Author: princetonmays

Mini golf is returning Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, to the Streator Public Library. (Tom Sistak For Shaw Media )
Mini golf is returning to the Streator Public Library.
The third annual SOCU Carnegie Challenge Mini Golf FUN-Raiser is scheduled 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, at the library, 130 S. Park St.
Tickets are $5 per family.
A special event for the participating donors and businesses who took part in making the event happen will be 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21. Tickets are $20. Inquire more info at the desk or call 815-672-2729.
Additionally, the library will host a crayon scavenger hunt the week of Jan. 27. Search the library and find all of the hidden items. The theme changes weekly.
For more information on library events, go to https://www.streatorpubliclibrary.org/
4 to 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27: Arts and crafts, young children. Come to the library to create cute and fun projects to take home.
4 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28: Little’s Art Time, ages 3 to 9. Get creative with friends in the library. Learn how to draw or have fun with paint.
5 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28: Crayon storytime,, Enter a world of color at Crayon storytime featuring stories and crafts all about crayons.
3 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29: Game Time, ages 10 through teens. Video games, board games, puzzles and more.
5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29: Let’s Talk: True Crime, teens/adults. Are you intrigued by true crimes? Love the thrill of solving the case? Then you’ll love this club! Join the library to chat about some of the craziest true crimes to happen
10 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 30: Playful pages, children 4 and younger. A toddler playdate hosted in the library.
4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30: Link Up, teens. A teen outlet/discussion group that covers everything from comedy, trivia and pop culture. Talk about your favorite topics and learn about some new ones.
6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30: Painting Academy, teens/adults. The library invites patrons for a night full of colors.
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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If your child will be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, and will be attending kindergarten in the Princeton Elementary school system for the 2025-2026 school year, come to Douglas Elementary at 220 E. La Salle St. and register your child. (Shaw Local News Network)
If your child will be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, and will be attending kindergarten in the Princeton Elementary school system for the 2025-2026 school year, come to Douglas Elementary at 220 E. La Salle St. and register your child.
Registration will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, and 8 a.m. to noon Friday, Feb. 28.
You will need to provide a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate (the copy issued by the county) and proof of residency, such as a utility bill, tax bill, etc. when you register.
Book rental/technology fees ($40 for books/$50 for technology) may be paid at this time, but payment is not required to register your child.
All kindergarten students will have to be up to date with their physical and immunizations before the first day of school. There will be no exceptions. Vision and dental exams also will be required. Forms will be distributed at registration time.
Contact the district office at 815-875-3162 or Douglas School at 815-872-9741 with questions.
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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The Princeton Lions Club will celebrate its 100th anniversary this year with a fundraiser at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, at the Princeton Moose Lodge, 1339 N Euclid Ave. One of its many accomplishments was organizing the lighted Christmas parade for the community. (Scott Anderson)
The Princeton Lions Club will celebrate its 100th anniversary this year with a fundraiser at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, at the Princeton Moose Lodge, 1339 N. Euclid Ave.
The event will feature a chicken and spaghetti dinner, live and silent auctions and other activities as part of the club’s yearlong celebration.
During Monday’s Princeton City Council meeting, members of the club shared their history and ongoing contributions to Princeton.
Founded in 1925, 47-year member Jim Argo said the Princeton Lions Club is one of the oldest in the world, with Lions Clubs International currently having more than 1.4 million members across more than 49,000 total clubs in the world.
“We have been serving Princeton for 100 years,” Argo said. “Our motto is ‘We Serve’ and that’s what we’ve been doing from the start.”
“We’re one of the oldest clubs in the world, and we’re looking forward to continuing our work for many more years.”
Argo said the club has been involved in a variety of local projects over the years, including sponsoring youth camps for those with visual or hearing impairments, providing assistance for veterans and supporting the local library.
The club also has hosted the annual Christmas parade, which celebrated its second night parade in December.
“We can’t do any of this without the community’s help,” Lions Club President Scott Smith said. “Whether it’s the Christmas parade or projects like the Veterans Park cleanup, it takes all of us pulling together to make it happen.”
The club contributes to organizations like Camp Lions, Leader Dogs for the Blind and provides ramps for those in need.
In the past year, the club helped raise $3,700 for local food pantries.
Former President Alan Weber said the club needs new members and invites the public to join.
“We’re a little light on members right now, but we’re always looking for new people who want to give back to the community,” Weber said. “Anyone who’s interested can reach out and learn more.”
Tickets cost $15. All proceeds from the upcoming fundraiser will support Lions-sponsored initiatives.
