Thursday August 15, 2013 Vol. 1, No. 25 Hot news tip? Want to advertise? Call (309) 741-9790!
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‘Distressed properties’ worse than foreclosures By BILL KNIGHT
Communities such as Brimfield and Elmwood are stepping up efforts to deal with messy properties through letters to owners or notices from police, and such moves may be less about appearance or nuisance than protecting neighborhood property values. A recent Federal Reserve study found that homes that are untidy and where owners are behind in mortgage payments can depress nearby values more than foreclosed properties. Peoria-area Realtors say that foreclosures are still a negative factor – along with vacant homes and even rental For The Weekly Post
properties. Homeowners shouldn’t fret when a neighbor is forced into foreclosure, the legal process in which a lender repossesses a property because of nonpayment or default. An area’s property values actually start to drop earlier, when borrowers start skipping payments or ignoring maintenance on homes. The effect of foreclosure isn’t as great as conventional wisdom seems to suggest, according to “Foreclosure Externalities: Some New Evidence,” a working paper from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. Foreclosure is a factor, but less than how a place
looks and whether homeowners keep up with their loans. Dallas Hancock, Executive Director of the Peoria Area Association of Realtors (PAAR), appreciates such subtleties but says that foreclosures remain a significant factor. “It is true that a pre-foreclosed property is usually not as well-maintained as a foreclosed property, but PAAR’s experience is that multiple foreclosed properties will have an impact on nearby property values,” she said. “Often the pre-foreclosure is not being maintained by the owner or by the asset manager or bank. “Even if the owner is still in the
property after the foreclosure, they stop maintaining it. If the city places a notice to mow or maintain the yard, the property owner still won’t do it because they know the city will mow and just place a lien on the property – which is then the bank’s problem. Even if the property is vacant, until redemption is complete, most of the banks will not do anything with the property – even mow it – unless a notice is posted by the city, at which point they mow to avoid a lien.” The lead author of the Atlanta Fed’s paper said that past studies overestimated foreclosures’ negative impact of 0.5 to 8 percent on neighbors’ property Continued on Page 8
BULLFROG BUDDIES
Dignitaries scoop dirt to start a new assisted living facility in Elmwood to be run by Country Comfort Retirement Homes. Photo by Jeff Lampe.
Ground broken for assisted living center in Elmwood By JEFF LAMPE
ELMWOOD – Starting next spring, senior citizens in The Weekly Post area who are seeking assisted living care will not have to travel quite so far. That’s thanks to development of an 8,700 squarefoot, 16-bed facility being built on the north end of Elmwood, just south of Maple Lane Country Club off Illinois Route 78. “Without Elm Haven (a retirement home that closed in Elmwood several years ago) it eliminated an option for people,” said Dick Taylor, Elmwood’s director of economic development. “Now we have that opportunity again. Plus it’s going to be an opportunity for employment.” Developers Fred Paige and Tom Meyers will sell the completed building to Country Comfort Retirement Homes, which operates similar facilities in Weekly Post Staff Writer
Youngsters share their catch during the frog-jumping contest at last Saturday’s FROG Fest at Dahinda United Methodist Church. Adults enjoyed the fried frog legs (below right). Photos by Jeff Lampe.
Fun with frogs in Dahinda By JEFF LAMPE
DAHINDA – First the answer to the most important question surrounding FROG Fest: No, losers in the frogjumping contest do not wind up in the grease. “All the frogs you see here go back to the pond they came Weekly Post Staff Writer
from,” said Sharon Farquer of Williamsfield, while wearing a shirt that said Don’t Croak Without Jesus. “The frog legs we fry are all frozen.” Delicious frog legs, it should be noted. Tasty fried morsels that served as the perfect complement to a fun day of frog Continued on Page 10
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THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, August 15, 2013
CLASSIFIED ADS GARAGE SALES • Teacher Blow Out Sale 13205 N. Whittaker Rd. – Brimfield August 15 & 16 – 2 to 4 pm August 17 – 8 am to noon Tons of K-2 teaching supplies and decorations, some misc. housewares, girls NB-5, and scrapbooking supplies. • Friday, Aug. 16 – 8 to 5 Saturday, Aug. 17 – 8 to noon 1 mile W of Kickapoo on Rte. 150 Furniture, home decor, retired teacher sale – many teaching materials. • AD SALES REP: Advertising sales representative wanted for growing publishing company. Job will involve some phone work,
HELP WANTED
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.
some face-to-face sales. All travel local. Part-time. Flexible hours. Mail resume to: Sales Rep; PO Box 745; Elmwood, IL 61529. • INTERNET INTERN: Great opportunity for student to develop their skills in Website design and management. Must be computersavvy and willing to learn skills that will make you very marketable. Hours flexible. Can work from
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home. Job will evolve into paying position for the highly motivated candidate willing to learn and to have fun with several growing Websites. Call 309-231-6040.
• MOTORCYCLE: 2007 Suzuki Boulevard. White. Woman driven. Saddlebags and windshield. $4,000 OBO. Call Brian (309) 2197276.
FOR SALE
• SCRAP METAL: Buying all scrap metals. The bigger, the better. (309) 645-4563. • DECOYS, CALLS: Seeking old duck decoys, duck paintings, duck calls and waterfowl hunting items. 309-741-9790.
WANTED
Here is an artist’s rendition of the 16-unit assisted living facility being built in Elmwood for Country Comfort Retirement Homes. Actual construction could start next week with completion in the spring of 2014.
ASSISTED LIVING: Elmwood reached out Continued from Page 1
Henry and Princeton. Sale price is expected to be $1.5 million to $1.6 million said Sherry Pettett, owner of Country Comfort. “We’ve always wanted to expand and when Elmwood approached us that kind of prompted us to do that,” Pettett said. “We’ve had a really good response so far. This is drawing interest from Farmington, Brimfield and surrounding communities. “I have a feeling we are going to be asked to come to other communities in the near future.” Adding an assisted living facility to Elmwood is the culmination of several years of searching for the right partner. Residents had indicated a desire for assisted living during surveys conducted following the 2010 tornado. An earlier attempt to lure developer Petersen Health Care to town did not pan out. But Taylor and others did not give up easily. Instead of seeking a large facility, planners aimed smaller. “That’s what the market analysis showed we could support, 12 to 20 residents,” Taylor said. Once Pettett came on the scene
Sherry Pettett of Country Comfort Retirement Homes discusses the new assisted living facility she plans to run in Elmwood. Ground on the facility was broken last week. Photo by Jeff Lampe.
and paired with developers Meyers and Paige, the project moved along fairly quickly. That included the Elmwood City Council’s approval to accelerate payback to developers for infrastructure work. While final building plans have not yet been approved by Elmwood, builder Darrell Dunbar said
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he expects to start construction next week. Pettett said she, “is hoping on March 1 we will be in and operating.” The facility is being built on a slab and is designed to fit in with the other homes in the Fairgrounds Acres subdivision. “Our other facilities are both in residential areas and you can drive by and never know they aren’t one of the homes in the area,” Pettett said. Half the facility is for assisted living and half is for residents suffering from dementia. Pettett said she expects to employ a combination of 15-20 fulland part-time employees. “Our staffing ratios are above and beyond any other facility,” Pettett said. “It’s all about the smallness and uniqueness of what we do. “We want it to feel residential inside and out. We really pride ourselves on the intimate care we offer.” So far, demand for space has been very good. Pettett said several of the 16 units are already spoken for, though she adds, “we don’t want people to stop calling.”
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THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, August 15, 2013
Entry n
THE WEEK AHEAD HOT PICK This Week!
s Harvest Home Festival – Yates City’s 127th annual end-of-summer festival takes center stage Friday and Saturday. See the story below and a full list of activities, Page 13. s Gazebo Run – Registration is 6:30-7:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17, for the 32nd annual Gazebo Run in Yates City, part of the Harvest Home Festival. Cost $15, includes a t-shirt. Entry forms available at the Bank of Yates City. Call Wayne Wrage at (309) 358-1415 (days).
