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City council extends bar liquor license moratorium in effort to limit gaming machines

At its meeting on Dec. 9, 2024, the Rochelle City Council unanimously approved an ordinance extending a moratorium limiting the number of class B (bar) liquor licenses and the issuance of any new class B liquor licenses until May 1, 2027. 
At its meeting on Dec. 9, 2024, the Rochelle City Council unanimously approved an ordinance extending a moratorium limiting the number of class B (bar) liquor licenses and the issuance of any new class B liquor licenses until May 1, 2027. 

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City’s public works department has seen milder winter so far in 2024-2025

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Community
Scholarships are available through the Rochelle Community Hospital Auxiliary to area students who are planning to pursue careers in the healthcare field. Five scholarships are available in 2025 which include the Ward A. and Mabel T. Miller Scholarship.
RCH Auxiliary offers scholarships
Scholarships are available through the Rochelle Community Hospital Auxiliary to area students who are planning to pursue careers in the healthcare field. Five scholarships are available in 2025 which include the Ward A. and Mabel T. Miller Scholarship.
A benefit for the family of a Chana man that recently passed away in an accident with a train in Chana is scheduled for Saturday, March 1 from noon to 2 p.m. at Rochelle VFW Post 3878 at 318 4th Ave.
Benefit for family of Chana man is March 1
A benefit for the family of a Chana man that recently passed away in an accident with a train in Chana is scheduled for Saturday, March 1 from noon to 2 p.m. at Rochelle VFW Post 3878 at 318 4th Ave.
Now known as 100+ Women Who Care met in the Oregon Coliseum and presented $11,200 to Encore of Mt. Morris.
Encore of Mt. Morris receives donation from 100 Women Who Care
Now known as 100+ Women Who Care met in the Oregon Coliseum and presented $11,200 to Encore of Mt. Morris.

Girls Bowling: Vincent, McCullough medal at Sterling MLK Invitational

Above from left to right are Cassidy Vincent, Magaly Belmonte, Ava Norris, Nicki Schabacker, Mia Villavicencio (front row), Kylie McCullough, Paris Washington, Karli Klavenga and Karina Valdez (back row).
Junior Kylie McCullough and senior Cassidy Vincent took home medalist honors on Monday afternoon, when the duo earned high series and high game honors to lead the Rochelle Lady Hub varsity bowlers during the Sterling MLK Invitational at Blackhawk Lanes.
Above from left to right are Mia Villavicencio, Magaly Belmonte, Chloe Rodriguez (front), Cassidy Vincent, Kylie McCullough and Karina Valdez (back row).

Girls Bowling: Vincent medals in third at Charles Butterfield Invitational

Cassidy Vincent was a sophomore the last time she competed in the Charles Butterfield Invitational at Echo Lanes in Morris, where she rolled a 1,063 series to lead the Rochelle Lady Hub varsity bowling team.

