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Good morning, Princeton friends. Have you ever seen a T-Ball game? They are one of the most entertaining events on earth. Kids just lay on the ground sometimes. They talk to each other as the ball whizzes past them. The ball is hit and, like a flock of seagulls at the beach coming for your sandwich, everyone on the field descends upon the ball at once — and sometimes they fight over it. It’s an amazing thing to behold. My son John had a really fun time playing last evening, but he was mostly just happy he got popcorn afterward.

Go Orioles!

—Justin Bullington

📬IN THIS ISSUE

💡What You Should Know
🏠Princeton Homes for Sale
🧺Lunch in the Park Schedule
☀️Princeton Weather
⛽️Princeton Gas Prices
🗓️Upcoming in Princeton
💼Princeton Businesses
🩳Celebrating 56 Years
🏐Sports Camps
🏡Property Transfers
🔍Health Inspections
❤️Local Obituaries
🚔Local Arrests
💍Local Marriages
👔Bureau County Father’s Day Weekend
🍿At the Apollo

💡WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

• BCR: Princeton’s Ian Morris won the discus state title over the weekend. Five area throwers, including Princeton’s Cade Odell and Landen Hoffman, win six medals, St. Bede’s Greyson Marincic takes second in 110 hurdles.

• Princeton Youth Baseball and Softball League will hold a pork chop cookout on June 3 at Zearing Park beginning at 5 p.m. Sandwiches are $5, or enjoy a full meal with chips and water for $8. Pork chops will be provided by Wyanet Meat Locker.

• Join the Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce for a ribbon cutting ceremony at Bureau County Family Health on Thursday, June 5 at 8:00 a.m. The event celebrates their grand opening and Chamber member expansion. Visit 526 South Bureau Valley Parkway to be part of this milestone.

• The 4th annual ShrimpFest & Brew Hullabaloo is this Saturday, June 7, from 11 AM to 9 PM at Rotary Park, featuring food, drinks, and live music. Performers include Al Brown, Brass from the Past, and Beatles tribute band American English, with a kid-friendly “Shrimply Fun Zone” open from 11–5; details at www.princetonshrimpfest.com.

• The Great Pages Circus will perform in Princeton on Monday and Tuesday, June 23–24 at the Bureau County Fairgrounds. Showtimes include 7 p.m. Monday and 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, with free admission for children 12 and under with a paid adult. Expect thrilling acts, animal performances, and classic circus fun.

• First Lutheran Church will host the Old Wheels Car Show on Saturday, June 14. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the church’s north parking lot at 116 N. Pleasant St. Classic car enthusiasts are invited to attend and enjoy the display.

• Ride Illinois is hosting the Z Tour Bike Ride on Saturday, June 21, beginning and ending at Zearing Park. Cyclists will enjoy scenic routes through Bureau County with rolling terrain, creek views, and minimal traffic. Proceeds benefit the Zearing Child Enrichment Center, and registration is open at ztour.org.

• Team registration is now open for the 28th Annual Tiger Classic, hosted by the Princeton Tiger Athletic Boosters. This year’s event will be held at a new location—Chapel Hill Golf Course in Princeton, IL—on August 16, 2025, with registration beginning at 8 AM and tee-off at 9 AM. Register your team here and join the fun!

• Bureau County Sheriff Report 

📍Outside City Limits

• Man killed while trimming trees in Amboy

• Nice weather drew big crowds over the weekend to both Matthiessen and Starved Rock State Parks. Thankfully calls for first responders to help at the parks turned out to be for minor issues.

• Eighth grade graduation isn’t the only life changing event happening for Parker Zimmerly this week. Not only did he walk across the Amboy High School gym to receive his promotion from eighth grade to next year as a freshman on Friday, May 23, but now, May 27-29, he is at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland competing in the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee.

• Tiskilwa will host Movie in the Park on the third Saturday of June, July, and August at East Park. Movies will begin at dusk, and all are welcome to attend.

