Editor’s note: This is the third in a series focusing on the events in and around Bureau County in 2012.

June 2: The Princeton Elementary School year ends strong, in spite of continuing financial challenges, according to PES Superintendent Tim Smith. The state of Illinois still owes PES $292,010 in its education fund, including $167,455 in Early Childhood Block Grant money, with the remaining $136,131 owed in the transportation fund. Though the amount isn’t good, it’s better than what was owed a year ago at this time, Smith said.

June 5: Walnut Police Chief Tom Ptasnik announces his department is one of 12 police departments in Illinois to be awarded a $4,782 grant for the purchase of a new video camera. The grant was presented from the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. The Walnut Police Department also received a $2,500 grant from Northern Borders Pipeline Group, the company who owns the natural gas pipeline to the north of Walnut, to upgrade its computer system, Ptasnik announced.