvarna

COMPLETE SALES & SERVICE!

Authorized Dealer: Briggs, Tecumseh, Kohler, MTD, Troy-Bilt, AMF, Murray, Oregon & Hydro Gear

JIM HARRIS 309-289-8801

We Cover The News of West-Central Illinois With A Passion

306 E. MAIN KNOXVILLE, IL

www.wklypost.com

THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, June 13, 2013

GUEST VOICES

15501 W. Brimfield-Jubilee Rd Brimfield – $950,000

Longing for monster cars, cheap gas

I wish I had one of the first cars I drove. When I was in high school, I drove my dad’s car for the most part. It was a 1962 Chevy Impala. Today, it’s considered a classic car and it’s worth lots of money. Back then, it was a piece of junk that was just old. Jon I shouldn’t GALLAGHER say it was junk because it ran great. It just didn’t look the best and, like I said, it was old. Other people in town looked down on Dad because he drove an old car, but it got him where he was going, and it got me where I was going (usually a whole lot faster than Dad knew about). We also had a ‘66 Chrysler Newport, which was your basic tank. This beast was a classic luxury car with a very nice interior and an outside that could withstand a bomb blast. I know. I “totaled” it twice. The first time was up in Galva. I was on my way to watch my girlfriend play volleyball and I had three friends with me. I was a cautious driver, but this particular night, I was lost and Galva was a confusing little mess of streets in the middle of town. I didn’t see a stop sign and drove into the intersection where a really nice custom made Cougar RX decided to ram the driver’s side of my car, back

by the rear tire. The other car hit me so hard that it bent its frame. It buckled upward right in the middle. It made the front and rear tires of that car about eight inches closer together. Thankfully, no one was hurt and both cars were considered totaled. My dad showed up, looked at the back fender of the tank and got a tow truck to pop the fender away from the tire so he could drive it. That’s all it took. According to the insurance company, the car was a total loss but to Dad, it had a little dent. The second time I totaled it was not my fault. I was sitting still, waiting to turn in my driveway on Main Street in Knoxville. At that time, the was a little ice cream store kitty-cornered from my house and a lot of drivers would be looking there rather than straight ahead when they passed it (in the years I lived there, I got in three wrecks where I was rearended while pulling in my drive). This particular night, the driver of the car behind me was busy waving and didn’t see me stopped. He hit me but he never hit his brakes. It put a wrinkle in the Newport’s trunk while it crushed the front of his car. His brand new car. A car that had less than 500 miles on it. But that wasn’t the worst of it. It belonged to the Knox County Sheriff’s Department. The Sheriff was not real pleased, either with me, nor his deputy.

Page 5

Again, the car was considered a total loss, but Dad just had a new trunk lid put on and he was back in business. Dad eventually sold that car, and I think it may have actually won a couple demolition derbys. This was all during a time when gas was cheap. That’s why we could afford to have a monster car like this that probably only got about four miles to the gallon. Back then, I was mowing lawns and saving up for a car someday. I remember telling my customers that if gas ever hit 50 cents a gallon, I might have to charge them more to do their lawn. I think all the way through high school, gas hovered in the 35-40 cent range for a gallon. I remember once when I was real little we pulled into a gas station that was in the middle of something they called a “gas war” and Dad was pretty excited about only having to pay 19.9 cents a gallon for gas. I got my first car after graduating from high school. It was a 1969 Volkswagen Fastback. I remember pulling into the gas station for the first time and telling the attendant (we didn’t have selfservice in those days), “Fill ’er up.” Then I panicked. I only had a $5 bill with me. I had no idea how big of a tank this car had! And I was on empty! I got change back. Ah, the good old days.

28.571 Acres, Custom-Built 4BR, 6BA, Outbuildings Full finished basement w/2nd kitchen

105 Regal Lane, East Peoria – $214,900 4BR, 4 BA, sun roof & fenced yard

209 E. Cypress, Elmwood – $205,000 Charming 2-Story Home, 4BR, 2BA

19014 W. Route 150, Brimfield – $189,900 4 BR, 2 BA, 1.37 acres, Brimfield Schools

3604 N. Gale, Peoria – $74,900 3BR Bungalow, convenient location

10511 W. Sir Tristam Ct., Mapleton – $172,900 3 BR, move-in ready, Lake Camelot sub.

NEW PRICE! 527 W. Kellar Parkway, Peoria – $144,900 Fabulous 3BR, 2BA Home

9425 W. Kickapoo Lane, Edwards – $209,900 3BR Ranch, 1.3 acres, Brimfield Schools

43 acres, Todd School Road – $209,900 Call Debbie Windish (309) 303-1853

Thinking of Buying or Selling? Please Call!

