Looking at the state and progress of each corridor in town
“I think if we have too much of a vision where we're only going to narrowly focus on one area, that's when we have a problem,” Rochelle City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh said. “I think we just need to continue to try to promote the entire town. I hate saying one area. I really do believe every corridor needs to be looked at.”
Updated: 10 hours ago
Roberts participates in Big Rock Plowing Match
Chuck Roberts of Rochelle participated in the 127th Big Rock Plowing Match last weekend and took fifth place out of 12 in the antique rubber tire tractor division.
Updated: 11 hours ago
NIU STEAM receives $20,000 grant from Facebook to support STEM Fest
NIU STEAM, in Northern Illinois University’s Division of Outreach, Engagement and Regional Development, received a grant for $20,000 from Facebook to support STEM Fest – an annual festival celebrating advances in science, technology, engineering and math.
Updated: 11 hours ago
Flagg Township Museum's cemetery walk is Sept. 30
The Flagg Township Museum will host a cemetery walk on Thursday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. both virtually and at the museum.
Updated: 11 hours ago
Kish to offer free classes for entrepreneurs and small business owners
Kishwaukee College will offer several classes for entrepreneurs and small business owners in October and November. The courses will help develop important aspects of small business ownership and operation.
Updated: 11 hours ago
RTHS student’s work will adorn the US Capitol
Leslie Rodriguez-Nambo of RTHS is this year's Congressional Art Competition winner for Illinois’ 16th Congressional District.
Updated: 11 hours ago
Fiesta Hispana celebrated in Rochelle Saturday
Fiesta Hispana was celebrated on Saturday in Rochelle in the downtown gazebo area.
Updated: 11 hours ago
The Serenity Shed celebrates 6th anniversary
The Serenity Shed recently celebrated its sixth anniversary! The Shed opened in downtown Oregon as a bereavement center and volunteer workshop where anyone could come to create. The items created are then sold at their retail center to help support Serenity Hospice.
Updated: 4 days ago
Serenity Hospice offering free grief course
Serenity Hospice and Home is pleased to announce it will be starting an eight-week class titled “Understanding Your Grief.”
Updated: 4 days ago
RPD coloring contest winners get pizza party
On Wednesday night, members of the Rochelle Police Department celebrated with the winners of its coloring contest from its National Night Out event with a pizza party. The department thanked everyone who participated and joined Wednesday’s part.
Updated: 4 days ago
Kiwanis Golden K hears grain presentation
Kiwanis Golden K held a meeting on Sept. 16. The presenters were Manager Jason Snapp and Assistant Manager Christina Pineea from Eastern Iowa Grain Inspection and Weighing Service’s Rochelle office.
Updated: 4 days ago
Pritzker signs bill into law to save Byron nuclear plant
With Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signing a new energy bill that was favorable to nuclear plants into law on Sept. 15, the Byron Station will continue to operate. It’s owner, Exelon Generation, had threatened to close the station on Sept. 13 without the new bill.
Updated: 4 days ago
Rochelle’s first-ever hiring expo took place Thursday
The in-person city-wide event at Rochelle Township High School featured over 43 commercial, retail, non-profit, healthcare, industrial and staffing companies offering full-time, part-time and seasonal work. Some offered signing bonuses, employee referral rewards and other incentives to separate themselves from other employers.
Updated: 4 days ago
Fiegenschuh on contract extension: ‘We still have a lot to do’
On Sept. 11, Rochelle City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh celebrated his fourth anniversary on the job. On Sept. 13, the Rochelle City Council unanimously voted to renew his employment agreement until May 2023.
Updated: 4 days ago
Harper: Plans in place for adhering to state staff vaccine mandate
At the Rochelle Elementary School District 231 meeting Tuesday, Superintendent Jason Harper said plans are in place to follow Gov. JB Pritzker’s vaccine mandate for all staff members starting Monday.
Updated: 4 days ago
Chicagoland Skydiving Center makes 9/11 tribute
Rochelle’s Chicagoland Skydiving Center, along with many other dropzones across America, participated in 'Flags in the Air - a Skydivers Tribute to 9/11’ on Saturday.
Updated: 1 week ago
Four from Rochelle graduate from NIU in August
Over 580 students received their degrees from Northern Illinois University in August including four people from Rochelle.
