On Saturday, hundreds of potential buyers – mostly farmers – wound their way through the mud all day floating between auction rings to buy or sell a wide variety of tractors, wagons, planters and other ag-related items.

Hundreds of potential buyers – mostly farmers – wound their way through the mud on Saturday, April 4, 2026, to buy or sell tractors, wagons, planters and other ag-related items at the Hazelhurst Spring Consignment Sale.

A rural residence in Oregon that sold for $500,000 tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Ogle County in the past week.

Betty Obendorf of the Polo Historical Society writes about an upcoming time capsule and new exhibits.

Storm damage assessments have preliminarily confirmed an EF-1 tornado caused damage in northwestern Lee County on Thursday night, according to the National Weather Service.

Illinois Wesleyan University’s dean’s list for the fall semester of the 2025-26 academic year consisted of 885 students from 31 states and 23 countries.

The Polo Women’s Club brings public awareness by annually planting blue and silver pinwheel gardens at the Paul Grahling Park (Division and Mason) each April.

Storms caused a swath of damage across Lee and Ogle counties Thursday, April 2.

Twenty-six women veterans attended the 11th annual Women Veterans Brunch in Lena on March 28.

Here's a list of Ogle County property transfers for March 23-27, 2026.

The Polo Historical Society will present a special program on Wednesday, April 8, focusing on the history of the Waterbury family and their connection to the Polo area.

April events are set at the Polo Public Library.

Betty Obendorf of the Polo Historical Society remembers the Polo High Class of 1950 and baseball and teaching.

The Polo Fire Department will hold a community breakfast Sunday, April 26, at its station.

Cole Chesnut was recently named the February Student of the Month at Polo Community High School.

Spray tan business owner Caitlin O'Connor has studios in Dixon and Polo, and has become part of wedding mornings – helping brides feel comfortable, natural and camera-ready for their big day before they ever step into their dresses.

Betty Obendorf of the Polo Historical Society takes another trip back to 1950 at Polo Community High School.

Sauk Valley Community College and Skyhawk Athletics have announced that SVCC softball coach Derron Sellers has been appointed the college’s new director of athletics.

Here's a list of Ogle County property transfers for March 16-20, 2026.

The Polo Woman’s Garden Club will host an informational meeting open to the community regarding a late afternoon/evening group for those interested or active in flower and vegetable gardening.

Here's a list of Ogle County property transfers for March 9-13, 2026.

Several schools throughout the Sauk Valley on Sunday announced weather-related cancellations and remote-learning plans for Monday.

Betty Obendorf of the Polo Historical Society recaps the year 1949 in Polo.

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

Here's a list of Ogle County property transfers for March 2-6, 2026.

Woodlawn Arts Academy students will be showing off their theater skills, with performances of “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” the weekend of April 10.

The Vintage Shop Hop, featuring vintage, thrift and antique stores across northern Illinois and Wisconsin, is March 6 and 7.

Dixon City and Rural firefighters and Advance EMS were dispatched at 2:21 a.m. Monday to the 1100 block of West First Street for a reported structure fire.

Here's a list of Ogle County property transfers for Feb. 23-27, 2026.

Historical columnist Betty Obendorf's column this week picks up on the sophomore and junior years of the Polo High School Class of 1950.

The Polo Woman’s Garden Club will host an informational meeting open to the community regarding a late afternoon/evening group for those who are active or interested in flower and vegetable gardening.

"Agriculture education is big." That was not the theme but it was the message Friday at the fourth Cultivating Connections in Agriculture, which celebrates agriculture education and FFA in the Sauk Valley and the larger northern Illinois region.

On Wednesday, March 4, our publications in Oregon, Polo, Mt. Morris and Forreston will be merged into our Ogle County Life publication, which instead of publishing on Mondays, will be published on Wednesdays going forward.

Illinois Wesleyan University’s dean’s list for the fall semester of the 2025-26 academic year consisted of 885 students from 31 states and 23 countries.

PACT is holding auditions for “Clue the Musical” on Saturday, Feb. 28, at the Polo Area Community Theatre.

Firefighters from 13 departments battled a hay bale fire at a farm in the 6000 block of West Pines Road, between Oregon and Polo, Monday afternoon.

Firefighters from 13 departments battled a hay bale fire at a farm in the 6000 block of West Pines Road, between Oregon and Polo, on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026.

Here's a list of Ogle County property transfers for Feb. 16-20, 2026.

In September 1946, around 70 freshmen entered PCHS with pep, enthusiasm and interest. We all flocked to high school following an ad in the Tri-County Press, which listed the reasons as to why we needed to go there and what the school had to offer.

The Amboy City Council learned the details of a fundraising campaign Monday that could pay the bill for Amboy High School students to attend Sauk Valley Community College. 

U.S. Congressman Darin LaHood, R-Peoria, visited Focus House north of Rochelle on Wednesday to tour the facility and meet with the organization’s leadership regarding its programming and desire for a new residence hall.

I have a sign in my front yard and I am not running for office. The sign says: “Congratulations, Natalie O’Connor. 2026 Illinois Teacher of the Year. West Carroll Elementary School.”

Here's a list of Ogle County property transfers for Feb. 9-13, 2026.

Joey Rowland was recently named the January Student of the Month at Polo Community High School. He received a scholarship from the Polo Schools Foundation for his efforts.

Breanna Cisketti, ag/commercial lender at First State Bank Shannon Polo Lake Carroll, recently attended the Community Bankers Association of Illinois Ag Lenders Conference.

The Polo Area Community Theatre is gearing up for its rendition of Agatha Christie’s “A Murder is Announced.” The play will be performed Feb. 13, 14 and 20 at 7 p.m. and Feb. 15 and 21 at 2 p.m. at the theater at 117 N. Franklin Ave. in Polo.

Dixon city and rural firefighters and Advance EMS were called at 6:40 a.m. Wednesday to the 900 block of West Fourth Street, according to a news release.

Here's a list of Ogle County property transfers for Feb. 2-6, 2026.

Guest Column: Recently someone said the temperature was to get up in the 40s and someone else said 50s. Right away, I wondered when do we start looking for robins?

Here's a list of Ogle County property transfers for Jan. 26-30, 2026.