Peru officer still on patrol at 54 – and still loving it
You won’t find many police officers still working at age 54, let alone still working midnights on patrol. But not many law enforcement officers love being a cop as much as Bill Sommer does.
Lainey Wilson, Tyler Childers among the opening acts on The Rolling Stones ‘Hackney Diamonds’ tour
The Rolling Stones have announced the list of supporting artists on their 2024 ‘Hackney Diamonds’ North American Tour. Among the artists who will take turns opening on the legendary band’s 10-week excursion in support of their latest
A cadet at 15, Utica Fire Chief Ben Brown became chief at 26
As a bored 15-year-old, he was coaxed into joining the Utica Fire Department as a cadet. In just over a decade, Ben Brown had soared up the ranks and was fire chief by age 26.
Princeton police dogs expand capabilities of the department
Lucy and Gus have made a name for themselves in the Princeton community – they are the Princeton Police Department’s K-9 officers.
Peru paramedic Shauna Breckenridge leads with compassion
When Shauna Breckenridge, of rural Streator, was 12 years old, she was attending her cousin’s birthday party when tragedy struck – a man got his foot caught in a three-wheeler.
Spring Valley Fire Chief Todd Bogatitus ‘helps people on their worst day’
When Spring Valley Fire Chief Todd Bogatitus joined the cadet program at 16 years old he was deliberating his future career paths and was looking for a way to serve his community. Almost 40 years later, he
Justin Arndt keeps busy as firefighter, gym owner, football coach
After graduating from Fieldcrest High School in 2005, Justin Arndt attended Indian Valley Community College for one year before transferring to Illinois State University where he played on the club hockey team.
Cael Davis has the ‘best job in the world’ as Princeton firefighter/EMT
Firefighter/EMT Cael Davis said if there was one saying he heard from a coach that rings out most today is “always give a 100 percent.”
Bryant Eustice sees similarities between being K-9 handler, coach
After coming home from serving in the military, St. Bede graduate Bryant Eustice was looking for a new direction. He found it in law enforcement. Eustice is not a La Salle County deputy/K-9 handler while continuing to
Dispatcher Julie Dean embodies calm under pressure time and time again
They call her “the Magnet” because major catastrophes (the Westclox fire, for one) seem to always happen under her watch. But what Julie Dean, a veteran with Illinois Valley Regional Dispatch, attracts most is the esteem of