This Week’s Events
Aug. 24 at Brimfield Union Church, 8 a.m. to noon both days.
s Library party – Salem Township Library in Yates City has an end-of-sums Poetry reading – Lois Funk will mer party today at 2 p.m., with bingo, a give a poetry reading at Salem Township movie and snacks. Library in Yates City on Aug. 22 at 10 s Ladies crafts – Make a washer a.m. Free coffee and cookies. necklace at Morrison and Mary Wiley s Golf outing – The Elmwood EleLibrary in Elmwood during Ladies Craft Night (ages 18 and over) tonight at 6:30. mentary Parents’ Club has its 15th ans NAMI meetings – nual Golf Outing fund National Alliance of Publicize Your Event raiser Aug. 24 at Mental Illness support Maple Lane Country Call us at (309) 741-9790 groups meet today from Club in Elmwood. or email information about 7-8:30 p.m. at the Proctor your upcoming event to Foursomes are filled, Hospital Professional but steak dinner ticknews@wklypost.com. Building in Peoria. A ets ($25 individual, group for families and friends of people $40 couple) are for sale and include a with brain disorders meets in Classroom 3 raffle, 4-8 p.m., and the band Jammand a group for individuals in recovery Sammich at 8. Email Rachel Potts at meets in Classroom 2. rach61614@yahoo.com or call (309) s Hunter safety class – An Illinois 573-3444. Hunter Safety Class will be held today s Book babies – Starting Sept. 3 baand Friday (Aug. 15-16) at Maple bies up to 24 months can enjoy stories, Lane Country Club, 5-10 p.m. both songs and playtime Tuesdays 10:30-11 nights. Elmwood Insurance Agency a.m. at Brimfield Public Library. provides dinner. Call (309) 742-2141. s Fall festival – Elmwood s Blood drive – A blood drive will be s Fall Festival is September 5-7 at Cenheld Saturday, Aug. 17, from 7-10:45 tral Park. This year’s theme is There’s a.m. at St. Mary’s in Kickapoo. Call No Place Like Elmwood. Festival guides Roger Kelch at (309) 696-5594. are available in Elmwood, including at The Weekly Post office, 115 W. Main St. s Back to school giveaway – The Brimfield Area Food Pantry has its secs Benefit – A benefit for Michala ond Back to School Clothing and School Schauble, 14, of Yates City is Sept. 14 at Supply Giveaway Saturday, Aug. 17, and the Yates City Community Center.
Future Events
NEW LIST – 109 S. WESTFIELD DR., ELMWOOD: Nice 3 BDR/2.5 BA ranch with over 1700 sq ft plus full basement, master suite, fplc, vaulted $192,000 ceilings, 2 car garage. NEW LIST – 21021 W. FOSTER ROAD, ELMWOOD: Newer 2 poss 3 BDR on 2,4 acres overlooking lake, walkout basement, 2 car gar., open master suite soaring ceilings and more! $175,000 616 E. MAIN, ELMWOOD: Nice updates to this 2 BDR/2 BA home on edge of town! 40x30 garage, fenced yard, mature trees, deck, upper level possible 3BDR, master suite, large eat-in kitchen & more! $119,900 6711 W. SOUTHPORT RD., PEORIA: Country living minutes to The Shoppes! Great 3 BR w/over 3,000 sq ft., 10.4 acres, pond, barn, 64x31 newer outbuilding, new septic being installed, hot tub, fp, large deck & more! $289,900 207 N. DIXON ST., YATES CITY: Newly remodeled 3 BDR ranch on huge lot, 2 car gar., breezeway, updated: kitchen, bath, furn/AC, flooring, siding, windows & more. $89,900 19610 W. SOUTHPORT RD., ELMWOOD: One of a Kind Location on 1.9 ac surrounded by trees! Great 4 BDR, 2 BA ranch w/fin. walkout basement, 40x24 shed (cement floors, electric, wood burner), sunroom, fireplace, hot tub & more! REDUCED TO $214,900 NEW LIST – 205 N. KNOX, ELMWOOD: Cute 3 BR ranch w/partially finished basement, 1 car garage, newer roof/siding, new in 2000: windows, 100 amp service, furnace/AC. Nice deck & landscaping. $81,900 711 N. HURFF, ELMWOOD: New construction, 4-5 BR, 2.5 BA home on 9th fairway with over 1 acre! Main level master suite, granite kitchen counters, soaring ceilings in great room, 3-plus garage & more! $375,000 316 OAK HILL, HAPPY HOLLOW: Remodeled 2 BR ranch, fplc family room, htd workshop, gazebo, access to lake/trails/land. $42,000 $39,500-$45,000 NEW: Golf Course Lots in Elmwood. Reserve Now! PENDING: 925 N. Dempster, Peoria 513 N. Magnolia St., Elmwood 600 N. Fairground Way, Elmwood
Harvest Home festival ahead
YATES CITY – The 127th annual Harvest Home Festival kicks off Friday at 4:30 p.m. and promises two days of fun and family activities. This year’s festival includes several tried and true favorites – like the Gazebo Run on Saturday morning, tractor pulls, a baby contest, music and delicious food – as well as something new. The new item is a Battle of the Bands scheduled for 5 p.m. on Saturday. Bands interested in competing need only bring their instruments and plug into the festival’s sound system. A grand prize of $500 will be awarded to the best band, which also gets to play an encore set at 9:30 p.m. Second place pays $100. Registration for bands starts at 4 p.m. Saturday and is free. Friday’s musical headliners are Closer to Free, a contemporary Chris-
tian group from Elmwood’s United Methodist Church, at 7 p.m. followed at 8 by F-Sharp, a classic country and rock cover band made up of Ricky Hutchinson of Hanna City, Jim and Doug Sluga of Elmwood and Hugh Bradford of Bellevue. Boden Amusements opens its carnival rides Friday at 5 p.m. and Saturday at noon, following the 11 a.m. parade. Registration for the baby contest starts at 5:30 p.m. Friday with the judging to start at 6 p.m. On Saturday, family friendly events include Wildlife Prairie Park animals from noon to 3 p.m., a pedal tractor pull at 1 p.m., farm stock and antique tractor pulls at 1, a Sweethearts Contest at 2:30 p.m. and a bags tournament that starts at 5 p.m. Bingo and a beer tent will also be offered throughout the two-day event, as will all sorts of tasty food.
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THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, August 15, 2013
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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 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 Deadlines – News due Tuesdays by noon. Retail ads and classifieds due Mondays by noon.
Quote of the Week: – “ The biggest fool is one who minds the business of others rather than minding his very own. ” – Amit Abraham Seen by 13,781+ readers every week!
Of ‘Nosey Rosey’ and wklypost.com
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION! Lois Silzer is turning 90! Come say hello to her at a
CAKE & ICE CREAM SOCIAL Sunday, Aug. 18 from 3-5 p.m. at the Elmwood High School cafeteria. Don’t worry... She won’t make you run laps!
Response to last week’s column about printing our Public Record section has been varied. We’ve received calls, emails, letters, Facebook posts and staff members have been stopped by several people who wanted to voice their views face Jeff to face. LAMPE The verdict so far? Continue to print the Public Record in the same format we are using. That’s by no means a unanimous conclusion. And we are not done sifting through the comments. But for right now, it appears a majority of readers favor Public Record. There have been good points made on both sides. For one thing, people wondered why there were more reports in Elmwood than in Brimfield, for instance. That’s largely a factor of Elmwood having its own police force. Brimfield generates fewer reports in part because there are fewer people being pulled over.
Someone also suggested that we are covering up for “the haves and have-nots of Elmwood.” But I assure you, we are not attempting to cover up for anyone. Not my kids and not yours. The standard is: no ticket, no injuries, no Public Record (unless the report is particularly newsworthy, as in the case of a soccer net burned at the Elmwood Community Center last Saturday). Another anonymous letter writer said, “Stop Public Record! Everyone I’ve talked to enjoys your paper except for Public Record. ... Less negative, more positive! More kids sports, more outdoors, local history, more Big Frank and Mayor of Oak Hill – that stuff is fun!” Contrary to that letter, most comments we’ve heard favor printing Public Record. Fairly typical was an email from Deborah of Brimfield who wrote, “The Post’s motto is to ‘...cover the news.’ The motto isn’t written as ‘cover only the good news.’ “If people want a feel-good paper, then maybe the Obituary section should be removed as
well. And then only include the Weather section if it’s 70s and sunny and only report on wins in the Sports section. “In all seriousness though, in small towns where everyone pretty much knows or knows of everyone else, I’d rather read about the Public Record happenings in factual print, than hearing the half-true story from old nosey Rosey down the street.” I’m sure we’ll have more updates in the weeks to come. WEBSITE UPDATE: There’s finally a reason to start visiting our Website: www.wklypost.com. While the site has been virtually inactive since we launched the paper in February, that is changing. We are making occasional updates and will provide archives of past issues. We are also encouraging readers to submit photos and information for the Website, which will be our place to provide updates for breaking news and sports stories in between publications. So check out wklypost.com! Contact Jeff Lampe at 231-6040 or jeff@wklypost.com
‘Yes’ and a resounding ‘No’ to Public Record
FARM CARE
FARM MANAGEMENT • REAL ESTATE SALES
• 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. NEW PRICE! $67,900
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To the Editor: My husband and I have lived in Elmwood, just a little over a year now. We moved here to help care for two grandsons, ages 4 and 6 while their parents work. We are senior citizens. Because of the age of our grandsons we are not involved yet in a lot of school activities or extracurricular events, however we do have an interest in what goes on in this community, especially if it involves drugs. I understand no one wants to read his/her name in the public record section of the local newspaper. However in the world we live in today, we need all the help we can get in order to protect our children, especially when it comes to drugs! To us, this is a tool to do just that. Like you indicated, all you are doing is printing the facts, you had nothing to do with the choice someone made to make up the fact! On another note, kudos to Jon
Letter Policy
The Weekly Post welcomes letters from readers. Email us at editor@wklypost.com or mail to: Letters, The Weekly Post, P.O. Box 745, Elmwood, IL 61529. Include your first and last name, your full home address, home phone and a phone number where you can be reached. Letters should be no more than 300 words and must be signed. Letters will be edited.
