Derrick Holmes, 35, formerly of Highwood and now a resident of Rockford, received a 2-year prison sentence despite prosecutors' arguments that he be sentenced to the maximum 6 years in prison to deter others from fleeing police at high speeds.

Volunteers combed the river in boats near Oregon on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025.

Ogle County 4-H Fair Swine Show winners were recently named.

Pups and their owners, along with high school students, ran or walked to help a local animal shelter.

Ogle County 4-H Fair Sheep Show winners were recently named.

Ogle County 4-H Fair Poultry Show winners were recently named.

During early European and American exploration of American and Canadian prairies (semi-arid), this region was thought unsuitable for European-style agriculture.

Members of the Amboy High School Class of 2014 recently supported the Kishwaukee College Foundation’s Mathew J. Rood Diesel Power Technology Scholarship after collecting donations at its class reunion.

Constellation has named Chris Mudrick as the company’s new chief nuclear officer, effective Sept. 29, 2025.

The 2025 Ogle County 4-H Senior Master Showman winner was Luke Lichty of Ogle Jolly 4-H Club. The runner up was Ayden Alderks, Ogle Jolly 4-H Club.

Focus House is one of two facilities of its kind in the state. The Ogle County treatment facility just north of Rochelle provides a continuum of services for at-risk youths, including residential, counseling, education and alternative programming.

MCDERMOTT: The story of Rochelle cannot be told without a mention of the taverns and Cherry Avenue.

Ogle County 4-H Fair Dairy Show winners were recently named.

Ogle County 4-H Fair Rabbit Show winners were recently announced.

To raise awareness of Constitution Week, Sept. 17-23, 2025, the Rochelle Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution is sponsoring a Constitution Week word search contest for students through grade 12.

Ogle County 4-H Fair Beef Show winners were recently named.

Ogle County 4-H Fair Goat Show winners were recently named.

Ogle County 4-H Fair Foods Contest winners were recently named.

Ogle County 4-H Fair Llama and Alpaca Show winners were recently named.

Terry Roderick, former director of bands and school administrator at Rochelle Township High School, will be inducted into the Illinois State University Band Hall of Fame on Oct. 11, 2025.

Ogle County 4-H Fair Quality Meats Show winners were recently named.

Stillman Valley's Theresa Miller currently has three giant pumpkins growing in advance of a competition on Sept. 27: Patches, Dimples and Roxanne. She believes Patches, the largest of the three, is currently nearing 1,700 pounds and hopes to see more growth.

Country Road Greenhouses will host its second annual fall plant sale from Sept. 28-29, 2025, at the farm near Rochelle.

Here is a list of property transfers for Lee, Whiteside and Ogle counties for Aug. 22-29, 2025.

Sept. 1 marked 50 years of the Rochelle Fire Department providing ambulance services.

Relive those high school days when Cutting the Square was the way to cruise the loop and check out the people and the cars.

Area nonprofits are working to fill the fundraising gap left by local nonprofit From the Heart after it ceased operations in February after 18 years and $1.116 million in giving in the greater Rochelle area.

October 2024 incident happened at the Rochelle Hospital.

At the Whiteside Area Career Center in Sterling, students are not just learning about technology – they are taking it apart, putting it back together and coding their way into the future.

After more than 50 years of humble service to his hometown, Oregon’s own Don Stevens has officially been selected as the 2025 Citizen of the Year.

A group seeking to resurrect the now-shuttered Lorado Taft Field Campus is hosting two fundraisers in Oregon to raise money in support of their efforts.

Encore! Mt. Morris and Highland Community College’s Lifelong Learning division have partnered to offer two art classes in Mt. Morris this fall.

Each summer, Encore! Mt. Morris hires an artist-in-residence to offer art classes and experiences for area students in second grade through high school.

The Illinois Commerce Commission approved funds Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, to install automatic warning devices and highway approach improvements at the Blackwood Road highway-rail crossing near Davis Junction in Ogle County. 

Ogle County Collector Tiffany O’Brien wants to remind property owners that the second installment of their property tax bill is due Friday, Sept. 12. 

Polo Area Community Theatre is preparing for the first show of its 20th season, which will take place in the Old Polo Town Hall that now belongs to PACT.

Here is a list of Ogle County marriage licenses for August 2025.

In a Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, news release, Kunes Auto Group announced the decision to close its Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram location at 601 Gale St. in Oregon after more than 10 years, effective Sept. 1.

The Creston Village Board of Trustees has unanimously approved an agreement with the Rochelle Landfill that will see the village officially acquire 111.3 acres of land that will be used as farm property that will be leased out.

The Ogle County Sheriff’s Office successfully conducted an impaired driving enforcement effort over Labor Day weekend, resulting in seven arrests for driving under the influence.

The Ogle County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit demonstrated the abilities of K-9s Gator and Saint at the Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, Creston Village Board of Trustees meeting.

The Rochelle Area Community Foundation held a golf outing at Fairways Golf Course on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in Rochelle. The event featured golfers from local businesses and community organizations and nonprofit partners and sponsors with booths at each hole.

The Ogle County Solid Waste Management Department will be hosting a residential electronics recycling and document shredding event on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, from 8 a.m. to noon at 909 Pines Road in Oregon.

The annual meeting of the Rochelle Community Hospital Association will be 5 p.m. Sept. 30 at Alfano’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant. 

State Rep. Brad Fritts, R-Dixon, has officially concluded his 2025 summer tour. The annual tour consisted of 52 stops, including town hall events, coffee & conversation events, school visits, local business tours and more.

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that construction on Illinois Route 72 in Ogle County began Sept. 2.

Rochelle Family Dental is excited to welcome Dr. Shawn May to its team. This new chapter reflects the practice’s continued commitment to providing compassionate, high-quality dental care for families throughout the Rochelle community, according to a news release.

The Rochelle Lions Club recently donated new office furniture and a commemorative plaque to Kings Elementary School in memory of Lion Jim Milligan.

At its Aug. 11, 2025, meeting, the Rochelle City Council approved the annexation of 5 acres at 13800 Gurler Road, which is contiguous to the Rochelle Municipal Airport.

The founders of our republic made a fateful decision on July 16, 1787, when they decided that the Senate would represent the states, instead of the people.