Author: princetonmays

Princeton Logan Junior High School Citizenship Award winners are (from left) Charlotte Nelson, Eve Boggs, Lilly Mabry, Alivia Norman, Kipton Gutshall, Kaitlin Gill, Nolan Bronson, Liam Pinter, Zoey Maurice, Taleya Kinsley and (back) Braylon Clevenger. (Photo provided by Lori Atilano)
Citizenship ideals at Logan Junior High School in Princeton emphasize both curriculum and extracurricular activities.
Attitudes and behaviors that reflect a concern for others, participation in school functions, responsible leadership and willingness to serve, and mental and physical courage are the guidelines in selecting.
The following students were selected to receive Citizenship Awards at Logan Junior High School for the fourth quarter of the 2023-24 school year.
Nolan Bronson, Kipton Gutshall, Kaitlin Gill, Alivia Norman, Zoey Maurice
Taleya Kinsley and Liam Pinter
Charlotte Nelson and Eve Boggs
Braylon Clevenger and Lilly Mabry
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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Runnings celebrated its grand opening Thursday, March 21, 2024, with a ribbon cutting ceremony conducted by the Streator Chamber of Commerce. Pictured are (from left) Dana Stillwell (Chamber Board), Runnings employees, Mayor Tara Bedei, Courtney Levy (Streator Chamber), (back) Karen Karpati (Chamber Board) and Judy Booze (Chamber ambassadors). (Photo provided by Allen Culver)
The Streator Chamber, along with Mayor Tara Bedei, celebrated the grand opening of Runnings at Northpoint Plaza in Streator with a ceremonial ribbon cutting.
The Streator store, 11 Northpoint Drive, is celebrating its grand opening Thursday through Saturday. Runnings is a home, farm and outdoor store operating for more than 75 years. Customer service, product knowledge, and fully stocked shelves are their top priority, the company said.
Runnings, a Minnesota-based retailer, purchased last year RP Home & Harvest, including 21 other locations and one distribution facility across Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin. Go to www.runnings.com or call 779-237-5888 for more information.
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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Logan Lions (Shaw Local News Network)
Starved Rock Conference rivals Princeton Logan Junior High and Peru Parkside will play for the IESA Class 3A 7th-grade regional volleyball championship today.
Game time is 4:30 p.m. in Peru. Parkside is the No. 1 seed, Logan No. 2.
On Tuesday, Logan defeated No. 3 Rockford Marshall 25-13, 25-15 while Parkside defeated No. 4 Mendota Northbrook 26-24, 26-24.
In Class 2A, host Putnam County will play Kewanee Wethersfield in McNabb at 5 p.m. today.
No. 1 PC beat Stark County 25-7, 25-16 in Tuesday’s semifinals while No. Wethersfield topped No. 3 Spring Valley JFK 26-28, 25-13, 25-18.
The Logan 8th-grade team will take the No. 1 seed into its own 3A regional beginning Saturday.
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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The police inquiry was launched at 7:38 a.m. Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at 1107 E. Elm St., where Streator police officers found an unresponsive woman pronounced dead at the scene. Streator police sent for Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services to process the scene. (Scott Anderson)
Authorities have identified the woman found dead Tuesday in a Streator residence; and a Streator man is charged with killing her.
In a Thursday news release, the La Salle County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Jessica M. Balma, 37, of Streator. Minutes later, the La Salle County Circuit Clerk’s Office showed a Joshua R. Casey, 38, charged with murder and concealment of a homicidal death.
Murder is punishable by 20 to 60 years in prison with no possibility of probation. Concealment of a homicidal death is a Class 3 felony carrying two to five years.
Casey was not, as of 5:15 p.m., in county custody; but authorities anticipated he would be brought in Friday to La Salle County Circuit Court for a detention hearing. La Salle County State’s Attorney Joe Navarro said a news conference would be held Friday following Casey’s appearance.
Cash bonds were abolished by the SAFE-T Act; but to date no person charged with murder in La Salle County has been granted pretrial release.
Details still are emerging. The police inquiry was launched at 7:38 a.m. Tuesday at 1107 E. Elm St., where Streator police officers found an unresponsive woman pronounced dead at the scene. Streator police sent for Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services to process the scene. A forensic autopsy was conducted Wednesday.
Authorities subsequently searched that property as well as 1425 E. Hickory St., which turned out to be Casey’s listed address. This is a developing story and will be updated.
Joshua R. Casey (Photo provided by La )
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Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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North 22nd Road in La Salle County will be closed for bridge repairs beginning Monday, March 17. (Geoff Stellfox – gstellfox@shawmedia.com/Geoff Stellfox – gstellfox@shawmedia.com)
North 22nd Road in La Salle County will be closed for bridge repairs beginning Monday, March 17.
The bridge is 0.5 miles south of Cedar Point and 0.4 miles west of County Highway 54 (East Second Road) (Ray Richardson Road). The work is expected to take a month to complete, weather permitting.
Motorists are advised to use alternative routes around the construction site, according to the county highway department.
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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The Streator Education Association is conducting a strike vote at 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13. (Tom Sistak)
The Streator Education Association is conducting a strike vote at 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13.
The union for Streator Elementary School District 44 teachers said it showed up to meet in person Dec. 16 for a mediation session, but the school board’s team and a mediator did not show up. The union said all mediation sessions were agreed to be in person at the district office.
