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Princeton library announces three new services
By KATE SANTILLAN ksantillan@shawmedia.com
The Princeton Public Library recently announced three advancements in its technology and services. The advancements aim to make resource access easier, more flexible, and more engaging for community members.
The library partnered with an outside source to offer a scheduling platform.
Residents will be able to reserve rooms, register for events, and remain
updated on library programs.
The Princeton Public Library will also offer patrons a mobile app. The app can provide online catalog access, digital resources, and account information.
App users will also be able to renew items, carry a digital library card, and place items on hold.
Library cardholders can stream free films, documentaries, and educational videos through Kanopy. Kanopy is an online streaming service.
“These new tools reflect our commitment to making the library accessi-
ble beyond our physical walls,” Princeton Public Library director Julie Wayland said in a news release. “We want our patrons to have resources at their fingertips–whether that’s scheduling, streaming, or staying connected through mobile access.”
The services are funded in part by an Illinois State Library technology grant. The $12,500 grant will be used to improve and expand the Princeton Public Library community’s access.
For more information, email help@ princetonpl.org, visit princetonpl.org, or call 815-875-1331
Princeton students experience processesing grape jelly
By KEVIN HIERONYMUS khieronymus@shawmedia.com
For the past four years, students in Wendy Frederickson’s Foods classes at Princeton High School have gotten a hands-on experience picking grapes from the vineyard of retired baseball coach Wick Warren and his wife, Laura, just in the back yard of the school.
Frederickson said usually it is only the Foods 2 class that picks and processes the grapes, but because of the timing of harvest and the class scheduling this year all three levels of Foods classes were involved.
The first block Foods 1 class picked the grapes and the third block Foods 1 class plucked the grapes from the cluster and started the cooking process.
The next day, the Foods 3 class and the fourth block Foods 2 class continued to pluck and cook. By the end of it all, Frederickson said they have 10 gallons of juice, which equates to 30 batches of jelly that will be made.
Because of the large amount of juice, Frederickson said the second-term Foods classes will have the chance to make jelly as well this school year, which they have not done before.
“Processing grapes into jelly is an art that fewer and fewer people undertake and I’m proud that my students will have the opportunity to learn this skill,” Frederickson said.
Princeton High School names Teen of the Month for Sept. & Oct.
By KATE SANTILLAN ksantillan@shawmedia.com
Princeton High School recently named the students representing the school in the Mendota Elks Teen of the Month Competition for September and October.
The school selected Landon Davis and Lydia Johnson for September and Ryan Jagers and Caroline Keutzer for October.
The Elks Teen of the Month program is designed to recognize young men and women for school and community life achievements in fine arts, hobbies, athletics, church, school, club and community service, industry, and farming.
The Mendota Elks Lodge selects one male and one female monthly as Teens of the Month. The Teens of the Year will be picked from the winners.
The Teens of the Year will be for -
warded to the district for the next competition level. The competition winners can compete at the state level for potential scholarship money.
Davis is the son of Jessica Pinter and Luke Davis of Princeton. Johnson is the daughter of Tiskilwa residents David and Sheena Johnson. Jagers is the son of Tom and Gail Jagers of Princeton. Keutzer is the daughter of Princeton residents Steve and Michelle Keutzer.
Photo provided by Wick Warren
Students from Wendy Frederickson’s Foods classes at Princeton High School pick grapes from the vineyard of retired baseball coach Wick Warren and his wife Laura. The students process the grapes into jelly.
Princeton’s ‘Shadows of the Blue and Grey’ Brings Civil War to life
By KYLE RUSSELL Shaw Local News Network CORRESPONDENT
The annual Shadows of the Blue and Grey Civil War reenactment was held this weekend at City County Park in Prince-
ton. The two-day event is an annual Civil War living history battle reenactment that is held the second weekend in October. The re-enactment features a medical presentation, artillery drills, the Gettysburg Address and a Civil War battle re-enactment, a dance and more.
Photos by Kyle Russell
LEFT: A Union Artillery unit fires a canon on the battlefield against Confederate troops during The Blue and Gray Civil War reenactment on October 10, at City County Park in Princeton.
