Saturday, September 12, 2026
Gary Middendorf for Shaw Local News Network
JHN
Joliet Catholic’s Danny Cervantes makes backwards pass against Elmwood Park in the Class 3A Joliet Catholic Regional semifinal game on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026 in Joliet.
Favorite
PHOTOS
Shaw Media / shawlocal.com • September 2026
FAVORITE PHOTOS
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Our Favorites With over 100 years of cumulative experience capturing every important moment, Shaw Local News Network photographers are part of your communities. We are there to tell YOUR stories and bring them to life in photos. Here is just a small collection of some of Shaw Local News Network’s favorite photographs from throughout Northern Illinois in the past year. We hope you love them too!
Alex T. Paschal - apaschal@shawmedia.com
Aniyah Howards, 8, blows her whistle Thursday, July 30, 2025, in Rock Falls during a day of fun at the Coloma Township Homes.
Gregory Shaver — gshaver@shawmedia.com
Runners compete in the 3200 meter run on Thursday, May 7, 2026, during the Fox Valley Conference Girls Track and Field Meet at Huntley High School.
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Gary Middendorf for Shaw Local News Network
Sprite, a Chiweenie, runs at Roxy’s Farm, a not-for-profit animal rescue service, in Minooka. Sprite was rescued after being kicked in the head and abandoned by his previous owner, resulting in permanent brain injury. Photo was taken on Tuesday, July 7, 2026.
Scott Anderson —sandersonr@shawmedia.com
Bureau County Sheriff deputy Kaelyn Hamalle rescues one of the two children trapped on a sandbar on Big Bureau Creek near the Captain Swift Bridge on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Princeton.
Gary Middendorf for Shaw Local News Network
Joliet City Councilman Cesar Cardenas takes a bite in The Big Texan, a restaurant in Amarillo, Texas, Free 72oz Steak Challenge on Wednesday, June 24, 2026 in Joliet.
FAVORITE PHOTOS Shaw Media / shawlocal.com • September 2026
Scott Anderson —sandersonr@shawmedia.com
A large crowd of people dressed up for the Mrs. Roper Romp group photo on Saturday, June 27, Mark Busch – mbusch@shawnedia.com 2026 at the corner of Church and Mill Street downtown Utica. The Mrs. Roper Romp is a costume-themed gathering where participants dress up as Helen Roper or Larry Dallas from the clas- Hinckley-Big Rock’s Emma Orin spikes the ball by Indian Creek’s Cheyanne Buh during their match Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, at Indian Creek High School in Shabbona. sic 1970s sitcom Three’s Company.
Shaw Media / shawlocal.com • September 2026
FAVORITE PHOTOS
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Mark Busch – mbusch@shawnedia.com Alex T. Paschal - apaschal@shawmedia.com
Rock Falls’ Maya Kobbeman splashes down in the long jump pit Thursday, May 8, 2025, during the girls Big Northern Conference track meet.
Visitors sit in quiet reflection while holding their candles Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, during the Vigil for Peace at the First Congregational United Church Of Christ in DeKalb. The vigil is being held in remembrance of those lost in recent ICE related shootings and to show solidarity with the people of Minnesota.
Gregory Shaver – gshaver@shawmedia.com
A Trump supporter yells as he counter protests from the bed of a pickup truck during a “No Kings” protest rally on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, along Route 31 in McHenry. The protest drew thousands of protesters to the area to protest the policies of President Donald Trump.
Mark Busch – mbusch@shawnedia.com
Kaneland’s Elijah Stoltzner (left) and Sycamore’s Noah Daykin fight to get into position to head the ball during their game Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2025, at Kaneland High School in Maple Park.
Scott Anderson —sandersonr@shawmedia.com
About two dozen railroad cars were derailed near the intersection of East 27th Road and North 19th Road on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026 north of Ransom. This area was hit with an EF-1 tornado with winds up to 100mph.
