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L L A D A RE T US U O AB

Service You Can Count On!

North Central Bank offers a wide variety of mortgage loans to assist you in the purchase/ construction of a home or the refinance of your current home. Our knowledgeable lending staff is always ready to help you with our quick pre-approvals, competitive rates, fast loan processing and friendly service for all your financing needs. In addition to our outstanding mortgage loan options, we offer numerous flexible options for financing cars, boats, ATV’s, personal needs, vacation and any of life’s “unexpected” expenses. If you are interested in Ag loans, we are at the top of our field with our experienced and dedicated Ag lending team. From seed to harvest and all the steps in between, we can meet your need to enhance your operation! We are here to assist you achieve your financial success every step of the way!

Grassers Plumbing & Heating is a reliable air conditioning, heating, plumbing and appliance company located in McNabb IL. serving the Illinois Valley for over 75 yrs. Our family owned and operated company is friendly, reliable, and affordable to bring your home or business total comfort.

PLUMBING & HEATING, INC.

815-882-2111 • 815-875-2540

Equal Housing Lender - Member FDIC - NMLS#405315

Keep your next

LOAN close to home

SM-PR1950321

404 W. Main St., McNabb, IL www.grassersplumbingheating.com

Bruce Jewelers has served as one of North Central Illinois’ leading professional jewelry businesses since 1946.

126 E High St., Hennepin

110 N. Main Ave., Ladd

Gary Bruce is a third generation owner since 1979. The store’s large and varied inventory includes diamond and other precious stone rings, pendants, earrings and bracelets; Citizen, Seiko, Caravelle, and Timex watches; clocks, including wall, mantle and anniversary; gift coin sets; and many other gift items, including a selection of baby gifts.

Customer service includes custom design and remounting of jewelry; ring sizing, repair service, watch battery installation, engraving, professional jewelry appraisal services and no charge layaways. Purchases are ready for gift giving with complimentary gift wrap.

Dean (815) 925-7373 NMLS #1454881

Deb (815) 894-2386 NMLS #719170

Zac (815) 894-2386 NMLS #1593736

www.northcentralbank.com

JEWELERS

www.brucejewelers.com • 631 S. Main, Princeton, IL • 815-875-2289

Monday - Saturday 9 am to 5 pm

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we give you peace of mind, which gives us peace of mind.

Ladd School 321 S McCoy St, Granville (815) 339-2411 Se Habla Espanol

Adrian Perez

Carly Gonet

Local Agent

Local Granville Agent SM-PR1953282

When the Ladd staff planned for students to return to full days this year, they knew that social emotional learning had to take priority. Students had felt disconnected with remote learning. It is time to bring joy back into school and to help students focus on team building, positive behavior and social emotional skills. Our giant Laddopoly game has the entire school divided into four teams that meet monthly to work together building each other up and focusing on the team’s core values. Students earn money for their teams by displaying those core values and supporting others.

The pictured team is the “Cash Collectors”, our current leading team. They are standing in the middle of a giant Monopoly board that fills our main foyer where we play the game weekly.

For over 174 years, Maze Lumber has been providing top-quality building materials to the residents of the Illinois Valley. Whether you are building a new home, remodeling your kitchen, replacing your deck, adding a fireplace, or simply updating your front door, Maze has the products and expertise to make sure your project goes smoothly and lasts a lifetime.

We offer a 15,000 square foot modern showroom to showcase many of our great products, along with an award-winning staff to assist you with your project.

Stop by in person or on Facebook and see what we can do for you!

1100 Water St. Peru, IL www.mazelumber.com

(815) 223-1742 Build It Once.

Build It Right.

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The mission of Ladd C.C. School is to provide opportunities for students to explore and expand individual talents, potential, and life skills in a safe, stimulating, and nurturing environment.

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simple human sense

CARPET, HARDWOOD, TILE, VINYL, AND MORE

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Let us RENEW your home with new floors!

