Author: princetonmays

OSF Saint Clare in Princeton has announced the addition of Gastroenterologist Stephanie Mickley, APRN. Mickley will provide services at the OSF Medical Group building, located at 530 Park Ave. E., suite 207. (Photo provided by Samantha Rux)
OSF Saint Clare in Princeton has announced the addition of advanced practice provider specializing in gastroenterology, Stephanie Mickley, APRN. Mickley will provide services at the OSF Medical Group building, located at 530 Park Ave. E., suite 207.
Mickley joins the team of Geetha Dodda, MD and Julie Flanagan, APRN to offer a number of services for conditions including irritable bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, difficulty swallowing and other gastrointestinal illnesses.
Mickley received a bachelor’s degree from Rush University and a master’s degree in nursing from Loyola University. She is a board-certified family nurse practitioner.
New or existing patient appointments for gastroenterology with Mickley or a member of the team can be made by calling 815-876-2470.
Shaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois

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The Princeton-based law firm, Russell, English, Scoma and Beneke P.C. has announced the addition of Lostant native and St. Bede Academy graduate Megan Fitzgerald. (Shaw Local News Network)
The Princeton-based law firm Russell, English, Scoma and Beneke P.C. has announced the addition of Lostant native and St. Bede Academy graduate Megan Fitzgerald.
“[Fitzgerald’s] strong academic background and record of public service make her an important addition to our firm and a terrific addition to our community,” managing director Michael L. English said.
Fitzgerald, the daughter of Dennis and Diane Fitzgerald, graduated from St. Bede in 2013 and went on to earn an Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degree at Illinois Valley Community College in 2016.
In her time at IVCC, Fitzgerald was a member of the IVCC Honors Society, Phi Theta Kappa and Sigma Kappa Delta.
She later earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology at Loyola University of Chicago in 2018 and was a member of the Tau Sigma National Honors Society and e-board member of WeDignify at Loyola.
As part of her studies, Fitzgerald was an intern at the Pediatric Developmental Center, where she assisted groups of children with autism and studied abroad in Italy in 2017.
She earned her juris doctor degree from Northern Illinois University in 2022 and was staff editor and later assistant editor for NIU Law Review and a member of Phi Alpha Delta.
Fitzgerald became licensed to practice law in May will serve as an associate attorney at Russell, English, Scoma and Benek. She also is an assistant public defender for Bureau County.
Shaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois

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Letter to the Editor (Shaw Local News Network)
Dear citizens of Princeton and surrounding communities,
This past September you lost a pillar of your community with Randy Grant’s passing. He served the Princeton and surrounding area as a prominent funeral director for the past 20 years with an undeniable dedication and compassion to all the families he served.
Randy will be greatly missed not only by his family, but his fellow colleagues and all those who knew him. Prior to Randy’s passing, he was in the process of selling Grant-Johnson Funeral Homes, Crematory and Monuments to me and my husband; Beth and Matt Baker.
We want to take this time to introduce ourselves to the community and to also inform everyone that we are here to serve families at Grant-Johnson along with Patricia Grant while all the details are being finalized.
Matt and I currently live in Dixon, IL along with our three younger children, Leon (12) and twins, Wyatt and Charlotte (8). Our oldest, Riley (19) has graduated high school and is exploring options for her future.
I grew up in Amboy and following my high school graduation I started pursuing a career in Funeral Service. I have worked in the funeral industry for 14 years and I received my Bachelor of Science Degree with Mortuary Science and Funeral Service from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale in 2009.
We look forward to serving the families in Princeton and the surrounding areas for many years to come. If we can be of assistance to you, please contact us at (815) 699-7711.
Sincerely,
Beth and Matt Baker and Patricia Grant
Princeton
Shaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois

