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Bureau County authorities have a “presumptive identification” of the body discovered Friday in Princeton, Coroner Kurt Workman said Tuesday.
Workman said he hoped to establish the male’s identity within the next two days.
Princeton Police Department received notification July 11 of a possible deceased person located at 812 W. Peru St. Upon further investigation, officers located the remains of a deceased male inside the location.
The Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigations Unit and the Bureau County Coroner’s Office were notified.
An autopsy was performed Monday at the McLean County Coroner’s Office in Bloomington.
“The autopsy resulted in no evidence of foul play,” authorities said Monday. “The identity of the deceased is being withheld, pending notification of relatives.”
Tom Collins covers criminal justice in La Salle County.

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The Princeton Theater Group announced Festival 56′s summer 2025 season. (Derek Barichello)
The Princeton Theater Group announced Festival 56’s summer 2025 season.
The season opens with Broadway’s “Hairspray the Musical,” running from June 27 to July 5 at the Grace Theater, 316 S. Main St. Set in 1962 in Baltimore, Maryland, quirky, plus-sized teenager Tracy Turnblad has one dream: to dance on “The Corny Collins Show.” Overnight, Tracy transforms from a nobody into a star and uses her newfound influence to advocate for racial integration on the TV show. Tracy faces scrutiny and bullying from the network producer Velma and her popular but vicious daughter Amber. With the help of her diverse community, Tracy overcomes the odds and succeeds in her mission to integrate the show. In the Tony Award-winning “Hairspray,” the bright, energetic story of Tracy Turnblad teaches us all to look past the color of one’s skin and fight for every human being’s equal rights.
The free production of Shakespeare in the Park sees the return of the family-friendly and timeless romantic comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” from July 6 to July 30 at Soldiers and Sailors Park. In “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” four young Athenians run away to the forest only to have Puck the fairy make both boys fall in love with the same girl. The four run through the forest pursuing each other while Puck helps his master, Oberon, play a trick on the fairy queen, Titania, as another group attempts to rehearse a play for the king’s wedding. Comedy, mistaken identity, hijinks and multiple weddings ensue. Shakespeare’s plays portray recognizable people in situations that we can all relate to – including love, marriage, death, mourning, guilt, the need to make difficult choices, separation, reunion and reconciliation.
The next production is “Carrie: The Musical” from July 11 to July 20 at the Grace Theater. Carrie White is a teenage outcast who longs to fit in. At school, she is bullied by the popular crowd and virtually invisible to everyone else. At home, she is dominated by her loving but cruelly controlling mother. What none of them know is that Carrie discovered she has special powers, and if pushed too far, she’s not afraid to use them. Carrie captures the audience with its timely relevancy. The show speaks on the challenges of adolescence, the pressures of high school, and the need to break free of negative social norms to become the best version of ourselves. Carrie challenges the audience to learn from their mistakes and move forward.
To close out the season, the theater will present the family-friendly “The Little Mermaid” from July 25 through Aug. 3 at the Grace Theater. The central story of “The Little Mermaid” is about yearning. Young protagonist Ariel feels constrained by her patriarchal society and senses she does not belong. She yearns for another world, apart from her own, where she can be free from the limits of her confining culture and unadventurous family. Ariel’s journey highlights the importance of self-expression and the struggle to be heard. This desire for transformation comes with a cost. To become human, she must give up her voice, the very thing that allows her to express herself and connect with others. Learning Stages Camp 56 young actors will participate in this production.
Throughout the summer season, enjoy the Cabaret Series from June 20 to Aug. 3. See company members in a new light on the cabaret stage. This is a great opportunity to be entertained with songs from a variety of genres as the audience gets to know the entire company better, Festival 56 said in a news release.
Tickets can be bought online at Festival56.com, at the Festival 56 box office at 316 S. Main St. in Princeton, and by calling 815-879-5656.
The Princeton Theater Group is a volunteer-driven nonprofit arts organization dedicated to developing Princeton and the surrounding region as a home for professional theater and theater arts education. Festival 56 offers professional theater in central Illinois and is produced by the Princeton Theater Group.
Derek Barichello is the news editor for The Times in Ottawa and NewsTribune in La Salle, part of Shaw Local News Network, covering La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties. He covers local and breaking news in the areas of government, education, business and crime and courts, among others.

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The Heritage Harbor marina will set the scene July 26 for CASA of La Salle County’s “Hope on the Harbor” luau fundraiser, featuring tropical fare, live music and stories from child advocates.
La Salle County Court Appointed Special Advocates will host a summer fundraising luau, Hope on the Harbor, on Saturday, July 26, at Heritage Harbor in Ottawa.
The waterfront fundraiser will serve island-inspired food and drinks, live music, prize raffles and stories from local CASA volunteers who stand up for children navigating the court system.
