Rock Falls

Kyle Cooper was to stand trial April 8 for the Feb. 14 stabbing death of Daniel J. Gordon; however, that date was pushed until May 13 based on the prosecution’s request for more time.

Jessica Deboer charged with three felonies following an early morning traffic stop by Oregon police on March 23.

Rock Falls Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief Kyle Sommers said the departments are losing $825,000 in federal Community Project Funding appropriations they had planned to use to build a burn tower where firefighters from both communities could train in live-fire conditions.

Dixon Rural and Dixon City firefighters, along with Advance EMS, were dispatched to a residential structure fire at 4:41 p.m. Saturday, March 22, at 8259 S. Main St. in Grand Detour.

Beginning May 12, donated pasta items can be delivered to New Life Church at 702 W. Lynn Blvd., Sterling, during office hours from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Mike Ely plans to go into broadcasting and journalism and also earn a teaching degree.

Rock Falls City Council incumbent Steve Dowd talked with Shaw Local reporter Brandon Clark about the future of Rock Falls. Read the transcript from our podcast here.

Read the transcript: Austin Zink, a candidate for Rock Falls City Council Ward 3, talked with Shaw Local reporter Brandon Clark about his vision for Rock Falls ahead of the April election.

Steve Dowd, the incumbent for Rock Falls City Council Ward 3, spoke about the issues facing Rock Falls with Shaw Local reporter Brandon Clark leading up to the April 1 election.

Austin Zink, a candidate for Rock Falls City Council Ward 3 in the April 1 election, talks with Shaw Local reporter Brandon Clark about the issues facing Rock Falls.

Directors from Illinois Head Start centers, the federally supported child care and early education program, said they fear cuts, as it targeted in The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025.

Alexander Vinson-Ishmon, 24, was ready to plead guilty Wednesday afternoon to one count of aggravated battery with a firearm, which would have sent him to prison for up to 6 years and would be served concurrently with his sentence in a Lee County weapons case.

This spring, Whiteside, Lee, Ogle and Carroll county voters get to decide who will make the important decisions regarding their communities, schools, townships, fire departments, parks and libraries.

Kyle Cooper's first-degree murder trial will begin April 8 in Whiteside County Circuit Court.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to a burglary in progress Saturday, March 15, in the area of U.S. 30 and Walton Road in rural Dixon, where two people were seen going in and out of a garage, authorities said in a news release.

Marshall Doane talked with Shaw Local reporter Brandon Clark about what Doane would like to see improved in Rock Falls on our podcast. Read the transcript here.

Marshall Doane, a candidate for Rock Falls City Council, spoke with Shaw Local reporter Brandon Clark about the issues in Rock Falls ahead of the April 1 election.

Kyle Cooper appears in Whiteside County Circuit Court in Morrison on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, for a pretrial conference. Cooper is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the Feb. 14 death of Daniel Gordon of Rock Falls. A jury trial is set for April 8.

Sixteen fire departments were involved in the fire call.

Firefighter crews were on scene Friday at the Illinois Wildlife Game Preserve for 8 hours, with an estimated 600 acres burned and an estimation of more 40,000 gallons of water used before extinguishing a brush fire.

Whiteside County deputies responded shortly before 8 a.m. Friday to 1706 E. Rock Falls Road following a 911 call reporting a disturbance.

Booker: I am writing to you today to strongly urge your support for the upcoming public safety tax measure. As the sheriff of Whiteside County, | have witnessed firsthand the growing demands placed on our law enforcement, fire and emergency services.

The Dixon Rural and City fire departments and Advance EMS were called around 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 11, 2025, to a barn fire at 2124 Sink Hollow Road, according to a news release.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office will increase its efforts to focus on stopping alcohol- and cannabis-impaired driving, unbuckled driving, speeding and distracted driving.

The child care crisis continues to roil the workforce while employers and managers still struggle to hire skilled job applicants, according to a statewide poll of business leaders

In the 2nd Ward, running for a four-year term, Brian Snow – who has held on to his seat for more than two decades – will go up against former 4th Ward Alderman Marshall Doane.

Sidewalk Prophets concert will be March 19 in Walnut; Ready Set, Grow workshop is March 29 at Sauk Valley Community College.

What are the top issues facing Rock Falls? Violet Sobottka: The Loves subdivision being developed, getting people involved in their city and community, better communication between the mayor and council.

Brian Snow: We need to enact and provide incentives on a sliding scale to bring economic development to our community for corporations, also to be able to provide a quality workforce.

What do you believe are the top three issues that the city is facing right now? Marshall Doane: depreciation, apathy and access to jobs. There are no big-paying jobs in our area to serve the majority of our workforce.

Testimony sheds more light on events leading up to Daniel Gordon's death on Feb. 14, 2025, after a fight in a Rock Falls driveway.

Students must be 5 years old by Sept. 1 and a school district resident.

Before you head to the polls, here is a look at the candidates and the seats they are running for in Whiteside County's city, school and township elections.

Selected students will serve as non-voting members on the United Way Board of Directors from June 2025 through May 2026, providing valuable youth perspective to the organization while developing professional skills and connections.

The Augustana College Film Program and the Film Club is hosting actor, writer and director Frank Harts from 1-2 p.m. Monday, March 10.

Several fire departments responded to an emergency call reporting a possible structure fire early Thursday morning.

SVCC Academics and Student Services Vice President Jon Mandrell has been named the Phi Theta Kappa Distinguished College Administrator Award recipient.

A Rock Falls man wanted on an arrest warrant in connection with a Dec. 8 home invasion in Sterling has been taken into custody and is facing more charges.

An initial investigation indicates the motorcycle was traveling south on Buell Road at a high rate of speed when it failed to stop at the posted stop sign at the intersection of Buell and Gaulrapp roads, according to Sheriff John Booker.

Plans also in the works for fourth annual Bellson Music Fest in Rock Falls.

Kaylee Johnson plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Kyle M. Cooper, 36, is charged with murder in connection with the Feb. 14 death of Daniel J. Gordon, 27, who prosecutors say was stabbed after trying to break up an altercation between Cooper and Cooper's ex-girlfriend, who was dating Gordon.

Culver’s of Rock Falls has been recognized by the Culver’s franchise for its dedication to hospitality and has earned the Ruth Hospitality Award for the fifth year in a row.

The dean’s list honors students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher. The students also must have received at least 12 credit hours.

The screening’s goal is to provide parents a measure of their child’s development in areas of learning importance. The Bi-County cooperative and schools will offer preschool programs for special needs children ages 3 to 5.

The college named 1,200 to the dean’s list. The list honors students with a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale for the term’s courses.

Nearly half of the Coloma Township Board of Trustees, including its supervisor, abruptly announced late last week that they were resigning, which led to the appointment of a new supervisor, clerk and two trustees Tuesday.

Montmorency School is located at 9415 Hoover Road in Rock Falls.

Kyle M. Cooper, 36, of Rock Falls, is being held in the Whiteside County Jail in Morrison on a first-degree murder charge as well as two counts of aggravated battery in connection with the Feb. 14 stabbing death of Daniel J. Gordon.

Outwork Elite partnered with the Garrett Ramos Foundation on Monday, Feb. 17, to host a free basketball camp for kids ranging from third through eighth grade. Over 120 players from throughout the Sauk Valley and beyond attended the clinic at Newman Central Catholic High School.