Local

PRINCETON — It was a grim Princeton Elementary School Board and a solemn Superintendent Tim Smith who made the tough decisions Monday night — decisions that many school boards across the state are making, thanks to empty promises and diminished funding from the state of Illinois, a declining equalized assessed valuation and a host of other reasons that directly and indirectly affect school funding.

PRINCETON —A rural Tiskilwa man has raised more than $78,500 for hunger relief during the past two years through his performances of “The Cotton Patch Gospel” musical.

Donning ladies’ shoes and other women’s apparel, these “gentlemen” participated in the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event, an international men’s march to stop rape, sexual assault and gender violence. The march was held Saturday at Soldiers and Sailors Park in Princeton and was sponsored by Princeton Tourism and Freedom House. The fundraiser was held not only to raise awareness but also as a fundraiser for Freedom House.

WYANET – Here’s a tip … Today is National Waiters and Waitresses Day. Get out to that favorite restaurant to celebrate!

Charlie Doty grinds grain to make flour at the annual spring preview, held at the farm of Harold and Margie Steele in rural Dover. The event was planned by the Bureau Valley Antique Club on Saturday and included a variety of events. There was also a special Armed Forces Day program with guest speaker Don Elmore.

DEPUE — DePue residents are reminded that no grass clipping are allowed to be blown on the road. This creates problems when they go down the storm sewer.

DEPUE — The village of DePue will hold citywide garage sales June 21-23. Anyone interested in being put on the map should call the village clerk’s office before June 17.

LACON — Marshall Putnam County's Relay for Life will hold a fundraiser on May 22 at the Pizza Peel in Lacon. Ten percent of all dine in, delivery and carryout sales will be donated to the Relay for Life event.

LADD – If it’s Memorial Day weekend, it must be time for Get Your Rear in Gear (GYRIG).

PRINCETON — The Friends of Extension & 4-H is holding a cash raffle fundraiser.

The Illinois State Police (ISP) has announced the results of Nighttime Enforcement Patrols (NITE) held during the late evening hours of May 15. The patrols were conducted in LaSalle and Bureau counties by ISP District 17 officers.

PRINCETON — A Bureau County grand jury considered the following cases when it met in session May 13 at the Bureau County Courthouse in Princeton:

“The most important thing I have learned is to not procrastinate, and that hard work pays off.”

DePue High School, St. Bede Academy and Hall High School held graduation cermonies this past weekend.

This photo of the Princeton Old Settlers Picnic taken Aug. 26, 1911, was submitted by Todd Borsch of Princeton.

SPRING VALLEY – Spring Valley Fire Chief Emeritus Gene Scheri will present a program at the Spring Valley Historic Association Museum on at 7 p.m. today, Tuesday.

PRINCETON – Two people were arrested Saturday night following an armed robbery on Princeton's north end business district earlier in the afternoon.

PRINCETON – On Friday, Gov. Pat Quinn asked the federal government to add Bureau and 15 other Illinois counties to a recent federal disaster declaration for 11 counties hit by widespread flooding in mid-April.

PRINCETON — Thursday’s discovery recount of the April 9 election votes on the Hall High School referendum does not change the results of the final outcome, that the Hall High School District will get a new high school.

Chelsie Sobin of Ladd reviews some of the selections offered at the St. Margaret’s Auxiliary’s book fair, which was held in the hospital’s lower lobby Thursday and Friday.

DEPUE – DePue is preparing an ordinance that will better regulate service animals not recognized as household pets within the village limits.

PRINCETON — The Bureau County Board has made several appointments to area boards and approved contracts for summer road projects.

Area firefighters learn how to combat a propane gas fire Wednesday evening during a training session hosted by the Wyanet Fire Department. Personnel from the Illinois Fire Services Institute of Bolingbrook led the training session, which was attended by an estimated 50 area firefighters from the Wyanet, Sheffield, Tiskilwa, Manlius, Buda, Princeton, Malden, Walnut and Annawan fire departments.

DIXON – The chairman of the Lee County Board still supports a proposed wind farm, but he is pushing a compromise that would include strong conditions on the project.

SPRING VALLEY – Spring Valley Mayor Walt Marini appointed several public officials at Monday’s meeting, but there haven’t been any changes.

SPRING VALLEY — Vendors interested in participating in Spring Valley’s Farmers Market are asked to send in a registration form available on the city’s website, www.spring-valley.il.us or contact Economic Development Director Debb Ladgenski at 815-303-4327.

PRINCETON — Princeton’s Memorial Day Poker Run has been canceled due to a lack of interest.

