Category: Uncategorized

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.
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

source

Five retired professionals were recognized Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, by the Illinois Valley Community College Board of Trustees for the honorary title of emeritus that was awarded in December. A short reception in their honor followed the announcement. Pictured (from left) are Stephen Alvin, Jane Sack, Rose Marie Lynch, Robert P. Marshall and Bonnie Campbell. (Photo provided by Peggy Schneider)
Nine retired professionals were awarded with the honorary title of emeritus during the Illinois Valley Community College Board of Trustees meeting in December.
Recognized during the meeting Jan. 16 were administrators Robert P. Marshall and Bonnie Campbell and faculty members Stephen Alvin, Rose Marie Lynch and Jane Sack. Also awarded emeritus status in December were Sue Isermann, Daniel O’Connor, James Stevenson and Linda Hawkins.
In other action, the board approved a new early childhood education certification that focuses on creating new leaders and mentors in the field.
The ECE Director Qualified Certificate introduces a class in coaching and leadership to existing administration and early-childhood education courses to create a streamlined and comprehensive program tailored to childcare workers who want to advance, ECE program coordinator Tammy Landgraf said. Licensed childcare facilities are required to have director-qualified employees on-site, and trainer/mentors are always in demand, she said.
Graduates will be able to list a program of study that sets out their qualifications to licensing representatives. The new certification, recommended by the college curriculum committee, still needs state approval, but the first class is expected to enroll in the 2025-26 school year.
In her monthly report, President Tracy Morris noted that:
In other action, the board also:
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

source

As the owners of A Second Chance Liquidation, Ashley and Mike Taylor have embraced ways to support and give back to the Princeton community. (Scott Anderson)
As the owners of A Second Chance Liquidation, Ashley and Mike Taylor have embraced ways to support and give back to the Princeton community.
When the former Grandma Rosie’s Sweet Treats, 920 W. Peru St., Princeton, was listed for sale, Ashley saw a similar opportunity.
“My liquidation business helps my community and families and hearing feedback about that fills my heart, and my goal is to have the same thing for the ice cream (business),” she said.
Taylor’s vision for Faith’s Fabulous Treats, which opens Tuesday, is affordable food and treats in a family-friendly atmosphere.
“We want to make meals for a family to come in and enjoy a night on the town and still be affordable,” she said.
The menu will include combo baskets with a choice of tenderloins, burgers, gyros, barbecue, grilled pork chop, brat patty, pulled pork, grilled cheese or Italian beef with fries, cole slaw, and a drink. The kids combo is a hot dog, burger, corn dog, or grilled cheese, with chips, a small ice cream cone, and a small drink. The menu also includes appetizers and fried sweets, such as funnel cake, fried oreo, fried Snicker, and fried Milky Way. Other sweets treats are slushies, shakes, cones, and sundaes, including specialty sundaes. Taylor also added a Go Team Go menu, which is Princeton Tigers-themed desserts, which feature blue raspberry treats to match the high school’s colors.
The business is named after the owners’ miracle baby, Faith Neveah, who will be 1 year old in June.
“I instantly knew it was something I wanted to do for my daughter and hopefully it will be thriving so one day I can hand it down to her,” Ashley said.
In addition to Faith’s and A Second Chance Liquidation, The Taylors also own other businesses in Princeton and Ottawa.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Delivery is available by calling 815-719-6710.
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
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

source

A death investigation is ongoing after human remains were discovered Saturday outside the village of Cherry at the decommissioned Cherry Mine, the Bureau County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Monday. (Jayce Eustice)
A death investigation is ongoing after human remains were discovered Saturday outside the village of Cherry at the decommissioned Cherry Mine, the Bureau County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Monday.
Deputies were dispatched to the mine about 3:54 p.m. Saturday for the discovery of human remains, the sheriff’s office said.
“The body was severely decomposed,” the sheriff’s office said in the release. “And an autopsy will be needed to determine the identity of the deceased and cause of death.”
The death investigation is ongoing with the Bureau County Coroner with Illinois State Police assisting the Bureau County Sheriff’s Office.
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

