Author: princetonmays

For its first program of 2025, the Mendota Historical Society will welcome historian and Navy veteran Joe Tokarz to give a presentation on a unique slice of World War II history. (Gary Middendorf/Gary Middendorf)
For its first program of 2025, the Mendota Historical Society will welcome historian and Navy veteran Joe Tokarz to give a presentation on a unique slice of World War II history.
He will be telling the story of submarines that came down the Illinois River on their way to war after their construction in a Wisconsin boat yard.
This presentation is scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 22. Tickets are $10 each and can be reserved at mendotamuseums.org/programs, by email at mmhsmuseum@yahoo.com or by calling 815-539-3373.

Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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The Bureau County Courthouse is at 700 S. Main Street in Princeton. (BCR file)
The following property transfers were recently recorded at the Bureau County Recorder of Deeds’ office:
Eileen Wright to Jonah Johnson and Lauren Wirth, joint tenancy deed, part of Lot 10, part of Lot 11 and part of Lot 12 in Waller’s Subdivision of Lot 99 in Princeton, $79,000.
James Martin to Jeff Piper, warranty deed, LT 4-G in Innsbruck Village Condominium in Princeton, $96,950.
Kaliesha and Travis Miller to Ashley Gunsallus, warranty deed, part of Lot 1 and part of Lot 2 in Block 22 in Sheffield, $110,000.
John Van Osdol (tr) and Joyce Winch Trust to Heading Farms LLC, trustees’ deed, part of Section 5 in Gold Township, $781,116.
John Van Osdol (tr) and Joyce Winch Trust to K and E Limited Partnership, trustees’ deed, parts of Section 4, parts of Section 5 and parts of Section 7 in Gold Township, $5,460,453.
Michael Maynard to John and Michelle Ganschow, warranty deed, Lot 6 in Homeway Addition in Walnut, $85,000.
Brian and Luanne Webber to Les Strouss, warranty deed, Block 4 in Ingall’s Addition in Dover, $40,000.
Richard Ryan to James Foster, warranty deed, Lots 4 and 5 in Block 6 in Wyanet, $105,000.
Todd Kelly, Troy Kelly and Terri Stone to Frank Ostir, warranty deed, Lots 3, 4 and 5 in Block 7 in Neponset., $124,000.
Carolyn Burns (tr), Cheryl Krase Special Needs Trust and Kathleen Krase Special Needs Trust to Plum Salisbury, trustees’ deed, Lot 5 in Block 1 and part of Lot 6 in Block 1 in Backstrand’s Addition in Princeton, $130,000.
Leroy Heinzeroth (AIF) and Marsha Sporleder to T & T Family Rentals LLC, warranty deed, parts of Lot 9 in Fairview Subdivision in Princeton, $57,000.
James McCune to Jordan and Morgan Johnson, warranty deed, Lots 1 and 2 in Block 2 in Yerk’s Addition in Walnut, $150,000.
Mary Carls, Mary DeAngelo, Mary Frasor, Mary Tomsha, Richard Verucchi and Mary Yerly to 815 Real Estate LLC, warranty deed, Lot 13 in Block 90 in O’Beirne’s Second Addition in Spring Valley, $120,000.
Elizabeth Rhodes (tr), Donald Rhodes Trust and Marjorie Rhodes Trust to Ham Capital LLC, trustees’ deed, Lot 17 in Block 35 in Greenwood’s Addition in Spring Valley, $55,000.
Frances Njuguna and Claire Pamisa to Alvin Paras, warranty deed, Lots 162 and 163 in Lake Thunderbird Grove, Sec 9-14-9, $7,000.
Elaine Kelm and Karla Miller (AIF) to Douglas and Marsha Reno, warranty deed, parts of Lot 2 in Thomas Park Addition in Sheffield, $105,000.
Harold Miller Living Trust and Timothy Miller (tr) to Grove Hill MHP LLC, warranty deed, parts of Sections 17 and 18 in Princeton Township, $1,000,000.
Rebecca Scott to Nolan Scott, warranty deed, part of Lot 112 in Princeton, $135,000.
