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Transportation department thanks Forrestville Valley School District for Bus Driver Appreciation Week
To the Editor:
The Forrestville Valley School District 221 transportation department would like to thank the board of education and district office, Forreston Junior/Senior High School office, athletics department, Forreston Grade School, German Valley Grade School, kitchen staff, Forrestville Valley PTO, along with many students and families who remembered our drivers during Bus Driver Appreciation Week.
The drivers were acknowledged every day with special treats, from baked goods to gift cards, personalized tumblers and specially made thank you cards from the students.
District bus drivers include Kathy Bickford, Marsha Birkholz, Kirk Janicke, Laura Hillman, Mike Kortemeiver, Erin Liebow, Steve Metzger, John Mershon, Dan Miller, Kelley Parks, Todd Stark, Brent Smith, Chet Strehlow, Joel Tuten and Heather Weaver (transportation director/driver).
Our bus drivers have a great responsibility to make sure all students are delivered safely to and from school, as well as to extracurricular activities.
They are a phenomenal group and are appreciated very much.
Forrestville Valley School District 221
Man charged with killing daughter-in-law dies in custody
Stillman Valley man was admitted to hospital in December
By BARBARA VITELLO Daily Herald
A 76-year-old Ogle County man who authorities say fatally shot his daughter-inlaw in July 2025 outside a Schaumburg hotel, died at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago. Roland Schmidt of Stillman Valley was admitted to the hospital in December and remained there until his death Feb. 3, according to a Cook County sheriff’s office spokesman.
The preliminary cause of death was complications due to
Schmidt was charged last year with first-degree murder in the death of Christine Moyer, 45, of Galena, Ohio.
Prosecutors said Schmidt shot Moyer on July 25, as they and other relatives left the hotel after a wedding reception.
Authorities said Schmidt was upset Moyer had served his son with divorce papers earlier that month. They said Schmidt intended to kill her and then end his own life.
Rochelle Community Hospital employees took part in National Wear Red Day on Friday, Feb. 6, for National Heart Month. Story on page 3. Jeff Helfrich ON THE COVER
There was no indication anything was amiss during the reception, prosecutors said. Family members sat together, and there were no arguments or conversations about the divorce because the victim’s husband had told only his parents.
Prosecutors said Schmidt pulled out a gun and shot Moyer in the head as family members exited the hotel about 10:12 p.m.
A witness tried to disarm Schmidt with help from her husband, who managed to wrestle the gun away from Schmidt, authorities said. An unrelated person who was outside the hotel at the time helped the husband take Schmidt to the ground, according to prosecutors.
Another witness, who identified himself as an off-duty police officer, secured the gun until Schaumburg officers arrived.
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transportation department Forreston
Members of the Forrestville Valley School District Transportation Department.
Photo provided by the Forrestville Valley School District
Roland Schmidt
Rochelle Community Hospital marks Heart Month with National Wear Red Day
‘For a small critical access hospital, we really have a robust program of heart services’ RCH CEO said
By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
Rochelle Community Hospital celebrated National Wear Red Day on Feb. 6. February is American Heart Month, and RCH staff wore red to raise heart health awareness and celebrate the heart-related services it provides the community.
RCH CEO Karen Tracy said the hospital’s heart-related services include its primary care physicians, multi-specialty clinic, ultrasound services and emergency and cardiac rehabilitation departments.
“For a small critical access hospital, we really have a robust program of heart services,” Tracy said. “We are prepared to help the community with those needs. And if someone’s needs exceed what we can do, we can get them to a place that can service them.”
Janis Astle is RCH’s emergency department manager. She and her staff work with patients that come in with emergent cardiac issues, such as heart attacks or strokes. RCH serves as a critical access hospital in the rural area for its emergency patients.
Astle said RCH sees the same types of critical patients that large hospitals see, and it’s adept at its role of stabilizing, diagnosing and linking up to a tertiary facility if patients need specialized care.
“They can feel comfortable coming here because our nurses are amazing, experienced and smart,” Astle said. “They know what to do. We’re very lucky as a community to have RCH. We save lives. We save lives all the time. People will come here knowing they don’t feel quite right and they try to talk themselves into it being nothing. We take it seriously and we find things out that are going on with them that they don’t realize. And we save lives.”
Heart issues are among the RCH emergency department’s more com -
mon complaints, Astle said. RCH ED personnel receive regular, specialized training on advanced cardiac life support. Women experiencing heart issues can show symptoms that are different from men.
Men suffering from heart attacks will get chest pain going to their left shoulder and arm, while women can experience shortness of breath with pain lower down in their upper abdomen or just weakness or fatigue. RCH staff is prepared to recognize and address those issues, Astle said.
RCH Nurse Practitioner Laurie Whelchel treats a lot of patients with hypertension and hyperlipidemia, and works with them on things they can do, such as exercising and eating right to prevent strokes.
Whelchel advised the community to exercise daily and practice a healthy diet of more fish, veggies and fresh
fruit and less processed, sugary and carbohydrate foods to ensure positive heart health.
“My goal is to keep patients out of the hospital,” Whelchel said. “Some come in with things like congestive heart failure or stroke-like symptoms. I used to work in the ICU and ED, so I’ve seen a lot of patients with heart issues. As a provider, I feel it’s very important to make sure blood pressures are within goal to live a healthy life.”
Janine Sobin works as an infection control nurse at RCH. Patients can have infections that go systemic and become sepsis, which can affect heart function. When a patient comes in with an infectious condition like pneumonia, it’s impacting their heart and lungs, Sobin said.
“I think our general public needs education on how many things can
impact their heart,” Sobin said. “I don’t think that it’s discussed enough. Keeping our immune system and body healthy decreases chronic disease. And heart disease is a chronic disease. My work gives me personal satisfaction that I can help patients increase their quality of life.”
National Wear Red Day on Feb. 6 was special for more than one reason for RCH. Employees were thinking of longtime hospital employee Linda Daub, who died in August 2025. She worked for 40 years at RCH in registration and always wore a red dress on National Wear Red Day.
“It’s really important that staff pull together for things like this,” Tracy said. “We encourage each other by showing up. I love seeing the crowd and that everybody likes to participate. It’s that family feeling that we have here.”
Jeff Helfrich
Rochelle Community Hospital employees took part in National Wear Red Day on Friday, Feb. 6, for National Heart Month.
Rochelle Community Hospital Foundation hosts Valentine’s Brunch for couples married 50-plus years
‘It’s an event that everyone in the community loves and we love doing it’
By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
The Rochelle Community Hospital Foundation hosted a Valentine’s Brunch at The REC Center on Thursday for local couples who have been married for 50 years or more.
Twenty-three couples signed up for the event, which was held for the first time since 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic. The event began in 2015, RCH Marketing, Foundation & Organizational Development Manager Michelle LaPage said.
“We really wanted to bring it back,” LaPage said. “It’s an event that everyone in the community loves and we love doing it. It connects the hospital back to a lot of people and the couples get to connect with each other and visit and see each other.”
Couples were welcomed to the event by RCH Foundation Board President
Reed Harris. He praised those in attendance for their longstanding marriages.
“You have all been married 50 years or more and during those years, have built a home, raised a family and continued to grow in this and/or other communities,” Harris said. “By doing this you have acknowledged that it takes unity in action and in spirit to experience this ever-changing world and to make friendships that last and help you with this undertaking.”
Harris said RCH and its foundation have made and shown a commitment of a different kind to the Rochelle community.
“In recent years, we have continued to expand our services to help in many more essential ways,” Harris said. “In a different fashion than a marriage, we are connected and connecting with this community to affect a permanent, healthy relationship for many years to come.”
Dennis and Wynell Swinton attended the brunch, and have been married for 69 years since their wedding in December 1956. The couple recently welcomed a great-great-granddaughter. They said family and children are the secret to a long marriage, along with “give and take.”
The Swintons have moved 22 times
during their marriage. They started in Rochelle in 1956 and moved in 1969 for Dennis’s work with Sears. After 30 years away, they came back home to Rochelle.
The Swintons’ advice to younger couples is to learn to agree to disagree, and get along.
“We can’t remember what our first Valentine’s Day was like,” Wynell Swinton said. “But I’m sure it went well, because here we are. We’re happy with all that we have.”
RCH CEO Karen Tracy spoke during the brunch on recent happenings at the hospital and updated attendees on the current expansion of its health and wellness building. LaPage said the brunch also serves to keep people informed about RCH and its services.
LaPage said she was happy to see couples catching up on Thursday after the event took a five-year hiatus.
“Community is in our name, so we strive to do different events like this,” LaPage said. “This is one of the special ones. It’s an easy, fun one for us to do. And we’re involved in a lot of other things in the community, too. At the hospital, we like to think of it as a family. And this is like our extended family. We like to bring everyone together.”
Photos by Jeff Helfrich
The Rochelle Community Hospital Foundation hosted a Valentine’s Brunch at The REC Center on Thursday for local couples who have been married for 50 years or more.
Dennis and Wynell Swinton of Rochelle have been married for 69 years.
Hillcrest Village Board to consider bridge pricing
inspected the bridge on Nov. 6 and found that all eight steel piles are corroded, with two severely corroded and no longer supporting the bridge.
By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
The Hillcrest Village Board of Trustees on Wednesday heard another report from Village Engineer Kaitlin Wright on the short-term repair and long-term replacement of the currently closed Hemstock Road bridge.
The bridge was closed by the Illinois Department of Transportation in mid-October. In July, Ogle County inspected the bridge and found that its load rating declined sharply, from a 7 to a 4. After seeing those numbers, IDOT inspected the bridge in October and determined the steel piles that support it had deteriorated and that it should be closed.
The bridge is owned by the Village of Hillcrest. Baxter & Woodman
Wright said during last month’s meeting that a short-term repair to open the bridge this year has been estimated by one contractor to cost $85,000.
The village has not yet taken action on a short-term repair. Corroded parts of the two failing steel piles would be removed and then encased in concrete. That work would not take place until spring at the soonest due to weather conditions for pouring concrete.
The 50-year-old bridge will require a long-term, full-scale replacement. Wright and village officials have discussed pursuing federal funding for 80% of that project’s cost, which Wright has estimated in the past to cost $500,000$700,000. Federal funds for the full replacement may not be available until as early as 2028, Wright said last month.
On Wednesday, Wright said the engineering phase of the full replacement will be “incredibly expensive” and “upwards of six figures” if the vil-
lage takes the federally funded route. She said that development turned her attention to seeking out what costs and timelines would be if the village funded the project itself.
“My gut feeling is you’re going to spend probably 50 percent of your construction costs on engineering,” Wright said. “I don’t know if that’s the route you want to go. I asked our team for costs on both routes.”
Forgoing federal funding may move up the timeline for the full replacement, which may make a short-term repair unnecessary, Wright said.
“I want you to have the opportunity to assess if you want to forgo repairing it and keep it closed a little longer and replace it fully instead of spending those funds twice,” Wright told village officials Wednesday.
Wright said she plans to present cost figures on both funding routes to village officials at or before Hillcrest’s March meeting.
Water system
Wright said that next month she
will be providing the board with funding nomination forms to request Illinois Environmental Protection Agency acknowledgement of a past water system improvement plan for potential future funding for a new well, water treatment plant and elevated tank for Hillcrest.
The village has been in need of those improvements to eventually meet IEPA requirements following a recent nitrate level violation with one of its current wells.
The village would abandon its cur
rent well with the nitrate issue. Hillcrest currently has two wells.
Chip seal
The board unanimously approved a resolution for its 2026 chip seal program. Wright said the entire Windover Park subdivision, Maple Avenue, Oak Avenue, Errett Road from Linda Avenue to Maple Avenue, and Hillcrest’s portion of Bethel Road will be chip sealed.
The total estimate for the work is $85,640.
Courtney Gaulrapp of Oregon Elementary School named Northwest Regional Teacher of the Year
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
The Illinois State Board of Education on Wednesday announced 14 Teacher of the Year Cohort members and recog nized almost 450 educators, administra tors and other school staff through its annual Those Who Excel and Teacher of the Year awards.