Gallagher for his article on the cell phones! We can relate, believe me. Also enjoyed Karl Taylor’s article on the “chick car.” Keep up the good work, we much enjoy reading “The Weekly Post” from cover to cover! – Bobbie Thornton, Elmwood To the Editor: You’re doing a great job, keep up the good work. The public record is interesting, informative, and vital information to keep us informed as to what’s happening
We Cover The News of West-Central Illinois With A Passion
in our area. It’s news we don’t normally get from the Peoria Journal Star or from local TV newscasts. As for the published names possibly being an embarrassment for the individuals, well, maybe a little embarrassment will serve as a deterrent in the future. – John Smith, Edwards To the Editor: I don’t appreciate your Public Record section. I don’t think anyone does beside busy-bodies and gossips. You are putting people’s mistakes on blast for the community to gawk at. This is despicable. The moment one of your friends and loved ones get a column in it for one of their mistakes then you will truly understand and then maybe you will end this madness. You are hurting people and you are damaging this community. – Hanna Lynn Garber, Edwards
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THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, August 15, 2013
GUEST VOICES
Page 5 14913 W. Winchester Dr, Brimfield – $269,900 2 story, 4 BR, 3.5 BA, 1.67 acre, Walkout Basement!
The baseball career that almost was In a recent column, I wrote that I moved with all the grace and speed of a glacier. To look at me now, with my belly protruding like I’m eight and a half months pregnant, you’d never know it, but back in the day, I was a pretty fair athlete. I wasn’t a high school jock. I could have been. My high school basketball coach was always asking me to join Jon the team, but I resisted. In high GALLAGHER school, I had shoulder-length hair and, somehow, it seemed more important to retain those locks than to be sixth man on the basketball team. I still played in summer leagues because they didn’t have silly rules about being able to see through your hair once the ponytail came out, but I wouldn’t cut my hair. I never got to the point of being able to dunk a basketball, but I could jump high enough to dunk a softball. I even got enough height once to stuff a volleyball, but I
think that one time was when gravity had taken just a short coffee break or something. Up until my senior year, we didn’t have a high school baseball team. We hadn’t had one for 12 years. During my senior year, they revived the program and I had only one question: How short? I loved baseball. I loved to play it, I loved to watch it and I would have shaved my head if they had required it. Our high school team wasn’t much. Since we hadn’t had a team for 12 years, we had a light schedule – only seven games. Our coach was one of those who didn’t do a lot of teaching. He just picked out kids to play positions, based somewhat on their last names. If they had a parent or relative on the school board, they saw a lot of playing time. If a player didn’t have a name, or hadn’t played for him in one of the other sports he coached, then they saw a lot of bench time. I knew every inch of that stupid bench. That’s not sour grapes, believe it or not. Years later when I ran into
the coach he complained about having to play kids who were connected. When he quit doing that, suddenly, he found his contract wasn’t renewed (though it might have had something to do with him being a lousy coach, too). I did get to pitch in a couple games, and I did okay. I wasn’t going to get any scholarship offers, but I did well enough to earn a varsity letter. During my first year of college, the Cincinnati Reds had an open try-out in the area. I figured what the heck and showed up. After filling out more paperwork than is required for a 30year mortgage, I finally got in and started stretching exercises, which they required. I had myself psyched up about this and had convinced myself that sometime in the middle ’90s, they’d be honoring me in Cooperstown. When we finally got to the first round for pitchers, it wasn’t very exciting. They had a contraption set up 60 feet 6 inches away that was basically a piece of plywood with a hole cut in it the size of the strike zone. You got a basket full
Maybe, as a high school teacher, I was in an unusual situation. Occasionally I have to accept money from students (no, not bribes, thanks for asking) and they often pay me in one-dollar bills. This disgusting detritus of American currency is terrible to behold. The bills are often: 1. folded into tiny, un-unfoldRandy able pieces; FRITZ 2. filthy; 3. sticky (I don’t ask); 4. “thin,” as in “have been through the washer” and have completely lost the crispness you usually find in American money; 5. taken from pockets when God-knows-what-else is in there, attaching itself to the money (don’t want to know); 6. offered by kids who have colds or other ailments, handed over right after they cough and/or sneeze into their hands (thanks). In fact, it has been quite a while since I saw a new one-dollar bill – they used to circulate in and out periodically. Not any more. Now all the dollars I see are a mess. Also, I have begun to wonder why we still print one-dollar bills. I am informed they are expensive to produce, last, on average, less than 18 months (where a $20 lasts many years), and enervate to disgusting proportions in no time. It is up to banks to send them back to the Federal Reserve, from whence they came, to be recycled. But a lot of bills don’t make it to a bank for years. Even then
banks don’t always inspect them. I suppose we, as honest, upstanding American citizens could take them back for replacement, but I imagine few do (I never have, although I do – once in a while – reject a particularly awful example when handed to me by a teller). Those not-near-a-bank notes continue in circulation, goo after goo, wash after wash, fold after fold, germ after germ, for eons. So I have begun my (latest) crusade: to ban the buck – the paper buck, that is. I just cashed in my change and, when I took it to the bank asked for dollar coins. I asked for about 35. They are stacked where I keep other change and I take five or so every time I leave the house. When I have to spend less than $5, I do so in dollar coins. Oh the humanity! Oh the odd looks, rolling eyes, sneers, quizzical expressions and head-shakes when I announce, “That’s a dollar coin, not a quarter.” I can see them thinking: “Where am I going to put this stupid thing – there’s no slot in the cash register,” and, the ever popular “Who IS this idiot?” But it sure makes sense to me. Coins last orders of magnitude longer than bills. They fit easily into pocket (and, I imagine, purse), don’t get folded into messes, and emerge from the washer in the same shape they entered. Yes, I will continue to get those revolting bills in change but I will ask for coins if they have any (they won’t) and change the bills for coins when I can. Like all things, though, there are disadvantages:
a) There are actually numerous different incarnations of dollar coins presently in circulation: the Susan B. Anthony (silver in color), the Sacajawea (bronzeish), and the “presidents series” (also bronze-ish). And isn’t that clever: create a coin that’s not much different in size than a quarter and put the head of the presidents on it! Very confusing. I wonder when they’ll add Washington to make the bewilderment complete? b) When people get dollar coins they tend to “collect” them instead of re-circulating them. I’m told that the Sacajawea is worth more than a dollar. I’m sure that’s only because of low circulation and “collectors” too stupid to realize they’re creating an artificial scarcity which could end at any moment. A variety of different presidential dollars will only add to that problem: each one different, so each one “collectible.” (That’s got to be what the mint has in mind, like they did with state quarters.) c) I suppose they can get heavy. I doubt I’d want to carry more than about 10. d) Some of my whines are also true of coins. I get it. My local bank actually keeps the dollar coins in their vault because “people don’t want them.” Perish the thought of change (pun intended, maybe?). But I don’t care. I’m going to continue my crusade and, probably, irritate every person with whom I do business. They’re legal tender, of course, and by law they can’t refuse to take them. They’ll just have to hate me.
Continued on Page 9
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105 Regal Lane, East Peoria – $214,900 4 BR, 4 BA, sun roof & fenced yard
PRICE REDUCTION! 19014 W. Route 150, Brimfield – $179,900 4 BR, 2 BA, 1.37 acres, Brimfield Schools
3604 N. Gale, Peoria – $64,900 3 BR Bungalow, convenient location
9425 W. Kickapoo Lane, Edwards – $199,900 3 BR Ranch, 1.3 acres, Brimfield Schools
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Fritzy’s latest crusade: Ban the dollar bill
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ETERINARY CLINIC
& housecall service
Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. 8:00-Noon, 1-5 2nd & 4th Saturday 8:00-Noon
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• Neck and back pain • Extremity complaints • Traction/decompression available and affordable • X-rays not necessarily required • Blue Cross, Humana, Medicare Provider
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PUBLIC RECORD
Man accused in porn case denied lower bond
GALESBURG – The Yates City man facing 12 counts of child pornography waived his right to a preliminary hearing and was denied a bond reduction request during his second court appearance Monday. Kevin E. Martin, 54, is represented by the Public Defender’s office, which had requested a hearing be held on bond reduction during his first appearance on Aug. 5. Martin is being held in the Knox County Jail on $500,000 bond. According to Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office, Martin was charged with four Class-X counts of distribution of child pornography; four Class-1 counts of distribution of child pornography; three Class-2 counts of possession of child pornography; and one Class-3 count of possession of child pornography. Martin was arrested July 25 after a search of his home. Martin testified that his children are now scattered across the country and he is unable to speak with his wife because she has filed an order of protection against him. Martin will appear in court for arraignment on Sept. 4.
