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.

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.

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.

Here's an update of area regionals including Bureau Valley, Hall, L-P, Mendota, Ottawa, Princeton, Putnam County and St. Bede and a look ahead to sectionals.

The Homestead Festival Steering Committee has named Rick Clary as the 2026 grand marshal for the 55th annual Bureau County Homestead Festival.

The Illinois Valley Community College board of trustees approved the purchase of two vehicles to expand truck driver trainees’ and automotive students’ skills at its meeting Tuesday, May 19.

The Illinois Valley Community College Foundation selected five individuals to be inducted into the IVCC-LPO Hall of Fame Class of 2026.

Illinois Valley Community College was recently presented with a $21,000 endowment to establish the IVCC VAC Scholarship by the La Salle County Veterans Assistance Commission.

A Hall mom cheering for the Red Devils baseball team on Thursday said, “Let’s go, boys, you’re the Comeback Kids.” The comeback kids just ran out of outs, falling 5-4 to Mon-Rose.

Princeton Logan landed four state medals in the IESA 3A State Track & Field Meet with eighth-graders Ethan Turpen and Jayden Reynolds and seventh-grader Robert Comer

Here's an update of the Bureau County area IHSA softball postseason on May 28

Stage 212 will hold auditions for its 2026 off-season production of the musical comedy “Firebringer” at 6 p.m. Friday, May 29, and at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 30.

Putnam County broke out its Player of the Game Chains for the first time this season for Wednesday’s regional semifinals in Annawan. By a unanimous choice, PC relief pitcher Rudy Villagomez received the honors.

There will be xxx Bureau County athletes competing in the 1A boys state track & field prelims on Thursday and four in the 2A prelims on Friday in Charleston.

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church’s Women of the ELCA will host a baked ham dinner from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 20.

Princeton High School Spanish IV students taught by Kelsey Sarver recently had the opportunity to take the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy test in March.

Janice Campbell won Tuesday’s Women Wyaton Hills Ladies Day Golf play of day for “Guess your score.” Anna Flaig was second with numerous ladies tying for third.

The University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalists will hold a birdwatching hike from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, June 27, at the Sue and Wes Dixon Waterfowl Refuge, 780 East Road, Hennepin.

Kewanee got three extra outs with the help of two Princeton errors and a dropped third strike in the second inning, hitting the ball out of the infield just once and scoring four runs to take a 6-1 lead. Kewanee tacked on four more runs in the sixth in an eventual 10-5 win.

Just who are these namesakes on the walls? This is the second in a two-part series telling the story and history behind the namesakes of area gymnasiums, tracks and track meets.

Putnam County High School has recognized its top 10 students of the 2025-2026 school year based on academic achievement.

Central Bank Illinois is bringing back its summer concert series at the Central Bank Pavilion, 218 North State Street, with 13 free shows running May 30 through September 26.

The River Bend Food Bank Mobile Food Pantry will distribute food on Saturday, May 30, at the Bureau County Fairgrounds.

The University of Illinois Extension will explore Illinois’s prehistoric past through Mazon Creek fossils on June 25.

Emersyn Ledergerber and Emily Wright are the 2026 recipients of the Edith I. Boyd scholarships at Bureau Valley High School.

Catch up on the week’s top Illinois Valley news in minutes for May 17-23. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

About 100 young football players got a masterclass from Chicago Bears quarterback Tyson Bagent on Saturday night at St. Bede Academy.

The Princeton girls soccer team saw its best season in years end with a 4-0 loss to Alleman in Saturday’s 1A regional finals at Bryant Field. Their 17 wins this season has put the Tigresses back on the map as a team to be reckoned with and created excitement in the community.

Illinois Valley Community College recently announced the establishment of the Starved Rock Historical and Educational Foundation’s first scholarship.

Authorities are urging visitors to the state parks to report any acts of vandalism. The advisory comes after a series of reports of graffiti and illegal carving into stone.

The baseball postseason starts up Monday in Illinois. Here's a look at IHSA regionals for Bureau Valley, Hall, Princeton, Putnam County and St. Bede

The Princeton Tigresses softball team saw its season end over nine highly intense innings Friday, falling to Pontiac 5-3 in the Class 2A Lexington Regional championship game.

Citizenship ideals at Logan Junior High School in Princeton emphasize curriculum and extracurricular activities.

Brady Booker has always competed with a flair, from the baseball and football fields of St. Bede Academy to the pro wrestling ring. He’s now going to take his show to the highly popular Survivor TV show for its 51st season this fall.

Bureau Valley stormed out with eight runs in the first inning on the way to regional semifinal victory at Annawan. Casey Etheridge, Princeton 4x400 qualify for state,