The awards spotlight individuals whose dedication, innovation and lead ership are making a meaningful differ ence for students and school communi ties across Illinois.
Among them was Oregon Elemen tary School’s Courtney Gaulrapp, who was named Northwest Regional Teacher of the Year.
Gaulrapp is an educator with 12 years of experience in public educa tion, demonstrating consistent excel lence across multiple grade levels and school settings, according to a news release. She teaches fifth grade reading at OES, where she is known for cultivat ing an inclusive, engaging learning environment grounded in innovative instructional practices and purposeful technology integration.
“Miss Gaulrapp’s commitment to academic rigor is reflected in her stu dents’ exceptional growth,” according to
the release. “In the most recent school year, 72% of her fifth‑grade stu dents achieved proficiency or excellence on the ELA IAR assess ment, almost tri pling the number of students meet ing and exceeding standards from the previous year. This achievement underscores her ability to design instruction that challenges learn ers while supporting their individual needs.”
Beyond her classroom, Gaulrapp plays an active leadership role within her school community. She collaborates with colleagues to strengthen strategies in student engagement, questioning techniques and classroom management. Her service on the Curriculum Team, Shared Leadership Team and Behav ioral Support Advisory Team reflects her commitment to advancing school wide improvement and instructional coherence.
She further contributes to profes sional culture by mentoring educators, delivering presentations during staff meetings and opening her classroom for
peer observations, offering colleagues meaningful opportunities to learn from her practice.
Gaulrapp holds a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Illinois State University and a master’s degree in leadership from Western Illi nois University – academic training that continues to inform her reflective, stu dent‑centered approach to teaching.
“I’m incredibly proud to congratu late the 2026 Those Who Excel awardees and Teacher of the Year Cohort, an out standing group of leaders in education from up and down the state,” Gov. JB Pritzker said. “These honorees have dedicated themselves to inspiring our students, setting the next generation up for success, and working tirelessly to make their schools – and our state – a premier place for education.”
“Illinois’ educators are the heart of our schools and the foundation of our future,” Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton said. “The 2026 Those Who Excel awardees and Teacher of the Year Cohort exem plify the passion, leadership and com mitment it takes to ensure every student has the opportunity to thrive. I am grateful for their service to schools, fam ilies and communities across Illinois –congratulations to this year’s honor ees.”
The Those Who Excel and Teacher of the Year Awards recognize individuals making a significant impact in Illinois schools. ISBE presents awards in six categories: classroom teachers; early career educators (teachers with one to four years of experience); school admin istrators; student support personnel; educational service personnel; and com munity volunteers. Team awards were retired beginning with the 2026 cycle.
The Teacher of the Year Cohort includes Regional Teachers of the Year along with statewide honorees in Bilin gual Education, Special Education and Early Childhood, plus one Outstanding Early Career Educator. Educators with at least five years of classroom experi ence are eligible to be named Illinois Teacher of the Year – the state’s highest honor for teaching.
ISBE received a record number of nominations and applications for the 2026 Those Who Excel and Teacher of the Year awards. A diverse committee of educators, administrators, educational service personnel, student support pro fessionals and past Illinois Teachers of the Year reviewed applications and selected this year’s honorees.
All awardees will be honored at the annual Those Who Excel and Teacher of the Year Awards Banquet on April 18.
Testimony, arguments heard in 2022 fatal crash case
Ogle County judge to decide sentence in March
By EARLEEN HINTON Shaw Local News Network correspondent
An Ogle County judge will decide next month what sentence a Creston woman should receive for causing a fatal crash that claimed the life of an Addison man in June 2022.
Amy Anthenat, 50, pleaded guilty in October to the Class 4 felony of aggra vated driving under the influence, with cocaine detected in her urine. She made an open plea, admitting to the charge without a negotiated plea agreement, leaving Ogle County Judge Clayton Lindsey to determine her sentence fol
lowing a hearing on Wednesday. The charge stems from a 3:48 p.m. June 19, 2022, crash at the intersection of Mulford Road and state Route 64, when Anthenat, who was north bound on Mulford Road, pulled out in front of Richard Andrews, 61, Addison, who was driving his motorcycle east on state Route 64.
At Wednesday’s sentencing hearing, under questioning by her attorney Eric Arnquist, Anthenat testified she was driving a “farm truck” from one field to another when she didn’t see Andrews
on his motorcycle.
She said she was trying to block the sun with her hand and started to go through the intersection when Andrews saw her vehicle and she saw Andrews.
“He saw me and I saw his scared face. He laid it [the motorcycle] down … fall ing backwards, so I stopped. I didn’t want to run over him if he was close to the truck,” she said while crying.
She said she ran to Andrews, who was lying in the middle of the road, but she could not find a pulse. She called 911 while two passersby performed CPR on Andrews.
“If I could have saved him, I would have. I didn’t want that to happen to him,” Anthenat said, choking back tears.
“And you fully cooperated with
police and gave them blood and urine,” Arnquist asked.
Anthenat said she did cooperate, add ing she had used cocaine while attend ing a wedding the weekend before the crash, but was not under the influence that day.
She said she took full responsibility for the collision and remains in counsel ing for substance abuse, trauma and post traumatic stress disorder.
“I close my eyes and I see [the crash] every day. I see Mr. Andrews. I see his face. I can’t get over that vision in my head,” Anthenat said.
Earlier in the hearing, Anthenat said she is fully employed as an instructor at
Courtney Gaulrapp
Amy Marie Anthenat
832
N. Galena Avenue, Dixon and 404 W. Blackhawk Drive Suite 101, Byron
• Value Lab, owned by Caroline Arnould, opened its doors on April 1, 2019. Laurie Wetzell serves as the office manager and oversees the day-to-day operations of the business.
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Kishwaukee College and also works part-time in the radiology department for UW Health.
She tearfully told Lindsey that she had been the victim of physical and mental abuse earlier in her life.
She said one of her sons recently had been severely injured in a motor vehicle accident and she is now the main caregiver and provider for him.
During her allocution – her right to speak before sentencing – Anthenat turned to Andrews’ family and friends who were in the courtroom and apologized.
“I am deeply sorry,” she said tearfully. “I know that this apology can’t make you feel better. I will carry this for the rest of my life. I am not here to make any excuses. I will spend the rest of my life trying show respect for his life.”
Lindsey then heard arguments from Arnquist and Assistant State’s Attorney Heather Kruse as to what they believed Anthenat’s sentence should be.
“She was driving after using cocaine,” said Kruse. “The defendant chose to ingest cocaine and get behind a vehicle. She made choices that day. Mr. Andrews’ death is entirely her fault. She is the cause of this crash.”
Kruse said Anthenat’s “rough life” should not absolve her of her actions on that June 2022 day.
“She is educated. She is employed. She still chose to drive after snorting cocaine at a wedding,” Kruse said, recommending a prison sentence to deter others. “The seriousness of the crime is what is most important. She must be held accountable.”
Arnquist disagreed, asking for a sentence of probation. “This is not a DUI death,” he said, arguing Anthenat was not under the influence when the accident occurred. “It is an aggravated driving, resulting in great bodily harm offense. It is probationable.”
Arnquist said Anthenat had had only minor traffic offenses before the accident.
“She has led her entire life as law-abiding,” Arnquist said. “She has no criminal history. This is about as clean of a record I’ve ever seen for
OGLE COUNTY MARRIAGE LICENSES FOR JANUARY 2026
• Ogle County recently released the list of marriage licenses issued in January.
• Luke Chernick of Monroe Center and Mya Hildreth of Monroe Center.
• Tyler Mocaby of Esmond and Chelsea Sansone of Esmond.
• Juan Gonzalez Amezquita of Rochelle and Giovana Garcia of Rochelle.
• Samantha Wilton of Davis Junction and Ashley Roussey of Davis Junction.
• Jacob Bohm of Polo and Ashly Beavers of Waterman.
• Jonathan Derrer of Shannon and Barbara Noble of Shannon.
• Juan Hernandez of Rochelle and Carla Zapata Galindo of Rochelle.
• Nathan Lee of Rochelle and Nicole Jorgensen of Rochelle.
• Timothy Flaharty of Byron and Mary Kirkley of Byron.
• Ethan Hoffman of Kirkland and Helen Pfeiffer of Davis Junction.
• Derek Moore of Rockford and Jamie Simpson of Rockford.
• Scott Shank of Byron and Jamie Wrasse of Byron.
• Vincent Cruz of Rockford and Savannah Turen of Rockford.
someone her age. It is snow white.”
Arnquist said Anthenat has not used cocaine since the crash.
“She went through a great deal of trauma and she went out and got counseling on her own,” Arnquist said. “She has a positive report from her counselor. There is absolutely no reason she would not continue to be successful on probation.”
He also said a sentence of probation would allow Anthenat to continue working and provide much-needed insurance for her injured son, as well as allow her to care for him and help with his medical needs.
He also said she would willingly abide by any orders levied as part of a probation sentence, including random drug tests.
And he said Anthenat was an “obvious” victim of domestic violence earlier in her life and her choice to seek substance abuse counseling should not be overlooked.
“There was a cascading series of events that started when she was 17,” Arnquist said.
“Treatment works. She has expressed extreme remorse and she is
still suffering from her actions three years after.
‘Ms. Anthenat is credible. She started treatment on her own. Her behavior shows she wants to get better,” Arnquist said.
Arnquist also said the “serious horrific” injuries suffered by her son and Anthenat’s ability to provide for him also should be considered.
“She’s a medical professional, providing medical care,” Arnquist argued. “There is no evidence that she poses any risk to the community.”
He acknowledged that the Andrews’ family also had been “horrifically” injured, but said a prison sentence would not “fix” anything.
Lindsey said he needed time to review arguments, testimony and all elements of the case, as well as read again the four victim impact statements submitted by the Andrews family before rendering his decision.
“I need to take this matter under advisement,” Lindsey said, setting a 3 p.m. March 13 date for the announcement of his decision.
Anthenat remains free on bond pending the March hearing.
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Shaw Local News Network
Rochelle City Council discusses potential development agreement for data center
Developer would pay costs of infrastructure improvements
By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
The Rochelle City Council discussed a potential development agreement Monday with Project Crossroads, a much talked-about data center development.
The council did not hold a vote on the matter, but may at an upcoming meeting. Interim City Manager and City Engineer Sam Tesreau made a presentation Monday on the draft development agreement. The 50-megawatt, 300,000-square-foot data center would be located in the area of Steward Road and South Main Street, located near Interstate 88 and railroad tracks.
The developer has owned the potential site near Steward Road since 2013, contacted the city in 2024 and has been working with it on the project since. If the development agreement was approved, the developer would then work to find a data center client to fit the project.
The city owns Rochelle Municipal Utilities, which would see it provide power, water, sewer and fiber services to a potential data center, which could procure its own power off the market and use RMU for billing and delivery.
The development agreement would stipulate and enforce limits on utility use by the data center, along with its obligations to pay for any improvements needed and other items such as noise pollution. The city would not provide any incentive funds to the developer. The data center would be eligible for the state’s 50% property tax abatement for six years, as other businesses located within the Lee-Ogle Enterprise Zone are.
Rochelle already is home to two data centers, owned by Allstate and Northern Trust. Those data centers have been in Rochelle for 15 years and use a combined seven megawatts of electricity. DeKalb is home to a Meta (Facebook) data center, which is about six times the
size of the proposed project in Rochelle.
Tesreau said Monday that the draft development agreement is about 95% complete. Midwest Power Investors is the owner of the real estate and interested developer. They have requested a maximum electrical load of 50 megawatts for the proposed facility. The developer would pay for all required RMU electrical improvements, estimated to cost $4 million.
“We went through the language of this on several occasions to make sure all of our excess electrical charges are covered,” RMU Superintendent of Electric Operations Blake Toliver said. “So that way, there’s no detrimental effects to our existing customer base. Any excess costs would be covered by whoever occupies this space.”
Toliver said the 50-megawatt increase in RMU load still would leave the city with 60% of its capacity available.
“The reason why we set the number at 50 megawatts was to not stifle any
growth of our existing customers if they need to expand,” Toliver said. “Or to take on another development. We’d still have plenty of excess capacity to do so.”
