Woodlawn Arts Academy students will be showing off their theater skills, with performances of “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” the weekend of April 10.

Catch up on the week’s top Sauk Valley news for March 1-7 in minutes. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

The Sterling Fire Department also is hiring. With the two newest candidates starting at the academy March 6, the SFD is pulling applications for the position left open by a resignation.

Here's a list of property transfers for Lee, Ogle and Whiteside counties for Feb. 23-27, 2026.

The Sterling Public Library will host a job search workshop at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 10.

After extensive debate and discussion, the Sterling City Council will proceed with plans for a house at 701 First Ave. in Sterling to eventually be demolished.

Cynthia Clampitt will present the history of pigs and pork to examine the impact these animals have had worldwide. Clampitt will focus on the Midwest, including why poet Carl Sandburg would call Chicago “Hog Butcher for the World.”

The YWCA Women of Achievement Luncheon will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 16, at the Elks Club in Dixon.

The Sterling City Council approved an economic development incentive agreement for improvements around a Second Street business Monday night.

This inaugural program aims to spark creativity, build confidence and introduce young people to the fundamentals of starting and running a business.

Now that federal funding has come through, Rock Falls and Sterling’s regional fire training tower could see construction begin this year.

Here's a list of Whiteside County property transfers for Feb. 23-27, 2026.

The Sterling Public Library, from the 1905 original Carnegie Library to the two additions in 1985 and 1995, continues to serve the changing needs and meet the reading demands of its patrons.

Catch up on the week’s top Sauk Valley news for Feb. 22-28 in minutes. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

The Scotts Miracle-Gro office in Morrison is sporting a fresh new look thanks to a unique collaboration with the Digital Media Arts students at the Whiteside Area Career Center.

A rural residence in Amboy that sold for $566,500 tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Lee and Whiteside counties over the past week

Here's a list of property transfers for Lee, Whiteside and Ogle counties for Feb. 16-20, 2026.

On this episode of Talk Line, David Northcutt of the Sterling Fire Department and Kyle Sommers of the Rock Falls Fire Department join the show to discuss the latest developments surrounding the area’s new burn tower.

"Agriculture education is big." That was not the theme but it was the message Friday at the fourth Cultivating Connections in Agriculture, which celebrates agriculture education and FFA in the Sauk Valley and the larger northern Illinois region.

Woodlawn Arts Academy has been awarded a $5,000 grant from Do It Best Foundation to support the Academy’s four 2026 theater productions.

Students earned honors from Blackburn College, Mississippi State, Milwaukee School of Engineering and Ohio University.

Applicants must be a current member of Cornerstone Credit Union as of April 1. Membership is open to individuals who live or work in Boone, Bureau, Carroll, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside or Winnebago counties in Illinois and Green and Rock counties in Wisconsin.

Regular users of the Dogwood Bark dog park at Thomas Park in Sterling were barking up the right tree Wednesday night as they discussed concerns and talked about fundraising plans.

The Whiteside Area Career Center in Sterling has announced its January students of the month.

Sterling Main Street has announced the launch of its 2026 annual Partnership Campaign, inviting businesses and individuals to invest in the continued growth and vibrancy of downtown Sterling.

To be eligible for the president’s list, students must have earned a perfect 4.0 grade-point average during the fall 2025 semester at Drake.

A Freeport woman has been charged in Whiteside County with felony aggravated driving under the influence and causing a Christmas Day crash that injured a 4-year-old child who was in the vehicle

Illinois Wesleyan University’s dean’s list for the fall semester of the 2025-26 academic year consisted of 885 students from 31 states and 23 countries.

The CGH Health Foundation partnered with the Erie-Prophetstown girls basketball program for the inaugural “Hoops for Heart” event Jan. 22 at the Erie High School gym.

The city of Sterling wants to know from residents and businesspeople whether parking needs are being met in the downtown business district.

The Dog Park Committee, which will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, was formed after some residents voiced concerns about part of the dog park being repurposed for the massive Thomas Park improvement project.

Here's a list of Whiteside County property transfers for Feb. 16-20, 2026.

As winter fades, Sterling residents can look forward to the seasonal transition happening across local parks and recreation areas. Park district staff are preparing facilities and green spaces for increased activity as warmer weather approaches.

Three state FFA officers visited Julie LeFevre’s agriculture classes Thursday at Challand Middle School in Sterling in preparation for National FFA Week that runs through Friday.

Reagan Hammes will attend Sauk Valley Community College, taking advantage of the Impact Program, before transferring to a university. Her ultimate goal is to earn a doctor of physical therapy degree.

Catch up on the week’s top Sauk Valley news for Feb. 15-21 in minutes. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

With a sudden midwinter warm spell comes the urge to be outside and start cleaning up your yard. But Sterling city officials are warning residents against pushing yard waste into the street.

The program offers full-time paid employment with all required training to safely and compassionately provide care for patients, while also preparing participants for the Certified Nursing Assistant exam.

On this episode of Talk Line, Andy Jackson from Sinnissippi Centers chats with host Brandon Clark about the link between depression and heart disease and special college scholarships his organization is offering students seeking careers in the human services field.

Here's a list of Lee, Whiteside and Ogle county property transfers for Feb. 9-13, 2026.

The work includes Griswold Avenue from Ninth Street to LeFevre; Woodburn Avenue from 11th Street to LeFevre; 11th Street from Dillon to Woodburn; 13th Street from Dillon to Woodburn and 15th Street from Dillon to Griswold.

The Sterling City Council is looking forward to warmer weather, a birthday party and a new festival.

The Amboy City Council learned the details of a fundraising campaign Monday that could pay the bill for Amboy High School students to attend Sauk Valley Community College. 

Avery Moran plans to double major in journalism and film and television, and hopes to live and work in Chicago.

Rock Falls establishments with gaming machines, and the machines’ owners, will be required to pay more in gaming machine fees to the city starting this year.

A Sterling man concerned about how data from automated license plate readers could be used – and possibly shared – expressed his concerns Tuesday night to the Sterling City Council.

That feeling when your new boss has good things to say about your work so far - on your first official day on the job? Two new Sterling firefighters had that feeling as they were sworn into office Tuesday night. 

A Sterling man has been sentenced to 4 years in prison after pleading guilty Tuesday to a 2024 aggravated battery charge – a Class 2 felony because it involved a police officer – and a separate 2023 aggravated battery charge.

Dillan Vancil: Congress should stop using band‑aid bailouts and fix trade policy so farmers are not collateral damage every time there’s a trade war. Read Vancil's full questionnaire here

Sauk Valley Community College‘s police academy, now hosting its 10th class, is not only resolving the issue of lengthy recruitment timelines, local police chiefs say, but new officers say they are able to build stronger ties with the communities they will serve.