24001 W. Farmington Road, Farmington, IL 61531 ****************ECRWSS***** PRSRT. STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Elmwood, Illinois Permit No. 13 Thursday Carrier Route Presort August 5, 2021 The Weekly Post RURAL BOXHOLDER Vol. 9, No. 23 LOCAL P.O. BOXHOLDER Hot news tip? “We Cover The News of West-Central Illinois With A Passion” Want to advertise? Serving the fine communities of Brimfield, Dahinda, Douglas, Duncan, Edwards, Elmore, Elmwood, FREE! Call (309) 741-9790 Compliments of Farmington, Kickapoo, Laura, Monica, Oak Hill, Princeville, Williamsfield and Yates City Our Fine Advertisers! DAYS OF PURPLE ARE HERE New Farmington cop Orchids has family ties to job By JEFF LAMPE provide For The Weekly Post FARMINGTON – Finding striking police officers is becoming more and more difficult for law enforcement agencies of blooms all sizes these days, what By GRETCHEN STEELE with societal changes and For The Weekly Post new regulations. Oh, the hot, muggy, The problem is exacerbated buggy days of late in small rural communities, summer! The last days where the candidate pool is Dorian Utsinger was sworn in as of July and first days of even more limited to begin a full-time officer for the Farming- August always mean it’s with. But sometimes, law en- ton Police Department on Mon- “purple time” to me. forcement is in the blood. day. Photo by Rollen Wright. There are big purple So it would appear for police chief in Yates City and blackberries along the Farmington’s newest police Stamm was the first woman roadsides, fence rows, officer, Dorian Utsinger, who and across the hilltops campus police officer for was sworn in at Monday’s Peoria District 150. and waterways. Elder- meeting of the Farmington berries, a deep, almost “Nobody wants to do this Purple Fringeless Orchid offers a striking late-summer bloom. Photo by Gretchen Steele. City Council. black-purple, are starting job anymore,” Farmington Utsinger, 33, is the third to ripen in the same native Purple Fringeless chid for some not so The purple fringeless Police Chief Chris Darsham generation of police officers spots – if you can beat Orchid that start popping welcome Dame’s orchid is native to Illi- said. “But he’s definitely the hungry birds to them. up. At first glance, it’s Rocket, or even blue nois and is quite the in his family, following in the from a nice line of cops in the But, the most exciting easy for the untrained lobelia or the much more striking plant. It be- footsteps of his late mother, field and that’s why he purple of late summer eye to mistake a patch of common American Bell- comes even more re- Donna L. Gibson, and his wanted to do it, because he are the tall spikes of the the Purple Fringeless Or- flower. Continued on Page 2 late grandmother, Tina wanted to continue that.” Stamm. Gibson was a former Continued on Page 10 Brimfield composites back on display By JEFF LAMPE In late July, several members president of the BHSAA. “Please For The Weekly Post of the Brimfield High School check out the new photo display BRIMFIELD – Nearly 80 Alumni Association (BHSAA) the next time you visit BHS.” years of composite pictures are worked to restore and replace the The school district and F&M on display again at Brimfield old photos that were no longer Bank helped sponsor the project. High School, just in time for the being displayed. Pictures were McKown, who helped resur- 10th anniversary of the new then put in a photo rack display rect the BHSAA in 2011, was building. that has been placed in the north joined in the project by fellow While composite photos of hallway on the lower level of the Brimfield alumni Lonye (Berk- Brimfield High School classes high school. ley) Gilles `72, Debbie (King- from 1936-2011 once lined the “This north hallway is now don) Blackburn `74, Janet halls of the old school, they were deemed the BHS alumni hall- (Short) Stenger `75, Joann taken down when the new build- way,” wrote Clint McKown, a (Clark) jones `76 and Aaryn This new collection of composite photos of Brimfield classes from 1936- ing opened in August of 2011. 1997 Brimfield graduate who is (Gilles) Jennings `93. 