Byron CUSD 226 is proud to announce that Annie Burke, second grade teacher at Mary Morgan Elementary School, has been awarded the Outstanding Young Alumni Award from Illinois State University.

The Rochelle Christian Food Pantry at 770 Lincoln Ave. set a record for families served in August 2025, RCFP Board Member Cal Jacobs said Sept. 25, 2025.

A man is hospitalized after he was struck by a train in downtown Rochelle on Wednesday night, Oct. 1, 2025, a Rochelle Police Department news release said.

Maddie Shaw of Stillman Valley, who is studying early childhood education at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, has been admitted to the Professional Education program.

The beloved Ogle County Farm Stroll is back for another year of hands-on agricultural adventure and local flavor. Mark your calendars for Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, and prepare to explore the heart of rural Illinois.

Forreston Junior/Senior High School/Forrestville Valley CUSD 221 received a grant for polycarbonate panels and connection supplies for its greenhouse.

The Coliseum Museum in Oregon is pleased to announce the opening of the final juried art show of 2025, the Air, Land & Sea Art Exhibit featuring 44 artists from across the northern Illinois area, on display from Oct. 1-Nov. 16, 2025.

The TALK-LINE interview for Sept. 30 featured 2025 Oregon, Illinois “Autumn On Parade” representative Debbie Dickson previewing this weekend’s celebration for her final time. She will be stepping down as coordinator of the event after this year.

Northern Rehab Physical Therapy Specialists is collecting donations for the Sycamore United Methodist Church Coat Ministry. Needed items include new and gently-used coats, boots, mittens, scarves, and other winter accessories.

The City of Rochelle recently released information on its 2025 Halloween festivities. Community-wide trick-or-treat hours will be 5-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31.

Fiegenschuh: Over the past eight years as Rochelle’s city manager, I have had the privilege of working alongside an extraordinary team of elected officials, department heads, and employees who are deeply committed to serving our community.

Annual event is a fundraiser for the Village of Progress in Oregon.

Last year, Forreston’s football team was 2-7 because of losses to teams they could have beaten. This year, they are 4-1 because they are winning those same types of games.

In the United States, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. The Stillman Valley High School National Honor Society would like to support those who have been affected by the disease.

The 2025 Forreston High School Homecoming celebrated school spirit, creativity, and student leadership with a week of exciting events and impressive class floats.

Games with prizes for kids will be just part of the fun at the annual Fall Family Festival on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, on the Mt. Morris Village Square.

A steady stream of visitors took to the back roads of northwestern Ogle County on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, to visit four stops on the sixth annual Back Roads Market.

A Davis Junction woman and a Kentucky man suffered serious injuries when their overturned Harley-Davidson Trike landed on them during a Sunday crash in Shabbona Township, according to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.

A steady stream of visitors took to the back roads of northwestern Ogle County on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, to visit four stops on the sixth annual Back Roads Market.

Here's a list of Ogle County property transfers for Sept. 22-26, 2025.

Downtown Polo was filled with the aroma of chili during the town's annual chili cook off Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. The winners were Judge's Choice: Denise Balbach; People's Choice: Hillbilly Social Club; and Showmanship: Denise Balbach.

The City of Rochelle will be moving forward with a second phase of downtown-area improvements that will include a stage and public restrooms structure off North Main Street.

Stillman Valley High School is proud to announce that junior Lucas Mendoza has been selected as a BigFuture Ambassador for the fall 2025 program.

The Byron Women’s Club invites you to join in the fun Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025 for Fiesta Nachos & Bingo.

The Rochelle Rotary Club presented a $3,500 donation to the Rochelle Community Action Network on Sept. 23, 2025.

The Rochelle Township High School Education Foundation will host its second annual trivia night Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, at Rochelle VFW Post 3878.

Oregon School District teachers received checks from the Mt. Morris Community Library Foundation on Sept. 15, 2025, that will get new books to first graders every month.

Andrew Marshall pleaded guilty to one of three charges – aggravated criminal sexual abuse – and sentenced to 30 months probation when he appeared in Ogle County court Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025. Two other felonies were dismissed as part of a plea deal.

Rochelle Foods presented a donation of $5,000 to the Rochelle Area Community Foundation on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025.

Here's a list of property transfers for Lee, Whiteside and Ogle counties for Sept. 15-19, 2025

In honor of Veterans Day, the Leaf River Lions Club is having a lunch drive-thru from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 4.

The annual Autumn on Parade festival will fill downtown Oregon with artisans, food vendors, classic cars, and family fun Oct. 4 and 5, 2025.

On Sept. 4 and 5, 446 Ogle and Carroll County fourth and fifth graders gathered for the 23rd annual Ag Awareness Days at the Ogle County Fairgrounds to learn about modern agriculture and its influences on daily living.

An attorney of a rural Dixon man charged with the attempted murder of three police officers at his home in June 2024 is planning to file a petition asking that his client be allowed to wear civilian clothes at hearings.

Decision to be made in October 2025 after case law is reviewed.

Changes Counseling will offer free depression screenings Oct. 6 at the Flagg-Rochelle Public Library at 619 Fourth Ave. in Rochelle.

The 2025 Ogle County Fair proved to be one of the best yet, drawing a total attendance of 13,443 – up significantly from 10,721 the previous year.

The Ogle County Solid Waste Management Department will be hosting a residential electronics recycling and food drive event Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.

The Rochelle Chamber of Commerce presented its Lawn of the Week award for the week of Sept. 24, 2025, to Noah and Raegan Carmichael.

Anthony Rowley, a Rochelle Edward Jones financial adviser, is supporting the Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots program by using his office as a drop-off location for this year’s toy drive.

Bearrows: As we transition into the vibrant season of fall, we are experiencing a bustling period here in Rochelle.

Harvest began for Ogle County farmers in mid-September, Ogle County Farm Bureau Manager Ron Kern said Sept. 25, 2025.

CrossRoads Community Church at 205 N. Jefferson Ave. in Polo is inviting the community to take part in its trunk or treat Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025.

Sidewalks are being repaired through a tiered system based on "trip hazard" evaluations.

Stillman Valley High School was placed on a soft lockdown and saw a large police response Thursday morning due to an incident with an uncooperative student, Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle said.

The Rochelle Township High School Theater Department will present its fall play, “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon” by Don Zolidis, Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 2-4, at 7:30 p.m. each night in the RTHS Auditorium. Entry for adults is $5 and student entry is $3.

A friendly reminder from Autumn on Parade and the City of Oregon: We are about to have a huge influx of people who may have never been to Oregon. They don’t know our roads, our businesses, or our lifestyle.

Rochelle's boys golf team placed second at the Interstate 8 Conference meet and the girls golf team was fifth. That and more in the Rochelle News Leader high school sports roundup.

LARSON: I know something about martyrdom. It is part of the history of the church. Church historians will tell you that the foundation of the church is built upon the blood of the martyrs.

The Rochelle City Council voted 4-3 on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, to accept a $3,127,095 bid from DPI Construction, Inc. for phase two of its Rebuild Downtown & Main Street Grant Project.