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Michael Zearing, Princeton planning and zoning administrator, said Jan. 6 the city had four new commercial projects constructed in 2024 for a total of $4 million on the commercial side and about five residential units for a total of about $1.5 million on the residential side. (Scott Anderson)
Michael Zearing, Princeton planning and zoning administrator, said Jan. 6 the city had four new commercial projects constructed in 2024 for a total of $4 million on the commercial side and about five residential units for a total of about $1.5 million on the residential side. Zearing said new construction included a tear down and rebuild at 503 E. Thompson St. and the building of a duplex and a triplex.

City adopts updated codes

The Princeton City Council adopted the 2021 International Building Code, 2021 International Residential Code, 2021 International Property Maintenance Code, 2021 International Existing Building Code, 2021 International Mechanical Code, 2021 NFPA 101 Life Safety Code and 2021 International Fire Code.
Zearing said the city elected to go with the 2021 codes, instead of the 2024, because there would be training more readily available for the 2021 codes.
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The Princeton City Council weighed in Jan. 20 on a Bureau County Board item to house inmates from Cook County, with each council member saying they opposed the idea. (Jayce Eustice)
The Princeton City Council weighed in Jan. 20 on a Bureau County Board item to house inmates from Cook County, with each council member saying they opposed the idea.
Mayor Ray Mabry brought up to the council that the Bureau County Sheriff’s Office is considering housing up to 50 Cook County inmates at the jail in Princeton as a way to generate revenue and keep the jail fully functioning.
“I’ve had a number of residents approach me and say it’s not a good idea, and I don’t think it’s a good idea,” Mabry said. “I’ll say that in fairness to the County Board they’ve tabled this to the next meeting and I’ll be attending that meeting listening and learning.”
Council member Hector Gomez said he attended the Jan. 14 County Board meeting and he wasn’t concerned about the inmates, which he said would be secure in the jail, but any visitors who would come to Princeton to see the inmates.
Council members Jerry Neumann, Michael McCall and Martin Makransky said they spoke to residents not in favor of it, and added that they also were not in favor of the idea.
The discussions is scheduled to resume at a Bureau County Board committee meeting at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 5. The Bureau County Board sets policy for the jail. The Princeton City Council has no jurisdiction over it.
Sheriff Jim Reed recommended the board postpone final action to study the issue more closely – and to sift through social media feedback that he said was misguided and inaccurate.
Besides bringing in revenue, Reed said additional inmates would be welcome because the Bureau County Jail needs to be occupied and used lest it fall into disrepair. Similarly, the county has entered into food and service contracts and risks losing money by not keeping the daily census afloat.
Leasing overflow space to overcrowded jails is an arrangement that has worked for La Salle County. Jason Edgcomb, superintendent of La Salle County Jail, said intergovernmental agreements with other counties have generated needed revenue. Cook County alone brings in about $15,000 a month and the arrangement has not led to any issues, he said. If it were to enter into an agreement, Bureau County would receive $65 per day for each inmate it accepts.
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The Princeton Tigers wrestling team defeated Rockridge and Sherrard on the Prouty Gym mats Friday, clinching its first conference championship in 14 years. (Kevin Hieronymus)
PRINCETON – Fourteen years is a long time.
Most of the Princeton wrestlers were either in diapers or just coming out of them the last time the Tigers won a conference championship in 2011.
The Tigers wrestling team put up a new marker on the Prouty Gym banner Friday, sweeping a pair of Three Rivers dual matches to claim the conference championship.
The Tigers first defeated Rockridge 40-35 and then took down Sherrard 58-21 to wrap up the Three Rivers championship.
It was Princeton’s first conference title since 2011, in an abbreviated NCIC conference field, and their first in the Three Rivers. PHS also won the NCIC championship in 2007, its only other conference title.
“It means a lot. Looking up at that board, we last won it in 2011. This is the first time in the TRAC, That’s sweet,“ said PHS senior Ace Christiansen, who was one of five Tigers to sweep two matches Friday.
“We knew they were pretty solid teams. They didn’t have anybody over the top, but we knew they were going to be pretty tough. I think we did very well.”
PHS junior Casey Etheridge, who took both of his matches moving up a weight to 175 pounds, was glad the Tigers could get what eluded them in football.
“It feels great to get a conference championship in wrestling because it’s been that long. And in football, we didn’t get it done, so it feels nice to get it in another sport,” he said.
“We didn’t wrestle our best against Rockridge, but I thought we wrestled better against Sherrard. Sherrard beat Rockridge and we wrestled real well against Sherrard.”
Tiger coach Steve Amy knew he had the makings of a champion when they hit the mats this season bringing back four state medalists.