Updated: 1 week ago
Kish Foundation announces fall 2021 scholarship recipients
The Kishwaukee College Foundation announced the Fall 2021 scholarship recipients. Applications for Spring 2022 Foundation scholarships will be accepted from Sept. 13 to Oct. 18.
Updated: 1 week ago
Saturday morning accident sees car in Kyte Creek
A one-vehicle accident early Saturday morning ended with a car in the Kyte Creek near Washington Street and Fairways Golf Course. There were no injuries.
Updated: 1 week ago
Exelon preparing to refuel Byron plant after energy bill
The Illinois Senate put the final legislative stamp on an energy regulation overhaul bill Monday, sending it to Gov. JB Pritzker, who says he will sign it.
Updated: 1 week ago
Rochelle Community Hospital holds 21st golf outing
Eighty two golfers took to Fairways Golf Course in Rochelle Monday for the Rochelle Community Hospital golf outing.
Updated: 1 week ago
KSRA partners with park district to offer special recreation
The Flagg-Rochelle Community Park District joined the Kishwaukee Special Recreation Association as a partner agency in 2016. The organization, which works in the communities of DeKalb, Sycamore, Genoa, Sandwich and Rochelle, strives to enhance the lives of people with disabilities by cultivating diverse recreational opportunities within those areas. Among the programs KSRA offers are field trips, cooking class, bowling, a seven-week camp, parents night out, sports, dances and fitness.
Updated: 1 week ago
City Council: City manager’s contract extended
The Rochelle City Council unanimously voted to renew the employment agreement of City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh until May 2023 at its Monday meeting.
Updated: 1 week ago
City of Rochelle bond rating confirms A+ credit rating
The City of Rochelle recently held a bond rating call with Standard and Poor’s for an upcoming Electric System Alternate Revenue Source General Obligation Bond sale. The city's current bond rating of A+ was reaffirmed, a press release said.
Updated: 1 week ago
Steward Elementary School hosts Patriot Day commemoration
Steward Elementary School students gathered on the school’s front lawn Friday for a commemoration of the anniversary of Sept. 11 and Patriot Day.
Updated: 1 week ago
Hillcrest board: Sales tax abatement for new business discussed
Hillcrest trustees discussed sales tax abatement proposals for a new business that will take over the former Grennan Meats building sometime within the near future.
Updated: 1 week ago
Stock+Field Is Now R.P. Home & Harvest
R.P. Lumber Co., Inc., has announced the rebranding of all 22 Stock + Field locations it acquired through the bankruptcy process this past spring to their new name, R.P. Home & Harvest.
Updated: 1 week ago
Northern Rehab celebrates 20-year anniversary in Rochelle
Northern Rehab Physical Therapy Specialists is pleased to announce celebration of its 20th anniversary providing physical therapy in the Rochelle community.
Updated: 1 week ago
Glen speaks at Kiwanis Golden K meeting
Rochelle Kiwanis Golden K held a meeting on Sept. 9 at The REC Center.
Updated: 1 week ago
Kishwaukee College Foundation announces creation of Ronald S. Sweet Jr. Endowment
A new scholarship has been established with the Kishwaukee College Foundation honoring Ronald S. Sweet Jr. — one of the most successful coaches in the history of Kish’s volleyball program.
Updated: 1 week ago
State police: Rochelle man involved in fatal 5-vehicle accident
A Rochelle man was involved in a five-vehicle accident that resulted in a fatality late Monday evening on Interstate 88 near Roosevelt Road in Cook County, an Illinois State Police press release said.
Updated: 1 week ago
War memorial brick engraving deadline is Sept. 15
Every fall, additional bricks in the Rochelle Veterans War Memorial are engraved in time for Veterans’ Day.
Updated: 1 week ago
No injuries in Thursday barn fire
There were no injuries in a barn fire near Steward on Thursday.
Updated: 1 week ago
Bill would keep Rochelle’s Prairie State coal plant open until at least 2038
A state bill will go before the senate Monday that would keep the Prairie State Energy Campus, which the City of Rochelle has $150 million in debt with until 2042, open until at least 2038.
