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Good morning, Princeton friends. Local Jeopardy dominance, upcoming fall festivities, Cubs playoff hopes, updated home listings, gas prices, and tributes to two beloved community members. It’s everything you need heading into a beautiful weekend in Princeton.

Let’s roll.

—Justin Bullington

📬IN THIS ISSUE

💡What You Should Know
🏠Princeton Homes for Sale
☀️Princeton Weather
⛽️Princeton Gas Prices
🗓️Upcoming in Princeton
💼Princeton Businesses
💭Remember in Princeton
🏈Football Schedule
🐻Bears and Playoff Baseball

💡WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

• Happy Birthday Kate Butler!

• Bureau County Indicts Defendants on Felony Charges

• Princeton Teacher Now a Four-Time Jeopardy! Champion

• A Princeton organization that promotes community engagement received a grant that will be used to get more people reading.

• Dr Adam Kress Joins OSF HealthCare to Expand Primary and Specialty Care in Princeton

• Festival 56 Launches Sound Stage Music Series with Rising Country Star Jaden Decker

• Witches Night Out is happening Friday, October 3rd from 4–10 PM. Enjoy a magical evening of shopping, food, drinks, and live music downtown. Celebrate the 10th anniversary with spooky fun and local deals.

• Celebrate the season with games, activities, and fun for the whole family while we come together to honor October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Come and enjoy free crafts, bake walk, games, & a scavenger hunt. Saturday, October 11, 10:00am to 2:00pm, Soldiers and Sailors Park.

• Hosted by Bureau County Fair, the Halloween Parade will take place Saturday, October 4th at 5:30pm. To register to participate, contact the Princeton Chamber at 815-875-2616.

• The Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce’s 13th Annual Scarecrow Contest invites local businesses to display scarecrows by October 1. Judging is October 2 and winners announced October 13.

• Princeton’s Oktoberfest will be held on October 18th at Rotary Park. Visitors can enjoy food, drinks, games, and traditional German music from the Heidelberg German Band. The event promises festive community vibes with Bavarian flair.

• Logan Junior High School recognized its September Students of the Month: Nora McNabb (5th), Emma Pinter (6th), Leena Gutshall (7th), and Theo Bonucci (8th).

🏠PRINCETON HOMES FOR SALE

• The home at 919 N Euclid Ave, Princeton, IL 61356 is listed for $217,625 and offers 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and 1,605 square feet on a 0.28-acre lot. This ranch-style property features a full basement, an attached 2-car garage, and convenient main-level laundry with ample storage. The primary suite includes a walk-in closet, private bath with shower, and sliding glass doors leading to the back deck. Additional highlights include a spacious basement with dual sump pumps, a fully fenced yard, and an oversized concrete driveway providing extra parking.

• Located at 443 E Peru St in Princeton, this 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath home offers over 2,200 square feet of thoughtfully designed living space on a spacious 0.65-acre lot. The home blends classic charm with updated functionality, featuring 9-foot ceilings, original wood trim, leaded-glass details, and a bright kitchen with an island and ample counter space. Highlights include a large sunroom, a walk-in main floor shower, and an upstairs bonus room with kitchenette potential. The professionally landscaped backyard provides a serene oasis with a water fountain, large deck, firepit, and 2-car heated garage with an attached workshop. Listed at $285,000, this property offers a combination of elegance, versatility, and peaceful outdoor living.

• The property at 127 N Beech St, Princeton, IL 61356 is listed for $159,900 and features 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, and 864 square feet of living space. This low-maintenance ranch has been extensively updated, including a new concrete driveway, sidewalks, and roofs on the house, garage, and shed. Inside, the home offers an updated kitchen and bathroom, new plumbing and electric service, fresh flooring, and paint. Additional highlights include a 24x24 coach house garage, updated heating and air conditioning, and a move-in ready condition.

🌤️PRINCETON WEATHER

⛅ Today: Sunny and warm with a high near 84°. Winds light and variable around 5–10 mph and a high UV index. Dry through the day with moderate humidity. Tonight turns partly cloudy with a low around 54° and a light SE breeze.

☀️ Saturday: Mainly sunny, topping out near 85°. A gentle NE wind 5–10 mph and no rain expected. Humidity stays comfortable. Saturday night is mostly clear with a low near 56° and light NNW winds.

⛅ Sunday: Partly cloudy and hot with highs near 86°. ENE breeze at 5–10 mph and rain chances near zero. Humidity runs around 60%. Sunday night remains partly cloudy with a low near 55° and a light ESE wind.

