At its June 24 meeting, the Rochelle City Council unanimously approved a bid from Larson & Larson Builders for a $251,950 Rochelle Police Department locker room improvement project.

Following above-average rainfall levels in Ogle County and mild temperatures this summer, Ogle County Farm Bureau Manager Ron Kern said July 25 that crops in the area are looking “exceptionally well.”

On Thursday, July 25, a ribbon cutting was held in the downtown Rochelle gazebo area to mark the new membership of Clearly Exteriors to the Rochelle Chamber of Commerce.

The Flagg-Rochelle Community Park District Board of Commissioners held its monthly meeting at the REC Center on Monday evening.

At its meeting Monday, the Rochelle City Council unanimously approved agreements with the Rochelle Township High School District and the Rochelle Elementary School District for the continuation of school resource officer programs through July 1, 2027.

The Union Pacific Railroad’s Big Boy No. 4014 train engine will return to Rochelle this fall for the weekend of Sept. 7-8, City of Rochelle Director of Community Engagement Jenny Thompson said. 

David Norris of Rochelle served in the United States Army from 1981-1990 in a variety of capacities and reached the rank of sergeant. 

Hub City Furniture at 429-433 Lincoln Highway in Rochelle will be closing its doors for the final time at the end of this month after 45 years in business as Owner Susan Andracke is retiring.

At its monthly meeting Tuesday, the Ogle County Board heard a presentation from Ogle County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Charlene Coulombe.

Flagg Township Museum Historian Tom McDemott recently published a book containing 52 stories of Rochelle-area history.

Seebach’s Sweet Corn kicked off its 2024 season of sales at 11594 E. Kyte Road in Flagg Center last week. The Seebach family has grown and sold sweet corn at the location for over 40 years.

Rochelle Book Hub will open Saturday, July 20. The new-to-town bookstore will be located inside Cypress House at 718 10th Ave. 

At its monthly meeting Monday, the Hillcrest Village Board of Trustees heard an update from Village Engineer Kaitlin Wright of Baxter & Woodman on a number of topics.

Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle said July 9 that “things are starting to return to normal” for both his office and the Ogle County Emergency Response Team following the June 12 shooting in Lost Nation that resulted in three ERT members and a barricaded subject being shot.

The baseball diamond at Focus House in Rochelle has been restored to playing shape in recent weeks after years in disrepair thanks to the efforts of community organizations and Focus House students, staff and foundation board members, Focus House Community Projects/Marketing and Volunteer Coordinator Jeni Hardin said. 

The Vince Carney Community Theater will welcome Hugo's Elvis Tribute Show to the Lincoln Arts Center at 108 S. Main St. in Rochelle on Friday, July 19 at 7 p.m. Limited tickets are still available and can be purchased online at http://www.vcctrochelle.org/. 

At its meeting Monday, the Rochelle City Council voted unanimously to reject all bids received for a utility adjustment and relocation project at the intersection of Flagg Road and 20th Street due to high prices. The city plans to rebid the project at a future date.

Mary Beth Papke of Rochelle served in the United States Navy Reserves for 36 years from 1985-2021. Papke served in medical units and retired as a Commander. Her service included two deployments.

On Thursday, a ribbon cutting was held for Royal Scoop, Rochelle’s newest ice cream shop at 316 N. 6th St. 

On Thursday, the Lee-Ogle Transportation System hosted two public meetings in Rochelle concerning its plans for public transit in Rochelle, including a potential deviated fixed bus route and a microtransit service alternative.

At its May 28 meeting, the Rochelle City Council discussed a potential urban park it may erect in the future at 517 W. 4th Ave., where it recently demolished a building that was the former site of Vinny's Barbershop.

The City of Rochelle recently circulated a request for proposals from area artists for future art installations in public spaces in the community.

At the June 20 meeting of the Rochelle Kiwanis Golden K Club, Rochelle Fire Department Firefighter/Paramedic and Kishwaukee Education Consortium Fire Science/EMT Program Co-Coordinator and Lead Instructor Ben Johnson made a presentation on the KEC program he teaches at.

In October of last year, the Ogle County Health Department received a CDC Addressing Conditions to Improve Population Health (ACTion) grant for $500,000 each year from 2023-2026 to increase access and availability to healthy and nutritious foods, education for home-based food production, food pantries, and mini food centers (refrigerated and dry food).

The Village of Progress and Kreider Services have plans for The Hill Street Neighborhood development in Mt. Morris in the coming years. The duplex apartment project is planned to serve both people with disabilities and people from the general population.