An 80-year-old ag equipment company in Oregon is still shaping land and lives. At Woods Equipment, the machines matter, but the people who use them matter more.

The two remaining members of the Rochelle Township High School class of 1943 recently met at Luna in Rochelle to celebrate another year.

Oregon Community Unit School District 220 announced that Ryan Huels, principal of Oregon Elementary School, has recently been recognized at both the national and state levels for his leadership in education.

Quincy University released its dean’s list for the fall 2025 semester.

Here's a list of Ogle County property transfers for Feb. 23-27, 2026.

The city of Rochelle wants the Prairie State power plant in Marissa, Illinois, to remain open after 2035, until all bonds reach maturity in 2041. Gov. JB Pritzker does not.

Here's a list of upcoming events at the Byron Public Library.

The late Kenneth Roeglin of Rochelle served in the United States Navy in World War II as a ship’s cook third class aboard the USS Zaurak. 

Abigail Rogers of Oregon was named to the dean’s list of Loyola University College of Arts and Sciences.

A single-family home in Oregon that sold for $290,000 tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Ogle County during the past week.

Milwaukee School of Engineering recently congratulated students named to the fall semester 2025 dean’s list.

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

Following two heavy storms in early December, the Rochelle street department has seen a lighter winter in the months that have followed, Public Works Director Tim Isley said Wednesday.

Following the Jan. 26 Rochelle City Council's approval of an $11.89 million bid for transmission line construction, Rochelle Municipal Utilities will see its new electrical substation project on Centerpoint Drive west of town break ground in mid-March.

March will see three city of Rochelle construction projects in the downtown area ramp up, and two of the three will continue until the end of 2026, Interim City Manager and City Engineer Sam Tesreau said Feb. 25.

Ogle County has been issued a final property assessment equalization factor of 1.0000, according to David Harris, director of the Illinois Department of Revenue.

Wheatland Tube presented a $25,000 donation Thursday to the Rochelle Area Community Foundation.

On Wednesday, March 4, our publications in Oregon, Polo, Mt. Morris and Forreston will be merged into our Ogle County Life publication, which instead of publishing on Mondays, will be published on Wednesdays going forward.

The Rochelle Fire Department Social Organization will host its 103rd annual Fireman’s Ball on Saturday, March 14, at the hangar at Flight Deck Bar & Grill in Rochelle.

Applicants must be a current member of Cornerstone Credit Union as of April 1. Membership is open to individuals who live or work in Boone, Bureau, Carroll, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside or Winnebago counties in Illinois and Green and Rock counties in Wisconsin.

To be eligible, students must have earned at least a 3.5 semester grade-point average and carried a minimum of 12 credits.

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.

The Hub Hickory Nuts 4-H club recently held its February meeting at the Creston-Dement Public Library.

The dean’s list is Trinity Christian College’s highest academic honor.

The Ogle County 4-H Penny Carnival is set for March 7 at the Blackhawk Center in Oregon.

The Byron Museum of History is currently an art exhibit of work by members of the Eagle’s Nest Art Group. The show began with an opening reception on Saturday, Feb. 14, with many of the artists on hand to welcome visitors.

The Augustana Symphonic Band, directed by Dr. James Lambrecht, will bring performances to communities across Illinois and Wisconsin from March 20-26.

The First Fridays Open Mic presents its monthly show at the Oregon VFW on Friday, March 6.

Cambrey Rodeghero was recently named the February Rochelle Rotary Club Student of the Month at Rochelle Township High School.

The Chana Play Day committee has announced competition for several scholarships. The candidates must be high school graduates or the equivalent with ties to the Chana area.

The Rochelle City Council unanimously approved an ordinance Monday for its intent to borrow funds from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to drill a new well, build a new well house and construct approximately 7,400 feet of water main.

The Oregon Church of God Mission Committee hosted a Love Drive to collect cleaning supplies, personal hygiene items, and paper products to be donated to Lifeline in Oregon and Loaves & Fishes in Mt. Morris.

PACT is holding auditions for “Clue the Musical” on Saturday, Feb. 28, at the Polo Area Community Theatre.

Firefighters from 13 departments battled a hay bale fire at a farm in the 6000 block of West Pines Road, between Oregon and Polo, Monday afternoon.

Firefighters from 13 departments battled a hay bale fire at a farm in the 6000 block of West Pines Road, between Oregon and Polo, on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026.

Kennesaw State University recently congratulated the more than 9,600 students named to the dean’s list in recognition of their academic achievement during the fall 2025 semester.

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

Rochelle-area Monmouth College students made the dean’s list for the fall 2025 semester.

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point conferred degrees to 534 graduates for the fall 2025 semester.

Chana Education Center is a local therapeutic alternative school serving students from across Ogle and Lee counties.

Byron students at Rockford University were named to the dean’s list for the fall 2025 semester.

The Oregon School District has started its senior spotlight series, a daily feature that recognizes members of the Oregon High School Class of 2026.

Funds must be used exclusively for programs benefiting local residents. Applications will be accepted through Feb. 27.

Augustana College announced more than 1,200 students were named to the dean’s list for the 2025-2026 fall semester.

David D. Lowtharp, 57, was sentenced to six years in the Illinois Department of Corrections through a plea agreement.

Darren Barker, 55, pleaded guilty to the Class 1 felony and was sentenced by Ogle County Judge John “Ben” Roe through a plea agreement.

The Leaf River Soaring Eagles 4-H club had its monthly meeting Feb. 9.

As the weather begins to warm, construction is set to ramp up throughout downtown Rochelle, a Feb. 20 city of Rochelle news release said.

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

OPINION: Another year, another bloated, tone-deaf budget from Gov. JB Pritzker. And once again, working families are expected to foot the bill.