(309) 678-9010

INTERNET: Please get to the point of your tale Continued from Page 4

at the foot of Johannah’s bed. So far, her parents haven’t found out (sorry, Johannah!). The picture is complete: there is an actual picket fence along the sidewalk of this older, well-kept, tree-lined residential avenue. Amelda has gone through all the preparations. She bought a new ball gown and practiced her talent, the very musical comb-and-tissuepaper, and become more and more eager as the date ... blah ... blah ...

blah. GASP! It’s about there I quit reading. I don’t care how (potentially) interesting or important an article is, at some point I get so put off I simply quit reading. When the hell is this article going to GET TO THE POINT? What IS the point? I have sometimes counted 15 or 16 paragraphs in an article before I get to any point at all. If the computer wasn’t so heavy and expensive I’d throw it. I blame the Internet. Newspapers had tough

constraints on space and editors had to be rigorous in its use. Not so the Internet. Articles can extend FOREVER— there’s no limit to the length of the online page. So a new generation of writers seems completely unaware of writing limits and impervious to education on the issue. (I have commented several times online, politely asking authors to GET TO THE POINT, only to be taken to task by other commenters – how RUDE!)

So please, writers (I am saying too often), get to that point. There is so much to read out there and not enough time to get to it all. Stop writing drivel and tell us what we need to know first. We as readers can figure out where to stop, if at all, depending on our interest. Many online sources are quickly turning into the “printed” version of CNN.

We Cover The News of West-Central Illinois With A Passion

Carpet • Vinyl • Hardwood Laminate • Ceramic

MERRICK FLOORCOVERING, INC. 116 E. Main St., Elmwood, IL 61529

(309) 742-8608 JOE MERRICK

PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATION

Page 6

THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, June 13, 2013

www.wklypost.com

PUBLIC RECORD

Laura man jailed for aggravated assault

LAURA – John Gerstel, 29, of Laura, on May 30 was arrested for aggravated assault and domestic battery after an altercation with a woman and two neighbors in the 24000 block of West Spring St. He was transported to the Peoria County Jail.

Yates City man arrested for domestic battery

Thank You!

YATES CITY – Michael Lightbody, 35, of Yates City on June 7 was arrested for domestic battery after Knox County Sheriff’s officers were called to a residence in the 2000 block of North Kellogg. Lightbody was taken to the Knox County Jail in Galesburg.

Elmwood man ticketed

ELMWOOD – Curtis Land, 37, of Elmwood on June 7 was detained in a routine traffic stop and issued a city-ordinance citation for

possession of less than 2.5 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was issued a notice to appear and his 2003 Chevrolet was impounded.

Lawn equipment missing

BRIMFIELD – William Lappin, 67, of Brimfield on May 24 reports a mower and various other pieces of lawn equipment were missing from his Hickory Spring Drive residence. Peoria County Sheriff’s officers are investigating with a contractor responsible for maintaining the property, according to reports.

Police reports

• Chelsi Taylor, 24, of Elmwood on June 6 was arrested by Peoria County Sheriff’s officers and booked in the Peoria County Jail on a charge of Driving Under the Influence of alcohol. • Corey Stear, 23 of Brimfield, on June 10 was ticketed for driving with a suspended license and

his 1996 Chevrolet Silverado impounded. • Jennifer Harmison, 20, of Brimfield, on June 5 was arrested by Peoria Police Department officers and booked in the Peoria County Jail on a charge of knowingly damaging property in excess of $300. • Nolan Ingersoll, 19, of Elmwood on June 6 was arrested by the Multi-County Narcotics Enforcement Group and booked in the Peoria County Jail on three drug charges.

Restaurant inspection

• Elmwood United Methodist Church at 821 W. Main St. received a perfect score of 100 during a May 1 restaurant inspection by the Peoria City/County Health Department.