• The Tiskilwa Historical Society is hosting "Jazz in June" by John Cooper, a musician and professor from WIU. This free concert will take place on Friday, June 6th at 7PM in the Community Room of the Museum on Main, 110 E. Main Street, Tiskilwa. Please come and join us to enjoy the music and history of America's Treasure - Jazz!

• A Vacation Bible School is coming to Wyanet Community Bible Church at 215 S Locust Street! Join us July 16–18 from 10–11:30 a.m. for Wonder Junction by Answers in Genesis, with a free meal following for kids and families. Sunday School for all ages is at 9 a.m., followed by our worship service at 10. Register online at Answers in Genesis – Wyanet Community Bible Church or contact Pastor Kevin at [email protected]—walk-in registration is also welcome!

🏠PRINCETON HOMES FOR SALE

• Now listed at $149,900, this 3-bedroom, 1-bath home at 616 N Pleasant St in Princeton, IL features 1,520 square feet and a 2-car garage with a bonus second-story space. Recently updated, the home includes new vinyl windows (excluding porch), epoxy countertops, modern hardwood floors, updated electrical and chimneys, and fresh paint throughout. The kitchen comes fully equipped with appliances, and there’s main floor laundry and a clean basement for added storage. The yard is landscaped with perennials, two enclosed porches offer charm and function, and the upstairs bonus room provides additional space for a playroom or family room.

• This well-maintained 3-bedroom, 3-bath home in Princeton offers 2,498 square feet of living space on a spacious 1.33-acre lot near Zearing Park. Built in 1951, the home features a formal living room with bay window, wood-burning fireplace, and built-in bookcases, as well as a large family room with beamed ceiling, pocket doors, and a second fireplace. The main floor includes a mudroom with laundry and a full basement offering excellent storage. The primary bedroom features an en-suite bath and an adjacent bonus room, ideal for a nursery, office, or walk-in closet. Recent updates include a new roof (2023), furnace (2019), air conditioning (2019), water heater (2024), sump pump (2024), and septic system (2024).

• Located near the hospital and Zearing Park, this charming 3-bedroom, 1-bath home offers 1,755 square feet of living space and the potential for a fourth bedroom. The remodeled enclosed front porch leads into a cozy living room with hardwood floors, a fireplace, and built-in features. The kitchen and dining area include updated appliances, and two bedrooms are located downstairs with a large upstairs bedroom that could be split into two. The home features a usable unfinished basement with laundry, sink, shower, and a battery backup sump pump. Appliances, including washer and dryer, stay with the home, and there is ample storage throughout.

🧺LUNCH IN THE PARK SCHEDULE

Lunch in the Park – Every Friday | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

📍 Soldiers & Sailors Park

Enjoy delicious lunches and tasty bake sale items from local organizations all summer long!

May

• May 16 – Lunch: AmVets Post #180 | Bake Sale: American Legion Auxiliary

• May 23 – Lunch: Flags of Freedom | Bake Sale: Open Prairie UCC

• May 30 – Lunch: Bureau County Senior Center | Bake Sale: Bureau Co. Republican Women

June

• June 6 – Lunch: Cub Scout Pack #4151 | Bake Sale: Princeton High School POMS

• June 13 – Lunch: New Hope Church | Bake Sale: Seed Of Hope Church

• June 20 – Lunch: First Presbyterian Church | Bake Sale: First United Methodist Church

• June 27 – Lunch: VFW Post #4323 | Bake Sale: Prairie Arts Center

July

• July 4 – Lunch & Bake Sale: City of Princeton

• July 11 – Lunch: Covered Bridge Barbershop Chorus | Bake Sale: First Lutheran Church

• July 18 – Lunch: New Hope Church | Bake Sale: Gamma Phi

• July 25 – Lunch: American Legion Post #125 | Bake Sale: Hampshire Colony Church

August

• August 1 – Lunch: Rotary Club of Princeton | Bake Sale: Princeton Junior Woman’s Club

