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Thursday, September 18, 2014
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BCUW kicks off 2015 campaign
Goal is set at $120,000 By G oldie C urrie gcurrie@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — The goal thermometer is up; campaign chairpersons have been announced; and the first fundraiser event is close to teeing-off. The Bureau County United Way (BCUW) Board of Directors are geared up for their 2015 campaign and have set this year’s goal at $120,000. Campaign chairpersons are Tom and Missy Burrows, who are well-versed in knowing what exactly the BCUW is and its mission in supporting 14 nonprofit agencies.
With her first year as director under her belt, Andrea Anderson is feeling more confident about her second campaign. Throughout her learning year, she has come to know more about the logistics of the United Way and how it should be executed. “I understand the calendar a little better and have met with agency directors over the summer to get a little better understanding of what they are and where their agency has been used most, “she explained. “I continue to get a better understanding of who they are and know their trials and what it is that is required of them to continue to sit here in Bureau County and provide the services of quality they do.” Last year, the BCUW reached 80 percent of its $120,000 goal. Looking at how close they were to
reaching the goal, Anderson explained this year she has new ideas and strategies at the table with hopes to beat last year’s numbers and reach the full goal. One of the things she is currently working on is making connections with bigger companies like Hershey and Coke, who are located outside of Bureau County, yet sell a great deal of products within the county. Anderson explained those are two big companies who want to get involved with the BCUW and will help make up the deficient lost last year. Aside from the new strategies, Anderson will continue to reach out to communities to help better educate the importance of BCUW in this county. “We want to stay vital as a county and have the
See BCUW Page 4A
Under water More water woes for the city of Princeton By Donna Barker dbarker@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — Two Princeton residents are asking for financial reimbursement from the city for clean-up expenses after their basements were flooded in June, due to problems with the lift station in their neighborhood. They are also asking for a permanent fix to the back-up problem. At Monday’s meeting in Princeton City Hall, the Princeton City Council heard from Bryant Woods residents Dan Shaw, who lives on Bryant Circle, and Irene Milligan of Edgewood Court, both dealing with basement damage after the June 30 heavy rains in Princeton. Shaw said he had asked to put in a septic system when he built his house in 1991 because he had heard the sewer system in the neighborhood was notoriously unreliable. The city denied the request, since the sewer system was in place in the neighborhood. “Since then it’s been a nightmare. I’ve had 15 occurrences In the last 21 years of raw sewage going into my basement,” Shaw said. Some of those occurrences were due to an Act of God, like 6 inches of rain in one hour, but some were due to the fact the city pumps weren’t maintained properly, the pumps were missing or sent off to
See Flooded Page 4A Year 168 No. 112 Three Section - 40 Pages
98213 00012 1 7 © Bureau County Republican
BCR photos/Becky Kramer
Paige Clark is Sullivan’s best bagger Paige Clark works quickly in the Best Bagger Contest Tuesday night at Sullivan’s Foods in Princeton to determine the store’s best and fastest grocery bagger. Contestants were judged on time, appearance of the finished bags and how the groceries were bagged. Clark will advance to the next level at Sullivan’s Foods in Rochelle to compete against other Sullivan’s baggers. The winner from that contest will go on to state competition. Clark won a $100 Sullivan’s gift card for her efforts. Secondplace went to Keith Varland, who is pictured with Clark in the inset photo.
Demolition set for downtown Spring Valley By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com
SPRING VALLEY — Demolition activity is about to take place in Spring Valley’s downtown area. On Monday, the city council approved a bid price of $132,500 to tear down the cityowned buildings at 124, 200 and 202 E. St.
Paul St. American Demolition of Elgin will be doing the work. The cost of demolition will come out of the city’s TIF fund. City engineer Larry Good explained how the job would include cleaning out the basements of the buildings; the walls of the buildings would then be torn down, and contractors would back-fill in the area with
gravel and bring it up to existing grade to match the surroundings. What’s expected to be left behind is three gravel vacant lots. Looking at the bid price, Alderman Dave Pelligrini questioned what sort of future work would need to be made to the empty lots.
See Demolition Page 3A