Sauk Valley

Attend performances by the Dixon Municipal Band on Thursday night, or check out the Rock River Riders Hillclimb on Saturday.

Equipped with a mobile kitchen, a hungry customer base, a dream and a meat smoker gifted to them at their wedding, Courtney and Dantrion Dodd hit the road with their barbecue and have not looked back since.

Here is a look at the results from three more divisions during the second day of the 35th Annual Emma Hubbs Tennis Classic.

The Dixon Minor girls 4th grade fast pitch softball team won the Rock River championship on July 14 in Byron.

Prairieview won a sixth straight Lincoln Highway golf tournament on Sunday as Ryan Jahn took first, while Jason Wombacher and Andrew Canfield tied for second with Emerald Hill's Jarred Hippen. Sunset's Brian Weidman was also inducted into the tournament's Hall of Fame.

The 35th Annual Emma Hubbs Tennis Classic kicked off on Monday with four different age divisions competing. Brooklyn Arjes and Joel Rhodes won the 18 and under mixed doubles division over Jenna Mustapha and Aron Rivera.

Sterling students also have been named to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee dean’s list.

Whiteside County 4-H will host a workshop for young animal lovers to introduce them to the field of veterinary science. The workshop will take place from 2-3:30 p.m. July 28 at the Rock Falls Public Library.

The OSF Saint Katharine Moms’ Group meets at the Dixon YMCA, while Moms on the Move is a group that walks at Dixon's new walking path.

Dixon, Sterling and Rock Falls students also graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and were named to the university's chancellor's list.

Matt Hicks with the Sauk Valley Water Ski Shows group said his organization is seeking sponsors and donations to raise money to bring water ski shows and other aquatic entertainment to Rock Falls.

Agricultural producers who suffered eligible crop losses due to natural disasters in 2023 and 2024 can now apply for $16 billion in assistance through the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program.

Lining up along East Fourth Street in Sterling on Thursday, July 17, 2025, hundreds of protesters displayed their dissatisfaction with the Trump administration in a nationwide gathering known as “Good Trouble Lives On.”

Enjoy free live music from the Sterling Municipal Band and the Dixon Municipal Band and more this weekend in the Sauk Valley.

Hidden within hills and away from highways in southeast Jo Daviess County is a tiny community best known for its annual music festival and large antique barn – attracting social butterflies and lovers of bluegrass, gospel and country music.

Get caught up on news, sports and features from the week of July 11-17, 2025, in the Sauk Valley.

The community group formerly known as Keystone has officially rebranded as Sauk Valley Under 40, reflecting a renewed commitment to building community, connection and leadership opportunities for young adults throughout the Sauk Valley region.

They include Luis Guerrero, Danae Palmer and Carter Schlegel.

Kaylee Johnson and Michael Ely have been awarded this year’s Judy M. Thome Memorial Scholarships.

Get caught up on news, sports and features from the week of July 3-10, 2025, in the Sauk Valley.

Dixon's Katie Drew won the 102nd Ladies Lincoln Highway golf tournament individual title on Saturday at her home course. Dixon's Reese Dambman also helped Timber Creek win a third straight team title as she competed in her first Lincoln Highway.

Setting the tone as the leadoff hitter and shut-down closer for a fourth-place state finisher has earned Newman junior Garret Matznick the title of 2025 Sauk Valley Media Baseball Player of the Year.

This annual event allows the agri-business community to gather and celebrate ag in the Sauk Valley while raising money for ag-related scholarships, education and workforce development initiatives.

The legislation would make NWS meteorologists and support staff “mission critical” public safety workers, giving them the same employment protections as airport Transportation Security Administration agents and making it harder for future administrations to lay them off.

Pungent smells and sour tastes often are what one thinks of when it comes to sauerkraut, but Forreston makes a big deal about it – with plenty of fun and entertainment in a four-day festival that is pleasant and appetizing.

Rock Falls River Chase on Saturday and Sunday, Pop-Up Market and Music in Sterling and more this weekend in the Sauk Valley.

Here is a roundup of the results from the 40th annual OSF Tennis Classic over the weekend.

Dixon's Aaron Conderman and Dean Geiger finished 1-2 in their hometown race at the 25th annual Reagan Run 5K on Saturday. Melissa Winchester was the top female finisher.

From pageants to parachutes, take a look back to the stories and photos from last week in the Sauk Valley.

Get caught up on news and features from the week of June 27-July 3, 2025, in the Sauk Valley.

The Sterling/Rock Falls Jaycee’s fireworks display ignites at dusk (about 9:30 p.m.) Thursday, July 3, and OSF HealthCare Saint Katharine Medical Center will sponsor Dixon's Petunia Festival Family Fun Night from 5-7 p.m. Friday, July 4.

Do you want a fairy tail wedding? Experts have a few tips to keep your puppy from getting to preppy and your wedding from going to the dogs.

In observance of PTSD Awareness Day, 13 volunteers, including veterans, jumped out of a perfectly good airplane Friday, June 27, 2025, at the Chicagoland Skydiving Center in Rochelle.

Having some cents of Ogle County history: Centennial, quasquicentennial, sesquicentennial, dosquicentennial … Ogle County can observe them all this year, from the anniversary of driving through a cut up rock to blazing trails and rails.

Growing food doesn’t have to be a dirty job, just ask a local farmer who can coax herbs and veggies from rockwool and water

Still swingin' away: Cold or gloomy weather preventing you from visiting the golf course? Need help on improving your game? There's plenty of green to play through on simulator video screens that can be custom-designed by a Galena business, both in the home and on the back yard.

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.

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.

Melinda Jones has a message for people – My hometown Rocks! – and the city’s tourism director and her team are committed to getting that message out to people near and far.

The Class of 2025 was the last class to march into the future in Savanna, as its city prepares to say farewell to its high school before it moves to Mount Carroll.

A Mount Carroll craftsman is happy when he’s in his own neck of the woods, having the run of his Mill and creating hand-crafted pieces made with tools that have some history behind them and more work ahead of them.

When couples fall in love with each other, they can call someone who’s fallen in love with photography to capture the picture-perfect moments in their wedding.

The next time you include cheese in your recipe, maybe there's another variety that works well. Visiting a cheese shop can bring one closer to a new taste, and a place in eastern Stephenson County has more than 50 varieties that can work.

Royally hand-in-hand: A pair of Stillman Valley businesses under one roof sought to bring back memories of generations ago: one with the name of a longtime grocery store chain, and another with Grandma's beef jerky recipe.

Looking for someone who will give you tiers of joy? You’ll find it up the Street in downtown Dixon, at the intersection of talent and creativity.

A father and child reunion is only an ocean away for a pair of Prophetstown natives who love getting together to make music

The martial art of jiu jitsu is more than just taking people to the ground, there are abundant life lessons to learn from engaging in it, and an Ogle County club teaches it all.

When it comes to our health, times have really changed – but a Tampico woman would like to change them back, to a time when nature would nurture us, and she’s offering an oasis where people can do just that: a retreat where they can regroup, relax and recharge.

It doesn't happen often when competing in sports gives kids an experience of earning a medal in national competition, but Dixon's Lily Haws has one in the sport she enjoys playing. The 13-year-old recently brought home silver from a national curling competition.

Drag racing and Arnie Beswick were born around the same time – one on the dry lake beds of California and the other in Morrison – and they’ve both found fame through the years, with drag racing attracting legions of fans and “The Farmer” becoming a legend in his field.