Elmwood police investigating fire
ELMWOOD – About 9 p.m. Aug. 10, two juveniles started a fire on the south side of the Elmwood Community Center, witnesses told police. Evidence of burning and damage to the soccer field and to one of the soccer goals was observed by police, who continue to investigate.
Man arrested following complaint in Dahinda
DAHINDA – Nathan Shea, 29, of Wataga was arrested by Knox
County Sheriff’s officers after a complaint from a Dahinda resident who alleges that Shea took a bottle of prescription medicine and shoved the homeowner as he left the residence on Oak Run Dive, according to the sheriff’s office. Police charged Shea with theft of less than $300 and battery, and took him to the Knox County Jail, according to reports.
Police seeking owner of wrecked truck in Dahinda
DAHINDA – Knox County police about 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 3 found a Chevrolet truck wrecked in a ditch in the 1400 block of Knox Highway 12 in Dahinda. No driver was at the scene, so officers had the vehicle towed and continue to search for its owner concerning leaving the scene of an accident since the registration on the truck didn’t match state records.
Television, computer stolen in Elmwood
ELMWOOD – A resident in the 200 block of North Magnolia in Elmwood on Aug. 1 reported a break-in and the apparent theft of a big-screen television, laptop computer and computer games, police reported. The value of the missing items is about $1,800. The Elmwood Police Department continues to investigate.
Two injured in Friday morning wreck
Two motorists were injured about 5:30 a.m. Aug. 9 when a car driven by Spencer Smith, 19, of Galesburg collided with one driven by Christopher Vicary, 44, of Marquette Height at the intersection of Illinois Route 78/U.S. Route 150 and Scotland Prairie Road, according to police. Peoria County Sheriff’s officers
ticketed Smith, who was transferred to St. Mary’s hospital in Galesburg by BYE Ambulance. BYE also transported Vicary to Methodist Medical Center.
Brimfield men arrested for cocaine possession
WEST PEORIA – Derick Peters, 30, of Brimfield about 4 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, was pulled over by Peoria Sheriff’s police who said Peters had driven onto the curb on Heading Avenue in West Peoria, and an open container of alcohol was seen, according to police reports. After a search of the 1996 Buick Peters was driving, police found several baggies of a substance that tested positive for cocaine, police said. Peters and a passenger, Sean McDonough, 29, also of Brimfield, were arrested and charged with possession of controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver, and taken to the Peoria County Jail. Peters also was charged with three traffic violations and the car impounded and recommended for seizure. Later that day, a third Brimfield man from the 300 block of North Galena St. reported the 1996 Buick stolen.
Police reports
• Justin Peterson, 21, of Brimfield was booked into the Peoria County Jail on Sunday, Aug. 11, on charges of Driving Under the Influence of alcohol and driving on a revoked license.
Marriage License
• Mallory Killam, Chicago, and Lawrence Davis IV, Chicago • Sarah Barnard, Elmwood, and Grant Debord, Princeville.
Peoria City/County Health Department July Food Inspections Establishment Caterpillar Edwards Demonstration Crusens Elmwood Goodtime Chally's Hick'ry Stick Jim’s Shurfine Foods Road House Union Church of Brimfield Uptown Cafe
Address 5801 N. Smith Rd., Edwards 118 S. Magnolia St, Elmwood 110 E. Knoxville Ave., Brimfield 118 E. Main St., Elmwood 131 W. Knoxville Ave., Brimfield 4903 N. Stone School Rd., Elmwood 105 W. Clay St., Brimfield 110 N. Magnolia St., Elmwood
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Date July 10 July 19 July 30 July 19 July 9 July 19 July 9 July 19
Score 99 84 97 87 95 98 100 100
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FORECLOSURE: Housing sector improving nationally Continued from Page 1
values, and that values recover from distressed properties’ effects. “Distressed homeowners are less likely to maintain the property in both obvious and non-obvious ways,” and “poor property maintenance or negligence leading to blight, weak property appraisals based on comparables, and an increase supply of available properties” all adversely affect a neighborhood’s property values,” said Kristopher Gerardi. “We find that while properties in virtually all stages of distress have statistically significant, negative effects on nearby home values, the magnitudes are economically small, peak before the distressed properties complete the foreclosure process, and go to zero about a year after the bank sells the property to a new homeowner,” he continued. “The estimates are very sensitive to the condition of the distressed property.” Foreclosures impinge on nearby property sales, he conceded, but they “dissipate quickly the farther away the foreclosed property is from the sale in space and time.” The number of foreclosed properties can be significant, Hancock said. “One foreclosure in a neighborhood may not have a big impact on values, but multiple properties may. If there are multiple foreclosed properties in an area,
Delinquent properties auctioned on Aug. 26
PEORIA – A dozen properties from The Weekly Post circulation area are among hundreds of delinquent properties scheduled to be sold at an Aug. 26 auction that could generate funds for Peoria County taxing bodies. The properties owe back taxes and were not bought at the County Treasurer’s annual tax sale. Bids begin at $600 each. The 7 p.m. Public Auction of Surplus Property is set for the Packard Plaza Building Ballroom, 225 NE Adams St. The sale of the delinquent lots will benefit the taxing districts at their locations and, indirectly, nearby property owners since
new owners presumably will maintain them and return them to the tax rolls. Many of the lots are empty lots or odd-shaped parcels; some are abandoned railroad right-of-way; a few are vacant houses. In the Peoria County townships The Weekly Post serves, a dozen items are for sale: • Brimfield: mineral rights at a 51-acre parcel • Elmwood: 2.28 acre vacant lot on North Jarmon Street. • Kickapoo: 40x30 vacant lot on Pagewood Drive; 0.59-acre vacant lot on West Parkside Circle; 108x112 vacant lot on West Edwards Street; 116.83x168.25
in our experience there is greater impact on the value,” she said. “Most of the banks do consider an area with a growing number of foreclosures as a declining area, especially if a number are being sold to investors, which means that the property is likely to end up becoming a rental property. “If we mention that there are growing numbers of repossessed properties, rental and vacant properties in a neighborhood, the bank will go with the lower end of the price point when it decides how to value the property,” she continued. “That then can be used as a market-value comparable, which affects the way the next property is priced, or it can then be used as a comparable in the appraised valuation. In addition, we are seeing a lot of appraisals at closing being much higher than the sale prices, which can indicate that the ‘market value’ (the sale price) won’t support what the appraiser sees as the intrinsic value of the home.” Nationally, the housing sector seems to be improving enough that there are fewer distressed properties. For instance, the mortgage delinquency rate (measuring borrowers 60+ days past due) dropped to 4.09 percent through June 30, according to TransUnion, almost 26 percent lower than last year. “This marks the third quarter in a row where we have posted all-time highs in terms of delinquency improvement,” said Tim Martin, group vice president of U.S. Housing in TransUnion's financial services business unit. “Many of the delinquent mortgages we have been tracking have been delinquent for a very long time, so it is encouraging.” Also, foreclosures are declining, according to CoreLogic, an analytics and data-services company. The firm reported that in May there were 52,000 completed foreclosures nationwide, compared to 71,000 a year ago, a decrease 27 percent. However, there’s still a big inventory off foreclosed units that haven’t been maintained, but even it is falling. Al-
vacant lot off Caterpillar Road and West Powdermill Road; 30x130 vacant lot on Holmes Avenue • Millbrook: 33x247.5-foot vacant lot off Hallock Hollow Road • Radnor: 17.9x11.3 vacant lot behind Maplewood Boulevard; 12x6 vacant lot with well on Maplewood Boulevard • Rosefield: 113.9x89 vacant lot on Southport Road; 1.79-acre vacant lot off Bridgeport Way Some 150-page catalogs detailing lot information are available for $15 cash at the Peoria County Treasurer’s Office. – Bill Knight
though U.S. homeownership has dropped to 65.1 percent, an 18-year low, home prices are rising. CoreLogic said U.S. housing prices are about 12 percent higher than a year ago. In the Peoria area, the average sale price was $147,123 during the second quarter of this year, according to the PAAR, up 1.6 percent from a year earlier. Foreclosure rates have been at 2.75 percent, lower than the national foreclosure rate of about 3 percent, and the Peoria-area mortgage delinquency rate is about 5.5 percent. “Our local housing market started to recover in early 2012, at least six months before we saw the recovery in the harder-hit areas,” Hancock said. “The central Illinois housing market continues to recover. “During the worst of the economic downturn, the central Illinois house market still didn’t suffer the extreme losses in home values that we saw in other areas of the country,” she continued. “Part of the reason for that is that we did not have the same exaggerated housing price build-up that they did in other areas. Therefore we didn’t have as many foreclosures as were experienced in other markets.” Government policies that stretch the time a home is in foreclosure doesn’t help borrowers but hurts communities, says Gerardi, with the Fed. “Policies that slow the transition from delinquency to foreclosure likely exacerbate the negative effect of mortgage distress on house prices,” he said. Hancock agreed. “This time does cost communities because of the negative impact on the community of having multiple properties in foreclosure,” she said. “Once the property is out of redemption, the bank, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae or HUD will maintain the property. [But] the maintenance still may not be at the same level that a committed homeowner would perform – the majority will only pay for the lawn to be mowed every other week.”