Marriage License

• Shannon N Snyder, Brimfield, and Anthony J. Camodeca, Chicago

Billtown raises school meal prices By BILL KNIGHT

The Williamsfield School Board on Monday raised meal prices slightly and raised the possibility of raising money by selling a school-built property by next year. Citing increased costs and U.S. Agriculture Department nutritional standards, the board voted to increase prices 15 cents, so starting this fall prices will be: breakfast, $1.15; K-4th grade lunch, $1.90; 5th-12th grade lunch, $2.15; adult, $2.50; a la carte main course, 90 cents; a la carte side dish, 65 cents. A house under construction by Williamsfield students at 201 Cottonwood Court since last August For The Weekly Post

Thank you to all my friends and family who helped me celebrate at Maple Lake Country Club after my retirement from Caterpillar Inc. after 50 years of service. Your well wishes, cards, gifts but most of all ... your friendship ... meant so very much to me! You all made the evening extra special. The caricature was done by our very talented cousin, Kiley Beecher. See you at The Club ... Chuck Schaeffer.

is expected to be finished next June, according to building trades supervisor Rich Goodin, and the board will consider soliciting bids to sell the house before its completion. The Board also approved upgrading the transportation fleet in the form of a permanent transfer not to exceed $39,000 from the education fund to the transportation fund, and OK’d the purchase of 30 Chromebook laptops. The Parents and Teachers organization (P.A.T.) – which recently bought playground equipment – will buy 10 Chromebooks to give each classroom in grades K-4 eight Chromebooks per room. Meanwhile, installation of the

phone and public-address system is underway. In personnel, Tami German was named a part-time K-3rd grade teacher, concentrating on Kindergarten and 2nd grade. Her position is partly funded by a Classroom Reduction Size grant. The Board also hired Margie Allen as district bookkeeper, replacing Jan Gibbs, who is retiring in October after 26 years of service to the district; accepted Brandon Owens resignation as middle school track coach and hired Ann Banks as the head middle school track coach; hired James Clark as the middle school baseball coach and Jeremy Eagle as the 7th grade boys’ basketball coach.

BRIMFIELD: Animal shelter at old Casey’s? Continued from Page 1

“We’re hoping to keep it under $500,000,” he said. Trustees Joe Arbogast, Janet Bledsoe, Mike

Meinders and Allison Porter voted for the three separate motions required to approve the project. Brian Porter and Kevin Gilles were not present. In related business, the board heard from Connie Davis-Cressy, who would like to use the shuttered Casey’s General Store as an animal rescue shelter. A longtime volunteer with animal organizations, Davis-Cressy is the director of Stray Animal Midway Shelter (SAMS), which has spent most of its two-

and-a-half year history providing spay/neuter services. “However, our big dream all along is to have a building so we can put animals up for adoption,” she said. Davis-Cressy said the group is investigating the suitability of the building and potential costs. Although fairly sound-resistant, the building requires more soundproofing to keep noise down, as well as retrofitting floors to make it easy to clean kennels. She said one advan-

GARAGE SALE? ITEMS TO SELL? Call Shelly at (309) 741-9790 We Cover The News of West-Central Illinois With A Passion

tage of the shelter is that Casey’s has a no-compete clause which makes it difficult to find other tenants. So far, the company has not been receptive to the idea of donating the property to SAMS, which is a lowbudget non-profit. Although the board appeared open to the idea, president Dan Fishel said, “We’ll probably have more questions as it proceeds.” Finally, trustees heard there are still problem properties, despite a letter from the village warning owners to tidy up. Compliance will be enforced, carefully. “When you do this, you’re going to have to do it to everybody or nobody,” Fishel said. “I have had some people call and complain. It’s a tough thing.” Terry Bibo can be reached at terry.bibo.freelance@gmail.com

www.wklypost.com

THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, June 13, 2013

Page 7

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

A concrete change in plans By JEFF LAMPE

KICKAPOO – The first time he hauled home a truck load of concrete statues, Larry Hasty hoped merely to sell the load by the end of the summer. “Within two weeks we sold every piece of it,” he said. That was an eye-opener for Brimfield resident Hasty, who had previously dealt mostly in antique furniture at his Kickapoo business formerly known as The Spinning Wheel. Naturally, they bought more concrete lawn ornaments and statues. Thus began a shift in goods offered at the former restaurant, tavern and community building located on U.S. Route 150 just west of the four-way stop. What started as an antique shop has turned into an establishment that’s more difficult to classify. In addition to concrete lawn decorations, the Hastys sell Amish furniture, memorial stones, aluminum statuary, gazWeekly Post Staff Writer