Water and sewer infrastructure would need to be constructed to service the facility. Those improvements are estimated to cost $2.8 million. The developer would pay for those improvements,
Tesreau said. The developer would post surety bonds to make sure it pays for all required infrastructure improvements.
The data center development’s water use would be capped at 50,000 gallons per day. RMU Superintendent of Water/ Water Reclamation Adam Lanning said
Photos by Jeff Helfrich
Rochelle Municipal Utilities Superintendent of Water/Water Reclamation Adam Lanning speaks at the Monday, Feb. 9, meeting of the Rochelle city council.
Rochelle Interim City Manager and City Engineer Sam Tesreau speaks at the Monday, Feb. 9, meeting of the Rochelle city council.
2 Ogle County students honored by UW-Eau Claire
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
Two Ogle County students recently
• CITY COUNCIL
Continued from page 9
the developer would likely use about 10,000 gallons per day. Those water use amounts are not uncommon among other RMU customers, Lanning said.
The data center development also would require perimeter and offsite road improvements, lighting and upgrades to curb and gutter. Those costs also would be paid for by the developer.
“There are also impact fees in here for phase one for soft costs related to staff, legal and consulting resources that have gone into the agreement,” Tesreau said.
“There’s been a lot of city time invested in this agreement over the
were named to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire fall 2025 Dean’s List.
Honored students included Forreston’s McKenna Dorty (College of Health
past year plus.”
The city would have “reasonable approval” over the appearance of the development as well as on suppression measures to reduce sound levels from the data center.
The city held a public meeting about the proposed data center development on Nov. 18. The city has seen recent social media reaction to news of it talking with a developer about a new data center. A petition, titled “Reject plans for a data center in Rochelle, Illinois”, had 280 signatures as of Feb. 10. No public comments for or against the data center were seen Monday.
Tesreau said the development could see second and third phases in the future with second and third buildings and increased utility usage. Those potential future phases also
and Human Sciences) and Oregon’s Natalie Tremble (College of Health and Human Sciences).
To be eligible, a student must be in
would need development agreements and approval by the city council.
The hypothetical phase two could see the data center increase its electrical load to 100 megawatts and phase three would up it to 150 megawatts. That increased load would require transmission line reconductoring by ComEd due to increased load.
“I think my biggest concern in all of this is the future expansion,” Councilwoman Kate Shaw-Dickey said. “It’s a considerable investment for them to come in and build this, which tells you that they fully plan to further expand. I appreciate knowing it still has to come back through us.”
The first phase of the project, once constructed and in operation, would see 15-25 estimated full-time employees. The data center development would pay about $3.5 million in prop -
good academic standing, have a minimum semester grade-point average of 3.7, and have completed at least 12 credits during the semester.
erty taxes per year after construction, even with abatement. Rochelle school districts would receive about $2.1 million of that, City Director of Community Engagement Jenny Thompson said.
The data center would pay about $456,000 per year in utility tax, which would almost double the current number the city receives. It would pay $125,000 to the city in permit fees.
Mayor John Bearrows said the council will consider the draft development agreement before a future vote and public commentary opportunities on the matter will be held at meetings before it’s voted on.
“I really believe that this agreement was put together to protect our community,” Bearrows said. “Not to just try to see where we could create another revenue stream.”
Oregon School District 200 celebrates multiple award honorees
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
Oregon School District 220 recently announced that Courtney Gaulrapp has been named the Northwest Regional Teacher of the Year by the Illinois State Board of Education, the highest regional honor within Illinois’ Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year program.
This recognition represents one of the most prestigious honors awarded to educators in Illinois. As Northwest Regional Teacher of the Year, Gaulrapp now represents the region among the top educators in the state and will be honored at the statewide banquet later this spring.
“This is a significant moment for our district,” Superintendent PJ Caposey said. “When one of our own is named Northwest Regional Teacher of the Year, it affirms what we see every day – exceptional work happening in our classrooms and throughout our system. Courtney represents the best of what this profession can be: student-centered, relentless in pursuit of growth, and committed to doing the hard work well.”
In addition to Gaulrapp’s recognition, five other OCUSD 220 team members and partners were honored through Illinois State Board of Education Those Who Excel awards. The 2026 honorees along with Gaulrapp include:
• Award of Excellence, Erin Moloney, student support personnel
• Award of Meritorious Service, Angela Wicklund, educational service personnel
• Awards of Special Recognition, Kip Crandall, school administrator; Mckenzie Dusing, early career educator; and Derrek Rufer, community volunteer
The Those Who Excel program recognizes educators, administrators, support staff, and community partners across Illinois who demonstrate excellence, leadership, service and a meaningful impact on students and school communities.
Honorees are selected through a competitive statewide nomination and review process.
“Excellence is not accidental,” Caposey said. “It is the result of talented people who care deeply, hold high standards and
show up consistently for kids. From classroom leadership to student support, from early career impact to community partnership, this group reflects the depth of commitment across OCUSD. I could not be more proud.”
“These recognitions highlight the strength of OCUSD 220’s staff and the collaborative effort that drives student success across the district,” according to a district news release. “From classroom instruction to student services, administrative leadership and community involvement, each honoree plays a critical role in shaping positive educational experiences for students and families. OCUSD 220 congratulates each of these individuals for earning recognition at the state level and thanks them for their continued dedication to serving students and strengthening the Oregon community.”
Kip Crandall McKenzie Dusing
Angela Wicklund
Erin Moloney
Derrek Rufer
Courtney Gaulrapp
LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
Three Ogle County students named to Loras College’s academic achievement list
Loras College students were recognized for academic achievement during the recent semester by Dr. Sarah Nytroe, Loras College provost.
Among them were Monroe Center’s Alyssa C. Purvis and Oregon’s Anthony C. Bauer and Alexis E. Ebert.
To be eligible, a student must earn a minimum grade-point average of 3.50 for the term and be a full-time student taking at least 12 graded credits (pass/ fail courses are excluded).
The Dean’s List is compiled at the completion of each semester.
Several Stillman Valley High School students earn College Board academic honors
Stillman Valley High School students have earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs.
These national recognition programs
grant underrepresented students with academic honors that can be included on college and scholarship applications, connect students with universities across the country and celebrate their academic achievements with their communities.
The program also serves as a tool for higher education members seeking to connect with remarkable students across the country, including students from lesser-known high schools.
SVHS seniors Gage Broski, Cale Kleinschmidt, Audrey Payne, Zaiah Reed, Brandon Reisinger and Jack Sparrow have earned the honor of Top of School Recognition Award and Rural/Small Town Recognition Award by the College Board National Recognition Program.
“We are honored to celebrate Gage, Cale, Audrey, Zaiah, Brandon and Jack for earning this exemplary recognition. We are very proud of them for their outstanding achievements in the classroom and on College Board assessments,” SVHS Principal Leslie Showers said.
“Recognition of this caliber will serve these students well as they pursue their ambitious post-secondary aspirations,” Showers said.
Students demonstrate academic excellence when they:
Take the PSAT/NMSQT (10th, 11th), PSAT 10 (10th), and/or AP Exams (by the end of 10th).
Earn a cumulative GPA of B+ or higher (at least 3.3 or 87-89%) by the time of submission.
Be one of the top 10% of test takers –in their high school, among first-generation college students in their state, and/ or among rural and small-town students in their state, or
Earn a 3+ on two or more distinct AP exams in the eighth, ninth and/or 10th grade.
“We want to honor the hard work of these students through the College Board National Recognition Programs. This program creates a way for colleges and scholarship programs to connect directly with underrepresented students
who they are hoping to reach,” said Tarlin Ray, College Board senior vice president of BigFuture. “We hope the award winners and their families celebrate this prestigious honor and it helps them plan for their big future.”
Let Freedom Ring Committee dessert auction/spaghetti dinner is Feb. 28 in Mt. Morris
The Let Freedom Ring Festival Committee of Mt. Morris is holding its annual dessert auction/spaghetti dinner Saturday, Feb. 28.
The event will take place at the Ogle County Community Church at 16 S. Wesley Ave. in Mt. Morris.
Doors open at 4:30 p.m., with the auction starting at 5 p.m. followed by the spaghetti dinner. There will be a freewill offering for the dinner.
There will be live music during the dinner by the Westfall Family.
Drinks will be donated by Hector’s Cocina.
– Shaw Local News Network
Central Bank Illinois announces promotions
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
Central Bank Illinois recently announced a series of executive and officer-level promotions that reinforce its commitment to local leadership and operational excellence.
These advancements recognize the contributions of five professionals who have consistently demonstrated the bank’s core values of community service and financial integrity.
Leading the executive advancements, April Davis and Chrissy Eaker have been appointed to the bank’s senior management team. These transitions take place in preparation for the retirement of long-term employees Denise Ward and Jackie Despain, ensuring a seamless continuation of leadership within these key roles.
Davis has been promoted to senior vice president, human resource officer. Recently distinguished as an Illinois Bankers Association Woman of Impact, she will continue to spearhead the bank’s talent strategy and organizational culture from the Geneseo head-
Kristi Kinmon has been promoted to assistant vice president, loan officer, where she will facilitate consumer and real estate loans in the Sterling and Rock Falls market. Additionally, the trust and asset management division is strengthened by the promotion of Carlie Sanchez to trust administration officer, ensuring the continued delivery of top-tier fiduciary services to the bank’s clients.
“At Central Bank Illinois, our greatest asset is our people,” President and CEO John DuBois said in a news release. “These promotions reflect our belief in fostering internal growth and rewarding the professionals who help our customers achieve their financial goals every day.”
quarters. Eaker, stepping into the role of vice president, operations officer, will oversee the critical systems and processes that support the bank’s deposit operations across 10 locations.
Reflecting the bank’s continued growth and expansion within its respective markets and departments,
Byron Foundation grant supports Mary Morgan Elementary School
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
A Mary Morgan Elementary School kindergarten class is bubbling with excitement thanks to a grant from the Byron Foundation. The funds were used to enhance the classroom’s dramatic play area, transforming it into a pizzeria where imagination and learning come together.
Students have been “cooking up” creativity in their new space, complete with shiny stainless-steel pots and pans, realistic utensils, pretend meatballs and other playful kitchen items. From taking customer orders and stirring sauce to assembling pizzas and serving guests, young chefs are fully immersed in meaningful, hands-on experiences that encourage communication, cooperation and problem-solving.
Dramatic play is a vital part of early childhood education, especially in kindergarten. As students run their pizzeria, they practice important academic
skills such as counting pizza toppings, identifying shapes, recognizing numbers, writing and drawing orders and using early math and literacy in authentic ways. These playful moments help children make sense of classroom learning while strengthening fine motor skills and building independence.
The pizzeria also allows students to connect learning to the real world. Children love imagining their restaurant as familiar local favorites such as Costa’s, Casey’s or other community eateries, taking on roles they recognize from their own experiences. By acting out these real-life scenarios, students deepen their understanding of how the world around them works while expanding their vocabulary and social awareness.
Through joyful, imaginative play, children develop social and emotional skills, build confidence and learn how to collaborate with others, all while having fun. These experiences lay the foundation See GRANT on page 14
several other key promotions have been announced. The bank’s lending division sees expanded leadership with the promotion of Kim Ewald to vice president, loan officer. Ewald brings years of expertise to the bank’s diverse lending portfolio in the Rochelle-area market.
Central Bank Illinois is a full-service commercial bank headquartered in Geneseo with full-service branch locations in Andover, Ashton, Fulton, Geneseo, Oregon, Peru, Princeton, Rochelle and Sterling, with a limited-purpose loan office in Prophetstown.
Photo provided by Central Bank
Central Bank Illinois recently announced a series of executive and officer-level promotions. From left to right: Kristi Kimmon, Assistant Vice President & Loan Officer; Carlie Sanchez, Trust Administration Officer; April Davis, Senior Vice President, Human Resource Officer; Kim Ewald, Vice President & Loan Officer; Chrissy Eaker, Vice President & Operations Officer.
Continued from page 13
for critical thinking, creativity and lifelong learning.
