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 injured a resident in that city

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

Here's a list of Whiteside County property transfers for Nov. 24-28, 2025.

Scott E. Hagerman of Rock Falls was found guilty Wednesday of beating Ronald Fistler Jr. in August 2022 and causing a brain stem injury

The Emmanuel Church of Morrison’s “Voices of Praise” present EVOP’s 18th annual Christmas cantata, the high-energy “Joy! Unspeakable Joy!”, which will be presented in three services at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19, 2025; 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20; and 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21.

A Whiteside County jury began hearing testimony Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, in the trial of a Rock Falls man accused of beating a 61-year-old man in 2022 and causing a brain stem injury.

A Sterling man being held in the Whiteside County Jail on a 2022 arson and home invasion case now faces additional charges that accuse him of assaulting a jailer.

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.

Some who sell artificial Christmas trees this seasons say their costs are much higher this year because of tariffs, which could benefit those who sell fresh-cut trees.

For the 2024 performance year, the Illinois Rural Community Care Organization has announced that Morrison Community Hospital was named IRCCO’s “Best Overall” for both Quality and Annual Wellness Visits. Morrison was also honored as a co-recipient of the “Best in Quality” award.

Woodlawn Arts Academy will present its 2025-26 Winter Art Exhibit, “A New Chapter,” beginning Dec. 12, 2025. The public is invited to attend the opening reception for the exhibit from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12.

Here's a list of property transfers for Lee, Ogle and Whiteside counties for Nov. 17-21, 2025.

Due to a medical emergency with Dana Starkell, the Volunteer Education Committee will replace its speaker for the Dec. 3, 2025, opening of the Wild Winter Wednesday season in Fulton.

From Breakfast with Santa to community Christmas caroling, Albany United Methodist Church has a full slate of Christmas activities planned.

Due to the weather forecast for this weekend, the city of Morrison has declared a snow emergency effective 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28, 2025.

Here's a list of Whiteside County property transfers for Nov. 17-21, 2025.

Creativity is a longtime hobby for many people in Morrison, and throughout Whiteside County, and a downtown art gallery spreads the word about local talent with a mission to inspire and evoke.

Here's a list of Lee, Whiteside and Ogle County property transfers for Nov. 10-14, 2025.

Meier: Do not respond to an unexpected or unsolicited text, phone call, or robocall unless you know who sent it.

See who has been selected a Whiteside Area Career Center student of the month for October 2025.

The Volunteer Educators at the Windmill Cultural Center in Fulton invite the public to attend the first program of Wild Winter Wednesday’s 2025-2026 season. It will feature guitarist Dana Starkell, who will talk about his epic canoe journey from Winnipeg to Brazil.

Here's a list of Whiteside County property transfers for Nov. 10-14, 2025.

The Morrison Historical Society concludes its monthly programming on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, with live musical entertainment, “The New Connection”. 

More than three years after he was charged with aggravated battery, the case of a Rock Falls man accused of beating a neighbor so badly that he died almost three weeks later will go to trial Dec. 2, 2025.

A Prophetstown man has pleaded not guilty to driving while high on drugs and causing a two-vehicle crash that left another man dead last May

The blaze broke out early Tuesday morning, Nov. 18, 2025, at 912 Locust St., Sterling, according to a Sterling Fire Department news release.

Police allege a woman had a large, bleeding bump on her head and red marks around her neck, indicating she had been choked, as a result of a Nov. 8 beating

Here's a list of Lee, Whiteside and Ogle county property transfers for Nov. 3-7, 2025.

On a recent crisp October day, the fellowship hall at Erie United Methodist Church buzzed with the hum of sewing machines and the laughter of volunteers. Almost a dozen church members and friends worked together to sew 165 handmade pillowcases for children in foster care.

A Sterling man was arrested Wednesday in connection with an Oct. 30 death threat made against a Whiteside County 14th Circuit Court judge

A Whiteside County jury is on track to begin deliberating Friday to decide whether two Rock Falls fire officials’ actions at a 2021 fire contributed to a Sterling firefighter’s line-of-duty death

A Sterling man was arrested on multiple weapons charges on Tuesday in connection with an Oct. 30 shooting that injured a resident in that city

Here's a list of Whiteside County property transfers for Nov. 3-7, 2025.

United Way of Whiteside County is launching an emergency weekend meals program beginning Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, to support school-age children affected by the ongoing SNAP benefit pause.

Retired Sterling Fire Chief Michael Dettman and Brittney Ramos, widow of Garrett Ramos, testified Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, in the Ramos wrongful death trial in Morrison.

The Martin House Museum of Fulton will host the monthly historical society program at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. This month’s presentation is titled “These Walls Do Talk: A Visual Tour of Our Architectural Heritage”.

The Sterling Fire Department was dispatched Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, to a structure fire at C&K Undercar Specialists.

The story of “Solomon Seeley and the Presidential Election” will be given by Mary Beth Dombroski at the Sterling-Rock Falls Historical Society’s meeting at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025.

Here's a list of Lee, Whiteside and Ogle county property transfers for Oct. 27-31, 2025.

Here's a list of Whiteside County property transfers for Oct. 27-31, 2025.

Dixon Fire Capt. Aaron Brown described what he saw during a fatal 2021 fire during his testimony in a Whiteside County courtroom Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, the second day a 12-member jury heard testimony in a wrongful death lawsuit.

Retired Rock Falls Fire Chief Cris Bouwens takes the stand Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, in the Garrett Ramos wrongful death trial underway at the Whiteside County Courthouse in Morrison.

Whiteside County candidates had until 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3, to turn in their nomination papers as they seek candidacy for the March 17 primary election.

After a full-day’s work, a Whiteside County jury was seated Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, to hear a wrongful death civil case that could see the jury asked to award tens of millions of dollars to a Sterling firefighter’s widow and children.

A pool of nearly 80 potential jurors was waiting it out in a Whiteside County courtroom Monday as jury selection began in a wrongful death civil case that could see the jury asked to award tens of millions of dollars to a Sterling firefighter’s widow and children

Mailers and magazines, fliers and photo spreads – if you’ve ever had a product picture pull you in, there’s a good chance an Erie man’s work was tugging at your attention.

Here's the list of Lee, Whiteside and Ogle counties’ property transfers for Oct. 20-24, 2025.

Already struggling with growing numbers of people in need of food assistance, Sauk Valley-area food pantries are now bracing for the even greater numbers expected in the wake of SNAP benefits ending Nov. 1, 2025, as part of the federal government shutdown.

Paschal: While going through my archive from the last month or so, a few different techniques came to light in how I watch people.