source

Princeton’s Noah LaPorte and Byron’s Caden Considine scramble for a loose. ball in Wednesday’s sectional semifinals at Marengo. Princeton won 46-42 to advance to Friday’s championship against Rock Falls. (Mike Vaughn)
MARENGO – You can call them the Comeback Kids.
Princeton trailed by 12 points late in the third quarter before a defensive change sparked the Tigers with a 17-0 run, holding Byron scoreless for nearly eight minutes.
That run gave Princeton a 38-33 lead with 3:41 to play and the Tigers held on for a 46-42 victory over Byron in Wednesday’s Class 2A Marengo Sectional semifinals.
“We know our defense is our specialty. We know if we fight on defense we can come back and that’s exactly what we did,” Princeton senior Jordan Reinhardt said.
“We feed off our defense. We want to get some stops and the crowd picks up and we feed off that,” Princeton senior Noah LaPorte.
The win sends Princeton (21-12) back to the sectional finals for the third straight year, riding a 12-game win streak to face Rock Falls (24-8) on Friday. The Rockets beat Winnebago 42-40 on Ryken Howard’s game-winning shot with less than a second left on Tuesday.
The Tigers beat Rock Falls 60-52 on Jan. 4.
“Let’s try to get one, right? See what we can do,” Princeton coach Jason Smith said. “Rock Falls is tough. It’s going to be a battle. Got them once at their place. Coach [Zach] Sandrock does a great job and we’ll have our work cut out. I can assure you our boys will be ready to play.”
“It’s a blast getting there, but it’d be even more fun if we win,” Reinhardt said. “It’s kind of like football. We get to the quarterfinals every year, and we get knocked out.”
“It’s one thing getting to the final. We’ve got to get past it,” LaPorte said.
It was a change to its 1-3-1 zone that provided Princeton the spark it needed.
“We had to go to the 1-3-1 a little bit just to get them sped up a little bit and turn them over,” Smith said. “Went back to our matchup zone, and I think working both of them helped us out.”
Princeton got a pair of free throws each from Asa Gartin and LaPorte and a 3-pointer at the buzzer by Luke Smith, scoring the final seven points of the third quarter to close within 33-28.
Princeton’s Luke Smith makes a key 3-pointer late in Wednesday’s sectional semifinals at Marengo. Princeton won 46-42 to advance to Friday’s championship against Rock Falls. (Mike Vaughn)
The Tigers from Princeton were just getting started. Reinhardt and Gartin, who converted a three-point play, scored on putbacks to tie the game at 33. LaPorte hit a 3-pointer from the right corner and added two free throws, and suddenly it was 38-33 Princeton with 3:41 left.
Reinhardt drove and dished to LaPorte for a thunderous dunk to give PHS a 40-37 lead. Ben Hively tied it with a 3-pointer for Byron only to have Reinhardt answer with a scoring drive to put PHS back on top 42-40.
“I kind of like the ball in my hands at the end,” Reinhardt said. “The whole team wants me to have it. They all have confidence in me. I know I have to step up.”
“Jordan’s done it all year,” Smith said. “He’s a leader out there. He wants the ball in his hands. Creates shots for himself.
“And any time you get a dunk by Noah builds the fire a little.”
LaPorte is ready to oblige with a dunk at all times.
“That was electric. The whole crowd is waiting for it,” he said.
Jayden Fulkerson got loose on a runout pass from Smith to give PHS a 44-41 lead with 12 seconds left. Byron’s Cason Newton was fouled by LaPorte on a 3-point shot, sent to the line needing a trifecta for the tie. He missed the first, swished the second and intentionally missed the third but did not draw iron, turning the ball over to Princeton.
Princeton’s Jayden Fulkerson makes a key layup late in Wednesday’s sectional semifinals at Marengo. Princeton beat Byron 46-42 to advance to Friday’s championship against Rock Falls. (Mike Vaughn)
Reinhardt sank a pair from the charity stripe to put Princeton up for good at 46-42 and a date with Rock Falls on Friday.
“Lot of unsung heroes. Lot of grit and a lot of fight out of these guys. I can’t be more proud of them,” Smith said.
LaPorte led Princeton with 19 points and Reinhardt added 12.
Newton paced Byron with 12 points.
It didn’t start out good for Princeton. Byron scored the first seven points of the game with Princeton shut out until Smith hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key as Byron took a 12-3 lead at quarter’s end.
Byron took a 16-9 lead with 2:42 left in the second quarter on a pair of free throws by Kaden McGough. Princeton scored five straight with a back door basket by Reinhardt and a free throw and a basket in the post by LaPorte to make it 16-12.
Hively scored on a drive from the left wing to send Byron to an 18-14 lead at the half.
Byron stretched its lead to 12 at 31-19 on the strength of Newton’s 11 points and maintained that edge at 33-21 with 2:43 left in the third quarter on a layup and putback by Edmonson.
Princeton last won a sectional championship in 2009 at Chillicothe, defeating Peoria Manual 71-65. The Tigers have won sectional championships in 1954, 1955, 1992, 1994, 2003 and 2009.
Princeton’s Noah LaPorte shoots over Byron’s Kaden McGough (left) and Ben Hively in Wednesday’s sectional semifinals at Marengo. Princeton won 46-42 to advance to Friday’s championship against Rock Falls. (Mike Vaughn)
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

