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RCH Family Healthcare Clinic welcomes Rochelle native Gonzales as physician assistant

The Family Healthcare Clinic at Rochelle Community Hospital recently welcomed Kristi Gonzales, MSPAS, PA-C, to its list of providers as a physician assistant. 
The Family Healthcare Clinic at Rochelle Community Hospital recently welcomed Kristi Gonzales, MSPAS, PA-C, to its list of providers as a physician assistant. 
Community
Late in the morning of Friday, Feb. 14, area fire departments responded to a detached garage fire at 7483 E. Husking Peg Road in a rural area between Rochelle and Chana. The fire reached the second-alarm level and involved a trailer as well. Fire departments were first called at 11:28 a.m.
Area fire departments respond to detached garage fire near Chana
Late in the morning of Friday, Feb. 14, area fire departments responded to a detached garage fire at 7483 E. Husking Peg Road in a rural area between Rochelle and Chana. The fire reached the second-alarm level and involved a trailer as well. Fire departments were first called at 11:28 a.m.
Tilton Elementary School Spelling Bee classroom finalists were (alphabetical order): Avaley Hester, Tadeo Inocencio-Lopez, Kate Keller, Gabby Miller, Chase Olsen, Lyla Paul, Aida Rodriguez, Cole Schneider, Brooklyn Shepard, Adelaide Stouffer, and Gracynn Stultz.  The school champion was Stouffer, and the runner-up was Olsen. Stouffer advanced to the Regional Spelling Bee in Dixon on Feb. 20.
Tilton School crowns 5th Grade Spelling Bee winners 
Tilton Elementary School Spelling Bee classroom finalists were (alphabetical order): Avaley Hester, Tadeo Inocencio-Lopez, Kate Keller, Gabby Miller, Chase Olsen, Lyla Paul, Aida Rodriguez, Cole Schneider, Brooklyn Shepard, Adelaide Stouffer, and Gracynn Stultz.  The school champion was Stouffer, and the runner-up was Olsen. Stouffer advanced to the Regional Spelling Bee in Dixon on Feb. 20.
Rochelle Municipal Utilities (RMU) is proud to announce that its recent inspection by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) resulted in no deficiencies, highlighting the utility’s ongoing commitment to operational excellence and environmental stewardship.
RMU water receives perfect IEPA inspection score
Rochelle Municipal Utilities (RMU) is proud to announce that its recent inspection by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) resulted in no deficiencies, highlighting the utility’s ongoing commitment to operational excellence and environmental stewardship.

Wrestling: Hubs land three champions at IHSA 2A Dixon Regional

The Rochelle Hub wrestling team took second during the IHSA 2A Dixon Regional on Saturday.
Roman Villalobos failed to qualify for sectionals during his freshman season two years ago. Now a junior, Villalobos stood atop the podium as a regional champion after helping the Rochelle Hub varsity wrestling team take second place in the IHSA 2A Dixon Regional.

Girls Bowling: Vincent leads Lady Hubs to 12th at IHSA Dixon Regional

The Rochelle Lady Hub bowling team finished 12th in the IHSA Dixon Regional on Friday, with senior Cassidy Vincent qualifying for the sectional tournament next Saturday. Above from left to right are Mia Villavicencio, Karina Valdez, Ava Norris (front row), Kylie McCullough, Cassidy Vincent and Paris Washington (back row).
Cassidy Vincent has grown accustomed to bowling under pressure throughout her four years with the Rochelle Lady Hubs.
Sports
Elias Andronic shows off his first-place shield from the 2025 St. Charles Battle of the Shield on Sunday.
Wrestling: RWC posts two champions at 2025 St. Charles Battle for the Shield
The Rochelle Wrestling Club sent 19 athletes to the 2025 St. Charles Battle for the Shield on Sunday, Feb. 9. Two individuals took home championships, while seven others recorded runner-up finishes and three more secured third-place finishes in the tournament.
The Rochelle Lady Hub basketball team honored its five seniors before Friday's game against LaSalle-Peru. Above from left to right are Payton Cesarone, Riley Doyle, Abby Metzger, Kendyl Darby and manager Makayla Ludwig.
Girls Basketball: Lady Hubs fall in overtime Senior Night thriller with LaSalle-Peru
One could make the claim that a few unfortunate bounces were enough to decide an overtime thriller Friday evening, when the Rochelle Lady Hubs celebrated Senior Night before taking on LaSalle-Peru in an exciting Interstate 8 Conference battle at RTHS.
Cassidy Vincent was honored during a brief ceremony before the Rochelle Lady Hub varsity bowling match against Oregon on Thursday.
Girls Bowling: Lady Hubs hold Senior Night match against Oregon
Senior Cassidy Vincent earned the spotlight one final time at T-Byrd Lanes on Thursday, when the Rochelle Lady Hubs welcomed Oregon for their Senior Night varsity bowling match.
Junior Van Gerber is guarded by Kaneland's Marshawn Cocroft during the Rochelle Hub varsity basketball game against the Knights on Tuesday.
Boys Basketball: Rochelle offense smothered in road loss at Kaneland
Roughly 24 hours after turning in their highest scoring output of the season on Monday, the Rochelle Hubs faced a whole new animal on Tuesday, when the purple and white were held to 11 first-half points during their varsity basketball matchup against Kaneland.
The Rochelle Lady Hub varsity and JV bowling teams competed in the Interstate 8 Conference meet at Mardi Gras Lanes on Monday evening. Above from left to right are Ava Norris, Nicki Schabacker, Mia Villavicencio, Karli Klavenga (front row), Karina Valdez, Magaly Belmonte, Kylie McCullough, Cassidy Vincent and Paris Washington (back row).
Girls Bowling: Vincent earns All-Conference honors for fourth straight season
Since she started her high school career as a freshman, Cassidy Vincent has learned to trust herself and compete with a purpose.
Freshman Cohen Haedt is guarded by Plano's Amari Bryant.
Boys Basketball: Motion offense fuels Hubs in win over Plano
Junior guard Van Gerber created separation and knocked down a stepback 3-pointer in the fourth quarter as the Rochelle Hubs continued to increase their lead during their nonconference varsity basketball matchup against Plano at RTHS on Monday evening.
Opinion
Stan Popovich

