Author: princetonmays

Tossed & Found Resale + Consignment is hosting a grand opening from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, July 19, at 225 Backbone Road, E. #5, Princeton. (Scott Anderson)
After closing her consignment store in Rock Falls, Jenny Chagala is reopening the store in her hometown of Princeton.
“Today marks a significant milestone in my journey: I’ve finally secured the building I’ve been dreaming of for years to relocate my consignment shop, and it’s back in my hometown where my heart truly belongs,” Chagala said on the business’ Facebook page July 2.
Chagala will run the store with business partner Candi Bomleny.
Tossed & Found Resale + Consignment is hosting a grand opening from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, July 19, at 225 Backbone Road, E. #5, Princeton.
Chagala ran her store in Rock Falls for almost seven years. Consignment drop-off is by appointment. Clients are invited to select from a variety of items including in-season clothing, shoes/accessories, household decor, furniture and other items, with a limit of 100 items per visit. To maintain high standards, the store requires all items be presented in excellent, like-new condition, freshly cleaned and neatly folded. Each item will undergo the inspection process and items that do not meet quality standards will be returned to the consignor.
Chagala said her store offers current and stylish clothing. Merchandise is displayed for a period of 60 days. If an item doesn’t sell in that duration, it becomes the property of Tossed & Found. Tossed & Found takes responsibility for setting the selling prices of all items. Upon sale, the consignor receives 40% of the final selling price. Tossed & Found is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. For more information, find Tossed & Found 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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From July 24 through Aug. 14, parents should log into their student’s Teacherease account and register their student(s) for the 2024-25 school year. (Derek Barichello)
From July 24 through Aug. 14, Princeton High School parents should log into their student’s Teacherease account and register their student(s) for the 2024-25 school year.
For those new to Princeton High School a welcome email from teacherease will be sent on July 24.
Online registration allows parents to view student orientation information, online forms, update their students information, view schedules and view student fees. Princeton High School encourages you to complete the free/reduced application that was recently mailed home in order to determine if a family qualifies for a fee waiver for student lunches and general fees.
Freshman Orientation will be on Monday, Aug. 12. Students will attend from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Students should enter through the main door (door 1). During this process, students will have their ID pictures taken in the south gym. All students will also have yearbook pictures taken at this time, but no payment will be due until you have reviewed your student’s proofs. In addition, students will have an opportunity to tour the building, return the online forms that are available for yearbooks, pay registration fees, as well return any other forms necessary. Chromebooks will be distributed and students will be given their 2024-2025 PHS Student Planner.
Sophomore, Junior and Senior Orientation will be on Monday, Aug. 12 anytime between 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 2 p.m. Students should enter through the main door (door 1). During this process, students will have their ID pictures taken in the south gym. All students will also have yearbook pictures taken at this time, but no payment will be due until you have reviewed your student’s proofs. In addition, students will have an opportunity to return the online forms that are available for yearbooks, pay registration fees, as well return any other forms necessary. Chromebooks will be distributed and students will be given their 2024-2025 PHS Student Planner.
Registration for students new to the district or those who do not have access to a computer are by appointment only. All of the registration forms can be found online at www.phs-il.org under the 2024-2025 tab.
Contact the main office at 815-875-3308 in order to schedule an appointment.
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Entry No. 1 is Vyla Jo Nyman, 11 month old daughter of Tyler and Perla Nyman of Princeton. (Photo provided by Gail Jagers)
Entries still are being accepted for the 2024 Princeton Junior Woman’s Club Baby Contest.
So far, the contest has five entries.
Entrants must be Bureau County residents younger than 24 months of age as of Sept. 6. Contest entries must be emailed to princetonjuniors@gmail.com by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 7.
To enter, email a high resolution, snapshot sized color photograph of the child. Refrain from entering photos that have been cropped or altered. Also, no professional photographs will be accepted. The email must also include the following: child’s name, sex, birthdate, current age, parents’ name, parents’ address and two valid contact phone numbers.
In person voting will begin at noon Friday, Aug. 9, and continue until noon Friday, Sept. 6. The voting canisters will be displayed at Midland States Bank (Aug. 9-16), First State Bank (Aug. 16-23), Central Bank (Aug. 23-30) and Heartland Bank – South Branch (Aug. 30-Sept. 6). The canisters will be moved around noon on Fridays. Each child will have a canister with his/her corresponding photograph in which votes can be placed.
The Princeton Junior Woman’s Club Baby Contest will be accepting Venmo to collect votes. To vote through Venmo, send your chosen transaction amount to @P-Juniors-71. Voters must include the baby’s name in the “What’s it for?” line. Venmo votes will only be accepted from noon on Friday, Aug. 9th to noon on Thursday, Sept. 5.
One dollar equals 100 votes. All votes will be tallied and winners will be notified Sept. 6 and introduced during that evening’s Homestead Festival announcements.
