Coach Lalor, our family and I are beyond humbled by the overwhelming outpouring of love, support and gratitude by so many families, friends, coaches, officials, community members and players who have been our football family for so many decades.

Iowa State University awarded degrees to 1,751 graduates this fall.

The Rochelle Township High School District Board of Education on Tuesday, Jan. 20, heard a presentation on a potential future solar array project that could take place this year.

Ogle County 4‑H is welcoming families to a hands‑on morning of discovery at Day of Dabbling, a youth learning event.

January is the last month to participate in the 4-H Cares Project. The Ogle County 4-H is still collecting items until Jan. 30.

Thirty-one finalists from Lee, Ogle and Whiteside elementary and middle schools in fifth through eighth grades will compete for the regional championship.

Local conservation partners are inviting landowners, land managers and community members to a free Prescribed Burning & Natural Areas Management Workshop on Thursday, Feb. 18.

Jurors on Tuesday watched Duane C. Meyer vehemently deny claims from investigators in a recorded, Oct. 28, 2016, interview that he was in Byron on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016 – the day before his ex-wife was found dead in her burned home and their son died as a result of the fire.

The Byron Museum of History will host an art exhibit of work by members of the Eagle’s Nest Art Group.

The Rochelle Township High School speech team earned first place Saturday, Jan. 17, at the United Township High School tournament.

There were no injuries to residents or firefighters after a Monday night house fire in Chana, but four residents were displaced and the home was a total loss, Oregon Fire Protection District Chief Michael Knoup said Tuesday, Jan. 20.

The Performing Arts Guild recently announced the availability of a scholarship opportunity to students interested in studying the arts.

The women who attended the quarterly meeting of 100+ Women Who Care of Ogle County on Thursday, Jan. 15, had a choice to make in deciding who should receive an $11,800 charitable donation.

Loras College students were recognized for academic achievement during the recent semester.

Explore all the U.S. has to offer and challenge yourself to read a book set in each of the 50 states in 2026.

Here's a list of Ogle County property transfers for Jan. 12-16, 2026.

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point honored more than 2,872 undergraduate students for attaining high grade-point averages during the fall semester of the 2025-2026 academic year.

A Rochelle man was identified as the victim of an early Sunday morning fire on South Thorpe Road west of Rochelle, Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle said Monday, Jan. 19.

Ogle County students were recently named to the Carthage College fall 2025 dean’s list in recognition of their outstanding academic achievement.

Duane Meyer, 43, of Stillman Valley, is charged with killing his ex-wife and then setting her home on fire with their 3-year-old son inside. The boy later died at a Rockford hospital.

Abigail Fletcher was recently named to the Saint Mary’s College dean’s List for the fall 2025 semester.

Rochelle-area students were recently named to the Carthage College fall 2025 dean’s list in recognition of their outstanding academic achievement.

The Hillcrest Village Board of Trustees heard a report Jan. 14 from Village Engineer Kaitlin Wright on the short-term repair and long-term replacement of the currently closed Hemstock Road bridge.

A single-family home in Oregon that sold for $377,000 tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Ogle County over the past week.

The Leaf River Soaring Eagles 4-H Club held a workshop Jan. 8 to make tie blankets for the 4-H Cares project.

Kishwaukee College recently announced the graduates for the fall 2025 semester.

State Sen. Andrew Chesney, R-Freeport, is inviting residents across the 45th District to help brighten Valentine’s Day for local seniors by participating in his Valentines for Seniors Card Drive.

It is up to each person to find the cost of freedom.

The 14th annual February Finds Antique Market will be held on Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Mt. Morris Moose Lodge.

For the second consecutive year, Hands On Oregon donated $2,000 to the Oregon High School Transitions program.

The Flagg-Rochelle Public Library in conjunction with Ogle County Master Gardeners will be hosting a seed library kick-off event Saturday, Jan. 31.

The free, in-person Wits Workout sessions will be offered at the Mills & Petrie Memorial Library on Mondays, starting March 2, and will continue for 12 consecutive weeks.

Here's a list of Lee, Whiteside and Ogle county property transfers for Jan. 5-9, 2026

State investigator said the burn pattern indicated the fire began on the sofa in the first-floor living room where Maggie Meyer's burned body was found.

The Rochelle City Council held a discussion Monday, Jan. 12, on power line construction from its Ritchie Road electrical substation to its Centerpoint substation, which is currently in preliminary stages of construction west of town.

Wartburg College has recognized 570 students who were named to the 2025 fall term dean’s list.

Stillman Valley High School has been selected for the AP School Honor Roll for the 2024-2025 school year.

University of Illinois Extension Family Life Educator Kara Schweitzer will offer a free family life program in January, providing community members with research-informed guidance on aging, caregiving and overall well-being.

The Rochelle Elementary School District board heard a bilingual/dual language programming update Tuesday, Jan. 13, from District Language Services Director Celeste Canfield.

Scholarships are available through the Rochelle Community Hospital Auxiliary to area students who are planning to pursue careers in the healthcare field.

Forensic pathologists say no soot was found in Maggie Meyers' throat or lungs, indicating she was dead when the fire broke out.

The Rochelle Municipal Utilities electric department saved nearly $2.9 million through its generation plant in 2025, RMU Superintendent of Electric Operations Blake Toliver said.

Rochelle announced Wednesday, Jan. 14, that it was selected to receive a $237,000 Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant from the state of Illinois for the construction of six new pickleball courts at Fairways Golf Course.

The city of Rochelle and Rochelle Municipal Utilities held a ribboncutting ceremony for RMU’s new well house at Well 8 off Caron Road on Monday, Jan. 12.

The Mt. Morris Senior & Community Center recently announced the celebration of its 50th anniversary in 2026, marking five decades of dedication to serving seniors and community members in Mt. Morris and the surrounding area.

Jada Garcia was recently named the December Student of the Month at Polo Community High School.

Duane "DC" Meyer is charged with four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated arson and one count of concealment of a homicidal death in connection with an Oct. 19, 2016, Byron house fire in which his ex-wife was found dead.

Customers, friends and Mt. Morris Village Board and Economic Development Corporation members filled the storefront at 103 S. Wesley Ave. in Mt. Morris on Saturday, Jan. 10, to celebrate the grand opening of The Board Room.

Polo Area Community Theatre is hosting a trivia night Jan. 24 at The Polo Room.

State Sen. Li Arellano Jr., R-Dixon, is asking residents of the 37th District to help make Valentine’s Day more meaningful for local seniors by contributing cards to his annual Valentines for Seniors card drive.