Payton Felix

A Lee County judge ordered a sex offender evaluation on Thursday for a Dixon man charged with sexual abuse and domestic battery.

The two-day trial of Jodie Wiederkehr, 56, concluded Tuesday when the 12-person jury found her guilty of one count of false reporting, a Class 4 felony, and one count of harassment by telephone, a misdemeanor, after about two and a half hours of deliberations.

Animal activist is accused of calling Ogle County dispatchers 27 times on May 25, 2025, and falsely reporting that someone had been shot at a rodeo on Ritchie Road property.

From 1 to 9 p.m., in the park in front of Dixon High School, attendees can show their support for the LGBTQ+ community, jam out to live music, watch drag show performances, explore over 125 merchant vendors and enjoy food and drinks from over 12 vendors.

Harley R. Delander, 28, of Dixon, is charged with intimidation/physical harm, a Class 3 felony; and one count each of stalking/cause fear for safety and cyberstalking/cause person to fear, both Class 4 felonies, court records show.

The charges stem from a drug investigation that the Dixon Police Department began several months ago, according to police.

A Dixon farm sanctuary wants to expand onto a 72.45-acre property next to it, but that property is owned by Dixon Public Schools and administrators say it’s not for sale.

A two-story residence in Grand Detour caught fire early Monday morning and required crews from 13 fire departments across four counties to bring the blaze under control.

Local residents have had negative reactions in recent weeks after learning about a real-estate listing posted on the Lee County Industrial Development Association’s website – a listing that has since been removed – advertising a 387-acre property along Interstate 88 and U.S. 30.

Shaw Local newspapers received a combined 45 awards in contest categories that included general excellence, photography, news writing, opinion writing and design.

Judge grants prosecutors’ objection to expert testimony from veterinarians, but rules defense attorneys are free to call the civilians they want to testify.

The Dixon City Council voted Monday to accept a donation of a vacant residential property that officials hope to demolish with state grant funds and open for redevelopment as housing.

An animal rights group urged Ogle County officials to shut down a rodeo event near Rochelle on Sunday as one of its members heads to trial for charges that accuse her of falsely reporting a shooting at one of those events in May 2025.

Dixon city officials selected a different contractor for a water tower paint project Monday after the previously recommended contractor indicated they’d be unable to comply with an Illinois employment law if it were to go into effect.

A Lee County judge issued an arrest warrant Wednesday for a Downers Grove man accused of felony charges related to vehicle theft.