Crystal Garcia was crowned the 2025 Mendota Sweet Corn Queen on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, during the annual pageant.

With football teams around the state opening official practices for the 2025 season Monday, here are five storylines to watch in the NewsTribune/BCR area this fall.

The Fort du Rocher Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution welcomed two new members during its Aug. 2 meeting at First United Methodist Church.

The St. Bede football team got to face former coach Jim Eustice and his new Mendota team in a joint practice Thursday that also included Sandwich.

The Mendota High School Class of 1975 is planning its 50th reunion during the Mendota Sweet Corn Festival, scheduled from Aug. 8-10.

Businesses for sale or rent will display information and some will be open for viewing during the event.

A look at the top games to watch in the NewsTribune/BCR area for the 2025 football season.

The public is invited to help make Mendota neighborhoods better at one of two training sessions on July 23 and July 26.

Mendota residents will begin receiving garbage and recycling services from a new provider, Midwest Disposal of Dixon, starting the first week of August.

Families have discovered a new extra-curricular organization for their daughters called American Heritage Girls.

After a standout career at Purdue-Fort Wayne, Mendota native Amellia Bromenschenkel will stay in basketball as she was hired as an assistant coach at the University of Northern Iowa.

It doesn't happen often when competing in sports gives kids an experience of earning a medal in national competition, but Dixon's Lily Haws has one in the sport she enjoys playing. The 13-year-old recently brought home silver from a national curling competition.

Each year, the Elks host an Americanism essay contest where students can write an essay that answers a chosen topic. This year’s topic was “What Does Patriotism Mean to Me?”

The Mendota Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored fireworks on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at Lake Mendota ahead of Independence Day.

For his June 2025 local business highlight, state Rep. Bradley Fritts, R-Dixon, chose to highlight Carquest Auto Parts, which has two store locations in the 74th House District.

Many Illinois communities are adding back a 1% grocery tax that will otherwise expire on Jan. 1. Is your town among them?

Mendota Historical Society will host Terry Johnson of Quilts of Valor at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 12 at 907 Washington St., Mendota.

A look at the best girls track and field athletes in the NewsTribune area for the 2025 season.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for the region, warning of "oppressively hot and humid" weather until early next week.

A look at the best baseball players in the NewsTribune area for the 2025 season.

A look at the NewsTribune area's baseball stat leaders for the 2025 season.

Mendota Elementary wants to make it safer for parents to drop off their kids at Northbrook School. The Mendota City Council is all for it.

A look at the top softball players in the NewsTribune area for the 2025 season.

A look at the top softball players in the NewsTribune area for the 2025 season.

Sixteen awards were handed out to teams and individuals during the 2025 Shaw Media Illinois Valley Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday, June 12, 2025 at the Auditorium Ballroom in La Salle.

A look at the best girls soccer players in the NewsTribune area for the 2025 season.

Mendota senior Crystal Garcia had career highs in goals (31) and assists (15) to lead the Trojans to a school record for wins and their first regional title since 2012. Garcia is the 2025 NewsTribune Girls Soccer Player of the Year.

Henry's Lauren Harbison was named Class 1A First-Team All State in softball, other players from St. Bede, Princeton, Earlville, Henry and Fieldcreset also earned all-state honors and the Three Rivers announced its all-conference baseball team.

L-P junior Taylor Vescogni was named the Interstate 8 Conference Player of the Year and the Three Rivers East, Lincoln Trail and Little Ten also released all-conference teams.

Mendota senior Crystal Garcia was voted NewsTribune Athlete of the Week after scoring the only goal in the Trojans' 1-0 win in the regional championship and also scoring in the sectional semifinal.

Greenfield Station will provide live music Friday, June 21 at a Reimagine Mendota event at Lake Mendota.

Children and their families across La Salle County will receive extra groceries in part thanks to a recent grant awarded by the Starved Rock Country Community Foundation.

The Arts of Starved Rock Country Fund is set to award grants to eight organizations this spring, including a combined $6,000 to theater groups in La Salle, Streator and Princeton.

Illinois Valley Community College held its 44th annual Adult Education ceremony on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.

OSF staff attended a blessing event of the new OSF Resilient Healing care program that will represent hope, healing and a renewed commitment to the recovery of sexual assault survivors in the I‑80 Region on Friday, May 30, 2025 at OSF HealthCare Saint Paul Medical Center in Mendota. OSF Resilient Healing care is offered at two locations: Ottawa and Mendota. These strategically chosen sites ensure that survivors throughout the region can get the care they need in a supportive, safe and accessible setting.

Princeton Logan's Lydia Kyle won the IESA Class 3A seventh grade high jump title and other athletes from Logan, Mendota Northbrook and La Salle Lincoln earned medals.

Illinois Valley Community College graduates Odin Klotz of Peru and Garret Zinke of Mendota have each been awarded full-tuition scholarships to Northern Illinois University by donors William and Dian Taylor of Winnetka.

L-P senior Nick Olivero placed second in the L-P tennis sectional, the Mendota girls soccer team lost in a sectional semifinal and more results in Saturday's NewsTribune roundup.

With chillier temperatures preventing Memorial Day weekend openings, La Salle County-area pools are still gearing up for opening day.

Mendota's Mariyah Elam advanced to the 2A state finals in two events and L-P's Elli Sines qualified in one along with baseball and softball regional action in Friday's NewsTribune roundup.

With a number of ceremonies, parades and speakers planned throughout the Sauk Valley on Memorial Day, here is a list of what local communities will be doing to remember the fallen.

Mendota will receive $3 million to develop a new pedestrian and bicycle pathway.

La Salle County residents may participate in one of the local Memorial Day observances in honor of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. A list is available here.

A La Salle County grand jury convened Tuesday, May 20, 2025, and returned the following indictments.

The Henry-Senachwine and Earlville softball teams advanced in regional play, area boys track and field athletes qualified for state out of the El Paso-Gridley Sectional and more in Wednesday's NewsTribune roundup.

Mayor David Boelk issued a proclamation Monday making Mendota a “dementia-friendly” city.

Mendota's Mariyah Elam looks to defend her 2A state high jump title, while L-P's Elli Sines and Princeton's Camryn Driscoll hope to return to the medal stand.

Crystal Garcia scored the game's lone goal as Mendota beat Princeton 1-0 in the Class 1A Mendota Regional final Tuesday, giving the Trojans their first regional championship since 2012.

The Mendota Memorial Day program will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 26, 2025, at Restland Cemetery Memorial Gardens, Mendota.

The Hall and Bureau Valley softball teams and Mendota baseball team won their regional openers and more baseball, softball and tennis results in Monday's NewsTribune roundup.