Setting the tone as the leadoff hitter and shut-down closer for a fourth-place state finisher has earned Newman junior Garret Matznick the title of 2025 Sauk Valley Media Baseball Player of the Year.

This annual event allows the agri-business community to gather and celebrate ag in the Sauk Valley while raising money for ag-related scholarships, education and workforce development initiatives.

M5 is taking on two big projects in downtown Sterling. The company plans to reopen the former Starlight’s Theatre and Lounge and rename it The Spark Center for the Performing Arts. The company also will renovate the former Amcore Bank and turn it into a business center.

Training will begin Aug. 2 and conclude Oct. 4. Classes will be held in different locations throughout Carroll, Lee and Whiteside counties.

Books on First will host a special book-signing event with George John Beier, author of “Baked Fine Since ’69,” on Saturday, July 12, at Books on First, 209 W. First St., Dixon.

Brandon M. Schmidt, of North Topsail Beach, North Carolina, was pronounced dead at Rochelle Community Hospital.

The initiative aims to ensure that children from preschool through 12th grade start the school year with confidence and comfort, according to a news release.

Dixon Public Schools will kick off a new transitional kindergarten program at the start of the 2025-26 school year. The program was developed in response to kindergarten students’ increasing behavioral issues at Washington Elementary School.

Gallery

As this years Chicago Bears team gets ready for training camp next week, take a look back and check out some never-before-seen-photos from the 1985 Bears training camp. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the camp held in Platteville Wisconsin. The photos were curated by Shaw Local photo editor Scott Anderson and were found in the La Salle NewsTribune archives.