Allen Ericsson to Daniel Langford LLC, warranty deed, part of Section 17 in Manlius Township, $53,500.
Perry Bailey (decd) and John Bailey (ex) to Janelle and Joseph McCarter, executor deed, part of Lot 202 and part of Lot 203 in Elston’s Addition in Princeton, $80,000.
Joy Johnson to Leonard Rivas Jr. and Marie Rivas, warranty deed, part of Section 8 in Princeton Township, $209,900.
Elizabeth and Jeremy Zawistowski to Alan Davis, warranty deed, Lot 7 in Friel’s First Addition in Tiskilwa, $185,000.
Jason Spayer to Rubi Felix and Dennis Salgado, warranty deed, Lot 8 in Block 68 in Dalzell’s Third Addition in Spring Valley, $62,500.
John Johnson to Mia Ochoa, warranty deed, Lot 42 and part of Lot 41 in Elston’s Addition in Princeton, $155,500.
Joseph and Phyllis Sledgister to Lilley Transport Inc., warranty deed, parts of Section 4 in Princeton Township, $120,000.
Bird Construction Company Inc. and Paulette Bird to Jake and Kyndra Neumann, warranty deed, Lot 221 in Bird Haven South Phase II in Princeton, $185,000.
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Princeton Tigers logo
Five Princeton wrestlers won two matches Friday night to advance to Saturday’s quarterfinals of the Lyle King Princeton Invitational wrestling tournament.
Junior Augustus Swanson (8-1) gained a forfeit at 120 pounds before winning by tech fall. He will face Vincent Moore (30-1) of LTC on Saturday.
Freshman Kane Dauber (21-1) won by fall (1:13) and tech fall (4:00) at 132 pounds. He will face Tyler Huchel (24-3) of Oakwood on Saturday.
Junior Ace Christiansen (19-2) received a bye at 144 and then pinned Seamus McDonnell of Newman at 3:07. He will wrestle Evan Cox (30-4) of Clifton Central
Casey Etheridge (22-0) claimed a pair of pinfalls at 165 to advance to to the quarterfinals against Kayden Thomas (16-13) of Olympia Saturday morning.
Cade Odell (13-0) received a bye at 285 and pinned Dylan Bopes of Dixon at 1:46. He will wrestle Payton Vigna (12-3) of Coal City on Saturday.
Kaydin Gibson won his first match at 126 by fall and after being pinned in his second, came back with another win by fall in the consolation round 2.
In other matches, Princeton’s Corbin Brown won his first match at 138 by tech fall and lost by fall in his second and Brayden Bickett won by fall at 106, but was pinned in his second.
Serena 70, LaMoille 37: Tyler Billhorn had 26 points and 10 rebounds in defeat for the Lions in Little Ten Conference play in the Lions Den.
Marquette 58, St. Bede 43: Kaden Nauman had 10 points and Mason Ross nine for the Bruins in a Tri-County loss in Ottawa.
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Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa will seek to close its five-bed intensive care unit and 14-bed obstetrics services, as facilities at OSF St. Elizabeth in Peru prepare to take their place. (Scott Anderson)
OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa will seek to close its five-bed intensive care unit and 14-bed obstetrics services, as facilities at OSF St. Elizabeth in Peru prepare to take their place.
OSF will file a certificate of need application to the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board for the removal of these services.
The discontinuation of services in Ottawa will not take effect until the process is complete, which is expected to take several months.
Despite pushback from the community, the ICU will be replaced by an eight-bed unit and OB services of 11 beds in Peru, both approved by the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board last year. These services are not expected to open until August 2025, according to OSF.
Once the application is complete, it will be available for public review on the IHFSRB website.
“This is bigger than just Ottawa. While we’re not satisfied with their enhanced plan, we’ll continue pushing for a hospital capacity that meets the needs of eastern La Salle County.”
Ottawa Mayor Robb Hasty said the city was aware of the planned changes and had been in ongoing discussions with OSF about the transition.