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A rural Princeton man faces up to 60 years in prison after drug agents said they seized more than a pound of cocaine and 22 firearms in a Friday raid. (Jayce Eustice)
A rural Princeton man faces up to 60 years in prison after drug agents said they seized more than a pound of cocaine and 22 firearms in a raid Friday.
Robert T. Lucas Jr., 59, of 12926 2775E St., Princeton, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) with intent to deliver, more than 900 grams, and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon.
The controlling charge – for the purported cocaine – is a Super Class X felony that has a sentencing range of 15 to 60 years in prison with no possibility of probation because the weight exceeded 900 grams, police said.
If convicted, Lucas would be required to serve 75% of any resulting prison sentence.
Agents with the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Narcotics Team conducted a search warrant at Lucas’ residence in cooperation with the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations team (Springfield Division), Bureau County Sheriff’s Office, DePue Police Department and Bureau County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Lucas was taken to the Bureau County Jail to await a detention hearing.
Shaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois

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Princeton High School named students to the honor and high honor rolls for the second semester of the 2023-24 school year. (Derek Barichello)
Princeton High School named students to the honor and high honor rolls for the second semester of the 2023-24 school year.
The following students were named to the high honor roll (asterisk denotes 4.0 grade-point average): Ruby Acker,* Cameron Adkisson,* Emmaleigh Ames, Ashley Anderson, Benjamin Anderson, Nolan Anderson, Noah Bacorn, Noah Baker, Morgan Bartkiewicz,* Isla Bayer, Cayden Benavidez, Levi Boggs,* Wyatt Bohms, Anna Boughton, Abigail Brown,* Arthur Burden III, Danika Burden, Landon Bush, Sophia Carlson, Tessa Carlson, Kyle Chin, Selina Chin, Ace Christiansen, Hanna Claiborne,* Isabella Clevenger, Taylor Compton, Xiomara Cortez, Gianna Crowl, Keighley Davis, Landon Davis,* Justin DePauw, Addison Dever, Devin Dever, Alex Diaz, Camryn Driscoll, Evan Driscoll, Jackson Drozda, Grace Eggers,* Michael Ellis, Casey Etheridge,* Kambri Fisher,* Morgan Foes,* Miyah Fox, Olivia Fox, Morgan Franklin,*Angela Frost, Payton Frueh, Erah Goodale, Lilith Gray, Common Green, Gracelynn Hansen, Lydia Hardy,* Ellie Harp,* Abigail Harris,* Micah Harris, Zachary Harris, Katelynn Hartmann, Jack Heaton, Adeline Hecht,* Makayla Hecht,* Ava Hobson,* Savannah Hollars, Micah Hult,* Ryan Jagers,* Ethan Janssen, Lydia Johnson,* Kalista Jones, Caroline Keutzer, Ella Kinnamon, Brinley Kloepping, Nolan Kloepping, Tricia Kloepping, Ava Knaak, Jacob Knickerbocker, Braydyn Kruse, Ava Kyle, Josephina Leone, Kylen Lewis,* Timothy Lewis,* Olivia Longeville, Matthew Lord, Peyton Lovestrand, Paityn Lucas, Kathy Maciczak,* Haylee Mancini,* Jackson Mason, Kaitlyn McCarter, Jessa McLaughlin, Emilee Merkel, Caitlin Meyer,* Natalie Meyer,* Chloe Miller, Payne Miller, Chloe Moffitt, Kelsea Mongan,* Ian Morris,* Kiyrra Morris, Sydney Mount, Sydney Neff, Scarlett Nichols, Caleb Novak, Cade Odell, Avah Oertel, Sophia Oester, Liam Orozco, Jack Orwig, Anisha Patel,* Kamryn Patel,* Andrew Peacock, Rebekah Pearson, Rhett Pearson, Kaylee Pease,* Tyson Phillips,* Gavin Pinter,* Brenna Powelson, Lea Quinlan, Riley Rauh, Reese Reviglio, Morgan Richards,* Ashley Richardson,* Yocelynn Robledo, Joshua Roth, Ella Rutledge, Sylvie Rutledge, Michel Sanchez-Rodriguez, Hayden Sayler, James Schillaci, Nora Schneider, Norah Schultz, Sydney Scully, Braden Shaw, Aaliyah Shipley,* Jadah Shipley,* Alivia Shute, Christiane Sierens, Josie Sierens,* Isabella Simmering,* Chase Sims, Mia Sluis, Emily Smith, Meghan Smith, Michael Smith, James Starkey III, Owen Thornton, Arianne Tirao, Layla Todd, Kole Transou, Konner Tucker, Jordan VandeVenter,* Avery Waca, Emma Wahlgren, Kamden Wahlgren, Ashlynn Weber, Ellie Welte,* Fiona Wempe, Philip Whited,* Maximus Wilborn,* Bennett Williams,* Samantha Woolley, Elin Workman*
The following students were named to the honor roll: Onnestee Adams, Ayden Agushi, Gracie Anderson, Ayla Berlin, Ashton Bland, Brooklynn Borys, Yasmin Bracamontes, Georgie Breeding-Fulton, Scarlet Breeding-Fulton, Karsyn Brucker, Mia Buccini, Eli Burden, John Busard, Corbin Cain, Keeley Cardosi, Addison Compton, Jaydon Cooke, Jazzlyn DePauw, Alexis Emmett, Tyler Forristall, Paige Fox, Beckett Funderberg, Isabella Gibson, Ella Grey, Macey Hall, Angelina Hernandez, Hannah Herro, Kieren Hoffman, Kimberly Imsland, Anagrace Isaacson, Paige Jesse, Katherine Kammerer, Teresa Kelly, Grace Killin, Jadeyn Klingenberg, Kelsea Klingenberg, Isaac Knickerbocker, Landen Koning, Wyatt Koning, Luke LaPorte, Noah LaPorte, Abram Longeville, Collin Lund, Bayleigh Mack, Braelyn Maloy, Joshua Martin, Olivia Mattingly, Keeley McCarter, Ely Mehlbrech, Addison Monaco, Mariska Mount, Parker Nink, Chloe Ostrowski, Jordan Reinhardt, Dakara Rivera, Brennan Roden, Cruz Rodriguez, Clayton Rokosz, Brayden Schwartz, Elijah Skaggs, Joshua Smith, Luke Smith, Jace Stuckey, Audrey Thompson, Isaiah Tiser, Abigail Ward, Adam Windham
Shaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois

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PRINCETON, Ill. — Aldi is expanding in Illinois with a new store opening in Princeton on Nov. 13.
The Princeton store is located at 146 Backbone Rd. E. Doors open at 8:30 a.m., and regular store hours will be 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
The first 100 customers will receive a gift bag and gift card.
Aldi also opened a new store in Moline on Oct. 9 at the former Hy-Vee building near John Deere Road and 7th Street. The building had been vacant for nearly three years. 
Both stores are part of the company’s broader growth strategy. In 2024, Aldi announced plans to open 800 additional U.S. stores within five years and invest more than $9 billion nationwide. The company is headquartered in Batavia, Illinois.
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Churches across La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties have announced their Christmas Eve and Christmas Day service schedules for 2025. (Metro)
Churches across La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties have announced their Christmas Eve and Christmas Day service schedules for 2025.
St. Barbara Parish will hold Christmas Eve Mass at 5 p.m. at St. Thomas More Church in Dalzell. Christmas Day Mass will be at 9:30 a.m. at Holy Trinity Church in Cherry.
Putnam County Community Church will host a Christmas Eve Eve service at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23, 415 E. Hopkins St., Granville.
St. John Baptist Parish in La Salle will hold Christmas Eve Masses at 4 p.m. at St. Hyacinth Church; at 4 and 10 p.m. at St. Patrick Church; and a Spanish Mass at 7 p.m. at St. Hyacinth. Midnight Masses will be held in English at St. Hyacinth and in Latin at Holy Rosary Shrine.
Trinity United Church of Christ in La Salle will conduct a Christmas Eve candlelight service at 5 p.m.
Christmas Day Masses will be at 8 a.m. at St. Hyacinth, 10 a.m. at St. Patrick and 12:15 p.m. in Spanish at St. Hyacinth.
Christmas Eve Masses will be at 4, 6 (in Spanish) and 10 p.m. at Holy Cross Church in Mendota. Mass will be offered at 4 p.m. at St. Theresa Church in Earlville and at 6 p.m. at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Peterstown.
Christmas Day Masses will be at 8:30 a.m. at St. Theresa, 9 a.m. at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Peterstown and 10 a.m. at Holy Cross Church.
Oglesby Union Church will hold a candlelight Christmas Eve service at 6 p.m.
Holy Family Church will hold Christmas Eve Masses at 4 and 10 p.m. Christmas Day Mass will be at 8 a.m.
St. Brigid Parish in Ottawa will hold Christmas Eve Masses at 4 and 10:30 p.m. at St. Columba Church and at 5 p.m. at St. Patrick Church. Christmas Day Masses will be at 8 and 10 a.m. at St. Patrick and at 9 a.m. at St. Columba.
St. Bede Abbey will hold a Christmas Eve Mass at 8 p.m. and a Christmas Day Mass at 10 a.m.
Zion United Church of Christ will hold a candlelight Christmas Eve service at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
St. Rose of Lima Parish in Peru will hold Christmas Eve services at 4 p.m. at St. Valentine Church, and 5:30 and 9 p.m. at St. Joseph Church. Midnight Mass will be at St. Valentine Church.
Christmas Day Masses will be at 7:30 a.m. at St. Valentine, 9 a.m. at St. Joseph and 10:30 a.m. at St. Valentine.
St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church will hold candlelight Christmas Eve services at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.
Evangelical Covenant Church will hold a 7 p.m. service on Christmas Eve.
St. Louis Catholic Church will hold Christmas Eve Masses at 4, 7 and 10 p.m. Christmas Day Mass will be at 9 a.m.
Christmas Eve Masses will be at 4 and 10 p.m. at Nativity of Our Lord Church in Spring Valley, with a Spanish Mass at 7 p.m. at St. Mary Church in DePue. Christmas Day Mass will be at 9 a.m. at Nativity of Our Lord Church.
Spring Valley United Church of Christ will hold a candlelight service at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 24 at 227 E. Erie St., Spring Valley.
The Parish of St. Michael the Archangel will hold Christmas Eve Masses at 4, 5:30 and 10 p.m. Christmas Day Masses will be at 8 and 10 a.m.
Holy Trinity, the first Slovak Lutheran church in America, will host a 1 p.m. special Christmas Eve service at the corner of Franklin and Church streets in Streator.
St. Mary Church will hold Christmas Eve Masses at 4 and 10 p.m. Christmas Day Mass will be at 9 a.m.
Waltham Presbyterian Church will hold a Christmas Eve service at 5 p.m.
Shaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois

