****************ECRWSS***** PRSRT. STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Elmwood, Illinois Permit No. 13 Thursday Carrier Route Presort April 22, 2021 The Weekly Post RURAL BOXHOLDER Vol. 9, No.9 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! PRINCEVILLE PERCUSSIONIST Bank robbery! Decorated drummer Man armed with pipe robs Abbey Haste earning accolades Elmwood Community Bank By LORI HEROLD icated of her musical By JEFF LAMPE For The Weekly Post peers. Proficient with the For The Weekly Post There was a time when it xylophone as well as the ELMWOOD – An older could be said that girls drums, she has been a part white male brandishing a who played percussion of four high school bands, red pipe robbed the Elm- marched to the beat of a the Bradley Honor Band, wood Community Bank on different drum. Today, it’s and the Eastern Illinois Tuesday at approximately more common to see girls University Honor Band. 10:41 a.m. and fled north seated at drum sets, and Her accolades include on foot with an undis- A Peoria County Sheriff’s ve- that’s what drew Abbey winning music competi- hicle parks outside Elmwood Haste, 18, of Edelstein to tions and being selected closed Community Bank on Tuesday play. for various ensembles. amount of following a morning robbery. “I always enjoyed seeing The criteria for these cash. other girls playing drums, competitions and selec- Police say vehicle. it was very inspiring for tions can differ. For in- the man en- At the time of the rob- bery, three employees were me,” Haste said. “I wanted stance, she competed with tered a in Elmwood Community to be like them.” other musicians in her dis- stolen white Beck Bank, which was later Haste is anything but trict before being selected Toyota closed for the day. There common, though. Since to participate in the Illinois Prius in the 100 block of were no injuries reported. fifth grade, the Princeville Music Education Associa- East Cypress Street north Peoria County Sheriff High School senior has tion (ILMEA) Concert of the bank, which is lo- cated on the corner of Brian Asbell said that John packed enough musical Band for six years. In her North Magnolia and Ever- W. Beck, 54, is a person of hours and experience into junior year, she was se- Princeville High School senior Abbey Haste, 18, has been green streets. Footage from interest in the case. The her young life to produce a lected to play for both asked to play for several Illinois concert bands due to her a homeowner’s doorbell thief in Elmwood was de- resume that could rival the ILMEA’s Orchestra and skills as a drummer and on the xylophone. Photo by Lori He- camera on East Cypress scribed as standing 5-foot- most talented and ded- Continued on Page 2 rold. Street helped identify the Continued on Page 9 Pink flowers add color to April garden By RON DIETER to honey, many gardeners are at- For The Weekly Post Garden Section tracted to any “new” plant. I’m no In early spring, the colors yel- Watch for our annual Yard and exception. I admit to being an Garden section on May 5. The low, white and blue dominate the “avant garde-ner,” so to speak. section always appears just a few Doing some research, I learned gardens around our house. Daffo- days before Mother’s Day. Why? dils and spring snowflakes con- that ‘Beth Evans’ wasn’t really Because as this week is proving, new. It was first exhibited in tribute the bright yellows and planting anything before 1988. Nevertheless, I ordered a whites while the intense blue Mother’s Day can be a risky few dozen bulbs, technically flowers of tiny scilla and the proposition. tubers, and set them out in groups softer, paler blues of pulmonaria called “The Best Of The Rest,” a here and there in the garden. I’m and bluebells complete the pic- really happy with the result. The list of special miscellaneous or ture. bright pink flowers of C. ‘Beth minor bulbs. At the top of the When I was ordering flower Evans’ provide a pleasing coun- Corydalis solida ‘Beth Evans’ is a relatively new bulb that offers some variety bulbs a couple of years ago, I ran roster was a “new” item: Coryda- terpoint to the yellows and blues to the typical spring garden palette of whites, yellows and blues. Photo by Ron across a section in the catalog lis solida ‘Beth Evans.’ Like bees Continued on Page 11 Dieter. Page 2 THE WEEKLY POST • April 22 2021 www.illinoisweeklies.com DRUMMER: Band an outlet during pandemic Continued from Page 1 Haste is part of her own One of the band’s goals music programs, resources Jazz Band, a first for a band with two other musi- is to expand beyond the and support of teachers. Princeville High School cians, Cami Proctor and Peoria. She specifically mentioned student. For the Prairie Josh Sweeney, who she “For the future,” said her mother; her first band Wind Ensemble competi- met by chance at the 2016 Haste, “we plan to con- director, Jodi Slagel; drum tion, she had to prepare a Princeville Heritage Day tinue playing around and teacher Jeremy Clark; and piece within certain criteria Fair at a “Battle of the writing music together and ensemble instructor Peggy and perform before three Bands” competition. hopefully branching out of Bonnor. She said they in- judges, netting her a cash Proctor and Sweeney had Peoria. We’d love to tour spired her, motivated her, prize, the accompaniment heard Haste play in a talent around Illinois to wherever and pushed her to improve. of the Ensemble to her show before the competi- we can.” And while the pandemic piece during a concert and tion and asked her to stick At the beginning of this has limited public perform- a professional recording. around for their perform- year, The Blank Stairs re- ances, Haste and her band But she says her greatest ance. leased their first album, members haven’t wasted victory was winning the “It was truly fate that we “Face Paint,” produced by the time. As they wait for Prairie Wind Solo Compe- found each other … it was Connor Billard. According the opening of venues, tition’s “Best of Day” their first time playing in to Haste, the songs on the they’ve worked to improve award. Winning this means public and I was very close album are “described in other skills. Haste says it’s her performance was the to not playing in the talent Spotify and Google as al- been a good time for best the judge heard all day show,” Haste said. ternative and Indie, but songwriting, practicing and – and Haste has received Haste’s Band, The Blank there could be a lot of fluc- preparing to record. the award three times on Stairs, has performed pop tuation in that.” As pandemic restrictions xylophones solos. and rock music in local Though Haste described lift and people are able to “I was up against a lot of venues such as The Betty the making of the album as return to their favorite en- really good musicians from Jayne Brimmer Center for “very fun,” it wasn’t ac- tertainment haunts, Haste around the area which Performing Arts, Monarch complished without “many will once again sit at her made it much more diffi- Music Hall, Cyds in the long nights at our pro- drums with The Blank cult but also made me feel Park, Wander Down Music ducer’s studio recording Stairs. Her main goal after very good to win,” she Festival in Makanda, the and hanging out,” some- graduation is to continue said. Peoria Riverfront, Kenny’s times only clocking two performing and songwrit- In addition to all the WestSide Pub and Kel- hours of sleep. This ac- ing with her band. But, she other musical ensembles, lehers. complishment is a source said, she’s also “open to of pride for the band be- becoming a studio musi- cause “we feel it’s a good cian and playing with art- demonstration of what ists who don’t have a we’re capable of…and drummer.” what our sound has be- So, who knows? As come.” Haste’s star continues to Like other talented enter- rise, maybe one day we’ll tainers, Haste said she has be able to say, “Abbey had a lot of support. She Haste, the drummer? Yeah, said she feels fortunate to I know who she is. She’s have attended Princeville from my corner of the schools because of the world!” with Graduating in May and heading to college in the fall? PSB and College AVE have designed a simple application process that gives you a personalized loan experience. Ready to get on the road to your college experience? Stop in or give us a call! 4924 W American Prairie Dr. Peoria, IL 61615 309-693-9494 142 E Main Street Princeville, IL 61559 309-385-4375 We Cover The News of West-Central Illinois With A Passion www.illinoisweeklies.com THE WEEKLY POST • April 22, 2021 Page 3 THE WEEK AHEAD Upcoming Events • Garage Sales – Elmwood city-wide garage sales April 23-24. • E Recycling Day – Williamsfield has an elec- tronics and paint collection day for Knox County residents April 24 from 9 a.m.