Thursday Aug. 13, 2015 Vol. 3, No. 23
The Weekly Post
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Farmington ‘solar social’ showcases renewables By BILL KNIGHT
FARMINGTON – Pessimists may have a hard time discounting the possibilities of being pro-active about clean energy when they see Farmington school district 265 not only building a solar array, but saving thousands of dollars. On Saturday, the school hosted dozens of people at a morning “Solar Social” to discuss solar energy in general and a state proposal to promote susFor The Weekly Post
tainable energy and new jobs. In additional to representatives from the Clean Energy Design Group and the Farnsworth Group – both of whom helped Farmington with its solar investment – the event featured Shannon Fulton of the Illinois Solar Energy Association and State Sen. Dave Koehler, a co-sponsor of the Illinois Clean Jobs bill, which was introduced in February and has been in the Rules Committee since late March. “The bill will have money and
Frizzell headlines Old Settlers Days By JEFF LAMPE
BRIMFIELD – Country music recording artist David Frizzell will headline the 126th annual Brimfield Old Settlers Days event that starts today (Aug. 13) and runs through Saturday (Aug. 15). Before Frizzell takes the stage for 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. shows on Saturday, the highlight of the annual event will be carnival rides and food and beer tents that open today at 5:30 p.m. Brimfield High School students will perform on the main stage tonight at 7 p.m. and the state championship Brimfield boys basketball team will be honored. Weekly Post Staff Writer
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BIG TOMATO
strengthen local tax bases,” Fulton said. “If passed, it would result in a net gain of 32,000 jobs.” Koehler (D-Peoria), who chairs the Environment and Conservation Committee, said “I believe in it. It’s important [as global summits discuss climate change] that the United States walks the talk [and] demonstrates that we, too, will make changes.” In Farmington, evidence is mounting that investing in renewable energy can be cost-effective.
The $1.9 million solar project has hundreds of 300-watt solar panels and was the largest solar projects at a K-12 school in the country when built. Funded in part by a $1.15 million grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Foundation, it required the district to use more than $700,000 in workingcash bonds to complete it, but it’s saved $24,500 just since April 16, according to real-time measurements displayed in the entryway. Continued on Page 2
PRINCEVILLE SCHOOL DELAYED
Princeville schools will open Sept. 8 By BILL KNIGHT
PRINCEVILLE – It’s not a comedy of errors that Princeville schools on Thursday (Aug. 6) delayed the start of the school year until Sept. 8. First, there were fewer actual mistakes than unforeseen problems in a construction project at the school. Next, it’s not exactly funny. However, the public has been mostly supportive, says Superintendent Shannon Duling. “We gotten very little negative feedback,” he said. “People seem to understand, and if they’ve driven past, a lot of them probably expected it. People realize these things happen.” For The Weekly Post
Unforseen problems have delayed a construction project at Princeville High School and delayed the start of school until at least Sept. 8. Photo by Collin Fairfield.
For District 326, that means Winter Break will be shorter by two days, Spring Break shorter by three days, and the school year five days longer than originally planned, Duling said.
Extracurricular activities won’t be affected by the Sept. 8 start date, he added. “It’s what happens when you do Continued on Page 7
Baker ready to roll in Farmington show By JEFF LAMPE
FARMINGTON – Donnie Baker is coming to the Farmington Moose Lodge. I swear to God. Actually, Ron Sexton is coming to the Farmington Moose Lodge for an Aug. 20 show and will bring with him his alter-ego, Donnie Baker. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 and includes opening act Mike Gardner. Sexton created his mullet-wearing character in 2005 while doing imitations Weekly Post Staff Writer
Shirley Ludolph of Kickapoo admires a 1pound, 13-ounce tomato that leads The Weekly Post’s Big Tomato Contest. The variety dates back more than 50 years to seeds collected by her grandfather from a large tomato. Photo by Shelly Brodine.
on the “Bob & Tom Show.” “I wanted to do this guy who was overly confident for all the wrong reasons, somebody everybody could relate to from high school,” Sexton said. “It’s kind of like when I first saw ‘Beavis and Butthead’ Baker the first time. I said, ‘Man, I went to school with those
guys.’” Sexton said what makes Donnie Baker funny is that people know someone like him. Someone who’s signature line is “Shut up Randy,” designed to imitate him arguing with his boss while on the phone. Sexton’s over-the-top depiction of a stuck-in-high-school loser was an instant hit with fans of the nationally syndicated radio show. In the years since, Sexton has remained a regular on the Continued on Page 2