Larry Hasty and wife Arlene of Brimfield, left, started the business that is now Jubilee Junction in Kickapoo and is run by their son, Bryon Hasty, right.

ing globes, bird houses and a wide variety of other decorative gifts. Larry and wife Arlene are still involved in the business they started, but son Bryon Hasty took over in May. And while the store had been open on and off for the past six years, Bryon Hasty said he will have the doors open year-round and maintain regular hours. If Monday is any indication, folks are as eager as ever to add decorations to their yards, decks and homes. “Angels have always been a hot item. There’s been times we could

hardly keep them in stock,” Larry Hasty said. Some people also like to have statues custom painted, a service the Hastys offer. “We have people who want a memorial to a pet that has died and if they bring in a picture, I will try to match it as close as I can,” Larry Hasty said. The Hastys are also offering a wide variety of memorial stones, benches and other commemorative items. Shop hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 125 on Sundays. Call (309) 691-0758.

The Elmwood Municipal Band started its 10-week run of Sunday evening concerts last weekend and retired director Stewart McKechnie – who led the band for 52 years – was on hand as a musician. Concerts continue each Sunday night at 8 p.m. at the gazebo in Central Park. Photo by Amy Davis.

We Cover The News of West-Central Illinois With A Passion

Page 8

THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, June 13, 2013

www.wklypost.com

OBITUARIES William Van Ausdall

DAHINDA – William “Bill” Charles Van Ausdall Sr., 70, of Dahinda, died June 8 at his home. William was born in Peoria to Clarence and Dorthea (Carol) Van Ausdall. He married Margaret Snell on Oct. 26, 1962. She survives. A memorial service was set for noon June 12 at Cumerford-Hurd Funeral Home in Peoria.

Frank Courtwright

ELMWOOD – Roy F. “Frank” Courtright, 96, of Elmwood died June 5 at Heartland Health Care Center in Canton. Funeral services were scheduled for Saturday (June 8) at OaksHines Funeral Home in Elmwood, and burial in French Grove Cemetery in rural Elmwood. Online condolences may be posted at www.oakshinesfuneralhome.com.

Roy Fuller

EDWARDS – Roy E. Fuller, 85, of Edwards, passed away June 7 at home. Funeral services were scheduled for Tuesday, June 11, at Remmert Funeral Home in East Peoria, with

Today’s Obituaries

• William Van Ausdall, 70, Dahinda • Frank Courtwright, 96, Elmwood • Roy Fuller, 85, Edwards • Betty Spencer, 88, Rockford • Aline Taylor, 79, Brimfield • Mabel Wilson, 83, Brimfield

interment in Fondulac Cemetery. Online tributes and condolences may be made at www.RemmertFuneralHome.com.

Betty Spencer

ROCKFORD – Betty Loraine Spencer, 88, of Rockford, mother of a Brimfield woman, died June 5 at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center. She is survived by her daughter, Carol (Mike) Rogers of Brimfield; her son, David (Betsy) Spencer of Culpeper, Va.; six grandchildren; a great-granddaughter, five nieces and nephews; and several greatnieces and great-nephews. The funeral was scheduled for Saturday, June 8, at Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, with burial in Arlington Memorial Park

PUZZLE ANSWERS

Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.

Aline Taylor

BRIMFIELD – Aline Margaret Valcourt Taylor, 79, of Brimfield died on Thursday (June 6) at home. Cremation rites will be accorded. No services will be held in accordance with her wishes. Burial of ashes will be in Brimfield Cemetery at a later date. Davison-Fulton-Woolsey-Wilton is in charge of arrangements. To view or leave an online condolence please go to www.woolsey-wilton.com.

Mabel Wilson

PEORIA – Mabel A. Wilson, 83, of Peoria, mother of a Brimfield man, died on Sunday (June 9) at Buehler Home in Peoria. Surviving are her children, Phillip (Gail) Wilson of Brimfield; Marilyn (John) Strickler of West Peoria and Kathryn (Stanley) Peltzman of Boisi, Ind. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday (June 13) at Glen Oak Christian Church, and burial will be held in Parkview Cemetery.

