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Serving Bureau County Since 1847
Thursday, October 9, 2014
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Cain: ‘Our insurance company/agent let us down’ Princeton still submerged in water problems By Donna Barker dbarker@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — Princeton residents continue
to express their concerns on the city’s handling of flooded basement problems in recent months. At Monday’s meeting, the Princeton City Council
heard from resident Thelma Rankin who said she and her husband, James, had submitted a claim to the city’s insurance after their West Farnham Street house basement was flooded in June, but the insurance company denied the claim. She and her husband are renters
and can’t get flood insurance. What other recourse do they have to recoup their costs, she asked. Don Bird, the landlord for the Rankins, said he had owned the West Farnham Street house for nine years and never had a flooding problem like this in nine years, but it’s
happened twice to the Rankins. At last month’s meeting, the council also heard from two Bryant Woods residents who had submitted insurance claims after the June flooding, as they were directed to do by Princeton City Manager Jeff Clawson, but they
also were denied. In response, Mayor Keith Cain said he’s disappointed with the city’s insurance company and agency for their denial of the residents’ requests to cover the damage done in their basements after the
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BCR photo/Mike Vaughn
Blood moon produces quite a show A blood moon appeared in the sky over Bureau County Wednesday morning. The burnt orange color is a rare occurrence that resulted from the total lunar eclipse, which started Tuesday evening. The moon takes on the red color as it passes through the Earth’s shadow, which is the color of a desert sunset. The next blood moon is expect to happen on April 4, 2015.
Fate of LED ordinance looks brighter Council will discuss again on Monday By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com
SPRING VALLEY — The Spring Valley Council is looking to have the LED sign ordinance settled and approved by Thanksgiving. Year 168 No. 121 Two Sections - 32 Pages
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During Tuesday night’s committee meeting, Spring Valley Attorney Jim Andreoni said he would be working on drafting up an ordinance this week, and expects to have it available for review at Monday’s regular council meeting.
The council will not be able to act on the ordinance, but it will be able to make any additional suggestions or changes they see fit. Andreoni will be using provisions from the city of Peru’s LED sign ordinance and also will incorporate suggestions made by a representative from Daktronics, which is a
LED signs Page 2
Going to the dogs in Walnut Village board looks at options By Nita Wyatt news@bcrnews.com
WALNUT — Police Chief Tom Ptasnik discussed with the Walnut Village Board the ongoing problem of dogs running loose in the Village. Ptasnik, as he had pre-
viously, brought up this same issue, explained in the past, the village was able to house stray dogs at the local veterinarian’s office, but this is no longer an option. Ptasnik stated the problem is exacerbated during the overnight hours, as no one is available in many cases to pick up their animal who has gotten loose. The police chief was requesting the village build and provide some type of enclosure for use by the police department
to house such animals. Village Attorney Rob LeSage was present at the meeting, and he said the requirements of such a structure would be covered under the Illinois Animal Control Act; those requirements would include providing a covered shelter, food and water. Of course, the area, wherever it is located, would require fencing and some type of floor. Superintendent Carl
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