“We knew it was coming,” Hasty said. “The plan has always been that these services would be relocated to Peru as part of an overall strategy to enhance care in the region.”
While the move will result in the loss of critical services in Ottawa, Hasty acknowledged that it’s all part of the changing landscape of healthcare in rural areas.
“The loss of the ICU and OB services is significant for our community, but it seems to be the future of rural healthcare,” Hasty said.
Hasty’s comment about the loss of ICU and OB services being “the future of rural healthcare” highlights a growing trend in which smaller hospitals are shifting specialized services to larger centers because of limited resources and staff.
“This is bigger than just Ottawa. While we’re not satisfied with their enhanced plan, we’ll continue pushing for a hospital capacity that meets the needs of eastern La Salle County.”
OSF HealthCare has responded to the planned discontinuation of services in Ottawa with the following statement:
“We remain committed to providing high-quality care to the Ottawa community and ensuring access to necessary medical services,” OSF Media Relations Director Paul Arco said in a statement.
OSF’s announcement to discontinue ICU and obstetrics in Ottawa comes after it was granted a 12-month deferral for two projects affecting Ottawa’s health care system at a meeting with Illinois’ Health Facilities and Services Review Board last week in Bolingbrook. Those two projects were establishing a new replacement hospital and discontinuing the current hospital once the new facility is completed.
OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa will seek to close its five-bed intensive care unit and 14-bed obstetrics services, as facilities at OSF St. Elizabeth in Peru prepare to take their place. (Scott Anderson)
The ICU in Ottawa will be replaced by an eight-bed unit and OB services of 11 beds in Peru, both approved by the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board last year. These services are not expected to open until August 2025, according to OSF. (Scott Anderson)
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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Illinois Valley Indivisible members will be participating in a Hands Off! march at noon Saturday, April 5, in downtown Ottawa.  (Derek Barichello)
Illinois Valley Indivisible members will be participating in a Hands Off! march at noon Saturday, April 5, in downtown Ottawa.
Members of the public are invited to join with the group to express their concerns about Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, veterans benefits, etc.
Participants will meet at 11 a.m. at Bold and Curvy Boutique, 211 W. Madison St., Ottawa, to make signs and gather together to walk to Washington Square. Those who have mobility issues can go directly to Washington Square. For more information on this nationwide effort, visit indivisible.org.
Illinois Valley Indivisible hosts weekly Sunday Coffees at noon and two business meetings a month. For information on the local group, including how to join, email indivisibleofillinoisvalley@gmail.com.
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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The Streator City Council has approved a new four-year collective bargaining agreement with the Streator Fire Department. (Scott Anderson)
The Streator City Council has approved a new four-year collective bargaining agreement with the Streator Fire Department.
The contract will run from Jan. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2028, and includes several changes to firefighter pay, benefits and policies.
The agreement allows a $5,000 increase in base pay for all firefighters in the first year, with 4% pay increases in each of the subsequent three years.
City Manager David Plyman said the pay increases will make Streator’s firefighter wages more competitive with other fire departments.
“This will certainly help us more in the improvement and retention of our firefighters,” Plyman said.
Streator Firefighters Local 56 Union President Ed Levy highlighted the current pay disparity within the department, calling the new contract a step in the right direction.
“We recognize that if we want to attract and retain top talent, we need to pay fair market value,” Levy said. “This contract is the first step in addressing that issue, but we understand it’s a process that could take time to completely fix.”
Starting in 2025, the base pay for a new hire will be $48,973.31, with increases over time bringing the starting salary to $55,088.31 by 2028.
Promotions to lieutenant and captain positions will come with additional salary increases of $1,950 and $2,850, respectively.
The contract also includes changes to the Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association program, which provides post-retirement insurance benefits for firefighters.
“The program will now allow for investment opportunities for health insurance funds after 20 years of service,” Plyman said. “It will offer firefighters greater flexibility and security after retirement. We offer the same program to the police department.”
The new contract also includes continued stipends for firefighters serving as emergency medical responders.
