Stay Awhile
The La Salle Public Library, 305 Marquette St., will hold several events and programs in April.
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Copyright © 2026 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2026 Shaw Local News Network
The Evangelical Covenant Church will host a special needs prom night on Saturday, April 17. The church is located at 24 N. Main St. in Princeton. (Shaw Local News Network)
A free prom night designed for people with special needs at high school age or older will return this spring at a new location in Princeton.
The event is scheduled for 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 17, at the Community Life Center (west building) of Evangelical Covenant Church, 24 N. Main St., Princeton. Organizers ask guests to arrive by 5:15 p.m. for the 5:30 p.m. red-carpet entrance.
Each guest will receive a crown, reflecting the theme: “In God’s eyes we are all Kings and Queens.”Corsages and boutonnieres will be provided.
Attire is semi-formal, but organizers suggest dresses or dress pants for women and a shirt and tie for men.
Refreshments will include cupcakes, cookies, ice cream and punch. A photo booth will also be available.
Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP by April 1 to Dianne Van Drew by email at vandrewd49@comcast.net or by calling or texting 815-677-2263.
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.
The Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network (ICAHN) recently recognized OSF HealthCare Saint Clare in Princeton and Saint Luke in Kewanee for their ongoing commitment to exceptional quality of care. (Photo provided by OSF HealthCare)
The Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network recently recognized OSF HealthCare St. Clare in Princeton and St. Luke in Kewanee for their ongoing commitment to exceptional quality of care.
As part of the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Program, OSF St. Clare, OSF St. Luke and other critical access hospitals were asked to voluntarily participate in four defined domains of quality outcomes.
These four domains include patient safety/inpatient, patient engagement, care transitions and outpatient measures.
“Often, in rural hospitals, having a devoted staff member to abstract and submit this data can be both time-consuming and burdensome,” Laure Fischer, ICAHN Flex Grant project manager said. “These hospitals realize how important quality of care and an engaged staff is for patients. From top leadership on throughout the facility, each strives for continued quality on a daily basis.”
OSF St. Clare and OSF St. Luke were recognized for being in the top 10% of all critical access hospitals in the country for outpatient quality measures.
“We are very proud of our teams for achieving this level of excellence in health quality,” Jackie Kernan, president, OSF Saint Clare and OSF Saint Luke said. “This is truly a team effort that recognizes our dedication to delivering a health care experience of which our patients and Mission Partners can be proud.”
The Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Program began in 2011 as a way for critical access hospitals to demonstrate the quality of care they provide. The program has continued to evolve, adding new measures and removing outdated ones.
In 2016, the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy deemed it necessary for critical access hospitals to participate in at least one measure of one domain to receive Flex Grant funding opportunities.
Each year, FORHP has increased the level at which the hospital must participate to remain Flex Grant eligible. For more information, visit osfhealthcare.org/news.
Shaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois
CBI Community Bank President Jeff Hunt presents Princeton Foundation Community Director Sue Stutzke with an inaugural donation. (Photo provided by Erica Smith)
The Princeton Foundation has officially launched operations to support charitable, educational and civic needs in Princeton and surrounding communities.
Former Central Bank Illinois President Rick Clary founded the organization, which will be overseen by a board of directors including Clary and Central Bank officers Jeff Hunt, Beth Standley, Jason VanLanduit, Tevis Mott and Luke Lanxon, along with community director Sue Stutzke.
The foundation aims to enhance quality of life for residents, particularly vulnerable populations, by inspiring community involvement and providing support.
Board members will address emerging community needs as they arise, providing direct aid to vulnerable populations while also supporting human knowledge advancement and scientific or medical research.
The foundation welcomes contributions from individuals, businesses and organizations.
For more information about the foundation’s initiatives or how to contribute, visit www.princetonfoundation.org.
Shaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois
Firefighters responded to a structure fire Wednesday night at a residence on Jennifer Avenue in Princeton, where damage was limited to the kitchen and living room areas. (Shaw Media)
A house fire in Princeton on Wednesday evening caused damage to a home on the 200 block of Jennifer Ave., according to the Princeton Fire Department.
According to a news release, fire crews were dispatched at 7:29 p.m. and arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the front of the home. Crews pulled a hose line through the front door and located the fire in the kitchen, where it was extinguished.
Firefighters conducted searches of the home, checked for fire extension and ventilated smoke from the structure. Officials said damage was confined to the kitchen and living room.
The fire was brought under control and put out at 7:57 p.m., and crews cleared the scene at 9:20 p.m.
The cause of the fire was determined to be unintentional. No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported. Wyanet and Bureau fire departments assisted at the scene. Spring Valley Fire Department and Peru EMS provided help as well.
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.
Nancy Gartner, regent of the Princeton-Illinois chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and Jenny Wheat, Northern Adult Education Coordinator for the Illinois Department of Corrections, pose together at the chapter’s February meeting. Wheat presented information on GED high school diploma programs for adults. (Photo provided by Princeton DAR)
The Princeton-Illinois chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution met in February to celebrate Valentine’s Day and hear a presentation on adult education programs.
Chapter member Jenny Wheat, Northern Adult Education Coordinator for the Illinois Department of Corrections Office of Adult Education and Vocational Services, discussed how GED high school diploma programs can be made accessible to adults constrained by financial, family and other circumstances from completing their education.
“The program showed how the GED High School Diploma program can be made accessible with just the right person willing to help,” the chapter said.
The chapter’s March meeting will honor Bureau County youth who have been chosen as DAR Good Citizen representatives from their high schools and youth who participated in the American History Essay Contest.
About the Daughters of the American Revolution
The DAR provides opportunities to contribute to the community, honor patriots, veterans and current active military, preserve American history and make lifelong friendships while serving the community.
Any woman 18 and older may join by documenting her lineage to a man or woman who aided the cause of American Independence through military, civil or patriotic service. To find a local chapter, visit dar.org/membership.
Shaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois
BUREAU Co., Ill. (KWQC) – Deputies said a 78-year-old man was airlifted after a truck and a train crashed Wednesday morning.
About 9:34 a.m., deputies responded to a crash involving a truck and a train in the 900 block of East Street, according to a news release.
Deputies said a 78-year-old man from Princeton, Illinois, was driving a truck north of East Street when it crashed with an Iowa Interstate train.
The driver was removed from the truck by emergency crews and airlifted, deputies said.
The crash is being investigated.
Copyright 2026 KWQC. All rights reserved.
Volunteers with Princeton Mobile Meals pick up meals for delivery. Warm meals are provided six days a week, and a brown bag sack lunch for Sunday can be delivered with Saturday’s meal if needed. (BCR photo)
Princeton Mobile Meals continues to need volunteers.
The organization delivers hot lunch meals and supper sack lunches to clients within the city of Princeton on Mondays through Saturdays with an option to purchase a cold sack lunch delivered on Saturday for a Sunday meal.
These are meals prepared at OSF St. Clare Medical Center accommodating individual diet demands at a very reasonable price. Volunteers would only have to spend about an hour, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., delivering these meals to individual homes or the Clark House or the High Rise.
This is a very necessary job for those that cannot get out or cannot fix their own meals. Please contact Deb Rabe now at volunteerrabe@yahoo.com or at 815-866-1963 to volunteer for this very essential task that would only take you an hour out of your whole week to do.
Shaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois
