Braden Curran delivered on the mound and at the plate to lead the Red Devils to a 13-2 Three Rivers Conference crossover victory Friday in Orion. Putnam County was also a winner on the diamond, while the L-P and Mendota track teams opened their outdoors season.

The Special Education Office for the Putnam County School District 535 announced it plans to destroy all temporary education records of transferred students, graduates or permanently withdrawn students by the end of the 2020-2021 school year.

Putnam County Junior High announced its high honor and honor rolls for the third quarter of the 2025-2026 school year.

The Bureau County History Center's magazine, The Chronicle, and the Henry W. Immke Exhibit have been selected as 2026 ISHS “Best of Illinois History” award recipients.

Bureau County Metro Center - Looking for a fun and competitive way to spend an evening with friends? The Bureau County Metro Center is bringing the excitement back with an Adult Dodgeball Tournament set for Saturday, May 23.

Bureau Valley High School inducted 16 new members into the National Honor Society on Thursday, March 26.

The blood drive reflects the Bureau Valley High School National Honor Society’s commitment to service, one of its core pillars, as members work to make a meaningful impact both within their school and throughout the broader community.

Here’s a look at the top returning Bureau County boys track & field athletes representing ALO, Bureau Valley, Hall, Princeton and St. Bede

Charlie Waca, who had a 38-year coaching career as an assistant football coach, was inducted into the IHSFCA Hall of Fame on Saturday. His catch phrase "that it's a good day for football" will be forever remembered by his players.

With the outdoor season set to open next week, here’s some key dates to mark on your calendar.

The “Love Our Community” grant program’s goal is to award $10,000 annually to local nonprofits in appreciation of the resources and time they provide to the community, subject to funds permitting.

The St. Bede baseball and LaSalle-Peru softball teams are making spring flings this week to warmer climates down south. The Bruins are playing in Tennessee while the L-P girls are enjoying the sun in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Here's boys track & field previews for Amboy co-op, Bureau Valley, DePue, Hall, Princeton, Putnam County and St. Bede.

Here's a look at the girls track & field teams heading into the 2026 season from ALO, Bureau Valley, Hall, Princeton, Putnam County and St. Bede

Bureau County Thank you, Everyday Heroes 2026

When running mate Camryn Driscoll went down with a season-ending knee injury in early January, Davis took it upon herself to step up her game. In her next 13 games, Davis averaged 21.5 ppg and incredibly doubled her 3-point shooting to 34.6%.

The Covered Bridge Quilters Guild will hold its monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 2 in the New Hope Church of the Nazarene, Princeton.

In a game in which the Comets scored 14 runs over the last two innings on the way to a run-away 20-5 win over Bureau Valley, Newman coach Kenny Koerner pointed to relief pitcher Liam Nicklaus as providing a calming influence when the Comets needed it most.

Bureau Valley coach Dave Shepherd said it was about time. The Storm finally chalked up a victory over their old Three Rivers Conference rival Newman Monday, scoring four runs in the fourth inning and two more in the sixth to rally for a 9-6 win.

The Hennepin Park District will sponsor activities over spring break, including an Easter Egg Hunt and Kids Bingo.

Auditions are open to incoming 9th graders and up and will take place Saturday, April 11, from 1 to 6 p.m. at Putnam County High School, 402 E Silverspoon Avenue, Granville.

Sherman’s family-owned appliance, furniture, and mattress retailer is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026, and continuing its tradition of giving back to the communities that have supported it for five decades.

The Ladd American Legion Auxiliary, Harold E Russell Unit 958, will meet Tuesday, April 7, at 6:30 p.m. at the Legion Hall, 111 S. Main Street.

Catch up on the week’s top Illinois Valley news in minutes for March 22-28. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Avah Oertel led a Princeton hit parade of nine hits with a 3 for 3 day at the plate, including two home runs and three RBIs. Keely Lawson also homered as the Tigresses snapped a 2-game skid with a 6-1 win over visiting Plano at Little Siberia Field in Princeton.

Greenfield Retirement Home will hold “A Night at Tiffany’s” 115th anniversary celebration and fundraiser beginning at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 11, at Chapel Hill Golf Course and Event Center, 12927 Illinois State Route 26, Princeton.

The Every Student Succeeds Act fiscal 2027 application is open.

The Arts of Starved Rock Country Fund recently opened its grant application process for art programs, projects and performances scheduled to run from Wednesday, July 1, through Thursday, Dec. 31.

Construction will mill and resurface I-80 and the ramps of the Illinois 26 and I-180 interchanges. The entire project is anticipated to be completed in October.

A look at all-time boys & girls basketball scoring leaders for 58 area schools, including 14 closed schools. Six area players, including Princeton's Keighley Davis and Fieldcrest's Macy Gochanour, moved to No. 1 this season along with players from Byron, Orion and Polo.

Here is the BCR boys tennis preview featuring the Princeton and St. Bede boys teams

Bureau Valley's Maddie Wetzell has made a good run with the Bureau Valley track team with more to come. She knows now where that run will continue. The Storm senior has committed to run for lllinois Wesleyan University next year. She plans to study Kinesiology.

Princeton Christian Academy recently released its honor roll for the third quarter of the 2025-26 school year.

The University of Illinois Extension will hold a garden planning workshop for adults from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, April 17, at the Putnam County Library District’s Granville branch, 214 S. McCoy St., Granville.

The St. Padre Pio Altar Society will host its 12th annual taco sale on Sunday, May 3, at Sacred Heart Church Hall in Granville.

Here's a look at the Bureau County boys class of 2026 scoring leaders, plus the leaders from other classes

The Princeton High School drama department will present “The Addams Family Musical: School Edition” at 7 p.m. Friday, March 27, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 29, at the high school, 103 S. Euclid Ave.

This April, area libraries invite you to embark on a communitywide Library Crawl — an adventure inspired by discovery, curiosity, and the thrill of the hunt.

Here's a look at Bureau County boys finals statistical leaders for the 2025-26 season including Bureau Valley, Hall, Princeton and St. Bede based on available stats

The Putnam County Public Library District invites the public to participate in “Citizen Science Month” by taking part in hands-on projects at its branches.

Putnam County Community Theatre has announced audition dates open to incoming third through eighth-grade students for its “Aladdin Jr.” Summer Theatre Camp.

Taylor Vescagni was punching them out and Anna Riva was hitting them out for the La Salle-Peru softball team at Princeton’s Little Siberia Field on Tuesday. Vescagni pitched six no-hit innings with 12 strikeouts. Riva blasted two home runs.

The Princeton Public Library invites the community to join Library Giving Day on Wednesday, April 1 — a one-day online fundraiser to expand the digital collection of eBooks and audiobooks.

Zion United Church of Christ, Peru, will host a special Living Lord’s Supper at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 29.

Princeton senior Keighley Davis was named Class 2A Illinois Media All-State Honorable Mention while Bureau Valley freshman Carson Gruber was named to the Illinois Prospects All-Freshmen Third Team. They were both first-team All-BCR.

A roll call of BCR Players of the Year since its inception in 1987

Hall senior Braden Curran averaged 14.8 ppg, scoring his 1,000th point along the way. He was named IBCA Class 2A Special Mention All-State and unanimously named Three Rivers East All-Conference. He is the 2025-26 BCR Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

The Putnam County Public Library District’s Granville Branch invites the public to join a Citizen Science project, “Do NASA Live – Cloudspotting on Mars,” at 1 p.m. Thursday, April 2.

The Putnam County Public Library District’s Granville Branch invites the public to attend a free screening of “Radioactive: The Women of Three Mile Island” at 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 31.

Introducing the 2025-26 All-BCR Boys Basketball Team, featuring players from Bureau Valley, DePue, Hall, LaMoille, Princeton and St. Bede.