Bank hit, suspect captured

PRESTON COLE Princeton Post-Telegraph

Tigers’ Holt repeats as state high jump champion

Two R-5 staff members resign

KNOXVILLE, Iowa

The southeastern Iowa man who allegedly robbed Princeton’s only bank spent the weekend in an Iowa jail, awaiting extradition to return him to Mercer County.

Mercer County Jail Administrator Travis Marts, in an email Monday morning (May 22), told the Post-Telegraph that he had received a faxed notice from officials in Knoxville, Iowa, stating an extradition hearing was held on Saturday (May 20) for Phillip M. Blink, 67, of Promise City, Iowa. Blink waived extradition, and Mercer County officials went to Knoxville late Monday morning to bring him back to Mercer County.

As of 3:30 p.m. Monday, the court website Case.net did not have any information about whether Blink had appeared in court in Princeton.

Blink is alleged to have robbed First Interstate Bank just before 9:30 a.m. last Friday (May 19), according to information provided by Mercer County Sheriff Jose Lopez.

A bank employee called 911 at 9:29 a.m., reporting that a disguised man entered the bank while displaying a handgun, demanding money from a teller, who complied with the demand. He drove away in a gray club cab Ford F-150 pickup, heading north on U.S. 65.

The vehicle was later observed in Knoxville, and was stopped by officers of the Knoxville Police Department. At that point, Blink was taken into custody and taken to the Marion County Jail, where he was interviewed.

After the interview, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office gave Prosecuting Attorney Pamela Blevins a report, and she charged him with felony chargesfirst-degree robbery, armed criminal action, stealing or attempting to steal from a financial institution, and unlawful use

Princeton High School junior Talan Holt won his second-straight Missouri Class 1 high jump title on this leap Friday morning (May 19) during the 98th MSHSAA Boys Track & Field Championships in Jefferson City. Holt cleared 6 feet, 6 inches, topping his winning 2022 leap of 6-31/2 and tying the school record he set in early April.

Chamber holds ribbon cutting

English teacher, girls BB coach hired. Two class sections added to selections PRESTON COLE Editor, the Post-Telegraph PRINCETON Two resignations were accepted, two hirings were made and two class additions were approved during a special, closed session of the Princeton R-5 Board of Education last Tuesday morning (May 16).

Resignations were accepted from Dr. Kristin Henke, the district’s grades 7-12 counselor and and K-12 at-risk coordinator, and junior high boys basketball coach Dr. Tina Holt. Holt will continue as the district’s family and consumer sciences instructor and FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) chapter advisor.

Mike Schmidli, who had been hired as the district’s next varsity softball coach, was also approved as varsity girls basketball coach, part-time activities director and field preparation person.

See Resignations, Page 4