Aislynn Skinner, 4, left, colors with little sister Breelyn Skinner, 2, at their Oregon home on Sept. 6, 2023. Aislynn, who was diagnosed with a critical congenital heart defect in utero, was selected as an American Heart Association Community Youth Heart Ambassador for the 2023-24 school year. (Alexa Zoellner/Shaw Media)
Alexa Zoellner covers Ogle County for the Oregon Republican Reporter, Forreston Journal, Mt. Morris Times and Polo Tri-County Press. She has seven-plus years of experience in journalism and has won numerous awards, including a first place award for investigative reporting from the WNA.