The Byron Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit established in 1993, is an independent organization, founded to provide the Byron School educators access and opportunity to impact learning that empowers students and provides an enriched education beyond the district’s tax dollars. This volunteer team of parents, educators and community members are committed to supporting children with unique experiences to help broaden their education, expose them to enriched opportunities and to cultivate leaders.
The board of directors meets several times a year to accept and process grants that average $5,000 a year and manage scholarship funds for other individuals and organizations.
The focus on long-term planning and sustainability has led to a partnership with the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois and the creation of a Byron Foundation Endowment Fund. The Byron Foundation Endowment Fund establishes a financial reserve, provides a reliable source of income in perpetuity and shows the permanence of the
Byron Foundation in the community and a commitment to continued educational excellence in the Byron School District.
If you are inspired to give of your time and talents or a tax-deductible gift to the Byron Foundation Endowment Fund, contact Byron Foundation President Michelle Albert at Mablert6@comcast. net or 815-985-5102.
Photo provided by the Byron School District
A grant from the Byron Foundation helped Mary Morgan Elementary School purchase a pizzeria for students.
Chicago man sentenced to 8 years in prison for possessing a firearm as a felon
Defense attorney asks judge to include drug/ alcohol treatment plan as part of sentence
By EARLEEN HINTON
Shaw Local News Network correspondent
A Chicago man was sentenced to 8 years in prison Wednesday for possessing a firearm as a felon – an offense his attorney said was a result of drug and alcohol abuse.
John D. Carew, 27, pleaded guilty to the 2025 felony offense as he appeared in court with his attorney, Ogle County Public Defender Kathleen Isley, in front of Ogle County Associate Circuit Judge Anthony Peska.
John D. Carew
Isley told Peska that a plea agreement had been reached with the Ogle County State’s Attorney’s Office wherein Carew would be sentenced to 8 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections in return for his guilty plea.
“He will receive 316 days credit for time served,” Isley told Peska. “He will serve this sentence at 50% with 12 months of mandatory supervised release upon his release.”
Isley asked that Carew be placed in a treatment program for drug and alcohol abuse.
Carew was arrested March 25, 2025, following a 9:40 p.m. traffic stop by the Illinois State Police on Interstate 39 south of Lindenwood.
Assistant State’s Attorney Matthew Leisten said Carew was on mandatory supervised release for a Cook County charge when his vehicle was stopped and subsequently searched.
According to tickets issued by state police, Carew’s driver’s license expired in October 2022.
Leisten said Carew’s criminal history included felony weapons convictions in Stephenson and Cook counties as well as a possession of a stolen vehicle charge. Leisten said Carew had been sentenced to prison on some of those charges.
During the search of his Chrysler sedan, police also found less than 50 grams of oxycodone and a substance containing alprazolam. Those charges –including the driving with a revoked license charge – were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
When asked by Peska if he wanted to make a statement after pleading guilty, Carew asked why the drug charges had been dismissed.
“It’s the state’s right to dismiss them,” Peska replied. “Those charges are not being pursued.”
Peska said that the use of the illicit drugs appeared to be the nexus (link) to Carew’s behavior.
“Hopefully you will get some treatment so you can start with a clean plate when you get out,” Peska told Carew. “Do that, OK?”
Carew had been held in the Ogle County Jail since his arrest in March 2025.
Oregon High School introduces off-campus lunch for seniors
Students feel new school program builds higher level of trust among parties
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
Oregon High School has introduced an off-campus lunch option for seniors who are eligible.
This opportunity is a way to reward responsible behavior, support independence and provide seniors with a flexible time during their day.
The off-campus lunch allows approved seniors to leave the high school campus during their assigned lunch period and return before the next class period begins.
Participation is limited to seniors who meet attendance, academic and behavioral requirements as stated by Oregon CUSD 220 policies (cannot be failing a class, cumulative GPA of
2.75 or greater, 90% or higher attendance, no major disciplinary infractions).
Students must have also completed the required permission form as well.
Local businesses also have shown gratitude to the program, with increased sales during the lunch hour. Dos Amigos specifically has mentioned to a multitude of seniors that they are thankful that students choose to visit their restaurant during lunch, highlighting the positive relationship between Oregon High School and the local community.
After the first week, seniors have expressed appreciation for the new program, noting that it provides a higher level of trust between the students and the school.
The district looks forward to seeing seniors take advantage of this opportunity while continuing to represent the Hawk community with their pride and responsibility.
Friday, March 6th 6:00PM - 10:00PM Stronghold Center, 1922 IL-2 N. Oregon, IL
Step onto the red carpet and dance the night away at our Adult Prom Fundraiser-Hollywood style! Join us for heavy appetizers, cash bar, live DJ, photobooth with all the props, silent auction, dessert dash, 50/50 raffle & more!
Grab your friends, dress in your favorite decade of formal wear, and help support a great cause-all while having a Hollywood-worthy night out. Tickets are $50/Person, $95/Couple or $350/Table of 8 People.
Tickets are Limited! Register Online Today at: www.uwogle.org
United Way of Ogle County Presents
NATIONAL FFA WEEK – February 21-28, 2026
National FFA Week always runs from Saturday to Saturday and encompasses Feb. 22, George Washington’s birthday. This year, the week kicks off on Feb. 21 and culminates on Saturday, Feb. 28. The National FFA Board of Directors designated the weeklong tradition, which began in 1948, recognizing Washington’s legacy as an agriculturist and farmer. A group of young farmers founded FFA in 1928, and the organization has been influencing generations that agriculture is more than planting and harvesting — it involves science, business and more. The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 1,042,245 student members as part of 9,407 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
ABOUT NATIONAL FFA ORGANIZATION
The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 1,042,245 student members as part of 9,407 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. For more, visit the National FFA Organization online at FFA. org and on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
WHY IS NATIONAL FFA WEEK IMPORTANT?
• National FFA Week serves as a dedicated period to amplify the organization’s impact in developing future leaders and advancing agricultural education on a national level.
• National FFA Week encourages contributions that fuel programs spanning national initiatives to local endeavors. These contributions fund the grants, scholarships, programs and experiences that extend the FFA experience to members across the country.
• FFA chapters unite with their communities during this week, leading to diverse service projects that give back and create meaningful impacts.
• Working together we will amplify our message on a national level! Utilize our toolkit to customize your content for your alumni or corporate support to increase visibility for national FFA and showcase your communities initiatives that help FFA grow the next generation of leaders that will sustainably feed, fuel and clothe the world.
HOW IS FFA UNIQUE?
• LIFE-CHANGING - FFA facilitates formative experiences, altering the course of students’ lives for the better.
• SCHOOL-BASED - FFA is intracurricular: members must be enrolled in an agricultural education class.
• CAREER-READINESS - FFA members develop the necessary skills to continue their education in college or to enter the workforce immediately.
• GLOBAL PURPOSE - FFA prepares members to be globally conscious citizens of their community, their state, their country, and the world.
• AGRICULTURAL FOCUS - FFA provides opportunities to demonstrate literacy, advocacy, and technical skills in agriculture, food, and natural resources.
https://www.ffa.org/national-ffa-week/
Rochelle Christian Food Pantry saw record donor support amid increased need in 2025
Jacobs:
‘The timely help we get from donors and volunteers is miraculous’
By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
Amid record need in 2025, the Rochelle Christian Food Pantry at 770 Lincoln Ave. also saw record donor support in that calendar year, RCFP Board President Cal Jacobs said Feb. 4.
The food pantry is open from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays. People can either pick up boxes or come in and do their own shopping. On distribution days, cars often are lined up as early as 9 a.m. and occasionally distribution starts early to serve the recently increased number of people in time.
“In 2025 we had 7,813 client visits, which is an all-time record,” Jacobs said. “That’s over 2,000 more than 2023 and 500 more than 2024. We still have up and down days, but the overall is still all up. Significantly. If we didn’t see the donations we did in 2025 from businesses, organizations, churches and individuals, we would not have been able to meet the need.”
RCFP hit a daily record in late January with 116 clients served in a day. In recent years before need rose, serving 50 clients was a high-traffic day.
Total expenses for the food pantry in 2025 were $132,000. Food costs at the facility have gone up significantly, RCFP Board Secretary Kathy Olson said. One dollar used to buy $8 worth of food from the Northern Illinois Food Bank, but that has been “more limited” recently, causing RCFP to have to buy more food on its own with reserve funds.
Jacobs and Olson credited longtime food pantry volunteer Jennie O’Rorke for her efforts to build a network of people, businesses and organizations in the region that donate food when they can.
“We’re lucky that a lot of the bigger businesses in the community bring in a lot of food,” Olson said. “We have truckers that bring in food that they aren’t able to move. We get a lot of big donations that way. On some level, God provides. When we start getting low on something, every time, somehow, some-
thing comes through.”
Each Tuesday and Friday, at least 16 volunteers are required to staff the food pantry. Jacobs said with the exception of one or two days, the facility was fully staffed with volunteers throughout 2025.
Olson called RCFP’s volunteers, some longtime and some new, “incredible.” Jacobs said the food pantry has been able to replace volunteers that have left along the way.
“The people that come through here are so appreciative of what we’re doing for them,” Olson said. “When you volunteer, you leave with a really good feeling. I think that’s what keeps a lot of people coming back. Because they know they’re really making a difference. Some kid or elderly person isn’t going to go hungry because of their work.”
Jacobs, Olson and RCFP’s board thanked the facility’s landlord, Dave Tess, for his support of the food pantry.
“If it wasn’t for this facility and where it is, we would not be able to serve all the clients that we get,” Jacobs said.
Jacobs called the help seen in 2025 at RCFP amid high need “another tale in the story of Rochelle.” He thanked the community for its generosity and said the food pantry feels supported by the people of Rochelle.
Olson said that due to the support it has seen, RCFP hasn’t seen a critical need that would require it to reach out to the community. But if that were to ever be the case, RCFP is “100 percent confident the community would come through,” she said.
People that are interested in donating to or volunteering at the food pantry can call RCFP at (815) 562-6654 or stop by during distribution hours. RCFP also is seeking two new board members for the coming year.
Jacobs called the help RCFP gets from donors and volunteers when it’s needed “miraculous.”
“I’ve seen a lot of things in my life,” Jacobs said. “But this is something else. I could write a book about the miracles I’ve seen at this place. Every time we’re in need of something, it seems to show
up out of thin air. I thank God for that.” In 2026, Jacobs expects food need to be the same as 2025, if not more. He believes high prices at the grocery store are impacting 90% of RCFP’s clientele. Olson said the food pantry has seen a number of first-time clients lately.
“Knowing that so many people in this community are hurting and in need bothers me,” Jacobs said. “I’m not sure the community at large understands how dire the situation is. But here, we know it. And it’s huge.”
Jacobs has been involved with the food pantry since 2000 and Olson has volunteered there since 2020. Both marvel at how the community has risen up to meet unprecedented need in the past year.
“Seeing how this place is now versus when I started is amazing,” Jacobs said. “The growth we’ve seen has been unexpected. But the donations have been too. Five years ago, I would not have thought we’d be in the shape we’re in today. The generosity of this community is unparalleled.”
Jeff Helfrich file photo
Amid record need in 2025, the Rochelle Christian Food Pantry also saw record donor support in that calendar year, RCFP Board President Cal Jacobs said.
Attorney given more time to review evidence in fatal Mt. Morris shooting
Victim suffered four gunshot wounds to his torso, one to his abdomen and one to his hand
By EARLEEN HINTON
Shaw Local News Network correspondent
The attorney for a Mt. Morris man accused of fatally shooting his stepson after an argument in April 2025 told an Ogle County judge Wednesday that he needs more time to review evidence with his client.
“I’ve received the additional discovery evidence and have scheduled a meeting with Mr. Swanlund to discuss that,” Ogle County Assistant Public Defender Eric Morrow told Judge Anthony Peska.
Derek Swanlund, 45, is charged with the first-degree murder of Cameron Pasley, 25, also of Mt. Morris, in what police described as a domestic incident.
He is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and a misdemeanor charge of using a Smith & Wesson 9 mm (millimeters) handgun without having a Firearm Owner’s Identification card.