ABOVE: Abraham Lincoln, portrayed by Max Daniels raises his top hat to his soldiers after the battle at The Blue and Gray Civil War reenactment on October 10, at City County Park in Princeton.
Fire contained at Marquis Energy facility in Hennepin
By MARIBETH M. WILSON mwilson@shawmedia.com
Multiple agencies responded to a structure fire at the Marquis Energy property in Hennepin early Wednesday afternoon.
Marquis Energy Communications Manager Allison Schwingle said in an email that the fire is contained and everyone is safe.
“The Marquis team appreciates all the local support from fire departments and first responders,” she said.
The fire involved the central maintenance building, a former steel mill
building, at the facility.
“Local fire departments and emergency personnel are on site, and we are grateful for their quick response and support,” she said.
Schwingle said one minor injury was reported.
Corn deliveries and ethanol production are unaffected, as this incident did not occur at our ethanol facility, she said.
“The safety of our employees and community remains our top priority as we continue to work closely with first responders to manage the situation, Schwingle said.
Photos by Scott Anderson
ABOVE: Smoke billows from Marquis Energy as firefighters work to control a structure fire on Wednesday, Oct. 8, in Hennepin. The fire was upgraded to a 5th alarm dispatching the (MABAS) Mutual Aid Box Alarm System. The fire broke out around 11 a.m. LEFT: Firefighters work the scene of a structure fire on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at Marquis Energy in Hennepin. The fire was upgraded to a 5th alarm dispatching the (MABAS) Mutual Aid Box Alarm System. The fire broke out around 11 a.m.
Illinois Valley photos of the week from Sept. 28 to Oct. 4
See PHOTOS OF THE WEEK, page 8
LEFT: Evan Sittler of Somonauk/Leland/Newark boys soccer races past Serena’s defense Sept. 29 at Serena High School. ABOVE: Members of the Mendota High School football team ride atop their float Oct. 3 down Indiana Avenue during the homecoming parade
Photo provided by Al Cioni Ford
Al Cioni Ford donates non-perishable food to Putnam County Food Pantry
By KATE SANTILLAN ksantillan@shawmedia.com
Al Cioni Ford in Granville recently accepted non-perishable food donations from community members as part of its “The World’s Largest Dealer Food Drive” to support the Putnam County Food Pantry.
The donations were collected as part of Hunger Action Month.
The dealership collected 200 pounds of food in 10 days. Al Cioni Ford also would like to thank donors Doug and Elaine Ossola, Alex and Ashley Moutray, William and Ashley Stuepfert, and Laura and Jared Vaessen.
“It felt incredible to help make a dif-
ference not only in the world, but also bring it right back to our local community right here in Putnam County, and reach our goal!” Al Cioni Ford sales manager Laura Cioni Vaessen said in a news release.
The Ford Motor Company is committed to building stronger communities and addressing food insecurities through mobility solutions. The Ford Motor Company Fund invested $2.3 million to aid families through partnerships with local food banks, Feeding America, and DoorDash. The fund supports home meal delivery transportation to limited households and provides innovation grants to Ford community food banks.
LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
IVCC sets registration session for Spring 2026 welding classes
Illinois Valley Community College will hold a registration session for its Spring 2026 welding courses on Dec. 2.
The session runs from 3 to 5 p.m. in room CTC 123. Prospective students must attend to register, but those unable to attend can still contact the college.No welding experience is required. Instructors tailor instruction to each student’s skill level in small classes using advanced equipment and a large fabrication lab.
To sign up, contact Patricia Glade at 815-224-0233 or welding@ivcc.edu.
For information, visit www.ivcc.edu/ welding or call program coordinator Theresa Molln at 815-224-0630.
Princeton library events set for October
The Princeton Public Library, 698 E. Peru St., will host several programs and events in October.
The events schedule includes:
“From Camp Douglas to Vicksburg: The Civil War Letters of William J. Kennedy, 55th Illinois Infantry, 1861–1863:” 6 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 16. Author Rachael Mellen will discuss her latest novel, “From Camp Douglas to Vicksburg: The Civil War Letters of William J. Kennedy, 55th Illinois Infantry, 1861–1863.” The book tells the story of Civil War Veteran William Kennedy. Kennedy was a resident of La Salle. Kennedy participated in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Chickasaw Bayou, and the Siege of Vicksburg.
