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Bella Clevenger, 18, of Princeton and Jax Hoffer, 17, of Muncie, Ind., who underwent chemo treatments together as young children, have recently reconnected with tattoos signifying their cancer journey. (Photo provided by Bella Clevenger)
Bella Clevenger and Jax Hoffer met under undesirable circumstances as young children.
Both were undergoing chemo treatments for leukemia at Riley’s Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis. Bella was almost 3, Jax, not quite 2. They were routinely paired for special events such as being selected as Riley’s “Coin Toss Kids” for an Indianapolis Colts game and attending a Colts training camp to meet all the players.
Bella Clevenger of Princeton and Jax Hoffer of Muncie, Ind., are pictured with with former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck while undergoing chemo treatments together as young children. (Bella Clevenger)
“I remember vivid parts, but other than that, it’s stories I get told. At a young age, you really don’t know what’s going on,” Bella said.
Declared cancer free, they went their separate ways, 300 miles apart, Bella in Princeton and Jax in Muncie, Ind., living their separate lives. They had not been in contact for years.
“I haven’t really talked to him because I really didn’t know how to reach out,” Bella said.
But then recently, Bella posted a TikTok clip about cancer survivors, and her old friend, Jax, popped up.
“He ended up seeing it and he messaged me through there. Then we started texting afterwards,” she said.
The two long lost little chemo buddies reconnected further by getting leukemia awareness ribbon tattoos together in Indiana signifying key dates in their cancer journey.
“It was my mom’s idea. He was currently texting me at the time and she gave us the idea to do it,” Bella said. “His mom was there, too, (while getting tattoos) because he’s not 18 yet to sign off, so I got to see her again.”
Princeton’s Bella Clevenger was not quite 3 years old when she was diagnosed with leukemia. (Photo provided by Bella Clevenger)
On the inside of her arm, Bella has a tattoo of her diagnosis date (8-25-2011) and on the outside of her arm is her remission date (11-25-2012) in Roman Numerals. Jax already had a tattoo with his remission date on his chest so he added the date when they did the coin toss together, Bella said.
“They’re good dates within a hard time,” she said. “His just shows a good point at one of our toughest times. Mine just reminds me of when it started and when it ended and everything.”
Bella’s mom, Kady Rose, was happy to see the kids reconnect.
“I have said many times over the years that the relationships and connections that form during these battles cannot be explained and they never truly break. This is proof that some experiences connect you for life,” she said on Facebook. “As a mom, I don’t think there could be a cooler full circle moment than seeing them together again after all these years.,
Bella has been having yearly checkups at OSF in Peoria since she turned 18 and was too old for St. Jude’s, and remains cancer free. She’ll be starting her senior volleyball season this fall. She played a role off the bench in the Tigresses victory at Hall on cancer awareness night.
Bella Clevenger of Princeton and Jax Hoffer of Muncie, Ind., got to serve as “Coin Toss Kids” for an Indianapolis Colts game while undergoing chemo treatments together as young children. (Photo provided by Bella Clevenger)
Kevin has provided award-winning coverage for the BCR since 1986, covering Bureau County/IL Valley Sports. 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.

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A juvenile is dead following a hostage situation Sunday.
Bureau County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about a domestic disturbance in the 2700 block of East Street in a rural area of Bureau County around 2:42 a.m. − with officers from the Princeton Police Department, Depue Police and Ladd Police also responding. Illinois State Police troopers assisted with providing perimeter security.
Responding officers were advised that an armed suspect was holding several people hostage, including juveniles. It was believed the suspect was armed with a knife, according to ​Bureau County Sheriff James Reed.
“Multiple efforts were made by the responding officers to get the armed individual to exit the room or allow the release of the other individuals,” the Bureau County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release.
De-escalation attempts failed, the press release said, and officers on scene heard screaming. This and information from the 911 call led officers to believe the family was “in imminent danger.”
Officers entered the residence, fired shots and struck the suspect and one juvenile.
ISP officers entered the residence after shots were fired to assist with providing medical aid. The suspect and juvenile were transported to a local hospital, where the juvenile was pronounced deceased.
The suspect, who is being treated for his injuries, has been charged with aggravated assault, aggravated unlawful restraint and domestic battery, according to the Bureau County Sheriff’s Office. Additional charges are possible moving forward.
ISP is investigating the officer-involved shooting.
“This is an active investigation and no further information is available at this time,” ISP said in a press release.
Once the investigation is complete, it will be turned over to the Bureau County State’s Attorney’s Office for review.
(This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information.)

