The 2024 Little Miss Peanut Competition was held Friday, Aug. 16 during the first night of the Lincoln Highway Heritage Festival. 13 girls competed in the event. The winner was Rosie Pawlowski, age seven, and the runner up was Lucy Spartz, age eight.

A miniature bull got loose on a neighborhood street in Hillcrest on Sunday afternoon, Dave and Brenda Wetzel of Hillcrest Avenue said.

The City of Rochelle is thrilled to announce receipt of a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant in the amount of $919,368.  This substantial award, from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), allows the city to add three full-time firefighters to the Rochelle Fire Department. 

Every fall, additional bricks in the Rochelle Veterans War Memorial are engraved in time for Veterans Day.  Orders for brick engraving are collected and the engraver is hired to perform the work on a dry day in the fall. 

The intersection of 8th Avenue and 14th Street will be closed for a roadway repair Thursday, Aug. 22 and Friday, Aug. 23.

The 2024 Ogle County 4-H Senior Master Showman winner was Cooper Alderks from Carefree 4-H Club. The runner-up was Gwen Hall of Ogle Jolly 4-H Club.

On Friday, Aug. 9, The Flagg-Rochelle Public Library hosted its End of Summer Reading Celebration, which included water balloons, outside water games and a foam party.

The City of Rochelle's sealcoat project is set to take place beginning at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 21 and finishing by 4 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23, resulting in periodic lane closures in several areas.

The Rochelle Chamber of Commerce recently presented its Lawn of the Week award for the week of Aug. 12 to the home of Tyler Ryan and Jovana Delatorre. They received a sign and a $25 Rochelle ACE Hardware gift card, presented by Rochelle Ace Hardware Manager Jesse Lopez.

Michelle Snode of Lee County was recently inducted into the Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame.

The Roberts Armory World War II Museum will be open from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17, as part of the Lincoln Highway Heritage Festival in Rochelle.

The Ogle County 4-H Fair was held July 31-Aug. 4 at the Ogle County Fairgrounds in Oregon, where 689 4-H livestock exhibits were judged on and showcased by Ogle County's 284 4-H members in 13 clubs. 

"It is with a heavy heart that our family has decided to cancel our annual Art Show 2024 fundraiser for the Daniel and Stephanie Williams Fund for the Arts."

Northern Rehab Physical Therapy Specialists recently held a Food & School Supplies Drive to benefit area food pantries. Numerous bags and bins of non-perishable foods and school supplies were recently delivered to Rochelle Christian Food Pantry.

The Rochelle Chamber of Commerce recently presented its Lawn of the Week award for the week of Aug. 5 to Ed and Jan Kissack. They received a sign and a $25 Rochelle ACE Hardware gift card, presented by Rochelle Ace Hardware Manager Jesse Lopez.

Habitat for Humanity of Ogle County is excited to bring the opportunity for a local family to win a 6x10 hand-crafted playhouse.

City of Rochelle Engineer Sam Tesreau has announced Steward Road, between South Main Street and the Ogle County line south of the City Railroad crossing, will be under construction beginning Monday Aug. 5 until Aug. 30.

Tri-County Opportunities Council announced the recipients of the CSBG Scholarship Awards for the 2024-2025 school year.

This year’s Ogle County 4-H cat show was held at the Ogle County Farm Bureau in Oregon on Monday, July 22.

This year’s Ogle County 4-H clothing show was held on Saturday, July 20, at the Ogle County Farm Bureau Auditorium in Oregon.

Family, friends, and members of Boy Scout Troop #64 gathered at the Steward United Methodist Church on July 14 for a National Court of Honor as Logan Frye was officially awarded the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouts of America. 

On July 30, Ogle County Clerk and Recorder Laura J. Cook announced the recipients of a Polling Place Accessibility Grant from the Illinois State Board of Elections.

The Rochelle Chamber of Commerce recently presented its Lawn of the Week award for the week of July 25 to Dale and Megan Wells. They received a sign and a $25 Rochelle ACE Hardware gift card, presented by Rochelle Ace Hardware Manager Jesse Lopez.

Candidate packets for three four-year full-term council members in the City of Rochelle will be available in the City Clerk’s Office at Rochelle City Hall located at 420 N. 6th St. Petitions may be circulated beginning July 30.

Carpenter Media Group (CMG) and News Media Corporation (NMC) announced July 25 plans for CMG to manage, and with an option to acquire, NMC.