Swanlund has pleaded not guilty to all the charges and has been held in the Ogle County Jail since his arrest.
In December, Morrow said he had requested from prosecutors videos and downloads of a phone. On Wednesday, he said he had received those items and needed 30 days to meet with Swanlund to review the content from those items.
Assistant State’s Attorney Melissa Voss did not object to the continuance.
Peska set Swanlund’s next court hearing for 1 p.m. March 18 and remanded him to the Ogle County Jail.
During an April 2025 preliminary hearing, prosecutors said Mt. Morris police officers responded to an apartment complex on Ogle Avenue in Mt. Morris after receiving a 911 call at 4:59 p.m. April 21 from Pasley’s mother in which she said her husband had shot her son.
When a Mt. Morris police officer arrived at the scene, she saw Swanlund
I’ve received the additional discovery evidence and have scheduled a meeting with Mr. Swanlund to discuss that.”
Eric Morrow, Ogle County assistant public defender
walking away from the apartment complex while carrying a black and silver handgun in his right hand, according to police.
Voss said a verbal argument inside the apartment evolved to “shoulder bumping” with Pasley, after which Swanlund shot him.
When more officers arrived at the scene, they discovered Pasley inside the apartment, bleeding from multiple gunshot wounds, Voss said.
Pasley was pronounced dead at OSF Saint Katharine Medical Center in Dixon after being taken from the scene by Mt. Morris EMS.
Pasley’s mother told police she had entered a different room after arguing with Swanlund and after he “belly bumped” her into her son. She then heard Pasley say, “He shot me,” Voss told the court.
Ogle County Detective Chad Gallick testified that autopsy results showed Pasley suffered four gunshot wounds to his torso, one to his abdomen and one to his hand before his death. Gallick said Pasley had come to his mother’s apartment that day to visit his dog.
Pasley was a 2018 graduate of Oregon High School and a full-time custodian for the Oregon School District 200 at the time of his death.
Cameron Pasley Derek Swanlund
BYRON
ALL SAINTS LUTHERAN CHURCH
624 Luther Drive, Byron, IL 61010 815-234-5277
Pastor: Vicar Michelle Wandersee
All are welcome to weekly Sunday Worship
services at 9:00am
Holy Communion is served every Sunday.
A Contemporary Style Worship with our Praise Team is on every 3rd Sunday of the month.
A recording of each Sunday’s service is available on our Facebook page: All Saints Lutheran Church and on our website: http://www.allsaintsbyron.org
Sunday School for ages 3 through 5th grade students are held at 10:15am each Sunday.
Middle School Confirmation class for 6th grade - 8th grade students are held at 10:15 am each Sunday.
Both classes begin in September and end in May.
Adult Bible Studies are held on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 pm and on Wednesdays at 1:30 pm.
Visit our website for more information or email us at allsaints624@hotmail.com.
CORNERSTONE FAMILY CHURCH
205 N. Peru St., Byron 815-234-8737
www.cornerstonefamily.church
Sr. Pastor: Erik Ness, NextGen/ Family Pastor: Collin Nicholls
Children’s Ministry Director: Katie Dodd
Worship Service on Sundays at 10am with Children ‘s Worship Service and Nursery Available Revive Jr High and Sr High Youth Ministries Meet Sundays at 6:30pm
Numerous Small Groups Available for All Ages throughout the week. Please call our Church Office or visit our website for more details .
Office Hours: 8:00am -4:30pm Mondays-Thursdays
BYRON ST. MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH
226 E. 2nd St, Byron, IL 61010 - Phone 815-234-7431 –
Fr. Romeo “Mio” Pavino
Weekday Masses: Tuesday – Friday 7:30am, Weekend
Masses: Sat. 5:00 pm, Sun. 8:00 am and 9:30 am,
Reconciliation: Fri. 8:00 am – 8:30 am; Sat. 3:30 pm –4:30 pm or by app. Eucharist Adoration Fri. 8-9am www.saintmaryinbyron.org secretary@saintmaryinbyron.org
UNITED CHURCH OF BYRON
A Member of the United Church of Christ 701 W. Second Street; PO Box 927, Byron IL 61010, 815-234-8777
Email: ucb@comcast.net
Website: unitedchurchofbyron.org
Pastor: Rev. Tyler Spellious
Youth Ministry Coordinator: Richard Simpson
Sunday Schedule & Worship opportunities: Service of Meditation & Prayer: 8:15am- 8:45am Adult Sunday School Hour: 9am
Kids Sunday School: (for ages 3 thru 5th grade) during the 10:30 worship
Coffee & fellowship time: 10:00am - 10:30am Main Worship: 10:30am
For complete ministry schedule and other activities, please check our website or Facebook page or contact the church office.
Whoever you are or wherever you are on your journey, you are welcome here!
BEACON HILL ASSEMBLY OF GOD
“Building Faith for Life”
6467 N. German Church Rd., Byron, IL - Ph. (815) 2462685 - beaconhillbyron.org
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 448, Byron, IL 61010
Pastor: Gary Cortese
Service Times: Sundays at 10AM; Wednesday night
Faith-Lift at 6:30PM
Find us on Facebook/Beacon Hill Assembly of God
CHANA
CHANA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
606 Main St., Chana, IL 61015 Worship and Children’s
Education: 10:30 a.m.
Email: ChanaUMC@gmail.com
Phone: 815-732-7683
Pastor: Bill Hollowell
Facebook: Chana United Methodist Church
Free Clothes Closet: call for hoursNA
AREA CHURCH DIRECTORY
FORRESTON
FAITH
LUTHERAN CHURCH
402 2nd Avenue, Forreston, IL 61030, Phone
815-938-3203Pastor Scott Ralston
Sunday Worship 9:00 am; Sunday School 10:00 am
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
402 First Ave., Forreston, IL Phone: 815-938-2380
Worship at 9:00 a.m. (childcare provided) with coffee and fellowship immediately following. Sunday School
Age 3-Adult, 10:15 am.
God is Good, All the Time, All the Time, God is Good!
ST. JAMES LUTHERAN CHURCH
Celebrating 175 Years!
West Grove Rd. At Columbine Rd.
Worship Service 10:30 am. Communion is served every Sunday. “Singing the Song of Christian Faith in Worship, Service, Learning, Outreach and Welcome” in a beautiful rural setting.
Everyone is cordially invited to be with us.
Follow Us on Facebook “St. James Lutheran Church”
LEAF RIVER
LEAF RIVER BAPTIST CHURCH
Pastor Billy Hardy
Sunday Morning: 9:30am Bible Classes for all ages 10:30am Worship Service with nursery available. Live stream available at leafriver.church/live-now 6941 N. Mt. Morris Rd., Leaf River, IL 61047
815-738-2205
office@leafriverbaptist.org leafriver.church
LEAF RIVER UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
104 E. 3rd St., Leaf River, IL 61047Phone: 815-345-3038; Pastor Cherie Quillman
immanuel-lindenwood.org (for sermons, events, etc.) 16060 E. Lindenwood Road, Lindenwood, IL 61049 815-393-4500 • office@immanuel-lindenwood.org
Sunday Mornings: Divine Service @ 9am; Food & Fellowship @ 10am; Sunday School and Adult Bible Study @ 10:30am
Food Bank: 1st and 3rd Saturdays, 9am-11am Pastor: Rev. Dr. Matthew Rosebrock pastor@immanuel-lindenwood.org
LINDENWOOD UNION CHURCH
101 N. Galena St. & Walnut, PO Box 67, Lindenwood, IL Regular worship service Sundays at 10:00AM with fellowship following. Tuesdays 10:00AM Sr Exercise! Lunch afterwards. Library open on Sunday Everyone is welcome!
ELIM REFORMED CHURCH
140 S. Church Road, Kings, IL 61068 • Pastor Marv
Jacobs Phone 815-562-6811
E-mail: goelimchurch@gmail.com
Website: www.goelimchurch.org
Sunday morning worship 10:00 am
MOUNT MORRIS
DISCIPLES UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
“By God’s grace in Christ, we LIVE, LOVE, and SERVE” All are welcome here!
9:30 a.m. – Sunday Worship with Communion open to all, followed by fellowship hour
10:45 a.m. Sunday School (Sep. – May)
102 N. Maple Ave., Mt. Morris, IL 61054 815-734-4853 secretary@disciplesumc.org www.disciplesumc.org
Pastor Marcia Peddicord
EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH OF MT. MORRIS
102 S. Seminary Ave., Mt. Morris, IL 61054 815-734-4942 www.efcmm.org
Senior Pastor: Bruce McKanna.
Associate Pastor: John Foss Sunday Schedule: 8:30 a.m. Sunday School for all ages.
9:30 a.m. Coffee Fellowship. 10:00 a.m. Morning Worship with Childcare and Children’s Church. MT. MORRIS CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
Allure of Pinecrest Grove Community Building (S. McKendrie Ave. and Evergreen Lane) Mt. Morris, IL. 61054 Phone 815-734-4573 Sunday Worship 9:30 a.m. followed by fellowship time and Christian education. Worship service available online, call or email for details. Email: mtmorriscob@gmail.com
TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH MT. MORRIS
308 E. Brayton Rd., Mt. Morris IL | Phone: 815-734-6354
Pastor Dave Rogula 4962 S. Daysville Rd., Oregon, IL 61061 lighthouseUMC@yahoo.com
Worship at 11:00 a.m. Holy Communion celebrated the first Sunday of each of month. Lighthouse will lite up your life!
LITTLE PRAIRIE MENNONITE CHURCH
1831 S Harmony Rd. Oregon, IL 61061
Worship Services: 10:00 AM Sunday Morning, 7:00 PM 1st & 3rd Sunday Evening, 7:30 PM 2nd & 4th Wednesday Evenings of the Month.
Pastor: Norman Reinford 779-861-3700
OREGON CHURCH OF GOD
860 W. Oregon Trail Road, Oregon, IL. 61061 Phone: 815-732-6847
www.oregoncog.com Pastor Michael Hoffman; Associate Pastor Nathan Massie Sunday School for all ages, 9:30 am; Worship - 10:30 am Tuesday - Prayer Group - 9:30 am; Women’s Bible Study1:00 pm Thursday Men’s Group - 7:00 pm
OREGON FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
505 Hill St. Oregon, IL 61061 Phone: 732-2642
Pastor: David Snow “A Christ-centered, Bible-believing, family-oriented ministry.” Sunday School 9:45 a.m.; Sunday Morning Service 10:45 a.m.; Sunday Afternoon Service 1:15 p.m.; Wednesday Night Bible Study 6:30 p.m.
OREGON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
200 S. 4th Street, Oregon, IL 61061 815-732-2994
www.oregonumc.org
Pastor Rev Megan Smick
9:00 am Adult & Youth Bible Study
10 am Worship & Children’s Sunday School
In-person or live on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/OregonUMC 5:30 pm Wednesday Night Meal All are welcome!
RIVERSTONE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
609 S. 10th Street , Oregon, IL 61061
Pastor Craig Arnold ~ 812-236-1213
Sunday Service @ 10:45 AM ~ contemporary style worship with coffee and doughnuts in our cafe! Online worship is also available via Facebook. We believe in sharing Communion every Sunday as an act of worship.
