Thursday June 22, 2017 Vol. 5, No. 17
The Weekly Post
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Heritage Days draws on decades of experience By BILL KNIGHT
PRINCEVILLE – Hundreds of people are expected tonight through Sunday at Stevens Park here, with activities branching out throughout downtown. And the roots run deep. Besides local band Crabby Pterodoctyl and Midnight Express (with local musician Ralph Krey), the fun features of Princeville Heritage Days will draw on decades of experience and a host of volunteers For The Weekly Post
from throughout the community. “Some time prior to 1900 on the 4th of July, four wagonloads of men went to Peoria to the 4th of July celebration there,” says Julie Delbridge of the Princeville Civic Association (PCA), the fest’s coordinator, citing Princeville Heritage Museum archives. “Three men, 12 women, and 25 children [remained and] decided to have their own picnic. “They hastily put together a town picnic at 2 p.m. that same day. The celebration was so fun that they con-
tinued it for quite a few years thereafter. “Around 1919, sisters Emily Bouton and Eleanor Matthews arrived in Princeville and recalled the annual celebration,” she continues. “At that time it was called the Old Settlers Picnic [and featured] a Chautauqua and home talent events.” In the 1930s, it evolved into the Princeville Homecoming, Delbridge adds, a four-day event sponsored by local businessmen Ed Callery, Red Continued on Page 8
Airport honored
FARMINGTON’S NEW SUPER
Chatterton faces changes, challenges with a smile
IDOT recognizes Yates City airport By JEFF LAMPE
YATES CITY – Dave Shipley’s labor of love may not earn him much money, but it sure is good at earning awards. For the second time in the past decade, Shipley’s TriCounty Airport near Yates City has been named the Private-Open to the Public Airport of the Year by the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Division of Aeronautics. The airport also won in 2008. Shipley and his wife, Cathy, own the small airport located west of Yates City and actually live right on the 27-acre property. “It’s a labor of love,” said Shipley, 59, who works as an engineer for Caterpillar Inc. out of Mossville. “I wouldn’t advise going out and trying to get into the business. You’ve got to love the hobby – the sport of it.” Shipley said the airport averages about 20-50 landings and takeoffs combined Weekly Post Staff Writer
By BILL KNIGHT
FARMINGTON – Change is in the air in the sunny corner principal’s office at Dunlap Middle School, where 40-year-old Zac Chatterton is working on clearing out material for his move to the Superintendent’s office at Farmington Central. A desktop and a laptop look a bit forlorn amid some paperwork and increasingly empty bookshelves, but Chatterton is upbeat. Then another change hits home. “This is the first time I won’t be coaching,” he says, his eyes widening but his smile in place. “Not football, not JFL or youth baseball or basketball. When I go to [Farmington] games, I won’t be
Crowds will once again pack into Stevens Park in Princeville tonight through Sunday for the annual Heritage Days activities.
For The Weekly Post
Zac Chatterton is clearing his office at Dunlap Middle School, where he’s principal, in preparation for his move to Farmington Central. He's set to start there July 1. Photo by Bill Knight.
like the coach or athletic director or whatever. I’ll get to go enjoy it.” Change hasn’t always been as enjoyable for Chatterton and his wife Julie, a nurse at OSF St. Francis Medical Center. True, they met at Monmouth College, where Zac finished in 1999 following his 1995 graduation from Spoon River Valley High School. And there were plenty of “ups” in a 18-year education career some might see
as a whirlwind – or a tornado. After Monmouth, which arranged his student teaching in Galesburg, Zac taught and served as assistant football coach there for four years, then he stepped in as head football coach for another three years. He and Julie and their son and daughter moved to Macomb in 2006 after Zac decided to move from teaching to administerContinued on Page 2
Dave Shipley’s Tri-County Airport near Yates City has been named Private Airport of the Year in Illinois.
per week, though that total will increase in the near future as crop dusters prepare to spray nearby ag fields. “The crop dusters love coming out here because they can do it more economically and can do more spraying per day,” Shipley said. The main airport users, though, are hobbyists – people Shipley calls “home builders.” In other words, people who build their own Continued on Page 18