Rock Falls

In the 2nd Ward, running for a four-year term, Brian Snow – who has held on to his seat for more than two decades – will go up against former 4th Ward Alderman Marshall Doane.

Sidewalk Prophets concert will be March 19 in Walnut; Ready Set, Grow workshop is March 29 at Sauk Valley Community College.

What are the top issues facing Rock Falls? Violet Sobottka: The Loves subdivision being developed, getting people involved in their city and community, better communication between the mayor and council.

Brian Snow: We need to enact and provide incentives on a sliding scale to bring economic development to our community for corporations, also to be able to provide a quality workforce.

What do you believe are the top three issues that the city is facing right now? Marshall Doane: depreciation, apathy and access to jobs. There are no big-paying jobs in our area to serve the majority of our workforce.

Testimony sheds more light on events leading up to Daniel Gordon's death on Feb. 14, 2025, after a fight in a Rock Falls driveway.

Students must be 5 years old by Sept. 1 and a school district resident.

Before you head to the polls, here is a look at the candidates and the seats they are running for in Whiteside County's city, school and township elections.

Selected students will serve as non-voting members on the United Way Board of Directors from June 2025 through May 2026, providing valuable youth perspective to the organization while developing professional skills and connections.

The Augustana College Film Program and the Film Club is hosting actor, writer and director Frank Harts from 1-2 p.m. Monday, March 10.

Several fire departments responded to an emergency call reporting a possible structure fire early Thursday morning.

SVCC Academics and Student Services Vice President Jon Mandrell has been named the Phi Theta Kappa Distinguished College Administrator Award recipient.

A Rock Falls man wanted on an arrest warrant in connection with a Dec. 8 home invasion in Sterling has been taken into custody and is facing more charges.

An initial investigation indicates the motorcycle was traveling south on Buell Road at a high rate of speed when it failed to stop at the posted stop sign at the intersection of Buell and Gaulrapp roads, according to Sheriff John Booker.

Plans also in the works for fourth annual Bellson Music Fest in Rock Falls.

Kaylee Johnson plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Kyle M. Cooper, 36, is charged with murder in connection with the Feb. 14 death of Daniel J. Gordon, 27, who prosecutors say was stabbed after trying to break up an altercation between Cooper and Cooper's ex-girlfriend, who was dating Gordon.

Culver’s of Rock Falls has been recognized by the Culver’s franchise for its dedication to hospitality and has earned the Ruth Hospitality Award for the fifth year in a row.

The dean’s list honors students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher. The students also must have received at least 12 credit hours.

The screening’s goal is to provide parents a measure of their child’s development in areas of learning importance. The Bi-County cooperative and schools will offer preschool programs for special needs children ages 3 to 5.

The college named 1,200 to the dean’s list. The list honors students with a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale for the term’s courses.

Nearly half of the Coloma Township Board of Trustees, including its supervisor, abruptly announced late last week that they were resigning, which led to the appointment of a new supervisor, clerk and two trustees Tuesday.

Montmorency School is located at 9415 Hoover Road in Rock Falls.

Kyle M. Cooper, 36, of Rock Falls, is being held in the Whiteside County Jail in Morrison on a first-degree murder charge as well as two counts of aggravated battery in connection with the Feb. 14 stabbing death of Daniel J. Gordon.

Outwork Elite partnered with the Garrett Ramos Foundation on Monday, Feb. 17, to host a free basketball camp for kids ranging from third through eighth grade. Over 120 players from throughout the Sauk Valley and beyond attended the clinic at Newman Central Catholic High School.

The 40th annual Polo Farm Toy Show will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 1, at Polo Centennial Grade School, 308 S. Pleasant Ave., Polo.

About 30 people gathered on First Avenue bridge between Sterling and Rock Falls on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, to protest immigration policies enacted by the Trump administration.

About 30 people gathered on the First Avenue bridge between Sterling and Rock Falls on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, to protest mass deportations.

The grant provided funds to the Coloma Township Park District.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville recently announced that it awarded 400 diplomas to graduating students for the fall semester.

Get caught up on news and sports in the Sauk Valley for the week of Feb. 8-15, 2025.

Sterling Federal Bank has announced that loan officer Angela Perna is now located at the Rock Falls Branch at 821 First Ave.

Iowa State University, Trinity Christian College and Aurora University also announce fall semester dean’s lists.

According to a news release, Rock Falls police were dispatched at 1:50 a.m. Friday, Feb. 14, for a reported stabbing in the 600 block of West 20th Street in Rock Falls.

The Friends of the Hennepin Canal will host its next “Hike the Hennepin” event at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 16 at the steel dam, 298 14th St. NE, Milan.

Several Sauk Valley-area students were named to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville dean’s list for the fall 2024 semester.

The college named 259 full- and part-time students to the president’s list for high academic achievement. The dean’s list featured 150 students.

Rock Falls has issued a snow emergency effective at 10 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11, through 8 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 13. Sterling’s snow emergency goes into effect at 6 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12.

University of Iowa, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Illinois Wesleyan University announce fall 2024 dean’s lists.

Local United Ways and Culver’s are joining forces to celebrate 2-1-1 Day on Feb. 11. Visit Culver’s in Rock Falls or Dixon and mention “2-1-1 Day” to receive special $2.11 concrete mixers or cheese curds, and remember to call 2-1-1 when social service help is needed.

Sterling’s First Avenue bridge features 2024 Woodlawn Arts Academy artists' banners.

Rock Falls Tourism held its annual Flock to the Rock on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, with eagle watching at the lower dam and educators at the American Legion.

First State Bank Shannon-Polo-Lake Carroll’s FSB Wealth Group recently announced financial professional Cassandre Mlakar was accepted into LPL Financial’s Ascent Club Program.

Sterling resident named to Mississippi State University's fall president’s list.

Here is a snapshot of how a federal funding freeze could affect schools in the Sauk Valley area.

Icy road conditions Wednesday night led to multiple accidents in Whiteside County, Sterling Deputy Fire Chief David Northcutt told Shaw Local.

The women were accused of entering a home in the 800 block of West Seventh Street in Sterling, punching a man in the face and pulling a woman's hair.

An eastbound semitrailer on Interstate 88 between Rock Falls and Dixon left the roadway and passed up and over Bollman Road around 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 3, 2025.

The fifth annual Flock to the Rock is Feb. 8 in Rock Falls.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 18 million Illinois households, many with children, experienced food insecurity in 2023.