January 17th, 2024: 🍦🚔💼

Road Ranger, the Red Covered Bridge, and Pad See Ew

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, prodigious, tremendous, breathtaking Princeton, Illinois. If you see someone plowing snow, fixing snowblowers, salting sidewalks, shoveling, repairing furnaces, or giving out coffee and hot chocolate — be sure to thank them.

I’ll start: thank you. You are a huge reason why this town is so great.

Also, special thanks to my lovely wife Deb. She is the designer behind the new color scheme.

Let’s hustle.

—Justin Bullington

📬IN THIS ISSUE

🚨What You Should Know
❄️ Princeton Weather Alert
💰Princeton Business News
📆Princeton Events
⛽️Gas Prices

A Special Shoutout from Chelsea Sanchez:

Here’s our upcoming schedule for the Chelsea Gives Back Fundraiser:

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

  • BCR: “Local organizations are teaming up in February to provide the Meals for a Healthy Heart program in Princeton…Register for a two-part class series and learn some small healthy changes that can significantly impact overall heart health.”

  • The Bureau County Historical Society and the Chamber of Commerce are finished with their commemorative book featuring Red Covered Bridge photos that have been voluntarily submitted for publication through their social media platform, Facebook, through electronic mail or other methods for this publication. Click here to purchase a book.

  • BCR: “Five Bureau County communities were among the recipients of funding to assist in meeting the requirements outlined in the Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act (LSLRN Act). Malden, Ohio and Seatonville are set to receive $30,000, while Princeton and Spring Valley are slated for $40,000.

  • PHS Varsity boys bball lost twice in Monday’s MLK Jr. Showcase. They lost to Aurora Christian 70-69 and Rockford Lutheran 73-67. They will play at home against Ottawa, January 22nd at 7pm.

  • A canopy roof fell on a semi truck Friday at the Road Ranger in Princeton.

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PRINCETON WEATHER

📸Emily Paulis

Today: The day will start with increasing cloudiness, with a high around 22°F and a low of 2°F. Wind chill may make it feel as cold as 9°F. Winds are expected to be around 10 mph. No significant chance of precipitation is predicted.

Thursday: Light snow and overcast conditions are expected. The high will be around 23°F with a low near 15°F. The weather will feel like 10°F due to wind chill. Winds will be around 9 mph. A 61% chance of precipitation is forecasted, with about 1.71 inches of snow.

Friday: Forecast includes light snow and overcast skies. The high is anticipated to be 15°F, with a low of -1°F. Wind chill could make it feel as low as -9°F. Winds will be around 13 mph. There's a 68% chance of precipitation, with expected snowfall around 2.94 inches.

click here for road conditions.
click here for an I-80 traffic camera. 

📸Ray Sours

PRINCETON BUSINESS NEWS

  • Golden Rice Authentic Thai Food is open today and tomorrow, from 4-6:30pm. One of my favorite meals in town. You should try their pad see ew.

  • After a brief hiatus, Sisler’s Ice Cream is open from 11am-8pm, today through Saturday. My children are relieved (so am I).

  • Mean Girls (PG-13) and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (PG-13) are playing at The Apollo tonight and tomorrow night at 6pm. Friday, they are selling bags for just $15.00. Pickup at the Theater only. Saturday, they have a free showing of Kung Fu Panda at noon. For the regular shows on Saturday, they will have door prizes. Sunday, they will offer free popcorn the whole day. On top of that, their charity poster sale starts Friday. The proceeds will go to Gateway.

  • True Leave Book Shop has new games, pens, journals, and teas available in their store.

  • The Business After Hours and Lotto is tomorrow, January 18th, from 4-6pm, at the Princeton Closet. Lend A Hand Grants will be announced.

  • The pipes are frozen at Illinois Valley Animal Rescue, and they are asking for water bottle donations. This is in Peru, not Princeton, but it seems pretty urgent.

  • Lori Boekeloo of The Boek-el-Zoo is offering free cookies to anyone who served or worked during the snow storm or the freezing cold temps. Cookies are in her store. I repeat: cookies.

  • The Princeton Public Library will host a music jam 5:30-7:30pm, Tuesday, Jan. 16.

  • Rustique Hair Studio is now taking appointments. Call: 815-872-3434. If you’re looking for a stylist, this is a good place to start.

  • Barrel Society is closed January 21st-January 30th.

I REMEMBER…

One of my favorite local musicians back in the day was a guy I went to High School with: Jared Bartman. Jared was a 2006 PHS graduate and Indie musician who wrote and produced this song, among many others. He blends diverse genres, from folk to classical, creating a unique sound. Princeton has produced some wonderful and talented musicians through the years. Jared is one of the best.

PRINCETON EVENTS

  • Take the next step at the 2024 Insight Meeting by Beck’s Hybrids. The event is today at Cider Mill at A Hundred Acres Orchard, 11:30am.

  • The band Problem Child will play at the Princeton Moose Lodge January 20th at 6pm.

  • The band Fiddle Rock will perform at Hawg House Saloon on January 27th from 3-6pm in an event sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. Cafe Grace will provide food as well.

  • The 2024 Starved Rock Media Wedding Show is at The Barn at Hornbaker Gardens, February 4th at 11am.

  • The band Wild Card will play at The Cliff Event Center February 10th at 7pm.

  • Welneck’s Motorcycle Swap Meet will take place February 11th at 8am at the Bureau County Fair Grounds.

  • Look forward to the Model Train Fair & Farm Toy Show on February 17th from 9-3pm at the Bureau County Fair Grounds.

  • The Bureau County Fairgrounds will be hosting a Pancake and Sausage Breakfast March 3rd at 7am, and a “Huge Winter Garage Sale” beginning at 8am on March 9th.

  • Barrel Society is hosting a Stone Cold Steve Austin Night on March 16th, at 3:16pm

PRINCETON GAS PRICES

Regular

1️⃣Amoco, 720 N Main St: $2.84
2️⃣Sullivan’s Foods, 125 Backbone Rd: $2.92
3️⃣Beck’s North, 1838 N MAIN ST: $2.93
3️⃣Road Ranger, N Main St: $2.93
4️⃣Shell, 2225 N Main St: $3.09
4️⃣Casey’s, 520 W Peru St:$3.09
4️⃣Casey’s, 2125 N Main St: $3.09

Diesel

1️⃣Sullivan’s Foods, 125 Backbone Rd: $3.49
1️⃣Casey’s, 520 W Peru St: $3.49
1️⃣Beck’s North, 1838 N MAIN ST: $3.49
1️⃣Casey’s, 2125 N Main St: $3.49
2️⃣Road Ranger, N Main St.: $3.55
3️⃣Amoco, N Main St: $3.59
2️⃣Sullivan’s Foods, 125 Backbone Rd: $3.49

If you liked it, I would be honored if you printed out 100 of my newsletters and handed them to people while reciting the pledge of allegiance.

Sincerely,

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