Stay Awhile
Plein air painting, which derives its name from the French term for “painting outdoors,” originated in the 19th century when artists began leaving their studios to capture natural light and scenery firsthand.
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Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Illinois Valley families can gear up for a weekend of live music, barbecue and fun as La Salle BBQ-n-Blues and Jazz’n the Street festivals return Friday and Saturday.
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Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Ottawa native Anne Ewers, a longtime leader in opera and the performing arts, returned to her hometown for a book signing of her debut work, The Mentor’s Gift. In a Q&A, she reflected on her career, the mentors who shaped her and why giving back now inspires her.
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Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Jeffery M. Hewitt, 44, of Buda was charged with operation of a vehicle with expired registration plates, driving with a suspended license and operation of an uninsured motor vehicle at 1:56 p.m. on Sept. 1 at Mill Street and Van Packer in Buda, Bureau County Sheriff’s Office reports.
Morgan P. Sadnick, 22, of La Moille was charged with operation of an uninsured motor vehicle at 5:46 p.m. on Sept. 1 at S IL Hwy 89 and E Washington in Arlington, Bureau County Sheriff’s Office reports.
Travis D. Rutherford, 31, of Spring Valley was charged with speeding, driving with a revoked or suspended license and driving while under the influence of alcohol at 10:18 p.m. on Sept. 1 on IL Hwy 6 and 2300 E St. in Princeton, Bureau County Sheriff’s Office reports.
Oscar G. Claudio, 22, of Maywood was charged with speeding 35 mph or more over the posted limit at 10:32 p.m. on Sept. 2 at US Hwy 6 and 1500 E St. in Princeton, Bureau County Sheriff’s Office reports.
Anthony M. Hickman, 27, of Buda was charged with driving with a revoked or suspended license, reckless driving and criminal damage to property over $300 at 10:14 a.m. on Sept. 4 at 25054 1550 N Ave in Princeton, Bureau County Sheriff’s Office reports.
Claudia S. Nordstrom, 18, of Princeton was charged with possession of adult use cannabis in a motor vehicle and possession/consumption of alcohol by a minor at 7:55 p.m. on Sept. 4 at Tiskilwa Bottom Rd and .5 E 2050 E St., Bureau County Sheriff’s Office reports.
Shaw Local News Network relies on reports furnished by police in our coverage area. Individuals in Police Reports who have been charged with a crime have not been proved guilty in court. If you know of a police matter but do not see it reported, contact us at 815-431-4073 or news@bcrnews.com.
Shaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois
Jack Bauer
Name: Jack Bauer.
School: Princeton High School.
Date/place of birth: Dec. 5, 2003/Princeton.
Hometown: Princeton.
Family: Parents – Kevin and Gretchen Bauer; sisters – Katie and Julia.
Sports/activities: Golf and basketball.
Nickname: Jbau.
Favorite sport and why: Basketball, because i’ve played my whole life.
Favorite food and where to get it: Grilled cheese in my kitchen.
Likes: Golf, lifting, frisbee golf.
Dislikes: Onions, slow golfers.
Jack Bauer
Person with the greatest influence on my athletic career and why: Jimmy Butler, because he goes 100% on every play.
Person with the greatest influence in my life and why: My Dad, because he tries to teach me how to be successful in any situation.
Who’s your dream celebrity prom date: Addison Rae.
Name three historic figures you’d like to meet and why: The Bulls Big 3, because they are the best basketball team of all time
If stranded on a deserted island, I would have my: Phone.
The last song I listened to: “Never Recover” by Lil Baby.
People would be surprised to know: Justin Fields will take to Bears to the Super Bowl.
I stay home to watch: “Chicago PD.”
When I need luck for a big game, I: Listen to music
The funniest person I’ve ever me: Logan Glancy.
What they’ll say about me at school after I graduate: It’s quiet in here now.
Jack Bauer
Most embarrassing moment: Rolling my Jeep.
Most unforgettable moment: 2021 Princeton football.
Ultimate sports fantasy: Hole in one.
What do I want to do with my life: Continue my education next fall. I hope to start my own business after graduating college.
Three words that best describe myself: Funny, friendly, laid-back.
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
handcuffs
Two Princeton residents were charged with felony drug offenses after drug agents investigated narcotic transfers from Chicago to Princeton.
Paul C. Hayden, 39, of Princeton, was charged Tuesday with unlawful possession of a controlled substance (heroin) with the intent to deliver, a Class X felony carrying 6 to 30 years in prison Tuesday after an investigation by agents of the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Narcotics Team, assisted by the Princeton Police Department. Bond was set at $50,000.