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Brimfield village board talks trash By TERRY BIBO
BRIMFIELD – Get ready for a little trash talk. “If we’re a little confused, you can understand how the residents might be,” Brimfield village board president Dan Fishel said at Monday’s meeting. Anticipating questions, village trustees discussed practical details of a new garbage contract with Wigand Disposal Co. which starts next month. Service switches from Monday to Thursday. Every-other-week curbside recycling starts Sept. 12. To prepare, Wigand will deliver a 95-gallon trash cart to every household by the end of August. And while using that toter is recommended, apparently it is not mandatory. For The Weekly Post
“People said, ‘Do I have to take a tote?’ They do not,” Fishel said, while reading through the contract. “The card they sent out said it was required,” said Village Clerk Holly Johnson. “He said he would waive that under special circumstances,” Fishel said of Wigand’s Eric Shangraw. Wigand sent cards to outline the new requirements. Trash is limited to what fits in the toter, with the lid shut. Each toter holds the equivalent of ten 13-gallon bags. (According to the contract, trash could also take the form of up to six 32-gallon “cans, bags, boxes, or bundles of any combination of same.”) Extra trash carts are available for $7.50 a month, but Fishel said an
occasional bag of trash beside a toter is acceptable. For large items, like mattresses, the company should be called and paid $35 in advance. Those who want new curbside recycling must contact Wigand for a free 95-gallon recycling cart. To sign up, call 800-260-3033 or email lsimonsen@pdcarea.com “Once people catch on to the program, everything will fall in place,” Fishel said. In other business, trustees were pleased to note higher tax revenues in July. At $950, video gaming taxes have doubled, according to Johnson. Sales taxes of $10,486 do reflect an increase, but the clerk said $14,810 in income taxes has more to do with the state’s payment methods than higher revenue.
“They make it up, but we don’t always get it on a regular basis,” she said. Trustees welcomed new member Amy Powers to her first regular meeting after replacing the late Janet Bledsoe.
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GALLAGHER: 75 mph too slow Continued from Page 5
of baseballs that had about 25 of varying degrees of usage. Out of the balls in the basket, you had to put (I think) 20 of the 25 into the net that hung behind the strike zone cutout. There were three of us all throwing at once. An older guy who wore sunglasses and had a belly that looked like mine does now patrolled behind the pitcher’s mounds. Once someone missed six balls, he’d send them home. I missed twice. I got to go to the next round. In that round, I got to pitch to a live catcher who was an instructor from the minor league system. He was a young guy, probably better than most college players, but not quite good enough to make it to the major leagues for any length of time. He shouted words of encouragement as I pitched to him, throwing hard and trying to hit his glove wherever he positioned it. When the old guy who’d watched us before came around and asked the catcher how I was doing, the catcher said I had great control. With that, the older guy grabbed a bat and stepped in against me. “Let’s see what ya got, kid,” he yelled. Then he proceeded to turn anything I threw at the plate into a line shot down the third base line. After about 10 of these, he stepped out of the batter’s box and yelled at
me, “Quit throwin’ that off speed (stuff) and throw me a fastball!” “That was my fastball!” I yelled. He looked at me, at the catcher, then said, “Throw me another one.” It wasn’t long after that day that Skylab fell out of the sky. I may know why. Usually things that fly as far as that last pitch I threw have meals served on them. He didn’t even look at me. He just tossed the bat and boomed, “Next!” A kinder, gentler guy took me aside and told me my fastball had been clocked at around 75 mph, barely enough to get a speeding ticket but not near good enough to advance. He explained that in the minors they teach you control, but you have to show up with speed. As for adding speed, he said what they could teach would only add another 5 mph to my fastball. My dream was over. While it’s true I was heartbroken, it made me a better person. I learned about setting and achieving goals, and it taught me that if you really want something, going through the motions won’t necessarily get you there. It’s an experience I wouldn’t trade. But I still would have liked to have pitched once in the major leagues, if for no other reason, to see how far a REAL hitter could have hit one of my “fastballs.” Oh. And to answer the question: At least part of my ears had to show.
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FROG FEST: Fully Rely on God, and on frog legs Continued from Page 1
Sharon Farquer holds up frogs last Saturday in Dahinda wearing a t-shirt that says, “Don’t Croak Without Jesus.” Photo by Jeff Lampe.
jumping and socializing. The men credited for hopping up to start FROG Fest 10 years ago are Randy Douglas and Charlie Cooley. Douglas explained that the combination of Dahinda’s Native American name (bullfrog) and a catchy acronym he had heard from a friend (Fully Rely on God) proved a perfect combination. “It’s just a chance to have fun, to get the kids here and let them know that God loves them,” he said. Each summer since, on the second Saturday of August, folks have gathered on the grassy slope east of Dahinda United Methodist Church to celebrate a unique festival. Youngsters spend the morning in-
volved in Vacation Bible School studies and then get to burn off any pent-up energy during FROG Fest. In addition to a frog-jumping, there are games, snacks and a train. Then comes the food. Last Saturday Fred Watts and Larry Mackie fried up a tasty mess of frog legs to go with an impressive variety of other foods. Not everyone was fully sold on frog legs, though. Pastor Jennifer Seder’s description went as follows, “Well, they’re not chicken. And I’d like a little barbecue sauce on them. But I ate two.” For those who crave frog legs, there’s still time to get in some gigging before the season closes on Aug. 31. And news on the frog
front is good according to Andy Fritz of Williamsfield, who collected the Kermits that had kids shrieking on Saturday. “Last year during the drought it was hard to find many,” he said, “but this year was much easier.” Those frogs are likely the only participants who finish FROG Fest with less-than-Christian actions. “When we put them in the tank overnight (before returning them to the pond) there are usually several smaller frogs,” Fritz said. “But by the next morning they are often not there. And the bigger frogs are just sitting there smiling.” Here’s betting that’s a similar smile to the one seen on the face of many humans leaving FROG Fest.
AREA IMAGES
Spectators stand for the playing of The Star Spangled Banner at the final concert of 2013 for the Elmwood Municipal Band. This was season 154 for the oldest municipal band in Illinois. Photo by Amy Davis.
Barbara Fairchild sings at Brimfield’s Old Settlers Days last weekend. Photo by Jeff Lampe.
You can almost imagine this young boy pondering, “Whose idea was it to ride this Ferris wheel?” during last weekend’s Old Settlers Days in Brimfield. Photo by Jeff Lampe.
Are you a prince? A young girl stoops over to pick up a frog during FROG Fest at Dahinda’s United Methodist Church. Photo by Walter Lampe.
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FOR ANSWERS SEE PAGE 13
1. ENTERTAINERS: What are the first names of the comedian duo Abbott and Costello? 2. GEOGRAPHY: Which Caribbean island's capital city of Plymouth was destroyed by an active volcano in 1995? 3. ART: What is cloisonne? 4. LANGUAGE: What is unusual about the word "facetiously"? 5. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is an ungulate? 6. TOYS: What was the name of Barbie fashion doll's best friend? 7. ENTERTAINMENT: What are PATSY awards? 8. ADVERTISEMENTS: What company's logo is "Because you're worth it"? 9. HISTORY: What was Annie Oakley's nickname? 10. SCIENCE: What is the name for the process when a liquid becomes a gas? Answers 1. Bud Abbott and Lou Costello 2. Montserrat 3. Enamel decoration of metal objects 4. It contains all six vowels, including "y," in alphabetical order. 5. A mammal with hooves 6. Midge 7. Best animal performances in film and TV 8. L'Oreal 9. Little Sure Shot 10. Vaporization (c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.
