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By JEFF LAMPEFor The Weekly Post ELMWOOD – A guest speaker had Elmwood CUSD 322 administrators buzzing during a short meeting of the School Board on Monday. Motivational-speaker Terrence Lee Talley addressed grades 5-12 in two different assemblies.Superintendent Joel Schmieg said Talley has spoken to more than 270,000 students across the country. His appearance coincided with the school’s start of White Out Week, which includes a variety of fundraisers for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. According to Principal Tom Bell, Talley shares stories from other students around the country to help audience members know they are not alone in their struggles…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.Police reports Incidents & AccidentsStark County1-10 – A two-vehicle accident occurred on the Modena Road approximately a quarter of a mile east of 950E. Tractor driver Jeffrey J. Wisnefski, 62, rural Wyoming, was traveling west when he struck the side of an eastbound 2004 Dodge Ram driven by Gavin J. Ebert, 18, rural Wyoming. The accident report noted that the tractor was wider than its lane. Ebert’s driver’s side mirror was broken. There was no visible damage to the tractor. No injuries were reported, and no tickets…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.Police reports • ELMWOOD – An Elmwood-area man was accused of threatening to use a drill bit to stab someone.Russell M. Varnell, 51, was arrested following the incident. It happened shortly before 6:30 p.m. Dec. 27 at a residence in the 2300 block of Illinois Route 8, according to a Knox County Sheriff’s Office report. The victim, a 33-year-old Canton man, said he was remodeling the kitchen at his cousin’s residence when Varnell began to argue with him. A physical fight ensued and continued outside. A Milwaukee-brand…

Frye buys Brimfield, Princeville pharmacies By JEFF LAMPEFor The Weekly Post BRIMFIELD – At a time when many small-town pharmacies are closing, the future looks much brighter for two local drugstores. On Jan. 1, Kevin Frye completed his purchase of Sherman’s Pharmacy and Princeville Pharmacy. His brother, Kody Frye, is the manager and pharmacist in Princeville and they become the second set of brothers to play active roles in providing medical assistance for local communities. Curtis Sherman, who started Sherman’s Pharmacy in September 1977, will continue working as a part-time pharmacist two days a week. His brother Keith Sherman, who worked…

By NICK VLAHOSFor The Weekly Post PRINCEVILLE – The Princeville School District appears to be in a bit of turmoil. Petition drives are underway to remove Superintendent Tony Shinall and return Peoria County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Crystal Strauss as school resource officer. The primary issue appears to be a late-October incident in which Shinall was accused of lifting a 4-year-old preschooler for disciplinary reasons. It isn’t clear if that incident was connected to the reassignment of Strauss after six years as Princeville SRO. The sheriff’s office notified the school district Jan. 2 regarding Strauss’ departure. WEEK-TV in Peoria first reported the…

Money, if allocated, would fund wastewater lagoon rehab By JEFF LAMPEFor The Weekly Post ELMWOOD – City officials are cautiously optimistic that the second time will be a charm for a $1 million federal grant to upgrade Elmwood’s wastewater lagoons. U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen announced this week he has secured more than $33 million in federal Community Project Funding for Illinois’ 17th Congressional District, including $1 million for Elmwood. Similar funding was secured for Elmwood in March 2024 by Sorensen, a Democrat, but was removed from the bill signed by President Donald Trump in March 2025. The project required by the…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.Police reports. Incidents & AccidentsStark County1-12 – Courtney D. Smith, 28, Springfield, was cited for speeding 80 mph in a 55 zone, operating an uninsured vehicle and driving on a suspended registration. Her vehicle was towed and impounded.1-12 – Steven J. Earthely, 25, Kewanee, cited for driving while his license was suspended. His vehicle was impounded.1-13 – Shannon W. Capen, 51, Peoria, was ticketed for driving on a suspended registration and for operating an uninsured vehicle.1-13 – Kenneth L. Meeker, 64, Kewanee, was cited for driving a…

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.Police reports • FARMINGTON – Police took two juveniles into custody temporarily following a fight during a high school boys basketball game in Farmington on Jan. 14. After that incident, one of the suspects threatened the other by posting on social media a photograph of a gun, according to authorities. Farmington police were notified about 7:30 p.m. Jan. 14 about a fight at the school. Farmington was playing Canton at the time. Farmington School District personnel broke up the fight and the two juveniles were removed from…

Focus on vacant or neglected properties has paid off By JEFF LAMPEFor The Weekly Post FARMINGTON – A concentrated effort to deal with vacant and neglected buildings and trailer homes in Farmington appears to be paying off. At Monday’s meeting of the Farmington City Council, Police Chief Chris Darsham reported he has received responses regarding 21 of 30 vacant or neglected buildings or trailer homes currently in violation of city codes. A few other responses arrived Tuesday morning, the chief said, though he has not processed them yet. Letters were sent to owners of the properties along with a form now…