Stay Awhile
A view of the damage looking south at the Red Covered Bridge on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023 in Princeton. Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police and Bureau County law enforcement surveyed the damage bridge after it was struck by a semi-truck. (Scott Anderson)
Over 15 years covering news, sports and events in the Illinois Valley. Support my work with a digital subscription.
The groundwork has been laid for the opening of a new dog park in Princeton in spring 2024 at Zearing Park. (Photo provided by Princeton Park District)
Soon Princeton’s four-legged friends will have a park of their own.
The Princeton Park District Dog Park is expected to open in spring 2024. The turf has been put down and the fence has been erected, the park district said.
“We need to let the sod get restabilized, regenerated, established and ready for use,” the park district said in a news release. “The turf must remain undisturbed to allow for healthy, initial growth process.”
Park Superintendent Nathan Cook and his team jumped right into the project the Monday after Homestead Festival. There were water lines to run and much ground work to coordinate and complete. Princeton City Manager Theresa Wittenauer assisted the park district in its effort.
“This is community working together,” said Tammy Lange, executive director of the park district.
Jeanne Hutchinson has been a lifelong lover of dogs. She believed the addition of a dog park would be a valuable asset for the community, Lange said. Hutchinson donated funds to the Princeton Park District to make this happen.
Lange said the park district was excited to receive Hutchinson’s call about a year ago and set up the meetings to discuss this possibility. After several meetings and discussions with Hutchinson through her daughter and son-in-law, Mike and Jan English, a one acre park with an area for small and large dogs inside of the large fenced area has come to fruition.
The location will be on the far, east side at Zearing Park, near the prairie grass. This area will be away from residences and will be able to be accessed using the east end of the gravel parking lot or walking onto the path from the Thompson Street access.
The Princeton Park District Foundation has donated two trees and two benches for inside the dog park area. Prairie Nursery & Landscape (Josh Schnaiter) also has committed to the donation of two trees.
“We are thankful and blessed to have this wonderful addition coming to our park,” Lange said. “The announcement of the name of the dog park will be revealed at a later date.”
The Princeton Park District Board gave its blessing to move forward at the February board meeting. Future plans will include the opportunity for community members and businesses to sponsor added amenities.
“We want to see how the park is used and enhance that use,” Lange said.
Information will be updated at Bureau County Metro Center Facebook page or at www.princetonparkdistrict.org.
The location of Princeton’s new dog park will be on the far, east side at Zearing Park, near the prairie grass. (BCR photo)
Shaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois
Emerald Tablet Collective opened in October at 905 N. Main St. Its creative crew is committed to providing high-quality tattoos, piercings and oddities. The Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce recently conducted a ceremonial ribbon cutting to celebrate their opening. (Photo provided by Jenica Cole)
Emerald Tablet Collective opened in October at 905 N. Main St., Princeton. Its creative crew is committed to providing high-quality tattoos, piercings and oddities.
The Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce recently conducted a ceremonial ribbon-cutting to celebrate their opening.
Shaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois
Tailholt Trading Post is an antique, collectibles and resale shop at 925 N. Main St., Princeton, with new inventory added daily. The Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce recently celebrated their shop with a ribbon cutting. (Photo provided by Jenica Cole)
Tailholt Trading Post is an antique, collectibles and resale shop at 925 N. Main St., Princeton, with new inventory added daily. The Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce recently celebrated their shop with a ribbon-cutting.
Shaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois
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)
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
Gayana Wanniarachchi, DPM, will assist patients in need of podiatry care at OSF Medical Group – Orthopedics, located at 530 Park Ave. E., Suite 101, and OSF Wound Care in Princeton. (Photo provided by OSF Health)
OSF HealthCare has added a new podiatrist to its staff in Princeton, Peru and the surrounding areas, according to an OSF news release.
Gayana Wanniarachchi, DPM, will assist patients in need of podiatry care at OSF Medical Group – Orthopedics, located at 530 Park Ave. E., Suite 101, and OSF Wound Care in Princeton.
She will also serve patients at 920 West St., Suite 221, in Peru.
