Stay Awhile
Fireworks explode in the night sky after sunset over Lake Mendota on June 28, 2025 in Mendota. (Kyle Russell)
Illinois Valley communities are launching fireworks displays this summer, with shows running from late June through early August.
The season peaks around Independence Day, with eight towns lighting up the sky on or near July 4th.
Shaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois
The Princeton Community Band performed at Soldiers and Sailors Park Sunday. (Kevin Hieronymus)
The Princeton Community Band will perform a patriotic concert Sunday, July 5 at 6 p.m. in Soldiers and Sailors Park, featuring vocal soloist Elizabeth Butler singing Gershwin’s “Someone to Watch Over Me.”
Directed by Ann Lusher, the band will perform “America the Beautiful,” “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture,” and other selections celebrating American music and military service.
Admission is free. The Lions Club will offer refreshments. Bring a lawn chair.
If rain forces a postponement, the concert will move to the Evangelical Covenant Church’s Community Life Center at 24 N. Main St.
The Princeton Community Band is a nonprofit organization. Donations are accepted.
Shaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois
With temperatures climbing into the 90s, families flocked to pools and splash pads across the Illinois Valley this week to beat the summer heat.
Got a news tip? Email ntnewsroom@shawmedia.com
Copyright © 2026 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2026 Shaw Local News Network
The Princeton Police Department responded to several incidents last week, including a vehicle vandalism complaint and the theft of an Apple Watch.
Officers responded to Nassau Street on May 1 after a resident reported that an unknown person had scratched the entire length of a vehicle sometime between 9:30 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. The criminal mischief case remains under investigation.
A person reported that an Apple Watch was stolen sometime between April 28 and May 2 in the Nassau Street area. Police described the incident as a “theft of mislaid property.” The investigation is ongoing.
On May 2 at about 11:18 p.m., officers stopped a driver on John Street after observing a vehicle traveling the wrong direction on a one-way street. Police said the driver was found to be driving while intoxicated. He was arrested, transported to police headquarters, charged with driving while intoxicated and several additional motor vehicle violations, and later released pending a court appearance.
Earlier that week, officers conducted a motor vehicle stop on Nassau Street at about 2:13 a.m. on May 1 for failure to maintain a lane. Police said the 46-year-old Lawrenceville woman had an active $750 warrant issued by Princeton Municipal Court. She was arrested, processed at police headquarters, posted bail, and was released.
Police also reported that a 28-year-old Spotswood man who is a Lyft driver allegedly involved in two luring incidents on the Princeton University campus, walked into police headquarters on April 30 and turned himself in on an active warrant issued through Princeton Municipal Court and the Princeton University Department of Public Safety. After being arrested and searched, Wynter was transferred to the Princeton University Department of Public Safety.
The previous week, a Princeton resident reported approximately $30,000 worth of jewelry stolen from a rental property on Hunt Drive while preparing to move into a permanent residence. The victim told police the theft occurred after a moving company packed and transported belongings. Because there were no signs of forced entry, the victim believes the suspects may have been employed by the moving company, according to police.
Police are also investigating a theft by deception case involving a fraudulent rent payment. A complainant reported that an unknown person compromised an email account associated with a property management company and provided false banking information for a rent payment totaling $8,110. The fraud was discovered after the intended recipient reported the payment had not been received.
On Prospect Avenue, residents reported that cash, a passport, and two checkbooks were stolen from a home after several moving and work crews had been inside the residence. The reported loss included $2,000 in cash and checkbooks containing about 50 checks each. No signs of forced entry were reported.
Police also investigated the reported theft of a Beretta 9mm handgun from a locked box inside a vehicle trunk. The owner told officers the vehicle had been serviced at a business on State Road during the time the firearm disappeared. Police said there were no signs of forced entry.
Police arrested a 34-year-old Princeton woman on April 21 on an outstanding warrant from Evesham Township Municipal Court following a motor vehicle stop on Spruce Street. Police said the woman posted $750 bail and was released.
Krystal Knapp is the founding editor of Planet Princeton. Follow her on Twitter @krystalknapp. She can be reached via email at editor AT planetprinceton.com. Send all letters to the editor and press releases to that email address.
