Things are looking up for a local financial institution

Princeton National Bancorp, Incorporated, released the first quarter 2012 results. The parent corporation of Citizens First National Bank ended its first quarter with a net income available to common stockholders of 686-thousand dollars, or 20 cents per common share. President and CEO Tom Ogaard says he’s optimistic about the future.  Ogaard went on to say they are watching expenses and he is expecting some resolution to some problem loans within the next 3 to 6 months.

Illinois Briefs - 5/17/12

Childcare Funding Restored

(Springfield, IL) -- Childcare providers in Illinois may get paid after all. Governor Quinn previously said the state could no longer afford to pay for the program, at least not for the rest of this fiscal year. But lawmakers have voted to shift about 73-million dollars within the state's budget to cover the costs. That means about 85-thousand single parents can keep their kids in daycare and 33-thousand child care providers can keep their doors open. The bill now moves to the Senate.

Man Commits Suicide At Springfield Hotel

(Springfield, IL) -- A Nebraska man apparently committed suicide during a standoff with Springfield police last week. Authorities were called to the Comfort Inn after reports that a guest might be suicidal. Police arrived on the scene and Douglas Smith, from Bellevue, Nebraska pointed a gun at Read more...

Princeton Fire Chief leaving

Princeton’s Fire Chief is moving on after nearly 3 years at the position.  John Petrakis is resigning to join the Channahon Fire Protection District.  Channahon has a population of about 12,500 and is located 70 miles east of Princeton.  Petrakis has been with the Princeton Fire Department since 2004, at first as deputy fire chief before assuming the role of chief in June of 2009.  He says he’ll miss Princeton but is leaving for family reasons, as the move will put his children closer to their grandparents.  Petrakis says he looks forward to the challenges of his new job, but also says he’ll miss the staff he now works with in Princeton.  Petrakis says his resignation as Princeton Fire Chief will be effective June 16th.  No word yet on a permanent replacement for Petrakis in Princeton, but Mayor Keith Cain and City Manager Jeff Clawson are reportedly already in the process of choosing an interim chief.  Then they’ll begin the search for a permanent replacement, and Cain says that hire could be from within or they could go outside the department.

Illinois Briefs - 5/16/12

Lawmaker Proposes More Online Gambling

(Springfield, IL) -- One of the state's top Democrats wants to establish Illinois as a major online gambling hub. Senate President John Cullerton says creating a "Division of Online Gambling" within the lottery system could boost the state's treasury by hundreds of millions of dollars. Cullerton wants to move quickly on the proposal in order to get a head start on other states. Part of the plan is to organize the first major poker pool that reaches people on a national and international level. If enacted, the state's iGaming Division could be up and running within the next year.

Police Increase Seat Belt Enforcement

(Springfield, IL) -- Drivers and passengers may want to remember to buckle up when they're riding inside a car. That's because police are increasing enforcement between now and Memorial Day weekend, adding hundreds more seat belt enforcement zones across the state. Read more...