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A 3-year-old boy has been identified as the child shot and killed by police during a hostage situation in rural Bureau County on Sunday, according to the Bureau County Coroner’s Office.
Damian Camacho, 3, of DePue, Illinois, was shot and killed early Sunday morning during a hostage situation. He was declared dead at OSF HealthCare St. Clare Medical Center in Princeton after efforts to save his life were unsuccessful.
A Princeton man has been charged with aggravated unlawful restraint, domestic battery and aggravated assault in connection with the deadly incident.
Anthony D. Rodriguez, 42, faces three counts of aggravated unlawful restraint, two counts of domestic battery and another count of aggravated assault in connection with a hostage situation that led to Damian being fatally shot by a police officer after they entered a home in the 2700 block of East Street in rural Bureau County on May 10.
According to charging documents obtained from the Bureau County Circuit Clerk’s Office, Rodriguez is accused of detaining three people while holding them at knifepoint and refused to allow them to leave a bedroom at the home, threatening to kill one of them. He is also accused of spraying one of them with bleach and shoving a bedroom door against another person at the home.
The Bureau County Sheriff’s Office said previously that multiple efforts had been made to get Rodriguez to leave or allow the others to leave without success. Eventually, officers decided to enter the home after determining that those inside were in imminent danger.
Officers fired shots while entering the home, which ended up striking Rodriguez and the child. Both were transported to a local hospital, where the child was pronounced dead.
The sheriff’s office said that further charges may be pending against Rodriguez. He is currently being held at the Bureau County Jail awaiting a first appearance in court.
Illinois State Police is investigating the shooting of Rodriguez and the child, with the findings being turned over to the Bureau County State’s Attorney’s Office at its conclusion.
A GoFundMe page has been set up for Damian Camacho’s funeral expenses, with his aunt, Cindy Almanza, saying that he was the “sweetest, happiest” child, who didn’t deserve to die in such a manner.
“His smile could light up any room, and he brought so much joy to everyone who knew him,” Almanza said. “Losing someone so young is something no family should ever have to experience, and the pain we feel is indescribable.”
As of Wednesday afternoon, $8,352 had been raised toward a $10,000 goal.

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An aerial view of the Bureau County Courthouse on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024 in Princeton. (Scott Anderson)
The following cases were considered by the Bureau County Grand Jury on July 18.
Christian A. Kraft, 29, of Princeton, was indicted on the Class 4 Felony offense of Domestic Battery. He is accused of making contact of an insulting or provoking nature to a household or family member and had been previously convicted of domestic battery in 2024. An officer from the Princeton Police Department testified before the Grand Jury. Kraft is on pretrial release.
Robert J. Dixon, 42, of Tiskilwa, was indicted on a Class 4 Felony offense of Driving While License Revoked (subsequent offense). He is accused of driving a motor vehicle when his driving privileges were revoked and has four previous convictions for driving while his license was revoked. A Deputy from the Bureau County Sheriff’s Office testified before the Grand Jury. Dixon is on Pretrial release.
Daniel L. Walters, 44, of Buda, was indicted on a Class 4 Felony offense of Driving While License Revoked (subsequent offense). He is accused of driving a motor vehicle when his driving privileges were revoked and has two previous convictions for driving while his license was revoked. A trooper from the Illinois State Police testified before the Grand Jury. Dixon is on Pretrial release.
Lauren M. Ferrari, 39, of Tiskilwa, was indicted on a Class 4 Felony offense of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine. She is accused of having in her possession less than 5 grams of a substance, methamphetamine, other than is authorized in the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act. An officer from the Princeton Police Department testified before the Grand Jury. Ferrari is currently on Pretrial release.
Gregory P. Scott, 38, of Princeton, was indicted on a Class 2 Felony offense of Aggravated Battery. He is accused of making physical contact of an insulting and provoking nature with a Princeton Police Officer in that he struck the officer in the face with his fist. An officer from the Princeton Police Department testified before the Grand Jury. Scott is in the custody of the Bureau County Sheriff’s Department following a detention hearing.
These indictments were presented to the Grand Jury by Bureau County State’s Attorney Daniel Anderson, First Assistant State’s Attorney Donna Engels and Assistant State’s Attorney William Brozovich. The indictments were returned before judges Geno Caffarini and James Andreoni.
There was one suppressed case.
These indictments are accusations against the defendants. They are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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.