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© 2026 Princeton Community Media
An American flag blows in the wind during a total lunar eclipse on Friday, March 14, 2025 at City Hall Park in Princeton. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align so that the Moon passes into Earth’s shadow. When the Moon is within the umbra, it appears red-orange. Lunar eclipses are sometimes called “Blood Moons” because of this phenomenon. The next visible one in Illinois will not occur until June 26, 2029. (Scott Anderson)
Shaw Local journalists throughout northern Illinois were honored Thursday at the Illinois Press Association Convention and awards ceremony at Par-A-Dice Hotel and Casino in East Peoria.
Shaw Local newspapers received a combined 45 awards in contest categories that included general excellence, photography, news writing, opinion writing and design.
“We are so proud of our staff and honored by these awards,” Executive Editor M. Eileen Brown said. “They reflect the hard work, talent, dedication, and integrity of our journalists, as well as our commitment to delivering meaningful journalism for the communities we serve.
“I couldn’t be more proud of what this team has accomplished,” Brown said.
Almost 80 daily and nondaily newspapers competed in 39 editorial categories. The Hoosier State Press Association judged the almost 1,600 editorial entries for work done in 2025.
Among Shaw Local’s newspapers, the Kendall County Record in Yorkville led the way with three first-place awards. Next up was the Daily Chronicle in DeKalb and the Bureau County Republican in Princeton which each received two first-place awards.
The Daily Chronicle also finished second for general excellence, and the Bureau County Republican finished in fourth place for the Harold and Eva White Memorial Trophy. That trophy is one of six Sweepstakes Trophies awarded to newspapers earning the most contest points in their circulation division.
In advertising, The Ottawa Times won best niche publication, and The Kane County Chronicle won best community focus special section.
Here’s a closer look at awards presented to Shaw Local newsrooms and their journalists at the IPA’s annual convention.
Daily Chronicle, DeKalb, Freedom of Information, Payton Felix
Daily Chronicle, DeKalb, Sports Section, Eddie Carifio
Kendall County Record, Yorkville, News Reporting Series, Joey Weslo
The Herald-News, Joliet, News Reporting Series, Denise Unland
Kendall County Record, Yorkville, Spot News Photo, Mark Busch
The Times, Ottawa, Spot News Photo, Scott Anderson
Bureau County Republican, Princeton, Obituary Tribute, Kevin Hieronymus
Suburban Life, Downers Grove, Sports News, Russ Hodges
Kendall County Record, Yorkville, Sports News, Josh Welge
Northwest Herald, Crystal Lake, General News Photo, Greg Shaver
Suburban Life, La Grange, Sports Feature, Russ Hodges
Bureau County Republican, Princeton, Sports Feature, Kevin Hieronymus
Sauk Valley Media
Local editorial, third place, John Sahly – A brittle spirit weakens the community: Fritts should re-up with the Chamber
Northwest Herald, Crystal Lake
Local Editorial, fourth place, John Sahly – This is why we can’t have nice things
Government Beat Reporting, third place, Claire O’Brien – McHenry County floats tax increase
Sports Feature, third place, Russ Hodges – After suffering from myocarditis, Liam Lodding’s golf passion still beats strong
Feature Writing, fourth place, Amanda Marrazzo – Man searching for his birth family found 8 siblings – who embraced him as their own
Sports Feature, fourth place, Joe Aguilar – Cancer survivor Brock Iverson of Cary-Grove enjoying baseball, life
Kendall County Record, Yorkville
News Reporting Series, second place, Eric Schelkopf – Toddler dead in Portillo’s crash in Oswego
Localized National Story, second place, Eric Schelkopf – Food pantries expect increase in demand when SNAP cuts take effect
Sports News, third place, Josh Welge – Oswego softball wins state
Daily Chronicle, DeKalb
Localized National Story, third place, Megann Horstead, Camden Lazenby – Inside DeKalb mom’s fight to keep Medicaid for her baby
General excellence, second place
Investigative Reporting, fourth place, Payton Felix
Portrait, second place, Mark Busch – Turning 100
Portrait, third place, Mark Busch – Zipliner
Photo Series, fourth place, Mark Busch – Shabbona fire
Sports News, third place, Eddie Carifio – Longtime Sycamore coach Joe Ryan set to retire after season
Feature Writing, third place, Camden Lazenby – The Civil War captain who became a Sandwich pioneer
The Herald-News, Joliet
Freedom of Information, third place, Felix Sarver – Illinois AG: Will County Sheriff’s Office wrong in denying request for records in nonprofit theft