2011 is now on display in the north hall of Brimfield High School. Page 2 THE WEEKLY POST • August 5, 2021 www.illinoisweeklies.com ORCHIDS: Found mainly in southern Illinois Continued from Page 1 across. The lovely purple in Illinois. It’s considered the primary threat to this markable when you give it blossoms are part of a “uncommon” in southern uncommon wildflower, a good close-up look. cluster/raceme at the very and southeastern Illinois which can also be demol- Each blossom seems to top of the stem and can and absent in other areas ished by hungry herbi- have a tiny face in it. range from about 3-8 of the state. You can view vores such as cattle, deer On more than one occa- inches long and 2½ inches a range map at www.illi- and rabbits. It’s not un- sion, when showing this across. noiswildflowers.org by usual for landowners and orchid to the wee ones Blooming period for the searching for Purple managers who are lucky tagging along for a trip purple fringeless orchid Fringeless Orchid. enough to have a popula- out to pick berries and occurs during mid-to-late Habitats, where you are tion of these delightful or- summer mushrooms, I summer and lasts about mostly likely to find one chids to cage them in wire have heard them exclaim, three weeks. When the of these unusual beauties, to prevent just that sort of “Look, there’s a monkey bloom period is over, the include prairie swales, browsing damage. face (or any other type of delicate blossoms are re- floodplain woodlands, If you should be lucky faces including elves and placed by small seed cap- swampish areas, thickets, enough to encounter these fairies with a few of the sules about ½–¾ inches stream banks, poorly uncommon orchids, more imaginative little long. The seed capsules drained fallow fields, please note the location folks) in there!” split open and release ditches and moist prairies. and contact an Illinois De- This gorgeous orchid hundreds of tiny seeds It is often found in sea- partment of Natural Re- ranges from 1-3 feet tall. that are spread by the sonal wetlands that flood sources heritage biologist There are 2-5 alternate wind. during the spring and dry to let them know. leaves along the tall un- Unfortunately, the Pur- out in summer. As we continue to see branched stem up to 8 ple Fringeless Orchid is For all of its delicate our weather patterns inches long and 2 inches an uncommon wildflower beauty, this orchid can change and more typically usually benefit from a bit southern Illinois species of habitat disturbance – creep northward, you including tree canopy re- never know – you just duction in woodlands and might run into a few spe- removing competing cimens if conditions are vegetation, especially in- correct ... or if you happen vasive species. to be enjoying the out- Invasive species intru- doors in southern Illinois sion and habitat loss are where they do occur. Correction The Farmington School Board voted 6-1 in favor of a Return to School plan during its July 19 meet- ing. Board member Kay Faralli cast the lone dis- senting vote during the meeting. The newspaper erred in reporting that the vote was 4-3. ADVERTISE! CALL (309) 741-9790 TWO open positions Director of Marketing & Public Relations Commercial Lender Join our fun, dynamic, growing team! Send your resume to [email protected] or call/stop by for more details. We Cover The News of West-Central Illinois With A Passion www.illinoisweeklies.com THE WEEKLY POST • August 5, 2021 Page 3 THE WEEK AHEAD Upcoming Events • Farmers Market – An Elmwood farmers market will be held in Central Park Friday, Aug. 6, from 4-6:30 p.m. Markets held each Friday through Aug. 27. • Cruise In – Brimfield’s 15th annual Super Cruise In for Diabetes will be held Saturday, Aug. 7, from 4-8 p.m. All proceeds benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund. Silent auction, raffles, food sold. Call Joe Arbogast at (309) 678-3639. • Blood Drive – A Farmington community blood drive will be Monday, Aug. 9, from 1-6 p.m. at St. Matthew Catholic Church. For appointments call 1- 800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org. Thursday each month at 2 p.m. This Week’s Events 9125 PHILANDER CHASE, BRIMFIELD - FABULOUS 4BD home, over 1 acre lot w/fire • Yoga – Yoga classes Thursdays at 6 Future Events pit & garden shed. Large up- p.m. in Brimfield Library Activity Room. • Old Settlers – Brimfield’s 131st annual dated master suite, great $4 per class. Old Settlers Days will be Aug. 12-14. room has vaulted Classes held Mondays, Wednesdays and Bands include “Still Shine,” “Patrick N ceilings/gas log fireplace, main level office fully appli- Fridays at 9:30 a.m. at Princeville’s Lillie Swayze,” “Nick Sizemore and the Saddle- anced kitchen, huge bonus room, 3 season room, patio & M. Evans Library. tramps” and the “Joe Stamm Band.” more! NEW PRICE! $399,900 • Tai Chi – Tai chi classes Tuesdays at 6 Parade 1 p.m. Aug. 14. NEW LIST! 505 N. LAKEVIEW, ELMWOOD - Great yard with p.m. in Brimfield Library • Harvest Home – Har- this 3BD quad-level home, sliders to spacious deck, new carpet Activity Room. $4. Bring vest Home Festival in in bedrooms, 2 car att.