SPONSORED BY

Good morning, Princeton. Princeton is moving into spring mode with youth sports registrations, Restaurant Weekend on the horizon, fresh business promotions, and major community fundraisers underway. From blustery weather swings and steady gas prices to strong job opportunities and packed event calendars, there’s plenty happening across town this week.

—Justin Bullington

📬IN THIS ISSUE

💡What You Should Know
🏠Princeton Homes For Sale
☀️Princeton Weather
⛽️Princeton Gas Prices
💼Princeton Businesses
🗓️Upcoming in Princeton
🦅Education That Works For Families
💭Remembering in Princeton
👷Job Openings
🍿At the Apollo

💡WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

• Princeton congratulates Augustus, Kane, and Casey for their performances at the state finals, recognizing their hard work and perseverance on the mat.

• Bureau County Senior Center is hosting a “Meet Your Future Sheriff” event on Tuesday, February 17 at 5:30 p.m., giving residents the opportunity to hear from and ask questions of the candidates running for Bureau County Sheriff. Featured candidates include Joe Flanagan (Democratic) and Tom Kammerer (Republican).

• The Princeton Closet is holding a Food Drive February 24–28 at 2026 N. Main Street. Donations of non-perishable items in jars and cans are requested, including soups, beans, sauces, honey, and peanut butter.

• The 8th Annual “Egg My Yard” fundraiser at Gateway Services is now taking orders for Easter deliveries. Candy-filled eggs will be delivered in Bureau, Marshall, Putnam Counties and nearby communities, with packages ranging from 25 eggs for $25 up to 100 eggs for $85. Orders must be placed by March 31.

• The Bureau County Fair announced that a concert reveal is coming soon, with two headline acts scheduled for Thursday, August 27.

• Princeton Tourism continues to promote Restaurant Weekend, set for March 5–8, highlighting curated menus and special features at participating local restaurants.

• Ava Easter Headlines Festival 56 Sound Stage Series at Grace Theater February 21

• GriefShare Support Group Offers Comfort and Guidance in Princeton Starting March 2

• Z Tour Bike Ride is encouraging teams of four or more to register for this year’s event at ztour.org. Group leaders can earn $25 in Princeton Chamber Bucks or toward Z Tour merchandise when registering at least four riders.

• Bureau County Sheriff Arrest and Citation Report February 20, 2026

📍Outside City Limits

• 99.3 WAJK is promoting the 2026 Starved Rock Media Home Show on March 8 at Senica’s Oak Ridge Banquet Center, with a chance to win $3,000 and meet former Chicago Bear Tom Thayer.

• BCR: How northern Illinois is fighting human trafficking, and how to recognize the warning signs

• In Sunday's biting cold, urban mail carriers signaled passing drivers for support as new contract talks draw closer.

🏠PRINCETON HOMES FOR SALE

• This single-family residence located at 318 W Peru Street in Princeton is currently estimated at $131,300. Built in 1886, the property sits on a 9,147.6 square-foot lot. The Zestimate reflects current market valuation, and the home is being offered as a foreclosure through Auction.com, with the potential to sell below market value. Interested buyers may monitor auction dates and status updates directly through the listing platform.

• LINK: This 3-bedroom, 1-bath single-family farmhouse offers 1,440 square feet of living space on a 2-acre lot and was originally built in 1908. The property includes two sheds, a corn crib, multiple apple trees, a newer 2+ car garage with concrete floors, and a brand-new gravel driveway. Interior highlights include fresh flooring in several rooms, newly painted spaces, a functional mudroom with laundry, and an enclosed front porch, along with a 16’ x 12’ rear deck. Priced at $219,800, the home combines rural charm with recent updates and ample outdoor space.

• This 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom single-family home at 13279 Lovers Lane Road in Princeton is listed for $245,000 and offers 1,444 square feet of living space on 2.7 acres. Built in 1979, the property features a galley kitchen, vinyl flooring in the main living areas, a primary bedroom with a full bath, and natural gas forced-air heating. The home is on a shared septic and well system serving four neighboring properties. The current Zestimate is $238,100, and the estimated monthly payment is approximately $1,679.

☀️PRINCETON WEATHER

⛅️Tuesday: Overcast and noticeably milder with a high near 50°F, but the SW wind (15–25 mph) will make it feel blustery. Tuesday night stays mostly cloudy and turns sharply colder, dropping to around 20°F with a south wind 10–15 mph.

