It was a big day for Oregon girl athletics on Saturday with a regional softball title and a fourth-place finish in the IHSA track & field meet.

Rochelle Township High School's graduation ceremony for the Class of 2026 was held on Saturday, May 23, 2026.

Here's a list of Ogle County property transfers for May 18-22, 2026.

A single-family home in Rochelle that sold for $155,000 nears the top of the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Ogle County during the past week.

The 40th annual Rochelle Township High School art show was held May 14, celebrating the creativity and accomplishments of student artists throughout the school year.

Belmont University released the dean’s list for the spring 2026 semester, with approximately 49% of the university’s 6,724 undergraduate students earning the academic recognition.

The Rochelle Township High School board on May 18 recognized retirees who will finish their careers this month.

Kris and Jessica Wexell were recently named the first 2026 winners of the Rochelle Chamber of Commerce Lawn of the Week contest.

In one of the most competitive 2A boys track & field sectionals in the state, Rochelle and Byron finished in the top 5 of team standings.

The pool will open one hour earlier each day, starting at 11:30 a.m. rather than 12:30 p.m. Early access will be available for pool pass holders and all-inclusive REC members at 11 a.m. Adult swim will take place Monday through Thursday from 7-10:30 a.m.

The Lynn-Scott-Rock Fire Department in Lindenwood is holding its 73rd annual fish fry fundraiser from 4-7 p.m. Friday, June 5.

Here's a list of Ogle County property transfers for May 11-15, 2026.

A grand opening was held May 16 for The Echelon in Rochelle. The recently remodeled downtown building is now home to Down Range Firearms, photography businesses Kitty’s Kaptures and JuliaVsoftstudios, more business suites, a meeting room and living spaces.

Andrea Voss of Lindenwood was recently elected to membership into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

Amanda Headon, daughter of Dr. Cassandra and Lance Headon of Rochelle, graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine with a doctor of veterinary medicine degree in May 2026.

Dede Ponto will retire this month after 33 years as a teacher in the Rochelle Elementary School District.

Jason King took fourth place in the straight truck division at the 2026 Wisconsin State Truck Rodeo in Appleton, Wisconsin.

The Illinois Municipal Utilities Association recognized RMU for earning all three national association awards.

Presented by local history enthusiast and researcher Mary Rose Fillip, the program explores the history of the Women’s Ambulance Safety Patrol.

Stillman Trust & Wealth Management recently announced the winners of the Eickman Scholarship, an annual scholarship awarded to four area high school seniors who are interested in pursuing a career in medicine.

Rivers Estock of Steward was recently named to the spring 2026 dean’s list at Olivet Nazarene University.

Many World War II artifacts are on display, including tanks, trucks, cannons and Rochelle News-Leader newspapers from 1945.

Southern New Hampshire University recently congratulated Rochelle-area students on being named to the list.

A residence in Rochelle that sold for $400,000 nears the top of the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Ogle County in the past week.

Rochelle Middle School social studies teacher Beth Hahn will retire this month after teaching sixth grade for the past 33 years.

The Rochelle Police Department held its annual Cop on a Rooftop event at Dunkin Donuts on May 15 to raise money for Special Olympics Illinois.

The White Rock Cemetery Memorial Day Association will hold its annual service at 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 25, at the Elim Reformed Church.

Sycamore, Kaneland, Genoa-Kingston, Sandwich, St. Viator, Plano, Crystal Lake South, Dixon, Rochelle, and Carmel are among the teams that took part in the Class 2A girls track sectional Friday at Genoa-kingston High School.

Danae White will retire this month after 25 years of teaching English at Rochelle Township High School.

Tracey Lawton will retire from Rochelle Middle School this month after 32 years of teaching eighth grade communication skills.

An Ogle County judge denied a defense attorney’s motion Wednesday to dismiss charges against a Chicago woman, and refuted arguments that they were filed in retaliation for ongoing controversy related to a rodeo near Rochelle.

Glen Mehrings will retire this month after 33 years as a math and computer teacher at Rochelle Township High School and 30 years as the school's head golf coach.

Rochelle's Sarah Flanagan volunteers for numerous local causes, including the Hub City Senior Center, the Rochelle Rotary Club and the Rochelle Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Dave Eckhardt of Rochelle founded From the Heart, an annual gala fundraiser that raised about $1 million for Rochelle-area nonprofits over 18 years.

Dennis Swinton’s volunteer work has included the Rochelle Kiwanis Golden K Club, the Boy Scouts, the Rochelle Moose Lodge and the Masonic Lodge.

Cal Jacobs's volunteer history has included the Rochelle Christian Food Pantry, the Rochelle Area Community Foundation, the Rochelle Free Summer Lunch Program and a recovery committee established following a 2015 EF4 tornado that hit the area.

Kevin Zilm has been a member of Rochelle Lions Club for the past 19 years, serving as the club's president for much of that time.

Three certified staff members and four non-certified staff members are retiring from the district.

Here's a list of Ogle County property transfers for May 4-8, 2026.

The Rochelle City Council voted 6-1 on May 11 to increase and extend its utility tax structure to pay for sidewalk improvements.

Rochelle Township High School held its annual Honors Night for the Class of 2026 on May 4.

The city of Rochelle’s work on three ongoing construction projects in its downtown area is progressing to new phases with a planned total completion date of the end of 2026, Interim City Manager and City Engineer Sam Tesreau said May 6.

The Rochelle Elementary School District will see its first class of dual language program students graduate from Rochelle Middle School this month and move on to Rochelle Township High School this fall.

Rochelle Municipal Utilities recently announced its receipt of three awards from the American Public Power Association.

In 1986, Rodger Griffith began umpiring girls softball in Rochelle. He then started umpiring Little League baseball, which he did for over 20 years, before more time behind the plate for high school, travel and fall baseball in the area.

Noah McKinney was recently named the March Rochelle Rotary Club Student of the Month at Rochelle Township High School.

The Rochelle Municipal Utilities electric department has seen “very few outages” during this season of spring storms and has made recent infrastructure investments to shore up its system, RMU Superintendent of Electric Operations Blake Toliver said May 6.

Two scholarships from Arnold Heltness American Legion Post 403 of Rochelle were awarded to students at Rochelle Township High School Honors on May 4.

This year’s Ogle County 4-H Public Presentations Contest was held Saturday, Feb. 28, at the Oregon Church of God.

Northern Rehab Physical Therapy Specialists recently announced and presented their annual 2026 Rochelle Township High School Health & Wellness Scholarship to Mary Chadwick.