Joe Ruklick will never be forgotten around Princeton for his exploits on the basketball court, leading the Tigers to back-to-back state tournament appearances, capped by a fourth-place finish in 1954-55 in the old one-class system.

He taught them how to play as a team, how to win and more importantly, how to be good kids.

Our early pioneers were busy folks building cabins, clearing prairie and timber for crops, raising families and livestock, providing all medical support and a church life all while understanding the value of education and stepping up to that responsibility as well.

BCR Sports Editor takes his annual look back at the year of sports from the local sports scene.

The last Princeton Tiger to play Big Ten football was Eric Foresman with the University of Illinois in the early ‘80s.

Last Saturday, ISU held a “Return to Horton” basketball game against SIU-Edwardsville, the first game played at the old barn since the Redbirds moved across the street to Redbird Arena in 1988.

Jason Kirby’s West Central Heat outlasted Amboy-LaMoille-Ohio in a 44-36 shootout for the Illinois 8-Man Football Association state championship at Monmouth College. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief by catching that elusive championship.

My recent stories have featured pre-civil war, Bureau County families, Methodist Church circuit riders and abolitionists. Some individuals become notable by their obituaries, and I wanted to learn more about this one.

Bennett Williams, a junior lineman for Princeton’s 3A quarterfinalists, spearheaded a “2nd and 7 Reading Initiative program” to read to the five second grade classes at Jefferson School in Princeton this week. It’s the first one implemented in the state of Illinois.