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Happy Saturday morning, Princeton. I’m at the State Fair this weekend, because my son Carson entered his short story into a contest — looking forward to the results today! This will be a short newsletter.

Let’s get it going.

—Justin Bullington

📬IN THIS ISSUE

💡What You Should Know
🐅Football Schedule
☀️Princeton Weather
⛽️Princeton Gas Prices
🏆Princeton People of the Week
💼Princeton Businesses
👷Princeton Job Openings
🐴Letter From Lori

💡WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

• Peoria shooting suspect caught by officers in Princeton.

• 2 dead after rollover crash in rural Princeton

• The Princeton Farmers Market runs today from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Soldiers & Sailors Park, featuring local vendors.

• Bureau County Fair reminds concertgoers that now is the time to grab Trace Adkins tickets. The concert is set for Thursday, August 21, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. The Bureau County Fair has announced that band 303 will perform live from 1–4 p.m. on Sunday, August 24. Fairgoers are invited to enjoy this energetic afternoon concert as part of Sunday Funday at the fair.

• The Homestead Festival team encourages community members to register their floats for the annual parade by August 8. A major announcement about the 2025 parade is expected soon, and all parade details can be found at homesteadfestival.com.

• The Princeton Tigers Athletic Booster Club is preparing for the annual Tiger Classic Golf Tournament, taking place August 16 at Chapel Hill Golf Course. Teams of four can register for $350, which includes lunch, golf, drink tickets, and gift bags, with proceeds supporting athletic programs.

• Princeton Christian Academy is holding a mums fundraiser offering red, orange, yellow, purple, pink, and white blooms in 9-inch pots for $12 each. Orders and payment are due by August 29, with delivery on September 11. Call the school to place your order: 815-875-2933.

• The Monster Mash Balloon Bash will take place on October 4 at the Bureau County Fairgrounds, offering a festive mix of tricks, treats, and scares. You are encouraged to mark your calendar and watch for additional event details coming soon.

• St. Matthews Lutheran Church hosts BLAST! every Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. This program offers an hour of singing and Bible lessons designed for children from kindergarten through 5th grade. The event is open to everyone and encourages community participation. St. Matthews Lutheran Church is located at 416 E Dover Road, Princeton, IL 61356. For more information, call 815-879-6491 or visit their Facebook page or website.

• Bureau County Sheriff Report 08-08-2025

🐅2025-26 PHS Varsity Football Schedule

All games start at 7:00 PM

• August 29 – at Newman Central Catholic

• September 5 – vs Rockridge

• September 12 – at Sherrard*

• September 19 – vs Kewanee*

• 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

☀️PRINCETON WEATHER

🌤️Today: Hot and muggy with sun–cloud mix; storms most likely late day into overnight. High 91° (SW 5–10 mph). Evening turns stormy with heavy rain and gusty winds possible, low 70°, rain chance ~90%.

🌧️Sunday: On-and-off thunderstorms, especially morning/again at night. High 82° (S ~10 mph), humid (~79%). Night stays unsettled with scattered storms, low 70°, rain chance ~60%.

🌦️Monday: Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered PM storms; about a 50% chance. High 81° (SW 5–10 mph), still sticky. A few storms linger at night, low 68°.

⛅Tuesday: Brighter and warmer with a mix of sun and clouds; just an isolated shower/storm (~40%). High 83° (W ~7 mph). Partly cloudy, calm night near 69°.

🌩️Wednesday: Sun and clouds with a stray to scattered afternoon storm (~30%). High 85° (SW 5–10 mph). Mostly clear early, then a few late-night storms possible; low 67°.

⛽️PRINCETON GAS PRICES

Regular

Amoco, 720 N Main St: $3.07
Sullivan’s Foods: $3.16
Casey’s West/North: $3.07
Beck’s West/North: $3.06
Road Ranger, N Main St: $3.09
Shell, 2225 N Main St: $3.16

Peru Gas 👀

Sapp Bros.: $3.06

🏆PRINCETON PERSON OF THE WEEK

Did someone go the extra mile? Did a Princeton Person bless you or someone else you know? Nominate them, give me the details, and they may be chosen as the Princeton NOW Person of the Week. Nominate your Princeton Person of the Week by emailing your nomination to [email protected].

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💼PRINCETON BUSINESSES #SHOPLOCAL

• Dugosh Farms will pop up Saturday, Aug 9, 8am–12pm across from Dollar General with a huge spread—tomatoes, peppers (bell to ghost), beans, sweet corn, zucchini, cukes, peaches, pears, and fresh-cut herbs. Swing by Dugosh Farms early for the best pick of basil, sage, mint, and dill.

