2 Local 2 • Thursday, May 30, 2013
Bureau County Republican • bcrnews.com
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Clarifications/Corrections Clarification Recent certified and non-certified cuts by the Bureau Valley School Board were reduction in force dismissals.
Seeking Sources Are things a little fishy around your house? June is National Aquarium Month, and the Bureau County Republican would like to do a story about you and your aquarium, the fish that live there and why you enjoy this hobby. If you’d like to share your story, contact BCR Staff Writer Goldie Currie at 815-875-4461, ext. 236, or email her at gcurrie@ bcrnews.com. ••• Oom-pah-pah, oompah-pah ... Do you play the accordion? June is National Accordion Month, and the BCR would like to feature an accordion player from the Illinois Valley. If you would like to share your love of accordion music and playing this interesting instrument, contact BCR Senior Staff Writer Donna Barker at 815-875-4461, ext. 244, or email her at dbarker@ bcrnews.com. ••• The BCR is looking forward to seeing your springtime photos to share with other readers. Email your photos and information to BCR Associate Editor Rita Roberts at rroberts@ bcrnews.com. The Bureau County Republican is located at 800 Ace Road, Princeton, Illinois 61356. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone: 815-875-4461 FAX: 815-875-1235 The BUREAU COUNTY REPUBLICAN (ISSN 0894-1181) is published tri-weekly (three times a week) by the Bureau County Republican, 800 Ace Road, P.O. Box 340, Princeton, IL 61356-0340. Periodical postage paid at Princeton, Illinois, 61356. POSTMASTER Send address changes to BUREAU COUNTY REPUBLICAN, PO Box 340, Princeton, IL 61356-0340.
BCR photo/Donna Barker
Almost finished for another year Second-grader Evie Davis at Lincoln Elementary School in Princeton rests for a minute after loading up her book bag on Tuesday afternoon with supplies and papers to take home as the school year ends. Evie and her classmates, who are students of teacher Betsy Ferguson, joined other Lincoln students for a field day on Wednesday to nearby Zearing Park. With a teacher institute planned for today, Thursday, the Lincoln students will return to school Friday morning to get their report cards and then head into summer vacation.
Who did it? Princeton Explorers work with mock crime scene By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON – On Tuesday night, the Princeton Police Department was transformed into a murder crime scene – complete with blood, caution tape and fingerprints. It was all part of a mock scenario planned out for the Princeton Police Department Explorer Post No. 40 to solve. Solving the crime scene was one among many activities the explorers have taken part in this year to help them better understand the workings of the police force The group includes young adults from ages 14 to 21 and is led by explorer advisor Jenn Hand. “I try to give them a little taste of the many aspects law enforcement can include other than just policing, in hopes that something will intrigue them, and they will pursue a career that truly interests them,” she said. Following the unveiling of Tuesday night’s crime scene, the explorers learned to secure the scene, photograph the scene, collect evidence and fingerprints, measure blood spatter and report their findings, while attempting to narrow their suspects.
BCR photo/Goldie Currie
Princeton explorer Zach Hicks photographs evidence left at a mock crime scene at the Princeton Police Department earlier this week. The activity allowed explorers to get an idea of how law enforcement officials handle real life murder crime scenes. Like in a real life situation, the explorers used a document that included fingerprints of the victim and possible suspects, and read background information and alibis taken from interviews with their three suspects. With the assistance of their advisor and officer Joel Drozda, they collected evidence from the crime scene and matched up fingerprints from items left at
the scene. In the end, the explorers deliberated until they were able to narrow down their suspects to one. “It takes a lot of time to put all of our meetings and activities together, but when the explorers interact and learn from what I’m trying to teach, it makes it all worth it,” Hand said. Among several other law enforcement activities, the explorers have also gotten to take part
in traffic stop training; building searches at the department; a K-9 demonstration with Deputy Chad Hall and Chica from the sheriff’s department; heard from a special agent from the Department of Homeland Security; got to go on a ride along with an officer; and got first-hand experience of what it’s like to be a patrolman. “I really wish I would have known about
the explorers in high school as I would have loved to be a part of it. I can only make up for it now by attempting to teach the current explorers about all aspects of this career field,” Hand said. To learn more about the explorers group, visit their Facebook page, Princeton Police Department Explorer Post No. 40. Comment of this story at www.bcrnews.com.