For more information on the Lions Club or to buy tickets for the Feb. 22 celebration, visit the Princeton Lions Club Facebook group or visit one of their biweekly board meetings held on the second Tuesday of the month at the Princeton Public Library, 698 E. Peru St., and the fourth Tuesday of the month at the Ye Olde Underground Inn, 219 S Sixth St.
In other items, the City Council:
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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Princeton senior Noah LaPorte gets the game ball from Tigers coach Jason Smith after making the game-winning shot foir a 53-51 win over Byron to break the Tigers’ all-time scoring record with 1,470 points. (Kevin Hieronymus)
PRINCETON – Noah LaPorte couldn’t have written a better script if he tried.
The Princeton senior all-stater scored the game-winning shot with 2.5 seconds left to lift the Tigers to a 53-51 win over Byron, also breaking the Tigers’ all-time scoring record set by former teammate Grady Thompson on that basket.
LaPorte now has 1,470 career points. Thompson in 2022-23 broke the 68-year mark held by the legendary Joe Ruklick (1,306), finishing with 1,468 career points.
“A lot of people were waiting for me to get that bucket, but to win the game ?… I love winning. That’s the cherry on top with that basket,” LaPorte said. “That was crazy.”
Princeton coach Jason Smith couldn’t have been prouder of a young man he greatly admires.
“It was a storybook ending, wasn’t it?” he said. “I don’t think people realize what that kid goes through on a daily basis, and to be as humble as he is, to be as good as a kid that he is. To be a darn near perfect role model the way he is. I don’t know if there’s a better human being out there.
“He’s just a really, really good kid. They don’t make them like that.”
Smith said he had told LaPorte to just embrace the moment as he approached the record.
Princeton (14-12) led as many as six points at 28-22 on a pair of free throws by LaPorte early in the third quarter. Byron (18-7) rode the scoring of Cason Newton, who scored 12 of the visitors 18 points in the third quarter, to grab a 37-34 lead at quarter’s end.
Jordan Reinhardt hit back-to-back 3-pointers from the same spot deep on the right wing to put Princeton back in the lead by one at the 5:30 mark, and LaPorte slammed home a breakaway dunk to make it 44-41.
Newton scored a layup and drilled a 3-pointer to put Byron back on top at 48-46 with 2 ½ minutes left. After Reinhardt sank two free throws with 1:41 left to tie the game, JJ Edmonson scored on an inbounds play to regain a Byron lead at 50-48.
Senior Asa Gartin cashed in a 3-pointer from the left corner for a 51-50 Princeton lead with 1:07 left, but Newton tied it back up with 1 of 2 free throws at the 41.4 mark.
Princeton called timeout with 9.3 seconds remaining to hold the ball for a final shot. Reinhardt inbounded the ball to Jayden Fulkerson across half-court, who passed to LaPorte at the right wing with 6.3 seconds. He drove in from the left wing, and with Princeton superintendent Kirk Haring imploring from the stands to take it “all the way, all the way,” spun around Byron’s Edmonson as he approached the lane and took the ball to the basket for a reverse layup – the game-winner and record-breaker.
The key, LaPorte said, was for PHS to play its game, not Byron’s.
“We played at our pace because they like to speed things up, full-court passes, stuff like that,” he said. “We just had to take the fast-break points when they were there and slow down in half-court offense when they were. They’re physical, so we had to rebound the ball. We did those things and capitalized.
“They kind of took it to us last year. They just beat a tough Dixon team last night. We knew they were coming off a high, but so we are. We’re putting wins together and playing good together, and it’s feeling great.”
The win couldn’t have come at a better time for Princeton, which is playing its best ball of the season ahead of the postseason seedings that are coming out this week.
“It means a lot. We’re getting right for postseason, won five straight. Just got to keep cruising and play hard,” Reinhardt said.
“Hopefully, it puts us in a position for coaches to seed us correctly,” Smith said. “If they look at over our track record and what we’ve done when I’ve had everybody available, we’re a pretty dangerous team.”
Reinhardt chipped in 15 points for Princeton.
Newton finished with a 28 points for Byron.
Princeton also won the JV game 56-54 in overtime. Jack Oester and Hayden Sayler each scored 17 points for the Kittens.
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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The Princeton High School Scholastic Bowl Team earned third place on Saturday at the Winnebago Invitational, held at Winnebago High School. (Photo provided by Brody Anderson)
The Princeton High School Scholastic Bowl Team earned third place on Saturday at the Winnebago Invitational, held at Winnebago High School.
This achievement is the team’s best performance at this tournament since 1996 when Coach Mick Towns’ team won the same tournament nearly three decades ago.