Managing your fearful and obsessive thoughts

There are times that we encounter negative thoughts that can be overwhelming.

Sammy and John: 82 years and thousands of children

Not all heroes serve in war, they don’t slay dragons or climb mountains, they simply go to work every day and serve with love and compassion.  Two such heroes were Samuel Hansen and John Furland, custodians for the Rochelle school district. 
The recent hysteria amongst the technocrats is that the latest AI (artificial intelligence) computer program, DeepSeek, will revolutionize AI and propel the Chinese into the lead in AI. The U.S.-based OpenAI Company has developed a popular computer program called ChatGPT (AI tool) that helps users write and perform other tasks easily.
Rolling ahead into the new year I’ve finally gotten used to putting 2025 on my checks and correspondence. As I get older it becomes more difficult for me to break old habits, or more accurately to “change.” I guess that’s either a benefit or curse of old age.
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Obituaries
Obituaries
Delores "Lois" Utley (Marler)
Delores ‘Lois’ Utley (Marler)
Delores "Lois" Utley (Marler), 86 of Osage Beach, Missouri peacefully passed away at home on February 5, 2025 in Byrnes Mill, Missouri surrounded by her loving family. 
Linda Karen LeMar
Linda Karen LeMar
Linda Karen LeMar, loving mother, Granny and sister, 79, passed away Monday, February 10, 2025 at her home in Rochelle, Illinois. 
Timothy Michael Kromm
Timothy Michael Kromm
Timothy Michael Kromm, aged 70, passed away on January 29, 2025, in Mendota, IL.
Sarah Carlota Valdivieso
Sarah Carlota Valdivieso
Sarah Carlota Valdivieso, age 91, went home to be with her Lord on January 29, 2025 surrounded by her family after an adventurous life.
Lorena “Rena” Hosbach Zack
Lorena ‘Rena’ Hosbach Zack
Lorena “Rena” Hosbach Zack, 91, of Greenville, North Carolina, passed peacefully in her beloved home at Cypress Glen Retirement Community on Sunday, February 2, surrounded by her loving family.
Web Extra Content
AI chatbots are becoming romance scammers — and 1 in 3 people admit they could fall for one
(BPT) - By McAfeeIt started with a DM.For five months, 25-year-old computer programmer Maggie K. exchanged daily messages with the man she met on Instagram, convinced she had found something …
10 can't-miss places to visit in the winter
Are you looking for trip ideas to embrace the cold weather months? CoPilot compiled 10 drivable U.S. locations that are ideal for winter visits.
A forecaster monitors incoming data for Hurricane Irma in 2017 at the National Hurricane Center, part of the NOAA.
NOAA’s vast public weather data powers the local forecasts on your phone and TV – a private company alone couldn’t match it
NOAA operates fleets of satellites, sensors on airplanes and ocean-going buoys, as well as radar, providing the data used by weather forecasters nationwide – and freely available to anyone.
What are the most distinctive baby names by state?
Spokeo used data from the Social Security Administration to find the most unique baby names in every state across the country as of 2023.
The best spring break destinations for both kids and their parents
(BPT) - Spring break takes on a whole new meaning when you become a parent. But that doesn't mean adults have to sacrifice all the fun for their kids.Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, home to …
Start the Day by Sharing a Heartwarming Breakfast
(Family Features) Whether your brunch favorites include Bananas Foster French Toast or Peanut Butter and Apple, enjoying a meal together is a heartwarming way to start the day.