Eight students have been honored for their academic achievements at the Whiteside Area Career Center in Sterling.

Marilyn Long has poured joy and stories since the ‘70s, from sloe gin fizzes to ‘Filthy Marilyns,’ serving generations with a smile from behind the bar counter. She’s Marilyn, but ‘Ma to her loving customers at Wally’s Playce.

The blaze broke out early Tuesday morning, Nov. 18, 2025, at 912 Locust St., Sterling, according to a Sterling Fire Department news release.

South Beloit caused fits for unbeaten Milledgeville throughout Saturday's 8-man football playoff quarterfinal, but the Missiles capitalized on early miscues of the Sobos to push to the final round of four.

Oregon got its fifth win as Jakobi Donegan ran for 140 yards and two TDs. EPC fell to Lena-Winslow, West Carroll handed South Beloit its first loss and more in Friday's Sauk Valley football roundup.

The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call around 10:45 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025, reporting an airplane crash near Apple Hill Road, south of Mount Carroll, according to a news release.

Before most students even graduate high school, participants in the Whiteside Area Career Center’s Early Childhood Education program are already shaping the lives of children.

The Top Tier Equestrian team in Milledgeville recently participated in the Youth Equestrian Development Association National Championship held in McDonald, Tennessee.

Barrel racin’, mutton bustin’ and calf ropin’ fun were all seen from the grandstand at the Carroll County Fair in Milledgeville on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.

Eating dirt and roping calves were just a few things seen Thursday, August 7, 2025, in the T and A Bucking Bulls rodeo at the Carroll County Fair.

The Carroll County Fair is in full swing as seen Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025, at the fairgrounds in Milledgeville.

The Foundation will offer soft-serve ice cream, flurries, sundaes and root beer floats from Aug. 5 to 9, 2025, during the Carroll County Fair.

The Youth In Ag Foundation presentation of scholarships and the Brownfield Ag awards will begin at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. The auction starts at 7 p.m. in the Carroll County Fairgrounds' Poultry Barn.

A Carroll County business owner does more than just sell seed and feed, he likes to get to know the people who grow, help them get the most out of his products, and lend a hand to learning.

June Drinkall is currently ranked first and second in the nation in her respective divisions heading into the Youth Equestrian Development Association National Finals this June in Tennessee.

The Whiteside Area Career Center has announced its list of students of the month for March 2025.

Home checked for possible occupants; no one killed or injured, according to deputy fire chief.

Voters this week in Whiteside, Lee, Ogle and Carroll counties determined who will make the important decisions regarding their communities, schools, townships, fire departments, parks and libraries. See the results here.

No residents were injured; however, a family dog died as a result of the fire.

Rock Falls and Sterling firefighters and CGH EMS were called at 9:37 p.m. Sunday, April 6, 2025, to 222 Ave. D in Rock Falls for a reported structure fire with a possible explosion.

Farm machinery of all makes and models were the big draw at the Hazelhurst Spring Consignment Auction on Saturday, April 5, 2025, The outdoor auction has been held on a 30-acre site since the 1940s and has become a local must-attend event for northwestern Illinois farmers.

Tickets available for the Rock River Chapter of Ducks Unlimited banquet that will be April 26 in Rock Falls.

Whiteside, Lee, Ogle and Carroll county voters get to decide who will make the important decisions regarding their communities, schools, townships, fire departments, parks and libraries.

The Next Picture Show, Dixon, will host a Chapter and Verse Open Mic Night for the area’s authors April 11.

The Whiteside Area Career Center has named its students of the month for February.

Before you head to the polls, here is a look at the candidates and the seats they are running for in Whiteside County's city, school and township elections.

The screening’s goal is to provide parents a measure of their child’s development in areas of learning importance. The Bi-County cooperative and schools will offer preschool programs for special needs children ages 3 to 5.

The Sterling Fire Department, Rock Falls Fire Department, Sterling Police Department and CGH EMS were dispatched at 1 p.m. Friday to the Sterling Steel property, 101 Ave. K, for a report of a man under a railcar.

$600,000 has been raised to cover SVCC tuition costs, in perpetuity, for Polo students who earn tuition through volunteerism.

Now retired from police work, a Milledgeville woman has a new work passion. Since 2019, she’s been a researcher for the Audie Murphy Research Foundation.

A Dixon girl received top marks at a national 4-H event as part of the Illinois 4-H State Hippology team.

Fire damaged a Sterling apartment building Tuesday night, causing three people to suffer smoke inhalation symptoms and two cats to be resuscitated.

“The Nutcracker” will be performed at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24, at Centennial Auditorium, Sterling High School.

Wednesday morning's fire damage was limited to Country Inn and Suites' room 102, with water damage reaching the hallway.

Amboy, Fulton and Milledgeville volleyball all picked up wins in Monday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Dixon looks to keep things rolling at Rock Falls, Newman plays at 2-0 E-P, Sterling hosts United Township to open Western Big 6 Conference play, plus more matchups to watch in Week 3's Sauk Valley football slate.

Firefighters were called to a machine shed fire Monday, Sept. 9, 2024 at 7015 W. Judson Road, southeast of Polo. Several fire departments assisted the Polo Fire Department on the call. There were no injuries.

4-H and FFA members will sell rabbits, steers, hogs, goats, poultry and dairy baskets.

Fire at 1501 First Ave. was contained in the attic.

A total of 257 full- and part-time Sauk Valley Community College students have been named to the president’s list for the spring semester. Another 137 students made the dean’s list.

Kirkwood Community College graduates announced for spring 2024

Seventeen Bulldogs athletes will compete in track and field, referred to as athletics by Summer Games organizers, and in soccer skills.

Tim Schurman, superintendent of the Chadwick-Milledgeville School District, has been named the 2024 Superintendent of Distinction by his colleagues in the Northwest Region of the Illinois Association of School Administrators.

Melissa Schultz, Haunted Haven’s owner, says she and her husband, Joseph Norton, discovered the fire. They had gone to the Haunted Haven barn Monday to pick up some tools and a lawn mower when they noticed smoke coming from the second floor.

A tornado warning is in effect for Whiteside, Carroll, Jo Daviess and Stephenson counties until 9:30 a.m. Friday.

The Rock Falls and Sterling fire departments and CGH EMS were dispatched at 1:14 p.m. Monday to a structure fire at the Haunted Haven Barn, 29038 Grennan Road.

The trade show was held Wednesday and Thursday nights, with 31 student-run businesses selling everything from jewelry and video promotions to made-to-order grilled cheese sandwiches.

Sunny skies greeted the crowd at the Hazelhurst Spring Consignment Auction on Saturday, April 6, 2024. A couple thousand potential buyers – and some onlookers – gathered at the 30-acre sale site between Polo and Milledgeville all day to bid on farm machinery and a lot of other “odds and ends”. Mother Nature provided the sunshine and hundreds of items for sale drew the crowd as area farmers came to sell and buy.

Performances are 7:30 p.m. April 5; 7:30 p.m. April 6; and 2:30 p.m. April 7 in the Chadwick School Gym, 19 School St. in Chadwick.

Each school district within the Bi-County Special Education Cooperative area will conduct screenings of preschoolers on various dates from February to May 2024.