Hosting the No. 5 ranked program in Class 5A, the Rochelle Hub varsity football team made a statement in both the Interstate 8 Conference and northern Illinois on Friday evening, when the purple and white dominated their Homecoming game against Morris.

The Rochelle Hub freshman football team continued its perfect season on Friday, when the purple and white rushed for five touchdowns in a 40-8 win over Morris.

A GoFundMe fundraiser has been established for the family and memorial expenses of a 41-year-old Rochelle man that was found dead the morning of Sept. 27 in the downtown Rochelle area. The Rochelle Police Department is treating the case as a suspicious death.

On Sept. 30 at approximately 10:49 p.m. deputies conducted a traffic stop at Illinois Route 2 and Townhall Road. After investigation, deputies placed Tristen M. Austin, 22, of Mt. Morris, under arrest for an outstanding Stephenson County warrant. Austin was transported to the Ogle County Jail, where she was held in lieu of bond.

On Oct. 1 at 3:13 a.m. Adrian C. Gomez, 37, of Byron was cited for expired registration. He signed a promise to comply and was given a Nov. 1 Rochelle court date.

The Rochelle Lady Hub varsity tennis team was on point Wednesday evening, when the purple and white hosted Sterling Newman seeking to end a three-match losing streak.

We are extremely fortunate to be living in this area where we have the excellent healthcare by Rochelle Community Hospital and its staff of medical professionals and we can exercise or engage in sports at the park district's new facility.

Fall is setting in. Soon combines will be rolling through fields harvesting grain. High school football fills the Friday evening air with excitement. On weekends you can drive through the countryside and catch the smell of smoke rising from a campfire. It’s my favorite time of year.

This year's Ogle County Farm Stroll will be on Sunday, Oct. 13 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The injury bug took another bite from the Rochelle Lady Hub varsity volleyball team on Wednesday, when the girls hosted a nonconference match against Rock Falls.

Better teamwork and communication on the field had the Rochelle Hub varsity soccer team in the mix against a pair of tough Interstate 8 Conference opponents this week.

Ian Metzger didn’t let issues with his driver impact his play Wednesday afternoon, when the junior recorded three birdies during his round to medal in third place and lead the Rochelle Hub varsity golf team in the IHSA 2A Sterling Regional at Emerald Hill Golf Course.

Two public information meetings were held on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 on the ongoing Steward-Caron Road Industrial Corridor (SCRIC) study, which is being conducted by Blackhawk HIlls Regional Council at the request of the City of Rochelle, Village of Steward and Lee County regarding the development between Rochelle’s southeastern industrial area and Steward.

At its monthly meeting Tuesday, the Creston Village Board of Trustees heard a report from Village Engineer Kevin Bunge on moving forward with water tower cleaning work in the future.

The Rochelle Lady Hub varsity volleyball team suffered its eighth consecutive loss, including its fourth straight in the Interstate 8 Conference, during Tuesday's road match against Morris.

The Rochelle Township High School varsity cross country team turned in its strongest performance of the season on Tuesday, when nearly all of the Hub and Lady Hub runners set new PRs during the Genoa-Kingston Matt Walter Invitational at Walcamp Park.

Senior Abby Metzger accounted for two of the three wins the Rochelle Lady Hub varsity tennis team earned during Tuesday’s Interstate 8 Conference match against Ottawa.

The Ogle County Emergency Response Team’s use of deadly force in a June 12 incident at a home in Lost Nation that left a barricaded Dixon man and three officers shot has been ruled justified, a Sept. 27 press release from Ogle County State’s Attorney Mike Rock said. 

The Rochelle Police Department is currently investigating a suspicious death after a 41-year-old Rochelle man was found deceased at 101 N. Washington St. Friday morning, RPD Chief Pete Pavia said. 

Dean George Lechner, 84, long time resident of Rochelle passed away on Monday, September 30, 2024.

Mary Ann Johnson, age 88, passed away on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at St. Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, IL. 

As a locally-owned and headquartered community bank, Stillman Bank values every opportunity to give back to their communities. In partnership with FHLBank Chicago and its Community First® Program, they are honored to award Little Hubs Learning Center an Accelerate Grant for Small Businesses, totaling $15,000.

On Sept. 28 at approximately 12:05 a.m. deputies and the Franklin Grove Fire Department responded to the 3000 block of East Dugdale Road for the report of a single-vehicle crash. After conducting an investigation, it was learned Clark Peden, 43, of Sterling, was traveling eastbound when he drove into a ditch striking a culvert.  Peden was placed under arrest and cited for driving under the influence of alcohol. Peden was transported to the Ogle County Jail where he was additionally cited for driving under the influence/BAC over .08, illegal transportation of alcohol, operating a motor vehicle with suspended registration, and improper lane usage. Peden was processed and released on a notice to appear.  

On Sept. 25 at 7:37 p.m. Juan F. Pizano Cacique, 35, of Rochelle was cited for speeding 63 in a 40 miles per hour zone. He signed a promise to comply and was given an Oct. 18 Rochelle court date.

On Sept. 29, 2024, at 4:17 p.m. the Monroe Township Fire Protection District was dispatched for a reported structure fire involving a barn in the 3,000 block of Bennett Rd in Esmond.