“We knew we had a pretty special group. As long as everyone fit in the right weights, we’d be pretty good,” he said. “Hats off to these guys. They’ve worked hard all year and they deserve it and hopefully next week (at regional) they’re ready to go.”
Of the double winners on the night, Amy especially praised freshman Andrew Giaquinto for stepping in at 165 to fill in for Mike Kurth, who was ill.
He pinned Rockridge’s Isaac Bull at 0:47 and Sherrard’s Jaydon Wilson at 3:29.
“He did a great job filling. Had a guy sick, so we moved the lineup around a little bit and he came away with two wins. It was great,” Amy said.
“He did a great job,” Etheridge said. “He’s been working really hard. He stepped up tonight and got both those pins.”
Etheridge took care of business with two falls on the night, at 0:25 against Rockridge’s Levi Junis and at 0:30 against Sherrard’s Alexander Buckner.
Christiansen scored a 10-0 major decision over Rockridge’s Thomas Sowards and an 18-2 technical fall over Sherrard’s Andrew Knox.
Augustus Swanson scored two falls, at 0:27 over Rockridge’s Cooper Larson and at 0:36 over Sherrard’s Tavian Strauss.
Kane Dauber also went 2-0 with a forfeit against Rockridge and a 16-1 tech fall over Sherrard’s Jacob Fratzke.
Jacob Paull (1:08) and Eli Berlin (0:54) both contributed falls against the Rockets at 113 pounds and 190, respectively.
Other PHS winners against Sherrard were Jaydon Cooke (126) by fall at 0:26, Brennen Emmett (157) by fall at 3:29 and Brayden Bickett (106), Corbin Brown (138) and Daniel Gilbertson (285) by forfeit
Amy doesn’t want the Tigers to be satisfied as they gear up for the Class 1A St. Bede Regional next week.
“They had a good year, so far. Looking forward to adding to it at regional next week, hopefully,” Amy said.
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The Princeton Veterans will be hosting its huge garage sale from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, at the American Legion Post 125, 1549 W. Peru St., Princeton. (Derek Barichello)
The Princeton Veterans will be hosting its huge garage sale from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, at the American Legion Post 125, 1549 W. Peru St., Princeton.
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A two-vehicle collision Saturday afternoon near Streator sent an unspecified number of motorists to the hospital.
A two-vehicle collision Saturday afternoon near Streator sent an unspecified number of motorists to the hospital.
The La Salle County Sheriff’s Office reported Sunday morning that deputies were dispatched at 4:15 p.m. Saturday to Route 18 and East 15th Road in Eagle Township, west of Streator.
Reading, Lostant and Streator EMS both responded to the scene and took multiple victims to OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa and to OSF Center for Health in Streator.
A full report is pending; but deputies said Jessica Lundberg, 35, of Rockford was cited on a complaint of failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. Lundberg was released from the scene with a notice to appear.
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The Princeton Lions Club will celebrate its 100th anniversary this year with a fundraiser at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, at the Princeton Moose Lodge, 1339 N Euclid Ave. One of its many accomplishments was organizing the lighted Christmas parade for the community. (Scott Anderson)
The Princeton Lions Club will celebrate its 100th anniversary this year with a fundraiser at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, at the Princeton Moose Lodge, 1339 N. Euclid Ave.
The event will feature a chicken and spaghetti dinner, live and silent auctions and other activities as part of the club’s yearlong celebration.
During Monday’s Princeton City Council meeting, members of the club shared their history and ongoing contributions to Princeton.
Founded in 1925, 47-year member Jim Argo said the Princeton Lions Club is one of the oldest in the world, with Lions Clubs International currently having more than 1.4 million members across more than 49,000 total clubs in the world.
“We have been serving Princeton for 100 years,” Argo said. “Our motto is ‘We Serve’ and that’s what we’ve been doing from the start.”
“We’re one of the oldest clubs in the world, and we’re looking forward to continuing our work for many more years.”
Argo said the club has been involved in a variety of local projects over the years, including sponsoring youth camps for those with visual or hearing impairments, providing assistance for veterans and supporting the local library.
The club also has hosted the annual Christmas parade, which celebrated its second night parade in December.
“We can’t do any of this without the community’s help,” Lions Club President Scott Smith said. “Whether it’s the Christmas parade or projects like the Veterans Park cleanup, it takes all of us pulling together to make it happen.”
The club contributes to organizations like Camp Lions, Leader Dogs for the Blind and provides ramps for those in need.
In the past year, the club helped raise $3,700 for local food pantries.
Former President Alan Weber said the club needs new members and invites the public to join.