The team completed the tournament with a 6-2 record. Top scorers for PHS included Max Wilborn, who placed fourth overall with 42 tossups answered correctly, Clayton Rokosz, who placed eighth overall with 34 tossups and Hanna Claiborne, who placed 12th overall with 24 tossups.
“This result reflects the effort of our team throughout the season,” Coach Brody Anderson said. “An achievement not reached since 1996 shows the team’s dedication. This team is truly amazing, and I hope more people come out and see this team’s accomplishments as we start to eye up a postseason run that hasn’t been seen in decades.”
As the season continues, PHS will compete on Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Kaneland Invitational Tournament, followed by the Streator Rotary Tournament on Feb. 15. PHS varsity has a record of 51 wins and 13 losses.
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
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L-P vs. Princeton logo
PRINCETON – Princeton raced out to a 15-2 lead against visiting LaSalle-Peru in a Saturday matinee girls basketball game at Prouty Gym and needed every bit of it in the end.
The Cavaliers made it back to one point early and again late in the third quarter before the Tigresses regained a 10-point lead early in the fourth quarter, settling for a 47-40 nonconference victory.
“We had a really good start to the game, and that probably made a little bit of difference just to have a little bit of a cushion,” PHS coach Tiffany Gonigam said. “They switched their defense on us and kind of forced us to take more from the outside when they moved to the 1-2-2 zone.
“Overall, I thought we still moved the ball and got some good looks at the basket. It definitely slowed us down, stopped the bleeding.”
A hustle play by L-P’s Elizabeth Sines – who batted a ball heading out of bounds back to teammate Kelsey Frederick for a basket – drew the Cavs within 27-26 late in the third quarter. Margaret Boudreau followed a 3-point shot by Princeton’s Camryn Driscoll with a three-point play the old-fashioned way. Payton Brandt scored in the post to give the Tigresses a 32-29 lead at quarter’s end.
Olivia Mattingly opened the fourth quarter with back-to-back baskets for Princeton, and classmate Paige Jesse added a 3-pointer to cap a 9-0 run and put the Tigresses back up by 10 at 39-29 early in the fourth quarter.
The Cavaliers (10-16) drew as close as 40-37 on a free throw by Brianna Ruppert, but the Tigresses made 7 of 8 free throws down the stretch to hold on for the win.
“This is a good, solid 3A team, a good neighboring school, and it’s nice to get a victory,” Gonigam said. “Last year we played them at the Ottawa tournament, and they took it to us pretty good. This one I think was important to come out and be competitive.”
Driscoll led the Tigresses (18-9) with 17 points, making 5 of 6 free throws. Gonigam said they made sure they got the ball in Driscoll’s hands when they needed to.
“That was the key to most timeouts to make sure she knew what screens she was running off of and make sure she knew we wanted it to go to there,” Gonigam said.
Princeton shell-shocked L-P in the first quarter, ripping off 13 straight points to take a 15-2 lead. Makayla Hecht hit a 3-pointer, and Olivia Mattingly and Keighley Davis each scored twice.
L-P coach Adam Spencer said the Cavs may have been feeling the effects of a short turnaround after a late night returning from Rochelle on Friday night.
“I think you could kind of see it early in the game,” he said. “The legs weren’t really there. We were a little sloppy with the ball. We’re not making rotations on the ball.”
Mattingly finished with 12 points for PHS, sinking 2 of 2 free throws in the fourth quarter to help seal the win.
Ruppert led the Cavaliers with 14 points, Emma Jereb had eight and Frederick seven.
Princeton has now won seven of its last eight outings heading into Monday’s regular-season finale. They will take the No. 4 sub-sectional seed into their own regional, which starts Saturday, Feb. 15.
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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Here's a list of indoor water parks in northern Illinois for a winter afternoon or weekend getaway.
Got a news tip? Email ntnewsroom@shawmedia.com
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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Toby Landrus (Photo provided by Bureau County Sheriff's Office)
A Princeton man charged with six counts of possessing child sexual abuse images is scheduled for a March 31 jury trial after pleading not guilty to the charges.
Toby Landrus, 51, was in Bureau County court Wednesday for arraignment. He’s charged with possessing child sexual abuse material on his cellphone, according to court records.
The first two counts are Class X felonies involving Landrus allegedly videotaping a child younger than 18, and the remaining counts are Class 1 felonies accusing Landrus of photographing a child younger than 18. The most severe charges have a potential sentencing range of six to 30 years.
Landrus was arrested by the Bureau County Sheriff’s Office at 5:42 a.m. Nov. 22. He was granted pretrial release on the condition that he wear an electronic ankle monitor.
