Olivia Ketchum will attend Northern Illinois University to major in music education.

Eastland's defense held tough and made key plays in a 48-41 win over Pecatonica to win the Class 1A Orion Sectional title and get back to the Elite Eight. 'We’re playing some of our best, grittiest basketball at the right time.'

The Dixon Historic Theatre will host two great shows this weekend: Circus of Bubbles LIVE on Friday, March 6, and Revolución de Amor – A Tribute to Maná on Saturday, March 7.

The YWCA Women of Achievement Luncheon will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 16, at the Elks Club in Dixon.

Eastland used a strong start, tough defense and an explosive finish to defeat Dakota 49-31 on Wednesday night. The Cougars advanced to face Pecatonica in Friday's Class 1A Orion Sectional final at 7 p.m. for the third straight year.

This inaugural program aims to spark creativity, build confidence and introduce young people to the fundamentals of starting and running a business.

The college is inviting community members, through an online survey, to share feedback on its 2027–2030 strategic directions.

Newman battled a physical Pecatonica into overtime on Tuesday night, but the Indians came back to win 70-66 in the Class 1A Orion Sectional semifinals as Zion Braimah scored 34 points. Newman finished with a program-high 33 wins.

One proud papa: A Savanna restaurateur has taken on an alter ego and making a business out of his grandkids-inspired nickname. Meet "Papa Chubby" and his food – keeping customers coming back hungry, and leave full.

An 80-year-old ag equipment company in Oregon is still shaping land and lives. At Woods Equipment, the machines matter, but the people who use them matter more.

Rethinking rural homes: Barndominiums look like barns, but live like homes. More rural families are choosing post-frame living, and an Indiana company is building them throughout the Midwest.

Sterling junior Jossy James was named All-Western Big 6 Conference first-team after tying for the league lead with 19 points per game. Nia Harris and Jae James were also named honorable mention.

Get caught up on Sauk Valley news, sports and features from the week of Feb. 20-26, 2026.

The touch-a-truck event of Rock Falls, known as “The Big One,” is now recognized as the largest such event in the United States, event chairman John Watts announced.

Catch up on the week’s top Sauk Valley news for Feb. 22-28 in minutes. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

The Scotts Miracle-Gro office in Morrison is sporting a fresh new look thanks to a unique collaboration with the Digital Media Arts students at the Whiteside Area Career Center.

Oregon never trailed in a 65-52 win over Mendota in the Class 2A Rock Falls Regional final Friday at Tabor Gym to win its first regional title since 2006.

Dixon advanced to the Dual Team State semifinals to guarantee the Dukes a state trophy. Blair Grennan, Kendra Ege and Michelle Naftzger are still alive at state wrestling, and Eastland basketball held on to beat Orion 46-45 in Friday's Sauk Valley Roundup.

Newman beat Forreston 75-48 to win the Class 1A Alleman Regional title on Friday night as all five starters had at least 11 points. 'I’d say our offense right now is on fire.'

The way some Dixon High School students recently learned about food science and meat science is an example of how Dixon agriculture teacher Grace Klein uses hands-on learning and finds topics to hold students' attention.

Newman's best season since 2009 came to an end after a 60-55 loss to Wethersfield in Thursday's Class 1A Eastland Sectional final.

Midland Wealth Advisors, LLC has been recognized as one of America’s Top Financial Advisory Firms of 2026 by Newsweek.

Country music star Ray Scott will perform at The Dixon Historic Theatre Saturday, Feb. 28.

Eastland beat West Carroll 46-33 as Wyatt Carroll scored 17 points. The Cougars will face Orion in Friday's 7 p.m. Class 1A Bureau Valley Regional final after the Chargers beat Fulton 72-62. Erie-Prophetstown also fell short to Aurora Christian in Wednesday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Oregon hit five of its first six 3-point attempts, then used a huge second-quarter run to take control early in a 76-48 win over Rock Falls in their Class 2A Rock Falls Regional semifinal Wednesday night at Tabor Gym.

Connor Politsch was a "game-changer", scoring 24 points to help Forreston beat Annawan 52-44 in a Class 1A Alleman Regional semifinal. The Cardinals will face Newman in Friday's regional final at 7 p.m.