Granville Floor & Wall Covering provides carpet, hardwood flooring, laminate flooring, luxury vinyl planks and tile, Schluter systems and flooring installation servicing the Tri-County area. We are a family owned business since 1967!

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327 S. McCoy St • Granville, IL (815) 339-2345 • www.granvillefloors.com

Look for the man in the Orange and White Van!

Kettman Heating & Plumbing has been a trusted name in the heating and air conditioning business for over 50 years. The company, located in Granville, has fully-stocked service trucks ready to go 24 hour HVAC emergency services.

Kettman’s specialize in the installation and service of all major brands of heating and air conditioning systems, boilers, in-floor radiant heat, commercial refrigeration, plumbing and duct cleaning. Kettman Heating was opened in 1966 by Frank and Ann Kettman; they wanted to provide quality products and service to the people in and around Putnam, Bureau and LaSalle counties.

107 E. Harrison St., Granville www.kettmanheating.com

815-339-6124

Top 10 Reasons to Finance With Eureka Savings Bank 1 Knowledgeable Lenders 2 Quality Service 3 Local Service 4 Quick Turnaround 5 Pre-Approvals or Pre-Qualifications

6 In House Closings 7 Low Down Payment Options 8 Your Credit Story Matters 9 Online Applications 10 Easy Construction Loans

DONATING $25 TO

COPS 4 CANCER

for every mortgage closed in 2022!

Our knowledgeable staff will work with you!

Se habla español Anna Arteaga NMLS #461075

Jesse Arellano NMLS #1815886

Rachel Balestri NMLS# 579165

Saralyn K Shetterly NMLS# 461067

Laura Hein NMLS#1614563

Best Place to Borrow, Best Place to Save!

Fixed & Variable Rates. Local Servicing. Community Oriented for 137 Years.

250 Marquette St. LaSalle, IL 61301 815-223-0700 1300 13th Ave. Mendota, IL 61342 815-539-5656

105 West 1st South St. Wenona, IL 61377 815-853-4333

101 N. Columbia Ave. Oglesby, IL 61348 815-883-3354 2959 Peoria St. Peru, IL 61354 815-223-9400

www.eurekasavings.com SM-PR1956131

Visit us at www.toro.com

Model 75742

42” TIMECUTTER® SS4225

Model 21378

RECYCLER®

Great mulching capabilities and user-friendly features at an affordable price • Recycler Cutting System • Variable Speed Forward • 22” Mowing Deck

Sale $399

Smart Speed® Control System has three ground speed ranges (Trim, Tow, and Mow) giving you greater control of speed and maneuverability for cutting grass and pulling attachments.

• 22.5HP Toro V-Twin 708cc • 42 in Mowing Deck is perfect for mowing in tight areas with many trees & landscaping • 3-Year Limited Warranty

Sale $3,199

SMITH’S SALES & SERVICE

SM-PR1954367

1604 Peoria St • Peru, IL 61354 • 815.223.0132

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Count on it.

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Locally Owned and Operated by Paul & Mary Breznay

Visit Us And Meet Our Managers Come in to our Princeton location and meet store manager Nancy Roberts (center) as well as assistant managers Calina Durey-Borsh (right), Clark Wilkins (left) and their crew. At our Spring Valley location, you can meet store manager Kyle Madsen and her crew. Both locations are proud to serve their communities and look forward to the opportunity to do so every day. Gift cards are

1 Off $

available. Also, download our McDonald’s App and register to be a part of the Rewards program earning points with each purchase.

Any Medium McCafe drink including Milk Shakes and Hot Chocolate (Excludes Premium Roast Coffee & Hot Tea)

Princeton Location 2139 N. Main St., Princeton

Spring Valley Location 800 W. Dakota St., Spring Valley

coupon required limit one coupon per customer per visit not valid with other offers and expires April 1, 2022

Meet your Princeton banking team Now in our 82nd year of community banking, First State Bank has been providing high-quality financial products and services since 1940. We offer an entire suite of business and personal banking options including our popular high-interest FSBPremier checking account. FSBPremier combines the innovative banking products you’d find at the big banks but with the First State Bank personal touch they can’t match. FSBPremier accounts pay consumers to use their account and receive what interests them most — high interest! Come see your friends at any one of our 18 locations, including our location at 1693 N. Main St. in Princeton. Give us a call at 815.872.0002 or visit us online at firststatebank.biz.

