Trent Schafer, 21, of Kasbeer, is charged with one count of arson in connection with the 5-alarm fire that firefighters from nearly a dozen departments fought throughout Friday

The college is inviting community members, through an online survey, to share feedback on its 2027–2030 strategic directions.

Dixon Public Schools administrators have pitched a $3.2 million, multi-year plan to upgrade the high school's outdoor athletic facilities.

Dixon City and Rural firefighters and Advance EMS were dispatched at 2:21 a.m. Monday to the 1100 block of West First Street for a reported structure fire.

On this episode of Talk Line, host Brandon Clark and Discover Dixon's Lucas Pauley chat about the Best of Dixon nominations, Discover Dixon's March career fair, the Founder's Day event in April, City Market vendor applications and more. 

The Dixon Historic Theatre, which opened in 1922, continues to offer a one-of-a-kind entertainment experience.

Catch up on the week’s top Sauk Valley news for Feb. 22-28 in minutes. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Here's a list of property transfers for Lee, Whiteside and Ogle counties for Feb. 16-20, 2026.

The Dixon Municipal Band’s annual spring concert will feature guest saxophone soloist Tom Scott at 7 p.m. March 28 at The Dixon Historic Theatre. A free clinic with Scott will be earlier that day.

A pancake breakfast to raise funds for the Honor Flight will be from 7:30-11:30 a.m. Sunday, March 1, at the Dixon VFW.

"Agriculture education is big." That was not the theme but it was the message Friday at the fourth Cultivating Connections in Agriculture, which celebrates agriculture education and FFA in the Sauk Valley and the larger northern Illinois region.

Students earned honors from Blackburn College, Mississippi State, Milwaukee School of Engineering and Ohio University.

The way some Dixon High School students recently learned about food science and meat science is an example of how Dixon agriculture teacher Grace Klein uses hands-on learning and finds topics to hold students' attention.

As Shaw Media celebrates its 175th anniversary, we looked back at four front pages from February 27, including this from 1926 on a radio station being planned for Dixon

Here's a list of Lee County property transfers for Feb. 16-20, 2026.

When Permanent Vote by Mail ballots were generated, the system properly marked them as issued. But during the transfer of voter information to print mailing labels, a technical issue caused a small number of voters to be left off the mailing label file, according to officials.

Cultivating Connections in Agriculture, an FFA event in Nachusa, brought together FFA programs from across the area to meet, learn and exchange ideas.

On this episode of Talk Line, Greg Gates from the Reagan Mass Transit District stops in the studio with updates on construction at the RMTD Oregon office, a reminder to take advantage of Fare Free Fridays, details about the organization’s upcoming golf outing, and more.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help as authorities try to determine who stole and crashed a vehicle Wednesday night near Dixon then fled the scene on foot.

Bismarck State College is North Dakota’s Polytechnic Institution.

Ray Scott will perform traditional, heartfelt country music at his Feb. 28 performance at The Dixon Historic Theatre.

Performers in March include Celtic rock band Reilly, Guys in Ties Improv and more.

The Sauk Valley Community College Board of Trustees heard more details about plans for a proposed public safety building on the SVCC campus at its February meeting.

To be eligible for the president’s list, students must have earned a perfect 4.0 grade-point average during the fall 2025 semester at Drake.

On this episode of Talk Line, Lauren Metzler shares the latest news from the Sauk Valley Voices of Recovery.

Illinois Wesleyan University’s dean’s list for the fall semester of the 2025-26 academic year consisted of 885 students from 31 states and 23 countries.

The plaintiff’s attorney in a lawsuit against the city of Dixon continued making arguments Friday, Feb. 20, that the court should order the city to pay its attorney fees.

Catch up on the week’s top Sauk Valley news for Feb. 15-21 in minutes. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

As Shaw Media continues to celebrate its 175th anniversary, we explore the archives of February 22, including this cover of the Dixon Evening Telegraph from 1926

Local historian Tom Wadsworth will reveal the surprising connections between Charles R. Walgreen and Dixon – including how a small-town start in 1891 helped spark a national retail empire.

With $39,000 yet to be raised, the Dixon Park District is seeking contributions.

On this episode of Talk Line, Andy Jackson from Sinnissippi Centers chats with host Brandon Clark about the link between depression and heart disease and special college scholarships his organization is offering students seeking careers in the human services field.

Wadsworth: This is part two of the story about the 1904 battle between Dixon’s ministerial association and Thomas Young, the owner of the Nachusa House.

Here's a list of Lee, Whiteside and Ogle county property transfers for Feb. 9-13, 2026.

Dixon Knights of Columbus Council 690 will host its monthly breakfast from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, at KayCee Hall, 506 W. Third St.

The Amboy City Council learned the details of a fundraising campaign Monday that could pay the bill for Amboy High School students to attend Sauk Valley Community College. 

Here's a list of Lee County property transfers for Feb. 9-13, 2026.

The Dixon School Board approved resignations, retirements and coaching personnel hires Wednesday night. Here’s a list of the approved measures.

Rock Falls establishments with gaming machines, and the machines’ owners, will be required to pay more in gaming machine fees to the city starting this year.

Dillan Vancil: Congress should stop using band‑aid bailouts and fix trade policy so farmers are not collateral damage every time there’s a trade war. Read Vancil's full questionnaire here

Sauk Valley Community College‘s police academy, now hosting its 10th class, is not only resolving the issue of lengthy recruitment timelines, local police chiefs say, but new officers say they are able to build stronger ties with the communities they will serve.

When the chains in old farm equipment break, dealers often say, “No parts.” A Dixon business says otherwise, and farmers nationwide are dialing in to keep old iron running.

From breezy afternoon games to tournament wins and travel-ready paddles, more people are embracing the growing sport of pickleball – whose quick learning curve and social energy keep drawing more players to the net. There are many places to play throughout northwest Illinois.

Registration is now open for this year’s Midwest Summit on Leadership on Thursday, May 21, at The Historic: Dixon Theatre.

A festival featuring Dixon Schools' band programs from fifth grade to high school took place Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, in Lancaster Gymnasium at Dixon High School.

This adults-only event offers participants the chance to enjoy a lively night out while supporting programs that strengthen education, health, and financial stability throughout Lee County.

Catch up on the week’s top Sauk Valley news for Feb. 8-14 in minutes. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Here's a list of property transfers for Lee, Ogle and Whiteside counties for Feb. 2-6, 2026.

The following area students have been named to Illinois State University’s fall 2025 dean’s list.

A Sauk Valley community action group flipped the script Saturday afternoon by focusing on love instead of anger at its rally against the Trump administration. About 100 people gathered outside the Grandon Civic Center in Sterling.