1 Front
Serving Bureau County Since 1847
Thursday, September 3, 2015
NEWSSTAND PRICE 75¢
Chamber hosts Illinois director of tourism Jobe: ‘We want to instill a sense of pride in our state’
By Goldie Rapp grapp@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — Cory Jobe, director of the Illinois Office of Tourism, spoke at the Princeton Chamber of Commerce quarterly luncheon on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at The Barn at Hornbaker Gardens. Jobe talked about the importance of tourism and the economic benefits it brings to local communities.
“Tourism supports business growth and job creation. Viable tourism areas provide places for entrepreneurs to succeed, increasing the viability and vitality of a commercial area,” he said. “This, in turn, supports economic growth through the community.” Jobe announced in 2014, Illinois attracted more than 107 million visitors, which was a 3.8 percent increase from 2013. These visitors
spent around $36 billion in the state, Jobe said. This past year, the state has started to reach out to a younger traveler. Jobe said millennials are growing steadily in power and quickly becoming a target audience for tourism. Jobe’s office came up with the perfect medium to reach this group, which was through the social media website, Instagram. Jobe said the state part-
nered with 13 millennials on Instagram and sent them out to key destinations around the state including Route 66, Galena, Starved Rock, Quincy and the River Road. “As a result our Enjoy Illinois Instagram account received a 250 percent increase in followers, as well as usage of the Enjoy Illinois hashtag,” Jobe said.
Talking tourism on a local level
Jobe also touched a bit on tourism in Bureau County.
He reported in 2014, the county generated more then $55 million in visitor expenditures and collected more than $800,000 in local tax receipts. “That means tourism spending supported more than 200 jobs in the area,” he said. Jobe said Princeton is home to many points of interest including the Red Covered Bridge, Lovejoy Homestead, Hornbaker Gardens and a thriving downtown art and shop-
Jobe Page 5
BCR photo/Goldie Rapp
Cory Jobe
The dog days of summer
BCR photos/Amelia Bystry
After the Alexander Park Pool in Princeton closes for the season, the four-legged friends in the area get to take a dip and experience some fun, compliments of the Princeton Park District. On Saturday, the park district held its annual Pooch Paddle, where pups of all ages and sizes beat the summer heat with a couple hours of swimming and plenty of fetching and fun.
Out of the Valley ...
Avoid the disease until the freeze
SV discusses ins and outs of city business
Protecting yourself and others from WNV
By Eric Engel eengel@bcrnews.com
SPRING VALLEY — Alderman Chuck Hansen served as mayor pro tem in place of Mayor Walt Marini at the city council meeting Monday, Aug. 31, and everything from storage and sewers to surveillance and football festivities were discussed. Superintendent of Public Works Jeff Norton began by thanking everyone involved with the boil order last month for their efforts to minimize calamity by informing community members of the extent of the situation. Spring Valley Police Chief Kevin Sangston stated one more camera is being installed at Kirby Park to give more coverage of Year 169 No. 106 Two Sections - 28 Pages
© Bureau County Republican
the property, and that will complete the surveillance project that includes cameras at Savitch Park and Kirby Park. He also congratulated Sgt. Ed Jauch for his 24 years of service to his community and his country, indicating Jauch served faithfully and helped preserve a presence of safety in Spring Valley. “I wanted to thank all of the council members, the four chiefs I was privileged to serve and the citizens of this town,” said Jauch, calling his responsibility a “great and fun” career. City engineer Larry Good said the west interceptor roadway project got underway on the north side, and the Environmental
Spring Valley Page 5
By Dave Cook dcook@bcrnews.com
While mosquitoes are generally thought of as a summertime pest, their bite is still potent until autumn’s inevitable first freeze arrives. Along with the initial sting and the following incessant itching, mosquitoes can also deliver the disease known as West Nile Virus (WNV). According to the Bureau and Putnam County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), West Nile Virus is most often spread by infected mosquitoes. It was first detected in North America in 1999 and has since traveled across the U.S. and Canada. The only states which have not reported
any cases are Alaska and Hawaii. It has also been documented in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, India, Asia and Australia. WNV typically cycles through birds and mosquitoes. Infected birds can transmit the virus to mosquitoes who then spread the disease to other birds and animals, including humans. Some infected birds, but not all, will become ill and die from the virus. Finding dead birds may indicate the presence of the virus. If you find a dead bird, report it to the health department. You will be assisting them in monitoring and tracking the spread of the virus. Don’t handle the bird with your bare hands. Contact the depart-
West Nile Page 4