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Services Include:

Disease Prevention • Family Health • Environmental Health • Health Education • Mental Health • Emergency Preparedness

Hector Gomez CEO & Public Health Administrator, Princeton Office

526 Bureau Valley Pkwy.

Princeton, IL 61356 Ph.: 815-872-5091 | Fax: 815-872-5092

Laurie Geuther Director of Nursing

Kurt Kuchie Director of Health Protection

Hennepin Office

Marshall Office

220 East High Street, Suite 101 Hennepin, IL 61327 Ph.: 815-925-7326 | Fax: 815-925-7001

319 6th Street Lacon, IL 61540 Ph.: 309-246-8074

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Bureau/Putnam County Mission Statement The mission of the Bureau & Putnam County Health Departments is to prevent disease and promote & protect health through education, collaboration and public service.

Marshall County Mission Statement Our vision is to be a collaborative agent for change in health problems that our community faces and to become a health/wellness provider and resource for‚ all in our community.

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Bureau, Marshall, & Putnam County Health Department

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What small businesses can do to engage their communities

Community engagement can benefit small businesses in various ways. By engaging with their communities, business owners can build brand awareness and inspire trust among residents. Trust in a brand leads many consumers to share positive word-of-mouth, and it also can inspire brand loyalty, a potentially lucrative benefit that can pay dividends for years to come.

A recent study from Bain and Company found that the average repeat customer spends 67 percent more in months 31 through 36 of their relationship with a business than they do in the first six months of that relationship. That underscores how lucrative a long-term relationship with a customer can be for a business. When paired with reliable products and great customer service, community engagement strategies increase the likelihood that businesses will create a loyal customer base, thus laying the foundation for a successful business that can grow for years to come.

Businesses can engage with their communities in various ways. Many engagement strategies give business owners a chance to communicate directly with their customers, and these interactions can be especially valuable.

• Participate in local events. Local events like holiday bazaars and town festivals provide great chances for business owners to communicate directly with new and existing customers. Take advantage of the chance to set up a booth at such events, and make a concerted effort to reach out to consumers who stop by the booth. The customer feedback experts at Apptentive found that 97 percent of consumers are somewhat likely to become more loyal to a company that implements their feedback. Setting up a booth at a bazaar or festival provides a great chance to solicit feedback that businesses can then implement to retain more customers.

• Sponsor a local youth sports team. Youth sports team sponsorships are a relatively inexpensive way to create brand awareness. The National Alliance for Youth Sports, Inc., reports that sponsorship costs vary from organization to organization, though they may cost as little as $100 to around $5,000 for the season. In return for that investment, businesses gain exposure to athletes, athletes’ families and friends, volunteers, and countless others who may see players in uniform on game day. When compared to the cost of advertising online, on television or on the radio, youth sports sponsorship provides a great return on investment.

• Offer your space. Another way business owners can engage their communities is by offering their spaces for community-based events. For example, business owners with ample parking lots can offer those lots as registration sites for charity 5Ks or other events that can utilize large and open outdoor spaces. This approach addresses a community need and draws a crowd of locals to your establishment, thus increasing the chances they will patronize the business during and after the event.

There is no limit to the ways local businesses can engage their communities.

How to reduce reliance on big-box retailers Big-box retailers span the globe. Though Wal-Mart, Target and Lowes may offer great deals, there’s often nothing unique about big-box stores.

Proponents of Main Street also note that big-box stores can’t provide the small business charm that can make local neighborhoods special.

Balance is everything, and that even applies to shopping. Big-box retailers can feature in consumers’ shopping plans, but there’s a place for small businesses as well. The following are some strategies to reduce reliance on national chains.

