Two Whiteside County businesses have advanced to the top 100 finalists in the 2025 Chicago Innovation Awards. Online voting for the People’s Choice Award is open through Oct. 9.

Associates from the Dixon Walmart recently dedicated time and energy to support the Hope Cancer Wellness Center at 1637 Plock Drive in Dixon.

Get caught up with Sauk Valley news, sports and features for the week of Sept. 26-Oct. 2, 2025.

Dixon golfer Brody Nicklaus took fifth at the Big Northern Conference meet and shot a 73 earlier this season. He is the Sauk Valley Athlete of the Week after an online vote.

Catch up on the week’s top Sauk Valley news for Sept. 29-Oct. 4 in minutes. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Dixon boys cross country topped 36 other teams at the Peoria Invite. E-P volleyball won the Sterling Invite, Sterling girls swimming took second and more in Saturday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Sterling girls tennis had some competitive wins in a 4-1 victory over Dixon. Sterling volleyball beat Moline, Polo topped Oregon and more in Thursday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Throughout the month of October, several local Dixon businesses are joining forces to support the OSF Foundation, with all proceeds benefiting the Women’s Imaging Center at OSF HealthCare Saint Katharine Medical Center.

Autumn on Parade, Old English Faire happen this weekend in Oregon.

Dixon's Brody Nicklaus was the top local finisher in Geneseo as the Dukes and Sterling each had players advance to the sectional round. Fulton advanced as a team along with multiple other local individuals in Wednesday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Health literacy is defined as the ability to access, understand, appraise, and use health information and services to make informed health decisions for yourself and others.

Dixon girls golf won a regional title as Reese Dambman and Rachel Drew took first and third. Oregon girls golf also advanced to the sectional, Sterling girls swimming won, Newman volleyball beat Princeton and more in Tuesday's Sauk Valley roundup.

What was once a beacon to Sterling's founding Brink now is reminder of local church history and a helping hand to the community he started, and its pastor and congregation are carrying on traditions more than 185 years later.

Newman girls tennis topped Princeton 4-3, Sterling girls golf won on senior night, Fulton volleyball beat Milledgeville and more in Monday's Sauk Valley roundup.

The menu at a downtown Dixon restaurant has customers seeing green, as well as many vegetable and fruit colors to consider in a more healthier offering.

From multi-state marathons to races close to home, a Lake Carroll runner brings a lifetime of endurance and passion to others at Mount Carroll's Davis Community Center, helping them get healthier, stay active and build connections through fitness.

The preservation of natural areas has become a winning mission in Winnebago County, where there are more than 40 places to get away and enjoy the flora and fauna thrive – in forests, wetlands and along the county's winding rivers.

Get caught up on news, sports and features in the Sauk Valley for the week of Sept. 19-25, 2025.

Prophetstown Proud announces “A Vintage Christmas” is the theme for this year’s Christmas parade.

Erie-Prophetstown senior golfer Izzy Johnston shot a personal best 85 to take first and help the Panthers win the Three Rivers Conference title. Her goal is to get to state. She is the Sauk Valley Athlete of the Week after an online vote.

The Henry C. Adams Memorial Library in Prophetstown in coordination with the Ogle County Health Department will be offering microgreen-growing classes to the public in November.

Dixon's Daniela Lovett took fourth at the Rock River Run. Oregon's Daniel Gonzalez won the Winnebago invite, Sterling girls swimming had wins at Freeport, Milledgeville volleyball won at Polo and more in Saturday's Sauk Valley roundup.

The hike is designed for all ages and will be divided into three groups, each led by a Nature Center expert and tailored to different “spooky levels”.

The second annual block party between the Dement Town Tavern and The Pup House in Dixon takes place from 4-11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, at Sixth Street and Depot Avenue, and 527 Depot Ave.

Dixon Stage Left’s first Senior Theatre showcase performance, “We Still Got It!”, will be Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, at The Next Picture Show, 113 W. First Street, Dixon.