“The team refused to allow the board to compromise the process and hide from their duty and responsibility,” the bargaining team said in a statement to members.
District 44 Superintendent Kelli Virgil said the mediator pivoted to a virtual session Dec. 16 because of inclement weather. The board said it plans to continue to meet and negotiate. The union said no other mediation sessions have been scheduled until the board agrees to meet in person.
The board and the union have been negotiating since May 16 in the hopes of finalizing a new contract. The parties met six times before requesting the assistance of a federal mediator, Virgil said. The parties continued the process with the mediator on four occasions. A strike vote does not necessarily mean a strike will occur, as other formalities must be met, Virgil said.
The union is pushing for a total compensation package representing an estimated 34% increase in salary over three years, while seeking to change the eligibility criteria for part-time staff members to receive single coverage under the district’s group health plan, Virgil said. The district currently pays 100% of the employee’s premiums for employee-only coverage, with no out-of-pocket cost to the employee, the superintendent said.
“As stewards of the district’s financial resources, the board remains committed to providing fair wages and benefits to its teachers and support staff while also ensuring that the contract is affordable [and] sustainable without imposing greater burdens on Streator taxpayers,” Virgil said. “The board will not mortgage the future of our children’s education by capitulating to selfish and unreasonable demands of the union.”
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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Multiple tanker trailers were damaged Thursday near Walnut after a brush fire led to an explosion. (Photo provided by Walnut Fire Department)
Multiple tanker trailers were damaged Thursday near Walnut after a brush fire led to an explosion.
No one was injured, according to the Walnut Fire Department.
The Walnut Fire Department received a call shortly after noon southwest of town. Upon the first engine crew and fire captain’s arrival, they found a brush fire that had spread to a line of tanker trailers nearby and caught some on fire.
The fire had caught the remnants of the empty trailers causing the explosion, which caused a chain reaction to the additional trailers that were sitting nearby, according to the Walnut Fire Department.
Fire Capt. Marty Michlig called for mutual aid. The fire had been deemed under control within an hour.
Princeton, Manlius, La Moille, Wyanet, Tampico, Yorktown, Malden and Sheffield fire departments, CGH EMS, Bureau County Sheriff’s Office, BuEComm and the Bureau County Emergency Management Agency assisted in the response.
“We would also like to take this time to remind everyone that while there is no burn ban in place, it is extremely dry,” the fire department said. “Should you choose to burn, please make sure it is contained or constantly supervised. If you feel that it is out of your control, please do not hesitate to call 911.”
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Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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The city of Streator was awarded a $650,000 Community Development Block Grant to rehabilitate about 10 houses within the city limits. There will be a public meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, at Streator City Hall, 204 S. Bloomington St. (Derek Barichello)
Streator residents will be able to apply for up to $60,000 in home rehabilitation funds.
The city of Streator was awarded a $650,000 Community Development Block Grant to rehabilitate about 10 houses within the city limits.
There will be a public meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, at Streator City Hall, 204 S. Bloomington St. A representative from the North Central Illinois Council of Governments will be present to explain the program and will have applications available to opt for the housing rehabilitation grant.
Homeowners should apply if they live in a single-family, owner-occupied home within city limits and meet the income guidelines for low-to-moderate income for La Salle County.
In order to apply, provide the following information: proof of income for everyone in the household age 18 and older (whether they contribute to the household or not), a copy of the declaration page from their homeowner’s insurance showing the coverage on the dwelling, a copy of their real estate tax bill, and copies of current utility bills for gas and electricity.
Each home is eligible of up to $60,000 in rehabilitation efforts, with areas posing a threat to health and safety having the highest priority.
Very low income per the La Salle County low-to-moderate guidelines, people residing in the home with physical or mental disabilities and people residing in the home older than 62 will receive the highest priority.
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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Catch A Cajun’s season is on hold indefinitely. (Derek Barichello)
Catch A Cajun’s season is on hold indefinitely.
The announcement on the food truck’s social media Thursday stated “unforeseen health issues” as the reason.
Owners Ron and Amy McFarlain ran the food truck last summer after closing their longtime restaurant, Cajun Connection, in September 2023. Since closing their brick-and-mortar establishment, the McFarlains have sold their favorite menu items at a couple of pop-up events, such as their pecan pies at Handy Foods in Ottawa.
The Times / NewsTribune / Bureau County Republican is committed to keeping readers up to date with business happenings in the area. Much of our reporting relies on what we see and hear, but we’re also reaching out to readers for tips on business items. If you have a tip to share for Eyes on Enterprise, email newsroom@mywebtimes.com.
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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An open flame from a stove in an Ottawa home led to an accidental house fire Friday. (Scott Anderson)
An open flame from a stove in an Ottawa home led to an accidental house fire Friday.
Ottawa firefighters responded at 4:48 p.m. to a fire at a single-story house at 1424 Erie St., said Fire Chief Brian Bressner. All residents were accounted for and no injuries were reported.
Smoke was coming out of the ridge vents and flames were spotted on the north side of the residence. Within 4 minutes, the fire was under control, but firefighters continued with salvage, overhaul and investigative operations.
The room of origin is identified as the kitchen, and the area of origin is identified as the stove, Bressner said. The fire is classified as accidental.
The Ottawa Fire Department received support from several agencies, including the Ottawa Police Department, Ottawa Central Dispatch, Ottawa Water Department, Nicor, Ameren and State Farm Insurance.
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Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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