From the editor’s desk
While Monday gave us a reminder of what spring in the Midwest usually delivers, I don’t think there are many of us who will complain about the unseasonably mild temperatures we’ve been having recently. My backyard is absolutely beautiful — the redbuds are vibrant; the early tulips and daffodils are in bloom; the lilacs are ready to pop ... Spring’s second chance is truly upon us.
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What’s the big deal? Check out the Bureau County Republican’s BigDeal! this week. You can find them at www.bcrnews.com. These deals will save you some of your hard-earned cash:
• Get five tanning sessions for only $11 at Guys N’ Gals Salon in Princeton. That’s a $22 value for only $11!
• Get a certificate for $20 worth of great deals on upscale brand-name clothing and accessories at Nine Twenty Four in Chillicothe for only $10. That’s a savings of $10!
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The Checkered Flag Challenge: Not much excitement at the Auto Club 400, due to the rain-shortened race. Tony Stewart was credited with the win. This Sunday, April 1, will bring race fans back to the East Coast and the paperclip-shaped track of Martinsville for the Goody’s Fast Relief 500. If you are not part of our Checkered Flag Challenge, you still have time to pick your team and get started. Log on to www.bcrnews.com and click on the contest tab and pick your favorites for Martinsville today. Your top 15 races will go toward your season score. If you are one of the top three at the end of the season, you could win racing tickets to Michigan or Chicagoland.
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The BCR Open: Do you enjoy a round of golf? Do you watch the PGA on TV? Well, then we have a contest for you. The BCR Open is set to begin with the 2012 Masters Tournament on April 5. You pick your top 10 golfers for each tournament for a chance to win a prize for each tournament and the overall grand prize at the end of the season. If you know your golf or just love playing our contests, you can log on to www.bcrnews.com and click on the contest tab to get registered today “fore” a lot of golfing fun.
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I’m always impressed with the number of church-hosted events at this time of the year. From fish fries to pancake breakfasts to chicken and biscuit dinners and more, it seems like there is a plethora of activities every weekend, hosted by our Bureau County church family. Check out a sampling of those events with our photo collage on Page 2.
The BCR welcomes and encourages you to take photos of your special events/activities and submit them for publication. Photos can be brought to our office at 800 Ace Road in Princeton or email them to news@bcrnews.com. Make sure you include information about the event and who is in the photo. Cell phone photos are not encouraged. Questions? Contact BCR Associate Editor Rita Roberts at 815-875-4461, ext. 227, or by email at rroberts@bcrnews.com.
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I’d like to extend a big “Way To Go” to the organizers of the annual Spring Valley Masters Walleye Circuit Tournament, held last weekend on the Illinois River at Barto Landing. Mother Nature provided the right stuff to make the weekend a beautiful one, and the Spring Valley Walleye Club along with a host of volunteers who put it all together did another bang-up job. I’m always impressed with this event. If you see any of the organizers out and about, make sure you give them a well-deserved pat on the back. Check out our sports pages in today’s BCR for our coverage.
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The BCR has the most creative and reasonably-priced printing service around. BCR Commercial Manager Mona Cruse will be happy to help you with all your printing needs. Give her a call at 815-875-4461, ext. 226, or email her at mcruse@bcrnews.com.
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Take time to enjoy the season, and remember ... you are important to me and the BCR.
