Jeannine Otto

Alcohol won't be served on the Stephenson County Fairgrounds when the 2026 Stephenson County Fair kicks off July 21 in Freeport, the fair board has announced.

The Sterling School Board has approved a collective bargaining agreement that gives Sterling teachers 5.5% raises the first two years and 5% raises in years 3 and 4.

The Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce’s Steak Fry in the Country fundraising event is no more, at least for 2026. The SVACC on Wednesday said it was canceling the annual education fundraiser after another group set up a similar fundraiser on the same date at the same location.

Amboy residents will see some major work on U.S. 52 this summer. A $1.9 million project will see U.S. 52 being resurfaced from U.S. 30, 3 miles north of Amboy, through Amboy to Water Street. The second project is a $6 million resurfacing of U.S. 52 from U.S. 30 to Eldena Road.

The Amboy School Board has learned that progress is being made on reducing exclusionary discipline numbers in the district. In its regular January meeting, the board voted to accept a district-wide discipline improvement plan.

Darren Bailey and running mate Aaron Del Mar stopped in Sterling this week as part of their “Take Back Illinois” bus tour through suburban Chicago and northern Illinois.

For those who are looking for an indoor event to cure their cabin fever this weekend, Rock River Disc Golf and the Dixon Park District have the solution. The two groups are sponsoring an indoor disc golf tournament to raise money for Lee County Honor Flight.

With several days of dangerously cold weather settling in across the Sauk Valley, warming centers will be open for those who need them. Please call the facility to make sure it is open before traveling in the cold.

Second Street is on track to reopen to traffic Friday from Fourth Avenue to First Avenue, the Sterling city manager told the Sterling City Council.

“Can a Republican win for governor? Can a downstate farmer win for governor?” Those were the questions that former state senator and former and current GOP gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey had for a crowd of around 30 supporters in Sterling on Wednesday, Jan. 21.

Sauk Valley Community College’s Amboy Clippers Impact Challenge has received a challenge of its own. An anonymous donor recently pledged a $10,000 matching grant to match all donations to the Clippers Impact Challenge, up to $10,000, through April 1. 

Construction on the Love’s Travel Stop planned for Rock Falls near the interchange of Illinois Route 40 and Interstate 88 is expected to begin this month, according to the city of Rock Falls.

Mellisa McMillan’s classroom supply list is not your everyday school supply list. “We need welding gloves and welding tongs. I know we need another new saw out in the woodshop,” McMillan said. She is the agriculture teacher and FFA adviser at Ashton-Franklin Center High School.

The Amboy Lions Club and the Lee Center Church will host a chili luncheon and basket raffle Sunday, Jan. 18, to benefit the church and Amboy Lions Club community projects.

A Dec. 28 windstorm wasn’t strong enough to defeat the Sterling community’s giving spirit - or one family’s determination to keep the giving going.