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Saturday, November 30, 2013
Friends of Strays receives grant By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com.
PRINCETON — The Friends of Strays no-kill animal shelter recently was awarded a $1,500 grant from the Build-ABear Workshop Bear Hugs Foundation. The monies will be used to assist low income individuals and senior citizens in getting their animals spayed and neutered. Linda Sullivan, a Friends of Strays Board Member, said the shelter was very fortunate to receive the grant and encouraged eligible residents to take advantage of the opportunity. Friends of Strays holds a low income spay and neuter clinic the second Monday of each month at the shelter, which is located behind the Road Ranger Truck Stop. “It’s very important to have pets spayed and neutered,” said Sullivan. “This grant gives people a chance who maybe normally can’t afford to have their pet spayed or neutered at regular costs.” She explained the surgical process helps prevent health issues in animals, especially in male cats and dogs, who can be more prone to things like cancer when not neutered. Also, the process cuts down on unwanted cats and dogs. Sullivan explained Friends of Strays, along with most animals shelters in the area, are full and cannot handle anymore animals, therefore having cats and dogs spayed or neutered helps prevent overcrowding in shelters. The regular price range for low income individuals to have their pets spayed or neuter ranges from $40 to $65, depending on the sex and type of animal, according to Sullivan. Friends of Strays encourages anyone interested in using the grant opportunity to contact the shelter at 815-872-7387.
See Grant Page 2A
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SV connects with Italian sister city Sister city mayor plans a December visit to Spring Valley By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com
SPRING VALLEY — Earlier this year, Spring Valley City Council passed a resolution declaring Comune Di Montecreto, Modena, Italy, a sister city to Spring Valley. The resolution states there is a historical link between the two cities, through its heritage of Italian emigrant families emanating from Montecreto to Spring Valley between 1890 and 1915.
The link between this significant information was discovered by Giliola Burgoni of Acquaria Di Montecreto. Burgoni is a distant cousin of Amber Dhesse of Spring Valley. According to Spring Valley Economic Development Director Debb Ladgenski, the sister cities relationship began in July 2012, when Burgoni sent Dhesse historical research she had compiled, which included a large number of residents from Montecreto who immigrated to Spring Valley and surrounding communities to work in the mines.
After receiving the information, Dhesse contacted Ladgenski and asked about the opportunity of establishing the sister cities relationship. Dhesse and Burgoni are descendants of the Fiocchi family, who originated in the Modenese Appenines and migrated to the Spring Valley/Ladd area between 1890s and 1920s. “The main reason I think Spring Valley and Acquaria Di Montecreto should be entitled in realizing this project is to create new opportunities for cultural and international
See Sister City Page 4A
PES talks taxes By Donna Barker dbarker@bcrnews.com
BCR photo/Becky Kramer
Getting the bargains Stephen Mazzarise loads up his car with his Black Friday purchases. Mazzarise was among the dozens of area shoppers hitting the stores early Friday for the Christmas holiday sales. Other shoppers got a jump start on their shopping on Thursday when some stores began their holiday sales on Thanksgiving Day. The National Retail Federation has projected retail sales to reach $602.1 billion during the last two months of this year, which is a slight increase from last year.
PRINCETON — It’s tax levy time for Princeton Elementary School District. At Monday’s meeting, Superintendent Tim Smith presented the tentative tax levy for the 2013 year, payable in 2014. The district is requesting $6,666,342 in property taxes for the new year, compared to $6,429,700 extended in the 2012 year. The tentative tax rate would be 2.79, compared to a tax rate of 2.74 for the 2012 year. Smith said the Equalized Assessed Valuation (EAV) for the district is projected at $238,267,850, which is a slight increase from the 2012 EAV of the $233,825,172. The projected EAV represents a 1.9 percent increase which is put in place to capture any possible growth which might occur. However, Bureau County Assessor Tom Sweeney has said it’s not likely there will be any realized growth, which means the district would receive about the same revenue as in the previous year, Smith said. The appreciating value of farmland is the only thing which is helping the district to stay even in its EAV, Smith said. Commercial, industrial and residential values are hurting the district. When the EAV is less, then the district has to make a greater effort with its tax rate, he said. After further review and board approval, the tentative tax levy has been placed on review by the public. In other financial news, Smith said the state of Illinois is behind a total of $374,751 in its payments for the education and transportation funds for this fiscal year. Of that amount, the state owes $270,003 in the education fund, which includes $145,257 in the Early Childhood Block Grant. In transportation, the state owes $104,748 to the district. In personnel action, the board approved the resignation of Lisa Bettner as the secretary at Reagan Middle School and then hired Paula Ward to fill the Reagan secretary position. The board also hired Corinne Thomas as a special education aide at Reagan to fill the position vacated by Ward moving into the secretarial position. Comment on this story at www. bcrnews.com.
For breaking news, sports and current weather conditions, go to bcrnews.com Year 167 No. 144 Two Sections - 32 Pages
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