Prizes will be given to the boy and girl winners, as well as the boy and girl runners up. All winners and their parents will have a spot in the Homestead Festival parade on Saturday.
The Princeton Junior Woman’s Club donates all the proceeds from this contest back to communities and organizations within Bureau County through various projects carried out by their club.
Entry No. 2 is Everett Eckberg, 12 month old son of Derrick and Kaelynn Eckberg of Princeton. (Photo provided by Gail Jagers)
Entry No. 3 is Brexton Carrington, 15 month old son of Brian and Jen Carrington of Princeton. (Photo provided by Gail Jagers)
Entry No. 4 is Stella Haun-Gardner, 20 month old daughter of Sandra Haun of Princeton and Matthew Gardner of Tiskilwa. (Photo provided by Gail Jagers)
Entry No. 5 is Tucker James Sell, 7 month old son of of Ashley Kozuba and Tyler Sell of Princeton. (Photo provided by Gail Jagers)
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(From left) Secretary of State’s DMV IT Operations Manager Andy Simmons; County Administrator Sharon Schallhorn; Vice County Board Chair Keith Cain, Princeton DMV Facility Manager Whitney Mccafferty and Driver Services Director Kevin Duesterhaus cut the ribbon Wednesday, July 31, 2024, on the newly upgraded Princeton One-Stop-Shop DMV. (Photo provided by Erin Henkel)
The Illinois Secretary of State has upgraded its Princeton DMV facility to a “one-stop shop,” allowing customers to access services at a single customer service counter.
The renovation also includes updated signage to create a more logical flow and help customers know where to go, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced Wednesday.
The Princeton DMV, 400 N. Main St., is one of the first downstate facilities to undergo the “one-stop-shop” transformation, and it reopened Monday after extensive renovations to allow customers to access services at one single station.
As a part of the Secretary of State’s ongoing modernization efforts, the new DMV experience will save customers time and several steps by offering both vehicle and driver services at a single service counter.
“Since taking office, I have made it a top priority to provide exceptional customer service and reduce lines and wait times,” Giannoulias said in a news release. “Our Princeton facility will be among the first to get this makeover that will give it a modern feel while employing new technology to create efficiencies.”
Driver services and vehicle services employees at “one-stop-shop” DMVs are now cross-trained to provide both sets of services.
At a single service counter, customers will be able experience the following services:
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Entry No. 20 in the contest is Paisley Bonnell, 6 month old daughter of Natalee Theobald and Devon Bonnell of Princeton. (Photo provided by Gail Jagers)
The contestants are in for the 2024 Princeton Junior Woman’s Club Baby Contest.
The contest received four more entries prior to the Aug. 15 deadline, to reach a total of 23 in the contest.
The voting canister will be at First State Bank from Aug. 16-23. The canisters will be moved around noon on Fridays. Each child will have a canister with his/her corresponding photograph in which votes can be placed. The canisters will be at Central Bank (Aug. 23-30) and Heartland Bank – South Branch (Aug. 30-Sept. 6).
The contest will be accepting Venmo to collect votes. To vote through Venmo, send your chosen transaction amount to @P-Juniors-71. Voters must include the baby’s name in the “What’s it for?” line. Venmo votes will only be accepted from to noon on Thursday, Sept. 5.
One dollar equals 100 votes. All votes will be tallied and winners will be notified Sept. 6 and introduced during that evening’s Homestead Festival announcements.
Prizes will be given to the boy and girl winners, as well as the boy and girl runners up. All winners and their parents will have a spot in the Homestead Festival parade on Saturday.
Entry No. 21 in the contest is Emmett Steven McFadin, 8 month old son of Aubreanna Vogel and Kyler McFadin of Princeton. (Photo provided by Gail Jagers)
Entry No. 22 in the contest is Bailey Lynn Buettner, 12 month old daughter of Dan and Katelyn Buettner of Ladd. (Photo provided by Gail Jagers)
Entry No. 23 in the contest is Emryn Howling River Wunderlich, 21 month old daughter of Amanda Galligo and Gregory Wunderlich of Princeton. (Photo provided by Gail Jagers)
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Hot air balloon glow and tethered rides are expected to make their return Saturday, Oct. 12, for Princeton’s first Monster Mash Balloon Bash. (Scott Anderson)
Hot air balloons will be making a return Saturday, Oct. 12, to be a part of Princeton’s first Monster Mash Balloon Bash, Princeton Tourism announced.
The city, Princeton Tourism, the Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce and the Bureau County Fair reimagined the Scarecrow Festival.
There will be tricks, treats and the haunted house at the Bureau County Fairgrounds. Events for the day include trick-or-treating on Main Street, a kids costume contest, the Bureau County Fair’s annual Halloween Parade followed by a performance of the Hocus Pocus Hags, the Nightmare Haunted Attraction celebrating 21 years, a petting zoo, food vendors, activities for children, and a hot air balloon glow and tethered rides, among other activities.
