Illinois Valley Community College recently announced its academic honors list for the fall 2025 semester.

A Deer Grove man who pleaded guilty to driving under the influence during a head-on crash that killed a Sterling businessman admitted to using drugs while on probation and could now face prison.

Graduates and their degrees or certificates are listed by hometown. The students are eligible to participate in the college’s spring commencement.

Bureau Valley Community Unit School District 340 will hold Kindergarten Pre-Registration from Monday, Feb. 23, through Friday, Feb. 27, at Bureau Valley Elementary buildings in Walnut and Wyanet.

Bureau County Treasurer Joseph Birkey announced he will seek reelection for a third term in office.

Over 30 tractors were up for bid during the Pat and Sharon Broeren auction on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025 at Dahl Real Estate Auctions and Appraisals in Walnut. The Broeren's road the tractors during the Walnut 4th of July parade every year. Pat cherished his tractor collection. The collection consisted of 33 tractors that were auctioned off.

The Sauk Valley's Rotary Clubs on Oct. 11, 2025, joined in the effort of Rotary worldwide to eradicate polio, an effort underway since the 1980s.

Mark D. Hansen of Walnut recently was elected president-elect of the International Association of Defense Counsel for 2025-26.

The University of Illinois Extension will hold an “Eating for Bone Health” class from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, at the Walnut Public Library, 101 Heaton St.

Illinois Extension Nutrition Educator Susan Glassman will lead free “Eating for Bone Health” classes this October in Walnut and Utica.

The Princeton Junior Woman’s Club Baby Contest has received two new entries for 2025.

Danny Kolb retired nine years before his son, Korbyn, 8, was born and wanted to give his son a taste of what his big league baseball career was like. He got got that opportunity in the 25th anniversary of the Milwaukee Brewers’ stadium on July 25.

The following property transfers were recently recorded at the Bureau County Recorder of Deeds’ office in the Bureau County Courthouse.

These are the Bureau County property transfers from May 16, 2025, through May 30, 2025.

The 2025 Walnut Chamber of Commerce 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament for grades 5-8 will be held Saturday, July 5 on the Walnut elementary school courts.

The 2025 Kids Hot Rod Camp for boys ages 13-17 will be from June 8-13 at the Walnut Community Bible Church.

The city of Mendota is being awarded a $1,988,625 grant to develop a multi-purpose building – owned and managed by the city – that was devastated in a 2022 fire.

Spring Valley was selected for a $695,430 state grant to fund a series of downtown improvements, including streetscape upgrades, expanded public spaces and enhanced accessibility.

The following property transfers were recorded March 17-31, 2025, at the Bureau County Recorder of Deeds’ office.

Three IVCC chemistry students and their professor, Matthew Johll, recently traveled to the American Chemical Society national meeting in San Diego, California, where the students gave a presentation about how to maintain a successful community-wide science festival. 

The following property transfers were recorded March 1-15, 2025, at the Bureau County Recorder of Deeds’ office.

Sci-Fest, Naturescapes art exhibition, Route "Flute" 66 and Easter egg hunts are among the events in the Illinois Valley this weekend.

Easter is Sunday, April 20. In the weeks prior to the holiday, there are several Easter egg hunts and opportunities to meet the Easter bunny throughout La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties. Here is a list of upcoming events.

State Sen. Li Arellano, Jr., R-Dixon, and his staff will host a series of Mobile Constituent Services events across the 37th Senate District at nine different locations in April.

Firefighter crews were on scene Friday at the Illinois Wildlife Game Preserve for 8 hours, with an estimated 600 acres burned and an estimation of more 40,000 gallons of water used before extinguishing a brush fire.

Multiple tanker trailers were damaged Thursday near Walnut after a brush fire led to an explosion.

The following property transfers were recorded Feb. 18 through Feb. 28 at the Bureau County Recorder of Deeds’ office.

Livia Vohland was selected as the District 1 FFA Discovery Star in Agriscience based on her Agriscience Research project centering around tomato breeding and genetics.

Walnut Community Bible Church announced an intimate acoustic concert at the ROCK with Sidewalk Prophets on Wednesday, March 19.  

For the Fall 2024 semester, the following students were named to the Academic Honors list at Illinois Valley Community College. 

Bureau Valley High School parents and students are advised by counselors to get their application in for the 2025 Switzer Scholarship.

Sidewalk Prophets concert will be March 19 in Walnut; Ready Set, Grow workshop is March 29 at Sauk Valley Community College.

The second annual Illinois Valley Library Road Trip begins April 6.

The New Bedford Royal Neighbors Camp 1491 made Valentines for the residents of Walnut Allure Home to wish the residents a “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

The Walnut Fire Department will host a pancake and sausage breakfast 7 a.m. to noon Sunday, Feb. 9, at the fire station, 115 Liberty St.

Bureau Valley Walnut Elementary students are embracing their school motto of Unity, Excellence and Pride with a special collaborative art project.

Bureau Valley set the week of Feb. 10-13 for kindergarten preregistration at Bureau Valley Elementary buildings in Walnut and Wyanet.

The following property transfers were recently recorded at the Bureau County Recorder of Deeds’ office.

A Walnut home was a total loss Monday from fire after the chimney collapsed through the roof into the home, taking out the first floor.

The following property transfers were recorded Nov. 18-30, 2024, at the Bureau County Recorder of Deeds’ office.

In the past 12 months, the Walnut Rotary Club and its members donated more than $10,000 to local schools, area charities and individuals in need, among other charitable and civic efforts.

Emergency crews rescued a man who was entrapped in a grain bin Monday morning.

The following property transfers were recently recorded at the Bureau County Recorder of Deeds’ office.

The following property transfers were recently recorded at the Bureau County Recorder of Deeds’ office.

Here are the unofficial results for the 2024 November election for the Whiteside and Ogle county boards and referendum questions for Whiteside County, the Walnut Public Library District and Amboy Fire Protection District.

Here is a roundup of Christmas activities across La Salle and Bureau counties and some surrounding communities.

Help Bureau County Youth agricultural organizations battle it out, all while helping the community during the Fill a Ford event.

Bureau-Putnam Area Rural Transit surveys were mailed to every rider that made a reservation in 2023.

The Bureau County Christmas For Kids is collecting toys and donations for its annual holiday drive.

The following property transfers were recently recorded at the Bureau County Recorder of Deeds’ office: