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Serving Bureau County Since 1847
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
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County libraries receive grants By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White recently distributed a total of $15.2 million to 635 public libraries throughout the state. The distribution was funded by the annual Public Library Per Capita Grants and Equalization Aid Grants. Nearly 12 million library patrons throughout Illinois will benefit from the monies, according to a press release issued by White’s office. “I’m extremely proud of the outstanding service Illinois’ public libraries provide to our communities,” White stated in the release. “Our libraries are the best and most reliable information resource available to citizens, and I am pleased to be able to provide these grants each year.” Capita Grant funding is authorized under Illinois library law and helps ensure public libraries have some of the resources they need for expenses such as materials, personnel, equipment, electronic access, telecommunications and technology. Equalization Aid Grants help qualifying public libraries with a low library tax base ensure a minimum level of funding for library services. While every Bureau County Library received monies through the Per Capita Grant funding, Mason Memorial Public Library in Buda was the only library in Bureau County to receive monies through the Equalization Aid Grants. However, the library only
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How much did your library get? Buda — $673 Bureau — $455 DePue — $3,170 Ladd — $1,985 LaMoille — $2,290 Neponset — $928 Mineral — $830 Ohio — $1,181 Princeton — $9,575 Sheffield — $1,157 Spring Valley — $6,948 Tiskilwa — $1,859 Walnut — $2,190 Wyanet — $1,705 Grand Total — $34,945
Year 169 No. 21 One Section - 16 Pages
© Bureau County Republican
BCR photos/Becky Kramer
Firefighters were forced to take a defensive approach at the 103 E. Marion St. fire Saturday. The house owned by Susan Bouvier was reported to be a total loss by the Princeton Fire Department.
Fire destroys Princeton home House is a total loss
By Zita Henneberry zhenneberry@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — A Saturday, Feb. 14, fire destroyed a Princeton home; the fire is under investigation by the Princeton Fire Department and the Illinois State Fire Marshal. The Princeton Fire Department reported the home at 103 E. Marion St. to be a total loss after flames destroyed it Saturday. The house owned by Susan Bouvier was issuing smoke from the chimney and eaves when firefighters arrived on scene. Firefighters attempted to enter the home but were forced to evacuate and take a defensive approach by the enveloping flames. Apart from the undetermined number of cat casualties in the home, no one was injured in the fire. According to the Princeton Fire Department, the cause of the fire and where it began in the home has not
yet been determined. Bureau County Red Cross’ Lori Compton said the agency was called to the scene to provide sandwiches, hot chocolate, hot coffee, water and support to firefighters. Bureau County Red Cross also helped to man the warming station opened by the Open Prairie Church, next door to the home. Food and beverages were donated by local businesses — Kramer’s Kitchen and Monicals provided supper for the firefighters. The Princeton Fire Department received the call at 9:09 a.m. and were paged out at 9:10 a.m., said Princeton Fire Department’s Ryan Molln. Firefighters were on the scene until around 6 p.m. Saturday. An estimated 50 firefighters were called to assist with the fire. Assisting the Princeton Fire Department on the scene were Spring Valley, Bureau, Tiskilwa, Malden, Walnut, Manlius and Ladd Fire Departments, Putnam County ambulance, 10/33 Ambulance and the Ohio Fire Protection District. Comment on this story at www.bcrnews.com.
Firefighters were called to the scene of a Princeton home for a fire at 9:09 a.m. Saturday. For about nine hours, firefighters fought to suppress flames enveloping the house. While no one was injured by the flames, numerous cats died in the fire.
More land for Dixon Refuge By Ken Schroeder Shaw Media Service
HENNEPIN — The borders of the Dixon Waterfowl Refuge are inching their way south on Route 26. The Wetlands Initiative recently acquired 417 acres
of land along the southeastern border to add to the refuge. The purchase brings the refuge’s total area to more than 3,000, and was closed on Dec. 17, 2014. The land was previously owned by Vulcan Lands, Inc., which had leasing more than half of the area for farming. TWI
purchased the land for $1.575 million, well below the appraised value of $2.164 million. The purchase was made possible by grants from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, the Grand Victoria Foundation and the Oberweiler Foundation, as well as a bridge loan from The
Conservation Fund. Only 283 acres will be added to the refuge. The remaining 134 acres will be sold to help pay off the bridge loan and begin restoration on the new refuge land. Sale of the 134 acres will be subject to a
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