Thursday September 22, 2016 Vol. 4, No. 29
The Weekly Post
****************ECRWSS*****
PRSRT. STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Elmwood, Illinois Permit No. 13
“We Cover The News of West-Central Illinois With A Passion”
Hot news tip? Want to advertise? Call (309) 741-9790
Serving the fine communities of Brimfield, Dahinda, Duncan, Edwards, Elmwood, Farmington, Kickapoo, Laura, Monica, Oak Hill, Princeville, Williamsfield and Yates City
Fidler on the tundra Fairview man writes intriguing tale of Canadian trapper By JEFF LAMPE
The more you talk to Bob Fidler, the more there is to talk about. Some people are so complex and so full of unexpected intrigue that it’s almost like pulling back the leaves of an artichoke as you get to know them. What’s next? What will be the next fascinating revelation? So it goes when you meet a man who once played minor league baseball, has sold cattle and taught school for a living, while also finding time to coaching college baseball and high school basketball. And, oh yeah, along the way he took thousands of kids and parents on Canadian canoe trips over that time, spending the equivalent of three years of his life sleeping on the ground. “I’ve slept on every pine cone and lump in Canada,” said Fidler, who turned 79 on Sept. 12. “All I’ve got now is two bad shoulders and I’m falling apart in old age. But it was worth it.” Fidler, who for years has run the Fairview Sale Barn in west-central Illinois, recently published an inWeekly Post Staff Writer
triguing true story about the life and times of Gus D’Aoust, a trapper in the harsh Northwest Territories of Canada. It seems back in 1973, Fidler wrote an entire manuscript Author Bob Fidler (right) shakes hands with veteran Northwest that he then Territories trapper Gus D’Aoust at the trapper’s summer home packed away near Great Slave Lake. in a drawer in the bedroom of his Cuba home, Book Signings never to look at again until last winAuthor Bob Fidler will sign copies ter. of his book “Alone But Never “I ran across the manuscript and Lonely” on Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. at decided to see if I could get it pubElmwood’s Morrison and Mary lished,” Fidler said. Wiley Library. Thank goodness he did. This was Fidler will also sign Oct. 1 and my favorite read of the Summer of Oct. 8 from 9 a.m. to noon at the 2016. Though slightly repetitive at Maquon Public Library during the times, this is mostly a fascinating, Spoon River Drive. unvarnished story of a man whose Friesen Press to publish his 210kind no longer walks the earth. page book, which can be purchased Some of the stories will bother from online booksellers like Amapeople today, though that is not inzon.com and others for $13.95 soft tentional. It’s just accurate to cover to $34 hardback. D’Aoust’s life as a trapper on the Consider it money well spent for frozen tundra of far northern a unique story. D’Aoust spent much Canada. of his winter alone on the tundra Life wasn’t easy on The Barrens, with only a dog team to keep him as the area is called. To get that story out, Fidler enlisted the help of Continued on Page 2
FREE!
Carrier Route Presort RURAL BOXHOLDER LOCAL P.O. BOXHOLDER
Compliments of Our Fine Advertisers!
Kickapoo sets park closing hours at 10:30 By BILL KNIGHT
KICKAPOO – The Township’s park at the center of the village is working – people are playing. But a few neighbors say it’s working too well, so Trustees on Monday unanimously passed an ordinance closing the park at 10:30 p.m. “except for authorized special events.” The closing time is consistent with past practice, but in the last couple of months small groups have occasionally played basketball later than traditionally accepted. “The park’s being used – which is good,” said Supervisor Karl Koy. “But we’ve had a couple of complaints that sometimes games go on past midnight.” Township Clerk Julie McIntyre added that there have been no problems with the basketball players, no damage and no trash. “They even clean up after themselves,” she said. “The only inconvenience is that sometimes they play late.” The Board hopes the ordinance and signs clarifying the hours will keep the park active and help make the nights quieter. Since Kickapoo has no local police, the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office should be contacted if neighbors have concerns. In other business, Trustees set pay for offiFor The Weekly Post
Continued on Page 12
WILD BEAST?
Yates City OK’s grace period for water bills By BILL KNIGHT
YATES CITY – After a computer flaw caused confusion in the appearance of local water bills, the Village Board on Sept. 14 approved waiving late fees and delaying shutoffs to unpaid bills to Sept. 20 instead of the 10th. A recent computer upgrade has addressed the problem, which shouldn’t happen again, according to Village President Kenny Gibson. In other good news, volunteer Jim For The Weekly Post
Ralston from the local Gazebo Committee gave a final accounting of the successful, months-long effort, and reported spending $16,171.87 to stabilize and renovate the iconic structure. The Village contributed $4,637.16 to the project. The committee has about $4,000 remaining, but faces future expenditures ranging from the possibility of a new roof to 144 memorial bricks – 82 of which have been sold. Trustees took no action on the idea of
adding pole lights to the gazebo area and tabled the measure until spring. Also tabled – but just until next month – is an ordinance permitting regulated use of golf carts and other small vehicles on local roads in conformity with state law. Village attorney Wayne Statham may have a draft ready for October, although several unanswered questions he had will be discussed then. Also discussed was the new police vehicle, which Police Chief Randy Benson Continued on Page 12
This wild float designed by the Elmwood High School junior class was in last Friday’s Homecoming Parade in Elmwood. Photo by Monica Lampe. See more, Page 10.