Saying he wasn’t comfortable with forcing the county to pay, a Whiteside County judge has denied the public defender’s office's request to hire an expert to watch consumptive DNA evidence testing in a case accusing a Sterling man of sexual assault and abuse.

The charges, filed Tuesday, Dec. 30, stem from a Dec. 7 incident in which the man is accused of possessing meth while carrying a loaded BB gun.

A free community meal is served on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. at CrossView Church, 703 14th Ave. in Fulton.

Wild Winter Wednesday on Jan. 21 will feature Linda Russell, who will present a singalong titled "Hank Williams, Sr. - Country Music Legend.“ Her favorite retirement hobby is creating sing-along movies, which she shares with retirement/healthcare facilities.

COLUMN: If you’re a veteran of the armed forces, you certainly learned your share of military-specific jargon, acronyms, and other lingo during your service. Even the alphabet is phonetic. Now I want to introduce you to another term specific to veterans: Claims shark.

As the calendar flips into 2026, here are a few of the stories we’ll be following in the months ahead.

Here's a list of Whiteside County property transfers for Dec. 22-26, 2025.

The Illinois National Guard announced Monday that Gov. JB Pritzker has chosen Col. Steven B. Rice to be Assistant Adjutant General - Air of the Illinois National Guard. Rice will replace Maj. Gen. Dan McDonough, who will retire after nearly 38 years of military service

As 2025 draws to a close, here’s a look back at some of the Sauk Valley’s top stories of the year.

Fourteen area students were named to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater dean’s list for the 2025 fall semester.

A Rock Falls man will stand trial on home invasion, sex assault, and battery charges after a Whiteside County judge on Friday denied a motion to dismiss the case

From clothing and hobby stores to restaurants and auto shops, read a recap of 2025's business activity in the Sauk Valley.

A Sterling man was charged Friday, Dec. 26, with felony aggravated battery after being accused of hitting and kicking two Sterling police officers on Christmas Eve.

A Sterling man accused of sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl three years ago is headed to trial after a plea deal fell through Friday, Dec. 26.

Here's a list of Lee, Whiteside and Ogle property transfers for Dec. 15-19, 2025.

Wild Winter Wednesday’s first program of 2026 will be Jan. 7 at the Windmill Cultural Center, 110 10th Ave., Fulton.

The charges, filed Oct. 10 in Whiteside County Circuit Court, accused man of striking Sterling police officer, grabbing the officer by the vest and kicking him on Oct. 9.

All school-age children are invited to the library’s January craft event at 10 a.m. Jan. 10.

Morrison firetrucks, filled with Santas, Mrs. Clauses and elves, rolled through the streets Friday, Dec. 19, to deliver toys collected through the Morrison Fire Department’s annual Caring for Our Community Toy Drive.

4-H Camp is a five-day, four-night residential camping experience that is conducted cooperatively by University of Illinois Extension staff in Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside and Winnebago counties and the professional staff at RRCC.

The Illinois Community College Board has announced $9.3 million in Innovative Bridge and Transition grants to support initiatives that help Illinois residents transition more effectively into postsecondary education, job training, and high-demand careers.

The Lee-Ogle-Whiteside Regional Spelling Bee will be Thursday, Feb. 19, at Dixon High School. Sponsors are the First National Bank in Amboy, Sauk Valley Media and Lee-Ogle-Whiteside Regional Office of Education.

Here's a list of property transfers for Dec. 8-12, 2025.

Meier: If you hold a professional license, a great deal of detailed information about you and your work is public information, likely published online by regulatory authorities. This increases the chance of a targeted scam attempt against you.

April House's mission is to make sure children who have suffered abuse are heard, protected, and given a path toward justice and healing.

A year of sport’s thrills and chills have once again come and gone in the Sauk Valley. Take a look back at photographer Alex T. Paschal’s Top 10 images of the year. Included in each picture's caption is the photographer’s own words about what the photo means to him.

Take a journey back in time by viewing the images SVM photographer Alex T. Paschal has chosen as his favorites of 2025. Included in each picture caption is the photographer’s own words about what the photo means to him.

Gov. Pritzker on Tuesday signed legislation that raises $1.5 billion to fill a fiscal hole for the Chicago area’s public transit agencies set to kick in next year. Legislation relies on increased sales tax in the Chicago area and a diversion of funds from the state’s Road Fund.

Hunters in Illinois took a preliminary total of 81,225 deer during the seven-day 2025 Illinois firearm deer season that concluded Dec. 7

A Rock Falls man whose plea agreement in a case accusing him of home invasion, sex assault, and aggravated battery was turned down in Whiteside County Circuit Court says his right to a speedy trial has been violated and is asking that the case be dismissed

Whiteside County deputies took children shopping Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, during their annual Shop with a Cop event in Sterling. - Photos by Brian Hurley

The Millie Moo Foundation in Hillsdale has officially launched with a mission to provide hope and financial support to families facing pediatric cancer while also offering scholarships to students pursuing agricultural careers.

The results are in for Blackhawk Hills Regional Council’s 2025 Northwest Illinois Housing Design Competition. Eleven entries were submitted by designers and scored by a 9-person judging panel with experience in accessibility, community and economic development, and design.

Here's a list of property transfers for Lee, Ogle and Whiteside counties for Dec. 1-5, 2025.

Sterling Federal Bank has announced President and Chief Executive Officer Dean Ahlers will retire and that Bo Mays will take over that role next month.

OnCall Imaging at 1609 First Ave. in Rock Falls recently began its third year in business. The 8,000-square-foot imaging center offers MRI, CT, X-ray, DEXA, mammogram and ultrasound services.

Clinton Symphony Orchestra’s annual “Holidays with the Symphony” concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in Durgin Performing Arts Center at Clinton High School in Clinton, Iowa.

All school-age children are invited to Prophetstown's Henry C. Adams Memorial Library’s December craft hour at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025.

A Rock Falls man was sentenced Monday to up to 5 years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of possessing images of child sexual abuse

BOOKER: As sheriff of Whiteside County, my priority is simple – protecting the people who live, work, and raise their families here. Any changes to state law must give deputies and police officers the tools they need to do the job safely and responsibly.

Travis Hosette impersonates and sings Sinatra-like vocals professionally for all sorts of special events throughout eastern Iowa, western Illinois, and as far away as Milwaukee and Cincinnati.

The Erie Public Library will host a cozy afternoon of live Christmas music with local musician Ron Eckberg at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025.

Fishing is in Mike Schafer's blood. The second-generation Fulton business owner has grown his fishery into a worldwide market with most of its catch coming from the mighty river he grew up near.

Erie held its annual Christmas parade Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. - Photos by Jessie Otten

Meier: There’s two surefire ways to avoid online scams: face-to-face transactions, preferably in a public place, and cash only.

Here’s a list of upcoming things to do in Fulton, Albany and Prophetstown the week of Dec. 8, 2025.

Here's a list of property transfers for Lee, Ogle and Whiteside counties for Nov. 24-28, 2025.

The city of Rock Falls and two fire officials are taking steps that could pave the way for an appeal of a $31.5 million verdict issued against them in connection with Sterling Fire Lt. Garrett Ramos’s 2021 line-of-duty death

A Sterling man has pleaded not guilty to multiple weapons charges filed after an October shooting that damaged a residence in that city.

The sale will be from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025.