Landrus’ pretrial hearing is set for 1 p.m. Monday, March 10, at the Bureau County Courthouse, 700 S. Main St., Princeton.
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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Keith R. Gullens (Photo provided by La Salle County Jail)
One of the suspects in Streator’s drug-theft ring has a Jan. 27 trial date. David Miller will stay in custody while he awaits trial.
And one of the alleged ringleaders also will stay in the La Salle County Jail – at least for now. Keith Gullens wants to meet with his newly hired attorney and agreed to postpone his detention hearing until Dec. 20.
Both men appeared in La Salle County Circuit Court on Wednesday, a day after a grand jury handed down multiple indictments from a still-unfolding investigation. Prosecutors charged Gullens and two others, who are not yet apprehended, with calculated criminal drug conspiracy, alleging the trio orchestrated a series of drug deals and organized thefts.
Miller, 35, of Streator isn’t charged with criminal drug conspiracy, but prosecutors on Wednesday moved to have him detained anyway on a pair of drug charges led by delivery of cocaine, a Class X felony.
Assistant La Salle County State’s Attorney Jeremiah Adams said in open court Wednesday that Miller “acted as a liaison” for Gullens and another suspect in transferring stolen merchandise plus about 40 grams of cocaine – and all while Miller still was on parole.
Since his arrest, Adams said, Miller has “called the informant and harassed him.”
“He is facilitating drug deals in the community, which puts a number of people at risk,” Adams said. “He’s previously ignored court dates, violated probation and was on [parole] at the time of these offenses.”
Assistant La Salle County Public Defender Duane Berklund said Miller isn’t as much of a flight or public safety risk as the state portrayed. Miller, he said, never had any direct transactions and never had any physical control of contraband or stolen property.
“We believe the facts will ultimately show Mr. Miller did not have any involvement,” Berklund said.
Chief Judge H. Chris Ryan Jr. was unpersuaded and ordered Miller held pending trial. The judge agreed with the state (Miller scored a 12 on a 14-point risk assessment) and further noted Miller’s criminal history includes crimes of violence.
Miller’s detention means prosecutors have 90 days to bring him to trial. He will next appear for a motions hearing Jan. 16.
Gullens, meanwhile, has additional legal issues to discuss with his newly hired attorney before his detention hearing, which is now set for the Friday before Christmas. A name for Gullens’ attorney was not disclosed in court records or open court.
On Tuesday, a grand jury added two more felony counts to bring Gullens’ running total to nine, seven of which are Class X felonies carrying a prison term of six to 30 years. These included calculated criminal drug conspiracy, aggravated possession of stolen firearms and five counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
As previously reported, Gullens and Miller were the first two apprehended after a lengthy investigation into criminal activity dating back to November 2023. Court records contend that the ringleaders directed underlings to steal retail merchandise (the Peru Menards and Ottawa Walmart were among the targeted stores) and to move drugs.
The first arrests were made earlier this month, when drug agents raided multiple residences in and around Streator and seized at least 200 grams of cocaine and eight firearms.
The Tri-County Drug Enforcement Narcotics Team said previously that information links Gullens to pre-arranged thefts, burglaries and drug deals across six counties. Tri-DENT estimated that the stolen goods alone were valued at more than $50,000.
Two more men are alleged to have spearheaded the criminal enterprise. Darryl D. Gullens, 38, of Streator and Robert L. Phillips, 49, of Streator both are charged with calculated criminal drug conspiracy. Each also is charged with Class X and/or Class 1 felonies for drug deals.
Neither was in custody as of Wednesday.
David L. Miller (Photo provided by la )
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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Mini Hooper, the Ottawa Police Department’s newest K-9 officer, is sworn in by Mayor Robb Hasty while Mini’s handler, officer Charlie Hooper, stands ready Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, at the Ottawa City Council meeting. (Charlie Ellerbrock)
Ottawa not only announced a new police chief Tuesday, but it also gained another officer.
Mini Hooper was sworn in as the Ottawa Police Department’s newest K-9 officer by Mayor Robb Hasty, with his officer Charlie Hooper close by to bear witness.
Mini joins on the K-9 duty roster Rookie, the department’s therapy dog, and Muskie, who like the newest officer is a patrol dog used for investigating drugs and tracking.
“The department looks at what the community’s needs are,” Ottawa Police Chief Brent Roalson said, “and that’s one of the missing pieces of the puzzle, is dealing with the stresses not only in the community, but also for our officers and firefighters. Dealing with that, Rookie has been a no-brainer choice, and it’s been great. We’re happy to have a couple of big brothers with us, too.”
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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