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Tuesday, November 25, 2014
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Robbed at gunpoint Robber takes narcotics at Princeton Pharmacy By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — The Princeton Police Department continues to inves-
tigate an armed robbery that took place Friday evening at Princeton Pharmacy, located on North Main Street. According to a press release issued by the
department on Monday morning, an unidentified white male subject entered the pharmacy around 6:32 p.m., displayed a handgun and left with an undetermined amount of narcotics. Princeton Police were dispatched to the scene about six minutes after the robbery. Princeton Police Lt. Barry
Portman confirmed police were notified of the incident through an alarm company and a 911 call. The suspect, who was described as being short and stocky, was wearing a camouflage coat with hood and a camouflage face mask. No injuries were reported after the robbery, according
to Portman. No further details about the case or the suspect are being released by police at this time. Portman confirmed police have received several leads on the case and are currently checking into each one to gather further evidence. Anyone with information
about this crime is encouraged to contact Princeton Police Department Investigator John Shofner at 815872-2351. People can also contact Bureau/Putnam County Crimestoppers at 1-800-939-6929 or bureauputnamcountycrimestoppers.org. Comment on this story at www.bcrnews.com.
Princeton awarded Safe Route to School grant Money will be used for walking routes to school By Zita Henneberry zhenneberry@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — The city of Princeton has been awarded the Safe Route to School grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation. “In small towns across America, we want and expect our children to be able to walk to school. Keeping these kids out of the streets is vital for their safety,” said City Manager Jeff Clawson. Assuming the grant is authorized by the state, it will construct new sidewalks to feed the various subdivisions throughout Princeton to their respective schools. Clawson hopes that the construction of 7,450 feet of new sidewalks and the replacement of 2,200 feet of existing sidewalks will help keep kids off of the streets. The Safe Route to School grant will add 30 percent more sidewalks around the Princeton middle and elementary schools involved. Logan Junior High, Jefferson Elementary, St. Louis Elementary, Lincoln School and Douglas School are included in the project. These areas, owned by the city of Princeton, are ready for the final sidewalk design and construction. “There is always a need to improve our walking routes (safety) to schools,” Clawson said. “With the approval of this grant, we will be able to make noticeable improvements.” Year 168 No. 141 One Section - 24Pages
© Bureau County Republican
This project will cost a total of $164,000. However, the city of Princeton will only be responsible for 20 percent ($32,800). The other 80 percent ($131,200) will be paid for through the awarded grant. The city’s share of the project will be funded by in-kind labor and general fund revenues. “The greatest effect will be piece of mind by parents sending the kids off to school knowing that they will have a quality route to school, a safe route that avoids interaction with motor vehicles wherever possible,” said Clawson. Clawson, who wrote and submitted the grant in February, recognized the lack of sidewalks near schools as a safety hazard. “There are a number of areas where routes to school (especially within a couple blocks of the schools) don’t accommodate children walking,” Clawson said. Princeton’s Tourism and Marketing Director Joni Hunt said, “It (the grant) is important for safety and it will protect our children.” She explained the new sidewalks will help provide more mobility and access ability to Princeton residents in general, especially those with disabilities. Hunt continued, “The city is mindful of trying to improve our infrastructure, and this is just one more improvement to the city.” Comment on this story at www.bcrnews.com.
BCR photo/Becky Kramer
Celebrating the season The First United Methodist Church bell ringers were outside the Clark House this weekend during Princeton’s Christmas Open House. The open house featured a full weekend of events, including Santa lighting the Christmas tree at Darius Miller Park, horse-drawn carriage rides, the German Christkindl Markt, visits with Santa for the children and live window displays. See more photos from the weekend on page 2.
Candidates are ready to file Consolidated election is April 7, 2015 By Terri Simon tsimon@bcrnews.com
While it seems like we just got one election under our belts, the consolidated election is already on the horizon. The date is set for April 7, 2015. On the ballot will be candidates for city councils and village boards, school boards, park districts and library boards. Two fire districts — Tiskilwa and Malden — also elect their boards in this manner. There will be no township races or county board
races on the ballot. With the exception of the Princeton mayoral and commissioner races and countywide school board races, all petitions must be filed with their respective clerks between Dec. 15 and Dec. 22. The order of candidates on the ballot is determined by when those petitions are received. In other words, a candidate who turns in their signed petition at 8 a.m. on Dec. 15 will have his/her name on the ballot before those petitions turned in at a later date. School board candidates Bureau County Clerk Kami Hieronymus said school board candidates have a new way of filing this year. Rather than picking up their petitions and filing them at their respec-
tive school offices, the state has changed the requirements. All those wishing to run for a school board seat must obtain and file their petitions at the Bureau County Clerk’s Office by the aforementioned dates/ times. The Bureau County Clerk’s Office is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The filing period is the same — Dec. 15 through Dec. 22. The clerk’s office will remain open until 5 p.m. on Dec. 22. All other offices will still file with the clerk or secretary of the local district. Princeton mayoral and commissioner candidates Because of Princeton’s form of government, the filing manner is handled differently for its mayoral and commissioner seats.
Petitions have already been circulating, and the deadline to file those petitions was at 4:30 p.m. Monday. The Bureau County Republican will publish a list of those who filed petitions for the open mayoral seat and the two open commissioner seats. Hieronymus said the number of petitions filed by Princeton candidates could result in the need for a primary election at the end of February. If there are more than four petitions turned in for mayor or more than eight petitions turned in for the two open commissioner seats, then a primary would be required. Those candidates would be the only names on the February ballot. Comment on this story at www.bcrnews.com.