With the season in the record books, it's time to meet the 2023 Sauk Valley Media All-Area Football Team.

The new Sterling Main Street downtown business incubator, Shoppes at Grandon Plaza, is readying for its second round of retailers.

Matthew T. Plote, 36, is charged with killing Melissa Lamesch, 27, and her baby Nov. 25, 2020, and then setting fire to her home in Mount Morris to conceal the deaths.

Local musicians Scott Webb and Jason Stephens are giving away free guitars, amps, pedals and other accessories, as well as other kinds of instruments, through their Music Gear for Kids project.

“An individual” who may have been involved in a fatal hit-and-run Monday in Walton contacted the department Tuesday to report that he or she was in a crash near that location, Lee County Sheriff Clay Whelan said in a news release Wednesday.

A Rock Falls man who police say they tried to pull over in the middle of the night on a bike was arrested Tuesday on meth and cocaine charges.

Defense attorney wants Matthew Plote released from jail while his case proceeds for the deaths of Melissa Lamesch and her unborn son. Prosecutors argue against his release.

Shoe Sensation has announced the opening date for its second location in Sterling, in the new Sterling Crossing shopping complex at 2901 E. Lincolnway.

The former accounting administrator for Woodhaven Lakes in Sublette will be sentenced Jan. 17 for embezzling more than $300,000 from the lakeside resort.