Whiteside County

School champions from three area counties compete at Dixon High School on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in the regional spelling bee for a chance to represent the Sauk Valley in Washington, D.C.

After correctly spelling “illicitly,” Amboy Junior High School’s Parker Zimmerly won the Lee, Ogle, Whiteside Regional Spelling Bee on Thursday.

A California solar company sued the county last fall after the Whiteside County Board twice rejected a special-use permit application for solar farm development on Prairie Center Road near Morrison.

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.

This community health assessment, known as the IPLAN, is a mandated planning process that all local health departments in Illinois must conduct every 5 years.

The two men were formally charged Feb. 11, with the offenses alleged to have occurred Jan. 3, according to court records

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville recently announced that it awarded 400 diplomas to graduating students for the fall semester.

Thanks to the generosity of students, Scout groups, churches and community members, 2,000 handmade Valentine’s cards were delivered to nursing homes, assisted-living facilities and other long-term care centers.

Iowa State University, Trinity Christian College and Aurora University also announce fall semester dean’s lists.

Here is a list of property transfers for Lee, Ogle and Whiteside counties for Feb. 3-9, 2025.

According to a news release, Rock Falls police were dispatched at 1:50 a.m. Friday, Feb. 14, for a reported stabbing in the 600 block of West 20th Street in Rock Falls.

A Whiteside County jury has found a Freeport man guilty of attempted predatory criminal sexual assault of a victim under the age of 13 in connection with a reported assault at a Sterling school playground in 2023.

The Friends of the Hennepin Canal will host its next “Hike the Hennepin” event at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 16 at the steel dam, 298 14th St. NE, Milan.

The celebration begins at 2 p.m. at the Reagan Community Center, 202 W. Second St. Tampico Mayor Bruce Peltier, the Tampico Area Historical Society and Elevate Tampico will host the event.

Several Sauk Valley-area students were named to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville dean’s list for the fall 2024 semester.

Testimony got underway Wednesday in Whiteside County Circuit Court, where a now-22-year-old Freeport man is facing multiple charges of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl at a Sterling school playground two years ago.

Joann plans to close 500 of its 850 craft and fabric stores – including several across northern Illinois – the company announced on Tuesday.

The college named 259 full- and part-time students to the president’s list for high academic achievement. The dean’s list featured 150 students.

University of Iowa, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Illinois Wesleyan University announce fall 2024 dean’s lists.

Most of northern Illinois is under a winter weather advisory for Wednesday, while areas near Sterling and Princeton will be under a winter storm warning.

Testimony in the case against LeAndrew T. Adams, 22, is slated to begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12, at the Whiteside County Courthouse in Morrison.

Most of northern Illinois is under a winter weather advisory for Wednesday, while areas near Sterling and Princeton will be under a winter storm warning

Parts of northern Illinois could see 6 or more inches of snow Wednesday, the National Weather Service advised Monday as it issued a winter storm watch for areas across central, north-central and northeast Illinois, as well as parts of northwest Indiana.

Parts of northern Illinois could see 6 or more inches of snow Wednesday, the National Weather Service advised Monday as it issued a winter storm watch for areas across central, north-central and northeast Illinois, as well as parts of northwest Indiana.

Woman was charged Dec. 1, 2023, with one count of arson, accused of setting a car on fire in Rock Falls.

A Lyndon man has been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to domestic battery and a weapons charge.

Local United Ways and Culver’s are joining forces to celebrate 2-1-1 Day on Feb. 11. Visit Culver’s in Rock Falls or Dixon and mention “2-1-1 Day” to receive special $2.11 concrete mixers or cheese curds, and remember to call 2-1-1 when social service help is needed.

Donations will fund scholarships to send children to Camp Manitoqua.

Facemakers, a Savanna-based company that manufactures costumes, including those for team mascots, will be the topic.

First State Bank Shannon-Polo-Lake Carroll’s FSB Wealth Group recently announced financial professional Cassandre Mlakar was accepted into LPL Financial’s Ascent Club Program.

Here is a list of property transfers for Lee, Ogle and Whiteside counties for Jan. 27 to Feb. 2, 2025.

After a hearing to determine whether a Freeport man’s right to a speedy trial was violated and if the case should be dismissed as a result, a Whiteside County judge ruled Friday that he will stand trial on multiple sex offenses next week.

Icy road conditions Wednesday night led to multiple accidents in Whiteside County, Sterling Deputy Fire Chief David Northcutt told Shaw Local.

The women were accused of entering a home in the 800 block of West Seventh Street in Sterling, punching a man in the face and pulling a woman's hair.

State Sen. Li Arellano Jr., R-Dixon, and State Rep. Brad Fritts, R-Dixon, have been appointed to several key legislative committee roles.

Here is a list of property transfers for Lee, Ogle and Whiteside counties for Jan. 20-26, 2025.

The deadline for submission is Wednesday, April 30, 2025, and notification letters will be sent in June.

"Breakfast with Seneca: A Stoic Guide to the Art of Living” by David Fideler to be discussed.

The Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park is among five Illinois Department of Natural Resources areas receiving grants for deferred maintenance projects.

Starved Rock State Park will receive $33.8 million in state funding for a wastewater treatment plant and trail improvements.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, through its Community Services Block Grant, has made funds available to Tri-County Opportunities Council for at least 12 scholarships of up to $1,250 each for income-eligible students.

The Tampico Area Historical Society and Ronald Reagan Birthplace will have an open house Thursday, Feb. 6, honoring the birth of President Reagan 114 years ago.

Sterling American Legion Chaplain Gordon E. Harris is reviving a mostly forgotten story about the sinking of the United States Army Transport Dorchester during World War II and the selfless acts of four chaplains on board.

Christina M. Haugen, 32, who resided at the home, died in the blaze.

The university awarded over 1,150 students bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in December.

A Sterling man indicted by a statewide grand jury on two drug offenses Jan. 21 was taken into custody at the Whiteside County Courthouse the next day after showing up for his court hearing for his five other pending drug cases and a weapons case

He and his dad paddled through 13 countries from Winnipeg, Manitoba to Belem, Brazil.

Participants will be able to receive support from community members grieving a lost loved one.

The public is invited to attend to see what the 4-H’ers have prepared for presentation.

The Tampico First United Methodist Church Men will have their annual chili supper from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan 29.