2008 ... A year in review
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| July: High winds blew through Bureau County, causing hundreds of downed trees and power lines. Several stores and businesses closed because they had no power. (BCR file photo) |
April 1 — Though Malden Grade officials agree to meet with Princeton High School and Princeton Elementary officials, Malden Superintendent Deb Dalton says the Malden School Board is unanimous in not wanting reorganization.
April 3 — Four or five parents and grandparents attend a town hall meeting in Princeton on the problem of underage drinking. Others in attendance were community officials or panel experts.
The 906 team of Jason and Jamie Smith and Dave and Amy Bickett win the three-month 2008 Thin to Win fitness competition, sponsored by the Bureau County Republican and the Bureau County Metro Center.
April 5 — State’s Attorney Patrick Herrmann files an 18-page amended complaint against the Bureau County Board on behalf of his client, Bureau County Clerk Kami Hieronymus. The amended complaint comes after the judge allows the dismissal of Hierony-mus’ original complaint.
April 8 — Brandon Spears, 11, of rural Tampico dies in a house fire. The boy is a sixth-grader at Bureau Valley North in Walnut.
The Princeton City Council announces it is interested in buying property to develop a commercial park on the north edge of town.
April 10 — The cost of the new Captain Swift Bridge comes under fire at the annual town meeting of Princeton Township. Highway Commissioner Larry Vetter says the bridge is well worth the additional cost.
April 12 — Longtime Bureau County Republican recipe columnist Opal Schubert dies at the age of 82. Schubert provided a recipe column to the BCR for 25 years. She was also a home economics teacher at Western High School.
April 15 — University of Illinois Extension officials learn the state match for Extension programs, about $18 million, have been frozen by Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Bureau County Extension Director Jill Guynn says the local budget for this fiscal year, ending June 30, was planned with the state guaranteeing one dollar for every dollar raised locally.
April 17— The Bureau County Soil and Water Conservation District learns about $80,000, or 70 percent, of the district’s annual budget is frozen by the governor.
A motion requiring wind farms to bury transmission lines dies for lack of a second at the Bureau County Board meeting.
April 19 — Representatives for Sens. Dick Durbin and Barack Obama tour the St. Margaret’s Health facility in response to a request from Spring Valley Mayor Jim Narczewski. St. Margaret’s officials have announced the hospital will move from its current location to east of town. The possibility of locating a veterans’ hospital in the current St. Margaret’s site was discussed.
April 22 — The Victory Worship Center can no longer holds its worship services in its building, at least without being in violation of state law. The Princeton City Council, on a 2-2 decision, votes to approve a special use permit to the church. However, three votes were needed for approval.
April 24 — A former Princeton man, Steve Jackson, 25, is injured in Iraq. His grandmother Nancy Cork of Princeton reports on his serious injuries but states he is breathing on his own and doing better.
Rodney Lange of Princeton is named Ambassador of the Year by the Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce and Main Street organization.
April 26 — The Bureau County Board receives a $14,600 check from the county’s insurance company for items stolen from the courthouse last August. The Illinois State Police continues its investigation into the courthouse theft.
Nedda Simon of Princeton is inducted into the National Resource Conservation and Development Hall of Fame in Washington, D.C. for her community volunteer work and leadership.
April 29 — The Princeton Park District learns it will receive a $400,000 OSLAD grant to help develop 37.6 acres adjacent to Zearing Park.
May 1 — Princeton Elementary School District will go no further toward a reorganization study with the Princeton High and Malden Elementary school districts. PES Board President Steve Bouslog says the lack of interest from the other districts and the PHS decision to not split the cost of a study were the main reasons to drop further pursuit of reorganization.
May 3 — The Princeton Theatre Group announces a “Setting the Stage” capital campaign to raise $750,000 for the establishment of the Illinois Theatre Conservat-ory.
Area stylists from Sophisticuts Salon and Day Spa announce the formation of the Believe Foundation to raise money to provide free wigs for cancer patients.
May 6 — In an effort to conserve fuel and curb gas costs, the Illinois Department of Transportation announces it will no longer pick up road kill, semi tires and trash.