Billtown plans for deficit By BILL KNIGHT
WILLIAMSFIELD – The proposed budget for Williamsfield Community Unit School District 210 for Fiscal Year 2014 will be displayed over the next few weeks, showing deficit spending “this year only,” according to Superintendent Tim Farquer, who said it keeps the levy the same and plans for district improvements while returning the district’s overall tax rate to 2012 levels, from 4.28 to 3.79. “We will remain the lowest taxing district in our area and we will remain on target to meet our innovative educational goals,” he said at the board’s Monday meeting. “I think students will leave Williamsfield better equipped for college and career, and you’re going to pay less. It is a value to live in our district.” The district’s cash on hand will drop about 9 percent, from 380 days to 344 days, Farquer said, but remains far ahead of nearby districts – more than twice as high as some. District 210 has $1.8 million cash on hand in eight area financial institutions. The 2014 budget will benefit from about $140,000 in Knox County’s penny sales tax and about $62,000 in federal grants from the Rural Education Achievement Program and Title I and II funds. The tentative budget will be on display for 30 days with formal adoption set for the board’s Sept. 16 meeting. That week, the district will launch the For The Weekly Post
early sale of the school’s Building and Trades home currently being built. Bidding will start on the day of the school’s Sept. 12 open house, with a minimum bid probably set at $165,000, depending on a final audit of construction costs. The district will show the house on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 14 and 15, and accept sealed bids until 4 p.m. Oct. 4 so the property can change hands by June 30. The Board reviewed results from the 2013 Prairie State Achievement Examination (PSAE), which tests high school juniors in Illinois for proficiency in math, reading, science and writing. The exam showed that 61 percent of Williamsfield students met or exceeded reading standards, and 42 percent met or exceeded math standards. In other business, new accommodations for in-town busing were discussed, and plans are underway for drop-offs at licensed day-care providers and also qualified pre-school day-care providers starting this fall if seating is available on buses; the board approved buying Catastrophic Accident Insurance through Mutual of Omaha through the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) to comply with a state law; the board unanimously voted to invest in a 15-month Certificate of Deposit from transportation funds with State Farm; and OK’d an increase in pay for volleyball and basketball officials who work both JV and varsity games from $90 to $100.
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THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, August 15, 2013
OBITUARIES Virginia Boyer
TRIVOLI – Virginia Boyer, 97, of Trivoli, formerly of Elmwood, died Aug. 10 at Farmington Country Manor in Farmington. Born Oct. 4, 1915, in Elmwood Township to Glenn I. and Delphia D. (Forquer) Baggs, Virginia married Charles Elmer Boyer on Feb. 28, 1937, in Glasford. He preceded her in death. Surviving are four children, Larry (Louise) Boyer of Elmwood, Roger Boyer of Fort Myers, Fla., Ronald (Donna) Boyer of Trivoli and LuAnn Kuderka (Todd Tedder) of Dallas, Texas; 10 grandchildren; 3 step-grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and 7 step-great-grandchildren. Services were planned for Aug. 14 at Trivoli United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Texas Cemetery in rural Trivoli. To offer condolences, visit www.sedgwickfuneralhomes.com.
Bruce Leon Coulter
CALICO ROCK, Ark. – Bruce Leon Coulter, formerly of the Elmwood area, died Aug. 4. He is survived by five brothers: Randy Coulter and Bryan Coulter of Elmwood, Ross Coulter (Tina) of Douglas, Melvin “Butch” Coulter (Sandra) of Ipava, and John Coulter of Broomfield; two sisters: Susie Worsford (Ron) of Elmwood and Tammy Jaggi (Fred) of Plano, Texas; several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and many good friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; and one sister-in-law: Ruby Coulter. A memorial will be held at a later date.
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ELMWOOD – Kathleen A. “Kathy” Davis, 58, of Elmwood, formerly of Chillicothe, died Aug. 10 at the OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home in Peoria. A memorial service is scheduled for First Presbyterian Church in Elmwood 10-11 a.m. Aug. 24, and at Seven Circles Center in Edwards at 1 p.m. on Aug. 25. Burial is planned at Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield.
Today’s Obituaries
• Virginia Boyer, 97, Trivoli • Bruce Leon Coulter, Calico Rock, Ark. • Kathleen Davis, 58, Elmwood • Betty C. DeWolfe, 89, Galva • James L. Murdock, 69, Galesburg • Dorothy Melville, 77, Farmington • Ann M. Sloan, 49, Williamsfield • Lester G. Webber, 90, Galesburg
Oaks-Hines Funeral Home in Elmwood is in charge of arrangements. To leave condolences, visit www.oakshinesfuneralhome.com.
Betty C. (Switzer) DeWolfe
WILLIAMSFIELD – Betty Carol DeWolfe, 89, Galva, formerly of Williamsfield, died Aug. 9 at Courtyard Estates in Galva. She taught school for 30 years in Knoxville, Williamsfield and Galva School Districts. Private services were held. Rux Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.ruxfuneralhome.com.
James L. Murdock
GALESBURG – James Lance Murdock, 69, of Galesburg, a Williamsfield native, died Aug. 7 at home. The son of James H. and Mary Gibbs Murdock, he married Louise Annette Webb on Aug. 7, 1965, at the Dahinda Methodist Church. She survives. Also surviving are their children – Annette Ferris, James Lance “Matt” (Deb) Murdock, and Alan (Nicole) Murdock – and six grandchildren. Cremation rites were accorded and a memorial was planned for Aug. 13 at Bethel Baptist Church. Offer condolences at www.hurdhendricksfuneralhome.com.
Dorothy Melville
FARMINGTON – Dorothy Ann Melville, 77, of Farmington, died Aug. 7 at Methodist Medical Center in Peoria. Born March 9, 1936, in Potosi, Mo., to Adolph and Eunice (Francis) Dunn, Dorothy Ann married
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Philip Melville on Dec. 11, 1954, in Elmwood. He survives. Services were scheduled for Aug. 14, at Anderson-Sedgwick Funeral Home in Farmington. Burial will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery. Memorials can be directed toward the Elmwood Educational Fund, the Farmington Alumni Foundation or the charity of your choice. To offer condolences, visit www.sedgwickfuneralhomes.com.
Lester G. Webber
GALESBURG – Lester G. Webber, 90, of Galesburg, father of a Brimfield man, died Aug. 7, at Marigold Health Care Center . He is survived by four sons, Timothy (Jo Ann) of Brimfield, and Thomas (Kendall), Jeffrey (Nancy) and James (Amber), all of Galesburg; one daughter, Leslie Jo Haynes of Galesburg; 10 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. Graveside services were Aug. 13 at St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Offer sympathy at www.watsonthomas.com.
Ann M. Sloan
WILLIAMSFIELD – Ann Marie Sloan, 49, formerly of Williamsfield, died Aug. 10 at her parents’ home in Knoxville. Born Oct. 28, 1963, in Galesburg, the daughter of Cleveland L. and Karen R. Lewis Sloan, she graduated from Williamsfield High School in 1981, then attended Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg. Cremation rites will be accorded. A celebration of life is 122 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17, at Hurd-Hendricks Funeral Home Fellowship Center in Knoxville, followed by a private graveside inurement in Knoxville Cemetery. Hurd-Hendricks Funeral Home, Knoxville, is assisting the family in arrangements. Offer condolences through www.hurd-hendricksfuneralhome.com. Obituary Policy: We print basic obituaries for free. Longer obituaries cost $1 per column inch and $5 per picture. Forms are available at The Weekly Post, 115 W. Main St.; Elmwood, IL. Or call 309-741-9790.
Caldwell wins livestock ribbons at Fair
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SPRINGFIELD – Maddison Caldwell of Elmwood was one of several area participants to bring home ribbons from the Illinois State Fair livestock judging. Caldwell’s Angus steer was selected as Land of Lincoln Junior Reserve Grand Champion and was Junior Champion Angus Steer. Caldwell, 15, also had Reserve Grand Champion Junior Poland China, the Reserve Supreme Champion Gilt, a Champion Yorkshire Gilt and claimed two blue ribbons in Chester White judging.
Other blue ribbons in junior beef cattle judging included Emma Bird of Laura for her Charolais female. Easton Beard of Dahinda earned second place for his Crossbred steer and Megan Williams of Dahinda won third for her Crossbred steer. Gracia Ramp of Yates City earned a blue ribbon for her Crossbred steer while Brandon Collopy of Williamsfield was third for his Angus steer. In breeding sheep judging, Pete Cahill of Brimfield won Reserve Champion Ewe with his Suffolk
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and won third for a pair of yearling ewes. Cahill also had Reserve Champion Ewe in sheep judging. In hog judging, Kaden Schlipf of Dunlap won third for his Chester White, while Kami Beth Stahl earned second- and third-place ribbons for Crossbred barrows. In junior swine, Kami Beth Stahl of Brimfield had a first and third for her Crossbred barrow, Caldwell had a third for Crossbred barrow, Schlipf had second for his Hampshire and Stahl had a second for Spotted hogs.