SPRING VALLEY — While most other school districts are clamoring to make do with little state aid for transportation, Spring Valley Elementary has enough to last at least until the end of the year.

DEPUE –  The DePue School Board has filled its open seat on the school board.

PRINCETON — Poster boards filled with messages of hope and encouragement, fun, sports and school were all part of Bureau County’s observance of the National Prevention Week.

PRINCETON — Adjustments are being made with the dental clinic operated through the Bureau/Putnam County Health Department.

Brenden Piacenti concentrates on his choices in creating a summer hat during Monday’s children’s “Hat Parade” program at the Tiskilwa Public Library. Following the craft time and book reading time, about 15 children and program leaders headed outdoors for a parade down Main Street. The children’s programs at the Tiskilwa library are free and open to the public.

TISKILWA — Tiskilwa residents can see the building plans and ask questions about a new addition to the existing library costing less than $1 million at an open house set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the library.

WYANET – The Wyanet Village Board took action on several items at Tuesday’s meeting, including deciding to reinstate a general garbage pick-up for the community.

Residents and staff at Liberty Village in Princeton celebrate National Nursing Home Week with a balloon launch Monday morning in front of the facility. The purple and green balloons used for Monday’s launch are the colors of Liberty Village’s Bounce Back program offered for people who need rehabilitation and recovering assistance before returning to their homes. Among the other special activities planned for the week at Liberty Village are karaoke singing, mini golf games, a water rodeo, fishing, a scarf demonstration and ice cream social.

Richard Dorsch (left) and Paula Morrow (right) portray local historical community leaders Darius Miller and Margaret D. Trimble, respectively, during Saturday’s National Train Day at the Princeton Amtrak Railroad Depot and the neighboring Darius Miller Park. As told by the actors, Trimble wrote a letter to Miller in 1910 asking if he could help Princeton update its train depot, which he did. A new depot was built and dedicated in December 1911. Other activities during Saturday’s event included music by the local Barbershoppers group, a historic train display and food vendors.

DEPUE – Although DePue’s ongoing siren project is making progressive strides, the village board has learned their sirens won’t be in the ground and ready to blare until next tornado season.

SPRING VALLEY — The city of Spring Valley Public Health and Safety Committee meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. today, Thursday, has been cancelled and will be rescheduled for a later date. Questions may be directed to the city clerk’s office at 815-664-4221.

SPRING VALLEY – The flood water may be receding, but the damage done has taken its toll on the Spring Valley wastewater treatment plant. The direction taken with repairs will depend on the amount of federal money that may eventually become available.

City you live in: Princeton.

Todd Borsch of Princeton submitted this picture of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Princeton, taken around 1955.

May 18 – Kerchner Trust, farmland, 10 a.m., auction held at 15212 IL Hwy 92 (Green River Country Club), Walnut United Country Dahl Real Estate, auctioneers.

A meeting with the National Council of Senior Citizens resulted in President John F. Kennedy designating May 1963 as Senior Citizens Month, encouraging the nation to pay tribute to older people across the country. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter’s proclamation changed the name to Older Americans Month, a time to celebrate those 65 and older through ceremonies, events and public recognition.

CHICAGO — Summer break is quickly approaching for high school and college students and many of them will be searching for summer jobs.

PRINCETON – The sunny days and higher temps ahead have motorcycle enthusiasts anxious to hit the road.

Perry Memorial Hospital employee Leslye Mack (left) serves a glass of wine to Nick Oertel (right) during Friday evening's A Toast To Health wine-tasting fundraiser sponsored by the Perry Memorial Hospital Foundation at A Hundred Acres Orchard and Market in rural Princeton. The Perry Memorial Hospital Foundation was formed in 1991 for the purpose of developing, managing and granting charitable contributions to support technology and facility improvements at Perry Memorial Hospital. In addition to the wine-tasting, Friday's fundraiser also included a raffle, music and hors d'oeuvres.

MANLIUS – The Manlius Ambulance Service barn is in need of updates.

PRINCETON — Local officials are working with federal and state officials to determine if Bureau County is eligible for federal assistance following the April 17-18 heavy rains and flooding which damaged homes, businesses, roads and streets, bridges and public facilities across the county and state.

PRINCETON – This past Saturday, people all over the nation took part in the 21st annual Letter Carrier Stamp Out Hunger Food drive.

PRiNCETON — U.S. Rural Development is making low-interest home repair loans available to eligible, low-income homeowners following the April 17-18 heavy rains and flooding.