Local
NORMANDY – A wind energy company is making an offer to neighbors of a proposed project in Bureau County – $1,000 or more a year. Ireland-based Mainstream Renewable Power has submitted its application for 19 turbines in Greenville Township in northwestern Bureau County.
MANLIUS — Faced with a projected deficit of up to $1.4 million for the 2012-13 school year, the Bureau Valley School Board approved a package of cuts and fee increases at its meeting Tuesday to save the district almost $225,000.
PRINCETON — The Princeton City Council has taken steps to refinance four bond/loan instruments which could save the city $800,000 in interest through the life of the bonds.
February 22, 2012 - 7:08 p.m.
Eucharistic minister Walt Marini participates in the imposition of ashes at 6:30 a.m. Mass at St. Anthony Church in Spring Valley Wednesday. Wednesday was Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten season for Christians, which will culminate with Easter Sunday on April 8. Ashes were used in Biblical times to express mourning and repentance.
February 22, 2012 - 6:58 p.m.
Catherine Griffin is nothing but smiles as she hears her heart beating when nurse practitioner Karen Eggers of St. Margaret’s Health places the stethoscope on her chest. Catherine was one of several children who participated in a story time at the Richard A. Mautino Memorial Library Tuesday that gave children an opportunity to learn about going to the doctor’s office and how to stay healthy.
Editor’s note: This is the second in a multi-part series on the 2011 Illinois Youth Risk Behavior Survey.
February 22, 2012 - 4:28 p.m.
Brenda Donovan
PRINCETON — The Bureau County Metro Center has started offering healthier snacks in its vending machines.
February 22, 2012 - 4:10 p.m.
OTTAWA — University of Illinois Extension Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall, Putnam Unit will once again be offering training in the Illinois Master Naturalist Program beginning March 28. Classes will be offered in the LaSalle County Extension Office on Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m., and several field trips will be scheduled on Saturdays.
February 22, 2012 - 3:58 p.m.
Don Meier of Geneseo, a native of Sheffield, submitted this photo of a squirrel with a raccoon-type tail just outside his kitchen window. Don and his wife, Joan, have three feeding stations they watch. Don said the squirrels will sit and eat about 200 kernels at a time. They eat only the tip (germ) and drop the rest of the kernel. If the kernels are all gone, they will reluctantly return to the parts of kernels that they dropped. Birds (doves, cardinals, juncos and sparrows) eat from the spilled corn chips. At night the neighborhood rabbits come eat on the ground under the feeders. On one occasion there were eight squirrels feeding in the area of their feeders but this is unusual as the squirrels seem to revel in chasing competition away. T
February 22, 2012 - 3:56 p.m.
Dale Fiste of Malden took a drive in the Bureau Creek area east of Princeton Tuesday morning and submitted this snow photo. Dale said the trip was a real treat.
February 22, 2012 - 3:55 p.m.
Sharon Davis of Sheffield was outside with her dog, Cinders, and noticed that tulips and daffodils in her flower gardens have popped through the ground. Sharon said, “It is very early for this to be happening. I hope Mother Nature knows what she is doing.”
February 22, 2012 - 3:43 p.m.
PRINCETON — Felicia R. Sykes, 23, of Worth has been sentenced to four years in the Illinois Department of Corrections after pleading guilty in Bureau County Court to the Class 2 felony of burglary.
February 22, 2012 - 3:42 p.m.
According to a statement released Wednesday, the Illinois State Police District 17 police were conducting routine patrols at about 12:26 p.m. Feb. 17 on Interstate 80, eastbound near Mile Marker 72, when a vehicle was observed following too closely.
PRINCETON — Sophia Brandenburg and Reilly Leonatti battled their way through nine rounds of competition before Sophia correctly spelled the word "cosmetic" and won the 2012 Bureau County Spelling Bee.
February 22, 2012 - 1:40 p.m.