IN BRIEF Supermoon of 2013 on June 23

This month’s full moon falls on June 23 at 6:32 a.m. CDT in the U.S. The moon will not only be full on that day – the largest full moon of the year – but it will also offer the moon’s closest encounter with Earth for all of 2013. The moon will not be so close again until August of 2014.

Elmwood FFA earns honors

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 – PENDING! • 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

Call Gene Vaughan, AFM Managing Broker

742-2273

www.FarmCareIllinois.com

SPRINGFIELD – Elmwood FFA was recognized at the 2013 Illinois State FFA Convention for collecting more than $4,000 during the annual Foundation Collection Drive. Donovan McCoy and Nick McCoy received the certificate.

FEMA center closing on Friday

CHILLICOTHE – The federal/state Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Peoria County will close at 7 p.m. Friday, the agency announced this week.

We Cover The News of West-Central Illinois With A Passion

After the DRC closes at the Chillicothe Fire Hall, 217 W. Chestnut St. in Chillicothe, registration will still be available in several ways: online at www.disasterassistance.g ov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov; by phone at 800-621-3362. Visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4 116.

County warns of power marketers

Announcing that area residents are reporting electricity marketers active in door-to-door and telephone campaigns, Peoria County reminds that an electric aggregation program sponsored by the County has a rate of 4.08¢ per kilowatt-hour for consumers not already covered in a similar program in their community – lower than the rate being marketed. Elmwood residents who haven’t opted out of a program with Integrys Energy Services pay a comparable rate, 4.154¢ per kilowatt-hour.

www.wklypost.com

THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, June 13, 2013

Page 9

1. U.S. STATES: What is the capital of Kentucky? 2. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What is a luge? 3. BIBLE: Which biblical character was swallowed by a whale? 4. TELEVISION: What was the professor's name on "Gilligan's Island"? 5. LITERATURE: What Shakespearean character speaks the line, "Thus with a kiss I die"? 6. FAMOUS QUOTES: Who once said, "Always go to other people's funerals, otherwise they won't come to yours"? 7. MUSIC: What does the musical term "lento" mean? 8. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What color is a robin's egg? 9. LANGUAGE: What is the French name for the English Channel? 10. GEOGRAPHY: In what country can the ancient site of Machu Picchu be found?

FOR ANSWERS SEE PAGE 8

Answers 1. Frankfort 2. A racing sled 3. Jonah 4. Roy Hinkley 5. Romeo, "Romeo and Juliet" 6. Yogi Berra 7. Slow tempo 8. Blue 9. La Manche 10. Peru (c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.

Jubilee mowing plans unchanged for small prairie parcel By BILL KNIGHT

To mow or not to mow, that was the question. But there was no answer prairie restoration volunteers wanted to hear from Jubilee Township trustees at their regular monthly meeting Monday, when the board took no action on a request by several people to stop mowing prairie on a small parcel of township land. Representatives of the volunteer group called the Prairie Dawgs appealed to the board to consider the cost savings to the township, the aesthetic appeal and the herFor The Weekly Post

itage of prairie plants, once native to Illinois but now almost wiped out. “Other businesses that are using prairie to combat the high cost of mowing include Sears, Ameritech, John Deere and Caterpillar,” said Jim Alwill of Bradford, who estimated the township could save $980 a year. “Government prairie restorationists include IDOT and IDNR. “The corporations of America are saving money by ‘going green.’ Jubilee Township needs to do the same. We’re tending the land, which has 40 or 50 species of native plants. Please stop

mowing the prairie.” The township last month authorized paying $35 each time mowing is done on the land – known as Jubilee Town Square, at the intersection of Princeville-Jubilee Road and Jubilee College Road at the park entrance – and it’s been mowed several times since mid-May. “The mowing – scalping, I call it – has happened at least four times,” said Doug Franks of Brimfield. “It’s irrational, even absurd. “This prairie of 1/3 acre was started by the Prairie Dawgs 20 years ago,” Franks continued.