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FARM FIELD
Short corn crop, long price tail? By PHYLLIS PICKLESIMER
URBANA – The drought-reduced U.S. corn crop of 2012 created expectations that corn prices would follow a “short crop, long tail” price pattern characterized by a price peak early in the marketing year followed by an unpredictable pattern of declining prices and a return to pre-drought price levels, said University of Illinois agricultural economist Darrel Good. “With a short crop, high prices early in the marketing year signal the necessity to reduce consumption with subsequent price declines reflecting the reduced rate of consumption and eventually a return to more abundant U.S. and world supplies,” Good said. Prices were elevated even before the drought of 2012 due to a combination of below-trend yields in the United States in 2010 and 2011, a small Argentine corn crop in 2012, and robust corn demand for ethanol production. Spot cash prices in central Illinois averaged about $3.10 in September 2009, increased to near $7.35 in April 2011, declined to just under $6.00 in December 2011, and peaked at $8.15 in August 2012. The peak in the daily average price was near $8.50. The average spot cash price in central Illinois was near $5.80 in late May 2012 just before drought conditions unfolded and was at $5.81 on August 2, 2013. The cash bid for harvest delivery is near $4.40. Prices since last summer have generally followed the expected pattern, he said. “Although corn prices have behaved as expected, the consumption response to high prices was not as expected. The bulk of the consumption response was in the export market. With less than a month left in the 2012-13 marketing year, U.S. corn exports are expected to reach only 700 million bushels, 843 million less than was exported last year, and 550 million less than the USDA forecast in September 2012,” he said. According to Good, the sharp decline is in contrast to previous short-crop, For The Weekly Post
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THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, August 15, 2013
high-priced years when exports remained strong. The decline reflects, at least in part, the increased feed grain production in the rest of the world in response to high prices in recent years. “In contrast, domestic feed and residual use of corn this year is expected to total 4.45 billion bushels, only 95 million less than was consumed last year and 300 million more than the USDA’s September 2012 projection,” Good said. The sharp decline in exports resulted in larger domestic availability than was expected and required a much smaller reduction in domestic livestock production than was anticipated, he said. With December 2013 corn futures now trading under $4.60, the question is whether the long-tail price pattern is complete. Evidence for addressing that question is in two categories: consumption prospects for U.S. corn and size of the 2013 U.S. corn crop. There are clear prospects for increased consumption of U.S. corn during the year ahead if new-crop prices remain near or below current levels, Good added. The USDA’s June Hogs and Pigs report revealed intentions for modest expansion in hog production, which could accelerate with confirmation of a large U.S. corn crop and continued strong hog prices, he added. “Corn used for ethanol production could get a modest boost from increased E85 consumption as lower corn prices and continued high gasoline prices will make it possible for E85 to be competitively priced with E10 on an energy equivalent basis. The question is how fast E85 consumption can increase under favorable economic conditions given the current infrastructure limitations,” Good noted. Finally, exports of U.S. corn are expected to recover from the dismal level of the current marketing year as U.S. corn becomes more competitively priced. The USDA will release its first survey-based yield and production forecasts this week.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 16 4:30 pm Food Stand Opens 5:00 pm Boden Amusements (Carnival Rides) Beer Tent opens 6:00 pm Baby Contest Bingo 7:00 pm Closer to Free (Contemporary Christian) 8:00 pm F-Sharp (at right) (Classic Country & Rock)
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 17 7:30 am Gazebo Run 1-mile walk/run 5K race 8:00 am Food Stand Opens with Biscuits and Gravy Breakfast 11:00 am Parade (Theme: Heroes) 12:00 pm Boden Amusements Vendor/Merchant Booths Open Wildlife Prairie Park Animals 1:00 pm Farm Stock and Antique Tractor Pulls Pedal Tractor Pulls 2:30 pm Sweethearts Contest 5:00 pm Battle of the Bands Beer Tent Opens “Bags” Tournament 6:00 pm Bingo 9:30 pm Battle of the Bands Winner Plays Encore Set!
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THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, August 15, 2013
IN BRIEF
LAND AUCTION Selling 118 (+/-) Acres of Peoria County Farm Real Estate Located at 8418 and 7926 S. Kingston Mines Rd. Glasford, IL
TUES. AUG. 27 @ 9:30 A.M. AUCTION TO BE HELD AT THE HANNA CITY SPORTSMANS CLUB Web Site: www.cowserauction.com This farm contains approx. 118 (+/-) acres with the FSA map showing 105.72 (+/-) acres of tillable farmland. Improved with 2 story home, garage, machine shed, grain bins, hay barn. See web site or call Col. Gail Cowser 309-678-5224 for information or appointment.
SHEILA A. ZINSER & GARY W. MELZ AND GARY W. MELZ & LINDA K. MELZ, OWNERS SALE CONDUCTED BY: COWSER AUCTION SERVICE Col. Gail Cowser, CAI, AARE Col. John H. Bliss Auctioneer and Managing Broker Ph. 309-224-8870 Ph. 309-678-5224 Princeville, IL Glasford, IL Attorney for Sellers: Froehling, Weber & Schell, John C. Potter, 309-245-2474, Farmington, IL
Spencer Curtale, Owner Serving All of Central Illinois Residential • Commercial • Farm Free Estimates!
309-691-0276 office 309-222-1152 cell
Brimfield library reading program a success
BRIMFIELD – The Brimfield Public Library’s Have Book, Will Travel! 2013 Summer Reading Program ended with a splash Aug. 12, as participants and their families flocked to the Princeville Aquatic Center to celebrate another successful summer. Over the course of the sevenweek program, more than 130 infants through adults turned in reading logs for prizes, attended special performances, created fun crafts and learned about foods and cultures from around the world. “We had some wonderful volunteers from the Italian-American Society of Peoria, Jewish Federation of Peoria, and the St. Patrick Society of Peoria, as well as some well-traveled locals who came and made amazing international food with our 4th-12th graders,” said Youth Services Manager, Katie Hahn. Kids of all ages, along with their
Area Church Listings To sponsor call (309) 741-9790
BRIMFIELD Baptist Church S. Jefferson St., Brimfield (309) 446-9754 Brimfield Evangelical Free Church 11724 N. Maher Rd Brimfield (309) 446-3571 Brimfield United Methodist Church 135 S. Galena St. Brimfield (309) 446-9310 Worship: 9 am St. Joseph’s Catholic Church 314 W. Clay St., Brimfield (309) 446-3275 Bible Class: 8:45 am Worship: 10 am St. Paul’s Lutheran 228 W. Clay St., Brimfield (309) 446-3233 Union Church Pastor Stephen Barch 105 W. Clay St., Brimfield (309) 446-3811 Zion Episcopal Church 205 E. Van Buren St. Brimfield (309) 446-3811
DAHINDA United Methodist Church 162 Knollcrest Circle Dahinda, IL 61428 (309) 639-2768
DOUGLAS United Methodist Church Douglas Worship: 8:30 a.m.
EDWARDS Bethany Baptist Church 7422 N. Heinz Lane Edwards (309) 692-1755 Bethel Bible Church 9728 W. Powder Mill Rd. Edwards
(309) 676-3217 Sun. School: 9:30 am Sun. Worship: 10:45 am
(309) 742-4921 Sat. Worship – 4 pm Sun. Worship – 10 am
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
United Methodist Church 821 W. Main St., Elmwood (309) 742-7221 Sun. School: 9 am New Day Worship: 9 am Sun Worship: 10:30 am
Evangel Community Church 7614 N. Heinz Lane Edwards (309) 692-2024 Korean Presbyterian Church of Peoria 7910 N. Ford Rd., Edwards (309) 683-8556 United Methodist Church W. Powdermill Rd. Edwards (309) 676-3139
St. Mary’s 9910 W. Knox St. Kickapoo (309) 691-2030
ELMWOOD Crossroads Assembly of God Pastor Tim Cavallo 615 E. Ash St. Elmwood (309) 830-4259 Wed. Worship: 7 p.m. Sun. Worship: 10:30 am
parents, also enjoyed programs like Geoff Akins’ Bubble Wonders show and a visit from the Peoria Zoomobile. “The library is so grateful to Brimfield High School for letting us hold most of our special programs in their commons area this summer,” said Hahn. “In the five years that I’ve been working as the Youth Services Manager, Summer Reading Program attendance has doubled. That’s really exciting, but it also means the library doesn’t have enough space for our largest programs.” Due to steadily increasing attendance of both summer and schoolyear programs, the library is currently considering adding on to the existing building. “We are hoping to create a new, larger space that will accommodate everything from glow-in-thedark juggling to family movie nights,” Hahn said. “We also have some exciting ideas for re-purposing the current activity room.”
