Charlene Bielema

Here's a list of property transfers for Lee, Ogle and Whiteside counties for May 25-31, 2025.

Shaw Local newspapers received a combined 33 awards Thursday, June 5, 2025, in news contest categories that included general excellence, photography, news writing, opinion writing, design, community service and editorial pages.

Madison Manning, 25, has been found safe in Rock Falls, according to a news release issued by the Dixon Police Department on Thursday morning.

As Dixon police continue their search for a missing Prophetstown woman, the department is asking residents in the area of the 1100 block of Highland Avenue to check their home security cameras to help find her.

The Dixon Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in locating Madison Manning, 25. She has not been seen since around 1 a.m. Sunday, June, 1, 2025, in the 1000 block of Highland Avenue.

One of the charges – unlawful possession of 15-100 grams of meth with intent to deliver – is a Class X felony that carries a possible 30-year prison sentence.

Work will patch, mill and resurface roads. Also, sidewalk ramps will be reconstructed to meet ADA standards. The projects will use staged construction with temporary lane and sidewalk closures.

Here's a list of property transfers for Lee, Ogle and Whiteside counties for May 18-24, 2025.

A Rock Falls man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for a 2021 shooting that injured another man and damaged a Rock Falls home.

David Skinner, 62, was found not guilty of all seven counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child younger than 13 that he faced.

A Sterling man has been sentenced to up to 9 years in prison after admitting he set fire to his Sterling apartment last fall as officers arrived to investigate an aggravated battery reported at that address

John Trumbla, who fulfilled a prison sentence for a 1984 Cook County murder conviction, has been out on parole for a drug conviction since 2023 and was set to be discharged from that sentence in 2026. Arrested in another drug case Friday, he was granted pretrial release Tuesday.

Wadsworth, 72, first became the pronouncer for the Lee County Spelling Bee in 1983. Over the years, he has declared 43 local champions and sent them to Washington to represent the local bee, which is now the Lee Ogle Whiteside Spelling Bee.  

Ryan Bivins will officially assume his new role during his swearing-in ceremony on Monday, June 2, 2025. Bivins’ selection was announced Tuesday, May 27.

The Dixon School Board approved several new hires, resignations and other personnel actions at its meeting Wednesday, May 21.