Whiteside County

Preschool offerings are expanding in Dixon as Regional Office of Education No. 47 prepares to open two of four classrooms in April which, in all, will service up to 80 children at no cost to qualifying families.

Students must be 5 years old by Sept. 1 and a school district resident.

Before you head to the polls, here is a look at the candidates and the seats they are running for in Whiteside County's city, school and township elections.

Selected students will serve as non-voting members on the United Way Board of Directors from June 2025 through May 2026, providing valuable youth perspective to the organization while developing professional skills and connections.

The list honors students who received a semester grade-point average of 3.5 to 3.75 depending on the student’s college.

Here is a list of property transfers for Lee, Ogle and Whiteside counties for Feb. 17-23, 2025.

Whiteside Forum will discuss book, “Breakfast with Seneca: A Stoic Guide to the Art of Living."

See when State Sen. Li Arellano Jr.'s mobile constituent services will be visiting your town.

Rodney Swan has been held in the Whiteside County Jail since mid-January, when he was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is accused of shooting himself in the thigh when a loaded gun tucked into his waistband discharged as he was pulling up his pants.

SVCC Academics and Student Services Vice President Jon Mandrell has been named the Phi Theta Kappa Distinguished College Administrator Award recipient.

Talk-Line: The Managing Editor of Sauk Valley News, Charlene Bielema, and reporter Brandon Clark discuss the recent protests being staged in Whiteside County concerning immigration and other national issues, the opening of the newly remodeled Dixon Historic Theater and more.

A Rock Falls man wanted on an arrest warrant in connection with a Dec. 8 home invasion in Sterling has been taken into custody and is facing more charges.

Over 250 people gathered in front of Sterling’s Grandon Civic Center and post office on Tuesday to peacefully protest against President Trump and Department of Government Efficiency head Elon Musk.

An initial investigation indicates the motorcycle was traveling south on Buell Road at a high rate of speed when it failed to stop at the posted stop sign at the intersection of Buell and Gaulrapp roads, according to Sheriff John Booker.

Kyle M. Cooper, 36, is charged with murder in connection with the Feb. 14 death of Daniel J. Gordon, 27, who prosecutors say was stabbed after trying to break up an altercation between Cooper and Cooper's ex-girlfriend, who was dating Gordon.

Join keynote speaker, experienced landscape designer and horticulturalist Kim Hartman as she unveils the secrets to shade-loving plants – including fresh and exciting new options – to transform your garden into a stunning sanctuary.

The screening’s goal is to provide parents a measure of their child’s development in areas of learning importance. The Bi-County cooperative and schools will offer preschool programs for special needs children ages 3 to 5.

With tax day fast approaching on April 15, United Way of Whiteside County is encouraging low-to-moderate-income households who have not yet filed their taxes to visit MyFreeTaxes.com. 

Sterling resident Ryan Heffelfinger will work in Lincoln Elementary’s physical education programs in the Sterling Public Schools.

Here is a list of property transfers for Lee, Whiteside and Ogle counties for Feb. 10-16, 2025.

School champions from three area counties compete at Dixon High School on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in the regional spelling bee for a chance to represent the Sauk Valley in Washington, D.C.

After correctly spelling “illicitly,” Amboy Junior High School’s Parker Zimmerly won the Lee, Ogle, Whiteside Regional Spelling Bee on Thursday.

A California solar company sued the county last fall after the Whiteside County Board twice rejected a special-use permit application for solar farm development on Prairie Center Road near Morrison.

Kyle M. Cooper, 36, of Rock Falls, is being held in the Whiteside County Jail in Morrison on a first-degree murder charge as well as two counts of aggravated battery in connection with the Feb. 14 stabbing death of Daniel J. Gordon.

This community health assessment, known as the IPLAN, is a mandated planning process that all local health departments in Illinois must conduct every 5 years.

The two men were formally charged Feb. 11, with the offenses alleged to have occurred Jan. 3, according to court records

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville recently announced that it awarded 400 diplomas to graduating students for the fall semester.

Thanks to the generosity of students, Scout groups, churches and community members, 2,000 handmade Valentine’s cards were delivered to nursing homes, assisted-living facilities and other long-term care centers.

Iowa State University, Trinity Christian College and Aurora University also announce fall semester dean’s lists.

Here is a list of property transfers for Lee, Ogle and Whiteside counties for Feb. 3-9, 2025.

According to a news release, Rock Falls police were dispatched at 1:50 a.m. Friday, Feb. 14, for a reported stabbing in the 600 block of West 20th Street in Rock Falls.

A Whiteside County jury has found a Freeport man guilty of attempted predatory criminal sexual assault of a victim under the age of 13 in connection with a reported assault at a Sterling school playground in 2023.

The Friends of the Hennepin Canal will host its next “Hike the Hennepin” event at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 16 at the steel dam, 298 14th St. NE, Milan.

The celebration begins at 2 p.m. at the Reagan Community Center, 202 W. Second St. Tampico Mayor Bruce Peltier, the Tampico Area Historical Society and Elevate Tampico will host the event.

Several Sauk Valley-area students were named to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville dean’s list for the fall 2024 semester.

Testimony got underway Wednesday in Whiteside County Circuit Court, where a now-22-year-old Freeport man is facing multiple charges of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl at a Sterling school playground two years ago.

Joann plans to close 500 of its 850 craft and fabric stores – including several across northern Illinois – the company announced on Tuesday.

The college named 259 full- and part-time students to the president’s list for high academic achievement. The dean’s list featured 150 students.

University of Iowa, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Illinois Wesleyan University announce fall 2024 dean’s lists.

Most of northern Illinois is under a winter weather advisory for Wednesday, while areas near Sterling and Princeton will be under a winter storm warning.

Testimony in the case against LeAndrew T. Adams, 22, is slated to begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12, at the Whiteside County Courthouse in Morrison.

Most of northern Illinois is under a winter weather advisory for Wednesday, while areas near Sterling and Princeton will be under a winter storm warning

Parts of northern Illinois could see 6 or more inches of snow Wednesday, the National Weather Service advised Monday as it issued a winter storm watch for areas across central, north-central and northeast Illinois, as well as parts of northwest Indiana.

Parts of northern Illinois could see 6 or more inches of snow Wednesday, the National Weather Service advised Monday as it issued a winter storm watch for areas across central, north-central and northeast Illinois, as well as parts of northwest Indiana.

Woman was charged Dec. 1, 2023, with one count of arson, accused of setting a car on fire in Rock Falls.

A Lyndon man has been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to domestic battery and a weapons charge.

Local United Ways and Culver’s are joining forces to celebrate 2-1-1 Day on Feb. 11. Visit Culver’s in Rock Falls or Dixon and mention “2-1-1 Day” to receive special $2.11 concrete mixers or cheese curds, and remember to call 2-1-1 when social service help is needed.

Donations will fund scholarships to send children to Camp Manitoqua.

Facemakers, a Savanna-based company that manufactures costumes, including those for team mascots, will be the topic.

First State Bank Shannon-Polo-Lake Carroll’s FSB Wealth Group recently announced financial professional Cassandre Mlakar was accepted into LPL Financial’s Ascent Club Program.