Start the New Year off right with a First Day Hike at Franklin Creek State Natural Area, which has over four miles of trails.

As the calendar flips into 2026, here are a few of the stories we’ll be following in the months ahead.

Polo boys basketball won the LaMoille tournament title as JT Stephenson and Mercer Mumford combined for 39 points. Dixon boys hoops won, Sterling loss and more in Wednesday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Newman boys basketball is 15-0 after winning Erie-Prophetstown's Cliff Warkins Memorial Tournament title. E-P wrestlers Rozlyn Mosher and Michelle Naftzger won titles at Ottawa, and more in Tuesday's Sauk Valley roundup.

As 2025 draws to a close, here’s a look back at some of the Sauk Valley’s top stories of the year.

Erie-Prophetstown senior wrestler Michelle Naftzger is the Sauk Valley Athlete of the Week. She became E-P's first girls wrestler to reach 100 career wins and hopes to become a four-time state qualifier.

The Duchesses bounced back with a 52-43 win over Stillman Valley to take third at the Dixon Christmas Classic on Monday night.

Sterling's smothering defense and 17 points from Jossy James helped the Golden Warriors beat previously undefeated Byron 43-26 and win their first Dixon Christmas Classic since 2018.

Newman boys basketball advanced to the E-P tournament title after a 49-46 overtime win over Galena. Xavian Prather scored 25 points in a Sterling win, Rock Falls and Dixon fell and more in Monday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Sterling plays Byron in the Championship game of the 47th Annual Christmas Girls Holiday Classic in Dixon on Monday, December 29th.

Dixon takes on Stillman Valley in the Third Place game of the 47th Annual Christmas Girls Holiday Classic at Dixon High School on Monday, December 29th, 2025.

Check out Sauk Valley's Photos of the Week for Dec. 19-25, 2025.

Catch up on the week’s top Sauk Valley news for Dec. 21-27 in minutes. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Newman's Garret Matznick scored 25 points in a win over Forreston. Rock Falls boys basketball fell, Eastland won in 3OT, Dixon's Maddie Kirby won the Geneseo bowling title and more in Saturday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Dixon fell 54-52 to Byron after leading by eight in the fourth quarter in Saturday's Christmas Classic semifinals.

A strong defensive performance in the second half and teamwide contributions sent Sterling past Stillman Valley and into Monday's Dixon Christmas Classic championship. Sterling will face Byron at 6:30 p.m.

Newman nailed its first three 3-pointers to take an early lead, but Lincoln used a huge run to take control in a 61-27 victory in their Silver Bracket semifinal Saturday at the Dixon Christmas Classic.

Rock Falls boys basketball handed second-seeded Aurora Christian its first loss of the season with a first-round upset at the State Farm Classic on Friday. The Rockets will face Fieldcrest, which upset Eastland, at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Sterling sophomore Brenley Johnson provided a spark off the bench during an ice-cold third quarter against Lincoln. She finished with 11 points as Sterling held on for a 44-38 win at the Dixon Christmas Classic to reach the semifinals.

Dixon started off hot from the perimeter and never looked back Friday to advance to the semifinals of the Dixon Christmas Classic, building a double-digit lead by the end of the first quarter in a 67-27 win over Aurora Central Catholic in their final pool-play game on Day 1.

The Newman girls showed they can compete with bigger teams if they just play hard. The Comets battled back before falling just short in a 56-49 loss to Stillman Valley at the Dixon Christmas Classic Friday. Newman beat Alleman in its opener.

Joshua Segura of Crystal Lake has been named superintendent of the Rock Falls Township High School District, effective July 1, 2026, the Board of Education has announced.

The Prophecy will pay tribute to Trans-Siberian Orchestra at The Dixon Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 27.

For nearly 30 years, ye olde pub in Stockton has rolled out a welcome mat that gives people the Red-carpet treatment, with friends and hospitality from people on both sides of the bar.

OSF HealthCare Saint Katharine Medical Center joined the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, Dec. 18, to celebrate the ribboncutting for the OSF Saint Katharine Center for Health – Sterling.

Hellmich: Most people in the Sauk Valley value the spirit of collegiality and use it to find common ground with people of varying political, social, and religious views to improve our communities.

A Lanark florist who sees the world through Rosemary-colored glasses loves to help people find just the right flowers for any occasions, from roses of red to violets of blue.

Want to see some life entertainment in the Sauk Valley? All it takes is a ticket and trip to a theater where history and headliners share equal billing. Shaw Local catches up with The Dixon Historic Theater executive director Spencer Aurand to preview the Spring 2026 season.

At Nomia Meadows Farm in Franklin Grove, John and Lisa Ayers tend to bees, apples and 110 acres of native ground, welcoming visitors into the full-circle quiet of their prairie sanctuary.

Check out these three local businesses that were voted Sauk Valley's favorite places for coffee.

Newman girls basketball won, Dixon boys fell at Harlem, Sterling girls bowling is 6-0 and more in Monday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Get caught up on Sauk Valley news, sports and features from the week of Dec. 12-18, 2025.

Dixon's Ahmyrie McGowan is the Sauk Valley Athlete of the Week after an online vote. She is averaging a double-double for the 9-1 Duchesses this season. Here is a Q&A with the junior standout.

Generations Woven is a newly launched podcast and community project created by Tasha Garcia, Judy Randall and Nerina Human – three women from different generations with a shared mission to bring women together through honest conversation, reflection, and connection.

Catch up on the week’s top Sauk Valley news for Dec. 14-20 in minutes. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Sterling's Denver Sandrock was named swimmer of the meet after two wins. Newman's Blair Grennan won her weight class at Hampshire, Sterling girls basketball split two games and more in Saturday's Sauk Valley roundup.

A shootout between Dixon and Sycamore essentially came down to one quarter Saturday night, and it was the Duchesses’ big run in the second period that sunk the Spartans in a 55-47 victory at Lancaster Gym.

The Dixon Duchesses hosted the Sycamore Spartans in a non-conference game. The game was played at Lancaster Gym in Dixon on Saturday, December 20th, 2025.

To be eligible for the dean’s list, degree-seeking undergraduate students must earn a minimum semester grade-point average of 3.4 while taking at least 12 graded credits.

Fulton's Landen Leu scored 22 points in a win over Bureau Valley, Sterling boys fell at Rock Island, Oregon boys bowling is 6-2 and more in Friday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Sycamore scored 11 points in the final 59 seconds of the first half to turn a first-half deficit into a 71-59 victory over Dixon in a nonconference game Friday night at Lancaster Gym.

Newman overcame a slow start and a red-hot shooting Byron team to win Friday's Forreston Holiday Tournament championship in a 68-65 overtime classic.

The Dixon Dukes host the Sycamore Spartans in a non-conference game. The game was played at Lancaster Gym in Dixon on Friday, December 19th, 2025.

The Dixon School Board approved new hires, a change of status, and several coach appointments Wednesday, Dec. 17.

Newman boys basketball advanced to Friday's Forreston tournament championship against Byron. Eastland boys and girls also won tournament titles, Morrison boys wrestling beat Newman and more in Thursday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Sterling may be undersized, but the Golden Warriors make up for it with effort and energy on defense. Sterling's relentless pressure helped force 23 turnovers in a 54-31 Western Big 6 Conference win over United Township on Thursday.

The Dixon Historic Theatre will screen "White Christmas" on Friday, Dec. 19.

Gov. Pritzker on Tuesday signed legislation that raises $1.5 billion to fill a fiscal hole for the Chicago area’s public transit agencies set to kick in next year. Legislation relies on increased sales tax in the Chicago area and a diversion of funds from the state’s Road Fund.

Dixon beat Rockford Christian in BNC action as Brody Nicklaus scored 18 points. Milledgeville, Oregon and Forreston boys picked up wins, Sterling girls bowling is 5-0 and more in Wednesday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Developing a YouTube channel and Barn Talk podcast has contributed to the viability of This’ll Do Farm in southeast Iowa.