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emergency lights (Stock image)
The Illinois State Police is investigating a death in Bureau County.
At 9:51 p.m. Dec. 10, troopers, along with other local law enforcement partners, located a suspect vehicle wanted in connection to a homicide in Rock County, Wisconsin, the agency said in a press release.
A traffic stop was attempted, and a pursuit ensued, ending at the Great Sauk Trail Rest Area on Interstate 80 west of Princeton.
Law enforcement attempted to contact the driver and officers approached the vehicle. The driver, who was alone in the vehicle, was discovered deceased with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The ISP said in the release that it will conduct a thorough investigation and remain in contact with the Bureau County State’s Attorney’s Office regarding the incident. The investigation is active and ongoing and no additional information is available at this time.
Shaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois

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Princeton High School’s Scholastic Bowl team is headed to the small screen after competing on Stateline Quizbowl in a matchup against Byron. (Photo provided by Brody Anderson)
Princeton High School’s Scholastic Bowl team will appear on “Stateline Quizbowl” in a matchup against Byron.
The episode will air Jan. 17 on WTVO Channel 17, with an encore broadcast Jan. 18 on WQRF Channel 39, according to the school. The episode will be available online beginning Jan. 19 on the Eyewitness News WTVO/WQRF YouTube channel.
“Getting to represent Princeton on TV is unreal,” said coach Brody Anderson. “There’s this electric mix of nerves and excitement, and then the cameras roll, and you realize we’re really doing this.”
The show features students competing in fast-paced trivia, representing their schools. Princeton’s appearance continues the program’s tradition of showcasing academic excellence.
Shaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois

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Protesters hold signs during a “ICE out for good” protest on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026 at Rotary Park in Princeton. The Bureau County Democrats organized the event. About two-dozen protesters gathered to protest the ICE officer who shot and killed Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis on Jan. 7. (Scott Anderson)
Over 15 years covering news, sports and events in the Illinois Valley. Support my work with a digital subscription.

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