“Three years ago, a judge awarded title to Jubilee Township. The Prairie Dawgs have continued to maintain the prairie and mow the perimeter, as the Historic Site staff used to.” Jubilee Township Supervisor Stephen Garnett said nearby residents have complained taller prairie plants obscure sightlines, the township has concerns about liability and the issue was about property rights. “The Prairie Dawgs seem to think they

gained ownership [of this parcel] because they planted prairie plants,” he said, “so we shouldn’t let them plant prairie plants on our property.” Franks replied, “In a sense that is true. We want to do something worthwhile and in the public interest. There’s no personal benefit. We do it because the state and township are incapable of doing it.” Garnett and Franks agreed that the township and the Prairie Dawgs were on opposite sides

We Cover The News of West-Central Illinois With A Passion

of the long dispute about who owns the mostly wooded parcel. The Prairie Dawgs supported the State of Illinois’ claim that it owned the land, but the township prevailed at the circuit, appellate and supreme courts. The only trustee that seemed open to accommodating the Prairie Dawgs was Steve Gilles, who said he thought something could be done better because its appearance is disappointing now.

Page 10

THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, June 13, 2013

www.wklypost.com

Coach’s Corner: Recalling Bradley’s last MVC baseball champ With recent stories about Bradley baseball in the Peoria paper, I thought it might be good to Big Frank tell MAVETZ about the last Bradley team to win the Missouri Valley Conference. That was 1968 and I was on the team.

Here I went to Bradley on a basketball scholarship and I was better in baseball. I started three years and my junior year I won the batting title at .340. My senior year we had a good team. The funny thing was our infield was all from Peoria and our outfield was all from farther away. Catcher was Gary Upton and at first base was Al Smith. They say to this day Al was the

best athlete to come out of Peoria High School and he later played for the Denver Rockets. Did you know he was also picked in the 1965 draft by the Chicago White Sox but decided to go to Bradley. Our second baseman was Jim Barberis, and he was from Manual. Our shortstop was Bob Swigris from Spalding, who started on the basketball team his senior year.

Our third baseman was from Morton: Mike McDonald, who later coached Morton to a state championship. Our pitchers were Bill Reising from Central and Pat Grafton from Limestone, who used to own that weightlifting place in Bartonville. I played left field, Mike Kincannon from Chicago was in center and Davey Mack from Michigan was in right. Well, that year we beat Tulsa for the MVC championship 2-1 and 10. They were good but

so were we. From there we went to play Oklahoma State in the quarterfinals of the College World Series. We were all psyched up and took the train to Stillwater, Okla. We got there and got smoked. They beat us 13-1 and 3-0. I can’t remember the name of the guy who pitched, but he made the majors and pitched about 10 years. And Oklahoma State came in third in the College World Series that year. Do you know what our

record was? We were 175, we only played 22 games, not like today where you play 50 or 60 games. Our coach was Leo Schrall, who was known as Scrap Iron. Needless to say, he was a scrappy, feisty little guy. I remember my parents came to a game and wondered why nobody sat next to Leo in the dugout. Then somebody screwed up and when he started yelling they knew why. Let’s just say he didn’t have the best vocabulary.

FOR ANSWERS SEE PAGE 8

Simple, safe and secure If you have savings you want to pass along to your heirs, consider Single Premium Whole Life insurance from COUNTRY. It’s permanent life insurance with a guaranteed death benefit, and one payment makes it a paid-up policy. Find out more today about this great way to build financial security.

David Vaughan

Bradly Coyle

Chris Peterson

114 W Main St

4718 N Sheridan Rd

12924 W Farmington Rd

Elmwood IL 309-742-2411 309-712-3575 cell

Peoria IL 309-686-7050

Hanna City IL 309-565-7313 309-265-8558 cell

Policy loans and withdrawals may decrease the death benefit. Policy issued by COUNTRY Life Insurance Company®, Bloomington, IL. 052013-01329AC

EDWARDS 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

We Cover The News of West-Central Illinois With A Passion

Church Listings ELMWOOD Crossroads Assembly of God Pastor Tim Cavallo 615 E. Ash St., Elmwood (309) 830-4259 Sun. Worship: 10:30 am

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. Choir: 7:30 pm

www.wklypost.com

THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, June 13, 2013

BASEBALL: ‘Country sweetness’ to game Continued from Page 12

competitiveness, in terms of their insatiable appetite for achievement in a world of change and unpredictability; and chance, in that for all their skill and competitiveness, a spell of bad weather or a run of bad luck in the marketplace could bring failure, misery and frustration.” Baseball has long been described by writers in abstract terms. It’s agrarian, nostalgic, pastoral and romantic, it’s said. The Sporting News in 1924 paid tribute to the importance of the rural factor in baseball, and sportswriter and author Roger Angell (“The Summer Game“) described the “country sweetness” of baseball. “The game has long had a special resonance with rural people,” Vaught writes. “Baseball may have been – and may still be – a source of rural nostalgia for city people. “For country people, it served as the sport of choice, a powerful cultural agent, and, in the end, the true legacy of

Page 11 NEW LISTING 1404 W. Pine, Chillicothe - $162,500 3BR, 2BA w/tons of updates on quiet street, beautiful yard.

