Homestead Festival announces 2026 theme, ‘Let Freedom Ring in Bureau County’

BCR Softball Player of Year: Princeton’s Avah Oertel keeps hitting on record pace

Avah Oertel had more hits than Elvis Presley 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).

Spring Valley, Peru municipal bands announce summer concert series

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.

Engle Lane Theatre to open ‘Frozen Jr.’ this week

Engle Lane Theatre in Streator will present Disney’s Frozen Jr. beginning Tuesday, June 9, with performances running through Sunday, June 14.

Four charged with felonies in Ottawa drug raid

A search warrant executed Friday, June 5, 2026, in Ottawa yielded 38 grams of crack cocaine and resulted in felony charges against four individuals.

Severe weather forecast midweek for Illinois Valley

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.