RiverKids Service @ 10:45 AM for nursery-6th grade ~ provides a safe and fun environment where kids can learn about who God is and who they are because of Him.Encounter Youth Ministry for kids in 7th-12th grade meets on Sunday afternoons. Please see our Facebook page for scheduled dates and times. For complete ministry info and events, visit us online at Riverstonecc.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/ RiverStoneChristianChurch
ST. BRIDE’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
902 Mongan Drive (at the top of Liberty Hill), Oregon, IL 732-7211 -Office Rev. Eldred George
Worship Services: Sunday 10 am Holy Communion with Hymns
Christian Education Available
ST. MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH
301 N 4th St, Oregon, IL 61061 - Phone 815-732-7383Fr. Bernard Sehr; Mailing/Office Address: 8 81 Mongan Dr, Oregon IL 61061
Weekend Masses: Sat. 4:30 pm, Sun. 8:30 am and 6:00 pm Weekday Masses: Mon. 12:05 pm, Wed. and Fri. 8:30 am Communion Service: Tues. 8:30 am; Reconciliation: Sat 3:30-4:00 pm or by appt. Eucharistic Adoration: Wed. 9-10 am www.stmaryop.org stmary-oregon@rockforddiocese.org
ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH, NALC
114 S. 5th St. Oregon, IL Phone: (815) 732-2367 Website: stpaulnalcoregonil.weebly.com 10:15 a.m. Fellowship/Education hours 11:30 a.m. Worship
POLO
ST. MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH
211 N Franklin Ave, Polo IL 61064-Phone 815-732-7383 -Fr. Bernard Sehr Mailing/Office Address: 881 Mongan Dr, Oregon IL 61061
Weekend Masses: Sun. 10:15 am
Daily Masses: Tues. and Sat. 8:30 am Reconciliation: Sat. 9:00-9:30 am or by appt. www.stmaryop.org stmary-oregon@roclcforddiocese.org
Sunday: Worship at 9:00 and 10:30 am. Sunday School at 9:00 am.
Wednesday: AWANA (Sept – April) from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. Men, women, youth Bible Studies throughout the year. See website for all activities or contact the church office.
KISHWAUKEE COMMUNITY
EVANGELICAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
8195 Kishwaukee Road, Stillman Valley, IL 61084 / 815-965-1940 Rev. Nick Garner, Pastor www.kishchurch.org
Sunday Schedule: Discipleship Hour 8:45 AM, Coffee Fellowship 9:30 AM, Gathered Worship 10:00 AM For complete ministry schedule check out our website or call the church office.
VALLEY EVANGELICAL COVENANT CHURCH
Lead Pastor Barry Norris
103 S Maple St, Stillman Valley, IL 815-645-8872 | www.valleycov.org
Sunday Morning 9am ‘Gather’ for learning & conversation, 10:15am Worship both onsite and online at facebook.com/VECCfSV Home of Valley Covenant Preschool 815-645-8882
Director Jill Huber
Bible Studies, Youth Group, Bread of Life Food Pantry Please visit website for more information or contact the church office M-F 9am-2pm
WINNEBAGO
MIDDLE CREEK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
12473 Montague Road, Winnebago, IL 61088 Located West of Tower Road on Montague Rd. Sunday: Worship Service at 10:30 am. Sunday School: 9am
Pastor Phil Thompson Phone: 815-335-2609. Email: middlecreekchurch@gmail.com Coffee & Chat (Everyone is welcome!): Tuesdays 8-10am Visit our Facebook page or YouTube channel for online worship
IT’S YOUR WRITE
Saying no, declaring yes
To the Editor:
“No taxation without representation,” and the quartering of the British army in people’s homes was enough to cause the American Revolution.
The continued legitimizing of slavery and extending it into newly annexed territory was enough to cause our bloody civil war.
The blatant disenfranchisement of people of color was enough to produce the civil rights movement, which was often contentious.
For each declaration of no, there was an almost as forceful yes. Loyalty to the King, the preservation of a way of life and the desire to retain supremacy over others were the opposite positions.
In each circumstance, blood was shed even while each position claimed they were right. I have been struggling to understand how our country can be a shining light set upon a high hill while we act this way toward one another. It continues today.
Christians shall be in the midst of
Lent, beginning Feb. 18. Traditionally, in Lent, Christians abstain from certain things, reflect upon sins and seek to amend their lives. These are the disciplines of Lent.
They are meant to guide our reflection and the commitments we make in our lives.
Whether you are Christian or not, I commend such practice to you because we have such difficult and life-altering decisions to make. A disciplined approach can help you decide.
We are in a time where saying no or saying yes is becoming more than the product of a philosophical discussion. There are very real consequences to the decisions we make. Being on the sidelines is becoming less of an option. If one is to declare a position, then one must be clear-headed about the reason and the cost of making that declaration. I oppose our immigration policy. I am aware that others will say yes to my no.
Rev. Ronald D. Larson Mt. Morris
Lenten Dinners
EVERY FRIDAY IN LENT 4:30-7:00 PM
Soup Dinners
LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
Byron community room open on Thursdays for card games
The Byron Community Room is open every Thursday for everyone who plays 500 Cards. Play starts at 12:30 p.m. sharp. The venue opens at noon. No reservations are required; show up whenever your schedule allows.
The venue has been playing for years and the group changes over time. There is room
for everyone of any card-playing ability.
Chana UMC dinner is March 14
The Chana United Methodist Church will host a homemade chicken and noodles, lasagna and apple crisp drive-up dinner on Saturday, March 14.
The food will be served from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Each dinner costs $12. No pre-sales are available.
The Byron Community Room is open at 12:30 p.m. every Thursday.
Jury finds Mt. Morris man guilty of multiple charges
Sentencing set for April
By EARLEEN HINTON
Shaw Local News Network correspondent
A Mt. Morris man was found guilty Wednesday, Feb. 18, of one felony count of resisting arrest in connection with an August 2025 incident near the Oregon school campus.
An Ogle County jury found Franklin T. Houston, 28, previously of Rockford, guilty of the Class 4 felony offense of injuring a police officer while resisting arrest and the misdemeanor offenses of resisting a police officer and disorderly conduct following the 2-day trial at the Ogle County Judicial Center in Oregon.
The 6-woman, 6-man jury found Houston not guilty of another felony count of injuring the same police officer during the same incident and misdemeanor criminal trespass.
The charges accused Houston of injuring Oregon Police Officer Breanna Wakeland while she was attempting to take him into custody during an Aug. 22, 2025, incident.
Court documents say Wakeland suffered a cut to her thumb and sprained her wrist while attempting to take Houston into custody with four other officers. The misdemeanor charges accused Houston of tres -
passing when he entered the Oregon Elementary School at 1150 Jefferson St. after classes had ended.
The disorderly conduct charge accused him of alarming the school district’s cheerleading coach when she saw him sitting in a stall of a restroom in a girls locker room, claiming he was a student.
“He had no business being inside the girls locker room and he clearly alarmed the coach,” Assistant Ogle County State’s Attorney Matthew Leisten told jurors in his closing argument.
Leisten said Houston displayed “erratic behavior” and left the school on his bicycle before being approached
by a police officer at the Oregon Park West skate park, located west of the elementary school. Leisten said Houston rode away from the officer, riding his bike through a nearby residential area before being stopped again at 14th Street.
He said Houston ignored repeated demands by police and his actions caused Wakeland to be injured when he was taken into custody.
“The scratch on her thumb was caused by his conduct as he resisted arrest. It is clear he trespassed. He is guilty of all charges,” Leisten argued.
Assistant Ogle County Public Defender Brandon Gecan argued that Houston left the school building when he was told to leave by the coach.
“She didn’t say he seemed dangerous,” Gecan told the jurors, adding that Houston entered the school to use the bathroom and change clothes. “He left when he was told to leave.”
Gecan said Houston was first approached at the skate park by an officer who said he only wanted to speak with him in what Gecan called an “investigative stop”. He said it was
clear, as indicated in body camera footage, that Houston did not want to talk to police.
When more officers arrived after Houston was stopped on his bike in the residential area, Houston became more “visibly agitated”, Gecan said.
“They said nothing and just started walking toward him,” Gecan said. “He even says ‘what are you doing?’ and Officer Wakeland says ‘You’re going to find out’”.
Gecan said Houston clutched his cell phone and went into a defensive “turtle-like” posture.
“He’s not doing anything aggressive to these officers at this time,” said Gecan. “I’m not saying they didn’t have the authority to do that, but I am saying maybe they could have gone about it in a different way. He’s curling up in a turtle shell.”
Gecan said Wakeland’s injuries were caused when she and four other police officers threw Houston to the ground to handcuff him and take him into custody.
See HOUSTON, page 24
KOELLER FORRESTON HARDWARE is a full-service hardware store that has been serving the community for 10 years. They are known for their extensive product knowledge and friendly customer service, as well as their beloved store mascot, Hank. Customers choose Koeller Forreston Hardware because they can come in and find the right part for their project. They can be reached by phone at 815.938.2240, visited online at www.doitbest.com/koeller, and found on Facebook under Koeller Forreston Hardware.
Edward Jones Financial Advisor
Charles Schaeffer has been serving clients for the past six years, helping individuals, families, and businesses organize, grow, protect, and transfer their assets with confidence. Specializing in comprehensive financial planning, Charles works closely with clients to create strategies tailored to their unique goals and life stages.
Clients choose to work with Charles Schaeffer because of his strong qualifications, industry knowledge, and commitment to providing peace of mind throughout the financial planning process. By taking a personalized, long-term approach, he helps clients feel informed, prepared, and secure about their financial future.
Franklin T. Houston
Continued from page 23
Gecan said Houston had scrapes on his arms that were bleeding when he was booked into the Ogle County Jail.
“Use your common sense,” Gecan told jurors. “He didn’t cause the cut or the sprained wrist.”
Leisten disagreed.
“He knew what he did. He knew why police wanted to talk with him. His behavior constantly escalated and he repeatedly ignored their directions. It is clear he caused the officer’s injury,” said Leisten. “He should be found guilty of all charges.”
The jury deliberated for two hours and 30 minutes before reaching their verdict Wednesday afternoon.
Associate Judge Anthony Peska remanded Houston to the Ogle County Jail, ordered a pre-sentencing report, and scheduled Houston’s sentencing hearing for 1:30 p.m. April 9.
Houston could be sentenced to 1-6 years in prison or probation and fined up to $25,000.
OCHS launches time capsule program
away in the vaults at Memorial Plaza on the south side of the old courthouse?
Were you a student in school and wrote a letter in 2026, or did your grandparent place a letter in the vault so you could read it and make this day happen in 2076?
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
Imagine it’s Saturday, July 4, 2076. The 300th anniversary of America’s independence.
Fifty years before, residents, organizations and schools wrote letters and messages to the “future people” of Ogle County.
Those letters were gathered and placed into time capsules so they could be opened today and read by the current citizens of the county.
Some of the original authors are standing in the audience, waiting to read their letters once again, 50 years later.
How much has changed in the world since the time capsules were sealed
The Ogle County Historical Society and the Ogle County Board are in the early stages of making this collection of letters to our future happen.
They are reaching out to school communities, civic organizations and the citizens of Ogle County to take a few minutes and write a letter to the future.
Letters containing information about the day-to-day activities taking place, letters about the families in the communities, letters talking to their descendants and letters about the hopes and dreams of the writer are all possible topics to be preserved for a celebration in 50 years.
Plans are underway for watertight time capsules to be enclosed in secured vaults and placed in the Memorial Plaza being designed south of the old courthouse in the center of the county seat in Oregon.
Final details of size and number of time capsules are under discussion at this point and will be announced in the future. These tamper-proof vaults will be marked for opening on July 4, 2076. Additional invitations to schools and organizations will be forthcoming as soon as more specific details are available.
Watch the newspaper and social media for more information so you can submit your letter to be enclosed in the time capsule and included in this historic event.
Intentions are that the time capsule will be sealed in the vault(s) later this year, around July 4, 2026, as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of our nation.
Start working on your letter to the future soon. Instructions on what kind of paper to use, where to drop your letter for collection, etc., will follow soon. If you are interested in volunteering to help in your community with this county-wide project, write to the Ogle County Historical Society, Box 183, Oregon, IL 61061, email oglecohistory@ gmail.com or call 815-732-7545.
LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
Ogle County residential electronics recycling event is Feb. 27
The Ogle County Solid Waste Management Department will host a residential electronics recycling event Friday, Feb. 27.
The event will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 909 Pines Road in Oregon.
This event is for Ogle County residents only and a free permit is required in advance of the event.
To obtain a free permit call 815-732-4020 or email solidwaste@oglecountyil.gov and provide your name, address, phone number and email address by 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26.
No permits will be issued the day of the event, as all office staff will be outside working.
Accepted items include all residential televisions and computer monitors, computers, computer hardware and cables, laptops, tablets, cell phones, printers, fax machines, scanners, shredders (no tubs), copiers, video gaming equipment, DVD/VCRs, cable/satellite boxes, stereo equipment, radios, digital
Microwave ovens are accepted for $5 per unit. Cash or check will be accepted.