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KICKAPOO
LAURA Laura United Methodist Church 20300 W. Walnut Creek Rd. Laura (309) 995-3371 Worship: 9 am Sun. School: 10:45 am
WILLIAMSFIELD St. James Catholic Church 111 S. Olive St. Williamsfield (309) 446-3275 Worship: 8 am @ church (Labor Day to Mem. Day)
Elmwood Baptist Church 701 W. Dearborn Elmwood (309) 742-7631 Sun. School: 9:30 am
Williamsfield United Methodist Church 430 N. Chicago Ave. Williamsfield (309) 639-2389
Worship: 10:30 am and 6 pm Wed. Worship: 7 pm
YATES CITY
First Presbyterian Church of Elmwood 201 W. Evergreen Elmwood (309) 742-2631 Worship: 10:30 am St. Patricks Catholic Church 802 W. Main St. Elmwood
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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. Chancel Choir: 7:30 pm
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Food Pantry offers free school supplies, clothes
BRIMFIELD – Friends of the Pantry is holding its second School Clothing and School Supply Giveaway Saturday, Aug. 17, and Aug. 24 at Brimfield Union Church, 8 a.m. to noon both days. Last year the pantry helped more than 30 families prepare for the school year. Monetary donations are welcome and can be sent to: Brimfield Union Church; P.O. Box 377, Brimfield, IL 61517; ATTN: School Supplies. Or call (309) 446-3811.
Arbor Day Foundation offers 10 free trees
Everyone who joins the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation in August will receive 10 free Colorado blue spruce trees. Send $10 to Ten Free Blue Spruces, Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Ave., Nebraska City, NE 68410, by Aug. 31 or join online at arborday.org/august.
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THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, August 15, 2013
GOLF: Laurel Greens offers surprises Continued from Page 16
team, adds that while Laurel Greens is familiar turf, he is perhaps even more at home at the nearby Oak Run golf course. That’s due to a stint last summer on that course’s maintenance crew – and the additional rounds he played there as a side benefit. “The hills and valleys here give great views,” Inskeep says of Maple Lane. “But they can be a challenge,” he adds, chuckling and looking from the tee box over one such example – with the pin and historic clubhouse as centerpieces in a picturesque frame. Nonetheless, Inskeep, a 15-year-old sophomore who also competes on the Scholastic Bowl team, says he has enjoyed many a round at Maple Lane with his
family, friends and schoolmates. In short, Laurel Greens delivers on its website’s promise of “play along plateaus, through valleys, along ridges, among trees, lakes, and streams.” The same can be said of Maple Lane’s oftchanging elevations. And on our recent day of play, the Elmwood course offered an additional teasing twist of a few holes centered in ohso-slight cereal-bowllike depressions on the greens. The first-blush impression was those offered an easy skee-ball-like horizontal bulls-eye. But once again, appearances were deceptive. Though we couldn’t pinpoint why, those greens were among the most challenging – and in the way
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Three of our four golf “writers” pose prior to teeing off at Laurel Greens. From left to right are Austin Gladfelter, Keith Butterfield and Kelly VanLaningham. Photo by Bill Knight.
that only all tormented golfers can understand – actually fun. At the end of the day, no one was uttering the old quote about golf being “a good walk spoiled” – and that was-
Other Nearby Courses
LAUREL GREENS PUBLIC GOLFERS CLUB
COYOTE CREEK GOLF CLUB 8201 Lancaster Road, Bartonville, IL 61607 (3090 633-0911 • www.golfcoyotecreek.com 18-hole course 6,701 yards, par 72 Green fees (including cart): $33 for 18 holes Mondays; $43 Tues.-Thurs.; $53 Fri.-Sun.; seniors $29 Mon.-Thurs. OAK RUN PUBLIC GOLF COURSE 1470 Knox Road 1725 N., Dahinda, IL 61428 (309) 879-2583 or 309-289-6481 www.oakrungolfcourse.weebly.com 18-hole course 6,109 yards; par 71 Green fees (including cart): $30 in the morning; $25 12-3 p.m.; $20 after 3 WEAVER RIDGE 5100 Weaver Ridge Blvd., Peoria, IL 61615 (309) 691-3344 • www.weaverridge.com 18-hole course 7,030 yards; par 72 Green fees (including cart): $79; Mon.-Wed. before 8 a.m. $49; Tri-County rate, Mon.-Sat.$69; Sunday Tri-County rate - $59; Seniors Mon. & Tues. before 8 a.m.)- $39; daily after 3 p.m. - $49; Juniors (17 and under) Mon.-Wed. - $30, Thurs.-Fri. $35
MAPLE LANE COUNTRY CLUB 701 N. Magnolia St., Elmwood, IL 61529 (309) 742-8212 www.maplelanecountryclub.org 9-hole course; 3,025 yards, par 35 Green fees: $15 (18 holes), $7.50 (9 holes). Built in 1966, Maple Lane is a private club with memberships available. Besides the 9hole golf course, the club offers an Olympicsize swimming pool, a stocked lake, a tennis court, a private bar, banquet facilities and more. To apply for a membership, with quarterly payments of $200, call (309) 742-8212 or visit www.maplelanecountryclub.org
538 N Jefferson, Brimfield - $128,000 3BR/1.5BA Move-in condition, priced to sell!
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Local Golf Courses 1133 E. U.S. Route 150, Knoxville, IL 71448 (309) 289-4146 Two 18-hole courses. East course 6,367 yards; par 72; West course 6,703, par 72 Green fees: $14 for 18 holes weekdays; ($15 weekends); 9 holes $10 and $11 weekends. Carts $5 per rider per 9 holes.
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www.karengrotts.com
n’t because we traversed by carts. It was because our likable, well-mannered young golf partners and each course provided a pleasurable few hours away from the hurly burly of the world in beautifully well-maintained environs. (Note to the editors: Got any more assignments like this one?)
Butterfield was a longtime government reporter at the Peoria Journal Star before becoming a spokesman for Caterpillar, from which he retired last year. VanLaningham is retired from the Peoria Journal Star, where he was Senior News Editor. He now works part-time at Fon du Lac golf course in East Peoria.
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Page 16
THE WEEKLY POST • Thursday, August 15, 2013
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Gabe Inskeep of Elmwood tees off on the first hole at Maple Lane Country Club. Photo by Bill Knight.
Area golf courses: A good walk unspoiled By KEITH BUTTERFIELD and KELLY VanLANINGHAM
As newspaper story assignments go, this one sounded almost too good to be true: Play nine holes on each of a couple of nearby golf courses with high school golfers from The Weekly Post circulation area. And perhaps it was, but only by a bit. It rained during the afternoon round and there were the obligatory moments of fleeting despair over some shots. (OK, perhaps more than a few.) Just about everything else – especially the two teens who joined us and the two courses – made for a great way to spend a late summer’s day. Austin Gladfelter of the Williamsfield High School golf team served as the unofficial guide for a quick nine holes at Laurel Greens Golfers Club For The Weekly Post
off U.S. Route 150 near Knoxville. In the afternoon, Gabe Inskeep of Elmwood High School provided a homecourse perspective for Elmwood's Maple Lane Country Club on the north side of town. Laurel Greens is a 36-hole public golf facility that has offered its own bucolic brand of golf for many years. For a little longer, the private Maple Lane club, distinguished by its stately tree-lined entrance drive leading to the country-mansion-turned-clubhouse, has offered its members nine holes of golf enjoyment. The courses have their similarities, with each stealthily confronting the unsuspecting on more than a few holes. On those holes the senses are at first becalmed with eye-pleasing, gushingly green tee-box vistas of the best of the rural Illinois landscape: hills, dales,
old-growth hardwood trees and the occasional blue water. Then, over the course of advancing (hacking?) hither a few hundred yards, it's not unusual to conclude:”Geez, that hole looks a whole lot prettier than it plays!” Neither of these courses are of the manicured, bent-grass variety, though Maple Lane would get the course-conditioning nod over the more rustic Laurel Greens. But both offer a number of fun, challenging holes, including some tough par 3s. For example, the pretty, 132-yard sixth hole on Laurel Greens’ West course seems fairly benign from the slightly elevated tee. A fade is the safer shot, as the pond guarding the left side awaits those who hook their tee ball. The 466-yard, par-5 eighth is a stout challenge, as well, with water and long
grass all along the left and trees nearer the green on the right ready to swallow errant shots The signature hole at Maple Lane would have to be the long, 575-yard, par-5 seventh, the No. 1 handicap hole. From the blue tees, the player faces a looming expanse of water and a choice of how much carry to bite off. It’s a classic risk-and-reward dilemma: the more water you choose to play over, the shorter the route to the green on the second and third shots. It’s a hole that would be right at home on any top-tier course in central Illinois. “I enjoy this course,” Gladfelter says of Laurel Greens. “But you sometimes can be surprised by it.” Gladfelter, a 17-year-old senior at Williamsfield who also plays on the Williamsfield-Galva coop baseball Continued on Page 15
ELMWOOD FOOTBALL ... THEN & NOW Here is a picture of members of the 1900 Elmwood football team that finished 7-0-1 and outscored opponents 8711, including the likes of Bloomington, Brimfield, Peoria and Galesburg.
Fifteen members of the Elmwood-Brimfield football team, along with coach Todd Hollis and his sons, spent Aug. 7 splitting firewood at Camp Big Sky. The players split 12 truckloads of stumps for campfires at the camp for children and adults with disabilities. As of Wednesday, though, the team was back to practice in preparation for the Aug. 30 home opener against Peoria Heights.
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