Business/Economic Reporting, third place, Denise Unland – Immigration crackdown fears affecting Illinois restaurant industry
Investigative Reporting, third place, Felix Sarver – City of Joliet billed $157,280 to fight federal conspiracy lawsuit from defeated mayor
Kane County Chronicle, Geneva
Government Beat Reporting, third place, Brenda Schory – Campton Hills coverage
Sports News, second place, Joel Boenitz – St. Charles East wrestler wins state title
Sports Feature, third place, Joel Boenitz – Kaneland grad winning LA marathon
Suburban Life, Lombard
Sports News, second place, Josh Welge – Montini football player Izzy Abrams
Suburban Life, Wheaton
Sports News, third place, Josh Welge – Benet boys basketball wins state
Suburban Life, Downers Grove
Sports News, fourth place, Russ Hodges
Bureau County Republican, Princeton
Sports News, second place, Kevin Hieronymus – Cancer awareness night
Sports Column, second place, Kevin Hieronymus – Hieronymus’ Hypothesis
Sports News, fourth place, Kevin Hieronymus – Remembering Todd
Sports Feature, second place, Kevin Hieronymus – Jordan Reinhardt and the Easter Sunday Miracle
Sports Section, third place, Kevin Hieronymus, Brandon Beckwith – Bureau County Republican sports
The Times, Ottawa
Feature Photo, second place, Scott Anderson – Flag moon eclipse
The Daily Journal, Kankakee
Portrait, second place, Tiffany Blanchette – Farmer Glenn’s pumpkin portrait
The IPA convention draws hundreds of newspaper professionals from across the state for networking, professional development, and the opportunity to learn about useful products, materials, and information from exhibitors.
Editorial and advertising departments are represented, with publishers, editors, reporters, advertising directors, sales representatives, photographers and designers in attendance.
Payton Felix reports on local news in the Sauk Valley for the Shaw Local News Network. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago in May of 2023.
Hanson, who has served as athletic director since 2023, begins the new role July 1.
Got a news tip? Email ntnewsroom@shawmedia.com
Copyright © 2026 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2026 Shaw Local News Network
PRINCETON/SAVANNA, Ill. (KWQC) – Two businesses are closing plants in Northern Illinois, impacting almost 250 jobs, according to the Illinois database of layoffs.
Elkay Plumbing will close its Savanna plant and said it will transfer 178 jobs to other northwestern Illinois facilities, and the closure of Ingersoll Rand in Princeton will cost 70 jobs.
All 178 Elkay workers were offered the opportunity to transfer to its Lanark and Freeport facilities by December, according to a company spokesperson.
Lanark is about 18 miles from Savanna, and Freeport is about 40 miles.
Elkay Plumbing first notified WARN about the closure in April. They recently revised the number of impacted employees on Friday.
The company started transferring workers in April, according to the state database, the next transfers will be on Oct. 17 and 24.
The city in Carroll County has a population of about 2,700.
“The need for costly roof repairs and space limitations led to the decision to transfer all current positions in Savanna, Illinois, to our existing facilities in Lanark, Illinois, and Freeport, Illinois.
“A WARN notice was triggered because there is a permanent or temporary shutdown of a single site of employment for 75 or more employees. However, everyone was offered the opportunity to transfer, and these transfers have been happening in several phases and will continue through the end of December.
“Zurn Elkay is committed to northwestern Illinois. In our expanding operations in Lanark and Freeport, we produce the drinking fountains and bottle filling stations that, in just the first half of 2025, have delivered over 1.2 billion gallons of filtered drinking water and prevented 9.6 billion single-use plastic bottles from being sent to landfills.”
Ingersoll Rand officials announced the company will close it’s Princeton facility Tuesday.
According to the Illinois layoff database, 70 jobs are being cut.
The company plans to stop operations in Princeton by March 2026, according to a statement.
Officials said production will be moved to other facilities in the U.S. as part of a plan to streamline operations.
“We are sharing this news nearly six months in advance to give our employees time to prepare and to allow us to support them throughout the transition,” officials said in the statement.
correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly described the transfers at Elkay Plumbing as layoffs. The story has been edited to correct this error.
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