Free Press Advocate

WPD trying to win canine squad

Published by admin on Tue, 10/02/2018 - 7:56pm

    The Wilmington Police Department’s canine unit is one of 30 finalists in a contest to win a new sport utility vehicle that’s customized for the job they do.    
    The WPD canine Mao and his handler, Officer Kris Hopper are driving around in the department’s oldest vehicle, with over 119,000 miles on it. The squad needs to be replaced — and you can help them upgrade by voting for them.

Hauntings help uncover history

Published by admin on Tue, 09/25/2018 - 7:17pm

Fred Scheidenberger is digging into Wilmington’s history and telling the stories of those who once lived here — through their hauntings.
He has investigated several historic sites in Wilmington, including cemeteries, the old city hall, downtown shops and the public library. In each one, he believes, he has experienced and often recorded evidence of spirit energy.

Food pantry founder dies at 87

Published by admin on Tue, 09/25/2018 - 7:10pm

    Sister Ann Ellen Quirk, BVM, who established the Kuzma Care Cottage and nurtured all of the benevolence that flows from its doors for decades, died Saturday, at Caritas Center in Dubuque, Iowa, at the age of 87.
    Sister Quirk entered the congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1949. In 1952 she was assigned as a music teacher and a counselor at St. Rose Parochial School, where she began a small food pantry in her music room.

Wesley sued for FOIA violation

Published by admin on Tue, 09/25/2018 - 7:07pm

    Kirk Allen, from the Edgar County Watchdogs, filed a lawsuit Monday against Wesley Township for failing to respond to his request for public documents.
    On Aug. 2, Allen asked the township for copies of several documents, including the last fiscal year’s budget, park financial records, proof that the township was authorized to collect fees for park usage, the supervisor’s bond and the last two agreements with the Township Officials of Illinois Risk Management Association.

Council puts grant focus on historic business district

Published by admin on Tue, 09/18/2018 - 7:42pm

    Mayor Roy Strong says the original intent of a local grant program was to support the historic downtown business district, and the council is generally on board with changing the city code to reflect that.

City to crack down on meter tampering

Published by admin on Tue, 09/18/2018 - 7:39pm

    It’s not common, but some Wilmington residents actually disconnect the radio transmitter on their water meters so they don’t have to pay for all of the water  they use. But it’s not fair that the rest of us pay for their water, so the city is going to start cracking down on those violators.
    The water department is in the midst of a project to change out Datamatic brand radio transmitter meter heads whose batteries are failing prematurely. While the workers make those changes, they’re installing the new meter heads wired to detect if they’ve been disconnected.

City offers WBSA 99-year lease

Published by admin on Tue, 09/18/2018 - 7:37pm

    The city offered the Wilmington Baseball and Softball Association a 99-year lease for the parks where the city’s baseball and softball playing fields are located, and the City Council was slated to approve it Tuesday.

Hurricane Florence will not result in widespread gas price spikes, analyst says

Published by admin on Thu, 09/13/2018 - 11:29am

    BOSTON (September 12, 2018) – GasBuddy has now expanded its fuel availability tracker for motorists in Georgia, joining North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia motorists looking for fuel
ahead of Hurricane Florence’s arrival, which has prompted millions of people to evacuate.

First nationwide test for cellphones planned

Published by admin on Tue, 09/11/2018 - 7:10pm

    At precisely 1:18 p.m. central time on Thursday, Sept. 20, cell phones across the nation will sound an alert, representing the first time mobile devices will be included in a test of the national emergency alert system.
    The Federal Emergency Management Agency and Federal Communications Commission will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert (EAS) and the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) systems to ensure public safety officials have the methods and systems that will deliver urgent alerts and warnings to the public in times of an emergency or disaster.

Berkley and her bunch

Published by admin on Tue, 09/11/2018 - 7:08pm

    Turning 13 means a lot to a girl. It’s that first hint she’s growing up. And for that special day Berkley Rink showed just how mature and compassionate a new teen can be.
    Berkley    celebrated her birthday early this month with a party. She wanted a proper celebration to mark the day she became a teen.
    “I have to have a party and it has to be lit!” Berkley had told her mother.