Rochelle Little League’s 12U Baseball All-Stars battled in the Illinois Little League District 19 Championship tournament at Gartner Park in Sterling this week. Rochelle went 2-2 over four games, reaching the final round before ending the tournament in second place.

Rochelle Little League’s 10U Softball All-Stars won all three of their games to take home the Illinois Little League District 19 Championship at Floyd J. Tilton Park in Rochelle this week. Rochelle will advance to compete in the Illinois Little League State Championship.

The Rochelle Area Community Foundation is eager to hear from you about the most pressing needs in our community. In collaboration with the Center for Governmental Studies at Northern Illinois University, we are conducting a survey to gather valuable insights from residents like you. Your input will be crucial in shaping our future plans and initiatives.

On July 9 at 11:11 a.m. deputies conducted a traffic stop on Straddle Creek Road just west of North Brookville Road (Carroll County), for an equipment violation that occurred in the 15,000 block of West White Eagle Road (Ogle County). As a result, deputies arrested Juan P. Anguiano, 44, of Clinton, Iowa for driving with no valid driver's license. Anguiano was additionally issued a citation for no muffler. Anguiano was released on scene with a notice to appear with a future court date.

On July 8 at 9:01 p.m. Wendy B. Bell, 54, of Creston was cited for expired registration. She signed a promise to comply and was given an Aug. 16 Rochelle court date.

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.

Richard “RD” David Hayward, 81, passed away Tuesday, July 9, 2024 at his home in Shabbona, Illinois.

Bertrand “Bert” John Coté, 102, passed away Wednesday, July 10, 2024 at his home in Rochelle, Illinois.

Mary Lou Henry, 92, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, June 29, 2024 at Manor Court in Rochelle, Illinois. 

They want you to give up gas-powered cars for electric cars, your gas stoves for electric stoves, and now regular meat for lab-grown meat. Lab-grown meat (Cultured meat, cultivated meat, artificial meat, etc.) is produced by placing animal cells in a large petri dish (bioreactor), which is a large tank operated under controlled conditions that encourages cells to grow.

Away from the sports beat for a while, it was time to get back in the fray with a trip to the Quad Cities for the John Deere Classic golf tournament.

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/. 

Inez Therese Henna, 93 of Rochelle, passed away on Monday, July 8, 2024, at Rochelle Community Hospital.

On July 3 at 9:48 p.m. deputies, assisted by Lynn-Scott-Rock Fire Department, responded to a three-vehicle accident in the 13,500 block of East Illinois Route 72. After a brief investigation it was determined a Ford F-150, driven by Mary Burriell, 35, of Rochelle, with three juveniles, struck the rear of a Hyundai Ioniq, driven by Ronald Kayser, 75, of Winnebago, with three juveniles and one adult passenger, which then struck the rear of a Tesla driven by Timothy Aulner, 48, of Rockford, with one juvenile passenger. All occupants were assessed by EMS and refused treatment. Burriell was issued a citation for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

The Rochelle Wildlife Conservation Club held its Annual Fishing Derby on June 23.

On June 28 at 5:12 p.m. Billy J. Wilcox, 56, of DeKalb was arrested for driving while license revoked and cited for suspended registration. He signed a promise to comply and was given a July 26 Rochelle court date.

It’s a Birthday Party at the Flagg Township Museum! We’ve been celebrating birthdays all year at the museum so come to our party and have cake and ice cream, try a game or two and find all the birthdays in our Birthday Scavenger Hunt.

City of Rochelle Engineer Sam Tesreau has announced the closure of 9th Street, between 6th Avenue and 8th Avenue beginning Thursday, July 11 at 7 a.m.  through the end of the day on Friday July 12.

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.

How did religious belief, specifically Christian beliefs, start to get tangled within our government?  Though we probably are not able to trace some recent changes in federal or state law to …

The Library has been a busy place this summer.  Fourth of July week is the halfway point of Summer Reading.  We always look forward to celebrating America’s Birthday at the Library.

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.

Rochelle Little League’s Junior League Baseball All-Stars took the field for the 2024 Illinois Little League State Championship tournament in Elgin over the weekend. Rochelle went 2-1 over three games to finish fifth out of the 10 qualifying teams in the final standings.