The Weekly Post
Thursday September 11, 2014 Vol. 2, No. 29 Hot news tip? Want to advertise? Call (309) 741-9790
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Pioneer, author founded first Elmwood newspaper By BILL KNIGHT
ELMWOOD – One of Illinois’ earliest newspapermen also wrote a book about the state’s pioneer years, and became somewhat famous and very influential in central Illinois before dying in an insane asylum and being buried in Elmwood. John Regan was born 196 years ago this week in Ayrshire, Scotland, the home of poet Robert Burns. In 1842, the 24For The Weekly Post
year-old school teacher left Europe for America, traveling to New Orleans and St. Louis, Burlington, Iowa, and the Regan Mormon colony in Nauvoo, where he met Latter-Day-Saints prophet Joseph Smith, but disliked what he saw. After a short stay, Regan and
‘Little Library’ brings books to Kickapoo
his small family moved across the prairies to central Illinois. He remarked that “the voyage [was] ... like a strange dream; but here, in the depths of the unsubdued wilderness, surely is reality. The brown squirrel scampers up the tree, looking at us over his shoulder as he goes, and chattering among the branches – the woodpecker taps upon the decayed limb – the bluebird flits from tree to tree ... but still there is the feeling of solitude and loneliness gushing
into the heart from every object around.” Regan happened upon Spoon River and followed it southward where he bought 40 acres west of Ellisville near a nowvanished village named Virgil. There he built a log cabin, farmed, taught school and kept detailed notes. Regan, his wife Elizabeth, and their four children in 1847 returned to Scotland to let Regan write and publish “The Emigrant’s Guide to The West-
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ern States of America,” which came out sometime in the next few years, with an expanded edition in 1852 (Elmwood’s Morrison and Mary Wiley Library has a copy). Possibly inspired by Charles Dickens’ rather negative 1842 assessment, “American Notes for General Circulation,” Regan’s book was a narrative account not only of moving to early Illinois, but also of pioneers’ lives on the frontier. It Continued on Page 10
Farmington OKs bonds for solar plan
By CHERYL HARLOW
KICKAPOO – Since not everybody can come to the books, Brimfield Public Library has brought the books to the people. Last spring Brimfield Public Library joined a growing national trend by starting a Little Free Library in Kickapoo. Library director, Patty Smith used a repurposed library drop box – painted in lively colors – as a new source for books. “Since our main library is on the western edge of our library district, I latched on Smith to the idea of little libraries when it was discussed at our rural director’s monthly library group. “Not everybody can come to the building, so we go to them with the Little Library.” In its most basic form, a little free library is a box full of books where anyone may stop by and pick up a book (or two) and bring back a book to share. In 2009, Todd Bol of Hudson, Wis. built a model for a one-room schoolhouse as a tribute to his
By MICHELLE SHERMAN
For The Weekly Post
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FARMINGTON – The Farmington Community Unit School District 265 Board of Education on Monday (Sept. 9) voted unanimously to issue $800,000 of working cash bonds to help pay for a solar panel project. In August, the board approved entering into a $2 million contract with Farnsworth Group Inc. to construct a 2,600-module solar array on the roof of the building. Once completed, the array is estimated to provide one-third of the district’s annual electricity. The remaining $1.15 million of the project will be paid through a grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Group. “This resolution wraps up the issue and is the final say on the bonds,” said David Pistorius of First Midstate. Pistorius said the bonds have been sold at a rate of 3.46 percent, lower than the original estimate of 3.75 percent. The district has maintained its AA bond rating. “A lot of folks the last two years have been downgraded,” Pistorius said. “You’re doing well financially.” For The Weekly Post
A student makes an unlucky draw from her carton of boiled and raw eggs after failing to answer a question in the Ag Quiz Bowl. Photo by Joanie Stiers.
Ag Day crowd grows in Billtown By JOANIE STIERS
WILLIAMSFIELD – Rubber ducks raced as contestants rapidly pumped hydrants. The stories from a 100-year-old featured speaker sparked laughter in the main tent. And by the end of the day, ragged hay bales evidenced the popularity of the bale climb. These represented just some of the prominent acFor The Weekly Post
tivities that attracted a crowd at Ag Day on Sunday at Doubet-Benjamin Park in Williamsfield. The community service event, organized by Williamsfield’s FFA and 4-H families, featured more than 20 free activities. New this year, attendees enjoyed apple peeling, cow pie bingo, an archery game, balloon herding and a village history display.
Scenic wagon rides, duck races, and displays of antique and modern farm equipment returned this year to attract all ages. Meanwhile, kids also enjoyed chances to drive youth-sized John Deere Gators, tractors and trucks to complete chores. Nearby, they raced on pedal tractors and attempted to lasso “steers” Continued on Page 9
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