May 8 — The American Automobile Association announces the national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is $3.61. One year ago, that price was $3.03.
The Princeton Young Professionals is formed as an outreach of the Princeton Chamber of Commerce. The purpose of the group is community service, networking and career development.
May 10 — Grundy County Circuit Court Judge Robert Marsaglia denies a motion to dismiss a lawsuit regarding an outdoor beer garden in Spring Valley. The four-count suit was filed in June 2007 regarding the Alfano beer garden across from the Little Sicily restaurant.
May 13 — Two Bureau juveniles are arrested for allegedly leaving a bomb threat note at Leepertown Grade School in Bureau. The threat caused the closing of school for the day.
May 15 — Two youth accused of making a bomb threat at Leepertown Elementary School appear in court and will remain in custody at the LaSalle County Detention Home until their June 5 trials.
May 17 — The Bureau County Board votes down a motion to reduce building permit fees for wind farms from $25 per foot of tower height to $1 per foot of tower height.
May 20 — The Princeton City Council officially designates the city’s proposed commercial park as a business district and adopts a development plan for the park.
May 22 — Princeton Elementary School Board members unanimously approve a statement expressing regret about the failure of reorganizational talks with Princeton High School and Malden Grade School. A lack of interest by PHS and Malden and the decision by PHS to not split reorganization costs are reason to not go forward, the PES Board says.
May 24 — The Junior First Grade Program at Princeton Elementary is once again discontinued, due to low enrollment. Only five students were scheduled for the 2008-09 school year, making the program not justified financially, Super-intendent Tim Smith said.
May 27 — On a 60 to 50 vote, Illinois legislators defeat a motion calling for a debate on whether to temporarily lift the state sales tax on gasoline.
The Walnut Public Library will receive $25,000 from the state to get rid of some asbestos-containing flooring.
May 29 — Bureau County Board member Jim Lilley of Wyanet withdraws his name from the circuit clerk race on the November 2008 ballot. Time restraints was the major reason for his withdrawal, Lilley said.
Princeton Superintendent of Water Treatment Mike Scott announces his resignation due to health reasons.
May 31 — Following a two-day search, a missing LaMoille man, Terry Drummer, 56, is found dead on the south edge of town. There was no evidence of foul play or suicide, Coroner Janice Wamhoff said.
June 3 — The Princeton City Council approves a $3.4 million purchase of 133 acres on the north edge of town to develop a commercial park. Commissioner Bob Warren casts the lone no vote, saying the city can’t afford to go into more debt.
June 5 — Princeton resident Marlene Wilson heads to Parkersburg, Iowa, to help with the recovery work after a tornado hit the area. Wilson has relatives in the Parkersburg area.
June 7 — Two Bureau boys enter guilty pleas in Bureau County Court for the Class 3 felony charge of disorderly conduct for placing a threatening note at Leepertown Grade School.
June 10 — Gov. Rod Blagojevich announces Bureau County will receive $128,298 for three new vehicles for Bureau Area Rural Transit, which is operated by Gateway Service in Princeton.
June 12 — Irene Clayton wins a local spelling bee sponsored for area senior citizens by the Bureau county Senior Center. Clayton and first runner-up Helen Rich were given trophies and will participate in a regional spelling bee in Rock Island.
June 14 — Bureau County Treasurer Nina Urbanowski and staff send out 27,000 local real estate bills. This year’s local real estate tax bills total about $44.5 million, compared to last year’s total of $43.6 million.
June 17 — The Princeton City Council considers tax breaks for the developers of a proposed Princeton Shopping Center in the old Wal-Mart store. The tax benefits would also apply to the old Sullivan’s store and a neighboring office building, also owned by the Sullivan family.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service offers a reward for information on a possible act of vandalism at the Princeton Post Office. Water damage was caused by the opening of an interior fire hydrant.
June 19 — Princeton City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh answers questions about the proposed redevelopment of the former Wal-Mart building, saying the existing businesses in the area will not be affected by proposed sale tax changes.
Bulletin boards of cancer survivors are set up around the county in preparation for the annual Bureau County Relay for Life walk.
