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Sheriff: Victim, shooter deceased after Saturday night shooting in Polo

Two people are dead following a June 14 shooting incident in Polo, a June 16 Ogle County Sheriff’s Office press release said.
Two people are dead following a June 14 shooting incident in Polo, a June 16 Ogle County Sheriff’s Office press release said.
Community
Liberty Village of Rochelle is proud to support two local organizations that make a lasting impact on our community. Through the generosity of the Donald E. Fike Foundation, established by our company’s owner, we had the privilege of donating $10,000 each to the Rochelle Rescue Mission and the Rochelle Hub City Senior Center.
Liberty Village of Rochelle donates $20,000 to local nonprofits
Liberty Village of Rochelle is proud to support two local organizations that make a lasting impact on our community. Through the generosity of the Donald E. Fike Foundation, established by our company’s owner, we had the privilege of donating $10,000 each to the Rochelle Rescue Mission and the Rochelle Hub City Senior Center.
Rochelle Community Consolidated School District #231 is pleased to welcome Katie Smith as the new principal of Rochelle Middle School.
Smith promoted to RMS principal, Young leaves district
Rochelle Community Consolidated School District #231 is pleased to welcome Katie Smith as the new principal of Rochelle Middle School.
The Ogle County Republican Party recently donated some of the proceeds from their Spring Draw Down event held at Kennay Farms Distillery to the Lifeline Food & Self Help Project, which provides quality food items to households experiencing food insecurity.
Ogle GOP donates to Polo Lifeline
The Ogle County Republican Party recently donated some of the proceeds from their Spring Draw Down event held at Kennay Farms Distillery to the Lifeline Food & Self Help Project, which provides quality food items to households experiencing food insecurity.
Sports

Track & Field: Sanford breaks through during junior season at Dubuque

Former Rochelle student-athlete Zach Sanford won the American Rivers Conference title in the discus during the outdoor portion of his junior season at the University of Dubuque.
A personal record two-and-a-half years in the making enabled former Rochelle Township High School track and field standout Zach Sanford to become an NCAA Division III national qualifier for the first time during his junior season with the University of Dubuque’s men’s track team.  

Softball: Rochelle Elite 12U sweeps Sycamore Sycos during Saturday doubleheader

The Rochelle Elite 12U softball team swept the Sycamore Sycos in a doubleheader on Saturday, June 14. The team includes Lilyan Erickson, Berkeley Thompson, Jaelyn Gonzales, Tinley Tabor, Annalyce Harris, Helen Miller, Natalie Isley, Isabel Jackson, Deyonna Wallace, Molly Whiting and Leni Haedt. The team is coached by Tim Thompson, James Jackson, Kristi Gonzales, John Gonzales and Adam Erickson.
The Rochelle Elite 12U softball team scored back-to-back wins over the Sycamore Sycos 12U squad on Saturday, upping the group’s record to 8-4-1 this summer.

Baseball: Lewis earns Interstate 8 All-Conference honors

Senior Carson Lewis was named an All-Conference honoree in the Interstate 8 for the 2025 baseball season.
Senior Carson Lewis was named an All-Conference winner in the Interstate 8 for the 2025 varsity baseball season. Senior Brandyn Metzger was named an Honorable Mention for the Rochelle Hubs, who finished with an 11-20 overall record during the 2025 campaign.
Sports
Girls Soccer: Lady Hubs receive RTHS, Interstate 8 Conference awards
The Rochelle Lady Hub soccer team held its season ending awards banquet at RTHS on Monday evening. Several athletes took home RTHS and Interstate 8 Conference awards during the event.
The Rochelle Hub football team huddles together after completing its skills camp on Thursday.
Football: Hubs kick off march toward 2025 season with start of summer skills camp
The Rochelle Hub football team is back in action for the start of its summer program, which kicked off with the first day of skills camp for returning and incoming players on June 9. After a stellar 2024 season in which the Hubs went 10-2 and won 10 games for the first time in over two decades, Rochelle will field a new team and aim for more success in 2025.
Sophomore Kasin Avila (left) guards senior Brode Metzger (right) during the Rochelle Hub basketball team's summer camp on Thursday.
Boys Basketball: Hubs seeking defensive improvements as summer practices begin
Defense has been a clear focus for the Rochelle Hub basketball team over the early portion of the team’s summer workouts.
Junior Reese Kissack puts up a shot during the Rochelle Lady Hub basketball team's summer practice on Monday morning.
Girls Basketball: Lady Hubs shooting for offensive growth as players return for summer practices
Team offense and shooting are among the key points of emphasis for the Rochelle Lady Hub basketball team as head coach Jon Gehm and his players returned to the hardwood earlier this month for the start of the program’s offseason summer schedule.
Former Rochelle student-athlete Morgan Smardo posted a .306 batting average and concluded her sophomore season at the University of St. Francis on an 11-game hitting streak.
Softball: Late-season hitting streak highlights Smardo's sophomore season at St. Francis
Former Rochelle softball standout Morgan Smardo crushed the competition during her freshman season at Waubonsee Community College, earning NFCA Second-Team All-American honors and a slew of additional accolades after posting a team-high .503 batting average and 74 hits. 
Former Rochelle student-athlete Clare Green became Cornell College volleyball's all-time career assists champion during her senior season this past fall.
Volleyball: Green reflects on record-setting career at Cornell College
Former Rochelle volleyball standout Clare Green had family members in attendance as she inched closer to a historic achievement during her senior season at Iowa’s Cornell College. It was …
Opinion

Letter: What if Harris had won?

Elections, it is said, have consequences. Indeed, they do. Consider, if you will, what different consequences our country could reasonably expect to have seen if Kamala Harris had been elected president instead of Donald Trump.

Rochelle’s first church

The first settlers to arrive in Hickory Grove brought a few essentials with them. Not the least of these was their faith. Which religion was first, is dicey. Jeptha Noe and John Randall held services in the Noe log cabin; the minister was Reverend R.L. Walker.
That time of year where young people will be parading across stages and accepting their diplomas at various podiums across the land. It’s graduation day!
Remember when as children we used to ask, “Are we there yet?”  I don’t know about you, but I’ve been asking this question of myself and my government for the past 4.5 months. 
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Obituaries
Obituaries
Larry Robert “LR” Ranken
Larry Robert ‘LR’ Ranken
Larry Robert “LR” Ranken, age 83, passed away on April 15, 2025, in Weston, Wisconsin.
Beverly A. Grimes
Beverly A. Grimes
Beverly A Grimes, 82, passed away Tuesday, May 20, 2025 in Oregon, Illinois.
Donald Elmer Cappel
Donald Elmer Cappel
Donald Elmer Cappel, 92, passed away Thursday, June 12, 2025 at Serenity Hospice and Home in Oregon, Illinois. 
Mary Ann Baker
Mary Ann Baker
Mary Ann Baker, 92, passed away Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at the Rochelle Community Hospital in Rochelle, Illinois. 
Melvin Allen Haenitsch
Melvin Allen Haenitsch
Melvin Allen Haenitsch, 93, of Ashton, passed away on June 6, 2025, at OSF Saint Katharine Medical Center, Dixon, IL.
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