• August 8 – Lunch: Hands of Hope | Bake Sale: Second Story Teen Center

• August 15 – Lunch: American Legion Post #125 | Bake Sale: St. Louis Parish

• August 22 – Lunch: Princeton Police for Second Story | Bake Sale: Seed Of Hope Church

• August 29 – Lunch: Bureau County United Way | Bake Sale: Second Story Teen Center

September

• Sept. 5 – Lunch: Second Story Teen Center | Bake Sale: MomCo

• Sept. 12 – Lunch: Princeton Chamber of Commerce | Bake Sale: Rotary Club of Princeton

• Sept. 19 – Lunch: Flags of Freedom | Bake Sale: Cub Scout Pack #4151

• Sept. 26 – Lunch: Dementia Friendly Princeton | Bake Sale: Hands of Hope

☀️PRINCETON WEATHER

☀️Today: Another hot day with highs around 88°F, featuring periods of sun and occasional cloud cover. Winds will be from the south at 10 to 15 mph, and UV exposure will remain very high. Tuesday night will be partly to mostly cloudy, remaining warm with a low near 67°F. Winds from the south-southeast at 10 to 15 mph will keep the air moving through the night.

🌧️Wednesday: Showers are possible in the morning, with scattered thunderstorms developing later in the day. The high will top out around 83°F, and winds will increase from the southwest at 10 to 15 mph. Wednesday night will remain cloudy with periods of rain showers. The low will be near 59°F, and west-northwest winds at 10 to 15 mph will accompany a 50% chance of continued precipitation.

⛅️Thursday: Thursday will bring partly cloudy skies with the possibility of isolated thunderstorms later in the afternoon. The high will reach near 79°F, with southerly winds at 10 to 15 mph and a 40% chance of rain. Thursday night will remain variably cloudy, and scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop. The temperature will fall to 60°F, with southerly winds around 10 to 15 mph and a continued 50% chance of storms.

⛈️Friday: Scattered thunderstorms are expected during the day Friday, with a high near 75°F. Winds will be from the southwest at 10 to 15 mph, with humidity near 69% and a 50% chance of rain. Friday night will begin stormy with thunder possible, but skies will gradually clear overnight. Expect a low of 57°F, with winds shifting west-northwest at 5 to 10 mph and continued 50% rain chances early.

⛅️Saturday: Intervals of sunshine and clouds will return Saturday with a more settled pattern. The high will be near 80°F, with west winds at 10 to 15 mph and just a 20% chance of a stray shower. Saturday night will be mostly clear and calm. Lows will dip to 60°F, and west winds will ease to 5 to 10 mph, making for pleasant conditions overnight.

⛽️PRINCETON GAS PRICES

Regular

Amoco, 720 N Main St: $3.09
Sullivan’s Foods: $3.11
Casey’s West/North: $3.15
Beck’s West/North: $3.15
Road Ranger, N Main St: $3.15
Shell, 2225 N Main St: $3.15

🗓️UPCOMING IN PRINCETON

🦐 4th Annual ShrimpFest & Brew Hullabaloo – A full day of food, drinks, and music on Saturday, June 7, from 11 AM–9 PM at Rotary Park. Performers include Al Brown, Brass from the Past, and Beatles tribute band American English. “Shrimply Fun Zone” for kids runs from 11 AM–5 PM. Details at www.princetonshrimpfest.com.

🚴‍♂️ Bike & Walk Princeton – Join the City of Princeton and Bike & Walk Princeton for a Bicycle Scavenger Hunt in celebration of National Bike Month. Solve location riddles, bike to each site, and snap a photo. Submit pictures and contact info to [email protected] by Thursday, June 13, for a chance to win prizes. More info at facebook.com/bikewalkprincetonil.

🌳 Homestead Lawn Event – A community event at Owen Lovejoy Homestead on Saturday, June 14, from 5-7 PM to raise funds and celebrate local traditions.