Newman pushed the pace Wednesday night and it led to a season high in scoring after an 85-63 win over Alleman in the regional semifinals. The Comets (32-1) set their single-season wins record and advanced to Friday's Alleman Regional final against Forreston at 7 p.m.

On this episode of Talk Line, Lauren Metzler shares the latest news from the Sauk Valley Voices of Recovery.

Eastland battled adversity like it has throughout the season, but fell short late in a 41-38 loss to Wethersfield in Tuesday night's sectional semifinal matchup. The Cougars finished the season 27-7 with their first regional title since 2020.

Created in honor of Dennis Gillan, a lifelong resident of Bureau and Lee counties, the scholarship reflects his dedication to hard work and community, according to a news release.

Newman used a strong defensive effort and stayed composed late to beat Galena 42-32 and advance to the Sweet 16. The Comets will face Wethersfield on Thursday at 7 p.m. for the Class 1A Eastland Sectional title.

Campus life reborn: A long-quiet part of Mount Carroll is filling with life again. Shimer Square blends housing, jobs and services into the town’s former campus.

A year after opening, Morrison High School’s greenhouse is growing more than plants — it’s also growing their connections to food, as well as leadership and research.

Turning the wheel: When a Chadwick woman's full-time job seemed to reach the bottom of her financial cup, she turned to a refill of an opportunity – serving lattes, smoothies and energy drinks from a truck.

The past isn’t locked behind glass Carroll County. It lives in stone walls, school desks, train cars and family stories saved by neighbors who refused to let them disappear. A road trip through the county’s museums reveals how ordinary lives shaped the place we know today.

Malcolm X used big runs before and after halftime to pull away from Sauk Valley for a 63-42 win Monday in their Arrowhead Conference game in Dixon.

Top-seeded Newman opened the Class 1A postseason with a 73-38 win over AFC. Eastland won, Forreston beat Milledgeville 61-44, Fulton beat Bureau Valley 61-56 and more in Monday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Reagan Hammes will attend Sauk Valley Community College, taking advantage of the Impact Program, before transferring to a university. Her ultimate goal is to earn a doctor of physical therapy degree.

Get caught up on news, sports and features from the Sauk Valley for the week of Feb. 13-19, 2026.

Clinton Symphony Orchestra will perform a family concert, for family members of all ages, at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Camanche High School Auditorium in Camanche, Iowa.

Catch up on the week’s top Sauk Valley news for Feb. 15-21 in minutes. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Newman's Landon Near won the Class 1A 113-pound championship, while Dixon's Charlie Connors placed second during the IHSA state boys wrestling finals at the State Farm Center in Champaign on Saturday.

Sterling junior Sarah Doughty won the IHSA state bowling title on Saturday at The Cherry Bowl in Rockford. Her 2,770 total is one of the highest in state tournament history. She had a record-setting 800 series on Friday and finished with a 230.8 average game.

The program offers full-time paid employment with all required training to safely and compassionately provide care for patients, while also preparing participants for the Certified Nursing Assistant exam.

Local historian Tom Wadsworth will reveal the surprising connections between Charles R. Walgreen and Dixon – including how a small-town start in 1891 helped spark a national retail empire.

Newman's Landon Near and Dixon's Charlie Connors will wrestle for state titles on Saturday. Sterling's Sarah Doughty is leading at state bowling and Sterling's Jack Saathoff set the single-season rebounding record.

Newman's lone senior Lucy Oetting stepped up with 24 points as the Comets beat Bureau Valley 66-41 to win their first regional title since 2009.

Sherrard threw the first punch Friday at Lancaster Gym, then Dixon countered. But the Tigers finished things off down the stretch, surging from a late deficit to top the Dukes 63-61 in a back-and-forth regular-season finale that set the stage for the postseason.

Three area wrestlers advanced to the Class 1A state semifinals as Newman’s Landon Near (113 pounds) and Landon Blanton (132), and Dixon’s Charlie Connors (144) won two straight matches in Champaign.

While Geneva made key plays in Thursday's Class 3A Dixon Regional championship, Dixon suffered one of its worst shooting nights of the season in a 49-40 Vikings victory at Lancaster Gym.