Wrestling: Rochelle crowns five champions at Mahomet-Seymour

The Rochelle Hub varsity wrestling team finished fourth out of 18 schools during the 2025 Marty Williams Invitational at Mahomet-Seymour High School on Saturday afternoon. Above from left to right are Xavier Villalobos, Aidan Lopez, Kaiden Morris, Deegan Schabacker, Josh Lassiter, Matt Lynn, AJ Milan (front row), Brenden Voight, Roman Villalobos, Frank Nasca, Grant Gensler and Freddie Hernandez (back row).
An illness may have slowed him down over the winter holidays, but senior wrestler Xavier Villalobos is rounding back into prime form after going unbeaten and taking first place for the Rochelle Hubs during the 2025 Marty Williams Invitational at Mahomet-Seymour.
Sports
Junior Carmela Bright dribbles around Plano's Sanai Young during the Rochelle Lady Hub varsity basketball game against the Reapers on Friday.
Girls Basketball: Bright battles to lead Lady Hubs against Plano
A tough stretch could become even tougher for the Rochelle Lady Hubs, who suffered a key injury during their varsity basketball game against Plano on Friday evening.
The Rochelle Hub varsity bowling team took 10th at the IHSA Kaneland Regional on Friday. Above from left to right are Caleb Mortensen, Declan McGee, Logan Frye, Josef Alanis, Levi Waddle, Luke Norris and Bryson Stewart.
Boys Bowling: Hubs take 10th at IHSA Kaneland Regional
The Rochelle Hubs concluded their varsity bowling season during the IHSA Kaneland Regional at Mardi Gras Lanes on Friday afternoon. Rochelle finished 10th out of 13 schools with a final score of 5,259 pins and did not qualify any individuals for sectionals.
Junior Roman Villalobos pulls the arm from LaSalle-Peru's Logan Miller.
Wrestling: Hubs throttle short-handed LaSalle-Peru squad
A short-handed LaSalle-Peru team stood no chance against the Rochelle Hubs, who moved one step closer to clinching an Interstate 8 Conference championship after their dominant varsity wrestling victory against the Cavaliers at RTHS on Thursday evening.
Sophomore Ava Norris throws a shot during the Rochelle Lady Hub varsity bowling match against Ottawa on Thursday.
Girls Bowling: Vincent anchors Lady Hubs in loss against Ottawa
Senior Cassidy Vincent threw a match-best 567 series to lead all players when the Rochelle Lady Hubs hosted Ottawa for their Interstate 8 varsity bowling match on Thursday.
Senior Cassidy Vincent posts her shot during the Rochelle Lady Hub varsity bowling match against Belvidere on Wednesday.
Girls Bowling: Vincent shoots Rochelle's high series against Belvidere
Senior Cassidy Vincent rolled a team-high 533 series to anchor the Rochelle Lady Hubs during their nonconference varsity bowling match against Belvidere on Wednesday.
Junior Jaydin Dickey drives around Rockford Christian's Shea Ludwig.
Girls Basketball: Dickey sparks Lady Hubs in loss to Rockford Christian
Jaydin Dickey’s explosive first quarter sparked the Rochelle Lady Hubs on offense during their varsity basketball game against Rockford Christian on Thursday evening.
E-edition

Rochelle News-Leader — Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025

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Police Reports

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Opinion

Letter: Lawfare – Part 2

If you need an example of how some people are treated with kid gloves and others are prosecuted/persecuted, you need to look no further than former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was storing classified information on her personal email server.

Letter: Response to Kern column

In a guest column on Jan. 12 entitled, “Ron Kern: New law on business ownership”, Mr. Kern, who is the manager of the Ogle County Farm Bureau, holds true to the tradition of talking heads of special interest groups like our farm bureaus: he shows zero concern for other groups.

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A recent opinion piece in the Rochelle News-Leader defined what “lawfare” is, and then dismissed any assertions that it was being pursued against President Trump as quickly as you would turn off a light. However, if you look at the details of the various cases which were indicted and pursued against then Republican Presidential candidate Trump, you get a different view.
Jeff Fiegenschuh
One of the reasons I enjoy living in Rochelle so much is how supportive our residents are of community organizations and community causes. 
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Obituaries
Obituaries
Paul Howard Mayer
Paul Howard Mayer
Paul Howard Mayer, 81, passed away Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at Serenity Hospice and Home in Oregon, Illinois with his family by his side.
MaryEllen Winters
MaryEllen Winters
MaryEllen Winters, age 86, died Friday, January 17, 2025 at Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center in Rockford, IL.
Anita Stahl Dayton Grace
Anita Stahl Dayton Grace
Anita Stahl Dayton Grace, passed away on January 6, 2025 at St. Joseph Hospital West in Lake St. Louis, MO. 
Kenneth Seymour Brown
Kenneth Seymour Brown
Kenneth Seymour Brown, a devoted husband, loving father, caring brother, and adored grandfather and great grandfather, passed away on January 17, 2025, in Cherokee Village Arkansas.
Terry Lee Austin Sr.
Terry Lee Austin Sr.
Terry Lee Austin Sr., 77, of Rochelle, passed away Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at his home.

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