1207 W. Armstrong, Peoria - $154,900 Updated charmer w/original woodwork, hdwd, completely renovated. Beautiful fenced bkyd w/pergola, 3-level patio, hot tub. Meticulous!

7008 Mt. Hawley Rd., Peoria - $189,900 4BR ranch on 1 acre lot, MF laundry, sun porch, hot tub.

538 N Jefferson, Brimfield - $133,000 3BR/1.5BA Move-in condition, all new windows, finished lower level with office space, heated garage.

9364 W Lake Camelot, Mapleton - $174,900 Well maintained 3BR/2BA ranch with new 3-season room, hot tub, deck, walkout basement & wooded backyard

1405 N Autumn Lane, Peoria - $104,500 3BR/2BA Ranch, fresh paint & flooring, Attached garage, quiet street

1777 N Route 26, Metamora - $105,500 2+ Acres, 3BR/1.5BA, MF Laundry, wooded backyard

A truckload of Elmwood baseball players (“One of Elmwood’s first ball teams,” according to the Elmwood Historical Society’s Bruce Howard) is parked at the corner of Main and Magnolia, circa 1930.

Abner Doubleday. “There is something important about the notion (true or not) that Americans think of baseball in rural terms, from Abner Doubleday and Cooperstown to Kevin Costner and ‘Field of Dreams’,” he continues. “Baseball and agrarianism, in that sense, are very much intertwined. Even in today's predominantly non-rural culture, rural culture continues to be expressed through baseball.” People in small towns in rural areas simply en-

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Michael Bledsoe, Elmwood

The games of golf and scholastic bowl require great preparation and concentration. “Matrix Michael” Bledsoe, an Elmwood senior, is very strong on the above qualities. He is also known, affectionately by his teammates, as “Maniacal Mike” and “Crazy Legs Mike!” This interesting young man will take his talents to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore this fall to study to become a neuro-surgeon. Michael first got interested in golf by shadowing his dad, Tom, at Maple Lane Country Club. Chipping and putting are what he most enjoys because, “That’s where the game is decided.” In scholastic bowl Michael most likes the rush that comes with a close game, being the first to connect with the buzzer, then helping his team by correctly answering the questions (he has been on my side at St. Patrick’s Trivia Night; believe me, I’m glad he’s not on the other side!). He rates out-dueling his dad at historic Madison Golf Course as his biggest golf thrill. In scho bowl, “Matrix Mike” points to his all-state honor and, especially, contributing to the EB Trojan regional championship. Along with his dad, Mike mentions his mom, Becky, as an inspiration, particularly in encouraging his love of learning. At EHS, “Maniacal Mike” also participates in the drama club, speech team, student council, National Honor Society, Key Club, Elmwood Excellence and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Upon heading off to Johns Hopkins, he will most miss EHS teachers and friends. EHS will miss Michael Bledsoe, he of the great virtues of preparation and concentration. – Phil Johnson

FRED’S SHOE REPAIR, INC.

The Fine Art of Shoe Repair Expert Repairs of All Kinds

Ray/Fred

LAWN BAG ZIPPERS • BALL GLOVES POOL COVER SEWING/PATCH ZIPPERS • SNAPS • VELCRO • SLIDERS SHOE STRETCHING • LUGGAGE • ETC.

While You Wait – M-F 8-5:30, Sat 8-4

3033 N. University, Peoria, IL • (309) 686-4115 Two female ballplayers are shown in this vintage postcard from 1919.

joyed the excitement and camaraderie of ballgames, Vaught concedes, but baseball also “became an expression – indeed, a symbol – of the way farmers perceived day-to-day reality,” he says. “The widespread, sustained passion for baseball among farm people over the decades indicates that the game had a deeper, more complex cultural meaning.” Again, “farmers and townspeople preferred games that demanded skill, competitiveness, and chance – and baseball, with its intricate set of rules and rituals, action and suspense, and winner-take-all mentality, offered them everything they wanted and needed, and more,” the author continues. Furthermore, Vaught argues, there’s a real rural culture, one on display in baseball in other ways, such as a cooperative and trusting nature among strangers. Vaught voices regret that baseball’s purer past

