Thursday September 21, 2017 Vol. 5, No. 29 Hot news tip? Want to advertise? Call (309) 741-9790
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Local man joins WW II reenactment in France
Phil Reed of Elmwood, front left, was part of a group from around the world who reenacted battles from World War II in the French countryside near Normandy in July. Photo courtesy of Johan Bruyn.
reenacted at this event but without the bombers, was successful. “In this battle in WWII, every plane that could fly bombed the Germans, then the troops went in to finish it off,” Reed said. “The Americans shattered the German resistance and started the race across France.” Everything was as historically accurate as possible, from the uniforms, to the field kitchen and food (Spam, oatmeal and stew), to the vehicles – halftracks, trucks and Jeeps. Much was
the authentic, original equipment. Reenactors even had authentic weapons, shooting blanks, which were loaned to them by a collector and had been used on the set of the series “Band of Brothers.” Reed and other reenactors slept in pup tents or out in the open on the ground. They had two meals per day. The event took over a year to plan, and was sanctioned by the French government, Reed said. Members Continued on Page 2
Princeville book discussion looks back 90 years PRINCEVILLE – Author Bill Bryson won’t be in attendance Sept. 28 when the Lillie M. Evans Library convenes a 3 p.m. discussion on his book “One Summer: America, 1927.” However, sure to be there are memories of Charles Lindbergh and Babe Ruth, Prohibition and Henry Ford – and Princeville and its library, established that same year. “We’re tying this all together,” said LME Library Public Services staffer Kate
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FARMINGTON – The City Council Monday night reconsidered two actions and moved forward on two other issues. News that could potentially benefit local residents was Mid Century Communications telling the Council that the Fairviewbased company has received about 150 online responses and has identified seven neighborhoods to bring fiber-optic service to the community. Network Operations Manager Aaron Buck said Mid Century is interested in rolling out the 1G upload/download service like it is doing in Elmwood, with a public meeting and commitments by busiInside nesses before • Is football a dying proceeding with sport? Page 5. • Three escape home residential connections installed fire in Elmwood. Page 6. • EHD may still be a by “fiberhoods.” factor for deer and deer “We’re ready to hunters in Illinois this take the next fall. Page 13. step,” said Buck, • Obituaries. Pages who’s given a 14-15. draft of a franchise agreement to City Attorney Bill Connor to get a utilities easement to expand from a Mid Century line that already runs through town from Canton to Yates City. Connor said he’ll contact Mid Century’s attorney, and a proposal could come before the council in the next couple of meetings. The Council took action on an issue raised by Alderman Joey Boggs, who pointed out the difference between the contractor’s price of $6,500 for striping West Fort Street and the cost of city workers doing the work. The Council approved saving about $6,000 by having employees finish the striping. The vote was 4-2, with Aldermen Matt Ulm and Ryan Lambert opposing the measure and Mayor Kent Kowal also casting a vote. The striping is the series of 4-foot dashes For The Weekly Post
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REVISITING NORMANDY
ELMWOOD – Phil Reed of Elmwood indulged his interest in history by attending a World War II reenactment in Peoria in 2016. Little did he know this would lead to a trip to France in July of 2017 to participate in an international reenactment of Operation Cobra, a key battle in World War II that took place during the Normandy campaign seven weeks after D-Day in 1944. “I was just at the Peoria event as a spectator, and was recruited by one of the organizers,” Reed said. “Just a little over a year later, I was in France.” Operation Cobra was the Allied’s second attempt to break out of the hedgerows of Normandy, and was depicted in the movie “Fury.” The unfortunate first attempt resulted in the Americans accidentally bombing their own troops, but the second attempt,
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Will, “the 90th anniversary of our founding year, the history of the country and also of Princeville – a lot of people were surprised at the old business district” in a previous program. Part of the summerlong “Princeville Reads” program, the afternoon discussion will focus on the book by Bryson (author of “The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt
Kid” and “A Walk in the Woods” – from which the 2015 movie was made starring Robert Redford as Bryson). Part of the season’s program has been to challenge Princeville library patrons to read 90 books this summer, and it’s been successful, Will said. “We’ve had several already turning in their 90,” she said. “Others have turned in their second.” The Library has has been giving away 10 copies of the book. Continued on Page 10
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