1 Front
Serving Bureau County Since 1847
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Computer repair scams
Tax levy for Princeton Council discusses upcoming tax levy By Donna Barker dbarker@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON – The proposed 2013 tax levy ordinance is available for reading at Princeton City Hall. At this week’s meeting, the Princeton City Council had a first reading of the upcoming tax levy ordinance and is expected to formally adopt the ordinance after a second reading. The ordinance deals with levying taxes for the fiscal year beginning May 1, 2014, and ending April 30, 2015. Princeton City Manager Jeff Clawson said the city’s proposed tax levy is for about $1.6 million, which is a very small increase from last year. The city’s tax rate, exclusive of taxes for Princeton Public Library, is about 81 cents, with the library adding another 35 to 36 cents, for a total tax rate of about $1.15-$1.16, the city manager said. The 2012-13 tax levy brought in revenue to the city of $1,594,553 through property taxes, Clawson said. The proposed tax levy shows an estimated total revenue of $26,565,000 for the city budget, with about $24,970,447 of that amount coming from revenue sources other than the tax levy, he said. The city council also received the city’s recent fiscal year audit, which Clawson said showed “a solid financial report for the city.” The 75-page report was accepted as presented. In other business, Clawson reported he and Princeton City Clerk Pete Nelson had gone recently to Bloomington to take part in the State Farm Insurance Company’s used furniture program for governmental entities. Clawson had submitted a request for the program, and the city received about $20,000 in good used furniture, including 35 office chairs, tables and desks. The program is a great service provided by State Farm Insurance, Clawson said. Comment on this story at www.bcrnews.com.
NEWSSTAND PRICE 75¢
Sheriff tells area residents to just ‘hang up’ By Donna Barker dbarker@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — Bureau County Sheriff John Thompson has released a statement warning area residents about unsolicited telephone calls from individuals claiming to have knowledge of the resident’s personal home computer.
“These phone calls are an unscrupulous attempt to gather personal information,” Thompson said. According to recent reports, Bureau County citizens have indicated there are individuals who are contacting residents by telephone and claiming to have a working technical knowledge of the resident’s personal home computer, Thompson said. The caller will identify himself
or herself as a technology specialist who is employed by a “fake technology company” and will suggest the resident has “problems with” or a “virus on” their computer, the sheriff said. The caller will then try to entice the resident into providing personal and confidential information that can place the resident’s financial assets in jeopardy, Thompson said, adding reports indicate the caller consistently speaks with a strong foreign accent.
See Scams Page 2
$173,250 headed to DePue Money will go toward water tank renovation By Donna Barker dbarker@bcrnews.com
BCR photo/Amelia Bystry
Honoring area veterans at Hall High School Spring Valley veteran Paul Mignone offers a prayer to those in attendance at Hall High School on Thursday, during a Veterans Day ceremony. Other activities included the band playing patriotic songs, while the advanced chorus sang several patriotic compilations. Students also gave speeches to thank the veterans. At the end of the ceremony, students had the opportunity to visit with the veterans in attendance and thank them for their service.
DEPUE — The village of DePue will receive a $173,250 state grant to renovate its ground level water storage tank on the north side of town. Gov. Pat Quinn made the announcement on Friday, saying the DePue grant is part of a $8.83 million investment which the state is making in 23 towns or townships for improvements in their water and sewer systems. “This project is vital to DePue and supports basic community needs,” Quinn said. “I am pleased to support this work that will provide jobs and a foundation for community renewal.” On Friday, DePue Mayor Eric Bryant said he’s pleased to learn DePue will receive the grant, and now the village can go forward with the bidding process for the water storage tank project. The renovation work will include draining the water storage tank, doing some interior repair work and also painting the exterior of the tank. The work will probably begin sometime next spring, Bryant said. The village has a second water tank which is also on-line and will be used to supply water to the entire town, while the main tank is being renovated, Bryant said. The total project cost, including local matching funds, is $225,000. In making the state grant announcement, Quinn said the investment was made through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s (DCEO) Community Development Assistance Program, which targets areas with populations of less than 50,000 that are outside of urban counties. Most of the money is for work on water and sewer lines, some of which are dealing with emergency needs, Quinn said. The housing component will allow for improvements to 105 single-family homes statewide, he said.
See DePue Page 2
For breaking news, sports and current weather conditions, go to bcrnews.com
AAbetter betterAway way better AAbetter better to toway stay stay way way toon on stay top to to top on stay stay topon ontop top of ofbusiness business of of business of expenses. expenses. business business expenses. expenses. expenses.
Year 167 No. 135 Three Sections - 52 Pages
Put Put this this card card toto work work Put forfor this your Put Put your card this business this to business card work cardto for to helping work your helping work business for for you you your your maintain helping maintain business business you helping maintain helpingyou youmaintain maintain separate separate records records forfor separate business business separate separate records related related records for records expenses. business expenses. for forbusiness related business expenses. related relatedexpenses. expenses. 98213 00012 1 7 8.2013 8.2013County Republican © Bureau
8.2013 8.2013 8.2013
• No • No Annual Annual Fee Fee • Zero • Zero • No Liability Liability Annual • No • NoAnnual Protection Fee Annual Protection • Zero Fee Fee Liability ••Great Zero • Zero Great Protection Liability introductory Liability introductory Protection •Protection Great rate introductory rate • Great • Great rateintroductory introductoryrate rate • Custom • Custom spending spending limit limit • capability Custom capability • Custom • spending Custom forfor employee spending spending limit employee capability limit cards limit cards for capability capability employeefor cards foremployee employeecards cards
Princeton, Princeton, Princeton, 815-875-4444 815-875-4444 815-875-4444 Princeton, orPrinceton, or815-876-1122 815-876-1122 or 815-876-1122 815-875-444 815-875-44