Community Close-Up 2013

Earlville: 150 Years And Counting

Jenna Dooley — Tue, 14 May 2013 11:12:15 +0000

This is an important year for the farming community of Earlville, Illinois. Residents are preparing for the town’s Sesquicentennial.

Think there's nothing to do in Earlville on a Friday night? Think again.

Princeton: Arts Big In Small Town

Guy Stephens — Wed, 08 May 2013 09:59:12 +0000

Princeton is the county seat of Bureau County. It’s also the center for cultural activity that seems all out of proportion to its size.

Joni Hunt is Tourism Director for the City of Princeton. She says, no matter how you slice it, there’s a lot going on in this town of 7000.

“We have multiple platforms for artists and thespians and musicians, so it doesn’t matter what age you are, or what type of culture you’re interested in, there’s something for you here.”

Community Close Up: LaSalle-Peru's River Rescue Squad

Mike Moen — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:25:57 +0000

The LaSalle-Peru area is known for tourist attractions, namely Starved Rock State Park. It’s also home to a river rescue team that claims to be one of the oldest in the country. This volunteer group has served the community for more than 60 years.

Freeport Leader Promotes Ambitious Learning Model

Jenna Dooley — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 11:23:29 +0000

We continue our “Community Close-Up” series with a proposed change to the educational structure in Freeport.

At Center Elementary School, some third grade students each have what are called “choice boards.” They get to choose when they will do each activity during the week, and then highlight each box when they complete a task.

After Big Losses, Mendota Working To Move Forward

Guy Stephens — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 11:30:00 +0000

As you head off Interstate 39 and drive west toward Mendota, the sign inviting you to the city’s annual summer sweet corn festival reminds you that you’re in farm country. The big Del Monte processing plant further in confirms that. But manufacturing has long been a big part of Mendota’s economy, too. So R.R. Donnelley was hailed back in 1992 when it bought a closed local printing plant, adding high-skilled, high-wage jobs to the community.