⛅ Wednesday: A partly cloudy day with a high near 40°F and a steady west wind 10–20 mph, keeping the air feeling brisk. Wednesday night brings a chance of snow showers, low around 22°F, NE wind 5–10 mph, with about a 50% chance of snow and around an inch possible.

🌤️ Thursday: A cold start with morning snow showers, then improving to afternoon sun, topping out near 40°F with a light SW wind 5–10 mph. Thursday night turns mostly clear and colder again, low near 23°F, with a gentle SW breeze 5–10 mph.

☀️ Friday: Generally sunny and much warmer with a high near 56°F, though the SW wind 15–25 mph will be gusty at times. Friday night is partly cloudy with a low around 29°F and lighter SW winds 5–10 mph.

🌤️ Saturday: Partly cloudy with a seasonably cool high near 48°F, and a NNE wind 10–20 mph that adds a chill. Saturday night stays partly cloudy, falling to about 23°F, with a west wind 10–15 mph.

⛽️PRINCETON GAS PRICES

Regular

Amoco, 720 N Main St: $2.84
Sullivan’s Foods: $2.90
Casey’s West/North: $2.89
Beck’s West/North: $2.89
Road Ranger, N Main St: $2.89
Shell, 2225 N Main St: $2.89

Peru Gas 👀

Caseys, Shooting Park Rd.: $2.54

💼PRINCETON BUSINESSES #SHOPLOCAL

• 127 Photos specializes in documentary and family lifestyle photography, focusing on authentic, unposed moments rather than staged perfection. Based in Princeton, the studio serves Central Illinois with a personalized approach that prioritizes meaningful outcomes over rigid, one-size-fits-all packages. Each session is designed to capture honest, lasting memories that reflect the genuine heartbeat of the day.

• Boek-el-ZOO announced new merchandise and restocked feeders, with fresh inventory being added this week. Customers can avoid sales tax on pictured items through Wednesday at noon when paying via CashApp or PayPal. All sales are first-come, first-served.

• Princeton Youth Baseball and Softball League reminds families that registration closes in six days. T-Ball, Baseball, and Softball signups are still open, with players encouraged to register before the deadline.

• The Bike Place will host an Open Mic Night on Friday, February 27 at 701 N. Main Street. Doors open at 6:00 PM with performances from 6:30–9:30 PM featuring music, poetry, and storytelling, while regular bike services continue.

• Pin Splitter Lanes wrapped up its Masters Tournament Season, hosting the Men’s, Women’s, and Senior Masters events. Champions included Mike McClure, Clara Ferrari, and Al Layton, with sportsmanship awards presented to Garrett Allen and Shannon Allen.

• Greenfield Retirement Home will host “A Night at Tiffany’s” on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at Chapel Hill Golf Course, featuring dinner, an art auction, and VIP ticket options.

• Wild Honey Boutique shared that new arrivals are moving quickly and encouraged shoppers to stop in Wednesday before items sell out. The store will be open seven days a week next week and will continue adding new inventory.

• Four Seasons is offering 25% off the Baggallini Pocket Crossbody with code SAVINGS, available in multiple colors in-store and online for a limited time.

• Golden Rice Authentic Thai & Asian Cuisine is offering Princeton delivery, with free delivery on orders of $40 or more and a $3 fee for orders under $40.

• Youth Flag Football League registration is now open through the Princeton Park District. Games will be held Saturdays at Zearing Park beginning April 18, 2026, for K–5th grade divisions, with a March 27 deadline.

• Tossed & Found Resale + Consignment is holding a one-day moving sale on Wednesday, February 25, offering 75% off everything in the store from 9am–6pm at 225 Backbone Rd E #5.

• Dairy Queen (Treat) in Princeton announced a recent store improvement to the back area completed by Revive Concrete Coating. The location also confirmed that Blizzard season begins March 2.

• Z Tour Bike Ride is encouraging teams of four or more to register for this year’s event at ztour.org. Group leaders can earn $25 in Princeton Chamber Bucks or toward Z Tour merchandise when registering at least four riders.

🗓️️UPCOMING IN PRINCETON

👣 Thursday, February 26: Steps that Connect at Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce – A monthly community walk and connection time from 12–1 PM, rain or shine.

🎸 Saturday, February 28: Darrell Data Live at Coal Creek Brewing Company – Darrell Data performs a wide mix of classics and favorites from 12:00–3:00 PM.