🏠 Annual Covenant Children’s Home Reunion – A gathering for past residents, staff, and volunteers at Simon Conference Center on Saturday, June 28, from 10 AM-4 PM. Donations welcome.

🤼‍♂️ Micro Wrestling at The Hawg House – A 21+ night of body slams, suplexes, and mayhem on Friday, August 1, from 8–10 PM at Hawg House Saloon. Featuring multiple matches and nonstop action under 5 feet tall.

🥿 Walk a Mile for Freedom House – A one-mile walk in downtown Princeton to support DV and SV survivors on Saturday, August 2 at 9 AM. Activities, teams, and prizes.

🎤Trace Adkins with Brushville – Bureau County Fair – Country star Trace Adkins performs with special guest Brushville on Thursday, August 21 at 7:30 PM at the Bureau County Fair. Tickets available at bureaucountyfair.com.

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💼PRINCETON BUSINESSES

• Historic Main Street comes alive with Sidewalk Sales on Friday and Saturday, June 6–7. Shoppers can enjoy fabulous finds and hot savings from participating Chamber member retailers. It’s the perfect time to stroll, browse, and support local businesses.

• The Princeton Closet reminds the community to donate only during their posted hours, Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Due to ongoing issues with after-hours dumping, all improperly donated items are discarded and may be subject to police investigation. They appreciate donors who help support sustainable, quality secondhand shopping.

• Wyaton Hills Golf Course is offering Ping Club Fitting on Wednesday, June 4 from 1 to 5 p.m. Golfers are encouraged to call and reserve a spot for personalized equipment recommendations. It’s a great chance to upgrade your gear with expert guidance.

• Cafe Grace has a fresh, flavorful lineup of specials this week including watermelon bruschetta, BLT avocado salad, and chicken & mushroom sandwiches. Friday features a full day of meals, from breakfast to dinner, with highlights like sausage pasta and chicken clubs. Weekend options include jalapeño popper burgers, crab cake duos, and peaches & cream French toast.

• Dairy Queen is offering exclusive app deals from June 2–8, including buy-one-get-one Peanut Buster Parfaits for $0.99. Other deals include $1 off sides, $3 small shakes, and 50% off chicken strip baskets. Be sure to download the DQ app to unlock these limited-time rewards.

• BCMC is hosting a Jr. High Strength & Conditioning program from July 14–17 for students in grades 5–8, with morning sessions by grade. Fees range from $40–$50, and spots are limited to 8 per session; register at registration.princetonparkdistrict.org or call 815-872-0840.

• Golden Rice Authentic Thai & Asian Cuisine is still proudly serving Thai food, though with a limited menu due to health department regulations. At this time, only ready-to-eat items and sushi that don’t require grease drainage are available while they transition to a commissary kitchen. They appreciate your continued support and patience during this temporary adjustment.

• Apollo Theater announced that Apollo Pop, a gourmet popcorn shop next door, is nearing its opening. No official opening date yet, but progress is being made.

• Wyaton Hills Golf Course will begin Junior Golf on June 5. Kids ages 5–11 play on Thursdays, and ages 12–18 play on Fridays.

• A new HIIT + Core fitness class began at the Bureau County Metro Center’s Aerobic’s Room. Led by instructor Caitlin Meyer, this class includes fast-paced cardio intervals and core-targeted strength training. Open to all fitness levels, it meets Mondays and Thursdays at 9:30 AM.

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🏐SPORTS CAMPS

Baseball

The 2025 Tiger Baseball Camp runs June 9–13 at Prather Field for boys entering 3rd through 9th grade, with two age-group sessions in the morning. The camp costs $40 and emphasizes fundamentals such as hitting, bunting, pitching, catching, fielding, and teamwork. Participants should bring a glove, water bottle, and wear appropriate athletic gear; each camper will receive a camp shirt. Led by PHS coaches and players, the camp promotes skill development, confidence, and sportsmanship in a fun environment. Click to sign up

Football

The Princeton Tiger Football Camp will be held July 21–25, 2025, at Little Siberia Field for incoming 9th–12th grade students, with evening sessions from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. The cost is $60 per athlete or $50 each for families with multiple participants. Players must bring a helmet, shoulder pads, cleats, and shorts, and registration forms and payment are due by July 1 to secure a spot. The camp emphasizes work ethic, team commitment, and preparation for the fall football season under the direction of Coach Ryan Pearson and staff. Click to sign up

🩳CELEBRATING 56 YEARS OF LENDING A HAND

Celebrate with The Princeton Closet!

