✉️Princeton NOW Newsletter

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Princeton. My son asked me if I thought the Bears would make it to the Super Bowl one day. I told him, “Yes, but probably not in my lifetime.” He replied, “Then why are we Bears fans?”

Let’s change the subject.

—Justin Bullington

📬IN THIS ISSUE

💡What You Should Know
☀️Princeton Weather
🤵🏻‍♂️Princeton Person of the Week
💼Princeton Businesses
⛽️Princeton Gas Prices
🎸Local Music
🏠Local House Cleaners
🐹Letter from Lori

💡WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

• WQAD: Dana and Jeff VanAutreve founded Second Story in 2009, growing it into a two-story safe haven for teens. They are recipients of the 2024 Jefferson Award.

• Singer, and former Princeton resident Leroy Van Dyke did an interview with The Cowboy Channel: “I heard about a contest, a talent contest…and so I heard about one in Chicago and I was living in Princeton, Illinois at the time, so I caught a train and went to Chicago and auditioned and they gave me a show date so I came back on the date of the contest and entered the contest…”

• Trevyn Munson won the Logan Junior High Spelling Bee. He will compete at the Regional Spelling Bee at Augustana College.

• PHS Wrestlers Augustus Swanson, Ace Christiansen, Casey Etheridge, Cade Odell, and Izzy Gibson all advanced to the Semi Finals. Abby Harris, Jayden Klingenberg, Heather Heider, Mikey Kurth, Preston Arkels, Eli Berlin, and Ian Morris are still alive in consolations.

• Thursday, Camryn Driscoll hit a 3-pointer with two seconds left, giving Princeton a 54-52 win against the Bureau Valley Storm. The Tigresses improved to 19-8 overall and 9-1 in the Three Rivers East to repeat as division champions.

• The band Wild Card will play at the Cliff Event Center on February 10th, from 7-10pm. Farmer smoked BBQ will be there, starting at 4pm.

• Rotary Club of Princeton is hosting Black Light Bingo at the Princeton Moose Lodge today. Doors open at 5pm, bingo begins at 7pm. A taco and taco salad bar will be available. Cost is $10 for a packet to play 12 games — the taco bar is an additional cost. The theme is Margaritaville, so wear your favorite Jimmy Buffet shirt. Proceeds will benefit the Rotary Club of Princeton's scholarship program.

• Join the Princeton Fire Department as KWQC Cyle Dickens broadcasts the evening weather and presents information on severe weather alerts along with Bureau County EMA. This informative event is open to the public. Call the station to reserve your spot. Event is March 16th at 6:30pm.

• Bureau Valley Storm and the Princeton Tigers boys basketball were sent to the Class 2A Prophetstown Regional and are projected to meet in the semifinals on Wednesday, Feb. 21.

• Hospice volunteers are essential members of the IHCC Hospice team. Whether it be running errands or sitting with a client to give a loved one a break, these are just a couple of tasks available at IHCC Hospice that can make a positive impact on someone’s life who needs a helping hand. If you are interested in becoming a part of their team, contact Shaunee at 815-872-7447.

• Today is the final in-person sign up for Princeton Youth Baseball and Softball at the Prouty Building from 9-12pm. Online registration is open until Feb 29th at 11:59pm.

☀️PRINCETON WEATHER

Today: mostly sunny with a high near 43°F. At night, it will be partly cloudy with a low around 28°F.

Sunday: partly sunny with a high near 39°F. The evening will see partly cloudy conditions with a low around 28°F.

Monday: mostly sunny during the day with a high near 39°F. The night will be partly cloudy with a low around 28°F.

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

🤵🏻‍♂️PRINCETON PERSON OF THE WEEK

🏅Sarah Geiger-Wealer

Reason for nomination: “Sarah is one of the all-around best people I know. She is a dedicated ER nurse, a photographer, and on the board of directors at Hog Capitol Wildlife Rescue. She is great at rescuing raptors and animals. Her passion shines through in everything she does.”

Sarah, you’ve won the illustrious Princeton Person of the Week.

Nominate someone for next week’s Princeton Person of the Week here.

