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Serving Bureau County Since 1847
Thursday, February 18, 2016
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Slow for the snow
Vehicles fatalities already up 250 percent By Eric Engel eengel@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — LaSalle and Bureau counties have experienced an alarming increase in motor vehicle fatalities in 2016, rising more than 250 percent compared to the same time last year. According to an Illinois State Police (ISP) press release, eight crashes have caused nine fatalities since Jan. 1, while only two fatalities had occurred up to this
point in 2015. Lt. Jon Dively, ISP District 17 commander, said any life lost is one too many. Out of respect for the families of those who have passed, and to save lives in the future, Dively detailed the Fatal Four violations that lead to most vehicular fatalities: • Speeding. • Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. • Distracted driving. • Failure to wear a seat belt.
According to the press release, many drivers take extra caution on interstates and U.S. highways due to higher traffic volume and greater speeds of travel, but most of the fatal accidents this year have taken place on local and county roads. Dively stressed bodily harm or death can potentially result from a motor vehicle accident at any time, noting his troopers work diligently to educate and enforce safe travel. Bureau County Sheriff Jim Reed further stressed the importance of driving sober and buckled up with your
eyes on the road, but he said a significant factor this year has been an element no one has control over. “It’s been a weird year with the weather, and that plays into these fatal accidents a lot,” Reed said, mentioning an extremely warm winter hasn’t allowed drivers to get used to slippery and snowy conditions. Reed spoke of black ice on the roadways, which is hard to see in the cold morning hours. Black ice results when temperatures drop or fog brings moisture into an area, making the roads deceptively slick.
“If you look at all the fatalities, I would bet they are all related to speed,” Reed said. “If you’re in a hurry, especially in the winter, you’re going to have problems.” Reed brought up the idea that excessive snowfall equals less accidents on a regular basis. If there are only a few inches of snow on the roadway, drivers might chance unsafe speeds to save a couple minutes and end up in the ditch or worse. But if they are forced to drive 20 miles per hour because of the elements, the math indicates there simply won’t be as many devastating accidents.
The drone dilemma
What a hoot!
Princeton Park Board looks at impact of drones at city parks By Goldie Rapp grapp@bcrnews.com
BCR photo/Mike Vaughn
This regal Snowy Owl is one of the few birds that can certainly attract attention by those who admire their feathered friends ... and even those who don’t. The largest (by weight) North American owl shows up irregularly in winter to hunt in windswept fields or dunes, and they spend their summers north of the Arctic Circle. Younger snowy owls start with darker plumage, which turns lighter as they get older. Males are almost all white, while females have more flecks of gray plumage. Generally, the snowy owl is 20 to 28 inches long with a wingspan of 49 to 59 inches. Weighing in from 3.5 to 6.5 pounds, its average lifespan is between nine and 10 years.
Show me a sign
Spring Valley moves forward with street program and signs for Coal Miners Park By Eric Engel eengel@bcrnews.com
SPRING VALLEY — The Spring Valley City Council had a quick but effective meeting Tuesday, Feb. 16 to discuss matters at hand and offer financial support to organizations in the community. Mayor Walt Marini said they are still negotiating a central dispatching system, and hope to accumulate Year 170 No. 21 One Section - 20 Pages
© Bureau County Republican
more conclusive information in the near future. Building Inspector Tim Samolinski met with Tony Bonucci, owner of the Big House, who told Samolinski he is improving the structure and will be fixing deteriorated steps and others concerns once warmer weather hits. Alderman Chuck Hansen explained what took place during the Streets and Alleys meeting Monday, Feb. 8. The aldermen discussed the Sur-
Reed said in our smaller communities, an employee’s safe arrival should be much more important to any owner or manager than a time clock satisfied through hazardous tactics. “Unless you’re a person who is regularly late, your boss should understand you can’t drive too fast in the winter weather,” he said. Dively said ISP troopers are concentrating on LaSalle and Bureau County roadways, as high visibility patrols have been found to help reduce fatal crashes. Comment on this story at www.bcrnews.com.
face Transportation Urban program, which originally centered around Cornelia Street from St. Paul Street to Dakota Street. The focus eventually turned to Dakota Street, from Route 6 to Ladd Road. Hansen said the project could possibly begin in 2017 depending on available funding, but permission was granted for Dakota Street to be
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PRINCETON — Hobby drones seem to be cool, new gadgets many are anxious to try out these days. Drones combine the cool factor of having the latest technology with the thrill of exploration with an unmanned flight mechanism. The new tech device, however, has been labeled disruptive for some — stories of people flying the drones too close to buildings and airports has caused concern in some communities around the U.S. The disruption has sparked conversation about how to better regulate the new technology. The topic is being discussed among many park and recreational boards, as local parks tend to be the most appropriate place to try out these devices. The Princeton Park Board held a brief discussion about drones being flown in the local parks at its regular meeting on Monday, Feb. 15. Princeton Park Board member Dennis Nink brought information for board members to look at and said it basically comes down to following safety guidelines in regards to recreational use. Elaine Russell, executive director of the Princeton Park District, said she was more for letting the drones be, rather than start establishing rules, until they
can better see how the drones are being used. “We could have all the rules in the world, and they’re going to do something that’s not in our rule book,” she said. Russell and Nink both agreed to looking into what the city of Princeton has on regulations for using drones within city limits. One concern brought to light was people flying drones in Zearing Park, which is in close proximity to Perry Memorial Hospital. The hospital is a heliport for Life Flight. One of the safety guidelines for unmanned aircraft systems is to not fly closer than two nautical miles from a heliport. Nink suggested talking with representatives at the hospital about Zearing Park’s property being located so close the hospital to see what kind of concerns they might have about the possible use of drones being flown in the park. Board President Gene Englehart added he also didn’t want to see drones being flown over kids out playing baseball or soccer in the park. Russell pointed out if a person is caught flying a drone in a restricted fly zone, it would be the person’s own liability, not the park district’s. Russell also spoke up about those children who may have just gotten a smaller hobby
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