source

Signs indicate a Papa John’s store is opening soon in Peru next to Dunkin’ Donuts. (Maribeth Wilson)
Papa John’s signs were hung at the empty storefront next to Dunkin’ Donuts on Shooting Park Road in Peru, signaling the national pizza chain is opening a new location soon in Peru.
There are 81 Papa John’s locations in Illinois, but just one other in La Salle County. That store is located in Ottawa.
A sign indicates the store is hiring.
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 .
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

source

Princeton’s Noah LaPorte scores the game-winning basket to lift the Tigers to a 53-51 win over Byron Saturday at Prouty Gym. The basket also broke the PHS all-time scoring record with 1,470 career points. (Mike Vaughn)
Princeton senior Noah LaPorte set the Tigers’ all-time scoring record with the game-winning basket in Saturday’s 53-51 win over Byron. He broke the record of 1,468 set by former teammate Grady Thompson in 2022-23. Here’s all the Tigers’ 1,000-point scorers:
Note: Tiah Romagnoli (1996-99) is Princeton’s girls scoring leader with 1,506 points
Grady Thompson (Mike Vaughn)
Princeton great Joe Ruklick displays one of his famous hook shots for the Tigers’ 1954-55 state squad. He set the Princeton school scoring record with 1,306 career points and became a collegiate All-American for Northwestern and played in the NBA. (BCR file photo/Bill Lamb)
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

