Author: princetonmays

(File photo)
A motorcyclist died after a single-vehicle crash on Route 6 east of the Interstate 180 overpass Thursday night, according to a news release from the Bureau County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office responded at 11:38 p.m. Oct. 2 to the crash involving a 2011 Harley-Davidson traveling west, Sheriff James Reed said in the release. The motorcycle left the road, causing the rider to lose control and be ejected from the bike.
The rider was taken from the scene and later pronounced dead at OSF St. Clare Hospital in Princeton by Bureau County Coroner Kurt Workman. The coroner’s office is withholding the rider’s name pending family notification.
Agencies responding to the crash included the Bureau County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau County Coroner’s Office, the Princeton Fire Department, Princeton emergency medical services, the Princeton Police Department, the DePue Police Department and Senica Towing.
Shaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois

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A Princeton man was found deceased on Sunday after entering the Illinois River, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office said in a Monday news release.
A Princeton man was found dead in the Illinois River on Sunday, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Monday. Witnesses said he went under the water while swimming on Saturday and did not resurface.
According to the release, witnesses said Joshua A. Ellis, 48, on Saturday, entered the river on the Marshall County side of the river and was swimming toward the Putnam County side when he went under the water and did not come back up.
According to the release, the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office notified the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office at 7:03 p.m.
The Peoria Fire Department Dive Team found Ellis on Sunday, Oct. 5. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Putnam County Death Investigator, Robert Cofoid, according to the release.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Illinois Department of Conservation, the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, the Henry Fire Department, the Lacon Sparland Fire Department, the Peoria Fire Department Dive Team, the Henry Police and the Putnam County Death Investigator.
Maribeth M. Wilson has been a reporter with Shaw Media for two years, one of those as news editor at the Morris Herald-News. She became a part of the NewsTribune staff in 2023.

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Protesters yell at a Trump supporter while driving past Rotary Park during the No Kings protest on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 in Princeton. (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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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.
Shaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois

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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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