The Flagg-Rochelle Public Library kicked off its Summer Reading program this week. The theme this year is Read, Renew, Repeat. The library has hosted a summer reading program for over 50 years to offer area kids a place to go and activities while they’re on summer break from school.

The Rochelle Township High School Art program recently wrapped up its 2023-2024 year, with students boasting nearly 50 awards from competitions including the annual RTHS Art Show, the I-8 Conference competition, the Rockford Art Museum Young Artist Show, the Kishwaukee College Juried High School Art Show, and the Northern Illinois University Art Invitational. 

Local charitable organization From the Heart has established a Queen of Hearts drawing that will take place weekly on Thursday evenings at Luna starting June 13.

At its meeting Tuesday, the Rochelle City Council discussed a potential urban park that 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.

On Saturday, Rochelle Township High School held its graduation ceremony for the Class of 2024 outdoors on the football field. There were 209 graduating seniors. 

The City of Rochelle hasn’t seen any recent developer interest in the former site of Hickory Grove at 1127 N. 7th St., City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh said May 15.

Rochelle Township High School Assistant Principal Dr. David Perrin will be retiring at the end of the school year this month. 

At its monthly meeting Tuesday, the Ogle County Board approved the setting of elected official salaries for the Ogle County circuit clerk and coroner through fiscal year 2028 by a vote of 14-8 with one board member abstaining. 

Last month in April, the Rochelle Christian Food Pantry served 645 families (2,177 individuals total), which broke a record for the most need the pantry has seen, RCFP Manager TyAnne Unger said. In April 2023 it served 498 families and in April 2022 it served 326 families. 

At its monthly meeting Monday, the Flagg-Rochelle Community Park District Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the purchase of playground equipment for $12,795 for Flannigan, Tilton and Sweeney Parks.

At its monthly meeting Monday, the Rochelle Township High School Board of Education unanimously rejected bids for an upcoming detention pond reconstruction project due to a change in the scope of the work.

On Thursday, the Rochelle Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Dinner at the hangar at the Rochelle Municipal Airport. 

The Rochelle Police Department was on-site at Dunkin' Donuts on Friday raising money with its annual ‘Cop on Rooftop’ promotion for Special Olympics Illinois.

At its monthly meeting Tuesday, the Rochelle Elementary School District conducted a public hearing concerning its intent to sell $4 million in working cash fund bonds related to upcoming work at Tilton Elementary School.

Rochelle Community Hospital celebrated National Hospital Week from May 13-17. 

Ogle County farmers have gotten a “decent start” to planting season, Ogle County Farm Bureau Manager Ron Kern said May 13. 

At its meeting Monday, the Rochelle City Council unanimously approved four items related to improvements for Rochelle Municipal Utilities' Well 8. 

At Monday's Rochelle City Council meeting, Life Saving Awards were presented to Rochelle Police Department School Resource Officer Jim Jakymiw and Rochelle Fire Department firefighter/paramedics.

At its monthly meeting Tuesday, the Creston Village Board of Trustees heard an update from Creston-Dement Library Board President Doug Kroupa on the ongoing construction of a new library in the village.

At its monthly meeting Wednesday, the Hillcrest Village Board of Trustees heard an engineering update given by Village Engineer Kaitlin Wright of Baxter & Woodman.

On Sunday, May 5, a celebration of life and dedication ceremony were held for the late Carol Weidmann at the Vince Carney Community Theater’s Lincoln Arts Center. 

The From the Heart Board recently announced the addition of Community Action Network (CAN) to the list of area nonprofit organizations it raises money for each year.  

May is Stroke Awareness Month. Rochelle Community Hospital has been designated as an Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital for several years and strives to see good outcomes for area patients that suffer strokes, RCH Emergency Services Manager Janis Astle said. 

Theresa Crystal of Rochelle served in the United States Army from 1978-1982. 

On Saturday, the Cinco de Mayo Rochelle festival was held in the downtown area. The event, presented by Rochelle's Hispanic Community Association, was free to enter and featured live music, dancing, children's activities, Ballet Folklorico, a petting zoo, craft vendors, food vendors, DJ Sanchez Mix and a Quince Pageant.