If approved, Barrel & Boards would offer year-round family-friendly entertainment, including on-site food courts, a brewery, a winery, 20,000 square feet of games, including bocce ball and pickleball courts, a boutique bowling alley, and virtual reality video games.

The same concert will be performed at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, at the stage in the RB&W Park in Rock Falls.

Matt Hicks with the Sauk Valley Water Ski Shows group said his organization is seeking sponsors and donations to raise money to bring water ski shows and other aquatic entertainment to Rock Falls.

The lightweight and high-powered boats sped through a course in the Rock River on July 12 and 13, 2025, while competing in heats and classes.

Boat racers get wet and wild Saturday, July 12, 2025, during the Rock Falls River Chase.

The Rock River Jazz Band will perform music from the Big Band and Swing eras at 7 p.m. July 12 at the Page Park Band Shell, 300 Lincoln Statue Drive, Dixon.

Construction on the Northwestern Steel & Wire Park and its splash pad, part of Sterling’s $300 million Riverfront Reimagined project, are on track to be completed by the end of the month.

The River’s Edge Farmers Market continued Thursday, June 19 with some serious bubble action thanks to the “Bubble Guy”" and the Oregon Public Library. The markets are held each Thursday night from 5-7:30 p.m. at 123 N. 2nd St., along the riverfront below the Oregon dam on the west bank of the Rock River.

Sterling’s new riverfront park has been named Northwestern Steel & Wire Park.

The $12 million development known as Project Rock will extend the multi-use path that runs west of Heritage Crossing with a pedestrian bridge over the Rock River using the old Illinois Central Railroad piers.

Although the city’s yet-to-be-named riverfront park and splash pad were originally projected to be finished toward the end of June, Strand Associates project manager Zach Simpson said the last progress meeting with contractors indicated the project was slightly behind schedule.

Sterling is one step closer to receiving a River Edge Redevelopment Zone designation that could provide up to $50 million in tax incentives for economic development work the city has already started along its riverfront.

Kane County Audubon, the local chapter of the Illinois Audubon Society, hosts field trips, bird walks and nature hikes with events planned in Batavia, Sugar Grove and beyond this June.

The park is part of the city’s $300 million multiphase Riverfront Reimagined project.

Ron Clewer of developer Gorman & Co. said several hoteliers have expressed possible interest in developing hotels at the Lawrence Bros. and National sites, including representatives from Wyndham Hotels and Resorts and two local hoteliers.

Fundraising, gathering information are next steps for organizers.

As Sterling’s city manager, Schumard is responsible for many of the day-to-day operations of the city, including managing labor contracts and city budgets, recruiting city employees, applying for grants and acting as a liaison for city groups.

Council's action Tuesday night paves way for fire station's expansion in River Front Commercial District; decision comes a week after city planning commission recommended denial, citing desire for station to relocate altogether.

Foundation to hold Jan. 29 public investment meeting for planned riverfront park.

The Dixon City Council has approved an engineering agreement for the construction of a pedestrian bridge across the Rock River that is expected to take about two years to complete.

A boating accident in Dixon that could have ended in a tragedy was marked by the what a Dixon City Council member called the heroic acts of two bystanders who intervened.

Dearborn's remains still not found after Nov. 20, 2019, accident below the Oregon dam.

The walk will begin at 9 a.m. at the Larson Shelter in Centennial Park, with registration beginning at 8:15.

Sterling held a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday for its yet-to-be-named riverfront park at 201 Wallace St., the city’s first step toward a $300 million project known as Riverfront Reimagined.

The new park at the former Northwestern Steel and Wire Mill site is Phase One of Sterling’s $300 million Riverfront Reimagined Project.

The new park along the Rock River at the former Northwestern Steel and Wire Mill site is Phase One of Sterling’s $300 million Riverfront Reimagined Project.

Dixon firefighters will be doing water rescue training most of the morning.

The Riverfront Commission has already landed $2.75 million in commitments from potential donors for Phase 2 of Riverfront Reimagined. Now, the commission is asking the council to decide how to proceed with naming rights for the park, its buildings and amenities.

A tale of two birds leaves photographer momentarily confused.

The body of Carter McGowan was found about 11 a.m. Tuesday in the 4300 block of North Route 2 – midway between Oregon and Byron – by an individual searching for fossils along the river, Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle said.

A body was found in the Rock River around 11 a.m. Tuesday in the 4300 block of north Illinois Route 2, discovered by an individual searching for fossils along the river, Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle says.

The annual Rock Falls River Chase returned this past weekend with racing on the Rock River.

No injuries after vessels overturn in separate instances over a 3-day period in Rock River.

From 2009 to 2023, John Groshans dedicated many hours to the upkeep and beautification of Heritage Crossing.

The storm systems that swept across northern Illinois Monday evening spawned at least two tornadoes in the Sauk Valley.

The severe thunderstorms and continued rain that hit the Sauk Valley over the weekend and through Monday mean the Rock River could flood this week, the National Weather Service office in Chicago warned.

Continued rains in the Sauk Valley are soaking an already drenched area. Evening storms were expected Monday, July 15, 2024, as well.

Plans call for park to be completed by May or June of next year.

Gabby and Grady Staats of Sterling spent the day fishing at Sewards Park on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. With more rain on the horizon, the National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for area waterways.

Authorities believe Carter Mcgowan entered the Rock River in Rockford on Jan. 22. His body has not been found.

The dock at Heritage Crossing in downtown Dixon was speared by a large tree after storms hit the area late Sunday, while the dock above the river dam off of Assembly Place was damaged that day due to “boater error,” said Matt Heckman, assistant city manager.

Karen Miles and Carolyn Hohenboken have been kayaking on the Hennepin Canal for over a decade. Their group – now known as the Yak Yak Sisters– unofficially started in 2014 after Carolyn’s husband got the women a kayak the previous fall.

River Country 101.7 and Discover Dixon's Country 101.7 Summer Kickoff Concert was Saturday, June 1, 2024, on the Dixon Riverfront.

The buoys were donated from the “Legends of the Rock” fishing tournament, a contest started in memory of fishing advocates Bill Milby and Bob Anspach.

Dixon Rural and City departments place marker buoys in the Rock River on Thursday, May 23, 2024.

Sterling and Rock Falls fire departments placed nearly two dozen buoys in the Rock River Wednesday, May 15, 2024. The departments took over the placement from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources several years back.

Beautify Dixon, the Rock River Garden Club and Dixon in Bloom all intersect within the petunia project as they work toward the common goal of beautifying Dixon.

Each year, Blooming on The Rock raises money for the gardens and other Dixon beautification efforts. This year's fundraiser is June 8.

The flooding is expected to occur from Friday morning to early Sunday morning. Flood stage is 13 feet.

A repurposed Pignatelli building also on Amber Hoffman’s to-do list.