The annual award seeks to recognize outstanding educators who go above and beyond for their students.

A Rock Falls man accused of firing a gun into a car will stay out of jail on pretrial release under strict home monitoring, including video doorbells at every entrance.

After 11 years leading Sauk Valley Community College, David Hellmich steps away, and leaves behind a legacy shaped far beyond its Dixon campus.

Here's a list of Whiteside County property transfers for April 27 to May 1, 2026.

Catch up on the week’s top Sauk Valley news for April 26-May 2 in minutes. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

From the toe-tapping sounds of the Bellson Music Fest to the family-friendly fun of the Spooktacular Halloween Lighted Golf Cart & UTV Parade, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this season in Rock Falls.

This screening is part of a broader initiative led by SVVOR and ROE No. 47 to explore the potential development of a recovery high school in the Sauk Valley region, with a proposed location in Rock Falls.

Here's a list of Lee, Whiteside and Ogle property transfers for April 20-24, 2026.

Authorities have confirmed that a Dixon man who jumped into the Rock River in mid-April has been found dead in the Rock River near Sterling

A Rock Falls man has been charged in Whiteside County with four counts of possession of child sex abuse material

Here's a list of Whiteside County property transfers for April 20-24, 2026.

A Rock Falls man has been sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to a weapons charge.

Catch up on the week’s top Sauk Valley news for April 19-25 in minutes. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Here's a list of Lee, Whiteside and Ogle County property transfers for April 13-17, 2026.

Cledy’s House of Hope, a women’s sober living home, is holding a community update meeting from 6-7 p.m. May 13 at the Rock Falls Community Building.

A Rock Falls company has filed a lawsuit alleging one of its owners systematically looted the business of more than $4 million through personal credit card charges, unauthorized cash withdrawals, and transfers to his own companies — all while concealing the scheme from co-owners.

The farmers market will be open from 7-11 a.m. every Wednesday and Saturday from May through October.

Keeping tradition fresh: Three generations. 84 years. A Rock Falls bakery still rises before dawn to keep a family tradition alive.

In 1926, Sterling and Rock Falls were full of ambition – some of it still thriving today, some of it long gone. A barber chair, a bold Coliseum dream, a vanished golf course, a future NFL player – a century later, the stories still linger in local memory.

Tailgate Bingo tickets go on sale April 24 at Sauk Valley Bank locations in Rock Falls and Sterling and online at www.rockfallschamber.com.

The Rock Falls Chamber of Commerce has announced that Friday, May 15, to Sunday, May 17, will be the dates for the annual Rock Falls/Sterling spring community garage sales.

Here's a list of Whiteside County property transfers for April 13-17, 2026.

Catch up on the week’s top Sauk Valley news for April 12-18 in minutes. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Having trouble meeting new people and growing business connections? Get help at an April 22 speed networking session for Rock Falls businesses.

A single-family home in Sterling that sold for $445,000 tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Lee County / Whiteside over the past week

Here's a list of Lee, Whiteside and Ogle County property transfers for April 6-10, 2026.

An Illinois appellate court has upheld the conviction of a Rock Falls man in connection with a fire at a Sterling apartment complex that killed three people in June 2020.

The Dixon Police Department is closely monitoring the weather today, preparing for possibly severe storms that could move through the Sauk Valley this afternoon and tonight

A Whiteside County jury pool allegedly includes dozens of deceased individuals, prompting a defense motion claiming systemic flaws in how Illinois compiles jury lists

Nine criminal charges filed against a Rock Falls man in connection with shots fired at a Rock Falls party last summer were dropped Monday as part of a plea deal in which he pleaded guilty to burglary in an unrelated case

A Rochelle man was arrested Tuesday afternoon on a warrant issued Feb. 17 for nine charges filed that day alleging he sexually assaulted, abused and exploited children.

More than $25 million in federal funding – including $8 million to the Tri-County Opportunities Council in Rock Falls – has been awarded to Head Start programs serving families across northern and central Illinois, U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, D-Rockford, announced Tuesday.

Carroll County Sheriff Ryan Kloepping on Wednesday confirmed the names of two men killed when the pickup truck they were in collided with a train Monday afternoon near Savanna

Here's a list of Whiteside County property transfers for April 6-10, 2026.

Two Rock Falls students have been named to the fall dean’s list at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Catch up on the week’s top Sauk Valley news for April 5-11 in minutes. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Here's a list of Lee, Whiteside and Ogle property transfers for March 30 to April 3, 2026.

Augustana College announced more than 1,200 students were named to the dean’s list for the 2025-2026 fall semester.

Local author John L. Hoh Jr. will present the Sterling-Rock Falls Historical Society’s April program “The Man With the Branded Hand.” at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 12.

As chief lending officer, Billy Johnson will oversee the bank’s lending strategy and lending teams across all markets.

A Lee County judge Thursday granted pretrial, conditional release to a Rock Falls woman facing nine sex-related charges that accuse her of sexually assaulting, abusing and exploiting minors.

A Sterling man with a history of speeding convictions is now accused of fleeing police and driving over 100 miles per hour on Riverdale Road on March 31 near Rock Falls.

Here's a list of Whiteside County property transfers for March 30 to April 3, 2026.

Catch up on the week’s top Sauk Valley news for March 29-April 4 in minutes. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

The Rock River Jazz Band’s 2026 season is coming up fast. Their tour dates are set and the band is raising funds to put these shows on for free in outdoor settings.

Aurora University has named the following students to the dean’s list for the fall 2025 semester.

Here's a list of Lee, Whiteside and Ogle counties’ property transfers for March 23-27, 2026.

Investigator's report indicates Justin Wiggins of Dixon was a student pilot on an instructional flight at the time of the crash, which happened shortly after 3 p.m. March 20 in the area of Thome and McNeil roads near Rock Falls.

A tentative agreement has been reached between First Student and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the union representing its more than 17,000 bus workers nationwide, according to a news release.

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