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Central Bank Illinois has announced a variety of staff changes for the organization moving forward. The business is headquartered in Geneseo and has branches located in Peru, Princeton, Rochelle and more. (BCR photo)
Central Bank Illinois has announced staff changes for the organization moving forward. The business is headquartered in Geneseo and has branches located in Peru, Princeton, Rochelle and more.
Ed Wolf recently joined Central Bank Illinois as a vice president – senior loan officer. He is responsible for developing loan relationships with a focus on Commercial and Agricultural lending. With his banking experience, education and work ethic, Wolf looks to be an asset as the business expands into the Sterling-Rock Falls market.
Originally, from Walnut, IL, Wolf grew up on the family farm where he was involved in all aspects of corn and soybean production, as well as raising livestock. Wolf is a graduate of Walnut High School and earned his bachelor’s degree from Augustana College.
“We are extremely pleased to welcome Ed to Central Bank,” said Rick Clary, community bank president for Central Bank Illinois in Princeton. “His previous experience makes him a valuable addition to our bank and loan team serving the entire market area.”
Kristine Kinmon joined Central Bank Illinois as branch deposit operations officer. Kinmon has a customer service background and hopes to bring leadership skills to her new position. As branch deposit operations officer, Kinmon will oversee operations at the new branch expansion in Sterling-Rock Falls.
“Kristi has shown that she is highly organized with strong attention to detail, exactly what is needed to manage branch operations.” Clary said. “Her wide range of experience and customer service skills makes her an asset to both the bank and to our customers. We are pleased she has joined our organization.”
Kinmon earned her A.A.S. accounting degree from Sauk Valley Community College.
Payton Shipp joined Central Bank Illinois as an assistant vice president, agriculture – commercial loan officer.
He is responsible for developing loan relations with a focus on small business and farm lending. With his education and banking experience, Shipp hopes to be able to begin contributing his expertise immediately in the lending area and within the bank as a whole.
“We are extremely pleased to welcome Payton to Central Bank, Clary said. “His previous experience as a loan officer makes him an extremely valuable addition to our entire market area.”
Shipp earned his bachelor’s degree from University of Wisconsin-Platteville in agricultural business with a minor in crop and soil science. Payton currently serves as the vice president of the Rock River Marketing organization.
Shaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois

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Princeton Junior Woman’s Club Baby Contest has received its first six entries for 2025. (Photos provided by Princeton Junior Woman’s Club )
Princeton Junior Woman’s Club Baby Contest has received its first six entries for 2025.
In-person voting will begin at noon on Friday, Aug. 8, and continue until noon on Friday, Sept. 5.
The voting canisters will be displayed at Midland States Bank from Aug. 8 to 15, First State Bank from Aug. 15 to 22, Central Bank from Aug. 22 to 29 and Heartland Bank – South Branch from Aug. 29 to Sept. 5. The canisters will be moved around noon on Fridays. Each child will have a canister with his/her corresponding photograph in which votes can be placed.
PJWC will again be accepting Venmo to collect votes. To vote through Venmo, send your chosen transaction amount to @P-Juniors-71. Voters must include the baby’s name in the “What’s it for?” line. Venmo votes will only be accepted from noon on Friday, Aug. 8, to noon on Thursday, Sept. 4.
One dollar equals 100 votes. All votes will be tallied and winners will be notified on Sept. 5 and introduced during that evening’s Homestead Festival announcements.
Below are the current contenders for 2025 cutest baby:
Riley Williams is the seven month old son of Justin and Lori Williams,of Princeton. (Photo provided by Princeton Junior Woman’s Club )
Riley Williams is the seven month old son of Justin and Lori Williams,of Princeton.
Beau Eckberg is the five month old son of Derrick and Kaelynn Eckberg, of Princeton. (Photo provided by Princeton Junior Woman’s Club Baby Contest)
Beau Eckberg is the five month old son of Derrick and Kaelynn Eckberg, of Princeton.
Eldon Michael is the 14 month old son of Riley and Heather Michael, of Malden. (Photo provided by Princeton Junior Woman’s Club Baby Contest)
Eldon Michael is the 14 month old son of Riley and Heather Michael, of Malden.
Bohdi Castner is thre 10 month old son of Kyle Castner and Elaine McCauley,of Princeton. (Photo provided by Princeton Junior Woman’s Club Baby Contest)
Bohdi Castner is thre 10 month old son of Kyle Castner and Elaine McCauley,of Princeton.
Wrenley Nordstrom is the 19 month old daughter of Daniel and Shawna Nordstrom,of Princeton. (Photo provided by Princeton Junior Woman’s Club )
Wrenley Nordstrom is the 19 month old daughter of Daniel and Shawna Nordstrom,of Princeton.
Noelle Reuter is the 20 month old daughter of Colton and Kiara Reuter, of Wyanet. (Photo provided by Princeton Junior Woman’s Club )
Noelle Reuter is the 20 month old daughter of Colton and Kiara Reuter, of Wyanet.
Entrants must be Bureau County residents younger 24 months of age as of Sept. 5. To enter, complete the Google Form by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 6.
A high-resolution, snapshot-size color photograph of the child should also be included. Photos should not be cropped or altered. No professional photographs will be accepted. The email must also include the child’s name, sex, birthdate, current age, parents’ name, parents’ addresses, two phone numbers and a permission statement to run the picture in the BCR.
If you have any questions, please email to princetonjuniors@gmail.com
The Princeton Junior Woman’s Club donates all the proceeds from this contest back to communities and organizations within Bureau County through various projects carried out by their club.
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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Week 2 in The Times coverage area includes the on-field debuts of Flanagan-Cornell/Woodland and Dwight, Marquette's home opener and Streator visiting Ottawa to continue the state's third-oldest rivalry.
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The Princeton Rotary Club will hold an Oktoberfest: Black Light Bingo event with doors opening at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7 at the Princeton Moose Lodge, located at 1339 N. Euclid Ave. in Princeton. (Provided)
The Princeton Rotary Club will hold an Oktoberfest: Black Light Bingo event with doors opening at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7 at the Princeton Moose Lodge, located at 1339 N. Euclid Ave. in Princeton.
Attendees are encouraged to dress in their favorite german attire.
Games will begin at 7 p.m. at a cost of $10 for a packet of 10 regular games. Early bird lightning and cover-all games will also be available.
Food will be available for purchase including brats, sauerkraut fries, italian beef fries, nachos and a cash bar. Must be 21 or older to attend.
The event will also feature prizes, a 50/50 raffle and a bake sale with proceeds going to benefit the Princeton High School Scholarship Fund.
Shaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois

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The Ottawa City Council approved demolition and asbestos abatement at the former Illinois Valley PADS homeless shelter during their meeting on Tuesday night, clearing the way for construction of a new facility funded by a $2 million state grant.
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A group of nine local veterans took to the skies Tuesday morning at Illinois Valley Regional Airport in Peru as part of Dream Flights, a national program that gives older veterans the chance to experience a ride in a World War Two-era plane.
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Catch up on the week’s top Illinois Valley news and sports in minutes for August 24-30. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you
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Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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PRINCETON, Ill. — The Red Covered Bridge in Princeton is now closer to getting repaired after nearly two years of being out of commission. 
The bridge, built in 1864, was hit by a semi-truck back in late 2023 leaving significant damage to its roof. But now, the Illinois Department of Transportation has wrapped up the planning stages of restoring the local landmark. 
Paul Wappel said it will take IDOT some time to fully complete the renovations, as they want to keep the historic character of the bridge. 
“It’s listed on the national historic register of historic places, so it takes more coordination with the state historic preservation to ensure the aspects of the bridge are not changed during the repairs,” Wappel said. 
IDOT is now working to estimate the costs of the project. Executive Director for the Bureau County History Center Lex Poppens said it will cost over $1,000,000. 
“One hopes they will build in some structural component that will prevent anything like this from happening in the future,” Poppens said. 
Poppens grew up playing at the bridge and said the local significance should be restored.   
“To restore it in a way that gives it another hundred-year life is appropriate, and I think important to the people of the county,” Poppens said. “It’s not for us, it’s for future generations.” 
Poppens said a public meeting will be held in Princeton on Sunday, Aug. 10 to discuss the logistics of fixing the bridge. 
The Red Covered Bridge joined the National Register of Historic Places back in 1975. 
Illinois has only nine covered bridges recorded statewide, with two of them being in Princeton. The oldest of the two is the Red Covered Bridge, which is now 161 years old. 
The 149-foot-long span cost $3,148.57 to construct and was once part of the Peoria-Galena Trail, crossing over Big Bureau Creek.

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The Princeton Public Library, 698 E. Peru St., will host 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 30, a blood drive for ImpactLife. (Sandy Bressner)
The Princeton Public Library, 698 E. Peru St., will host 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 30, a blood drive for ImpactLife.
Donate blood at the library’s monthly blood drive. To register go to www.bloodcenter.org. Walk ins are welcome. Many variables can affect blood inventories, such as weather, holidays or tragic events. Every day, patients who need blood are in crisis and individuals can help with their donation. Less than 10% of the population gives blood, so donors that give on a regular basis are important to meet these needs. Schedule an appointment and get a choice of a gift card or a donation to Make-a-Wish Illinois or bonus points to the rewards store.
ImpactLife is a non-profit community organization providing blood services to 120 hospitals in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin, including 12 of 15 OSF HealthCare facilities.
Shaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois

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The Peru Historical Society taught students from Academy of Saint Carlo Acutis how to plant wildflowers on Friday Aug. 29, 2025 at Academy of Saint Carlo Acutis in Peru. The students planted purple poppy mallow, blue flax, black eyed susans and milkweed. Debo Ace Hardware also donated supplies.
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