source

Princeton’s Cade Odell (left) and Wheaton St. Francis’ Jaylen Torres wrestle at 285 pounds at the 1A Oregon Sectional on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Earleen Hinton)
Last year, Princeton qualified a then school-record four wrestlers for the IHSA state individual wrestling tournament, bringing home three state medals.
The Tigers have one-upped that record this year, sending five wrestlers to Champaign with an eye on setting a new record for state medalists.
Making a return trip to state will be junior Augustus Swanson (120 pounds) and senior Ace Christiansen (144), who each placed third at Saturday’s Class 1A Oregon Sectional, and junior Casey Etheridge (165) and senior Cade Odell (285), who finished fourth.
They will be joined by freshman Kane Dauber, who placed third at 132.
“It’s big for the program to get five down there,” Princeton coach Steve Amy said. “These guys have been working hard for a very long time to get to this point. It’s really a testament to our guys’ dedication and determination to continue to compete in tough situations.
“It’s a school record but hopefully we’re not done breaking those. Hopefully we can bring home five medals this weekend.”
Princeton’s Ace Christiansen (top) and Richmond Burton’s Emmett Belson wrestle at 144 pounds at the 1A Oregon Sectional on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Earleen Hinton)
The Tigers are excited to go back.
“It is a great feeling to be able to return the same amount of guys as last year and even adding a great talent like Kane,” said Etheridge, who seeks his first IHSA state medal. “We are happy to be able to compete next weekend but our goals and ambitions don’t end with just being there. We have high aspirations for next weekend and we are ready to compete with the best in the state.”
“It’s great having five of us make it out of our sectional which is always one of the toughest ones in the state and is really cool,” said Christiansen, who placed third at state a year ago.
“It’s definitely something special that’s for sure,” said Swanson, who placed fifth at 113 pounds last year. “It is a huge honor being apart of this team with five of us making it. There was definitely people who doubted me since i went up to 120, but I proved to them and myself that I can do it.”
Odell, a fourth-place state medalist last year, had the most tedious ride of the Tigers. He fell to Jaylen Torres of St. Francis 7-1 in the semifinals at 285 and trailed by one point with 30 seconds in his semifinal wrestleback before scoring with an escape and takedown for a 9-6 win over Colin Kraus of Richmond-Burton.
Odell dropped a 4-3 decision to Byron’s Jared Claunch, finishing fourth.
“It’s happiness, fatigue,” Odell said after the sectional. “I was elated. I was here my sophomore year and I lost in sudden death to a Lena-Winslow heavyweight at the time. So it’s nice to come back and do it here and actually make it out this time.
“Earlier this year I dealt with a pretty bad injury and I wasn’t even sure I was going to be able to wrestle at regionals. Just coming back here and just being able to wrestle my butt off, it’s just all glory to God, really. It’s just kind of the bow on my career, you know.”
Swanson lost to Richmond-Burton’s Adam Glauser in the semifinals but bounced back to win by fall in 3:45 in his semifinal wrestleback against Byron’s Jackson Norris and by 13-5 major decision over Oregon’s Isaiah Perez to take third place.
Dauber lost 20-15 Riverdale’s Dean Wainwright in the semifinals but earned his state berth with a 12-6 decision in a semifinal wrestleback over Newman’s Landon Blanton and a pin at 4:45 over Oregon’s Nelson Benesh in the third-place match.
Christiansen lost by 15-3 major decision to Richmond-Burton’s Emmett Nelson in his semifinal. He won a 7-1 decision over Rockridge’s Tomas Sowards in his semifinal wrestleback and won by medical forfeit in the third-place match.
Etheridge dropped a 5-4 decision to Wheaton Academy’s Tyler Jones in the semifinals then won by 16-4 major decision over Marquette’s Reily Leifheit in his semifinal wrestleback to earn a return trip to state. He lost a 7-2 decision Newman’s Daniel Kelly in the third-place match.
Sterling Newman’s Danny Kelly and Princeton’s Casey Etheridge wrestle at 165 pounds at the 1A Oregon Regional on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Earleen Hinton)
Princeton freshman Jacob Paull (113) saw his season end in wrestlebacks.
Prior to last year, Princeton’s best medal take at state had been two medalists which it did six times – 1990, 1993, 1995, 2002, 2003, 2019.
All of the Tigers will be wrestling in opening round Class 1A matchup starting at noon Thursday at the State Farm Center in Champaign.
Swanson (28-8) will face Coal City senior Culan Lindemuth (33-11) at 120; Dauber (46-3) drew Brenden Rayl (34-1), a senior from Belleville Althoff at 132; Christiansen will square off with Logan Riggs (35-12), a junior from Roxana at 144 and Etheridge (44-4) will face Adam Haddad (36-2), a senior sectional champion from Northridge at 165 while Odell (31-3) will wrestle David McCarthy (28-2), a senior sectional champ and returning state medalist (fifth) from Chicago De La Salle.
Lindemuth, Rayl and Riggs were all sectional runners-up.
“We have some matchups. At this point in the season, everyone is good so we just have to stick to doing what we’re good at,” Amy said.
Princeton’s Augustus Swanson (right) wrestles Byron’s Jackson Morris in a semi-final wrestleback match at 120 pounds at the 1A Oregon Sectional on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Earleen Hinton)
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

source

An aerial view of the former St. Margaret’s Hospital on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023, in Spring Valley. (Scott Anderson)
A new owner of the former St. Margaret’s hospital in Spring Valley has emerged, and the city is hopeful that the owner will reach out to the city soon to share more details on its plans for the building.
Spring Valley Mayor Melanie Malooley-Thompson said Wednesday that the new owner is the University of Veterinary and Animal Wellness LLC of Palm Springs, California. She said the city has been in contact with its real estate agent and attorney to get more information.
The hospital, which closed June 16, 2023, was sold as part of a bankruptcy sale. The facility at 600 E. First St. spans 226,352 square feet, and an adjoining medical office is 5,400 square feet, according to a listing from Hilco Real Estate Sales.
Shaw Local News Network has not been able to contact the new owner.
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

source

The Streator Police Department and Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating a suspicious fire Sunday morning on the 600 block of North Sterling Street. (Scott Anderson)
The Streator Police Department and Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating a suspicious fire Sunday morning on the 600 block of North Sterling Street.
All occupants in the home were able to escape the fire, according to the Streator Fire Department.
The fire was said to have occurred after two reports of shootings in Streator, including gunfire on that block Saturday, in which 17 bullet casings were found by police.
Streator firefighters arrived at about 1:20 a.m. and found fire in the rear of a two-story home. The fire was controlled in less than 5 minutes, the fire department said.
In the process of completely extinguishing the fire, firefighters found potential causes and called in the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office to help with the investigation. Streator firefighters assisted in the investigation.
There were no injuries reported as seven firefighters responded. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The home had minor fire damage on the exterior and the American Red Cross is assisting the family.
Along with Streator police and fire departments, Vermilion Valley Dispatch, Streator ambulance, Nicor and Illinois American Water assisted in the response.
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

source