“We’re a little light on members right now, but we’re always looking for new people who want to give back to the community,” Weber said. “Anyone who’s interested can reach out and learn more.”
Tickets cost $15. All proceeds from the upcoming fundraiser will support Lions-sponsored initiatives.
For more information on the Lions Club or to buy tickets for the Feb. 22 celebration, visit the Princeton Lions Club Facebook group or visit one of their biweekly board meetings held on the second Tuesday of the month at the Princeton Public Library, 698 E. Peru St., and the fourth Tuesday of the month at the Ye Olde Underground Inn, 219 S Sixth St.
In other items, the City Council:
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The following property transfers were recorded Jan. 16-31, 2025, at the Bureau County Recorder of Deeds’ office. (BCR file)
The following property transfers were recorded Jan. 16-31, 2025, at the Bureau County Recorder of Deeds’ office:
Jennifer and Matthew Scaggs to Simon Templar, warranty deed, part of Lot 58 and part of Lot 59 in Watter’s Addition in La Moille, $6,000.
Brad Mills to Julio and Silvia Sandoval, warranty deed, part of Section 17 in Berlin Township, $35,000.
Nicole and Steven Magnafici to Kaleb Stewart, warranty deed, Lot 2 and Lot 3 in Block 4 in Dalzell, $157,000.
End-Hymns of Princeton LLC and Colleen Harmon to Crissa Cardosi, warranty deed, part of Section 15 in Princeton Township, $225,000.
Carl and Cecilia Klemencic to Cendi Hernandez, warranty deed, part of Section 24 in Princeton Township, $270,000.
Beau Jensen Farms LLC to JF6 Enterprises LLC, warranty deed, Section 31 and Section 32 in Indiantown Township, $628,097.
Ryan Scheffler to Anthony Carlson, warranty deed, Lot 4 and Lot 5 in Block 37 in Greenwood’s Addition in Spring Valley, $92,000.
Harvest Realty and Development Inc. to Jean and Kenneth Isaacson, warranty deed, part of Section 15 in Princeton Township, $185,000.
Dazy Zygadlo to VJF Ventures LLC, warranty deed, Lot 13 in Miller’s Second Addition in Bureau Valley Junction, $16,000.
Linda Brokaw (adm) and Marie Gilsdorf to Ma Socorro Morales, administrator’s deed, part of Section 32 in Princeton Township, $154,000.
Fish Men Inc., Zhen Hua Hu and Qiang Chao Huang to SRG Farm Inc., warranty deed, part of Section 9 in Ohio Township, $110,000.
James Phillips (tr) and James Phillips Trust to Stephen Rose Jr. and Cassandra Rose, trustees’ deed, Lot 37 in Hudson West Addition (Phase II) in Princeton, $240,000.
James Patterson (decd) and Elmon Patterson to Jose Garcia Rios, warranty deed, Lot 78 and parts of Lot 77 in DePue, $45,000.
Andrew and Meghan White to Raymond Goldsberry, warranty deed, Lot 1 and part of Lot 2 in Price’s Subdivision in Wyanet, $140,000.
Janelle and Joe McCarter to Deborah and Jack King, warranty deed, parts of Section 15 in Manlius Township, $132,450.
Carmeline Feurer (decd), Robert Feurer (decd), Dale Feurer, Daniel Feurer, Darren Feurer, David Feurer and Diane Stocking to Cole Hewitt, warranty deed, Lot 9 and Lot 10 in Block 37 in Second South Addition in Sheffield, $138,000.
Kevin and Tari Sangston to TNT Lawn and Snow LLC, warranty deed, Lot 16 in Braircliff Subdivision Unit 1 in Spring Valley, $25,000.
Daniel and Shawna Nordstrom to Hunter Mickow, warranty deed, Lot 1 in Hallam’s Addition in Princeton, $155,000.
Robert Benck to Sherry Day, warranty deed, Unit 4-1 in Innsbruck Village Condominium in Princeton, $82,000.
Robert Dieci to Charles Taber, warranty deed, parts of Section 19 in Hall Township, $217,500.
Jehna Church, Richard Thomas Jr. and Kassie Thomas to Worldwide Rentals LLC, warranty deed, Lot 4 and Lot 5 in Block 1 in Sheffield, $64,000.
Sandra Colby to Heath Farrell, warranty deed, parts of Section 13 in Indiantown Township, $713,000.
Randall and Sally Farrell to Jerry and Patricia Jackson, joint tenancy deed, part of Section 33 in Ohio Township, $4,500.
Robert Wilcox to Jill Cumpton and Kira Thompson, joint tenancy deed, part of Section 18 in Princeton Township, $70,000.