“Samhain: The Celtic Roots of Halloween” 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21. Attendees can listen to Celtic stories and songs performed by singer and songwriter Barry Cloyd.
“Music of Four Centuries:” 6 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 23. Classical guitarist Peter Fletcher will perform music ranging from the Renaissance through the 20th century.
“Gruesome Twosome: Charles Addams and Edward Gorey:” 6 p.m. Oct. 29.
Participants can learn about the careers and art of cartoonists Edward Gorey and Charles Addams. The program will be led by historical presenter and storyteller Tricia Kelly.
For more information, visit princetonpl. org or call 815-875-1331.
– Shaw Local News Network
Al Cioni Ford in Granville accepting non-perishable food donations for the Putnam County Food Pantry
Continued from page 6
FAR LEFT: The ball slips through the hands of Ottawa’s Owen Sanders as L-P’s Regan Doerr defends on Friday, Oct. 3, at Howard Fellows Stadium. ABOVE: Spectators watch as the start of the St. Bede Homecoming parade nears city hall during the St. Bede homecoming parade on Oct. 3, in Peru. LEFT: A close-up of an animatronic clown inside the Nightmare on Fairgrounds Road Haunted Attraction on Monday, Sept. 29, at the Bureau County Fairgrounds in Princeton. Shaw Local News Network photos
SPORTS
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
1917:
1989:
It was all about the relationships for Carol Bauer
PC grad coached Fieldcrest cross country/track for more than 3 decades
By KEVIN CHLUM kchlum@shawmedia.com
Carol Bauer spent half an hour on the phone recently, catching up with Maria Baldwin, one of her former runners.
Marsha Backstrom, who spurred Bauer’s creation of the Fieldcrest cross country program in 1999, has her children call Bauer “Grandma Coach.”
When Grant Kirkpatrick finished his first marathon, he called Bauer before he even completed his cooldown.
“I could give hundreds of those examples,” Bauer said. “It was the relationships with the kids and the feeling that I made a difference in their lives in a positive way [that kept me in coaching].”
Now, after more than three decades of coaching cross country, track and field, and volleyball at the high school and junior high levels at Fieldcrest, Bauer is on the sidelines.
Bauer coached the Fieldcrest track and cross country programs since their inception. She served as an assistant coach the last school year to help ease the transition to her retirement.
“Without a doubt, I can come up with good workouts, but my ability to coach kids falls in the connections I have with them,” Bauer said. “For years, I taught junior high, and that made the connections so much stronger, and they had total trust in me because they knew me. I’m no longer teaching, so those connections are just like vague entities.
“I’ve had people reach out to me for one-on-one coaching. With that, I think I can still find success, but with a school program and the kids not really knowing me, I was going to lose that part that I love the best.
“I want to be able to be the best coach ever for kids, and I’m just not equipped to do that anymore.”
Bauer had plenty of success as a coach, although she initially “fell into” the profession. When she was a runner
at Illinois State University, Bauer was home training with the boys cross country team at Putnam County, her alma mater, when the coach left just before the school year.
Putnam County asked her to take over the team, and Bauer did while also starting the girls cross country program at the school.
“That was never my intent [to coach], but I was smart enough to figure out that if I didn’t do it, the program might die,” Bauer said. “So that was my dropyou-right-into-the-boiling-water moment.”
That experience made Bauer want to pursue coaching.
At her first teaching job at Henry-Senachwine Junior High, she coached seventh grade volleyball and girls track and field.
Bauer was living in Momence when she was asked to interview at Fieldcrest Junior High. She said she “had very limited coaching experience” when she arrived at Fieldcrest, but at the first teacher in-service, the high school principal told her she was going to coach
girls track, so she became the school’s first girls track coach in 1992-93.
In 1999, Backstrom asked about starting cross country, and Bauer went to the athletic director about creating the program.
“The board was super hesitant,” Bauer said. “They said it sounded like a great idea, but they didn’t have the money in the budget for it. I’m sure I threw them for a loop because I said I would coach them for free. Then they
Chicago White Sox beat New York Giants 4-2 at Brush Stadium to clinch second World Series.