💼PRINCETON BUSINESSES

• Full service is back at Beck's West from 7am to 3pm every Wednesday at pumps 11 and 12.

• There is a Valentine’s Day Prime Quarter Steak House special Tuesday, February 13th-15th.

  • Sirloin dinner for two - $54.95

    • Dinner includes: Baked potato, Texas Toast, and Unlimited Salad Bar; 2 of our 20oz Top Sirloins (no substitutions). And a dessert to share.

• Cafe Grace will be serving from 4-8pm on Feb. 14th. They are serving Lobster tail, Tuscany salmon, Parm-crusted ribeye, "Marry me” Chicken, Pasta Lafayette, Portabella-stuffed Ravioli, Apple and whiskey-stuffed pork chop, and Surf & Turf.

• Sunday Super Bowl Special at Paisano’s Ristorante: Combo meal deal, get any large 1-topping pizza and an order of wings for $20.99. They will have the Super Bowl on in-house so stop by.

  🍗Wings Options:

  -10pc boneless

  -8pc bone in breaded

  -8pc bone in naked

  🌶️ Flavor Options: Garlic Parm, BBQ, Spicy BBQ, Asian(sweet and spicy), Hot(Buffalo).

• Cafe Grace is looking to hire a part time server. Must be 18 and available for nights and weekends.

• Tony’s Butt Shack will be serving Prime Rib and Cod Dinners on Valentine’s Day.

• Hornbaker’s Gardens has four types of job positions open on Indeed for seasonal garden center staff. They are looking for plant-loving people that want to work in our beautiful environment. A good work ethic, enthusiasm for upkeeping gorgeous gardens, and friendly attitude are required. Other specific requirements vary by position. Apply on Indeed here.

• The Closet: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday Specials: All Winter Coats are $5. Scarves are $1. Purses are marked and priced to sell. Three baskets of clothing per person, $8 per basket.

• Finders Keepers Retail Store: 50% off all clothes and coats. Open Thursday and Friday 10-4 and Saturday 10-2 at 230 E. Backbone Rd.

• Rachel Rene has a lot of women’s apparel on sale for 40% off.

• Optimal Health will sell Valentines Day cookie kits next week.

• They are now taking reservations for the new batting cage at the Bureau County Metro Center. The fee to reserve the cage is $15 per 30 minutes. Cage fees are due up front when you call and register. Cage fees are non-refundable. If you aren’t a member, you will need to pay their regular day fee in addition to the cage fee. Give them a call or stop by the front desk to reserve your time.

🔗TOP CLICKS THIS WEEK

1. The BCR has a really cool story on Amelia Earhart’s lecture at Princeton High School 88 years ago. She spoke to a packed house 15 months before she disappeared.

2. Corner Chair Market just finished this beautiful modern buffet.

3. Eli VanAutreve is officially promoted to Fire Department Lieutenant. Monday night was his swearing in and badge pinning ceremony. Pictures here.

⛽️PRINCETON GAS PRICES

Regular

1️⃣Amoco, 720 N Main St: $3.21
2️⃣Sullivan’s Foods: $3.26
3️⃣Casey’s West/North: $3.29
3️⃣Beck’s West/North: $3.29
3️⃣Road Ranger, N Main St: $3.29
3️⃣Shell, 2225 N Main St: $3.29

Diesel

1️⃣Amoco, N Main St: $3.59
2️⃣Beck’s West/North: $3.69
3️⃣Sullivan’s Foods: $3.79
4️⃣Casey’s West/North: $3.89
4️⃣Road Ranger, N Main St.: $3.89