March 2-4 – Robert A. McClevey Jr. estate, Mike Remrey estate and others, antique and modern furniture, antiques, collectibles, household, books, automobile, paperweights, NASCAR collection, dog figurines and horse collections, 10 a.m. each day, 1635 N. Main St., (Tumbleson Auction Center), Princeton, Tumbleson Auction Co., auctioneers.
PRINCETON — A field of 63 candidates for the Princeton city manager position has been narrowed down to the top five.
Imagine being able to buy a lottery ticket from the comfort of your desk chair.
Editor’s note: This is the first in a multi-part series on the 2011 Illinois Youth Risk Behavior Survey.
February 20, 2012 - 5:28 p.m.
This red-winged blackbird, along with many of its comrades, are being spotted around Bureau County. According to BCR correspondent photographer Dick Todd, a bird enthusiast, the red-winged blackbird is a sure sign of spring and usually arrives in the area about two weeks before the robins return. Todd said the male red-winged blackbirds stake out their territories and are very vocal.
February 20, 2012 - 5:23 p.m.
Princeton High School Student Council members Kathryn Krieger (left) and Michael Zearing (center) help deliver canned goods Wednesday afternoon at the Tri-County Opportunities Council/Bureau County Food Pantry located in Princeton. Food Pantry Director Vanessa Hoffeditz (right) tallies the amount of items collected by PHS students, which resulted in 236 pounds of food items. Also assisting with the delivery were Ryeli Cain and PHS Student Council sponsor Katie Sayler, not shown. The food items were collected during a Feb. 11 dance at PHS.
February 20, 2012 - 5:15 p.m.
PRINCETON — Anyone interested in becoming a vendor at the farmers market in Princeton is invited to attend a meeting at 9 a.m. Feb. 28 at the Farm Bureau Building in Princeton. There will be guest speakers to provide information about what vendors need to know to prepare for the upcoming farmers market sales season.
PRINCETON — Work is underway on a four million gallon excess flow lagoon to help alleviate overflow water problems caused by periodic heavy rains in Princeton.
February 20, 2012 - 5:07 p.m.
More than 400 people turned out for Saturday’s Tribute to Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash, presented by the St. Margaret’s Hospital Foundation at the Eagles Lodge in Peru. The event featured music by The Sliver Pickers, The Hillbilly Rock Band and Phil ‘N’ The Blanks, and all proceeds will benefit St. Margaret’s Care for Diabetes. Foundation representative Diane Janz said thanks were due to Phil Banks for initiating and promoting the event, which was inspired by the anniversary of the deaths of both Jennings and Cash, who suffered from diabetes.
February 20, 2012 - 5:06 p.m.
HENNEPIN — Tom Ganiere, Democratic candidate for the 38th Senate District, will hold the first of a series of town hall meetings in Hennepin at the Steelworkers Hall, 1120 Old Highway 26, at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
February 20, 2012 - 3:54 p.m.
“I think President Lincoln impacted our nation because of his honesty and integrity.”
February 20, 2012 - 3:24 p.m.
This early photo of the stores on the north side of Main Street in LaMoille was submitted by Virginia Smith of rural Malden. The first building on the left is the post office.
PRINCETON — The investigation continues into a Friday afternoon house fire in Princeton which resulted in injury to one person, the death of seven pets, and extensive damage to the house.
MANLIUS — The Bureau County Sheriff’s Department responded to an incident at Bureau Valley High School about 7:45 a.m. Wednesday.
PRINCETON — The Bureau County Housing Authority will receive a $270,029 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for improvement projects.
PRINCETON — The Bureau County Courthouse and county jail will get some long-awaited upgrades in the coming weeks.
February 17, 2012 - 6:24 p.m.
PRINCETON — At the Feb. 16 Princeton Chamber Business After Hours, Thomas Ogaard, president/CEO of Citizens First National Bank, recognized three recipients as the company’s 2012 Citizens with Heart. This award was established to allow Princeton residents to nominate “local heroes” who have stood out with their time and talent.