At 4:40 p.m. Tuesday, agents and officers noticed an individual, Hayden, as a suspect in the illegal narcotic trafficking. Agents surveilled Hayden and he was later approached in the 2200 block of North Main Street in Princeton. Through their investigation it was determined Hayden had in his possession a baggie containing less than one gram of purported heroin.
Hayden was taken into custody and transported to the Bureau County Jail. While being processed, at the jail, Hayden was found to have an additional about 23 grams of purported heroin.
Drug agents and police then began another investigation Wednesday at the train depot.
During this investigation, agents identified Jasmine R. Storm, 23, of Princeton, as a person associated with the narcotic trafficking. Agents surveilled Storm enter into a gold Mercury and began to leave the area. Agents directed a Bureau County Deputy to the location of the vehicle and the vehicle was stopped near Main and Vernon streets.
Through the investigation agents discovered Storm to have in her possession 44 small plastic baggies containing about 42 grams of purported heroin/fentanyl.
Storm was transported to the Bureau County Jail. Storm was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance (heroin) with the intent to deliver, also a Class X felony. Storm is awaiting a felony bond hearing.
Shaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois
Learn more about the candidates and races up this election in La Salle, Bureau counties
Republican Liz Bishop of La Salle officially announced Thursday her candidacy for state representative in Illinois’ 76th District.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood of Naperville has one fewer potential Republican challenger to worry about in 2026.
Edward Jauch has announced his candidacy for Bureau County sheriff, citing 34 years’ law enforcement experience.
At Shaw Local, we strive to ensure accurate, truthful and unbiased election coverage on all of our platforms. Our goal is to provide you with the information you need to have a clear understanding of political candidates and where they stand on relevant issues. We strive for fairness and accuracy in our reporting. We do not allow our journalists to cover topics or candidates in which they may have a conflict of interest.
If you have questions for candidates or want to know more about a particular issue, please contact us.
We know political stories can seem biased or maybe even annoying after awhile. At Shaw Local we are constantly looking at our election coverage to eliminate potential bias in our reporting on all of our platforms.
Our goal is to provide you with the information you need to have a clear understanding of the issues and candidates. We strive for fairness and accuracy in our reporting. We also do not allow journalists to cover topics or candidates where there may be any sort of conflict of interest.
Catch up on the week’s top Illinois Valley news in minutes for Aug. 31 – Sept. 6. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you
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Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
An exterior view of Casey’s General Store near the Bureau County Fairgrounds on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025 in Princeton. A winning $50,000 Powerball ticket was sold at this location. (Scott Anderson)
A $50,000 Powerball-winning ticket was sold at the Casey’s in Princeton but the lucky winner has not yet come forward.
The Illinois Lottery lists the store as the location of the winning ticket, but the winner may remain anonymous.
Candi Bomleny, the store’s manager, confirmed that no one has claimed the prize so far.
Bomleny explained store employees do not receive a bonus for selling winning tickets, however, about 1% of lottery profits go to the store’s overall sales.
The $50,000 prize is one of the mid-level payouts offered by Powerball. Winners can claim their prizes through the Illinois Lottery’s website.
Bill Freskos is a multimedia journalist based in the Illinois Valley. He covers hard news, local government, sports, business enterprise, and politics while contributing to Shaw Local Radio stations for Shaw Media across La Salle, Bureau, and Putnam counties.
Shaw Local file photo – A tree blown down by Tuesday night’s storms lies on a house on Parkside Dr. in Sycamore Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021. Mondays tornado outbreak in DeKalb County was followed by severe weather Tuesday night and Wednesday morning causing more storm damage in the area. (Mark Busch – mbusch@shawmedia.com)
8:12 p.m. Update: As tornado warnings across northern Illinois begin to expire, phototgrapher Scott Anderson captured these storm photos from the Illinois Valley.
A rotating wall cloud appears over western Bureau County near Princeton on Friday, May 31, 2023. (Scott Anderson)
6:55 p.m. Update: Severe storms are entering the area, capable of producing tornados, hail, and destructive winds, according to the National Weather Service.
The next line of storms is starting to move into the area. These storms will be capable of producing destructive winds in excess of 75 mph and tornadoes in addition to large hail and frequent lightning. Storm speeds remain fast so be ready to take action! #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/nipWKfdqKi
5:45 p.m. Update: Round 2 of Friday’s storms are set to arrive in northern Illinois as early as 6:30 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. The storms should exit the area by 11 p.m.
The second round of severe weather begins to move into the area near 7 PM this evening and race ENE through 11 PM. While damaging winds and tornadoes are expected to be the main threat, large hail will also be possible in addition to frequent lightning. Stay on guard! #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/FICcgZhQ1h
Severe thunderstorms with the potential for 75 mph winds, tornadoes and hail are on the way to northern Illinois Friday early afternoon, and residents should be alert for rapidly moving storm patterns, according to the National Weather Service.