Wayne Gretzky passes Gordie Howe as NHL’s all time top scorer.
Scott Anderson file photo
Carol Bauer watches runners during the Gary Coates Cross Country Invitational in Princeton last fall. Bauer has retired after more than three decades coaching cross country and track and field at Fieldcrest.
AREA ROUNDUP
Lady Panthers top L-W, fall to Seneca
VOLLEYBALL
Putnam County def. Lowpoint-Washburn 17-25, 25-21, 25-8: The Lady Panthers rallied for a Tri-County Conference victory in Granville on Thursday, Oct. 9.
Key contributors for PC (13-12) were Myah Richardson with 13 kills and 13 digs, Kennedy Holocker had 17 points, five assists and 17 digs, Britney Trinidad had 12 points, five assists, 13 assists and 16 digs and Sarah Wiesbrock had 37 digs.
Seneca def. Putnam County 25-9, 25-20: Myah Richardson had eight kills, six digs, four assists and two blocks as the Lady Panthers lost a Tri-County Conference match Tuesday, Oct. 7 in Seneca.
Kennedy Holocker had 14 digs, two kills and two aces for PC, while Britney Trinidad added eight digs and five assists.
FOOTBALL
Monmouth-Roseville 57, Hall-Putnam County 14: Braden Curran, who took over at quarterback for the injured Dylan Glynn, scored both touchdowns for Hall in a road loss at Monmouth on Friday.
The Red Devils (3-4) return to action this Friday at Riverdale (5-2).
– Shaw Local News Network
• BAUER
Continued from page 9
were concerned about bus driving, and I said I have a bus driving license, and I will drive them for free.
“They decided they couldn’t create a brand-new position at that point, but they would unofficially hire me as the cross country coach and assign me all the bus trips, which they would pay me for.”
Backstrom went on to run at Bradley University, and a couple of years after the cross country program started, Bauer was hired as the paid cross country coach.
Backstrom was one of five of Bauer’s runners to go on to compete at an NCAA
Division I school. She coached 14 runners who went on to college careers.
Bauer helped five runners qualify for state a total of 12 times in cross country and helped 15 athletes qualify for state in 36 events in track and field.
She coached three athletes – Brian Peterson, Mason Stoeger and Baldwin – to seven medals in cross country and helped seven athletes claim 23 medals in track, along with one relay.
Peterson was Bauer’s most successful runner, winning the Class 1A 3,200meter state title in 2008 and placing second in the Class 1A cross country meet in 2007.
“He didn’t have a ton of natural talent, but his ability to withstand pain and work hard was incredible,” Bauer said. “You don’t get very many of those.
I would say with all the kids I’ve ever coached, I’ve had three who just could push themselves to where they would almost black out in their drive to get to the finish line first.”
Peterson’s successes are among Bauer’s favorite coaching memories, along with watching Tessa Holland, who won eight state track medals, compete in the high jump at state, change her spikes to run a leg of the 4x800, then go back to jumping and have her first relay team qualify for state.
But her favorite memory was seeing Danielle Meierhofer qualify for state in the 4x800 after missing a full year when she suffered severe injuries in a car accident.
“When those girls qualified, they came to the fence, and all of us were
hugging and crying,” Bauer said. “Then Danielle was nominated to give the athlete’s oath at the state meet. That’s probably the biggest highlight.”
While the state champion and medalists stand out, Bauer said she recognized the contributions of all athletes on the team and felt it was her job “to help them be the best person they could be” regardless of their athletic ability.
“The best part was just the kids who would achieve a goal they never thought they could and those hugs and tears on the field,” said Bauer, who also won more than 400 matches in junior high volleyball. “Having them reach their goals, it makes the long hours, low salary and all the craziness that goes with it all worthwhile in that moment.”
Photo provided
The Putnam County Lady Panthers volleyball team raised more than $2,000 for the Aden Lamps Foundation for their Volley For a Cause night and collected more than 80 Lego sets for the Putnam County Lego Drive for the Children’s Hospital run by Rebecca and Tom Weisbrock.