• Look at the alternatives first. Shoppers may look to big-box stores because they know what to expect and are familiar with their goods. But exploring smaller alternatives first can turn up some pleasant surprises.

Take walking tours of the community and make note of which stores are available.You might just uncover a hidden gem.

• Prioritize quality, not quantity. Big-box retailers frequently turn to foreign-made products and can offer very low prices because the huge amount of merchandise they sell enables them to negotiate lower bulk prices from suppliers. Mass production of products may result in lowerquality merchandise. Small businesses may pick and choose their stock, vetting items before the customer even does his or her research.

• Ask for recommendations. Reach out through social media for recommendations on small businesses in the area. Find out where others are shopping and what they have to say about certain companies. You may not have certain establishments on your radar and may be pleasantly surprised at the competitive prices and outstanding service provided by local businesses.

• Shop in person. There’s no denying the convenience and all-hours capabilities of shopping online. However, it denies shoppers the experience of going into a store and browsing for products and getting a true feel for their sizes and quality. Modern consumers are no doubt familiar with the tedious nature of returning online items that fell short of expectations.

Such experiences are significantly less common when shopping in-store, particularly at small businesses.

• Competition keeps prices lower. Big-box retailers may offer good deals, but over time those prices may rise as national retailers command more control of the market. A competitive marketplace encourages businesses to offer lower prices to attract customers. By shopping a variety of stores, customers can further this healthy competition across the board.

Big-box retailers need not be ignored. However, consumers can balance their spending at big-box stores and small businesses so they do not become entirely reliant on national chains.

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Online reviews have long been a mixed bag for small businesses. Though positive reviews can help businesses stand out from their competitors, negative reviews can be as harmful as positive reviews are helpful. That’s true even when negative reviews do not reflect the average customer’s experience.

Search Engine Land, which covers digital advertising technology, reports 88 percent of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. Unfortunately for businesses, Inc. magazine and entrepreneur Andrew Thomas found that a customer who has a negative business experience is highly likely to share that experience by leaving a bad review. On the other hand, someone who has had a positive experience is unlikely to leave a good review. Roughly 10 percent of happy customers say they were pleased by a product or service. Furthermore, Thomas indicates it takes roughly 40 positive customer experiences to undo the damage from a single negative review.

Customer happiness should be the goal of businesses, with the added benefit of helping to generate more positive reviews and word-of-mouth recommendations. While that is happening, customers can think twice about online reviews.

• Speak to product quality especially when you have a very good experience with an item. Many retailers request feedback via email shortly after consumers have made a purchase. Take advantage of this opportunity to offer positive feedback.

• Companies gather personal information from customers so they can follow up in many cases. Great customer service helps prevent bad reviews and defines companies’ brands. If you are asked for a phone number or email address, provide it. Doing so helps companies improve their products or services.

• Happy customers can reach out to friends and family members to share their experiences with certain companies. Posting your own review on social media also can drum up business for a company you respect.

• Customers should weigh their words heavily and think before posting a review. The marketing and consulting resource The Chat Shop says 31 percent of customers are interested in grocery store reviews, 60 percent are likely to read restaurant reviews and 70 percent rely on technology product reviews. Make an effort to discuss issues with a company before leaving a negative review. You may be pleasantly surprised with the outcome. There’s no need to hesitate when leaving positive reviews. Simply explain why you were pleased.

Reviews can make or break a company. Both business owners and customers have a role to play in making online reviews a valuable way to learn about a company.

A&B Garage Honest Auto Repair

Andy & Brandy Groleau

Auto Repair Technician & Owner

235 N Main Avenue Ladd, IL 61329 a_bgarage@yahoo.com P: 815-894-9200 F: 815-894-2871 SM-PR1953341

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The impact reviews have on businesses

A&B Garage

For honest, dependable care, see the mechanics at A&B Garage. We are a family-owned and operated garage that has been serving the community for the last four years, and Andy has been a mechanic since 1993.

A&B Garage has the latest diagnostic scan tools to analyze your vehicle.