The $1,000 annual stipend for EMR services remains, with additional stipends for firefighters holding EMT-basic, EMT-intermediate and paramedic certifications. These stipends apply to firefighters who assist in emergency medical services under the city’s contract with paramedic providers.
Another important provision in the contract now allows firefighters to assist paramedics with nontransport emergency medical services.
This ensures that the city still can use nonfirefighter personnel, including contract paramedics, for ambulance transport.
In other items, the City Council:
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Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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Smoke billows from a home in the 1300 block of 2500 East Street on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in rural Princeton. Fire departments from eastern Bureau County were called to the scene just before 9:30 a.m. (Scott Anderson)
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Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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The Princeton Public Library and the Princeton High School Drama Department invite children between 3 and 10 (along with their adults) to a Princess Tea Party at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 22. (Shaw File photo)
The Princeton Public Library and the Princeton High School Drama Department invite children between 3 and 10 (along with their adults) to a Princess Tea Party at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 22.
This is a free event, hosted by royal guests and helpers from the PHS production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella.” Attendees will have a photo opportunity with Cinderella, the Fairy Godmother and others; learn to dance the gavotte for the prince’s ball; make a tiara or crown; and enjoy refreshments. Fairy-tale attire is encouraged.
Registration is requested; call 815-875-1331, ext. 220 or email help@princetonpl.org and let the library know the number of children and adults attending and contact information. PHS’s performances of “Cinderella” will be at 7 p.m. Friday, April 4, and and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 6, in Sally Skinner Auditorium at Princeton High School. Tickets may be reserved via links at www.phs-il.org.
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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Bureau County will not enter into an agreement to house Cook County inmates at its jail. (Scott Anderson)
Bureau County will not enter into an agreement to house Cook County inmates at its jail.
The County Board voted 11-6 on Tuesday against entering into the agreement, gaining applause from a crowd of about three dozen people who filled the gallery of the meeting chambers.
Voting against the agreement were Dale Anderson, R-Tiskilwa; August Block, R; Keith Cain, R-Princeton; Jason Floyd, R-Sheffield; Sandy Hoos, R-Seatonville; Marsha Lilley, R-Princeton; Lizabeth Novotny, R-Princeton; Kerwin Paris, R-La Moille; Kristi Warren; Derek Whited, R-Princeton; and Marshann Entwhistle, R-Princeton.
Voting in favor of it were Dave Argubright, D-Spring Valley; John Baracani, D-Spring Valley; Tom Dobrich, D-DePue; Deb Freeney, D-Dalzell; Mary Jane Marini, D-Spring Valley; and Robert McCook, D-Cherry.
In the agreement recommended by a 3-1 vote from the Technology, Building and Grounds Committee, Bureau County would house up to 10 inmates at $70 per inmate per day. There would be no in-person visits, and inmates would need to be returned to Cook County at the time of their release.
Bureau County Sheriff Jim Reed was not present for Tuesday’s vote. The sheriff had advocated for entering into the agreement, saying that it would generate more than $237,000 a year in revenue. He said he would divert those funds to step up patrols in communities without full-time police forces, with the goal of adding two deputies.
He also said the county negotiated a food service contract based on an average daily population of 25 and medical services for 27. Last year, however, the average headcount was 11. Cook County transfers would give taxpayers better value for their money, he has said.
Bureau County would be able to turn down or send back any inmate transfer who wasn’t working out, Reed had said.
The agreement remained unpopular with the public. Paris said he received more than 25 phone calls and received five letters, and of those communications, only one was in favor of the agreement.
“This topic has produced more calls than we’ve ever had combined,” Paris said.
Paris questioned the reason Cook County is sending inmates to Bureau County. Cook County has said its jail is overcrowded, also citing safety and security concerns. Paris said he was surprised to see the county can hold 11,000 inmates, but its current population is 5,713.
“I don’t think they’re at the maximum capacity for the jail,” Paris said.
He said the daily average cost to house an inmate in Cook County is $145, and that the intergovernmental agreement with Bureau County would be for $70 per inmate.
“That’s saving Cook County $75 per inmate, so it makes sense for them to send them out to outlying counties,” Paris said.
