Sauk Valley

The Rochelle Municipal Airport will host an air and car show this weekend, while the Mendota Sweet Corn Fest runs Aug. 7-10.

Hidden within hills and away from highways in southeast Jo Daviess County is a tiny community best known for its annual music festival and large antique barn – attracting social butterflies and lovers of bluegrass, gospel and country music.

Whether you’re a sports fan or just looking for a place to hang out and grab a bite, the family at JW’s Third Base thinks you’ll be a fan of their neighborhood bar and grill

They say you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink – but you can lead people to a horse trailer and let them drink, thanks to a Sterling woman who’s brought her own twist to the mobile bar service business.

When a photo opportunity knocks, a Dixon photographer opens the barn door to find the grit and determination that tells the stories of farmers and their families

When a Rock Falls guitarist gives his musical passion to the community, he hopes it brings many smiles and positive memories to their minds, and makes them happier. It's a lifelong passion for music that keeps evolving for Todd Lorenc, from electric guitar to ukulele and back.

Get caught up on news, sports and features from the week of July 25-31, 2025, in the Sauk Valley.

JW's Third Base was voted Sauk Valley's favorite place to grab some wings.

Check out the Ogle County Fair July 30-Aug. 3 at the fair grounds in Oregon, or catch concerts from the Sterling Municipal Band or Dixon Municipal Band.

Sterling's Mason Hubbard saved his best round for last on Tuesday, shooting a 70 at Trump National Doral to finish tied for 24th at the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships in Miami.

Change, however difficult, can lead us toward a more just and compassionate world.

Pungent smells and sour tastes often are what one thinks of when it comes to sauerkraut, but Forreston makes a big deal about it – with plenty of fun and entertainment in a four-day festival that is pleasant and appetizing.

Here is a look at the top finishers from this past weekend's Emerald Hill Golf Association Club Championships.

Beth Wiegmann of Polo will shed some light on the Underground Railroad in the Sauk Valley area at 7 p.m. Monday, July 28, at the Lee County Historical and Genealogical Society in Dixon.  

Get caught up on news, sports and features from the week of July 18-24, 2025, in the Sauk Valley.

Attend performances by the Dixon Municipal Band on Thursday night, or check out the Rock River Riders Hillclimb on Saturday.

Sterling graduate Mason Hubbard is set to compete at the 2025 Optimist International Junior Golf Championships at Trump National Doral in Miami this Sunday. 'This is another great spot to see where my game sits amongst players all over the world.'

Equipped with a mobile kitchen, a hungry customer base, a dream and a meat smoker gifted to them at their wedding, Courtney and Dantrion Dodd hit the road with their barbecue and have not looked back since.

Here is a look at the results from three more divisions during the second day of the 35th Annual Emma Hubbs Tennis Classic.

The Dixon Minor girls 4th grade fast pitch softball team won the Rock River championship on July 14 in Byron.

Prairieview won a sixth straight Lincoln Highway golf tournament on Sunday as Ryan Jahn took first, while Jason Wombacher and Andrew Canfield tied for second with Emerald Hill's Jarred Hippen. Sunset's Brian Weidman was also inducted into the tournament's Hall of Fame.

The 35th Annual Emma Hubbs Tennis Classic kicked off on Monday with four different age divisions competing. Brooklyn Arjes and Joel Rhodes won the 18 and under mixed doubles division over Jenna Mustapha and Aron Rivera.

Sterling students also have been named to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee dean’s list.

Whiteside County 4-H will host a workshop for young animal lovers to introduce them to the field of veterinary science. The workshop will take place from 2-3:30 p.m. July 28 at the Rock Falls Public Library.

The OSF Saint Katharine Moms’ Group meets at the Dixon YMCA, while Moms on the Move is a group that walks at Dixon's new walking path.

Dixon, Sterling and Rock Falls students also graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and were named to the university's chancellor's list.

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.

Agricultural producers who suffered eligible crop losses due to natural disasters in 2023 and 2024 can now apply for $16 billion in assistance through the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program.

Lining up along East Fourth Street in Sterling on Thursday, July 17, 2025, hundreds of protesters displayed their dissatisfaction with the Trump administration in a nationwide gathering known as “Good Trouble Lives On.”

Enjoy free live music from the Sterling Municipal Band and the Dixon Municipal Band and more this weekend in the Sauk Valley.

Get caught up on news, sports and features from the week of July 11-17, 2025, in the Sauk Valley.

The community group formerly known as Keystone has officially rebranded as Sauk Valley Under 40, reflecting a renewed commitment to building community, connection and leadership opportunities for young adults throughout the Sauk Valley region.

They include Luis Guerrero, Danae Palmer and Carter Schlegel.

Kaylee Johnson and Michael Ely have been awarded this year’s Judy M. Thome Memorial Scholarships.

Get caught up on news, sports and features from the week of July 3-10, 2025, in the Sauk Valley.

Dixon's Katie Drew won the 102nd Ladies Lincoln Highway golf tournament individual title on Saturday at her home course. Dixon's Reese Dambman also helped Timber Creek win a third straight team title as she competed in her first Lincoln Highway.

Setting the tone as the leadoff hitter and shut-down closer for a fourth-place state finisher has earned Newman junior Garret Matznick the title of 2025 Sauk Valley Media Baseball Player of the Year.

This annual event allows the agri-business community to gather and celebrate ag in the Sauk Valley while raising money for ag-related scholarships, education and workforce development initiatives.

The legislation would make NWS meteorologists and support staff “mission critical” public safety workers, giving them the same employment protections as airport Transportation Security Administration agents and making it harder for future administrations to lay them off.

Rock Falls River Chase on Saturday and Sunday, Pop-Up Market and Music in Sterling and more this weekend in the Sauk Valley.

Here is a roundup of the results from the 40th annual OSF Tennis Classic over the weekend.

Dixon's Aaron Conderman and Dean Geiger finished 1-2 in their hometown race at the 25th annual Reagan Run 5K on Saturday. Melissa Winchester was the top female finisher.

From pageants to parachutes, take a look back to the stories and photos from last week in the Sauk Valley.

Get caught up on news and features from the week of June 27-July 3, 2025, in the Sauk Valley.

The Sterling/Rock Falls Jaycee’s fireworks display ignites at dusk (about 9:30 p.m.) Thursday, July 3, and OSF HealthCare Saint Katharine Medical Center will sponsor Dixon's Petunia Festival Family Fun Night from 5-7 p.m. Friday, July 4.

Do you want a fairy tail wedding? Experts have a few tips to keep your puppy from getting to preppy and your wedding from going to the dogs.

In observance of PTSD Awareness Day, 13 volunteers, including veterans, jumped out of a perfectly good airplane Friday, June 27, 2025, at the Chicagoland Skydiving Center in Rochelle.

Having some cents of Ogle County history: Centennial, quasquicentennial, sesquicentennial, dosquicentennial … Ogle County can observe them all this year, from the anniversary of driving through a cut up rock to blazing trails and rails.

Growing food doesn’t have to be a dirty job, just ask a local farmer who can coax herbs and veggies from rockwool and water

Still swingin' away: Cold or gloomy weather preventing you from visiting the golf course? Need help on improving your game? There's plenty of green to play through on simulator video screens that can be custom-designed by a Galena business, both in the home and on the back yard.