Sterling’s Ink and Ivy Tattoo and Piercing will hold its grand opening Nov. 1.

The Sterling Police Department held its annual trunk-or-treat Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. Local organizations lined up to hand out treats to the costumed kiddos.

Sterling Public Schools held a groundbreaking ceremony Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, for a new indoor multipurpose student center designed to expand training and recreation opportunities for Sterling High School students.

Sterling Public Schools will hold a groundbreaking ceremony Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, on a new indoor multipurpose student center designed to expand training and recreation opportunities for Sterling High School students.

The TALK-LINE interview for Oct. 24 featured YWCA of the Sauk Valley Executive Director Rebecca Munoz-Ripley discussing the necessary services offered through the organization concerning domestic violence situations.

Here's a look at news and sports happenings in the Sauk Valley for the week of Oct. 17-23, 2025.

The performance is in Centennial Auditorium at Sterling High School at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8.

Augustana College announced more than 1,100 students were named to the dean’s list for the 2024-2025 spring semester.

Here's a list of Whiteside County property transfers for Oct. 13-17, 2025.

Sterling’s Riverfront Commission met Oct. 16, 2025, to discuss updates – and anticipated delays – to Sterling’s $300 million multiphase Riverfront Reimagined project.

During a Riverfront Commission meeting Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, Ron Clewer of developer Gorman & Co. said discussions on JCB Investments’ proposed entertainment complex at 201 Locust St. are on hold until spring 2026 because of high interest rates and other financial challenges.

Many Illinois communities are adding back a 1% grocery tax that will otherwise expire on Jan. 1. Is your town among them?

In recognition of Down Syndrome Awareness Month, author and Sterling High School alumnus Josh Binder has released two new children’s books in his “Mighty Maddie” series – “Mighty Maddie’s Big Game” and “Mighty Maddie’s Big Dance Show.”

The Optimist Club of Sterling will host a “Decades of Disney” trivia night on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, to benefit area youths by providing scholarships and activities.

Sterling Federal Bank, a trusted icon in Sterling, was named one of the nation’s most extraordinary banks on Sept. 25, 2025, by The Institute for Extraordinary Banking.

Rock River Valley Self Help Enterprises of Sterling celebrated the achievements of its clients, staff, and volunteers during its annual awards banquet Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, at the McCormick Event Center in Rock Falls.

Hundreds lined Fourth Street in Sterling on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, to join one of thousands of "No Kings" rallies across the country and Europe.

Menards in Sterling is serving as a food drop-off site through the month of October.

Ryan Welty plans to attend Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, and major in political science.

Led by a number of local standouts, the Sauk Valley Community College women's tennis team qualified for nationals this past weekend.

David Tessmann of Sterling has been named to the 2025 spring trimester dean’s list at Palmer College of Chiropractic’s Main Campus in Davenport, Iowa.

With Halloween creeping closer, here is a list of trick-or-treat hours and other holiday and fall-themed events you can visit with your little ghosts and ghouls.

Self Help Enterprises held their annual client awards and recognition event Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.

The Illinois General Assembly is expected to address transit funding, energy, grid reform and property insurance, among other issues, during its fall veto session.

The TALK-LINE interview for Oct. 15 featured Shaw Local News representatives Charlene Bielema and Brandon Clark discussing local news stories, including a bakery taking over a Sterling location.

Dixon's Scarecrow Fest is Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.

Sterling volleyball lost in straight sets against Galesburg at home on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.

Here's a list of property transfers for Whiteside County for Oct. 6-10, 2025.

After graduation, Hazel Pham plans to go to a four-year university to study biological sciences, then to medical school to become a physician.

The drive will take place from 8 a.m. to noon Oct. 24, 2025, at the Sterling Police Department, 212 Third Ave. in the south parking lot.

Sterling Police Chief Pat Bartel says he can’t ever think of a time in his life where he didn’t want to be a police officer: “I was the kid that probably knew my 10-codes before I knew my alphabet.”

Hops on the Rock, a craft beer festival, and Halloween Town offered fun for all in downtown Sterling on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025.

“The Little Guernsey Girls” is the story of three sisters who died at Dixon’s cement plant quarry in 1957. The presentation begins at 2 p.m.

University of Illinois Extension and Sinnissippi Centers are partnering to host a mental health first aid workshop Nov. 3, 2025, at the Whiteside Extension Office in Sterling.

This event will provide constituents with suggestions for reducing their utility bills. The clinic will be hosted at the Sterling Public Library, 102 W. Third St., in Sterling.

Aurelio’s Cake Factory Bistro & Cafe's new location at 2907 Locust St. in Sterling opened Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, and now provides additional dine-in seating and new menu items, including sandwiches, soups, bagels, custom cream cheeses and new specialty coffee drinks.

The announcement was made during the Sterling City Council meeting Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. Bland is filling the position previously held by Pat Bartel, who was recently named the SPD’s new police chief following the retirement of previous chief Alex Chavira, who retired Sept. 20.

Representatives from Business Employment Skills Team, Inc. (BEST, Inc.), Illinois Department of Employment Security and the IDES veteran’s employment representative/veterans career coach will be on hand to share information and resources for area job-seekers.

The City of Sterling has agreed to let the good times roll a little later downtown. After much debate, the Sterling City Council unanimously approved an ordinance Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, amending a section of the City Code to create an extended-hours permit for special events.

Dixon’s OSF HealthCare Saint Katharine Medical Center is expanding with the opening of a new clinic in Sterling on Oct. 13, 2025.

The TALK-LINE interview for Oct. 8 featured Shaw Local News representatives Charlene Bielema and Brandon Clark with updates on news happenings locally, including stories on Sterling’s River Edge development and financial advantages connected with the improvements.

Here's a list of property transfers for Whiteside County for Sept. 29 to Oct. 3, 2025.

OSF HealthCare Saint Katharine blessed and dedicated a new primary care clinic in Sterling on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025.

The Sterling City Council unanimously OK'd an ordinance Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, that will map a portion of the city as a River Edge Redevelopment Zone, an action that could provide up to $50 million in tax incentives for economic development along the city's riverfront.

Nearly five years after winning the right to unionize, CGH Medical Center employees are still without a collective bargaining agreement. But a new state law, Senate Bill 0453, could change that.

A Polo man was sentenced Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, to 5 years in prison for a January 2022 crash on a Sterling bridge that killed a pedestrian and injured a police officer.

Meet Scott Melton, who was sworn in Sept. 2, 2025, as Sterling's deputy fire chief.

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

Sterling High School students celebrate Homecoming with a parade prior to the Homecoming football game against Alleman. The parade took place Friday afternoon, Oct. 3, 2025.

This collaborative event marked a step toward strengthening the network of support for veterans in the Sauk Valley region. The group will meet quarterly.