Wanniarachchi will offer several general podiatry services, as well as specializing in advanced foot and ankle and wound care, according to the release.
She received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and her medical degree from Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, according to the release.
New or existing patients can make an appointment with Wanniarachchi or a member of her care team by calling 815-431-5746.
Maribeth M. Wilson has been a reporter with Shaw Media for two years, one of those as news editor at the Morris Herald-News. She became a part of the NewsTribune staff in 2023.
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 said that store employees do not receive a bonus for selling winning tickets, but 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.
Princeton quarterback Gavin Lanham tries to stay ahead of a crowd of Rockridge defenders earlier this season. (Mike Vaughn)
The Princeton Tigers will have an unexpected Friday night off.
Princeton athletic director Jeff Ohlson said he has been informed by Sherrard High School that it must forfeit Friday’s scheduled Three Rivers East opener at Sherrard due to an outbreak of illness.
Monday’s frosh/soph game will also be forfeited, Ohlson said.
Princeton has released the following statement:
“Sherrard has forfeited the varsity and sophomore games on Friday, Sept. 12, and Monday, Sept. 15, due to an outbreak of illness among players on their team. We are disappointed to lose the games, but do appreciate [Sherrard] for thinking of the health and well-being of our athletes.”
With the forfeit, Princeton picks up its first win of the season to stand at 1-2. They will host longtime rival Kewanee next week, Friday, Sept. 19.
Sherrard falls to 0-3.
Princeton coach Ryan Pearson was disappointed about the news.
“I feel bad for our kids. They had a great week of practice and now don’t get to play,” he said. “It just stinks. As a coach you hate to lose a game like that because it does make you rusty the following week.
“We’re just going to have to practice like normal, but you you lose that valuable game experience with a very young team. You lose that coaching time because you don’t have film to evaluate to see if you’ve corrected some of the mistakes from the previous two weeks that we made.
“Bottom line, I just feel bad for our kids, especially our seniors because that’s a game that they don’t get to play in their final year as a Tiger.”
Pearson said he will give the team the day off for a night of team-bonding. He and his staff may go to the Monmouth-Roseville at Kewanee game to scout their next two opponents.
This is the second time in 20 years that Princeton will have Week 3 off. In 2005, Chicago Collins elected not to make the trip to Princeton and the Tigers could not find a replacement. They did not receive a forfeit, however, because there was no signed contract. Princeton had played at Chicago Collins the year before and it was planned for Collins to make the trip south in 2005.
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
Burn Ban
Due to persistent drought conditions, the Princeton Fire Department has imposed an open burn ban across all areas it protects, including the City of Princeton and the Princeton Rural Fire Protection District.
The ban, effective immediately, prohibits all outdoor burning activities such as landscape waste, garbage and recreational fires. It will remain in place until sufficient rainfall alleviates the dry conditions.
This ban also overrides the city’s fall landscape waste burning period, which was scheduled to begin Oct. 1, under city ordinance Sec 10-231. At this time, no landscape waste burning is allowed. Officials will reassess the situation later to determine whether the Nov. 30, deadline for landscape waste burning will be extended.
Residents are urged to comply with the burn ban to prevent fire hazards during this dry spell. The Princeton Fire Department will announce when the ban is lifted through the same media channels.
For questions or more information, contact the Princeton Fire Department at 815-875-1861.
Shaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois
OSF HealthCare in Princeton is expanding access to primary care in Princeton with the addition of Dr. Adam Kress, who began seeing patients on Sept. 14. (Photo provided by OSF)
OSF HealthCare in Princeton is expanding access to primary care in Princeton with the addition of Dr. Adam Kress, who began seeing patients on Sept. 14.
Kress joins OSF Medical Group, Primary Care at 535 Park Ave. E., offering services that include well-child and pediatric care, addiction medicine, and chronic disease management.
He earned a Bachelor of Science from Loyola University and his medical degree from Midwestern University’s Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Patients, new and existing, can schedule appointments with Dr. Kress or his care team by calling 815-875-4531.
Shaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois