A summary of the news for October 2002.
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October 2002

October 6

Gridley easily ran by Fieldcrest 32-6 Friday night at Gridley. The Knights only touchdown came on a 3 yard run by Brett Brown. Jordan Castrejon carried for 56 yards while Shaun Manning connected on 12 of 31 passes for 135 yards.
An electrical fire caused by a electrical wiring problem forced an evacuation of the Fieldcrest High School Friday morning. Students were sent to the gymnasium while officials inspected the building. Later the students and staff were sent home for the day. The cause of the electrical malfunction is being investigated.
David Froelich, owner and operator of the Folkers-Froelich Funeral Home in Minonk, has sold the funeral home along with nine other funeral homes to Calvert Funeral Homes of Clinton. The funeral home in Minonk will retain the same names and all 12 Froelich employees will be retained by the new owner.

The Froelich family has been in the funeral home business since 1910. The Folkers-Froelich Funera Home was formerly the Tallyn-Folkers Funeral Home.

October 13

EL Paso overwhelmed Fieldcrest 48-13 Friday night at Minonk. The Comets were led by Joe Petta who ran for four touchdowns. Fieldcrest garnered most of its yardage in the air with 241 of its 262 total yards coming from quarterback Shaun Manning who completed 14 of 31 passes. Both Fieldcrest touchdowns were on passes, a one-yarder to Jarrod Browning and a 45 yard catch by Blake Overocker. Fieldcrest is now 3-4 for the year.
Yesterday, October 12, the Fieldcrest Marching Knights marched at the Olympia Invitational at Olympia High School in Stanford, Illinois. The Knights placed 2nd in their class (Class A against El Paso and Le Roy) in the parade competition and also 2nd in the field show competition. El Paso placed 1st in both competitions. Sarah Bryene and Danny Longman both received outstanding drum major awards in our class. The Marching Knights would like to thank those who supported us during this season. Thanks!

October 20

Flanagan ran by Fieldcrest behind the 4 touchdowns of the Falcon's Brendan Bachman who also rushed for 319 yards. Jordan Castrejon led the Knights with 2 touchdowns and 110 yards rushing. Shaun Manning scored the other Fieldcrest touchdown while completing 12 of 31 passes. Fieldcrest is now 3-5 for the year and mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.
The Fieldcrest Board of Education discussed the possibility of a tax referendum next April. The district is facing a $1.5 million dollar deficit and needs to come up with a solution in order to meet the operating needs of the school district for the coming years.

Superintendent Michael Stagliano said that expenses normally increase 4.5 percent each year. He expects the district will be operating in the red unless an additional source of funding can be provided. The board feels that it will need the extra funds from a tax referendum along with money from an estimated $600,000 in working cash that can be moved into the education fund. The school board is considering raising the education fund rate by .60 which will raise the rate on property tax from $2.97 per $100 in accessed property value to $3.57. Stagliano said that if serious cuts can be made by March, then the .60 increase will be sufficient, else a $1.00 increase might be needed.

The board has until January 27 to place the referendum on the ballot.

In other news the board appointed Jessica Stremlau as the 7th grade girls' volleyball coach for East, and Derek Renz as the freshman boys' basketball coach at the high school.

The board accepted a bid of $71,000 for the old Fieldcrest Elementary West property from Phil McCulley of Toluca.

October 27

Former Woodford County Sheriff Bill Meyers received a 3 year prison sentence for misuse of sheriff's department credit cards amounting to over $200,000. Meyers resigned last November after the start of an investigation by the Woodford County States Attorney. Meyers was accused of spending the money on personal items including visits to area strip joints. He pleaded guilty last July to federal money laundering charges and mail fraud.

U. S. District Judge Michael Mihm rejected Meyers claim that the money was used to feed a gambling addiction citing the fact that Meyers had spent the money on personal items including over $20,000 for motorcycles. He was ordered to repay $233,816.51 to Woodford County. Meyers will begin serving his sentence on November 25 and will be eligible for parole after 31 months.

The Fieldcrest High School building was broken into early Tuesday morning around 3:30 a.m. The suspects apparently entered through the cafeteria window (small) which they broke out. They then broke out some glass in the high school office door which set off the alarm. No other damage or items were stolen.

Woodford county investigators were on the scene and took evidence. According to Superintendent Michael Stagliano everything has been repaired. He said that they will be looking into increasing security.

Fieldcrest blew away Woodland 48-0 Friday night at South Streator. Quarterback Shaun Manning led the Knights with 5 touchdown passes and 311 yards passing. Jordan Castrejon scored three touchdowns, two of them on pass receptions from Manning. Jarrod Browning, Patrick Patterson and Kevin Orabutt each scored a touchdown to complete the scoring. Fieldcrest has a 4-5 overall record with a 2-3 record in the Midstate North.


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