Putnam County Panthers got some preparation for Friday's Class 1A state semifinal, making at stop at the Corn Crib in Normal and Yard Goats indoor facility in Champaign. The Panthers (25-11) will face North Clay (35-4) at 1 p.m. Friday at Illinois Field.

The Natural Land Institute’s Legacy Tree Program named its June Tree of the Month an American Elm located at Capron United Methodist Church, 250 W. North St., Capron.

The Putnam County Public Library District will host several programs and events in July.

Hall’s Luke Bryant, Princeton’s Ryan Jagers and St. Bede’s Ava Balestri earn unanimous all-conference honors in the Three Rivers East and Tri-County Confernce.

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, issued Tornado Watch 308 at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday, June 10, affecting 20 Illinois counties until 11 p.m.

The University of Illinois Extension will offer a free monthly Lunch N Learn Series for adults from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesdays July 8, Aug. 5, Sept. 9, Oct. 7, Nov. 11 and Dec. 9 at Nell’s Woodland, 2000 Alexis Ave., Ottawa.

Braden Curran will be playing baseball for Augustana College next spring, but first he will put the football pads back on. He will represent Hall High School in the upcoming 52nd Annual Shrine All-Star Football game on Saturday, June 20 in Bloomington

Princeton High School coach Patrick Hodge has announced the cross country/fitness runs for PHS for the rest of June, meeting at 7 p.m. on June 16, June 18, June 23 and June 26 in front of the school.

This year’s Walnut 5K Run/Walk for ALS is scheduled for Saturday, July 4 starting at 8 a.m. at Bureau Valley North School. All proceeds for the event will go toward research for ALS/Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

For generations, fastpitch softball has been a beloved summer tradition in Bureau County, bringing together athletes, friends, families, and fans for evenings of competition and community.

Keighley Davis will be playing volleyball for William Penn University this fall, but first she will suit up for basketball one more time. Princeton’s all-time leading scorer will be playing for the Class 1-2A North in Saturday’s IBCA All-Star Games in Pontiac.

Four St. Bede players have been added to the ICA 2A All-State Softball team, having been inadvertently omitted in its first release Monday - Ava Balestri, Lily Bosnich, Emma Slingsby and Macy Strauch .

The University of Illinois Extension will partner with Stronger YOU Bureau County to hold a free Stronger YOU Wellness Experience for community members from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 9, at Princeton High School, 103 S. Euclid Ave.

Susan Olson is the 2026 recipient of the Betty Pretzsch Memorial Volunteer Award given to a five-year member of the Friends of Princeton Public Library.

Princeton's Kristian Wahlgren (front center), who is the only time two-time state wrestling champion from the Illinois Valley, was accompanied by family and friends for his induction into the Shaw Media Illinois Valley Hall of Fame

The following property transfers were recently recorded at the Bureau County Recorder of Deeds’ office in the Bureau County Courthouse:

The following property transfers were recently recorded at the Bureau County Recorder of Deeds’ office in the Bureau County Courthouse:

Elisa Gugerty was the winner of Tuesday’s Wyaton Hills Ladies Play Day of Reverse your score with a score of 15.

Avah Oertel had more hits than Taylor this spring. She batted .607 with a school single-season record 17 homers, 59 RBIs, 19 doubles and 55 runs scored. The repeat BCR Player of the Year is already Princeton’s career leader for home runs (35), RBIs (137) and doubles (35).

Yes, we needed the rains that drenched us Sunday and Monday. But there is a severe weather watch looming Wednesday into Thursday and there could be problems if the rain keeps coming in heavy downpours.

The Spring Valley Municipal Band will launch its 2026 free summer concert series at 7 p.m. Friday, June 12, at Spring Valley’s downtown mini-park.

Three members of Princeton’s regional finalist softball team were named to the 2026 Illinois Coaches Association Class 2A All-State Softball Team. Avah Oertel, Keely Lawson and Caroline Keutzer. Hall’s Caroline Morris and Bernie Larsen were named to third team

Illinois Valley Community College will host an Express Registration for new students from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, at the college’s Ottawa Center, 321 W. Main St., Ottawa.