A tornado watch was issued around 11:40 a.m. until 8 p.m. Friday for parts of western and central Illinois, eastern Iowa, northwestern Missouri and southwestern Iowa, according to the NWS. That includes parts of Jo Daviess, Carroll, Putnam, Whiteside, Bureau and Rock Island counties.
At 2:35 p.m., the National Weather Service issued a tornado watch until 10 p.m. for McHenry, Lake, Ogle, Lee, DeKalb, Kane, DuPage, La Salle, Kendall, Grundy, Kankakee, Will, Livingston, Ford, Iriquois and Cook counties. A few tornadoes are likely in this area, along with hail and high winds.
A tornado watch has been issued for parts of Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin until 10 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/NOwSf7kVZ9
A wind advisory also is in effect until 2 p.m. Saturday for much of northwest Illinois, including parts of La Salle, Grundy, Kankakee, Livingston, Iroquois, Ford, southern and eastern Will counties.
Most of northern Illinois is under threat from potentially significant severe storms, including Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, Lake, Ogle, Lee, DeKalb, Kane, DuPage, La Salle, Kendall, Grundy, Kankakee, Livingston, Ford, Iroquois, Will, and Cook counties.
In its midday update Friday, the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center upgraded portions of northwest and north central Illinois to a high risk for severe storms and expanded the moderate risk area to include most of northern Illinois.
Severe alerts such as thunderstorm or tornado warnings or watches could be coming later Friday, said Zackary Yack, meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Romeoville office.
“Basically the whole area is under threat to see a couple of tornadoes tonight, some could even be on the stronger side,” Yack said.
A major severe weather outbreak is expected today from the Midwest to the Mid-South. The greatest risk for strong, long-track (potentially violent) tornadoes exists across SE IA, western IL & far northeast MO as well as portions of eastern AR, northern MS, & southwest TN. pic.twitter.com/8sYRg64fLg
The key message Yack said area residents should be aware of: The storms will be moving fast, so people should be prepared in advance.
“The speed of these storms will probably be moving pretty quickly, at like 60 to 70 miles per hour,” Yack said. “So it’s not going to give people a lot of time for action.”
Cold weather coming south from the upper Midwest and the Plains states where temperatures Friday are in the 20s and lower 30s will clash with the near-60 degree weather that has settled into northern Illinois Friday morning.
Damaging winds and heavy rain are capable of causing downed trees and power lines, structural damage to homes and can impact motorists, Yack said.
“Often it makes it very hard to maintain control of a vehicle, especially when you’re adding the heavy rain,” Yack said. “You can try to get home or not be out and about when these storms come through, especially 6 to 11 p.m. The sooner you can get home and yourself off the roadside is probably best.”
For motorists who have to be out Friday evening, it’s best to slow down and maintain distance between vehicles, or find a safe spot to pull off the road, Yack said.
The first wave is expected to start around 1 to 2 p.m. Friday, Yack said, and the second around 6 to 11 p.m.
“With the initial wave we’re basically looking at damaging wind gusts upwards of 75 miles per hour or higher, definitely some tornadoes possible and even a damaging hail threat,” Yack said. “The tricky part with this though is the northwest extension is uncertain at this time. There’s a chance the worst might be confined to I-80 and southward, but we’re definitely looking at those potential storms getting into the north part of the region, so those areas are not out of the clear yet.”
The second set of thunderstorms is coming from a line pushing across eastern Iowa, which is tracking across the Missouri River, said NWS meteorologist Mike McClure out of the Quad Cities office.
“As that moves through here tonight, we’re going to switch winds around to the northwest and that’s going to bring in some of that colder air,” McClure said.
Quad Cities residents should expect winds about 60 mph and large hail.
“We anticipate super cell storms to develop from central and eastern Iowa here,” McClure said. “It’s possible as time goes on these super cells could form into a line that could move eastward across Illinois and be predominantly a damaging wind threat.”
The National Weather Service recommends Illinoisans have an emergency preparedness plan ready to go in the event of severe weather threats Friday. If a tornado or high wind alert is issued, residents should head to the lowest floor of their home or a sturdy building and away from windows. Those in a vehicle should pull off the road and get into a sturdy building.
Severe weather alerts can be followed on smart phones, in area media outlets, and on the National Weather Services’ social media pages, including live updates on Twitter.
Kelsey Rettke is the editor of the Daily Chronicle and co-editor of the Kane County Chronicle, part of Shaw Local News Network.