• Shannon’s Memorials can add names, dates, or other lettering to existing headstones with care and precision. Contact Shannon’s Memorials at 815-878-3682 to discuss your inscription needs.

• Naiho’s Eggrolls & More rolls into the Princeton Inn (1516 N Main St) on Saturday, Aug 9, noon–4pm. Come try Naiho’s egg rolls, crab rangoon, fried rice, noodles, skewers, and more.

• Apollo Theater Princeton is showing Freakier Friday (PG) and The Bad Guys 2 (PG-13) from Aug 8–14 with multiple daily showtimes. Apollo Theater Princeton offers open-captioned last shows on Sunday and tickets at apolloprinceton.com or the box office.

• Optimal Health just stocked Bionaturae Organic Sourdough Pasta in fusilli, penne rigate, and spaghetti. Stop by Optimal Health to level up your next cozy pasta night.

• Wild Ginger Bistro and Wine Bar is hiring both front-of-house and back-of-house staff. They offer flexible hours and good pay, and interested applicants are encouraged to message the restaurant for more details.

• Paisano’s Ristorante is featuring “The Elote” this month. a Mexican street corn pizza made with Boggio’s Orchard fire-roasted sweet corn, chipotle mayo, mozzarella, parmesan, and a cilantro-lime crème drizzle. Guests can also choose to add hot Cheetos for an extra kick.

• Staff and board members at Friends of Strays are offering free school supplies to families in need, including 24 backpacks, pencil cases with folders, crayons, colored pencils, and markers. Stop by on August 1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to pick up supplies for students in your household.

• Miss Betsy’s is celebrating cotton candy lovers with a new donut flavor for August featuring pink frosting, cotton candy sprinkles, and a fluffy cotton candy topping. This sweet and nostalgic treat is available only for a limited time.

• Friends of Strays, Inc. introduces MJ, a 2-year-old pit mix who is quiet, affectionate, and loves to eat and perform tricks. He’s dog-friendly but prefers no cats, and he’s ready to meet his forever family.

• Bureau County Senior Center is taking reservations for the Celebration Belle “Classic Oldies” River Cruise. The event takes place Thursday, September 11 at 9:00 a.m., and costs $74.27 per person.

• Johnsons Carpet Shoppe highlights Luxury Vinyl as the most popular flooring they offer, featuring waterproof, kid- and pet-friendly, scratch-resistant styles. Customers are encouraged to explore their diverse collection now on display.

Upcoming:

• Trace Adkins with Special Guest Brushville: Enjoy a live concert featuring Trace Adkins and special guest Brushville at the Bureau County Fairgrounds on Thursday, August 21, at 7:30 PM. www.bureaucountyfair.com. This event is part of the 170th Bureau County Fair, running August 20–24.

• Midnight Rider at Soldier & Sailors Park — Enjoy live music with Midnight Rider at Soldier & Sailors Park on Saturday, September 6, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at 700 S Main Street. Full event details will be posted soon.

• 12th Annual Artisan Market — Spend a beautiful fall day at the 12th Annual Artisan Market at Hornbaker Gardens on Saturday, September 20, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Enjoy 30+ fine artists, food trucks, home-baked goods, live music, beer and wine, local produce, artisan popsicles, and more — free admission.

🏆PRINCETON PERSON OF THE WEEK

Did someone go the extra mile? Did a Princeton Person bless you or someone else you know? Nominate them, give me the details, and they may be chosen as the Princeton NOW Person of the Week. Nominate your Princeton Person of the Week by emailing your nomination to [email protected].

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👷PRINCETON JOB OPENINGS

• Freedom House, Inc. in Princeton, IL is hiring a full-time Front Office Advocate for the third shift, offering $19.83 per hour. The position involves answering hotline calls, assisting residential and non-residential clients, providing crisis intervention, and supporting staff with office and clerical duties. Responsibilities include maintaining facility safety, performing data entry in the InfoNet system, documenting client interactions, and making appropriate referrals to community resources. The role requires multitasking in stressful situations, excellent communication skills, and availability for on-call and holiday coverage. Benefits include health and dental insurance, 401(k) with matching, a flexible schedule, and access to an employee assistance program.

• ALDI is hiring part-time Cashier/Stockers for its new store at 1839 North Main Street. The position starts at $17 per hour, with annual increases up to $19 per hour by year five, averaging fewer than 30 hours per week. Team members will assist customers, operate registers, stock and rotate merchandise, perform cleaning duties, and help maintain accurate inventory. Applicants must be 18 or older, able to lift up to 45 pounds, and capable of working independently or as part of a team while providing excellent customer service.

