Dixon Deputy Police Chief Aaron Simonton was awarded at the Dixon City Council meeting Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, for saving the life of a man who was choking at an Elgin restaurant.

United Way of Lee County will host its biggest fundraiser of the year, the Girlfriend Gala, from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, at the Dixon Elks Lodge.

Sauk Valley Community College's newly emerged Theatre Club began due to growing student interest. Many students involved with the club come from high school theater backgrounds and were looking for an outlet to reignite that passion in the college setting. 

Rock Falls, Dixon, and Sterling high schools all saw their graduation rates increase, according to Illinois State Report Card data

Having some cents of Dixon history: Centennial, quasquicentennial, sesquicentennial, dosquicentennial … Dixon can observe them all this year, from the anniversary of an unbeatable high school football team to the establishment of governance in its rural areas.

Here's a list of Ogle County property transfers for Oct. 27-31, 2025.

Nourish the Journey 5K took place Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, on the Dixon bike path and drew 66 participants ranging from mothers with newborns to those who breastfed decades ago.

The donation from the Kiwanis Club of Dixon encourages students to participate in the Impact Program, gain valuable work experience, and graduate without the financial burden of tuition. 

Here's a look back at the Sauk Valley's week in photos for Oct. 28-Nov. 1, 2025.

Dixon’s Fourth Avenue will be closed at the 600 block between Martin and Long streets on Monday, Nov. 3, through Wednesday, Nov. 5, to allow for a water service repair.

Jonathon Gounaris, 33, is charged with shooting three members of the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Response Team after a three-hour standoff when police tried to enter his home in Lost Lake, a rural subdivision east of Dixon in June 2024.

Already struggling with growing numbers of people in need of food assistance, Sauk Valley-area food pantries are now bracing for the even greater numbers expected in the wake of SNAP benefits ending Nov. 1, 2025, as part of the federal government shutdown.

The TALK-LINE interview for Oct. 31 featured Dixon Police Chief Ryan Bivins discussing Halloween safety tips for the weekend, along with an expansion of the Dixon Police Department staff to better serve community needs

The TALK-LINE interview for Oct. 30 featured Stacey Harris, a performer with “Menopause The Musical 2 – Cruising Through The Change,” previewing the performances coming to the Historic Dixon Theatre on Saturday, Nov. 8.

Halloween has arrived! Here is a list of trick-or-treat hours for Sauk Valley-area towns.

The prosecuting attorney told a Lee County judge Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, that a plea deal is being negotiated in the case of a Dixon man accused of disseminating images and videos of child sexual abuse.

Seven Sauk Valley-area high school students have been chosen as Whiteside Area Career Center students of the month for September.

Thomas Gehlbach has enjoyed playing piano for the past 40 years. Gehlbach is going to share that enjoyment by playing in the Phidian Musicale at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, at The Next Picture Show, 113 W. First St. in Dixon.  It is free and open to the public.

Sauk Valley-area food pantries are expecting an uptick in need when SNAP benefits are suspended Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025.

Search our table to see what designation your Carroll, Lee or Whiteside county school received on the 2025 school report card.

Here's a list of Whiteside County property transfers for Oct. 20-24, 2025.

The Dixon Police Department is hiring as part of the new chief's plan to decrease officer burnout while increasing community presence.

Dixon High School senior Nick Goldie has turned his front yard at 1014 Steinman St. in Dixon into a Halloween wonderland complete with circus scenes, graveyards, farms, and more than three dozen animatronic figures.

The fair will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Loveland Community House, 513 W. Second St., Dixon.  

Sauk Valley Community College’s Student Activities & Student Government Association invites the public to a free performance by hypnotist/mentalist Brian Imbus on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025.

Get ready to put on your rhinestones and boots! United Way of Lee County is hosting the Downtown Dolly Stampede on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025.

Vicki Sauter owns Dog Trot Pottery at 308 W. First St. in Dixon. The shop offers unique, handcrafted pottery made by Sauter, including bowls, plates and dishes.

Just weeks ago, the Dixon Family YMCA faced the threat of closing both its facilities. But thanks to nearly $200,000 raised in emergency funding and swift action by community leaders, the YMCA has stabilized operations and is laying the groundwork for a long-term comeback.

Here's a look at news and sports happenings in the Sauk Valley for the week of Oct. 17-23, 2025.

The Lee County Board on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, approved an ordinance regulating open burning in the county’s unincorporated areas.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and OSF HealthCare Saint Katharine Medical Center is reminding women that early detection is key to saving lives.

Dixon Stage Left announces an improv workshop with Stephen Osborne. It's a 6-week course that will meet from 6-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays from Nov. 4 through Dec. 16 at 105 S. Peoria Ave. in Dixon.

The contest, led by Madison Elementary, accepts writing and cover art submissions from kindergarten to eighth graders to publish in a student book that will be on the shelves at all district school libraries.

Imagine Dixon with no buildings, no roads, no people … just trees and native grass. The river has no dam and no bridges … just a free-flowing wide stream with many little islands.

The TALK-LINE interview for Oct. 23 featured Sinnissippi Centers of Dixon Marketing Manager Andy Jackson discussing National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month and Depression Awareness Month in October.

Tommie Wallace opened Deebo’s three years ago after leaving his job of eight years cooking at the former Corner Spot Bar & Grill in Dixon.

Dixon Stage Left is bringing its sold-out Chicago dinner show production of “Cake, Candles, & Murder!” to the Dixon Elks Club.

Dixon Stage Left’s first Senior Theatre showcase performance, “We Still Got It!”, will be Sunday, Oct. 26 at The Next Picture Show.

A number of local runners had success at the IESA state cross country finals Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Normal. The Dixon Reagan girls were fourth as a team in Class 3A and Rock Falls East Coloma's Bentlee Lawrenz was the overall winner.

The Dixon American Legion will be serving beef and noodles, vegetable, roll, salad and dessert from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.

The TALK-LINE interview for Oct. 21 featured Dixon Mayor Glen Hughes with an update on city issues, including increasing the Dixon Police Department staff from 30 to 31 employees.

The Dixon Knights of Columbus Council 690 will host its monthly breakfast from 7:30-10:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, at KayCee Hall, 506 W. Third St.

November will mark one year since St. Paul and Immanuel Lutheran churches in Dixon formed an experimental partnership led by a married couple, Anthony Windau and Riley Reed-Windau, as co-pastors. The churches are having a one-year anniversary celebration and installation service.

Reagan Middle School's music program counts 225 students currently enrolled in either choir, band or both, which is about 50 more than the last school year.

For the team at a Dixon attorneys’ office, there’s no place like home – except their workplace, where they make a winning case for following in dad’s footsteps.

Daniela Lovett plans to attend a 4-year university to major in biology and minor in business in hopes to become a dermatologist.

The TALK-LINE interview for Oct. 16 featured Dixon City Manager Dan Langloss discussing the latest city activity, including the conclusion of street and sidewalk work in 2025, along with highway work on Galena Avenue through the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Young writers and artists at Madison School in Dixon write stories and create art to be included in the annual Young Authors Book.

Dixon and Rock Falls junior cross country runners took home medals from the IESA state cross country finals on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.

Dixon Mayor Glen Hughes has declared Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, to be Steve Marco Day.