All proceeds will support CASA’s mission to provide trained volunteers for children in La Salle County who have experienced abuse or neglect.
“Every child deserves a safe, loving home,” Executive Director of La Salle County CASA Lexi Wamhoff said in a statement. “This event allows the community to come together, celebrate and ensure that more kids have someone speaking up for them.”
Tickets are $100 and are available online. Sponsorship opportunities also are available.
For information, contact CASA at 815-434-2620 or awamhoff@lasallecountycasa.org.
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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Festival 56 returns with free outdoor productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Photo provided by Festival 56
Small town meets big drama at Princeton’s Festival 56, a renowned celebration of the performing arts that brings together rising acting talent from across the country. This weekend, you can catch the skilled ensemble of performers staging productions “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (through July 30).
Festival 56 professional theater is opened “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” on Sunday, July 6 at Soldiers and Sailors Park in Princeton. A total of eight performances of the play are offered free to the public through Wednesday, July 30. (Photo provided by Tracy Makransky)
Shakespeare in the Park: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
July 23, 27 and 30
Soldiers & Sailors Park, Princeton
Festival 56’s Shakespeare in the Park series has long been known for pushing the boundaries of community theater. In 2013, it staged a large war reenactment in the streets of Princeton to kick off the production of “Romeo and Juliet.” This year, they return to another of the Bard’s classic texts for a run of free performances under the stars.
Festival 56’s Shakespeare in the Park, held in Soldiers & Sailors Park at the end of Princeton’s bustling downtown, starts at 7:30 p.m. every Wednesday and Sunday, through July 30. Featuring the original text and colorful costumes, this family-friendly performance is open to guests of all ages. Guests are encouraged to bring their own folding chairs and blankets.
The production is sponsored by Heartland Bank and Trust Co., Shaw Media and partially funded by grants from the Sun Foundation and The Princeton Closet.
Festival 56 professional theater’s summer 2025 season announces a series of Cabarets beginning Saturday, June 21st and continuing through Sunday, August 3rd. They are held at The Grace Theater, 316 S. Main St. in Princeton. (Photo Provided By Festival 56)
Festival 56 Presents: “Cabarets”
Aug. 2-3
Grace Theater, 316 S. Main St., Princeton
This year’s roster of Festival 56 performances also includes a variety of Cabaret shows. Each special performance will feature Festival 56 company members performing songs from a variety of genres. Early evening shows are family-friendly, while the 10 p.m. performances will feature a family-appropriate first act.
Schedule of performances:
Tickets cost $15 and can be purchased online at Festival 56’s website, by calling 815-879-5656, or at the Grace Theater box office from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
To learn about other upcoming shows in the 2025 summer season, visit Festival56.com and follow Festival 56 on Facebook.

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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 Streator Jammin’ at the Clock concert series began Friday, June 7, 2024, at Heritage Park with Shindig, a 60s and 70s band. (Tom Sistak for Shaw Media)
Shindig opened the 2024 Jammin’ at the Clock summer concert series in Streator’s Heritage Park.
The 60s and 70s band set up on the 100 block of North Monroe Street and had a handful of people dancing, while others watched from their lawn chairs to kick off the ninth season of the concert series. The performances are 6 to 8 p.m. each Friday through Aug. 30 at Heritage Park.
Here is the remainer of the 2024 concert lineup:
June 14: Sinovi
June 21: Eddie Korosa and the boys and girls from Illinois, polka
June 28: Country Roots, country music
July 5: Nutzy Mac, rock
July 12: Bagshot Row, oldies/British Invasion
July 19: Turas, Irish
July 26: Mariachi Tecalitan y Nora
Aug. 2: River Road Trio, country
Aug. 9: Atomic Dog Brass Band, New Orleans brass band
Aug. 16: Smith Brothers
Aug. 23: Quentin Flag
Aug. 30: Cadillac Groove
A large crowd attended the first of the Jammin’ at the Clock concert series Friday, June 7, 2024, at Heritage Park in Streator. (Tom Sistak for Shaw Media)
There was dancing in the street Friday, June 7, 2024, during the first of the Jammin’ at the Clock concert series in Streator (Tom Sistak for Shaw Media)
Shaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois

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Pat Schou (Photo provided Mikayla Wilhelm)
The Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network is inviting the public to join from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 24, in celebrating the retirement of former Executive Director Pat Schou at the group’s main office in Princeton.
For questions and to RSVP, contact Lori Frick at lfrick@icahn.org or 815-875-2999. Light refreshments will be served.
Schou has dedicated almost 50 years to rural health care in both clinical and administrative positions.
Schou served in multiple leadership roles at Perry Memorial Hospital (now OSF St. Clare) from 1976 to 1999, ending her career at PMH as vice president/director of nursing.