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Tiffany Blanchette — tblanchette@shawmedia.com
Seneca’s Graysen Provance, right, dumps water on coach Brian Holman as teammate Emma Mino holds the Fighting Irish’s first sectional plaque following their 6-5 victory over Beecher in the IHSA Class 2A Pontiac Sectional championship on Friday, May 29, 2026.
David Toney for Shaw Local News
Celeste Hughes is all smiles as she tries to catch bubbles made by her bubble maker on Friday June 19, 2026, during the Prairie Fest event held at Prairie Fest Park in Oswego.
Gregory Shaver – gshaver@shawmedia.com
Scott Anderson —sandersonr@shawmedia.com
Halo Gregory, 5, rests on the back of a sheep during a stop on the McHenry County Farm Stroll on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025 at Hephzibah Farms in Hebron. The farm stroll, a self-guided tour of McHenry County’s family farms, featured farm tours, demonstrations and products for sale at eleven farms.
A Sterling firefighter sprays a portion of a large structure from an aerial ladder truck on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 in the 200 block of Elm Street in Ohio. A Mutual Aid Box Alarm was raised to the second level, prompting fire departments as far as Sterling, Rock Falls and Amboy. Other departments assisting were Princeton, Bureau, Ohio, LaMoille, Sheffield, Walnut, Manlius and others. The fire happened around 11:15a.m.
FAVORITE PHOTOS Shaw Media / shawlocal.com • September 2026
Erica Benson for Shaw Local News Network
Hawthorne Le Nelson and his mom Abby Saul of Wheaton wave to the firefighters during the 4th of July parade Saturday July 4, 2026.
Shaw Media / shawlocal.com • September 2026
FAVORITE PHOTOS
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Mark Busch – mbusch@shawnedia.com
Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift hurdles Los Angeles Rams cornerback Darious Williams Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in their NFC divisional playoff matchup at Soldier Field in Chicago. MaKade Rios for Shaw Local News Network
Jonathan Marshall rides down 1600 N Avenue near the Captain Swift Covered Bridge during the Z-Ride on Saturday, July 19, 2026 in Princeton.
Mark Busch – mbusch@shawnedia.com Scott Anderson —sandersonr@shawmedia.com
A view of the wedge shaped funnel from the tornado on Thursday, June 11, 2026 in Streator.
Benet players celebrate as time winds down Monday, March 9, 2026, in their IHSA Class 4A supersectional win over Auburn in the Convocation Center at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.
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Gregory Shaver – gshaver@shawmedia.com
Heidi Loeffler, 4, of Wheaton, looks at a gaggle of Canadian geese as the swim past her on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at Crystal Lake’s Main Beach, while trying to keep cool during the heat wave.
Gregory Shaver – gshaver@shawmedia.com
Arlene Lynes of Read between the Lynes bookstore waves to the crowd as she hole her puppy during the Woodstock PrideFest Parade on Sunday, June 14, 2026, around the historic Woodstock Square, in Woodstock.
Mark Busch – mbusch@shawnedia.com
DeKalb High School senior Kevin Mejia, (left) 18, and junior Ailany Padilla, 17, cheer as passing motorist honk in support Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, during the groups protest on Sycamore Road in front of Hopkins Park in DeKalb. The students walked out of school Tuesday to protest against ICE involved violence and arrests.
Scott Anderson —sandersonr@shawmedia.com
LEFT: An aerial photo of the first Down on Main Street concert of the season on Friday, June 19, 2026 in Princeton.
FAVORITE PHOTOS Shaw Media / shawlocal.com • September 2026
Mark Busch – mbusch@shawnedia.com
Mitchell Elementary School first grader Savannah Holden reacts as teacher Cassandra Sprankle reads a book about pizza Thursday, March 19, 2026, in the library at the school in DeKalb.
Shaw Media / shawlocal.com • September 2026
FAVORITE PHOTOS
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