The suspect in the April 6 holdup of Granville National Bank has been granted a new trial.

Here’s an updated look at offensive school records for Princeton High School softball through the 2026 season

Here’s a look at Princeton High School softball pitching school records as of Tuesday, April 14, 2026 as researched by BCR Sports Editor Kevin Hieronymus

Longtime BCR Sports Editor Kevin Hieronymus received seven awards in Thursday’s Illinois Press Association Contest in East Peoria

Illinois Valley Community College will begin its summer schedule in mid-June.

Union Cemetery in Ohio’s board recently installed a cemetery directory for visitors to locate loved ones and family members.

Jake Gillum started his day running the Steamboat Classic in Peoria running a 4-mile race starting at 8:05 a.m. Then he made fast tracks to defend his Princeton Mile championship by the narrowest of margins, clocking a 4:08.2 to edge runner-up Dale Johnson of Sterling

Catch up on the week’s top Illinois Valley news in minutes for May 31-June 6. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Applications are open for the 2026 Miss Marshall-Putnam County Fair Queen Pageant.

The Putnam County Public Library District announced the opening of “Flag in the Map: Charting Rainbow Flag Stories,” an international photography exhibition on display at the Granville branch through Aug. 31.

Here are the leading ladies on the BCR diamonds representing Bureau Valley, Hall, Princeton and St. Bede.

Riverdale High School used first-place finishes in boys track and softball this spring to clinch its second BCR’s Three Rivers All-Sports Championship in three years. Sherrard (77) was second and Princeton (72) was third.

Here’s a look at the area Bureau County softball leaders for the 2026 season from Bureau Valley, Hall, Princeton and St. Bede

Former Princeton Tiger Danny Cihocki got the call out of the bullpen for the Huskies in their last two games in their NCAA Tournament run in Tallahassee, Fla. on National TV, facing Coastal Carolina and host and No. 10 Florida State.

Illinois Valley fire departments are set to receive more than $160,000 in grants, the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal announced Thursday, as part of the 2026 Small Equipment Grant Program.

Here's an update of area sectionals including Marquette, Newark, Putnam County and Rockridge

Brad Bickett, who led the Storm basketball team to three state basketball third-place finishes from 2000-02 and won nine regionals and three sectionals, heads the list with 287 wins over 15 seasons.

Princeton Elementary School District will hold a free community-wide preschool screening Tuesday, Aug. 4, at Douglas Elementary School.

Jackson Mason became coach Connie Lind's first player at Princeton in her 30 years as coach to win two matches at state. Then he added icing on his coach’s retirement cake by winning a third match in the state meet. He is the 2026 BCR Tennis Player of the Year

Hall High School’s Spanish Department recognized students this year for demonstrating proficiency in Spanish through two state and national certification programs.

After a slower start this spring, Illinois Valley farmers say this year’s growing season is beginning to catch up as the summer months are here. With that, rising fertilizer and fuel costs are changing the way farmers are handling their busy season this year.

Here's a look at the top 15 winningest varsity coaches in school history for Hall, including names like Gary Vicini, Eric Bryant, Richard Nesti, Tom Keegan, Demi Salazar, Mike Filippini and Brian Holman

Festival 56’s performances of its next production, the musical “Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash,” runs from Friday, June 19, through Sunday, June 28, at The Grace Theater, 316 S. Main St., Princeton.

The Bureau County Homestead Festival steering committee recently announced the theme of the 55th annual festival at a Business After Hours event.

Eight players from Princeton and six from Hall earned recognition on the 2026 Three Rivers East All-Conference Softball Team.

Catch up on the week’s top Illinois Valley news in minutes for May 24-30. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Monmouth-Roseville knocked off favorite Rock Island Alleman 4-2 for the 2A Princeton Tegional title, riding the complete-game effort of Clay Casteel, who allowed six hits with five strikeouts.