In a news release issued Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, Dixon Police Chief Ryan Bivins said David Dykema, 52, of Dixon, had been found deceased in Whiteside County.

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.

A Sterling Fire Department investigator and a Sterling police detective completed an investigation into the Monday, June 30, 2025, fire and found the blaze to be accidental in nature, according to a news release.

The Sterling Fire Department is awaiting federal funding approval for upgrades to its radio communications.

Organizers hope to gather enough school supplies Saturday, June 21, to assist 1,500 students in Ogle, Lee and Whiteside counties.

Sterling High School students Nico Battaglia, Brinley Francis and Esra Ramirez were named recipients of the 2025 Garrett Ramos Scholarship during the June 2, 2025, Sterling City Council meeting. Ramos died in the line of duty on Dec. 4, 2021.

A Sterling man has been sentenced to up to 9 years in prison after admitting he set fire to his Sterling apartment last fall as officers arrived to investigate an aggravated battery reported at that address

Read the transcript from our latest podcast: New Sterling fire chief David Northcutt talks with Shaw Local reporter Brandon Clark about the job and his plans for Sterling.

Shaw Local News Network reporter Brandon Clark recently interviewed the Sterling Fire Department's newly appointed fire chief, David Northcutt. The pair discussed Northcutt's extensive history in emergency services and his future plans for the department.

According to a joint news release, dispatchers had received a report shortly before 11 a.m. that a woman had entered a silo near city hall and was on its roof, about 50 feet off the ground.

Home checked for possible occupants; no one killed or injured, according to deputy fire chief.

When crews arrived at 8:05 a.m. Monday, April 14, they found a two-story residence with a heavy fire on the second floor, Dixon Rural Fire Chief Dustin Dahlstrom said.

No residents were injured; however, a family dog died as a result of the fire.

Rock Falls Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief Kyle Sommers said the departments are losing $825,000 in federal Community Project Funding appropriations they had planned to use to build a burn tower where firefighters from both communities could train in live-fire conditions.

A Whiteside County judge has ruled that enough evidence exists to move forward with a criminal case that accuses a Sterling man of setting an October fire that destroyed a Galt home.

The decision to waive the bid process and accept a proposal from Jefferson Fire and Safety for the purchase of a customized Rosenbauer King Cobra firetruck with a 101-foot articulating aerial ladder came after a series of reports on the state of the department’s apparatus.

Sixteen fire departments were involved in the fire call.

Sterling Deputy Fire Chief David Northcutt said the new truck is needed to replace Truck/Tower 4, the department’s only truck with an aerial ladder.

A structure fire along state Route 38 near Ashton resulted in “a total loss” as crews battled against strong winds Wednesday afternoon, Ashton Fire Chief Bernard Richter said.

Several fire departments responded to an emergency call reporting a possible structure fire early Thursday morning.

A fire in Sterling is under investigation after breaking out early Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025.

Outwork Elite partnered with the Garrett Ramos Foundation on Monday, Feb. 17, to host a free basketball camp for kids ranging from third through eighth grade. Over 120 players from throughout the Sauk Valley and beyond attended the clinic at Newman Central Catholic High School.

Icy road conditions Wednesday night led to multiple accidents in Whiteside County, Sterling Deputy Fire Chief David Northcutt told Shaw Local.

The Sterling Fire Department, Rock Falls Fire Department, Sterling Police Department and CGH EMS were dispatched at 1 p.m. Friday to the Sterling Steel property, 101 Ave. K, for a report of a man under a railcar.

Sterling Deputy Fire Chief David Northcutt recently spoke about the department’s plans to upgrade equipment.

Local agencies and state officials were left in a cloud of uncertainty Tuesday after an order from the White House to pause the distribution of all federal grants and loans.

Christina M. Haugen, 32, who resided at the home, died in the blaze.

An autopsy Tuesday morning confirmed the identity of the victim, who resided at the Emerson home.

The CHAD program began in 1992 as a result of a car crash involving 13-month-old Chad Bodine, whose babysitter was driving and was instantly killed, leaving emergency personnel unable to identify the injured child.

One dead following Sunday house fire in rural Sterling.

Firefighters discovered a body Monday at the scene of a fire that broke out Sunday afternoon in rural Sterling, Whiteside County Sheriff John Booker has confirmed.

Sterling and Rock Falls firefighters and CGH EMS were called to 5500 Mill Street in Emerson around 3:15 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, for a reported structure fire with flames and smoke visible.

Investigators on Monday continue the search for a possible victim of a fire that broke out Sunday at 5500 Mill Street in rural Sterling.

Area firefighters respond to a house fire Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, at 5500 Mill St. in Emerson. More details to come.

The two fire departments also encourage residents to sign up for Community Connect, an online program where users can input information to assist departments during an emergency.

Sterling and Rock Falls fire held a safety event Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, at the Northland Mall.

All evidence at this time indicates this to be an isolated incident in which a man died as the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to a Sterling Police Department news release.

The Sterling City Council swore in two new police officers and two new firefighters during a City Council meeting on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025.

The Sterling City Council on Monday, Jan. 6, will add to the ranks of the city’s police and fire departments.

Dixon City firefighters were called at 2:03 a.m. Friday to 417 W. Second St. for a report of a structure fire called in by a passerby.

Wallace Head Start's “Breakfast with Heroes” event invited members from both Rock Falls and Sterling’s police and fire departments to share a bagel breakfast with students to help foster positive connections with them.

Fire damaged a Sterling apartment building Tuesday night, causing three people to suffer smoke inhalation symptoms and two cats to be resuscitated.

Due to the smoke plume, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency will be monitoring air quality and will follow up with a report through the EPA.

The Sterling City Council designated the last of the city’s American Rescue Plan Act funds Monday, choosing to put the remaining funds toward building demolition costs and a new fire department training center.

Wednesday morning's fire damage was limited to Country Inn and Suites' room 102, with water damage reaching the hallway.

Steven W. Coleman was sentenced Thursday for three counts of murder, three aggravated arson charges, and a residential arson charge. All seven sentences will be served consecutively to each other.

After a sobering report on the condition of Sterling Fire Department’s apparatus, many have asked: “How did we get here?” To answer those questions, we need to go back a few years, writes Shaw Local reporter Brandon Clark.

Brian McPhillips, 32, of Sterling was driving east on U.S. 30 near Riverdale Road when he attempted to pass an eastbound semi, met a westbound semi and collided with both, according to a Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office news release.

Paul S. Cobane, 43, was taken into custody at 12:45 p.m. Friday in the 1200 block of Sixth Avenue, according to a news release issued Friday afternoon by the Sterling Police Department.

Residents can share important information about their homes and businesses with the fire department, such as how many people and pets live in the home or building and where utility shut-offs are located.