On Saturday, Feb. 22, the Rochelle Middle School math team competed in the regional MathCounts competition. Students participated in the events: the team competition, the individual competition, and the "Countdown" competition. 

Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) has provided its Comprehensive Community Based Youth Services (CCBYS) program to youth in Ogle County for over 35 years.

RCH Registered Dieticians, Janelle Stein and Luis Cano are offering a series of classes called Lifestyle Balance, targeting those with prediabetes. These classes have been modified from the original year-long CDC led National Prediabetes Prevention Program and condensed into 12 weeks.

The Rochelle Chamber of Commerce is once again hosting their annual 5K race Lucky Hub Dash. The presenting sponsor for the March 8 race is Holcomb Bank. The race starts and stops at Flannigan Park in Hillcrest with registration at 9 a.m. and race starts at 10 a.m. 

Derek Swartz and the Rochelle Township High School Speech Tean Performance in the Round (PIR) cast and crew will be competing in the IHSA State Tournament in Peoria the weekend of Feb. 22-23.

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.

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.

Rochelle Township High School recently congratulated the January Rotary Student of the Month, Hailey Bunger. Bunger is a junior who has accumulated 464 Silver Service volunteer hours over her time at RTHS.

The Rochelle Township High School Speech Team participated in the IHSA Regional Competition held at DeKalb High School this past weekend. The team placed third in the Regional.

The Kishwaukee College Foundation is pleased to announce the student scholarship recipients for the Spring 2025 semester. The Foundation awarded 354 scholarship awards totaling $335,355.

The Rochelle High School Speech Team competed at the Rockford Jefferson Invitational this past weekend.  Rochelle walked away earning second place in the team competition. 

Kishwaukee College is continuing its trend of increasing enrollment, with Spring 2025 students up approximately 15% compared to Spring 2024. Kish’s upward enrollment trend began in Fall 2022 and has continued each semester.

On Friday, Jan. 31, representatives of From the Heart presented a check to its Jan.1 cash calendar winner of $1,000, Mary Whelan of Dixon. From the Heart recently drew the winners of its 2025 cash calendar and winners can be found in the News-Leader and online at fromtheheartrochelle.org.

The Ogle County Economic Development Corporation will be seeking a new executive director as Charlene Coulombe will transition out of the role and into retirement, a Jan. 29 press release said. Coulombe has served in the position since January 2024.

The Rochelle Area Community Foundation (RACF) is excited to announce the opening of their 2025 Community Needs Grant Cycle on Feb. 1.

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.

Now known as 100+ Women Who Care met in the Oregon Coliseum and presented $11,200 to Encore of Mt. Morris.

The Rochelle Speech Team claimed first place at the Rock Falls Speech Invitational. 

More than 1,150 students received their bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from Northern Illinois University in December.

The Maggie & Amos Foundation is currently accepting applications for its annual educator grants. 

Northern Illinois University announces its fall 2024 Dean's List students.

St. Paul Lutheran School recently released its honor roll information for the second quarter of the 2024-2025 school year. 

The Rochelle Township High School Speech Team earned second place in the Interstate 8 Conference Championship.  Morris earned top honors and took the conference title.