Thursday August 11, 2016 Vol. 4, No. 23
The Weekly Post
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“We Cover The News of West-Central Illinois With A Passion” Serving the fine communities of Brimfield, Dahinda, Duncan, Edwards, Elmwood, Farmington, Kickapoo, Laura, Monica, Oak Hill, Princeville, Williamsfield and Yates City
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Elmwood church planning for impact By BILL KNIGHT
ELMWOOD – Pastor Brad Watkins is working the phones at the United Methodist Church in Elmwood this week, nailing down two coordinators, finalizing two main service projects, and recruiting a half dozen or so additional volunteers to take part in CSI. No, it’s not Crime Scene Investigation. “It stands for Celebrate, Serve, For The Weekly Post
Pastor Brad Watkins of the United Methodist Church in Elmwood is planning for a major service project Sept. 24-25. Photo by Bill Knight.
Maher Rd. should be open soon
Impact,” say the Rev. Watkins, who just started his fourth year here. “And we need all types of skills: carpentry, roofing, people to donate for supplies and materials like lumber.” Scheduled for the weekend of Sept. 24-25, CSI is mostly about service, Watkins says. “The whole point is to help the community – the area, really, including Farmington and Yates City – come together,” he says. “Caring
PRINCEVILLE PARKS
and sharing.” CSI is an expansion of a previous program called Faith In Action, which the congregation undertook for about five years, helping some people with home improvements such as painting that could be accomplished in a weekend with elbow grease and faith. After all, as the Apostle James says in the New Testament, “Faith without deeds is useless.” Continued on Page 2
Brimfield events for the family
By JEFF LAMPE
Peoria County drivers who are tired of detouring around Maher Road should get some relief soon. According to Amy McLaren, Peoria County engineer, tar-and-chip seal coating is scheduled to take place on Maher Road this week. “If everything goes well I’m hoping (Maher Road) should be open by the end of the week,” McLaren said on Tuesday. That’s good news for the many drivers who use Maher Road for travel between Illinois Route 8 and Interstate 74. A project that started in April – and included installation of a new culvert, some drainage improvements and tilling and resurfacing – has been delayed due to problems getting ma-
By BILL KNIGHT
Weekly Post Staff Writer
Continued on Page 7
BRIMFIELD – Last week, Brimfield’s Super Cruise-In not only featured dozens of cars, from Cobras to a Corvair truck, but a bouncy house filled with laughing kids and recorded music that set adults’ toes tapping. This week, the Old Settlers Days festival kicks off Thursday with a showcase of local talent, culminating Saturday with performances by country artists T.G. Sheppard and the Panther Creek Duo. If there’s a theme, it might be “families first.” “We started booking national country acts in 1986,” says Tim Tucker, who for 25 years has helped coordinate dozens of volunteers behind the community festival. “We’ve found that country music draws a nice family crowd.” It’s sponsored by the non-profit Brimfield Area Men’s Club, founded in 1975, when it revived For The Weekly Post
Local volunteers were out in force last Friday and Saturday in Princeville, helping to erect about $45,000 in new playground equipment at Cutter’s Grove Park on the south side of town. Shown, left to right, are Alex Cramer, Nick Ramirez, Christian Koontz, Andrew Spurgeon, Peter Gilroy and Mark Roe. The Village of Princeville also is spending about $25,000 for restroom upgrades, plus lighting and security cameras at the park. Photo by Bill Knight. This Saturday, the second annual Community Awareness Day will be held at Princeville’s Troutman Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring free food and family fun. See Ad on Page 18.
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