☀️ Monday: Mostly sunny and a touch hotter with a high around 87°. SSE winds 5–10 mph and a moderate UV index. Dry air keeps things comfortable. Partly cloudy Monday night with a low near 56° and a light SSE breeze.

☀️ Tuesday: Mostly sunny with highs near 85°. Light SSE winds at 5–10 mph and no rain in the forecast. Humidity holds in the upper-50s. Partly cloudy Tuesday night with a low around 57°.

⛅ Wednesday: Partly cloudy and warm, reaching the mid-80s around 84°. A light SSE breeze 5–10 mph and dry conditions. Humidity stays moderate. Wednesday night is partly cloudy with lows near 55°.

⛽️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: $3.09
Shell, 2225 N Main St: $3.15

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🗓️UPCOMING IN PRINCETON

🎃 Nightmare Haunted Attraction – Opening Night – Haunted barns, bonfire, food, and souvenirs at the Bureau County Fairgrounds, 811 W Peru St, Princeton. Friday, October 3, 7:00 PM–10:00 PM. Hosted by Bureau County Fair.

🌼 Customer Appreciation Days at Hornbaker Gardens – Free lunch served 10:30 AM–2:00 PM at 22937 1140 North Ave, Princeton. Celebrate the season with food, sales, and plants marked up to 50% off. Friday–Saturday, October 3–4, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM.

🎸 MOJO ROCKS Live at Barrel Society – Enjoy a live recording of Mojo Moomey’s radio show featuring classic rock and ’90s indie hits. Saturday, October 11, 5:00 PM–9:00 PM at Barrel Society, 930 N Main St, Princeton. Show airs October 17.

🚗 Illinois Valley Toy Run – Bring a new $10 unwrapped toy for a child and enjoy the 40-mile countryside cruise, live DJ, and prize drawings. Sunday, October 12, 8:00 AM–3:00 PM at Soldiers & Sailors Park, S Main St, Princeton.

👻 Trunk-or-Treat at Liberty Village – Enjoy fun games, sweet treats, and food at Liberty Village of Princeton, 140 N. 6th St. Thursday, October 16, 4:00 PM–6:00 PM.

🎭 Samhain: The Celtic Roots of Halloween – Learn the ancient origins of Halloween with music and storytelling by Barry Cloyd. Tuesday, October 21, 6:00 PM at the Princeton Public Library, 698 E Peru St.

🎼 Classical Guitarist Peter Fletcher – Hear music spanning the Renaissance to the 20th century in this acclaimed solo recital. Thursday, October 23, 6:00 PM at the Princeton Public Library, 698 E Peru St.

🚜 Princeton Swap Meet – Find unique items and motorcycle parts at this popular swap meet. Sunday, November 9, 8:00 AM–2:00 PM at 811 W Peru St. $10 admission; vending $50. Also listed as the Homestead Festival Flea Market.

🍕 Wood-Fired Pizza Nights at Hungry World Farm – Relax with farm-fresh pizza, lawn games, and baby goat snuggling in Tiskilwa. Saturdays through October 7, 6:30 PM. Personal-sized pizzas $16. Located at 19183 Plow Creek Rd, Tiskilwa.

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🌼DANDELION WISHES REFURBISHED FURNITURE

Michelle DeVoss has this hand-painted jewelry cabinet available at her home shop in Princeton for $135. Standing 40” tall by 15” wide and 8” deep, it’s a one-of-a-kind statement piece. 

Be sure to follow “Dandelion Wishes Refurbished Furniture” on Facebook for upcoming projects! Michelle can be reached through Facebook Messenger or by email at [email protected]. 

💼PRINCETON BUSINESSES

• Beetz Me! is hiring part-time help (must be 19+)—apply in person at 952 N Main St, no phone calls please.

• Johnson’s Carpet Shoppe is featuring locally handmade decorative pillows—each purchase supports a fellow Princetonian and adds charm to your home.

• Princeton Food Trucks will be at Soldiers & Sailors Park on Friday, September 26 from 11AM–1PM with food by Dementia Friendly Princeton and a bake sale by Hands of Hope.

• Landmark Realty of IL is hosting a spooky “Find a Key & Take a Selfie” challenge for Witches Night Out. Five creative clues are posted around town for participants to solve. The challenge is themed with witches, cauldrons, and candy and encourages photo sharing for a fun local scavenger hunt.

• Tossed & Found Resale + Consignment has a fresh batch of collectibles now in stock. Items include Budweiser memorabilia, steins, clocks, and more. Shoppers can visit the store at 225 Backbone Rd E #5, Princeton, open until 4 PM.

