Illinois Valley Community College named Project Success counselor Aseret Loveland as the recipient of the Connie Dzierzynski Skerston Memorial Award for Support Staff Distinguished Service.

The Bureau County Historical Society has received statewide recognition for its work preserving and sharing local history. The Illinois State Historical Society recently named the organization’s publication, The Chronicle, and its Henry W. Immke Exhibit as 2026 “Best of Illinois History” award recipients. The Henry W. Immke Exhibit highlights the work of Henry W. Immke, a longtime Princeton photographer who operated a studio in the community from 1866 to 1923. Immke is believed to have taken more than 30,000 photographs during his career, documenting life in Bureau County and the surrounding region. Over the course of more than four decades, the museum digitized Immke’s extensive collection. Today, more than 22,000 of those images, including glass plate negatives, daguerreotypes and tintypes are preserved at the History Center. The Immke exhibit is open to the public Friday and Saturday afternoons through July at the Newell-Bryant Museum at 634 Pleasant Street in Princeton. In addition to the exhibit, The Chronicle continues to expand its reach. The publication is now distributed to readers in 49 states and 89 Illinois cities.

The Walnut Public Library District will hold a Children’s Business Fair from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, at Liberty Square, 115 S. Main St., Walnut.

The Rotary Club of Princeton will hold its fifth annual ShrimpFest and Brew Hullabaloo from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 6, at Rotary Park, 13593 Bicentennial Drive, Princeton.

The Walnut Public Library District will offer children in fourth through sixth grades a free “Safe At Home Class” program from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 3.

Several entrepreneurs in Sheffield will host Thrive on Main, an Etsy-inspired market, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 9.

Illinois Valley Community College will hold its 60th annual commencement ceremony at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 16, in the college’s gymnasium, 815 N. Orlando Smith St., Oglesby.

The Walnut Public Library District will hold a Farmhouse Barn Quilts by Tammie program from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 20, at the Walnut Community Building, 141 Main St., Walnut.

The Princeton Park District has announced a new addition to the playground at Zearing Park, made possible through a donation from longtime community supporters Don and Barb Schiff.

The Putnam County Public Library District will host a four-week 3D printing program designed for youth ages 11–14 this June.

A Granville man charged in the robbery of Granville National Bank will stand trial June 22 in federal court in Peoria.

Construction on the City County Park shelter project is entering its final stages, with concrete work expected to wrap up soon.

The Covered Bridge Quilters Guild will hold its monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 7 at the New Hope Church of the Nazarene, Princeton.

Princeton Public Library raised $700 during its “Library Giving Day” fundraiser on Tuesday, April 4.

The Putnam County Public Library District’s Condit branch will host a Docs & Dialogue screening of “I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story,” at 4 p.m. Thursday, May 7.

The Putnam County Public Library District’s Granville branch will host “Hidden History of the First Ladies” at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 6.

The Putnam County Public Library District’s McNabb branch will hold a free screening of “Miles, Morale, and Memories: Bob Hope and World War II” at 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 6.

The Putnam County Public Library District’s Granville branch will hold a free screening of “The Grocery List Show” at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 5.

“Illinois Archaeology: The Deep Roots of the Prairie State,” a travelling exhibit from the Illinois State Archaeological Survey, wil be displayed in May at Princeton Public Library.

The bridge has been closed since the collision damaged the structure’s façade and roof. IDOT has allocated approximately $1 million for repairs and upgrades as part of its multi-year program.

The Marshall-Putnam County Fair is taking applications for its annual beauty pageant in July.

Putnam County High School announced its honor roll for the third quarter of the 2025-2026 school year.

While some movement in a school district’s teaching staff is normal, poor teacher retention hurts student achievement and hits districts financially, studies show. It can cost nearly $12,000 to recruit, hire and train a new teacher.

Strong to severe storms are expected across northern Illinois on Monday, with the greatest risk for damaging winds and hail arriving late afternoon into the evening

Logan Junior High School recognized 12 students for citizenship in the third quarter of the 2025-26 school year.

The Chief Senachwine Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution met on April 11 to celebrate America 250! initiative, marking 250 years since American independence.

Catch up on the week’s top Illinois Valley news in minutes for April 19-25. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Illinois Extension will offer a garden planning workshop May 12 from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Richard A. Mautino Memorial Library, 215 E. Cleveland St., Spring Valley, designed for gardeners of all experience levels.

A single-family home in Spring Valley that sold for $225,000 tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Bureau County in the past week.

The meeting is open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

Bureau Valley Junior High's Stevie Davis, Kinley Gruber and Leah Donnelly took part in the 67th Student Council State Convention on April 17-18 in Springfield.

The projects across the 14th Congressional District, which would come under federal Community Project Funding initiative, range from protecting clean drinking water to strengthening access to quality health care in rural communities to public transit systems.

Going to see River Valley Players later this month? Bring a few Kleenex. You’re going to need them.

The event will feature youth entrepreneurs from Ottawa Central, Waltham, Dimmick and Peru grade schools with businesses offering baked goods, 3D-printed items, handmade bracelets, slime, handmade crafts and more.

Festival 56 is seeking up to three youth ages 14-22 to work as paid apprentices with the resident professional theatre company this summer.

Central Bank is exploring options to expand its Princeton location, with president Jeff Hunt presenting the proposal to the Princeton City Council after months of discussion with the city’s planning and zoning commission.

The Princeton City Council received an update on the recently approved business development district during their meeting on Monday night.

The Illinois State Board of Elections released final vote totals Friday in the March 17 primary. Here are the results for La Salle, Bureau and Putnam county races.

The Illinois Valley Herb Guild will hold its annual Garden Faire plant sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 9, in the St. Bede Academy gymnasium, 24 W. U.S. Highway 6, St. Bede Lane, Peru.

AARP will offer a driver safety refresher course April 27-28 at Putnam County Community Center, designed to help drivers 50 and older maintain driving competency and stay safe on the road.

The Seatonville Community Church will hold its annual Mother and Daughters Banquet on Saturday, April 25.

Catch up on the week’s top Illinois Valley news in minutes for April 12-18. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Putnam County High School will host a free college fair Tuesday, April 28, bringing admissions representatives from dozens of selective universities directly to area students and families.

A single-family home in Princeton that sold for $410,000 tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Bureau County in the past week

The donation is for the purchase of three more benches to be located in town.

A tornado warning was issued at 7:45 p.m. Friday for Bureau and Putnam counties, though officials in both had no immediate confirmation of a touchdown. A rotating cloud may have set off the alert.

Much of northern Illinois has been placed under a tornado watch until 8 p.m. Friday. A Level 3 severe risk brings strong storms, hail and possible tornadoes to northern Illinois on Friday evening.

The Princeton-Illinois and Illini chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution celebrated their mutual 130th anniversary Friday with a luncheon at Lock 16 Cafe in La Salle.

Experience Travel in Granville recently announced it was recognized as an All-Star Award recipient by the MAST Travel Network.

The Illinois State Police is using grant money to combat vehicle theft, hijacking, and related violent crimes.