Renee Page is known as an important advisor, problem solver, imaginative thinker and integral part of the Northern Illinois University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) team. With nearly three decades of service to the university, the administrative assistant to the dean is a trusted resource for faculty, staff and students in college and a deserving recipient of the 2024 Board of Trustees (BOT) award.

Rochelle Community Hospital recently announced the revealing of its new employee recognition award as well as its first recipient. The first quarter recipient of the RCH Pillar of Excellence Award was presented to Christina (Tina) Neale, RN, of the Medical/Surgical department.

Girl Scouts from the Southern Ogle County Service Unit helped plant a tree at the Flagg Township Museum on April 23. Scouts from Troops 409, 1870, 2122, and 1168 took part in the tree planting ceremony.

On April 23 at approximately 4:21 a.m. a deputy attempted to stop a vehicle in the 500 block of West Flagg Road for a traffic violation. While the deputy’s lights and sirens were activated, the vehicle, a blue Genesis passenger car, sped away and refused to stop. The deputy observed the vehicle traveling 35 miles per hour over the posted speed limit of 55 miles per hour. The deputy initially lost sight of the vehicle before locating it, which had crashed near the intersection of Rock Nation and Lost Nation Roads. The driver was identified as Andrew Gonzales, 22, of Dixon. Gonzales was uninjured in the crash and was placed under arrest for aggravated fleeing to elude (class-four felony) and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Gonzales was additionally issued citations for disregarding a traffic control device, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, improper lane usage, operating an uninsured vehicle, reckless driving, speeding 35 miles per hour over the posted speed limit, and the use of an electronic communications device. Gonzales was transported to the Ogle County Jail, where he was released on a notice to appear and given a future court date.

Marcia Marie Roberts, 86, of Princeton, IL passed away peacefully in her sleep on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Liberty Village, Princeton, IL.

Steve Troop, 75, passed away on April 17, 2024, in Westminster, CO.

The Rochelle Lady Hub track and field team traveled west for the Sterling Night Relays on Thursday evening, with the varsity girls finishing seventh out of eight schools while the fresh-soph girls took sixth out of seven schools and the throwers placed third out of six schools.

Freshman Adyson Carter finished with 20 saves as the Rochelle Lady Hub varsity soccer team hung tough during the first half of its match with DeKalb on Thursday night.

The Rochelle Hub varsity tennis team faced stiff competition on Thursday, falling 5-0 against Sterling in nonconference action with all five losses coming in straight sets. Rochelle (3-8, 1-4 Interstate 8) will return to the court with a home match against Streator on Friday.

A three-run effort in the bottom of the first inning wasn’t enough for the Rochelle Hub varsity baseball team during Thursday evening’s Interstate 8 series finale against Morris.

Terry Camplain will retire at the end of the school year after 20 years as principal at the Chana Education Center and 33 overall with the Ogle County Educational Cooperative. Before his time as principal, he was a school psychologist in Rochelle for 13 years. 

Foundation for Focus House recently released the names of three area students that will each be receiving $1,000 scholarships from its 2024 application cycle.

Ottawa’s Maura Condon threw all five innings while striking out seven batters against the Rochelle Lady Hub varsity softball team during Interstate 8 play on Wednesday.

Senior Sydney Thorne scored two goals to lead the Rochelle Lady Hub varsity soccer team during Wednesday’s Interstate 8 Conference match against LaSalle-Peru.

Junior Carson Lewis sent an RBI groundout to first base that drove in the Rochelle Hub varsity baseball team’s lone run during Wednesday’s Interstate 8 matchup at Morris.

John Kisner of Rochelle served in the United States Army in the Vietnam War in The 196th Infantry Brigade. 

Junior Makayla Lara and senior Kara Martinez each scored two goals to lead the Rochelle Lady Hub varsity soccer team in its Interstate 8 match at Ottawa on Tuesday evening.

Senior Parker Lenkaitis and sophomore Mark Green went three sets in their No. 1 doubles match against LaSalle-Peru’s Danny Santoy and Andrew Bollis on Tuesday, giving the Rochelle Hub varsity tennis team its best chance to take a point from the Cavaliers.

Senior Parker Lenkaitis and sophomore Mark Green secured the Rochelle Hub varsity tennis team’s lone doubles point during Monday’s nonconference match at DeKalb.

At its meeting Monday, the Rochelle City Council heard a presentation on and discussed future downtown work that will take place as a result of receipt of a $1.151 million grant, including a potential new stage, bathrooms and storage structure in the former gazebo area.

Jay Larson’s co-workers stepped in for his mail route in Rockford earlier this month when Jay’s final deliveries ended in unspeakable tragedy. 

America is divided over major efforts to rewrite child labor laws.

An Art Show was held during the open house and book fair night at all three Rochelle elementary schools on Thursday and featured a total of over 1,000 student art works, Rochelle District 231 Art Teacher Cassie Inman said. 

Prom week is underway at Rochelle Township High School and 2024 Prom Court nominees were recently named.

On Monday, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the City of Rochelle’s Rochelle Intermodal Transload Center to inaugurate the process of transloading locally-grown regenified corn.