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Serving Bureau County Since 1847
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
It’s fair time! The 158th Bureau County Fair kicks off Wednesday By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON– It’s fair week in Bureau County! Families from all over will come together to make everlasting memories at the 158th annual Bureau County Fair. Whether it’s to taste summer’s first corn dog, see a favorite country star, ride the merry-go-round or visit the animals – the fair has an attraction for everyone. Here is a little reminder of what’s to come this week, how much it’s going to cost and information on parking. Prices Daily entry prices for children ages 6 and under are free. Children ages 7 to 12 get in for $2; teenagers and adults get in for $5. Senior citizens (ages 62 and older) will have a special-priced day to visit the fair for only $2 on Thursday. Anyone is welcome to purchase a season pass for $10, which allows people to pass through the gate as many times as possible throughout the week. The fair’s special events begin on Wednesday with the garden tractor pull, which is free to the public. Also free, is the bags tournament and Bureau County Talent Show, which will take place on Thursday. On Friday, country star Justin Moore will kick-off his performance. Tickets are $37 for gold circle seating, $32 for track and box seating and $27 for grandstand seating. On Saturday, the truck/ tractor pull will take place. Tickets are free for children ages 6 and under; $5 for children ages 7 to 12; $10 for teenagers and adults and $20 for pit passes. On Sunday, the annual county-wide worship service is held at 10 a.m. in the grandstand. There is free
See Fair Page 4
Gun safety law signed By Donna Barker dbarker@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — Gov. Pat Quinn has signed a new gun safety law requiring background checks for all gun purchases statewide, as well as the reporting of all lost and stolen guns. Quinn signed the new law on Sunday, saying House Bill 1189 closes the background check loophole for the sale or transfer of a firearm from a private party. Prior to this new legislation, private sellers
were not required to check whether or not the purchaser had a valid Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) Card. Quinn said the new law also requires all eligible firearm owners whose firearms are lost, misplaced or stolen to report the loss or theft to the local law enforcement agency within 72 hours after obtaining knowledge of the loss or theft. “Guns are a plague on too many of our communities,” Quinn said. “As I said in my State of the State Address earlier this year, making sure guns do not fall into the wrong
hands is critical to keeping the people of Illinois safe. This common-sense law will help our law enforcement crack down on crime and make our streets safe.” Bureau County Sheriff John Thompson said this new law appears to be a good law, assuming the information is able to be channeled into the correct access points. He hopes the background information, including mental health information, is available to those involved in private gun sales.
See Law Page 4
BCR photo/Donna Barker
Back to school, back to friends Princeton’s Lincoln Elementary students Erin May (from left), Evie Davis and Mackenzie Gothard greet each other Monday morning on their first day of school for the 2013-14 school year. Lincoln students gathered in the cafeteria first thing before going outside for an early morning recess and then heading into their classrooms to start their lessons.
Medals finally make it to Ladd LeRoy Padgett honored with four military medals By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com
Year 167 No. 100 One Section - 24 Pages
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LADD – Congressman Adam Kinzinger made a quick stop in Ladd Friday afternoon to present veteran LeRoy C. Padgett with four medals he earned but never received.
The presentation took place at the American Legion in Ladd, surrounded by Padgett’s family members, Ladd village officials and legion officers, including the 16th District American Legion commander. Kinzinger read a brief background on Padgett, who entered the Armed Forces in
1951. Padgett completed his basic training in Kentucky and then his advanced training. After training, he was deployed to Japan and served on an anti-aircraft artillery battalion. Padgett’s unit was responsible for defending an air strip in Japan during an intense time. Padgett served in the U.S. Army from
See Padgett Page 4
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