Lee County

Madison Manning, 25, has been found safe in Rock Falls, according to a news release issued by the Dixon Police Department on Thursday morning.

Discover Dixon will hold its annual Brush and Bloom event during the Petunia Festival from 9 a.m. to noon Friday, July 4, on the old Lee County Courthouse’s sidewalks, 298 to 200 S. Ottawa Ave., Dixon.

Sauk Valley-area students have been named to the dean’s list.

The TALK-LINE interview for May 30 featured United Way of Lee and Ogle Counties' Executive Director Ashley Richter.

Beginning June 4, all children and teens can enjoy free meals in Lee County when school is out. This year, United Way will provide nutritious meals to kids and teens 18 and younger.

The Lee County Board on Thursday, May 22, 2025, approved an ordinance to replace its zoning board of appeals with one licensed attorney.

Here's the list of students named to Newman's honor roll.

Wadsworth, 72, first became the pronouncer for the Lee County Spelling Bee in 1983. Over the years, he has declared 43 local champions and sent them to Washington to represent the local bee, which is now the Lee Ogle Whiteside Spelling Bee.  

Founded in 1965 as part of the national community action movement, Tri-County Opportunities Council has played a role in fighting poverty and empowering individuals and families to achieve economic self-sufficiency.

Anyone not receiving a bill can pay or print their bill from www.leecountyil.com.

Read the transcript from our May 21 Talk-Line interview with Lee County Sheriff Clay Whelan discussing the upcoming Memorial Day driving period and what the county is doing as far as extra patrols.

The Talk-Line interview for May 21 featured Lee County Sheriff Clay Whelan discussing the upcoming Memorial Day driving period and what the county is doing as far as extra patrols.

A Dixon man sentenced to nearly 70 years in prison three months ago for sex-related crimes against a victim younger than 13 says his sentence is excessive and is asking that it be reduced.

Dax will receive a bullet- and stab-protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s.

The Ogle County Health Department sponsored the construction of another mini-food center Friday, May 16, 2025, at the Dixon Public Library.

The Citizens Utility Board blamed years of poor policies and planning by grid operator PJM Interconnection for the rate increase.

Two Lee County 911 dispatchers and four Sublette fire crew members were awarded by Mercyhealth on Thursday, May 15, 2025, for their lifesaving actions that led to a successful home birth for a young Sublette family.

The funds were raised during a volleyball tournament held in April.

The tour’s first coffee and conversation event will be held at 8 a.m. June 4 in Franklin Grove.

Illinois officials are urging people not to travel amid dust storm warnings across parts of the state, including much of the Chicago area.

Mercyhealth handed out stork pins to Lee County 911 and Sublette Fire personnel for their actions when handling birth complications and a successful baby delivery.

A tornado watch is in effect until 10 p.m. Thursday for most of northern Illinois, the National Weather Service reports.

A Lee County judge decided Wednesday to permit the pretrial release of a Rock Falls man accused of a felony sex crime against a minor with conditions which include electronic monitoring and home confinement.

A Rock Falls man is hospitalized in Rockford after the motorcycle he was driving collided with an SUV near Palmyra and Peek Home roads.

Read the transcript from our Talk-Line interview featuring the Community and Personal Health Director of the Lee County Health Department, Jenny Conderman.

The National Weather Service is monitoring the potential for severe weather across northern Illinois Thursday that could bring with it destructive hail, damaging winds and tornadoes.

Events include the Bellson Music Fest on June 7 at RB&W District Park, 201 E. Second St., and the Sick The Magazine Block Party on July 19 in downtown Rock Falls.

Lee County Special Education Association's Transition Program students attended a workshop at Pegasus Special Riders in Oregon on Tuesday, May, 6, 2025, to learn about horse care and safety.

The TALK-LINE interview for May 12 featured the Community and Personal Health Director of the Lee County Health Department, Jenny Conderman

The TALK-LINE interview for May 9 featured Lee County State's Attorney Charley Boonstra discussing the cases that have been completed through his office and more.

An Ogle County judge will now be presiding over the felony case of a former Carroll County sheriff’s deputy accused of reckless homicide and destroying evidence in connection with the July death of a Mount Carroll teen.

Corn and soybeans are planted at the same time on the Henert farm.

Representatives from Business Employment Skills Team, Inc. and Illinois Department of Employment Security will be on hand to share information and resources for area job-seekers.

Here is a list of property transfers for Lee, Ogle and Whiteside counties for April 14-27, 2025.

Bureau and Lee County farm bureaus will be hosting their 16th annual golf outing for supporters of Ag in the Classroom.

Several groups and individuals were recognized Thursday, May 1, 2025, for their work this past fundraising year. Those awards include Rising Star of the Year, Campaign Champion, Business of the Year, Employee Excellence, Partner Agency of the Year and Spirit of United Way.

Both drives will run from May 1 to 31. Community members can support the initiatives by dropping off food or cleaning supplies at the Dixon Park District, Dixon YMCA, Lee County Health Department, Mount Carroll Farm Bureau, Save-A-Lot in Rock Falls, and the Dixon City Market.

Applications are now available for this year’s teacher training titled “Roads, Rivers and Rails,” created for pre-school through high school educators who want to expand their curriculum while including topics related to agriculture.

The Dixon City Council has approved two contracts that allocate funds to Discover Dixon and the Lee County Industrial Development Association. Both contracts provide a specific amount of annual funding – $325,000 for Discover Dixon and $50,000 for LCIDA.

United Way of Lee County ended its 2024-25 campaign with a celebration and awards luncheon Thursday, May 1, 2025, in Dixon. The campaign brought in a total of $409,359 to benefit community needs.

The new interactive online space helps families and caregivers find local early childhood resources, programs, events, developmental screenings and childcare information in Lee, Whiteside and Ogle counties.

State Rep. Brad Fritts, R-Dixon, will partner with the Lee County Health Department and Dixon Family YMCA to host a sharps drop-off drive from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, May 8, in the Dixon Family YMCA parking lot.

Here is a list of the graduation dates and times for high schools throughout the Sauk Valley.

Three hundred fifth graders attended the annual Ag Expo on Friday, April 25, at the Lee County 4H Fairgrounds in Amboy.

Blue pinwheels decorate the lawn of the Old Lee County Courthouse on Friday, April 25, 2025, during a ceremony to recognize Child Abuse Prevention Month.

State Rep. Bradley Fritts, R-Dixon, honored Dallas Knack and Dr. Jennifer Hintzsche on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at the Women to Watch event in Springfield.

The annual student trade show was part of the Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities program at the Whiteside Area Career Center in Sterling. Now in its 12th year, the program is a year-long high school course that teaches students the basics of starting and running a business.

The publicly available data was collected by the Illinois State Board of Education.

Here is a list of property transfers for Lee, Whiteside and Ogle counties for April 7-20, 2025.

The TALK-LINE interview for April 24 featured the Executive Director of United Way of Lee and Ogle County, Ashley Richter, discussing upcoming fundraising events.