🎶🍺 Saturday, February 28: The Bart Attacks ALIVE at Barrel Society – The Bart Attacks return with their psychedelic jam sound at 5:00 PM.

🥞🥓 Sunday, March 1: Pancake & Sausage Breakfast at Bureau County Fairgrounds – Enjoy pancakes and sausage from 8:00 AM–12:00 PM for $10 per person.

🎭 Friday, March 6: Comedy & Inspiration Night at The Rock – A family-friendly evening of comedy and inspiration begins at 7:00 PM hosted by Walnut Community Bible Church.

🍷 Saturday, March 7: Cheers for Change! at The Barn at Hornbaker Gardens – An evening of tastings, food, and a silent auction from 5:00–8:00 PM benefiting United Way.

✉️NEW SUBSCRIBER?

You have access to all previous newsletters: click here to read them.

👉Please, please, please make sure to add the Princeton NOW newsletter email address as a “contact,” “VIP,” or “Whitelist” in your email service. This will prevent it from going to spam or bouncing.

💝ASIST SKILLS TRAINING

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) will be held March 23–24, 2026 from 8:00 AM–4:30 PM at ICAHN, 1945 Van’s Way in Princeton. The two-day, evidence-based training equips participants to recognize suicide risk, engage in supportive life-saving conversations, and connect individuals to appropriate resources.

Led by certified LivingWorks ASIST trainers Michelle Hansen, MSN, RN, CRHCP (Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network) and Stefanie Morris, ES (Community Health Educator, Choose to B.U. LLC), the course is designed for healthcare professionals, first responders, educators, social service providers, community leaders, and anyone who wants to be prepared to help someone in crisis.

Cost is $25 per individual, with support from The Princeton Closet and the Princeton Junior Woman’s Club helping reduce the fee. No prior mental health training is required.

🦅CHRISTIAN EDUCATION THAT WORKS FOR FAMILIES

At Princeton Christian Academy, we believe Christ-centered education should be both strong and sustainable for families.

If you’ve ever wondered whether private Christian education is financially possible for your family — it may be more accessible than you think.

We offer:

✔️ Reduced tuition for additional children
✔️ Flexible monthly payment plans
✔️ Financial aid
✔️ Small class sizes & personalized attention

Our goal isn’t just education. It’s discipleship, academic excellence, and preparing students to stand firm in Christ.

📍 Located right here in Princeton
📅 Enrollment opens March 4th
🔗 Learn more about tuition and admissions at mypca.info

💭REMEMBERING PRINCETON

Don Saletzki: The location is now the Downtown Pub, there’s several other notable things to see in this photo. The early trees in the concrete boxes were all of uniform size, all were locust with long thorns that you did not dare touch them. Back at the time of this 1984 photo, you paid to park on Main Street, but this must’ve been a special sale event because the parking meters are covered with paper bags that designated free parking.

🍿PRINCETON JOB OPENINGS

• Ace Hardware Corporation is hiring a full-time CDL A Driver for its Princeton, Illinois distribution center, offering average annual earnings of approximately $102,000, a $12,500 sign-on bonus, and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement, and paid time off. The role focuses on direct-to-store deliveries, emphasizing safety, operational excellence, and strong customer service as part of Ace’s values-driven culture.

• Walmart is hiring a full-time Fashion Team Associate in Princeton, Illinois, offering $15–$28 per hour with comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement, and paid time off. Additional hourly premiums ranging from $0.35 to $3.00 may apply based on schedule, facility, season, or specific duties, with mid-shift and closing opportunities available.

• Wendy’s is hiring a Restaurant Manager in Princeton, Illinois, offering $25,000–$35,000 per year for full-time or part-time employment, with benefits including medical, life insurance, retirement, and paid time off. The role involves supervising daily operations, ensuring compliance with brand and food safety standards, mentoring team members, managing scheduling and performance, and driving efficiency and profitability.

🍿AT THE APOLLO

GOAT (PG)

A spirited sports drama about a determined young athlete chasing greatness while navigating pressure, doubt, and expectations. As competition intensifies, he learns that being the “greatest of all time” requires more than talent—it demands integrity, perseverance, and heart.

WUTHERING HEIGHTS (R)

A dramatic adaptation of Emily Brontë’s classic novel, following the tumultuous and obsessive love between Heathcliff and Catherine. Set against the stark Yorkshire moors, this haunting romance explores passion, revenge, and the lasting consequences of choices made in youth.