is mostly gone. “Rural baseball now exists primarily in memories and on vintage fields,” he says, “not because the game has lost popularity, but because there are just barely enough farmers left to field a team. “But for much of American history, however, baseball served as the farmers’ game.” Still, a couple of hours south of Chicago in the Gifford, area is the Eastern Illinois League, with teams such as the Buckley Dutch Masters and the Paxton Swedes playing Sunday afternoon doubleheaders, where admission is $5 per car, hot dogs sell for $1, and beer is $10 for a sixpack, and farm folks while away the game talking about corn and weather and the Chicago Board of Trade. And, in Kickapoo and Elmwood, Brimfield and elsewhere, there are kids’ summer leagues… Baseball – town ball – lives.

We Cover The News of West-Central Illinois With A Passion

NOTICE CITY OF ELMWOOD

Due to increasing maintenance and improvement costs of the water and sanitary sewer systems, the city has elected to increase the water and sewer rates by 3 percent. The increased rate will be reflected on the July 2013 bill, payable by August 15, 2013.

Spencer Curtale, Owner Serving All of Central Illinois Residential • Commercial • Farm Free Estimates!

309-691-0276 office 309-222-1152 cell

Page 12

THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, June 13, 2013

Hot news tip? Want to advertise? Call (309) 741-9790

Weekly Post Sports

www.wklypost.com Fax Us Your Scores, Stats and Standings! Call (309) 741-9365

National Pastime has rural roots By BILL KNIGHT

Since Major League Baseball is in urban areas and even professional minor leagues play in midsized cities, it would be understandable to think the National Pastime and cities are a natural fit. However, a new book shows how baseball’s origins and expanding popularity for decades were that of a game played in small country towns. “The Farmer’s Game: Baseball in Rural America” (Johns Hopkins University Press), by David Vaught, head of the history department at Texas A&M and a baseball historian, demonstrates that baseball thrived in all parts of the country, always because of its rural settings.. Brimfield and Elmwood were two of many west-central Illinois communities that fielded teams in formal and informal “townball” competition for years, roughly from the turn of the 20th century through the 1950s, when innovations ranging from air conditioning and television to households’ needs for multiple incomes and the decrease in the number of small farmers all combined to make minor-league baseball, much less adult town For The Weekly Post

IHSA releases classifications By JEFF LAMPE

Postseason assignments remain unchanged for area high school teams under the 2013-14 school year sports classifications released Tuesday afternoon by the Illinois High School Association. Elmwood and Williamsfield remain in Class 1A for all sports while Brimfield is Class 1A in basketball and golf but is Class 2A in baseball, softball and volleyball. Nearby foe Farmington, which upended Brimfield-Elmwood in the softball regional final, is also Class 2A in that sport and in basketball, baseball and volleyball but is in Class 1A for track and cross country. Football classifications are not determined until the end of the season when playoff qualifications are final. The IHSA reviews enrollments each year at this time to set classifications for the upcoming sports season. For a complete list of school classifications, visit www.ihsa.org. Weekly Post Staff Writer

This undated photo from the Brimfield Library shows a trophy-winning Brimfield baseball squad, probably from the early 1950s. Left to right, back row are Ray Martzluf, Jack Sleeth, Fred Johnson, Lyle Johnson and Chuck Ford; in the front row are Gene Coyle, Charlie Martzluf, Rod Cahill, Ed Johnson and Bob Doubet; in the foreground is bat boy Bob Johnson (son of Ivan Johnson).

teams, less viable. Besides the variety of rural geography tied to baseball’s development, Vaught in two chapters profiles two ballplayers who personified the idea of baseball being a rural game: Hall of Fame pitchers Bob Feller and Gaylord Perry. Both grew up on farms – Feller in tiny Van Meter, Iowa, and Perry in Williamston, N.C. – and both ap-

proached the game with a “country” hardball attitude and a fierce sense of competition. “Rural people identified with baseball because it was a game of skill, competitiveness and chance, just like their day-to-day reality on the farm,” Vaught says. “Skill, with regard to their ability to produce high-quality crops in large amounts; Continued on Page 11

We Cover The News of West-Central Illinois With A Passion