• June 26th – Cows Coffee, 9 AM–1 PM

• June 27th – Didoughs, 10 AM–4 PM

• June 28th – Flags of Freedom Cookout, 11 AM–1 PM

• Second Story Bake Sale, 11 AM – Sold Out

Join us for raffles, special promotions, and meet some of our Lending a Hand recipients!

Raffle tickets will be sold on-site during store hours:

10 tickets for $5!

Store Hours:

• Thursday/Friday: 10 AM–5:30 PM

• Saturday: 9 AM–5 PM

Raffle Drawing will begin Saturday, June 28th at 3 PM on a Facebook Live!

We are always looking for volunteers! Volunteering is a great way to get involved with our community. If you are interested, contact us at: 815-875-3145, [email protected], Or visit our website: princetoncloset.com

👔BUREAU COUNTY FATHER’S DAY WEEKEND

Garage Sales & Much More | June 12–15

There’s something for everyone this Father’s Day weekend across Bureau County! Enjoy townwide garage sales, great food, classic cars, live music, and family fun:

🚗 Garage Sales & Markets

• More on 34 Garage Sales – Thursday–Saturday, June 12–14

• Bureau County Fairgrounds – Two days of garage sales

• Townwide Sales – Wyanet & Princeton

• Princeton Farmers Market – Saturday

🍔 Food & Fun

• Lunch in the Park – Friday, Main St., Princeton

• Hungry World Farm Wood-Fired Pizza – Friday, Tiskilwa

• Wyanet Locker Cookout – Friday & Saturday

• Buffalo Days Celebration – All weekend, LaMoille

🚙 Car Shows & Music

• Psycho Silo Car & Motorcycle Swap Meet – Friday & Saturday

• Kid Rock Tribute Band & Jeeper’s Creepers – Saturday at Psycho Silo

• Old Wheels Car Show – Saturday, 1st Lutheran in Princeton

• Lake DePue Car Show – Sunday

• Community Band Concert – Sunday, Princeton

🌿 Outdoor Attractions

• Hornbaker’s Garden Open House & Hosta Walk – Saturday & Sunday

📍 Info & Maps:

Garage Sale fliers available at the Prouty Building, the Fairgrounds, and local gas stations.

🔗 For details, visit the Bureau County Tourism Facebook page or email [email protected]

📞 Info line: 815-866-3606

🍿AT THE APOLLO

🎬 LILO & STITCH (PG)

Disney’s beloved alien is back! Join Lilo, a spirited Hawaiian girl, and Stitch, a blue chaos-loving alien, in a funny, heartfelt story about friendship, family, and finding where you belong.

• Tuesday–Thursday: 4:15 PM & 7:00 PM

🎬 MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: THE FINAL RECKONING (PG-13)

Tom Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt in his most dangerous mission yet. With global stakes, double agents, and jaw-dropping stunts, this final chapter delivers a high-octane thriller that tests loyalty and resolve.

• Tuesday–Thursday: 3:45 PM & 7:15 PM

🎬 THE LAST RODEO (PG)

A touching drama from Angel Studios about grit, grace, and the bonds of family. A young rider faces the biggest challenge of his life when a tragic event threatens to end his rodeo dreams—but the strength of community and faith offer one last ride.

• Premieres Friday, June 7 — full schedule to be announced.

Tickets available now at www.apolloprinceton.com or at the box office.

Want to advertise? Email: [email protected].