• Corteva Agriscience is hiring a Production Technician in Princeton, Illinois, with a salary range of $40,080–$50,100 per year and full-time benefits including medical, retirement, and PTO. The position involves seasonal plant operations and field tasks such as harvesting, treating, packaging, quality control, forklift operation, and field maintenance. Candidates must have strong work ethic, time management, problem-solving skills, and be comfortable working indoors and outdoors in various conditions while lifting up to 50 lbs. Proficiency with Microsoft applications, effective communication skills, and a valid driver’s license are required, along with a high school diploma or GED or the ability to obtain one within 12 months. Additional responsibilities include collecting data for improvement projects and completing other duties as assigned by supervisors.

🌼DANDELION WISHES REFURBISHED FURNITURE

Michelle DeVoss has this refurbished lodge chair available at her home shop in Sheffield. The front and back have been decoupaged with a buffalo and a southwestern design and sealed for durability. The frame and seat have also been redesigned. This is a unique chair that will make a statement. Asking price is $250 and limited delivery may be available. 

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]. 

🐴LETTER FROM LORI

Anyone else have the fear or feeling of not being loved, but merely tolerated? This is something so deeply ingrained in my psyche that I haven’t been able to shake it. I don’t care how many times people seek me out to socialize—I STILL feel like they’re just doing it to be nice. I know my family felt that way (maybe they still do!?). I was the mouthy one. I was the loud one. I was the one who verbalized controversial subjects and called out wrongdoers. I know everyone did a forehead slap when I entered Mom and Dad’s house on holidays, all of them wondering what kind of scene I’d cause. I honestly didn’t MEAN to… but looking back, I can validate their eye-rolling.

My brother, on the other hand, was (and is) the Golden Child. I know I’ve mentioned it before—he could do no wrong. He’s MUCH quieter and more diplomatic than I am. He would have made an excellent politician. I might have a way with words, but he has a way with NICE words. I interject a lot of inflammatory words that sometimes distract from what my heart is trying to say. My mother always told me if I ever “went down,” it would be because of my mouth. She wasn’t wrong.

There was an incident when I was about 12 years old where I stood up to my father, who was disciplining a horse, and used words a child should not use with a parent. My dash to the safety of the house—where my mother would save me—came to an abrupt halt in the turf between the horse barn and the house. I believe I ended up eating some of that turf and found out my diminutive father wasn’t joking when he said he was built low to the ground for speed.

Over the years, my mouth has saved me from physical confrontations. I don’t believe I’ve ever been in a brawl, but I avoided a LOT of them because I could talk a good game. I’ve always said, “If they think you WILL (or KNOW you will), you rarely have to.” So when I tell someone I will dole out consequences, they believe me. I must speak with the confidence of someone who isn’t 58 years old, overweight, with a bad back and rheumatoid arthritis.

But because of my confrontational nature, I’m not always sure people LOVE me. That insecurity runs deep, and I haven’t been able to shake it. I’m not an approval seeker, but I do wish my heart felt more welcome when I enter a room.

When I look back at my relationship with Jesus, I see how His presence in my life went from being merely tolerated to being fully wanted—standing right next to me at all times. In my youth, I went to church and did all the churchy things because it was expected. I enjoyed aspects of it, but it was sort of bothersome when I would have rather been doing other things, like swimming, horseback riding, or even just watching TV. I never shunned Christ in my life. Even when I walked away for a while, I didn’t scoff at believers when they’d share. I’d politely listen and TOLERATE their preaching, but I didn’t fully embrace it.

In the early 2000s, I attended a retreat weekend that changed all of that. My entire perspective about my walk changed. No longer did I meander from side to side down the path, looking at birds and squirrels and ignoring Him, but I grabbed His hand and haven’t let go—relying on Him for guidance, wisdom, and a desire to see where He would lead me, trusting Him 100% with my life. I have tried to show people, as I walk, the security I feel in His presence. Some have joined us on the path, while others have watched us walk by. I’m hoping they’ll put on their running shoes and catch up at some point—but that is their choice, their timing, and THEIR walk.

I’m sure Jesus is happy that He has me by the hand now and isn’t just tolerated in my life—that I love Him with my whole heart. Maybe there is hope for me yet with that crowd of people up ahead!

Lori owns the Book-el-ZOO in Princeton. It’s not just a pet shop — it’s an experience!

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