Patricia Eggers Brady to Mckenzie Gothard, warranty deed, Lot 11, Lot 12, Lot 13 and Lot 14 in Block 5 in West Addition in Princeton, $44,000.
William Kierczynski (decd) and Ronald Rockey (ex) to Blanca and Fernando Lucero, executor deed, parts of Section 17 in Selby Township, $100,000.
Penney Grabbe to Lori and Ozzi Smithson, warranty deed, part of Lot 13 in Huckins and McIntire’s Addition in Neponset, $45,000.
Dennis Erickson, Jeffrey Erickson and Sharon Mercer to Abby Taylor, warranty deed, part of Lot 81 and part of Lot 82 in Princeton, $250,000.
1518 Investments LLC and Christina Cornman to Lisa and Randall Anderson, warranty deed, parts of Section 27 in Dover Township, $308,256.
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A La Salle man died in a car-bicycle crash Sunday evening near Lostant. (Photo provided)
A La Salle man died in a car-bicycle crash Sunday evening near Lostant.
Jacob Crouch, 46, was pronounced dead at 6:52 p.m. Sunday in OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Peru, where he was taken after being struck by an automobile while riding his bicycle on Route 251 near North 16th road in Lostant, according to a Monday news release from the La Salle County Coroner’s Office.
A forensic investigative autopsy was to be conducted Monday, the coroner’s office said.
This incident is under further investigation and review by the La Salle County Coroner’s Office, Illinois State Police, ISP accident reconstruction unit and the La Salle County State’s Attorney’s Office.
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The Bureau County Animal Control Office is seeking more information about the shooting death of two dogs. (Scott Anderson)
The Bureau County Animal Control Office is seeking more information about the shooting death of two dogs.
Animal Control said it received a call from an Illinois Department of Natural Resources officer Tuesday that two dogs had been found, shot in the head and thrown in a ditch, near Tiskilwa.
Animal Control said it took the two dogs to the veterinarian to be cremated. They have been scanned multiple times, finding no chip, no collars, the office said. A tan dog is a younger intact male, hound type. The white and orange dog is an older intact male that was possibly blind in one eye.
“We could tell they were took to that spot alive and shot there and then thrown in the ditch a few feet away,” the Animal Control Office said in a news release.
If anyone knows these dogs or knows of someone that recently now is missing a couple dogs, all calls will be confidential, the Animal Control Office said. The agency said whoever shot the dogs are local to the area to know this out of the way spot.
Anyone with information can call 815-879-5981. To view a photo of the deceased dogs, go to Bureau County Animal Control’s Facebook page.
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A large police presence responds Sunday, March 30, 2025, on Chartres Street between Sixth and Seventh streets in La Salle. (Scott Anderson)
A man died after he was shot by a uniformed law enforcement officer Sunday. Police said he exited a building and pointed a handgun at an officer.
La Salle and Peru police responded to the 600 block of Chartres Street in La Salle for a report of a suicidal subject with a gun.
Upon arrival at about 1:27 p.m., officers observed the man exit the building and fire a gun in the air before he retreated inside, police said. At this time, officers formed a perimeter and requested additional assistance that included the La Salle County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Response Team. This multi-agency law enforcement team responded by seeking the evacuation of nearby buildings and residences for public safety and requesting that the power company disable power to the building.
Nearby La Salle-Peru High School evacuated any students and staff from its campus as a precaution.
The man was identified by police as having been involved in a vehicle striking a building earlier in the day in the 600 block of First Street.
Trained personnel made contact with the man, focusing on trying to de-escalate the situation for more than an hour and a half, police said. During this time, the subject repeatedly exited the building with the firearm and displayed it in a manner threatening public safety, according to police. At one point, the man fired the gun out of the window toward uniformed officers, police said.
At about 4 p.m., the man exited the building again, pointing the handgun toward uniformed law enforcement officers, at which time a law enforcement officer discharged his firearm, ending the threat, police said.
Medically trained personnel from the La Salle Fire and Emergency Services began treating the man, who was later pronounced dead on scene. There were no injuries to law enforcement or other citizens.
The Illinois State Police was requested to conduct an independent investigation.
The La Salle Police Department thanked La Salle County Sheriff’s Office, La Salle County Sheriff’s Tactical Response Team, Bureau County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police, Illinois Conservation Police, Peru Police Department, Ottawa Police Department, Spring Valley Police Department, Naplate Police Department, Oglesby Police Department, Princeton Police Department and the La Salle Fire Department who assisted in staging a drone for their response.
A police officer assesses the situation from behind his truck outside of a two-story apartment building on the corner of Seventh and Chartres streets on Sunday, March 30, 2025, in La Salle. (Kyle Russell)
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