Paris said a La Salle County official spoke to him, acknowledging that Cook County is transferring inmates to save money, but the official also noted that La Salle County was gaining revenue, so they didn’t see it as a big deal. Neighboring La Salle County has an intergovernmental agreement to accept Cook County jail inmate transfers.
Jason Edgcomb, superintendent of La Salle County Jail, said intergovernmental agreements with Cook County alone bring in about $15,000 a month.
After Tuesday’s vote was taken, Hoos asked if the Law Memorials and Rules Committee could look at drafting something where the County Board could forbid Reed from accepting Cook County inmates. In response to Hoos, Whited said Reed told a committee that only in the event of an emergency the county jail still may accept Cook County inmates, despite the County Board voting down the agreement.
Some County board members then asked what defined an emergency, but the discussion was put on hold until a committee can examine it.
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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Daddy Hack batter Eli Ozburn takes a cut at a pitch during the Not-So-National Blitzball World Series at Zearing Park in Princeton. (Charlie Ellerbrock)
When the season of the game you love comes to an end, you can grin and bear it or find another way to keep playing.
And that’s where the Not-So-National Blitzball League in Princeton came to be.
The NSNBL is the product of Jack Ellis and 14 of his friends, Princeton Youth Baseball players between the ages of 10 and 16 who – as their baseball seasons were coming to an end – decided they wanted to keep playing.
They ended up forming a small but well planned and executed league in which to play their modified version of wiffle ball.
The league had its World Series on Sunday at Zearing Park in front of a sizable crowd of family members, interested parties and baseball fans, capping a season that may provide the groundwork for a bigger league in the future.
“It’s been really well done,” said Brittany Walter, mother of Daddy Hacks captain and another founder Logan Walter and operator of the World Series’ concession stand. “It was the perfect thing for them between the end of their baseball season and the start of football
“The parents haven’t had a hand in any of it. It’s all them. They’ve thought of everything and they’ve put in a lot of hard work doing this and we’re really proud of them.”
The group had seen games online from Como Blitzball, a league down in Missouri, thought it looked fun and decided to replicate it locally. Not only did they go out and play the game as they saw it, they made up an entire league, altering the rules to fit their play.
The NSNBL rules are similar to wiffle ball, but on a smaller field and with a different, more active ball. It takes three innings to play a game, five balls to draw a walk, there are no leadoffs and if a player rounds third base, he must go home. To get that runner out, a fielder can “tag” him by hitting the strike-zone stand behind home plate.
The group divided their number into three teams and devised a schedule of games (each would play twice a week for two months) to be played in the yards of four of the participants’ homes. They even collected a participation fee used to purchase personalized jerseys, their team name on the front and player surnames on the back, for each one.
The Daddy Hacks roster includes captain Logan Walter, Eli Ozburn, Atticus Spiegel, Dominick Strouss and Ethan Meyer, while playing for the Huckledoos are captain Hunter Spiegel, Jack Heaton, Gabe Heaton, Tucker Cain and Luke Ozburn.
The Chimney Makers are made up of its captain, Ellis, plus Jonah Taylor, Carter Grey, Tristan Salazar and Paxton Knudsen.
The NSDNBL also kept statistics on each player and recorded all of their games, posting them on Youtube, with clips of outstanding plays posted on Instagram.
With the 16-game regular season completed, the league came down to its World Series, which was predictably performed in a professional manner.
Ellis, whose team did not make the final, played public address announcer and umpire from his place behind home plate, introduced all the players, playing the “Star Spangled Banner” and introducing Gary Polson, a friend of the league who threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
When the Series began, it was supposed to be a best-of-3, but when the opener went more than two hours, it was halted there with the Huckledoos taking a 14-3 decision over the Daddy Hacks.
Even as this season was ending, there was still more. A group of players will represent the league at a Blitzball tournament in Freeport on Aug. 10, and enough new players have signed up to give the loop more teams next summer.
“It’s been a lot of work,” Ellis said, “but it’s been a lot of fun, too.”
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Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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