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Thursday, October 10, 2013
Smokin’ in the sewers Princeton approves testing project in sewer lines By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — Princeton City Council gave the green light for the city to undergo smoke testing in various parts of the sanitary sewer system. The council met Monday at City Hall. The testing, which was previously recommended in the city’s sanitary sewer improvement plan, will help determine conditions of problematic areas. Princeton City Manager Jeff Clawson said the testing will be carried out in the 24-inch sewer that runs east and west, a little north of town, and feeds through Elm Lawn Cemetery and beyond. The proposed cost for Trenchless Solutions to test this sewer came in at 74 cents per linear foot. The total cost is estimated to be $9,842, not to exceed $10,000. Clawson pointed there are also miscellaneous areas around the city that have been problematic to get to with TV equipment, therefore Plan B is to undergo the smoke testing in those area to determine their conditions. The city will pay $22 per hour to Trenchless Solutions for an estimated time of 15 hours for this portion of the project. The total cost is estimated to be $3,375, not to exceed $3,600. Clawson said this shortterm plan is to lead to the long-term plan of determining where the need is to replace problematic sewers. The costs of the smoke testing are not budgeted, but it will be charged to the city’s sewer fund and taken from the reserve the city is building over the next six months with the rate increase that went into effect in September. The city’s sanitary storm sewer improvement plan is on file at City Hall and identifies areas that have been marked as priorities for the city to address.
See Testing Page 4 Year 167 No. 122 Two Sections - 40 Pages
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Geronimo Energy talks wind New owner, new prospects for Walnut Ridge wind farm By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — A representative from Geronimo Energy — the new owner of Walnut Ridge wind farm — spoke about new prospects at Walnut Ridge during the public comment period at the Bureau County Board meeting on Tuesday.
Tom Swierczewski is a former employee of Midwest Wind Energy, who is the former owner of Walnut Ridge. Midwest Wind Energy sold the wind farm to Geronimo Energy in March. When the deal went through, Swierczewski explained he was offered to continue managing the wind farm under Geronimo Energy.
Geronimo Energy, which is based in Edina, Minn., sees a lot of value in Walnut Ridge, according to Swierczewski. “I know there hasn’t been a lot of activity in public, but there has been a lot of behind the scenes work,” he said, noting they haven’t been in front of the Bureau County Board since 2011, when the wind farm was granted an extension
See Wind farm Page 4
BCR photo/Goldie Currie
‘Tacky tourists’ headed on a Homecoming vacation Tuesday was “Tacky Tourist Day” at Hall High School in the midst of Homecoming Week. Students sported bizarre Hawaiian shirts, socks with sandals, cameras, binoculars and straw hats along with many other tacky tourist wardrobe items. Pictured are seniors Becca Herrmann (from left), Miguel Villarreal, Tim Perez, Maria Villalobos and sophomore Breezy Harmon. The group took time from their lunch hour to give their best tacky tourist impressions. The Hall High School Red Devils will face the St. Bede Academy Bruins on Friday during their 2013 Homecoming football game.
Picturing Bill Lamb Well-known area photographer dies at 91 By Terri Simon tsimon@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — For years, he stood behind the camera. And for just as many years, he captured faces, events, moments ... preserving life so others could appreciate it for years to come. Bill Lamb, 91, of Princeton died Monday at Walnut Manor Nursing Home in Walnut. He leaves behind a legacy of a fellow with a camera who had a kind smile and a dry sense of humor. He also leaves behind a myriad of memories which he was able to capture on film and share with countless folks in the area.
While Lamb was perhaps best known for his photographic skills, he had a long career at Josten’s in Princeton (now MTM Recognition) and was the projectionist for years at the Apollo Theater in Princeton. According to long-time family friend Sharon Rabe, Lamb also belonged to a theater organ organization and traveled around the country to hear organ concerts. Not only did he enjoy playing the organ and piano, he had a large collection of theater music. In World War II, Rabe said Army officials quickly learned Lamb’s film projection skills, so Lamb was often the one they would turn to when running the training films for the soldiers.
See Lamb Page 4
Photo contributed
A rare photo of Bill Lamb was printed in the 1981 PHS yearbook, where the graduating class dedicated the yearbook to their beloved photographer.
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