Large toner cartridges no longer are accepted at the residential electronic recycling events.
They can be taken to office supply stores, or they can be recycled through the department’s business recycling program for a nominal fee.
Limit seven large or bulky items per permit and one permit per county household per month.
Business or institutional electronic materials are not accepted at these events. Business or institutional electronics are accepted by the OCSWMD via a separate program. Call the number above for more information and pricing for business electronic recycling, and to make an appointment for drop-off of the materials to be recycled.
The Illinois Commerce Commission on Thursday approved almost $1 million for safety upgrades at three highway-rail crossings of the BNSF Railway Co.’s track in Carroll and Ogle counties.
The stipulated agreement requires the installation of new automatic flashing light signals and gates at the Oakville Road, Brookeville/Ogle Road and West Oregon Trail Road crossings.
“Illinois’ Grade Crossing Protection Fund makes it possible to install modernized safety infrastructure at rail crossings in all parts of the state. These projects in Carroll and Ogle counties are a perfect example of how our agency is putting GCPF dollars to work,” ICC Commissioner Michael T. Carrigan said.
The GCPF will cover 95% of the combined estimated cost for the new automatic warning devices at all three crossings, not to exceed $993,328.
BNSF Railway Co. will pay all remaining
signal design and installation costs, and all future operating and maintenance costs related to the new warning devices. All work is to be completed within 18 months of the ICC’s order.
Performing Arts Guild of Mt. Morris to host annual meeting March 5 at Allure of Pinecrest Grove
The Performing Arts Guild will hold its annual meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 5, at the Allure of Pinecrest Grove Community Center.
The event is an evening of food, fun and fellowship, along with a preview of the upcoming season.
Cost is $40 to become a PAG member, which covers attendance for you and a guest at the annual meeting and includes one show ticket for the 2026 season.
You can join and pay your membership fee at the meeting. If you are interested in attending, contact Karen by Feb. 28 at karen2024@performingartsguild.com to make your reservation.
– Shaw Local News Network
Ogle County 4‑H youths donate to community
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
“Hands to larger service” is one of the four Hs that 4-H members strive to live by. Members give back to their communities in many ways, and sometimes those ideas grow into one big project.
Last fall, three different ideas were presented to the 4-H staff that led to one great collaborative effort. 4-H member Lydia Sherburne wanted to collect stuffed animals, coloring books, blankets and more for pediatric patients at Serenity Hospice & Home.
At the same time, the Harbaugh family and their 4-H club, the Hub Hickory Nuts, wanted to partner with OSF Saint Katharine Medical Center in Dixon to create homemade sewn, crocheted or tied blankets for various departments. Additionally, food accessibility was a major concern as the holiday season approached.
These three efforts came together as the 4-H Cares Project, giving members across the county an opportunity to participate. All 12 4-H clubs sewed, tied and collected donations.
word books, fidget toys and more) as well as 20 tied blankets to Serenity Hospice & Home.
In addition, 25 tied blankets, 33 crocheted baby hats, 17 baby quilts and 51 handmade, sewn stuffed animals were donated to OSF Saint Katharine Medical Center for the Pediatrics Department, Emergency Department, OB and ambulance services. Nearly 50 sets of coloring books, crayons and markers also were donated to the Shining Star Children’s Advocacy Center in Dixon.
Almost $500 was donated to local food pantries for Thanksgiving and Christmas, along with turkeys, hams, holiday meal fixings and other food items for seven food pantries in Ogle
County. In total, more than 500 items were donated, including 30 hams and turkeys.
4-H members also donated 25 stuffed animals and 10 bags of goodies (puzzles,
“Through the 4-H Cares Project, members demonstrated the true meaning of service, compassion and leadership while making a lasting impact across Ogle County,” according to an Extension news release. “The Ogle County 4-H program is proud of the dedication shown by its members, volunteers and families, and grateful for the strong community partnerships that helped make this effort possible. Together, these acts of kindness continue to show how small ideas can grow into meaningful change for neighbors in need.”
Photo provided by Ogle Extension
LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
Applications being accepted for Village of Progress scholarship
The Village of Progress Foundation will offer two scholarships in 2026.
The first scholarship in the amount of $1,000 is made possible through a joint effort between The Larry Young & Friends Charities and The Village of Progress Foundation. Larry Young & Friends Charities partner with The Village of Progress Foundation every year to help make its annual golf outing a success. Larry Young also serves on the foundation’s board of directors.
The second scholarship in the amount of $1,000 is made possible through the generosity of the Cacciatore family. The Cacciatores have been longtime supporters of the Village.
Wanda Cacciatore served on the Village of Progress board of directors for 10 years beginning in 1988. She also served on the foundation’s board for 33 years. The scholarship honors Pete and Wanda, who were enthusiastic supporters of the Village and its mission.
To be eligible for either scholarship, the
March 15, be completed on the foundation application form, and include at least two written references. The financial status of the applicant is not a consideration. Those wishing an application are encouraged to call the Village of Progress at 815-732-2126 or go to www.villageofprogress.org and download a high school or college application.
Ogle County SWCD opens 2026 Partners for Conservation cost-share signup
student must be a resident of Ogle County and be either a high school senior who is disabled or is planning on attending college and majoring in an area related to the disabled, or a full-time undergraduate college student who is disabled or is majoring in an area related to the disabled. Applications must be received by
The Ogle County Soil & Water Conservation District has opened applications for the 2026 Partners for Conservation cost-share program, offering financial assistance to landowners and producers implementing approved conservation practices. Applications are being accepted through Feb. 27.
The PFC program provides state-funded, cost-share assistance of up to 75% for a wide range of conservation measures designed to protect soil health, improve water quality and support long-term land productivity. Eligible practices include
cover crops, no-till and strip-till systems, pollinator habitat plantings, grassed waterways, terraces, filter strips, grade stabilization structures, saturated buffers, denitrifying bioreactors, rain gardens and other resource-conserving projects.
All practices must receive approval from the SWCD prior to installation to qualify for funding.
“Cost-share programs like PFC help reduce financial barriers for landowners who want to invest in conservation,” according to a district news release. “These practices not only protect natural resources but also strengthen the long-term productivity and resilience of working lands.”
Interested landowners should contact Ogle County SWCD to begin the process. Staff will schedule a site visit to discuss goals, assess eligibility and guide applicants through the approval and reimbursement steps.
Contact Ogle County SWCD at 815-7326127, ext. 3, or woodyatt.ogleswcd@gmail. com.
– Shaw Local News Network
Jeff Helfrich File Photo
The Village of Progress serves people with developmental disabilities in Ogle County through evaluation and assessment, job training, supported employment, social and recreational experiences, health care and maintenance and living skills instruction.
Lovgren INSURANCE OFFICER
Freezer meals available for Ogle-Carroll Ag in the Classroom program
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
Have you been searching for a way to make dinner preparation simple? Ogle-Carroll Agriculture in the Classroom has a great opportunity to take a night off from cooking.
Order two sets of five meals for a total of 10 meals. These are individual servings. Meals include cheesy hamburger casserole, pulled pork mac and cheese, cheesy chicken enchiladas, chicken bacon ranch pasta and chicken fajitas with peppers and onions.
Cost for the 10 meals is $90 cash or check or $95 by credit card. Proceeds benefit the Ogle-Carroll Ag in the Classroom Program. There are two ways to order:
• Mail your name, phone number,
number of meal sets (they come in a set of 10 meals), and payment to 811 S. Clay St., Mt. Carroll, IL 61053. Make checks payable to Ogle-Carroll Ag Partnership
• Order online at go.illinois.edu/ freezermeals
Place your order by 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 3. Meal pickup is March 30 from 4 to 5 p.m. at the University of Illinois Extension office, 421 W. Pines Road, Oregon. Contact the office at 815-7322191 or email charbm@illinois.edu with any questions.
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
Cassandre Mlakar, wealth adviser at First State Bank Shannon-Polo-Lake Carroll, has earned a place among LPL Financial’s Institution Ascent Club Program for 2025 – a distinction reserved for financial advisers and professionals who set the standard for excellence in financial guidance.
planning, tax planning, charitable giving and estate planning.
“It’s a privilege to recognize Cassandre Mlakar and FSB Wealth Group for this remarkable accomplishment,” Ken Hullings, executive vice president of institution client success at LPL Financial, said. “Financial professionals like Cassandre exemplify the valuable relationship and impact that financial professionals deliver. By leveraging the resources and collaborative environment of our institution model, investors are empowered to pursue their financial goals. We’re proud to support FSB Wealth Group and all our institutions who are shaping brighter financial futures within their communities.”
Agriculture in the Classroom is a statewide educational program with lessons offered to kindergarten through eighth grade. Its goal is to help students, teachers and the general public gain greater awareness of the role of agriculture in the economy and society.
In today’s dynamic environ ment, Americans need more than advice – they need a collaborative part ner who under stands their goals and can help turn plans into progress. Mlakar delivers valuable expertise every day, serving clients across northwest Illinois and beyond with comprehensive wealth management services, including investment management, retirement
FSB Wealth Group has partnered with LPL Financial for over 15 years. Through LPL, institutions like banks and credit unions can leverage wealth management resources and support, including advanced technology designed to streamline operations and accelerate growth, allowing them to focus on what matters most: building relationships and delivering personalized financial advice.
Cassandre Mlakar
King Blacktop
3499 N. Tower Rd., Byгоп 815.234.4171 kingblacktop.com
Serenity Hospice and Home 1658 S. IL Route 2, Oregon, IL Serenityhospiceandhome.org
HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE SERVICES
PARKS & RECREATION
The Serenity Shed 131 N. 3rd St., Oregon, IL 815.732.2499
TITLE COMPANY
CONSIGNMENT/RESALE SHOPPING
1310 W. Washington St., Oregon
815.732.6851 facebook.com/oregonvfwpost8739
Angel Treasures Resale Shop
201 IL Route 64, Mt. Morris, IL 815.734.0504
BLACKTOP & SEALCOATING
ReRuns
120 W. 2nd St., Byron 815.406.8060 rerunsbyron.com
King Blacktop 3499 N. Tower Rd., Byron 815.234.4171 kingblacktop.com
Hours: Mon-Fri 9AM-6PM (closed Wed) & Sat & Sun 9AM-2PM
CONSIGNMENT/RESALE SHOPPING
Angel Treasures Resale Shop
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS/SERVICES
Central Illinois Loans
201 IL Route 64, Mt. Morris, IL 815.734.0504
310 Eagle Dr., Rochelle
ReRuns
815.561.4035
120 W. 2nd St., Byron 815.406.8060 rerunsbyron.com
FOOD, DINING & LODGING
Fritz’s Wooden Nickel
Central Illinois Loans 310 Eagle Dr 815.561.4035 centralillinoisloans.com
Stillman Bank
208 N. Walnut St., Stillman Valley, IL 61084 815-645-9828 www.facebook.com/fritzswoodennickel
White Pines Lodge
608 W. Blackhawk Dr., Byron 815.234.5626 1445 IL Route 2 Nor th, Oregon 815.732.7956
6712 W. Pines Rd., Mt. Morris, IL 61054 (815) 655-2400 visitwhitepines.com
101 East Main St., Stillman Valley 815.645.2266 stillmanbank.com
GARDEN CENTER
HEALTH SERVICES
Hidden Timber Gardens
462 S. Chana Rd., Chana 815.751.4162 hiddentimbergardens.com
Rochelle Community Hospital 900 N. 2nd St., Rochelle 815.562.2181 rochellehospital.com
HEALTH SERVICES
Rochelle Community Hospital 900 N. 2nd St., Rochelle
MENTAL HEALTH/COUNSELING SERVICES
Serenity Hospice and Home
1658 S. IL Route 2, Oregon, IL Serenityhospiceandhome.org
Sinnissippi Centers
212 W Blackhawk Dr. PO Box 1095 Byron, IL 61010 Phone: (815) 209-0998
REAL ESTATE AGENCY
RE/MAX Hub City
Rock River Title 412 W Washington St., Oregon 815.732.5291 rockriver title.com
MENTAL HEALTH/COUNSELING SERVICES
Sinnissippi Centers
815.732.3157 1321 N. 7th St., Rochelle 815.562.3801 sinnissippi.org
100 Jefferson St. Oregon, IL 61061 Phone: (815) 732-3157 1321 North 7th Street Rochelle, IL 61068 Phone: (815) 562-3801 www.sinnissippi.org
PARKS & RECREATION
INSURANCE AGENCIES
244 May Mart Drive, Rochelle 815-562-7588
remax.com
RE/MAX Professional Advantage
REAL ESTATE AGENC Y R E/ M A X of Rock Valley 606 E Washington St., Oregon 815.732.9100 rockvalleyproper ties.com
404 W. Blackhawk Drive, Byron 815-234-4663 remax.com
SENIOR SERVICES
SENIOR SERVICES
Rock River Cent
Rock River Center
Forreston Mutual Insurance Company
Byron Forest Preser ve 7993 N. River Rd., Byron 815.234.8535 byronforestpreser ve.com
208 S. Walnut Ave., Forreston, IL 61030 815-938-2273 www.forrestonmutual.com
The Serenity Shed 131 N. 3rd St., Oregon, IL 815.732.2499
810 S. 10th St., Oregon 815.732.3252 rockrivercenter.com
810 S. 10th St., Oregon 815.732.3252 rockrivercenter.com
Community
Grand Detour Township sets 2026 meeting dates
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
Grand Detour Township recently released its 2026 meeting dates.