Oregon boys golf shot a season low 335 to take fourth at the Big Northern Conference meet. Jackson Messenger took third, and Nole Campos tied Dixon's Brody Nicklaus for fifth. Fulton and Forreston fared well at the NUIC meet and more in Thursday's SVM roundup.

After graduation, Kayla Hackbarth plans to attend Sauk Valley Community College to major in Early Childhood Education and continue her track and field career. She hopes to transfer to a university such as Illinois State to finish her degree.

The annual Taco Throwdown is set for Friday, Sept. 26, from 3-10 p.m. in Rock Falls.

Dixon girls golf took third at the Big Northern Conference Meet after being led by Reese Dambman and Rachel Drew. E-P and Sterling girls golf won, Newman's Grace King took eighth and more in Wednesday's Sauk Valley roundup.

At Cledy’s House of Hope in Rock Falls, women in recovery are building new lives through structure, community and support.

The Grand Detour Arts Festival was recently held and the results are in, with many accolades for area artisans.

Dixon volleyball won its third straight and tennis improved to 11-2 plus more scores from around the area in Tuesday's Sauk Valley Media sports roundup

Oct. 12 will be a day with many farms to stroll around throughout Ogle County, who will show their farms, practices, products and antiques to help educate visitors on food sources and the life of a hard day's work.

The Harmon United Methodist Church is hosting its fall bazaar from 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, at 202 N. Grove St., in Harmon.

Sterling girls golf took second at the Western Big 6 Conference meet. Sterling boys golf took sixth, Dixon soccer won and more in Monday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Read Sauk Valley photographer Alex T. Paschal's column about all the local events that happened Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, and view his gallery containing dozens of photos taken that day.

Sauk Valley Community College hosts local artist Les Allen for a new exhibit titled “The Shape of Light”. The exhibit runs to Thursday, Nov. 20, and takes place in the Sauk Art Gallery. The gallery is open during campus hours and is free to the public.

To B or not to B – that was a question that Blair McCafrey's fans of his cooking often asked about starting his own restaurant one day, and the Amboy native made it happen with Uncle B's Bar and Grill, serving up its own styles of food and fun.

After years in their careers, a husband and wife decided it was time to wear different hats, as owners of an antique shop in Mount Carroll, where they’ve been glad to be Mad for over 25 years

Expanding the classic car community throughout northwest Illinois is a passion of a Lake Carroll couple who moved their auto sales business from Oswego to Freeport.

Taking care of their community isn't just a job for a Rock Falls couple, but a passion that goes beyond that: making sure hungry bellies are full during the holidays and giving teenagers a chance to explore their hands-on skills.

Check out these news, sports and feature Sauk Valley photos from Sept. 12-18, 2025.

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

The Power in Pink celebration is a free event and will be the imaging center’s second annual breast cancer awareness and screening open house. The center is located at 1609 First Ave., Rock Falls.

Dixon cross country won the Kanelane invite as Averick Wiseman took second and Dean Geiger was fourth. Forreston boys golf edged Fulton at the Salley Wessels Invitational, Rock Falls' Lucas Porter won in Princeton and more in Saturday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Sterling's Kasey Weeks had 16 kills and four blocks in a 2-1 win over United Township. Eastland volleyball beat Polo, Newman boys golf won, Deyanie Alfaro shot a 41 for Sterling and more in Thursday's Sauk Valley roundup.

The Board of Trustees unanimously selected Jon Mandrell, vice president of academics and student services, as the college’s seventh president. He will officially begin his presidential duties June 1, 2026.

Event is a free community wellness open house Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, focused on connection and local businesses.

The Fiesta Day Parade kicks off at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20.

Milledgeville and Polo face off in the Battle for the Blacktop game this Friday as each team is 3-0. No. 3 Newman heads to Orion, Dixon heads to North Boone, Oregon hosts Rock Falls and Sterling is at 3-0 UT. Here is a rundown of this week's Sauk Valley football slate.