The 16th annual From the Heart Gala & Auction was held Saturday, Feb. 3 at the hangar at Flight Deck Bar & Grill in Rochelle. The event saw 311 people attend and raised a record $90,000, breaking its previous mark of $80,000 in 2023.

On Friday, Feb. 2, a groundbreaking ceremony was held by the City of Rochelle and New Directions Housing Corporation at 405 Lake Lida Lane in Rochelle for The Grove, a new family housing complex. 

The Rochelle Township High School Speech Team competed in the IHSA Regional at DeKalb on Saturday, Feb. 3.  As a team Rochelle placed second behind DeKalb.

Rochelle Township High School dismissed for the day after a serious medical emergency involving a student Thursday morning, a letter sent to parents by Superintendent Jason Harper said.

Rochelle Community Hospital Fitness Center Assistant Katherine Slattengren has been working her way back from a recent triple bypass heart surgery at a familiar place: In the RCH Cardiac Rehab program in the hospital’s fitness center, where she works.

The City of Rochelle Street Department combated two weeks of winter storms in January that yielded a number of school and business closures in the area.

On Tuesday at Rochelle VFW Post 3878, 102-year-old World War II veteran Bert Cote of Rochelle was presented a Quilt of Valor from the Illinois Valley Quilts of Valor Chapter. Cote was nominated by the Rochelle Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

On Saturday, Jan. 27, the Flagg-Rochelle Public Library hosted a kickoff event for its new seed library. 

On Monday, members of the From the Heart organization’s board presented a $1,000 check to its Jan. 1, 2024 cash calendar winner, Kishwaukee College President Dr. Laurie Borowicz. 

Rise Up Dance Center in Rochelle recently had one of its competition routines named one of 500 winners out of over 40,000 routines performed at Star Dance Alliance events nationwide for the 2023 season, RUDC Director Christa McGrath said. 

Ogle County now has its own dedicated United Way branch, after a merger took place about a year and a half ago, United Way of Ogle County Executive Director Ashley Richter said. 

There were no injuries following a school bus fire on Friday morning, a release by Shared Rochelle School Districts Superintendent Jason Harper said.

Preliminary planning is underway for the potential return of Small Business Bingo events in Rochelle in fall 2024 after its inaugural four events raised $18,853 for area nonprofits in 2023, Event Organizer and AP Massage Therapy Owner Ashley Patrick said at Jan. 23’s Rochelle Rotary Club meeting. 

Kennay Farms Distilling in Rochelle has collaborated with The DeLong Company and its Grown Climate Smart program to showcase the use of sustainable grain in its spirits. 

In August 2021, Nolan Turner of Rochelle suffered a C5/C6 incomplete spinal cord injury in a car accident. Turner has spent the past year practicing and competing in wheelchair rugby.

Following a jury trial on Jan. 18 at the Ogle County Courthouse, a Hillcrest man was found not guilty of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, Eric Arnquist of law firm Tess, Crull & Arnquist, said.

At its meeting Monday, the Rochelle City Council held discussion on a potential agreement with Teska Associates Inc. for consulting services to establish an Eastern Gateway tax increment financing (TIF) district and/or a business development district to aid in the development of the Caron Ridge Shopping Center, the former site of the Sullivan's Foods grocery store. 

On Thursday at the Ogle County community room in Rochelle, the 2024 winners of the From the Heart Cash Calendar were drawn by members of the organization’s board and representatives from nonprofits that From the Heart raises money for. Winners can be found in the Rochelle News-Leader and online at fromtheheartrochelle.org. 

Rochelle resident Arch Millotte served in the United States Air Force for 20 years from 1951-1971. 

Area fire departments responded to a report of smoke at a greenhouse facility in Hillcrest on Friday evening, Rochelle Fire Department Lt. Jason Underwood said Saturday. 

In an effort to educate the community about the rewards of gardening and seed saving, the Flagg-Rochelle Public Library has established a new seed library. The seed library was established in conjunction with the Ogle County Master Gardeners program of the University of Illinois Extension. 

At its monthly meeting Tuesday, the Ogle County Board heard a presentation made by the Ogle County Economic Development Corporation and unanimously approved the commitment of $100,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act Funds to the newly-formed organization.

RTHS Principal Dr. Chris Lewis provided an update to the Rochelle School District 212 Board of Education on December graduation statistics as well as school attendance and current deficiency rates during the board’s monthly meeting on Tuesday evening.

As of Monday, Jan. 15, the Rochelle News-Leader’s revamped website at rochellenews-leader.com has been unveiled.

At its monthly meeting Monday, the Flagg-Rochelle Community Park District Board of Commissioners heard an update from Executive Director Jackee Ohlinger on upcoming work at Helms Park.