January 3rd, 2024💰💡🍗🏷️🎂📕

TOGETHER WITH

Hey, it’s Wednesday morning, Princeton. As someone once said, “Wednesdays are the perfect time to remind yourself that you are a work in progress.” 450 of you have joined this little family, and I am so thankful to have you along. There’s a lot in here, and I think you’ll find it helpful.

So let’s do this.

—Justin Bullington

📬IN THIS ISSUE

🚨What You Should Know
🎵Local Music
💰Princeton Business News
🤼Princeton Sports
❄️Princeton Weather
⛽️Princeton Gas Prices

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

• It’s Hudson Bullington and Eric Engel’s birthday today 🎂 

• KWQC: “Princeton police confirmed some of Gary Swanson’s sound equipment has been returned thanks to a tip to Crime Stoppers.

  Police have not said whether anyone was arrested or charged in connection with the theft.”

• BCR: “Bureau County is slated to receive $45.6 million worth of improvements to its infrastructure in 2024, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation’s multi-year program.”

• Bureau County United Way’s Annual Beer and Wine Tasting Event is expanding to include more non-alcoholic options and a "Taste of Bureau County Area" theme with more small plate, hors d'oeuvres, and sweets options. It will take place at The Barn at Hornbaker’s February 24th at 4pm.

• Along with Kevin Hieronymus of the Bureau County Republican, former Tiger Basketball star and frisbee golf savant Grady Thompson chronicled University of Dubuque basketball team’s trip to Hawaii. “After practice we went to get lunch and then we made our way over to the Pearl Harbor Memorial, which happened on Dec. 7, 1941. Pearl Harbor was a very dreadful day in history. It was a very eye-opening experience for me. We got to go out on the USS Arizona. It made me feel sorrow for the people that were there that day.”

• Princeton alumna Danielle Hughes, after graduating from the University of Illinois Police Training Institute, has been sworn into the Peoria Police Department and boasts a notable high school athletic record in softball and basketball.

LOCAL MUSIC

• Cody Calkins | CortiLeno’s | Oglesby | Jan. 5th, 8pm

• Casual Karaoke | Hollywood & Vine | Hollowayville | Jan. 7th, 4pm

• Cody Calkins | South Shore Boat Club | Spring Valley | Jan. 12th, 7pm

• Song Swap Saturday | Ninth Street Pub | Lasalle | Jan. 13th, 3pm

• Jake Beatty | Beer Here | Manlius | Jan. 13th, 7-10pm

• The Problem Child | The Moose Lodge | Princeton | Jan. 20th, 6pm

• Not Petty | Platform 31 | Peru | Jan. 26th, 7-10pm

• The Wise Guys | Hawg House Saloon | Princeton | Feb. 12th, 3pm

• Wayne “The Train” Hancock | The Moose Lodge | Princeton | March 16th

PRINCETON BUSINESS NEWS

• The Closet’s donation center is open 9-3 today. They are back to regular donation hours of 9-3pm Tuesday-Saturday. The Store will reopen 1/18.

• Mike’s Express Car Wash officially opened, next to Dollar General on the North end.

• For the first time in 7 years, Little Blue Dress will close on Sunday’s and Monday’s in January only.

• Head to Beetz Me for their "We Don't Want to Count the Inventory" SALE! Enjoy an incredible 50% off select items. Please note, the sale excludes truffles, food items, books, alcohol, special orders, and personalized items. To make the most of this offer, bring cash to avoid a 3.95% charge on card purchases.

• Mullet Bros Printing provides custom printing and embroidery services in Princeton. They offer embroidery options that bring intricate designs to life on fabric. Additionally, they have direct-to-film (DTF) printing services for transferring creative designs onto various surfaces, including fabric, and offer professional design services for refining logos or creating new designs.

• All spray tan & teeth whitening services booked with AfterGlow Tanning & Teeth in January will receive $10 off a service with I’d Wax That!

• The Coffee Cup is still offering free coffee with breakfast from 6:30-8:00 a.m., Monday through Thursday.

• The La Cocina De Irene Food Truck will be at Barrel Society in Princeton, Illinois from 3-8pm tomorrow.

• At Paisano’s: January’s pizza of the month is Mac n’ Cheese: homemade pizza dough, cheese sauce base, Mac n’ Cheese, topped with our blend of mozzarella cheese and cheddar. Get creative and try it with your favorite topping (bacon, jalapeños, chicken).

PRINCETON SPORTS

• PHS Varsity Wrestling | @ Seneca | Jan. 3rd, 5:30pm

• PHS Girls V. Basketball | @ Dixon | Jan. 4th, 6:30pm

• PCA Boys V. Basketball | @ Home | Jan. 4th, 5:30pm

• PHS Boys V. Basketball | @ Mendota | Jan. 5th, 7:30pm

• PHS Varsity Wrestling | @ Home | Jan. 5th, 4:30pm

• LJH 7/8th Boys Basketball | @ Mendota | Jan. 6th, 8am

• LJH 7/8th Volleyball | @ Home v. Chillicothe | Jan. 8th, 4:30pm

• PCA Girls Basketball | @ Ladd | Jan. 9th, 5pm

PRINCETON WEATHER

• Here’s a 7-day weather forecast for Princeton, IL:

  • Today: Chance of flurries, cloudy, high near 34°F; at night, flurries before 9 pm, then becoming mostly clear, low around 21°F.

  • Thursday: Sunny, high near 33°F; at night, mostly cloudy, low around 22°F.

  • Friday: Partly sunny, high near 36°F; at night, mostly cloudy, low around 25°F.

  • Saturday: Mostly cloudy, high near 36°F.

  • Sunday: Partly sunny, high near 37°F; at night, mostly cloudy, low around 27°F.

  • Monday: 40% chance of rain, mostly cloudy, high near 39°F.

PRINCETON GAS PRICES

The national average gas prices in June 2023 were $3.583 for regular unleaded. In comparison, June 2022 had higher prices: $4.970 for regular unleaded.

The national average for unleaded, regular gas in 2016: $2.50!

1️⃣Amoco, 720 N. Main: $2.94🏆

2️⃣Casey’s West/North: $2.95

3️⃣Beck’s North: $2.97

4️⃣Shell, 2225 N. Main: $2.99

5️⃣Beck’s West: $2.99

6️⃣Shell: $2.99

🤯Surprising Out-of-Town Deal:

BP, Shooting Park Rd. Peru: $2.73

Seriously, thank you so much for subscribing to and reading this edition of the Princeton NOW newsletter. If you’ve enjoyed this newsletter and found it helpful, would you mind sharing it with some friends?