• Flu season is coming! Get your flu shot on Thursday, October 2nd from 1–2pm at the Bureau County Senior Center. Cost is $30, or most insurances are accepted. Bring your insurance card.

• The Model Train Fair & Farm Toy Show is set for Saturday, November 15, 2025, from 9 AM to 2 PM at the Bureau County Fairgrounds. The event features HO, N, O, and G scale trains, accessories, Thomas toys, and farm collectibles.

• Apollo Theater Princeton has posted showtimes valid from September 26 to October 2. Movies playing include “The Senior” (PG), with showtimes Friday through Sunday and evening shows Tuesday to Thursday. Sunday night screenings offer open captions.

• Dairy Queen on 615 N Main St is offering $4 mystery bags and $3 off premade cakes while supplies last. The deal is available in-store only for a limited time.

• Emerald Tablet Collective is offering piercings every Friday from 1:30 PM to 6 PM with piercer Dalton. Prices include $30 for earlobes and $60 for other piercings like nostril, septum, navel, and helix. Located at 905 N Main St.

• Friends of Strays will host their 2nd Annual Open House on Saturday, September 27 from 11 AM to 2 PM. Myrtle’s Pies is donating pies, and the event will include baked goods, raffle baskets, hot dogs, and adoptable pets. Kids can enjoy goodie bags and fall fun.

• Tiskilwa’s Walk Tiskilwa is hosting a Christmas Market on December 6 from 10AM–1PM with music, food, shopping, and more.

• Celebrate the season with fall-scented goodies from Rachel Rene. Pumpkin Spice soaps, lotions, and more are available.

• The Bureau County Metro Center Pool remains temporarily closed for mechanical repairs, with progress being made and updates expected soon.

• The Believe Foundation is selling pink “Believe” t-shirts at Sophisticuts Salon & Wellness for Breast Cancer Awareness Month—100% of proceeds stay local.

• Art lessons for kids ages 8–14 begin Wednesday, October 8 at Prairie Arts Center Gallery, with six 1-hour weekly classes taught by artist Judy Gosse.

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💭REMEMBER IN PRINCETON

🐅2025-26 PHS VARSITY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

All games start at 7:00 PM

• August 29 – at Newman Central Catholic L

• September 5 – vs Rockridge L

• September 12 – at Sherrard* W

• September 19 – vs Kewanee* W

• September 26 – vs Monmouth-Roseville*

• October 3 – at Hall/Putnam County*

• October 10 – vs Mendota*

• October 17 – vs Mercer County*

• October 24 – vs Erie-Prophetstown

🐻IS THERE ANYTHING BETTER THAN A BEARS WIN WITH PLAYOFF BASEBALL?

Let’s be honest—being a Chicago sports fan is mostly a long, grim exercise in character formation. But every now and then, the city stirs with a little magic. And this October, against all odds and common sense, the Chicago Cubs have clawed their way into the Wild Card spot… while the Bears just beat the Cowboys. Yes, those Cowboys. On national television. In the same universe where we exist.

The Cubs making the Wild Card doesn’t just mean playoff baseball—it means hope survived Wrigley’s summer drama. It means the bullpen didn’t completely fall apart (yet), and that a team with more question marks than a Jeopardy round somehow answered just enough to keep the season alive. Playoff baseball in Chicago means fans wrapped in blue hoodies, hot chocolate instead of beer, and that delicious anxiety only October brings. It’s not a guarantee of glory, but it’s a foot in the door—and in this town, that’s all we ever ask for.

Then the Bears—who, let’s face it, have spent the last few years finding new and creative ways to invent sadness—go out and punch the Cowboys in the mouth. It wasn’t just a win. It was one of those wins: fast, physical, kind of confusing, and undeniably joyful. Caleb Williams looked legit. The defense looked alive. We all got that rare, giddy feeling that maybe—just maybe—we’re watching a team grow up before our eyes.

Here’s where it gets fun: the Cubs and Bears are two franchises united not just by geography, but by their maddening flirtation with potential. When one rises, it’s usually in spite of something. But when both surge at once? It feels like we all lean forward. There’s a shared electricity. The guy lifting at the Met talking defensive coverages. The lady in the Caleb Williams jersey is yelling about Seiya Suzuki’s OPS. And somewhere, deep in our collective hearts, we dare to believe: Maybe this fall will be different.

The Cubs are in. The Bears just stunned a contender. Maybe we’re not the worst. Maybe we’re just dramatic. Either way, October just got fun again.

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