Author: princetonmays

The Bureau County Christmas For Kids is collecting toys and donations for its annual holiday drive. (Photo provided by Gale Hart)
Bureau County Christmas For Kids is collecting toys and donations to support families in need this holiday season.
Since 2013, the Princeton Wesleyan Church has hosted and supported this all-volunteer nonprofit group.
The organization provides gifts to families with children in eighth grade and younger across multiple communities, including Princeton, Malden, La Moille, Ohio, Van Orin, Walnut, Manlius, Sheffield, Neponset, Buda, Tiskilwa and Wyanet.
Donations can be made by mailing checks to Princeton Wesleyan Church or by depositing funds directly at Heartland Bank in Princeton.
Volunteers will hold public toy drives from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 8 and Nov. 22 in Princeton. The first event will be in front of the Princeton Fire Department, and the second will take place outside the Apollo Theater.
Residents also can drop off new toys at designated collection boxes placed throughout western Bureau County. In Princeton, boxes are located at places including the Bureau County Metro Center, Central Bank, Dollar General, Douglas School, Evangelical Covenant Church, First Christian Church, First State Bank, First United Methodist Church, Heartland Bank (North and Main branches), Jefferson School, Jillian’s Hair Salon, Lincoln School, Logan Junior High, Midland Bank, MTM Recognition, New Hope Church, OSF St. Clare Hospital, Princeton High School, Princeton Public Library, Princeton Wesleyan Church, Rustique Hair Salon, St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church and TSC.
Additional collection points outside Princeton include Bureau Valley High School, Community State Bank in Neponset, First State Bank branches in La Moille and Van Orin, La Moille High School, the Malden Banking Center, the Manlius Banking Center, Mason Memorial Public Library in Buda, Ohio School, the Sheffield Banking Center, Socks Place in Wyanet, and Tiskilwa Public Library.
Bureau County Christmas For Kids encourages community members to contribute and help ensure children in the area have gifts this holiday season.
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A Blue Margaritas Restaurant will be opening in Princeton at 105 Ave Road. (Stephanie Jaquins)
A Blue Margaritas Restaurant will be opening in Princeton at 105 Ave Road.
Established in 2015, Blue Margaritas specializes in serving traditional Mexican dishes inspired by the cuisine of different parts of Mexico, according to its website.
“In our menu, you can find food that is as varied as the country it comes from. With our chips and salsa, steak fajitas, taco salads, and much more, we have an authentic Mexican taste for every palate,” read the website.
Its signature Blue Margaritas is made with its own special Blue Margarita blend.
Blue Margarita’s opened a location in Oglesby in June 2023. The restaurant also has locations in Germantown Hills, Peoria, Springfield and Washington.
For more information, visit bluemargaritas.com or find Blue Margaritas Mexican Bar & Grill Princeton on Facebook.
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.

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(File photo) Princeton Community Band will join Bureau County Chorus for a performance on Dec. 6 at Evangelical Covenant Church in Princeton
The Bureau County Chorus and the Princeton Community Band will perform a joint Christmas concert at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Community Life Center at Evangelical Covenant Church in Princeton.
This is a new location for the free event.
The Bureau County Chorus, directed by Megan Olson with accompanist Charlie Gebeck, will perform Christmas selections including “Jingle Bells,” “Il Est Né (He Is Born)” and “Silent Night.”
The Princeton Community Band, under director Ann MB Lusher, will play holiday music including “Celtic Holy Night,” “The Polar Express” and “Silver Bells.”
Both groups will conclude the concert with a combined performance of “Holiday Sing-Along.”
Donations will be accepted for both ensembles. The Princeton Community Band is a nonprofit organization.
Evangelical Covenant Church is located at 24 N. Main St.
Shaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois

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Pastor Michael Hickok presents a $7,000 check to Gale Hart of Christmas For Kids on Dec. 9. (Photo provided by Gale Hart)
Christmas For Kids received a $7,000 donation from First United Methodist Church in Princeton on Dec. 9.
The donation came through the church’s “Change The World” program, which collects monthly donations and selects different recipients each month. Christmas For Kids was chosen as the November recipient.
Pastor Michael Hickok presented the check to Gale Hart, who represents the Christmas For Kids program.
The “Change The World” program allows church members to contribute to community outreach efforts throughout the year.
Christmas For Kids provides holiday assistance to families in need.
Shaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois

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emergency lights (Stock image)
A 78-year-old Princeton man was hurt in a crash involving a train and a truck early Wednesday north of Buda, the Bureau County Sheriff’s Office said.
Bureau County deputies were dispatched at 9:34 a.m. Wednesday to 975 East Street, a half-mile south of Route 6.
Sheriff James Reed said the Princeton motorist was traveling north on East Street and collided with a westbound Iowa Interstate Railroad train.
The driver was removed from the vehicle by responding fire and emergency medical services personnel and transported from the scene by Life Flight, police said. Names are being withheld while the case is being investigated.
The Wyanet Police Department, Buda fire and EMS, Sheffield fire and EMS, and Life Flight all responded to the scene.
Tom Collins covers criminal justice in La Salle County.

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A Blue Margaritas Restaurant will be opening in Princeton at 105 Ave Road. (Stephanie Jaquins)
A Blue Margaritas Restaurant will be opening in Princeton at 105 Ave Road.
Established in 2015, Blue Margaritas specializes in serving traditional Mexican dishes inspired by the cuisine of different parts of Mexico, according to its website.
“In our menu, you can find food that is as varied as the country it comes from. With our chips and salsa, steak fajitas, taco salads, and much more, we have an authentic Mexican taste for every palate,” read the website.
Its signature Blue Margaritas is made with its own special Blue Margarita blend.
Blue Margarita’s opened a location in Oglesby in June 2023. The restaurant also has locations in Germantown Hills, Peoria, Springfield and Washington.
For more information, visit bluemargaritas.com or find Blue Margaritas Mexican Bar & Grill Princeton on Facebook.
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.

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Princeton Logan defeated Mendota Northbrook 36-18 to capture the IESA Class 3A Princeton Regional championship Tuesday at Pannebaker Gym on Tuesday. The Lions (16-3) advance to the Morris Saratoga Sectional, facing the winner of the Crest Hill Richland Regional at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3. Team members are Hattie Dye (front row, from left), Ashlyn McConnell, Lauren Driscoll, Addi Odell and Skylar Hayden; and (back row) assistant coach Garey Driscoll, Alyxis Watson, Avery May, Abby Michlig, Maycie Munson, Leena Gutshall, Alivia Norman, head coach Adam Gutshall and Cora Gutshall. Absent was Hayleigh Mack. (Photo provided)
Kevin has been sports editor of the BCR since 1986 and is Sports Editor of Putnam County Record. Was previously sports editor of the St. Louis Daily News and a regular contributor for the St. Louis Cardinals Magazine. He is a member of the IBCA and Illinois Valley Hall of Fames. He is one of 4 sportswriters from his tiny hometown Atlanta, IL

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Take a look from above of the newly proposed sports complex behind John F. Kennedy School on the north side of town. Earlier this month, Gov. JB Pritzker announced a$245,000 grant funding through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to pave the way for a future sports complex in Spring Valley.
Got a news tip? Email ntnewsroom@shawmedia.com
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With temperatures plunging below zero, Quad Cities furnace technicians are busier than usual, fixing breakdowns and urging homeowners to keep up with maintenance.
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