A Cook County judge on Friday announced an indictment against an Ogle County man who authorities say fatally shot his daughter-in-law last month outside a Schaumburg hotel.

Five departments battled the late afternoon blaze southeast of Oregon.

A rural Oregon home was significantly damaged Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, after a fire started in an attached garage. Oregon firefighters responded to 540 E. Elizabeth Road at approximately 4:40 p.m. and saw flames coming from the roof of the one-level, ranch home. No injuries were reported.

At its monthly meeting Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, the Ogle County Board voted unanimously to deny special-use permits for two solar energy developments.

Duane Meyer, 43, is charged with four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated arson and one count of concealment of a homicidal death in connection with an Oct. 19, 2016, Byron house fire.

A 76-year-old man charged with killing his daughter-in-law Friday outside a Schaumburg hotel will remain behind bars while awaiting trial, a Cook County judge has ruled.

A 76-year-old Ogle County man fatally shot his daughter-in-law during a wedding at a Schaumburg hotel Friday because he was upset she planned to divorce his son, police said Sunday.

Royally hand-in-hand: A pair of Stillman Valley businesses under one roof sought to bring back memories of generations ago: one with the name of a longtime grocery store chain, and another with Grandma's beef jerky recipe.

The 7-woman, 5-man jury ruled against Ray Allen Gough’s arguments that he is no longer sexually dangerous because of his “self control” and “self discipline” while being held in custody since 1999.

The Byron 1,600-meter relay of Neve Schilling, Ashley Potter, Macyn Burris and Skylar Palmgren took home a first place with a time of 4:06. Finishing right behind in second were Stillman Valley’s Saundra Brodersen, Taylor Davidson, Alexandria Hoff and Mackenzie Lamb.

It will be at least another eight months before an Ogle County jury decides the fate of a Stillman Valley man who is charged with killing his ex-wife in 2016 and then setting her Byron home on fire, also resulting in the death of their 3-year-old son.

Duane Meyer, 42, of Stillman Valley, is charged with four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated arson and one count of concealment of a homicidal death in connection with an Oct. 19, 2016, Byron house fire.

Treatment to begin while he is held in the Ogle County Jail.

Joseph G. Dreesen, 24, was arrested Feb. 26 by Ogle County Sheriff’s Office detectives along with members of the FBI after a search warrant was executed at a rural Stillman Valley home.

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.

Duane Meyer, 42, is charged with four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated arson and one count of concealment of a homicidal death in connection with an Oct. 19, 2016, house fire in which Meyer’s ex-wife, Margaret “Maggie” (Rosko) Meyer, 31, was found dead.

Stillman Valley lost to Peoria (Notre Dame) 67-56 at the 2A Bureau Valley Super-Sectional on Monday, March 3, 2025. The loss was only the Cardinals's second loss of the season as they end the season at 32-2. Notre Dame moves on to the Final Four at Redbird Arena in Normal.

One firefighter was injured after falling on the ice.

Stillman Valley defeated Marengo 58-31 at the 2A Stillman Valley Regional on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025. Stillman Valley's Taylor Davidson led all scorers with 22 points. Marengo's Emilie Polizzi and nine points in the loss.

Oregon wrestling

Byron High School hosted the 1A wrestling regional on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025.

The university awarded over 1,150 students bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in December.

Several Sauk Valley-area students have been named to the dean’s list.

Several students from Dixon, Sterling, Rock Falls and Rochelle have been named to the dean's list.

Jury trial for Duane Meyer was slated to start Feb. 3 and expected to take the entire month.

Stillman Valley wins 45-40

Duane Meyer is charged with four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated arson and one count of concealment of a homicidal death in connection with an Oct. 19, 2016, Byron house fire in which Meyer’s ex-wife, Margaret “Maggie” (Rosko) Meyer, 31, was found dead.

Duane Meyer, 42, is charged with four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated arson and one count of concealment of a homicidal death in the 2016 deaths of Margaret “Maggie” (Rosko) Meyer, 31, and Amos Meyer, 3.

Oregon downed Stillman Valley in three sets on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.

Rock Falls junior Kayla Hackbarth said the energy of the home crowd helped provide a boost as the Rockets earned a nice Big Northern Conference sweep of Stillman Valley in their last home game this season.

Prosecutors say videos were found on Joshua Lake's phone.

The Oregon Hawks scored seven points in the fourth quarter to seal a 21-13 win over Stillman Valley in a Big Northern Conference showdown at Landers-Loomis Field in Oregon on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024.

Joshua Lake, 30, of Stillman Valley was found guilty Aug. 21 by an Ogle County jury following a two-day trial

Attorneys discuss accessibility for Duane Meyer, 42, of Stillman Valley, as he is held in Ogle County Jail.

Stillman Valley faces Dixon to open Week 1 of the 2024 IHSA football season. Friday Night Drive correspondent Ty Reynolds will have live updates, scores and news from the game, plus how you can listen to the radio broadcast

Joshua Lake, 30, is scheduled to be sentenced in October.

Duane Meyer, 42, will remain in custody at the Ogle County Jail as he awaits a February jury trial for first-degree murder, aggravated arson and concealment of a homicidal death.

Nine teams competed in the ByronFest's inaugural tournament with Phil Janssen and Caleb Young of Dakota taking first place.

Duane Meyer is charged with four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated arson and one count of concealment of a homicidal death in connection with an Oct. 19, 2016, Byron house fire.

Polo City Council members unanimously voted to join the Illinois Public Works Mutual Aid Network program, which provides a way for public works-related agencies to request and/or provide aid to other members of the program.

Cardinals to face Rock Island Alleman on Tuesday

Stillman Valley edged Oregon 2-1 at the 1A Indian Creek Sectional on Saturday, May 18, 2024, ended the Hawks season at 18 wins and two losses. Stillman Valley scored two goals before Oregon's Sarah Eckardt found Anna Stender in the center of the field for the Hawks lone goal. Stillman Valley will face Rock Island Alleman for the sectional championship on Tuesday, May 21. Alleman downed Byron 4-1 in the other sectional semi-final.

The three departments will receive grants up to $26,000 each for the purchase of small firefighting and ambulance equipment.

Seth J. Rudecki, 22, is also charged with possessing and intending to deliver 15-100 grams of fentanyl, 2,000-5,000 grams of a substance containing cannabis, 5-20 cannabis sativa plants, and possessing a handgun without a FOID card.

Duane Meyer is charged with four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated arson and one count of concealment of a homicidal death in connection with the Oct. 19, 2016, Byron house fire in which Margaret “Maggie” (Rosko) Meyer, 31, was found dead.

Playing before a large crowd at the Blackhawk Center in Oregon, the Cardinals fell to Alleman by a nearly identical score for the second time this season.

Stillman Valley beat Port Byron (Riverdale) 57-34 at the 2A Oregon Sectional on Tuesday, Feb. 20.

Duane Meyer is charged with four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated arson and one count of concealment of a homicidal death in connection with the Oct. 19, 2016, Byron house fire.

Several Sauk Valley-area students have been named to Northern Illinois University's 2023 dean’s list.

Local students also named to Southern New Hampshire University's president’s list.