Catch up on the week’s top Sauk Valley news for Sept. 29-Oct. 4 in minutes. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

The TALK-LINE interview for Oct. 1 featured Shaw Local News representatives Charlene Bielema and Brandon Clark looking at featured news stories, including a planned expansion at a Sterling business and substance abuse care in Rock Falls

Several Rock Falls officers told the City Council on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, that their applications were not looked at during the chief selection process. Council members also indicated they won't support the mayor’s choice of Rollie Elder when they are asked to vote.

Melinda Jones has a message for people – My hometown Rocks! – and the city’s tourism director and her team are committed to getting that message out to people near and far.

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

New this year is the Women's Skillet Throwing Competition, which has four age categories.

Selmi’s, located in Rock Falls, is a family-owned farm, apple orchard, and greenhouse that has served the region for four generations.

The Class of 1975, with 98 classmates, is the largest graduating class of Prophetstown High School so far, and they celebrated a milestone with their 50th class reunion this past weekend.

After graduation, Kayla Hackbarth plans to attend Sauk Valley Community College to major in Early Childhood Education and continue her track and field career. She hopes to transfer to a university such as Illinois State to finish her degree.

The festival will be from 3-10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, at the RB&W District, 201 E. Second St., Rock Falls. The throwdown is a celebration held in conjunction with Hispanic Heritage Month.

Rock Falls High School marched through Rock Falls with a parade Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, to welcome back students and alumni for homecoming. The RFHS Class of 1985 will be cheering on the Rockets at the homecoming football game on Friday night and gathering at Cochrans after the game. The class members at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, will tour Rock Falls High School, and starting at 6 p.m. will gather at The Classroom in Nelson.

At Cledy’s House of Hope in Rock Falls, women in recovery are building new lives through structure, community and support.

Road closures will begin around 5:15 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, in Rock Falls. The parade begins at 5:30 p.m.

For the past two years, the Sterling, Dixon City, Dixon Rural, and Rock Falls fire departments have worked to align their command structures, allowing leaders to take over seamlessly during major calls.

Here's a list of Whiteside County property transfers for Sept. 15-19, 2025.

The TALK-LINE interview for Sept. 19 featured Sterling/Rock Falls Family YMCA Marketing and Development Director Ellie Hanlon discussing upcoming special events, including an “Adult Wellness Weekend” in October at Camp Benson in Carroll County.

Taking care of their community isn't just a job for a Rock Falls couple, but a passion that goes beyond that: making sure hungry bellies are full during the holidays and giving teenagers a chance to explore their hands-on skills.

CSB of Rock Falls opened for business in 1975 at 1801 First Ave. in Rock Falls, and today has grown to serve four additional communities: Sterling, Dixon, Morrison and Fulton.

Coloma Township officials also are looking into buying a new building and moving township operations.

The Power in Pink celebration is a free event and will be the imaging center’s second annual breast cancer awareness and screening open house. The center is located at 1609 First Ave., Rock Falls.

Here's a list of Whiteside County property transfers for Sept. 8-12, 2025.

The annual Fiesta Parade will be Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, with the parade beginning at 1 p.m. in Rock Falls and ending in Sterling.

The Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the 72nd annual Fiesta Day Parade grand marshals: the YWCA of the Sauk Valley staff and board of directors.

Before most students even graduate high school, participants in the Whiteside Area Career Center’s Early Childhood Education program are already shaping the lives of children.

Taste of Fiesta kicked off the Sterling-Rock Fall’s Fiesta Days celebration with a day of fun Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, at RB&W Park in Rock Falls.

Taste of Fiesta in Rock Falls kicked off a celebration of the deep roots of Mexican culture seen in the Sauk Valley. The Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, event is, as the name implies, a taste of the Fiesta Days parade and celebration that will take place Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. Photos by Katie Holloway and Alex T. Paschal

The next Twin City Conservatives breakfast meeting will be at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 27 at A’s Kitchen in Rock Falls.

Catch up on the week’s top Sauk Valley news for Sept. 7-13 in minutes. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

The Rock Falls Police Department has announced that East Second Street from Avenue A to Wood Avenue will be closed from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13.

Aviation historian John L. Hoh Jr. takes readers back to the bold beginnings of passenger flight with “Pioneers of Prophet Among the Clouds”.

Rock Falls Tourism has announced the return of the Spooktacular Halloween lighted golf cart & UTV parade. The parade starts at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in downtown Rock Falls.

The Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call around 3:30 p.m. Monday reporting a two-vehicle crash on U.S. 30 at I-88 mile marker 44’s westbound on-ramp.

Ross Eden recently completed the installation of 12 bluebird houses along the Rock Falls Birding Trail at Lawrence Park.

The popular community-wide event gives residents the opportunity to clean out their homes, find new treasures, and shop local bargains throughout the Sauk Valley.

Here is a list of Whiteside County property transfers for Sept. 1-5, 2025.

Catch up on the week’s top Sauk Valley news for Aug. 31 - Sept. 6 in minutes. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

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.

Day-of registration is available at the event at Emerson’s Pub, 3312 W. Rock Falls Road, Rock Falls.

Several Illinois Lottery players won big money from Wednesday night’s Powerball drawing, including the holder of a $50,000 winning ticket purchased at a Rock Falls convenience store. The jackpot is now at $1.7B for the Sept. 6 drawing

Rock Falls Police Chief David Pilgrim formally announced his decision to retire, effective Sept. 30, at the Sept. 2, 2025, Rock Falls City Council meeting.

Here's a list of Whiteside County property transfers for Aug. 25-29, 2025.

What began as a career in critical care nursing has evolved into a growing aesthetics and wellness business for Delaine Barbosa, the owner of Brazi’s Aesthetics in Rock Falls.

Through hands-on projects in photography, graphic design, video editing and digital drawing, Whiteside Area Career Center students explore the tools and techniques used by professionals in the creative industry, all while building portfolios of their own.

Rock Falls Police Chief David Pilgrim told Shaw Local he is retiring at the end of September. A formal announcement will be made at the Sept. 2 Rock Falls City Council meeting.

While their classmates head to math or English, students at the Whiteside Area Career Center are taking part in mock trials and learning how to deescalate suspects – all as part of real-world law enforcement training.

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program provides one-time benefits to income-eligible homeowners and renters to help with energy bills and energy service reconnection.

Through this initiative, in partnership with the Dixon Rural Fire Department, the organization was able to purchase 13 kits to be distributed to schools in Dixon, Sterling and Rock Falls.

A Sterling developer and business owner has purchased Coloma Township’s former US Bank building in Rock Falls.

Here is a list of property transfers for Whiteside County for Aug. 18-22, 2025.

A Rock Falls man has been sentenced to a total of 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to separate Whiteside County cases that accuse him of recklessly shooting a firearm in May 2024 and possessing meth