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An aerial view of the former Midland Bank on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024, at the corner of Backbone Road and Main Street in Princeton. The Princeton City Council met to discuss an ordinance approving the final plat of the Michael’s Plaza subdivision with a proposal for an Aldi grocery store and Starbucks. Starbucks expects to break ground in the next 30 days with Aldi slated for spring 2025. (Scott Anderson)
An Aldi grocery store and Starbucks could be coming to Princeton after the Princeton City Council gave the green light Tuesday to the new Michael’s Plaza development at the corner of Backbone Road and Main Street.
The council approved in an unanimous vote the ordinance approving the final plat of subdivision for the new development. The developers sought to reconfigure the existing five parcels into three new lots, with a Starbucks slated for the corner lot and an Aldi for the central lot.
Previously occupied by a bank and an eight-plex apartment building that was demolished several years ago, the area is now set for new commercial growth.
“We’re excited about this development coming to Princeton and appreciate the investment that the developers are making.”
Princeton’s Planning and Zoning Administrator Pete Nelson spoke to council on Tuesday night before they voted on the decision and said the site has been a target for developers for some time.
“Princeton has been on the radar of these developers for a while,” Nelson said. “They’ve reached a point where they believe the city can support more development.”
Mayor Raymond Mabry also expressed enthusiasm about the project.
“We’re excited about this development coming to Princeton and appreciate the investment that the developers are making,” Mabry said.
He emphasized the positive impact of the project on the community, noting that the redevelopment will address a “somewhat blighted area” in Princeton.
“The old bank building has been a tired-looking structure for quite some time, so we appreciate the improvements being made.” Mabry said.
An aerial view of the former Midland Bank on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024, at the corner of Backbone Road and Main Street in Princeton. (Scott Anderson)
Mabry also mentioned that the new buildings will eventually be added to the tax rolls, benefiting all local taxing bodies, including school districts, park districts, and libraries.
Nelson highlighted the progress of the project to this point, saying it’s moving swiftly through the design phase and is nearing the point of completion.
“Starbucks aims to break ground this fall, and Aldi is expected to begin construction in the spring, though these timelines may change,” he said.
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.

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The 2024 Princeton Junior Women’s Club Homestead Baby Contest winners posed for a photo. They are (from left) Baby Girl Winner Hadley Mecum, daughter of Shane Mecum and Chelsea Mecum of Princeton; Baby Boy Runner Up Austin McComber, son of Joel and Holli McComber of TIskilwa; Baby Boy Winner Everett Eckberg, son of Derrick and Kaelynn Eckberg of Princeton; and Baby Girl Runner Up Everly Hassler, daughter of Cody Hassler and Tara Favia of Princeton. (Photo provided by Gail Jagers)
Winners for the 2024 Princeton Junior Women’s Club Baby Contest were announced.
Hadley Mecum, daughter of Shane Mecum and Chelsea Mecum of Princeton, was the baby girl winner and Everett Eckberg, son of Derrick and Kaelynn Eckberg of Princeton, was the baby boy winner. Runner-ups are Everly Hassler, daughter of Cody Hassler and Tara Favia of Princeton, and Austin McComber, son of Joel and Holli McComber of TIskilwa.
There were 23 contestants. The winners were given a spot in the Homestead Festival parade.
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Smoke billows from a home in the 1300 block of 2500 East Street on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in rural Princeton. Fire departments from eastern Bureau County were called to the scene just before 9:30 a.m. (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 Princeton High School Class of 1956 held its 68th class reunion Sept. 7, 2024, at the AmericInn. They are (front, from left) Judy (Brown) Nordstrom, Ruth (Bell) Hanna, Sandy (Johnson) Vickrey, John Springer and Bob Carlson (middle, from left) Curt Hulteen, Mary Lynn (Stamm) Kelly, Nancy (Sutcliffe) Wolter, Cheryl (Ellberg) Freeburg, Jim Wright, Nancy (Hodkins) Bloomstrand, Phyllis (Bird) Nordstrom, Carolyn (Fiste) Barkley, Donna (Doll) Rott, Mary (Helper) Carloye, Dixie (Pomeroy) Utter, Dan McDonald, (back, from left) Charles (Buzzy) Kuehl, Bradley Pihl, Richard (Hotdog) Brown, Dennis Keheler. (Photo provided by Sandee Halberg)
The Princeton High School Class of 1956 held Sept. 7 its 68th class reunion at the AmericInn. There are 21 members that attended during the weekend of the annual Homestead Festival.
The attendees also had a stag dinner at the Tony’s Butt Shack on Thursday, played some golf Friday in Mendota, shared a luncheon at Underground and many had a pork chop Saturday up on Courthouse Square.
They also had a catered dinner at the AmericInn Hospitality Room, which attendees have done for several years.
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