Thursday Aug. 20, 2015 Vol. 3, No. 24
The Weekly Post
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Yates City group raising funds to renovate gazebo Music highlights Harvest Home
By BILL KNIGHT
YATES CITY – Fifteen citizens filled the room at the Village Board’s regular monthly meeting Wednesday (Aug. 12), answering a perceived call for help. It was almost a heroic response: “Save The Gazebo.” “It’s a historic part of Yates City,” said Jim Ralston. “We don’t have many of those left.” Public support stemmed in part from a questionnaire mailed to water customers with recent bills, asking for feedback on whether the village should spend up to $30,000 to repair the 105year-old structure, or tear it down and rebuild a similar one in the same location, or let it stand until it becomes a safety issue. “We didn’t want to shock the community,” said Village President Kenny Gibson. “We’ve been pondering this for the better part of 10 years. For The Weekly Post
By BILL KNIGHT For The Weekly Post
Built in 1910, Yates City’s gazebo in Central Park is in need of extensive foundation work. A new group hopes to raise money for those repairs. Photo by Jeff Lampe.
“I realize what it means to the community,” he said. “We’re in the process of trying to figure out what to do.”
Trustee Boyd Bewley reported on a few estimates he secured in recent Continued on Page 2
Back to School
ANTIQUE POWER
Construction greets returning students By BILL KNIGHT
Supplies are being gathered, schedules planned, excitement built. Summer’s winding down. School’s gearing up. Here’s a snapshot of Weekly Post area schools heading into this fall, two of which are still in the midst of major construction projects. BRIMFIELD District 309 Enrollment in 2014-15, according to the Illinois State Board of Education, was 673. First day is Aug. 28. Enrollment is still being finalized after the Aug. 11-12 registration. For The Weekly Post
YATES CITY – Along with carnival rides and food, a baby contest and bingo, a parade and a vendor/craft fair, two area bands will entertain this weekend during Harvest Home Festival 129 years after it was first held. The Christian-rock cover band the Tomcats will perform at 7 p.m. Friday. Founded two years ago as the Elmwood Methodist Church’s praise band, The Tomcats – Mike Case (guitar), Tom Hayes (guitar and vocals), Darren McMillan (drums and vocals), Kris Petermeyer (keyboard and vocals) and Tom Tracy (bass and vocals) – plays tunes from the 1960s to today, from the Beatles and the Ramones to Third Day and Luke Bryan. The group donates money earned to St. Continued on Page 7
“Grade school has been wired to enable wireless access throughout the building,” says Superintendent Joe Blessman. “We also have two wireless labs at the grade school.” ELMWOOD District 332 Enrollment 652 last year. The first day was Tuesday (Aug.18). Expected enrollment, PreKindergarten through12th grade, is about 700 students. “The Junior High remodel and expansion is the major new project that is taking place in our district and will hopefully be completed close to the start of second semester,” said SuperinContinued on Page 13
Antique tractors were the focus of a first-time tractor pull held last weekend at Farmington’s Dimmitt (West) Park. BJ Oldfield had tried for years to organize the antique pull, which raised funds for charity. Food at the event was from the Farmington Oddfellows Lodge. Photos by Dave Giagnoni.