A&B Garage is a NAPA Auto Care Center. In addition, Andy enjoys working on older model vehicles, making custom exhaust and can rebuild carburetors.

Pictured above (from left) Andy Groleau, Brandy Groleau, Robert Parker and Johnathon Warkins.

A&B Garage is located at 235 N. Main Ave., Ladd. Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday through Friday.

Unique reasons to shop at small businesses The numbers don’t lie. Locally owned businesses may be classified as “small,” but they have a big impact on the national economy.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Business Employment Dynamics report, small businesses created 10.5 million net new jobs between 2000 and 2019, accounting for 65.1 percent of net new jobs created since 2000 in the United States. The Government of Canada reports that the number of small businesses in Canada in 2020 was far greater than the number of medium and large businesses, accounting for 97.9 percent of all the businesses in the country.

Supporting locally owned businesses is a great way to support a neighbor, but that’s not the only attraction. Here are several reasons to shop small.

THE FEEL-GOOD FACTOR Doing for others certainly has an impact on the person on the receiving end, but also benefits the do-gooders. A November 2020 survey by Union Bank found that 72 percent of Americans said supporting small businesses was more important than getting the best deals. That may be due to the feeling of helping out a fellow neighbor.

CREATE JOB OPPORTUNITIES Shopping at small businesses keeps those establishments afloat, and it also keeps their employees afloat. Small businesses are the largest employers in the United States. That’s also true in Canada, where 68.8 percent of the total labor force works for a small business. A person may never know when he or she — or a relative — will need a job. Keeping small businesses viable provides a strong job market for locals.

KEEP MORE MONEY IN THE COMMUNITY The Small Business Administration says $48 out of every $100 spent at a small business stays in the community. Spend the same $100 at a national retailer and only $14 stays.

ENJOY A MORE LOCAL FLAVOR National retailers and other businesses follow a global business model that may not allow for much customization, but small businesses can provide products or services that relate directly to the needs of the communities they serve. These same small businesses also may be more inclined to work with local vendors and start-ups than national companies that have global supply chains.

These are just a few of the many reasons to seek out small businesses when in need of products or services.

Retirement Experts of the Illinois Valley

Our firm follows a holistic Retirement 22 Roadmap which guides clients through the most important steps of retirement (Guaranteed Income, Investments, Insurance, Tax Planning, Health care & Legacy Planning etc..). The firm employs Investment Advisors, CPA’s & Financial Planners who work as a team, walking clients through the entire planning process. Founded in 1999 by Christian J. Cyr CPA, the firm is an independent Registered Investment Advisor with locations in Hennepin and Princeton. The firm’s mantra is “Changing the way people experience financial services.”

Roth Conversions Experience Financial

Financial Planning

CPA/Tax Management

(815) 925-7501 CyrFinancial.com

Social Security CYR FINANCIAL, INC. IS A REGISTERED INVESTMENT ADVISOR

SM-PR1951096

CYR-1-780

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18 Courses Only

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The 2022 Starved Rock Country Discount Golf Card entitles the golfer whose name appears on the card with one (1) round of golf with FREE CART for only $20.00 at each of the 18 listed courses.

Good through 12/31/2022. Some restrictions.

Visit newstrib.com, mywebtimes.com or bcrnews.com to purchase yours today.

Card may only be purchased online.

Sue Heider Spencer Luecke Mark Witek Steve Witek Kristy Pytel Amy Noy

613 First Street • La Salle 815.223.3332 witekwealthmanagement.com

Registered Representatives with and Securities and Advisory Services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor.

Member FINRA & SIPC 613 1st Street, LaSalle

WE’RE ALWAYS HEAR FOR YOU! Hammers Hearing Care Center

815.223.1795

With over 90 years of experience and 4 locations

LASALLE, MENDOTA, OTTAWA, PRINCETON 815-224-2445 • 800-937-2609 • hammershearing.com

130Street 3rd Street · LaSalle 130 3rd · LaSalle www.DrGergovich.com www.DrGergovich.com (815) (815) 223-0647 223-0647

Caring arinng PPeople... ari ar eop oplee... CCaring ariing TTr ar Tradition raddition www.cghmc.com

You deserve more than 15 minutes!