🎸LOCAL MUSIC

Princeton

• Wild Card | The Cliff | Princeton | Feb. 10th, 7pm

• The Wise Guys | Hawg House Saloon | Princeton | Feb. 10th, 3pm

• Pat Owen Leary | The Barrel Society | Feb. 10th, 7pm

• PHS Jazz Band | Moose Lodge | Feb. 16th, 6:30

• Brushville | Hawg House Saloon | Princeton | Feb. 17th, 8pm

• Zack Fedor | Barrel Society | Princeton | Feb. 23rd, 7pm

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

• STEAM Irish Quartet | Grace Theater | Princeton | March 30th at 7:30pm

Local

• Trippin Molly | Dudley’s Bar and Grill | Walnut | Feb. 10th, 9pm

• Tailgate Confessions | Troy’s | Arlington | Feb. 11th, 2pm

• Open Mic | Core Cafe | Spring Valley | Feb. 16th, 7pm

• Rockstar 2024 | Starved Rock Lodge | Utica | Feb. 21st, 7pm

• Midnight Rider | Green River Saddle Club | Amboy | Feb. 24th, 5pm

• Black and White Ball | Starved Rock | Utica | Feb. 24th, 5pm

• Dueling Pianos | Sublette 365 | Sublette | Feb. 24, 6:30pm

• Danger Zone | Route 30 Slots | Rock Falls | Feb. 24, 6pm

🏠LOCAL HOUSE CLEANERS

• Kate Butler, Butler Concierge: light housekeeping and other services for seniors in our community: sanitizing surfaces, loading dishwasher or doing dishes, vacuuming, garbage removal, mail pick up, grocery shopping, and transportation and personal assistance at Dr. Appointments. | 815-878-9006

• Kristen Leopold: residential cleaning services | [email protected]

• Gislaine Gontijo: house cleaning | 267-624-5147

• Jackie Karns: house cleaning, grocery shopping, and errands | 815-876-7562

🤟🏻CHELSEA GIVES BACK

• Chelsea Gives Back 40 Days of Giving for Magi Baby Chest - February 14th to March 14th | Join Here

• Chelsea Gives Back Soap Fundraiser for Freedom House - March 15th to March 30th with Pickup on April 27th: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED | Join Here

• Chelsea Gives Back Fundraiser for Loads of Love - April 1st to April 12th | Join Here

• Chelsea Gives Back Wyanet Locker Cookout - Saturday, May 25th 10am-1pm @ 218 Railroad St, Wyanet, IL 61379 | RSVP Here

• 5th Annual Chelsea Gives Back Charity Mum Fundraiser - August 1st to August 23rd with Pickup on August 31st: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED | Join Here 

• Chelsea Gives Back Darn Good Dips Fundraiser #3 - September | Join Here

• Chelsea Gives Back Tanners Orchard Apple Cider Donuts Fundraiser #2 - October | Join Here

• 4th Annual Chelsea Gives Back Secret Santa Givings - Auction is November 1st to November 8th | Join Here 

🐹LETTER FROM LORI

Taking that first step is hard. Whether you are a toddler learning to walk, an out of shape adult committing to a daily treadmill routine, or an entrepreneur considering a business idea, that first step is a doozy. Often times we fall, we fail. MOST of the time it takes multiple attempts before we find success, but if we don't take that first step, we will never know.

At 76 years old, my father committed his life to the Lord. He was raised in the church. My Gram made sure he went at least 3 times a week ( and he often spoke of his opposition to that routine) She MADE him take those steps. During his time with my mother, she encouraged his walk, but he stubbornly refused, like an old mule. It was only after she passed, that he WILLINGLY took those steps. He knew where her faith had landed her, and his goal was to be reunited with her for eternity, so, he put one foot in front of the other and began his journey.

He became obsessed with the image of the stairway to heaven and even dreamt of it one night. In his dream, he questioned his ability to climb all of the stairs, since he suffered from COPD. But he took that first step and climbed those stairs, with Jesus at his side. At the top, he found my mother, and heaven and an eternity of happiness.

As he told me his story, we wept together. This was a conversation I never thought I'd have with my father. He was a rogue. He was a man who made many misguided choices in life. He and I butted heads like rams on a mountain side. He did not live his life as a shining example of Christian morals.

But, he took that first step. He put one foot in front of the other and climbed those stairs with a goal in mind and the ultimate cheerleader at his side. So, as you stand at the base of your own personal staircase, lift your eyes and focus on the goal, take the hand of those standing beside you for support and put your foot on that stair. You can do it!

—Lori Boekeloo

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