Updated: 1 week ago
Energy bill expected to save Byron nuclear plant Monday
The Illinois Senate is expected to pass an energy bill Monday with incentives aimed at saving the Byron Generating Station.
Updated: 1 week ago
Creston Board: Sewer rates officially increased in line with RMU
The Creston Village Board decided at its Tuesday meeting to raise its sewer rates in the village by 5.5 percent starting Jan. 1, 2022.
Updated: 1 week ago
Cote celebrates 100th birthday
Bert Cote eats breakfast with friends at Rochelle Pharmacy nearly every day. So, his 100th birthday started Wednesday as any other day would. The World War II veteran did have some cake and singing that morning, though.
Updated: 1 week ago
County recycling event is Sept. 24
The Ogle County Solid Waste Management Department (OCSWMD) will be hosting its monthly residential electronics recycling event on Friday, Sept. 24 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 909 Pines Rd. in Oregon.
Updated: 2 weeks ago
Ogle County Master Gardeners celebrate 2020 volunteer hours
On Tuesday, Aug. 24, the Ogle County Master Gardeners gathered to celebrate their volunteer achievements for 2020.
Updated: 2 weeks ago
Bearrows named Moose Legionnaire of the year
Paul Bearrows of Rochelle was announced as the Moose Legionnaire of the Year for the entire state of Illinois on Aug. 19.
Updated: 2 weeks ago
Simpson joins Steward School District as superintendent
The Steward School District hired a new superintendent over the summer. Steven Simpson joined the district after working in the Indian Creek School district for 32 years, most recently as principal of Indian Creek Middle School. A Steward school board member made him aware of the opening.
Updated: 2 weeks ago
Former Rochelle resident celebrates 29 years with Starbucks
When Elise Rexroat started working at Starbucks Store 319 in Edmonds, Washington as a barista in 1992, the company had about 100 stores. On Sept. 2, she celebrated her 29th anniversary as a Starbucks employee. Her job title is now total pay operations analyst lead. Today, Starbucks operates over 33,000 stores globally and is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
Updated: 2 weeks ago
My small part in Sept. 11 recovery
Former Rochelle Fire Chief Tom McDermott took part in the recovery efforts during the days that followed the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York.
Updated: 2 weeks ago
RPD makes K-9 demonstration for Rotary Club
Rochelle Police Chief Eric Higby, Officer Ryan Beery and K-9 Axel joined Rotary Club Tuesday for a presentation about the police department. Axel also got to show everyone the bite arm demo during the meeting.
Updated: 2 weeks ago
Five vehicles, minor injuries in Illinois Route 64 accident
On Sept. 1 at 7:24 a.m. Ogle County deputies, Illinois State Police, Rochelle and Lynn Scott Rock Fire Departments responded to a multiple vehicle accident at Illinois Route 64 and Lynnville Road.
Updated: 2 weeks ago
Hubs rehearse with a special guest
The Rochelle Township High School marching band was honored to rehearse with Northern Illinois University Huskie Marching Band Director Dr. Thomas Bough Tuesday morning.
Updated: 2 weeks ago
Ebens and Halla receive Eagle Scout rank
Olivia Ebens of Byron and Emma Halla of Dixon recently achieved their Eagle rank, with both girls completing their Eagle Scout projects in their hometowns.
Updated: 2 weeks ago
Legislation aims to save Byron plant before planned Sept. 13 closing
While a new energy legislation aimed at saving the Byron nuclear power station makes its way through the process in Springfield, Exelon said the plant is scheduled to run out of fuel and close on Sept. 13.
Updated: 2 weeks ago
Fundraiser established for family of Creston man killed in motorcycle accident
A GoFundMe fundraiser has been established for the family of a Creston man killed in a motorcycle accident on Aug. 28. Andrew J. Smith, 32, leaves behind two daughters, Karlee, 12 and Sadie, 5 and his fiancé Christina.
Updated: 2 weeks ago
Rochelle schools combating bus driver shortage
"It's always been hard to find drivers,” Transportation Director Sherri Smith said. “I feel like every year it's gotten worse. It used to be that a lot of young moms would come in when their kids were in school and drive because they could be off when their kids were off. I'm not seeing that now. Over the last few years it's definitely gotten worse and COVID-19 hasn't helped."
Updated: 2 weeks ago