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Clear skies. Low 62F. Winds light and variable..
Clear skies. Low 62F. Winds light and variable.
Updated: July 29, 2026 @ 10:46 pm
Allie Zurliene gets a good look at the new assistant chief badge on her dad, Princeton Police officer Craig Zurliene’s uniform after interim PPD Chief Bobby Wood offered him the badge following Tuesday’s Princeton Common Council and Board of Public Works and Safety meetings. Zurliene’s wife, daughters and mother attended the meetings to witness the event.

Editor, The Daily Clarion
Allie Zurliene gets a good look at the new assistant chief badge on her dad, Princeton Police officer Craig Zurliene’s uniform after interim PPD Chief Bobby Wood offered him the badge following Tuesday’s Princeton Common Council and Board of Public Works and Safety meetings. Zurliene’s wife, daughters and mother attended the meetings to witness the event.
PRINCETON — Interim Police Chief Bobby Wood introduced his new assistant chief, Craig Zurliene to Princeton’s Common Council and Board of Works Tuesday night, with Zurliene’s family present to see him pinned with his new badge.
Wood, who succeeds Derek McGraw after McGraw retired to head Deaconess Gibson Hospital’s security police, told the council Zurliene has served as the department’s assistant team leader for its emergency response tactical team. “He has taken the ball and handled,” Wood reported.
The Fairfield, Illinois native worked as a police officer in Wayne County, Illinois before coming to Princeton in 2020. Wood praised his work with counterparts in Vincennes for the joint ERT team, and for his help in other functions as Wood takes on the chief’s duties.
During Tuesday’s session, Princeton Fire Department Chief Mike Pflug reported PFD has responded to more than 200 calls since Jan. 1, with an average response time of less than four minutes.
“Though we started with a small number of employees, we have answered the calls tirelessly and with pride in our city,” he said. “I could not be any prouder of the men and woman who chose to come with me to the City of Princeton.
“Teamwork is the key element to our department,” he told the board of works Tuesday night. “Since Jan. 1 there has been clear and constant communication between me and our shift captains. All decisions have been made together and we tackle any issue the same way.”
Pflug said the department hiring process is completed, bringing aboard five new firefighters as soon as Public Employee Retirement Fund eligibility is approved.
He said crews have been updating trucks and deep cleaning the fire station, conducting maintenance to furnaces in the buildings along with needed repairs. A washer and dryer were replaced Jan. 4, and Pflug said an oil water separator tank in the bay floor has rust holes and needs replaced because it is allowing the fill under the concrete floor to leak out, causing a void under the slab. He said he hopes to have the problem solved within the next month.
He told the board some radios need replacement, noting 800 MHz radios are needed for the reserve engine, rescue trucks and brush truck, and the chief’s vehicle. Portable radios are also needed for the new hires, and an 800 MHz radio is needed for the station, where a portable radio is now being used.
Pflug said he doesn’t expect to make all the replacements at once, but the total cost would be $34,000.
 
Editor, The Daily Clarion
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Tri-State Tornado’s 100-year records hold  pdclarion.com
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The Princeton Police Pension Fund Board will meet at 1 p.m. on Wednesday at the Princeton Police Department. (Derek Barichello)
The Princeton Police Pension Fund Board will meet at 1 p.m. on Wednesday at the Princeton Police Department.
Shaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois

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The Princeton Police Pension Fund Board will meet Wednesday, July 29, at 1 p.m. at the Princeton Police Department. (Derek Barichello)
The Princeton Police Pension Fund Board will meet Wednesday, July 29, at 1 p.m. at the Princeton Police Department.
Shaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois

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A 3-year-old boy has been identified as the child shot and killed by police during a hostage situation in rural Bureau County on Sunday, according to the Bureau County Coroner’s Office.
Damian Camacho, 3, of DePue, Illinois, was shot and killed early Sunday morning during a hostage situation. He was declared dead at OSF HealthCare St. Clare Medical Center in Princeton after efforts to save his life were unsuccessful.
A Princeton man has been charged with aggravated unlawful restraint, domestic battery and aggravated assault in connection with the deadly incident.
Anthony D. Rodriguez, 42, faces three counts of aggravated unlawful restraint, two counts of domestic battery and another count of aggravated assault in connection with a hostage situation that led to Damian being fatally shot by a police officer after they entered a home in the 2700 block of East Street in rural Bureau County on May 10.
According to charging documents obtained from the Bureau County Circuit Clerk’s Office, Rodriguez is accused of detaining three people while holding them at knifepoint and refused to allow them to leave a bedroom at the home, threatening to kill one of them. He is also accused of spraying one of them with bleach and shoving a bedroom door against another person at the home.
The Bureau County Sheriff’s Office said previously that multiple efforts had been made to get Rodriguez to leave or allow the others to leave without success. Eventually, officers decided to enter the home after determining that those inside were in imminent danger.
Officers fired shots while entering the home, which ended up striking Rodriguez and the child. Both were transported to a local hospital, where the child was pronounced dead.
The sheriff’s office said that further charges may be pending against Rodriguez. He is currently being held at the Bureau County Jail awaiting a first appearance in court.
Illinois State Police is investigating the shooting of Rodriguez and the child, with the findings being turned over to the Bureau County State’s Attorney’s Office at its conclusion.
A GoFundMe page has been set up for Damian Camacho’s funeral expenses, with his aunt, Cindy Almanza, saying that he was the “sweetest, happiest” child, who didn’t deserve to die in such a manner.
“His smile could light up any room, and he brought so much joy to everyone who knew him,” Almanza said. “Losing someone so young is something no family should ever have to experience, and the pain we feel is indescribable.”
As of Wednesday afternoon, $8,352 had been raised toward a $10,000 goal.

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Princeton resident Geraldine Woodlief speaks during public comment at the Princeton City Council meeting on Monday, March 16, 2026. (Bill Freskos)
After months of discussion and public input, the Princeton City Council officially approved its business development district following a public hearing on Monday night.
The district will allow Princeton to impose an additional sales tax, up to 1%, with the revenue dedicated to economic development efforts.
The council voted 4-1 in favor of the district, with Councilman Jerry Neuman the only one to vote against it.
A business development district serves a role similar to a tax increment financing district by providing funding for business and redevelopment projects. It relies on sales tax revenue rather than property taxes.
“The point of this business development district is to address some of the signs we’ve seen lately as far as economics go,” Planning & Zoning Administrator Michael Zearing said. “We have empty storefronts, historic buildings at risk and areas that need investment.”
The council, which previously voted 3-2 in favor of the district at its last meeting, was generally in agreement that the city isn’t necessarily headed in the right direction in attracting new businesses while retaining its existing businesses and that the district could help turn things around.
Planning & Zoning Administrator Michael Zearing addresses the Princeton City Council Monday, March 16, during a public hearing on the newly approved Business Development District. (Bill Freskos)
While the council felt good about moving forward, most of the public hearing involved locals who questioned whether the district was really helping or if the public needed to be better informed.
Princeton resident Geraldine Woodlief said she took steps to gather feedback from local business owners ahead of the meeting.
“I took two days and got signatures from our dear friends here at Princeton, business owners, and guess what? Everybody said forget it,” Woodlief said.
She also questioned how widely information about the proposal had reached the public, noting the relatively small turnout at the hearing.
Other residents raised concerns about transparency on how the district’s funds would be used and the potential negative impact of additional sales taxes on consumers and small businesses. Many emphasized the need for clear communication and accountability as the district moves forward.
Princeton resident Lynn Holtz supported the district, arguing it’s a necessary tool as the city adapts to an evolving economy.
“This is one component of economic development, not the end-all, but a crucial piece,” Holtz said. “We cannot continue to do business the way we always have because it’s simply not working.”
Princeton resident Lynn Holtz speaks during the public hearing about Princeton’s new Business Development District on Monday, March 16, 2026. (Bill Freskos)
Holtz also noted that a large chunk of sales at many local businesses comes from visitors to Princeton, and the district would help capture more of that.
“This is not just about supporting businesses in Princeton. It’s also about capturing spending from visitors and keeping those dollars in our community to help local businesses,” Holtz said.
Princeton Mayor Ray Mabry shared examples from other Illinois mayors who have used business development districts, emphasizing how the tool helped their cities achieve economic development goals.
The district covers most of Princeton’s primary commercial areas, extending from the Interstate 80 corridor through the city’s north business district and into the downtown area.
As for next steps, Zearing said the city will align priorities and establish a budget before developing a strategic action plan. However, he said most of the priorities were already set based on feedback from the city’s public meeting in January.
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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