Pro Shop • Lessons Driving Range Just 1 mile west of Princeton off Route 6 & 34

Pete McGrath

800 Clinton Street, Ottawa (815)-433-2680 mylocalagent.com

815-872-2641

wyatonhillsgc@comcast.cnet Jay Bottarini

309-481-4028

Gary Hammers BC-HIS

Doug Suarez HIS

Tricia Mudge HIS

Becca Andreano HIS

Illinois Valley Credit Union

815-224-2667 • ivcu.com

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It’s Time to GOLF!!

• Mendota Golf Club (18) • Earlville Country Club (9) • Fairways Golf Course (18) • Dwight Country Club (18) • Anderson Fields Golf Course (9) • The Eastwood Golf Course (18) • Dayton Ridge Golf Club (9) • Pine Hills Golf Club (18) • Prairie Lakes Golf Course (9) • Senica’s Oak Ridge Golf Club (18) • Kewanee Dunes Golf Club (18) • Spring Creek Golf Course (18) • Hidden Lake Golf Club (18+) • Edgewood Park Golf Club (18) • Shady Oaks Country Club (18) • Indian Oaks Country Club (18) • Chapel Hill Golf Course (18) • Wyaton Hills Golf Course (9+)

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Norberg Memorial Home Inc. & Monuments: Loving Roots in the Community Written by Janice Smallwood

Janice Smallwood returned to Princeton, Illinois in 2016 and joined Norberg Memorial Home, Inc. & Monuments two years later.

The journey that led her back to Princeton stretches across the country.

It connects through mutual friends and is bound by youthful love. Along with the grief training she received while working with the South Carolina State Fire Fighters Association, her full-circle journey dates back to 1975 when she first moved to Princeton from Chicago.

Janice first met her husband, J.D. Smallwood, at the old Skate-A-Rama in Princeton, before moving away with her family to South Carolina for her father’s retirement in 1981. While there, she owned a bookkeeping company and managed the financials for several not-for-profit organizations, including the South Carolina State Firefighters Association as well as the USTA of South Carolina.

After the passing of Janice’s husband, Steve, she reconnected with J.D. through a mutual friend.

J.D., meanwhile, began working at Norberg in 1996 upon graduation from Worsham College of Mortuary Science

in Wheeling, Illinois. He eventually purchased Norberg Memorial Home, Inc. & Monuments in 2008 from his father, Bodie, who passed away that same year. Bodie first started working for Arthur Norberg – also a graduate of Worsham – in 1956, after serving in the Korean War.

Readers Choice Awards 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 & 2016 Voted Most Respected Funeral Home

In 1966, Bodie Smallwood bought into the business as a partner to Norberg, eventually buying all stocks and becoming sole owner.

The memorial home has been in the Smallwood family since then, but part of the community since 1903.

With their six-year anniversary as

a married couple approaching, the Smallwoods take their love for each other, along with their love for their community and apply both to their daily work at the funeral home. They are honored to serve and continue Norberg’s tradition of affordable, reliable services throughout Bureau County and beyond.

“Not only was J.D. my first love, but he will also be my last,” Janice said.

“It’s one of the hardest jobs we’ve ever loved. It’s a true honor that people select us to care for their loved one during their time of need.”

For well over 100 years, Norberg Memorial Home, Inc. & Monuments has provided an array of funeral services, cremations, pre-planning arrangements, burials, monuments, urns, jewelry, and assistance.

Due to the current changes amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Norberg has extended their services to include free live-streaming of funerals, as well as drive-thru visitations if and when needed.

For more information on services, prearrangements or monuments, please visit www.norbergfh.com or call 815-875-2425.

Funerals • Cremations Pre-Arrangements Monuments Caskets • Urns & Jewelry

www.norbergfh.com 815-875-2425 SM-PR1953833

701 East Thompson Street Princeton, IL