June 21 — Bureau County State’s Attorney Patrick Herrmann files a third amended complaint on behalf of Bureau County Clerk Kami Hieronymus in her ongoing dispute with the Bureau County Board on cuts to her budget.
Lori Compton, new executive director of the Bureau County Red Cross, encourages local residents to be as generous as possible with monetary donations for flood victims in Illinois and Iowa.
June 24 — Spring Valley Mayor Jim Narczewski calls on his commissioners to increase fines and penalties for businesses selling alcohol to minors, recommending businesses lose their liquor licenses after a fourth offense.
Princeton Police Chief Tom Root warns residents to watch for scams perpetrated throughout the community. An elderly Princeton woman recently lost thousands of dollars in a supposed Reader’s Digest sweepstakes win, he said.
June 26 — Hall High School Board of Education cracks down on cell phone abuse in classrooms. The board changes the student handbook to require cell phones to be turned off and kept in the student lockers from 7:55 a.m. to 2:55 p.m.
Michelle Leverich of Tiskilwa encourages kids to wear helmets and practice bicycle safety after her son, Brandon Foster, is Lifeflighted to OSF St. Francis Medical Center following a bike accident.
June 28 —The DePue Unit School District will have a new superintendent and a new principal for the new school year. Ann Chandler has been hired as the new superintendent, replacing interim Tom Dobrich. The school board is still looking for a new principal, following the resignation of Steve Sash.
Grant Lynch is named director of the Princeton Public Library. He replaces Carol Bird, who retired from the position after seven years.
July 1 — Bureau County Sheriff John Thompson confirms a black bear was sighted near Sheffield. At least two area persons reported seeing the bear.
Construction of the Big Sky wind farm in northern Bureau County is put on hold until next spring due to design problems with turbine blades.
July 3 — Perry Memorial Hospital nurses Kris Hansen and Kathy Blanford spend four days helping the flood relief effort near Quincy. The women are part of the IMERT-INVENT volunteer medical organization.
July 5 — Freedom House and the Princeton Public Library join efforts to bring a three-part series of community programs on violence and the media, Internet safety and bullying.
July 8 — Spring Valley aldermen approve an ordinance increasing penalties for selling liquor to minors. The new ordinances increase the current $500 fine after each offense and calls for an automatic revocation of the license after the fourth offense.
July 10 — The Bureau County Board votes 6 to 13 to not accept the health insurance bid from Central State. The vote came after a 45-minute discussion on the lack of following proper committee procedures and the lack of promised information for all committee members and insurance agents.
July 12 — The Bureau County Board votes to table action on granting conditional use permits for the Walnut Ridge wind turbines until a road agreement is reached.
July 15 — Princeton City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh says the issue between The Closet owners and the developers of the old Wal-Mart store building is not a city issue.
July 17 — The Bureau County Board hosts a community meeting on the county jail assessment by National Institute of Corrections consultants.
July 19 — Michelle Lymberopoulos is named director of the Bureau County United Way. She replaces former director Jean Babcock, who had served for 10 years in the position.
July 22 — High winds bring down hundreds of trees and branches, along with numerous power lines, across Bureau County in an early morning storm. Stores and businesses close due to no electricity.
July 24 — Bureau, Henry and Rock Island counties are declared state disaster areas by Gov. Rod Blagojevich due to the extensive wind damage received from recent storms. State disaster designation makes available resources such as equipment and work crews to help communities in their clean-up efforts.
July 26 — Circuit Judge Joseph Hettel grants a motion to dismiss, with prejudice, the third amended complaint filed by County Clerk Kami Hieronymus against the Bureau County Board. Hieronymus has 30 days to appeal the judge’s decision.
July 29 — According to the Illinois Youth Survey report for 2008, 69 percent of Bureau County sixth-graders think it would be very hard to get alcohol, compared to 29 percent of eighth-graders who think the same thing. By high school, only 15 percent of 10th-graders and 8 percent of 12th-graders agree.
July 31 — Elizabeth Fleming of Geneseo is named the 2008 Miss Bureau County Fair Queen. Hannah Shearburn of Wyanet is named Junior Miss Fair Queen. Nicole Wirth of Sheffield is named Little Miss Fair Queen.
