After several years of dedicated service, Officer Sydney Jackson will be deployed with the National Guard this fall. Officer Bart Silva, a certified SRO with two years of experience serving the Rochelle Police Department, will fill the role until Officer Jackson’s return next fall.

On Sept. 8 a grand opening was held for Positive Esthetics by Ashley at the business’s new location at 951 S. 7th St. Suite D in Rochelle. The business offers services from eyebrow waxing to facials to Brazilian waxes.

The Rochelle Chamber of Commerce recently presented its Lawn of the Week award for the week of Sept. 14 to Ben and Jen Manning. The couple received a sign and a $25 Rochelle ACE Hardware gift card, presented by Rochelle Ace Hardware Manager Jesse Lopez.

On Saturday, Sept. 14, Fiesta Hispana was held in downtown Rochelle. The event, in its sixth year, celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month.

Stillman Bank recently ended their “Purchase with a Purpose” Debit Card campaign in which a $1 donation was made to local charities with every Stillman Bank Debit Card transaction up to $15,000.

Three hundred thirty-eight Ogle and Carroll County fourth and fifth graders descended upon the Ogle County Fairgrounds on Sept. 5 and 6 to harvest information about modern agriculture and its influences on daily living.  Hosted by University of Illinois Extension, Ag Awareness Days 2024 took youth on a fast-paced, interactive, guided tour of the science, engineering, and technology that drives today’s farm operations.  

This week, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBank Chicago) awarded Midwestern Clothing Company a grant of $15,000 through its Community First Accelerate Grants for Small Business program. FHLBank Chicago offers grants of up to $30,000 to eligible small businesses to advance economic opportunity in the communities it serves.

Fresh off the successful 2024 Annual Lowden Day Dinner in late August, The Ogle County Republican Party will host another Presidential Debate Watch Party at Kennay Farms Distilling, 416 Lincoln Highway, Rochelle starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10.

The Rochelle Chamber of Commerce recently presented its Lawn of the Week award for the week of Aug. 31 to Lauri Hays. She received a sign and a $25 Rochelle ACE Hardware gift card, presented by Rochelle Ace Hardware Manager Jesse Lopez.

The Downtown Rochelle Association in partnership with the Flagg Township Museum wants to take a “snapshot” of the local businesses and collect a bit of history at the same time.

On Sunday, October 13, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the University of Illinois Extension will host the Ogle County Farm Stroll, a self-guided driving tour of highly diversified family farms open to the public on one big day.

The annual meeting of the Rochelle Community Hospital Association (RCHA) will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 5:30 p.m. at Alfano’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant.

The Rochelle Chamber of Commerce recently presented its Lawn of the Week award for the week of Aug. 22 to Jeff and Kelly Newman. They received a sign and a $25 Rochelle ACE Hardware gift card, presented by Rochelle Ace Hardware Manager Jesse Lopez.

The Rochelle Police Department is seeking information on a July vehicle fire that was started by an ignition device, an Aug. 22 department Facebook post said. An investigation into the incident determined a “most likely Mototov cocktail-type device” was used to start the fire.

The 2024 Little Miss Peanut Competition was held Friday, Aug. 16 during the first night of the Lincoln Highway Heritage Festival. 13 girls competed in the event. The winner was Rosie Pawlowski, age seven, and the runner up was Lucy Spartz, age eight.

A miniature bull got loose on a neighborhood street in Hillcrest on Sunday afternoon, Dave and Brenda Wetzel of Hillcrest Avenue said.

The City of Rochelle is thrilled to announce receipt of a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant in the amount of $919,368.  This substantial award, from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), allows the city to add three full-time firefighters to the Rochelle Fire Department. 

Every fall, additional bricks in the Rochelle Veterans War Memorial are engraved in time for Veterans Day.  Orders for brick engraving are collected and the engraver is hired to perform the work on a dry day in the fall. 

The intersection of 8th Avenue and 14th Street will be closed for a roadway repair Thursday, Aug. 22 and Friday, Aug. 23.

The 2024 Ogle County 4-H Senior Master Showman winner was Cooper Alderks from Carefree 4-H Club. The runner-up was Gwen Hall of Ogle Jolly 4-H Club.

On Friday, Aug. 9, The Flagg-Rochelle Public Library hosted its End of Summer Reading Celebration, which included water balloons, outside water games and a foam party.

The City of Rochelle's sealcoat project is set to take place beginning at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 21 and finishing by 4 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23, resulting in periodic lane closures in several areas.

The Rochelle Chamber of Commerce recently presented its Lawn of the Week award for the week of Aug. 12 to the home of Tyler Ryan and Jovana Delatorre. They received a sign and a $25 Rochelle ACE Hardware gift card, presented by Rochelle Ace Hardware Manager Jesse Lopez.

Michelle Snode of Lee County was recently inducted into the Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame.

The Roberts Armory World War II Museum will be open from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17, as part of the Lincoln Highway Heritage Festival in Rochelle.