SPRING VALLEY — The Spring Valley Elementary School Board learned this week state officials did pony up money for the district’s transportation fund. The state is behind in payments for several accounts but is slowly catching up.
SPRING VALLEY — The pictures on display at the Hall High School Board meeting were unsettling.
February 17, 2012 - 6:15 p.m.
OGLESBY — The University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners of LaSalle County and the Horticulture Club at Illinois Valley Community College are hosting a Spring Garden Seminar open to the public on March 10. This seminar will be held at Illinois Valley Community College, 815 N. Orlando Smith Avenue, Oglesby. The seminar will begin with registration at 8 a.m. and end at 3:15 p.m.
WALNUT — After 80 years of being in the cheese-making business, Avanti Foods has closed the doors to its cheese-making operation.
February 17, 2012 - 4:11 p.m.
SPRING VALLEY — The Spring Valley Historic Association will hold a business meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. There will be no speaker this month.
February 17, 2012 - 4:09 p.m.
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Pat Quinn has proclaimed Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD) to be a viable threat to Illinois’ native black walnut tree population.
February 17, 2012 - 3:30 p.m.
Firefighters bring a house fire under control Friday afternoon at 430 S. Pleasant St. in Princeton. Princeton Fire Chief John Petrakis said one occupant was at home at the time of the fire and he (the occupant) was treated at the scene by ambulance personnel. A Princeton fire investigator was on the scene to determine the cause of the fire. The extent of damage to the house and contents was also undetermined at that time, Petrakis said. Assistance was provided at the scene by fire and ambulance departments from Bureau, Wyanet, Spring Valley, Malden and Putnam County, as well as the Princeton Police Department.
February 17, 2012 - 3:25 p.m.
This photo was taken during the construction of Route 34, according to Virginia Smith of rural Malden. Sitting on the road construction equipment are Raymond and Ona Lee Hensel, both deceased.
SPRING VALLEY — After 15 years, five superintendents and countless meetings, it's finally official.
PRINCETON — St. Margaret’s Hospital in Spring Valley has won its fight to keep its tax exempt status.
February 15, 2012 - 8:16 p.m.
Area Boy Scout Chase Morgan tries on firefighter equipment during Frosty’s First Aid, an all-day event provided with the assistance of the American Red Cross, Princeton Fire Department and Princeton Police for area Scouts on Saturday. The Scouts attended a variety of training sessions, gearing around emergency and safety situations.
February 15, 2012 - 8:11 p.m.
Owen Johnson (left) plays the guitar while Mike Partin plays the mandolin at last month’s bluegrass, gospel and country music jam held at the First Lutheran Church in Princeton. This month’s jamboree is Friday from 6 to 10 p.m. Players and listeners are welcome. snacks and soft drinks will be available. For more information, call 815-875-2057.
WYANET — Wyanet residents will have to find another place this spring for their larger garbage items.
SPRING VALLEY — Spring Valley’s water treatment plant has been working well with the anti-scalent treatment, and the new reverse osmosis membranes are ready to be installed.
TISKILWA — Tiskilwa might be going on a shopping trip ... for electricity.
February 15, 2012 - 8:03 p.m.
Event-goers were able to get their fill last Sunday morning at the all-you-can-eat event, hosted by the Walnut Fire Department. The event, held at the fire station, included heaping helpings of pancakes, sausage, gravy and biscuits and more.
February 15, 2012 - 8:02 p.m.
OTTAWA — The Human Services Transportation Plan (HSTP) - Region 3 - Transportation Committee (Bureau, DeKalb, Grundy, Kendall, LaSalle, Lee, Ogle, and Putnam counties) will be held at 10 a.m. Feb. 24 at the Mendota Civic Center located at 1901 Tom Merwin Drive in Mendota. Human service organizations with an interest in transportation are encouraged to attend. This meeting is open to the public.
February 15, 2012 - 7:58 p.m.
Andrea Anderson