Her tenure involved serving on numerous boards and committees, including but not limited to the Illinois Rural Health Association and National Rural Health Association. She continues to serve as the chair for the Bureau County Health Department Board.
Located in Princeton, ICAHN is a network of 60 small, rural hospitals dedicated to strengthening the operations of its member hospitals through collaboration. The organization comprises Illinois hospitals that have earned critical access hospital designation by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and is recognized nationally for its work with rural health care, administering several state, federal and private health care programs.
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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Workers with Republic Services and Teamsters Local 179 picket in front of the south entrance to Republic Services on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 in Ottawa. The strike involves 25 employees at Republic Services at the Otawa facility. The action will disrupt waste collections for tens of thousands of residents throughout LaSalle County. Republic Teamsters are demanding a contract with improved wages, better benefits, and stronger labor protections. The Illinois strike comes after 450 Republic Teamsters in Boston went on strike on Tuesday. Hundreds of additional Teamsters across the country are having similar contract disputes with Republic. (Scott Anderson)
Republic Services teamsters in Ottawa remain on strike three weeks after walking off the job, with no deal in place after a bargaining session Wednesday.
The dispute, part of a larger national movement against Republic, continues to disrupt trash collection for thousands of La Salle County residents. After the initial walkout, Republic Services confirmed that it’s operating about 75% of its collection routes using staff from outside the area.
After speaking with Republic on Wednesday morning, Peru Mayor Ken Kolowski confirmed that residents can expect recycling service to resume Monday, July 28.
“All I know is that I was informed by Republic [that] recycling will start next week, and I’ll be told if the strike is over,” Kolowski said.
The union, which began negotiations in June, is pushing for wages, benefits and protections in line with contracts at Republic’s Joliet and Pontiac locations.
Teamsters Local 179 of Joliet President Chris Richter reported some ground was gained during negotiations Wednesday.
“We did make some progress today, and I was happy with that, but pickets will remain where they’re at,” Richter said.
Richter said some major sticking points remain, especially with health care benefits.
“We thought we were making significant progress,” Richter said. “But health care is still a major component we haven’t been able to work through.”
Negotiations on Wednesday started at 9 a.m. and ended about 5 p.m., despite the union’s willingness to continue.
“I told them I’d stay there till midnight,” Richter said. “We were ready to go all night if that’s what it took. But they said that was as far as they were willing to go today.”
Richter said Republic Services told the union it would reach out with future bargaining dates.
Republic provided a statement to Shaw Local News Network on Thursday afternoon.
“Yesterday, we met with the union and made several strong proposals related to compensation and other terms that matter to our employees, but the union rejected them all,” according to the statement. “While we remain committed to reaching a deal that makes sense for our employees, customers and community, and welcome our team back to work, the Teamsters seem more focused on advancing their own agenda at the expense of employee paychecks and the well-being of the communities we serve.”
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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Coolest Car Contest
Many cars have been entered, and now, it’s time for you to vote for your favorite! Vote each day Now through June 22. The car with the most votes will be named the “Coolest” and win a $50 Visa card!
CLICK HERE to vote now
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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The Bureau County Housing Authority and the Illinois Housing Development Authority is alerting households of an online scam pretending to be IHDA or a similar housing entity (Scott Anderson)
The Bureau County Housing Authority and the Illinois Housing Development Authority is alerting households of an online scam pretending to be IHDA or a similar housing entity
The scam is presented as a flyer posted on Facebook announcing the opening of a waitlist for specific properties as part of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. The scam encourages residents to provide their information through a fraudulent link or to visit the IHDA office in person. This is not an IHDA program. IHDA has not created an advertisement for Section 8 housing, and it does not endorse any such solicitation.
A false Facebook page has also been created imitating IHDA. If individuals use Facebook for housing information, verify you are interacting with the agency’s official page by identifying the blue checkmark next to the IHDA name. Individuals who are unsure may access IHDA’s Facebook page by visiting www.ihda.org and clicking on the Facebook icon on the website homepage to be connected.
IHDA is asking those who are seeking public housing to be on the lookout for any suspicious websites or social media posts and to report any unusual interactions to the proper authorities. If individuals paid a fee or gave personal information to one of these fraudulent sites, file a police report and also file reports with the Illinois Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division and the Federal Trade Commission.
Those seeking assistance through the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program are asked to remember the following information:
Contact your local public housing authority to see if they are accepting applications for Section 8 housing, or how to apply for a waiting list.
Housing authorities do not charge fees to join a waiting list.
Never give your Social Security Number, credit card number or other personal information out on a website you find through an online search.
Contact a HUD-approved housing counseling agency to see what local assistance may be available.
Search for an affordable housing unit near you though the ILHousingSearch.org website.
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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