All township meetings will be held at the Grand Detour Town Hall on the second Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.
The lone exception is the April
meeting that will be held immediately following the annual meeting that is held the second Tuesday in April.
Grand Detour Township meeting dates are Feb. 11, March 11, April 14
(following annual township meeting), May 13, June 10, July 8, Aug. 12, Sept. 9, Oct. 14, Nov. 11 and Dec. 9. For questions, call township clerk Connie Ross at 815-973-0988.
OBITUARIES
ROBERT A. EGYED
Born: September 29, 1965 in Rockford, IL
Died: February 15, 2026 in Oregon, IL
Oregon, IL – Robert “Bob” A. Egyed, age 60, died peacefully on Sunday, February 15, 2026, at Serenity Hospice and Home in Oregon, IL, surrounded by his loving family. Bob was born September 29, 1965, in Rockford, IL, the son of George M. and Ann Marie (Soukup) Egyed. He graduated from Oregon High School in 1983. On April 18, 1998, he married the love of his life, Marcy DeArvil, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Oregon. Together they built a life
centered on faith and family. Bob built a long and successful career in the automotive industry, beginning in car sales and advancing into the finance office before transitioning into banking. Through dedication and integrity, he became a respected VP Indirect Lending Relationship Manager, ending his career with Huntington National Bank. He valued the relationships he built and took pride in serving others well. His work ethic is unmatched. He faithfully served his community as a member of the Oregon Ambulance Service for five years and with the Oregon Fire Protection District for 26 years. Bob attended Calvary Lighthouse Church in Rochelle, where his faith remained a steady foundation throughout his life. He enjoyed coyote hunting, fishing, golfing, woodworking, and sports photography — especially capturing his daughters’ athletic events. He
was a loyal brother, friend, husband, father, and grandfather. Always the first to lend a helping hand, he was a multi-talented DIY’er with a heart of gold. He told the best (and longest) stories and had a genuine smile that reached his eyes. He was simply a great man who will be deeply missed by his family, devoted friends, and business acquaintances. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Ann Marie Egyed, and his infant brother, Joseph Paul Egyed. Bob is survived by his loving wife, Marcy; daughters Ellie Egyed and Kaitlyn Egyed (Myles Miraglia); his cherished granddaughter, Mileena Bobby, all of Oregon, IL; siblings Marjorie (Bill) Lindenmier of Oregon, IL; James (Cathy) Egyed of Oregon, IL; Barbara (Tony) Kubat of Roscoe, IL; Mary (Larry) Bull of Leaf River, IL; Andrew (Christy) Egyed of Oregon, IL; and Michael (Tricia)
Egyed of Oregon, IL; along with many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at Calvary Lighthouse Church, 14409 E. Henstock Rd., Rochelle, IL 61068, with Dr. James Horvath officiating. Visitation will be held from 5–7 PM on Friday, February 20, 2026, at Farrell-Holland-Gale Funeral Home, 110 S. 7th Street, Oregon, IL. Burial will follow at Daysville Cemetery near Oregon. A memorial fund has been established in Bob’s name for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Visit www. farrellhollandgale.com to leave a condolence or memory of Bob.
Retreat
Hosted by Kishwaukee Community Church
Guest Speakers: Alena Larsen & Katie Shea
What does the Bible say about worry and stress?
Alena and Katie will guide us through scripture and give practical tools to help find peace.
Byron Museum of History
SATURDAY, MARCH 21st
8:30 am registration & continental breakfast 9:00 am - 2:00 pm conference & lunch $10 per person
RSVP by March 13th - (815) 965-1940, office@kishonline.org
STRESS WORRY ANXIETY
Now Available
FUN&GAMES
Archie
B.C.
Pearls Before Swine
Frank & Ernest
Beetle Bailey
Blondie
Monty
Baby Blues
Arlo & Janis
Zits
TO PLAY
Each row, column and set of 3-by-3 boxes must contain the numbers 1 through 9 without repetition.
Pickles
Wizard of Id
Alley Oop
Garfield
Hagar the Horrible
Barney Google and Snuffy Smith
Daddy Daze
JANRIC CLASSIC SUDOKU HOW
CLASSIFIED
WE NDY J. QUEE N, Deceased 2026 PR 10
CL AIM NOTICE Notice is given of the death of WENDY J. QUEEN.
&
SHAWMEDTA
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 15th JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OGLE COUNTY, IL LINOIS IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: RUSSELL A JANSSEN, deceased NO. 2026-PR-13 CL AIM NOTICE NOTICE IS GIVEN of the death of RUSSELL A JANSSEN of Oregon, Illinois. Letters of office were issued on February 9, 2026, to Deborah L. Janssen of Oregon, Illinois and Leonard J. Bryson of Polo, Illinois, whose attorney is David A Smith, of Smith Law Group, P.C. at 129 South Fourth Street, P O. Box 10, Oregon, Illinois, 610610010. CLAIMS against the estate may be filed in the office of the Clerk of the Court at Ogle County Judicial Center, 106 South 5th Street, Oregon, Illinois, 61061, or with the representative, or both, within 6 months from the first publication of this Notice, or within three months from the date of mailing or delivery of Notice to creditors, if mailing or delivery is required by Section 18-3 of the Illinois Probat e Act, 1975, as amended, whichever date is later Any claim not filed with in that period is barred. Copies of claims filed with the Clerk must be mailed or delivered to the estate legal representative and to the attorney within 10 days after the claim has been filed.
P.C. at 129 South Fourth Street, P O. Box 10, Oregon, Illinois, 610610010. CLAIMS against the estate may be filed in the office of the Clerk of the Court at Ogle County Judicial Center, 106 South 5th Street, Oregon, Illinois, 61061, or with the representative, or both, within 6 months from the first publication of this Notice, or within three months from the date of mailing or delivery of Notice to creditors, if mailing or delivery is required by Section 18-3 of the Illinois Probat e Act, 1975, as amended, whichever date is later Any claim not filed with in that period is barred. Copies of claims filed with the Clerk must be mailed or delivered to the estate legal representative and to the attorney within 10 days after the claim has been filed.
Deborah L Janssen, Leonard J. Bryson Co-Executors Feb. 23 Mar. 4, 11, 2026
STATE OF IL LINOIS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COUNTY OF OGLE
I n re the E state of: WE NDY J. QUEE N, Deceased 2026 PR 10
CL AIM NOTICE
Notice is given of the death of WENDY J. QUEEN.
Letters of Office were issued onFebruary 9, 2026, to SHARON R. RUDY, as Independent Administrator.
Letters of Office were issued onFebruary 9, 2026, to SHARON R. RUDY, as Independent Administrator. Claims against the estate may be filed within six (6) months from the date of first publication, or within three (3) months from the date of mailing or delivery of Notice to creditors, if mailing or delivery is required by Section 5/18-3 of the Illinois Probate Act, 1975, as amended, whichever date is later Any claim not filed by the requisite date stated above shall be barred.
Claims against the estate may be filed in the Office of the Circuit Clerk, Ogle County JudicialCenter, 106 South 5th Street, Oregon, IL 61061 or with the estate legal representative, or both.
Copies of a claim filed with the clerk must be mailed or delivered to the representative and to the attorney within 10 days after it has been filed.
By: SHARON R RUDY Independent Administrator Law Office s of M. THOMAS SUITS, P.C. 114 W. Mason St. Polo, IL 61064 (815) 946-2276 tom@suitslegal com
Feb. 16, 23, March 4, 2026
STATE OF IL LINOIS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
OGLE COUNTY In the Matter of the Estate of Rose Mary Howald, Deceased IN PROBATE, NO. 2026-PR-16
CL AIM NOTICE
Notice is given of the death of Rose Mary Howald, of Mt. Morris, Illinois. Letters of Office were issued on February 17, 2026, to Sharon R. Anderson, of 1501 Motel Road, Sycamore, IL 60178 as Independent Executor. The attorney for the estate is David D. Shockey of Shockey & Cox, LLC, 208 West Stephenson Street, Freeport, IL 61032
STATE OF IL LINOIS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OGLE COUNTY In the Matter of the Estate of Rose Mary Howald, Deceased IN PROBATE, NO. 2026-PR-16
CL AIM NOTICE
Notice is given of the death of Rose Mary Howald, of Mt. Morris, Illinois. Letters of Office were issued on February 17, 2026, to Sharon R. Anderson, of 1501 Motel Road, Sycamore, IL 60178 as Independent Executor.
Claims against the Estate may be filed in the office of the Clerk of the Court at Ogle County Courthouse, 105 South 5th Street, Oregon, IL 61061, or with the representative, or both, on or before August 25, 2026, or within three (3) months from the date of mailing or delivery of Notice to creditors, if mailing or delivery is required by Section 5/18 of the Illinois Probate Act (755 ILCS 5/18-3), whichever date is later. Any claim not filed within that period is barred. Copies of a claim filed with the Clerk must be mailed or delivered to the representative and to the attorney for the estate within ten days after it has been filed.
David D. Shockey, Attorney for the Estate of Rose Mary Howald, Deceased Feb. 23, March 4, 11, 2026
Deborah L Janssen, Leonard J. Bryson Co-Executors Feb. 23 Mar. 4, 11, 2026
Claims against the estate may be filed within six (6) months from the date of first publication, or within three (3) months from the date of mailing or delivery of Notice to creditors, if mailing or delivery is required by Section 5/18-3 of the Illinois Probate Act, 1975, as amended, whichever date is later Any claim not filed by the requisite date stated above shall be barred. Claims against the estate may be filed in the Office of the Circuit Clerk, Ogle County JudicialCenter, 106 South 5th Street, Oregon, IL 61061 or with the estate legal representative, or both.
Copies of a claim filed with the clerk must be mailed or delivered to the representative and to the tt
The attorney for the estate is David D. Shockey of Shockey & Cox, LLC, 208 West Stephenson Street, Freeport, IL 61032 Claims against the Estate may be filed in the office of th Clerk f th
to the representative and to the attorney for the estate within ten days after it has been filed.
David D. Shockey, Attorney for the Estate of Rose Mary Howald, Deceased Feb. 23, March 4, 11, 2026
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FI FTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
OGLE COUNTY, IL LINOIS IN THE ESTATE OF: MELVIN L. FOLKERS, Deceased 2026 PR 9 NOTICE OF CLAIM an d NOTICE TO HEIRS
Notice is given to creditors of the death of Melvin Folkers of Oregon, Illinois. Letters of Office were issued to Barbara Deen, of 7767 W. White Eagle Rd., Leaf River, IL 61047, as Executor, whose attorney of record is Kelly Flessner of Ehrmann Gehlbach Badger & Considine, LLC of 114 E Everett St., Suite 300, Dixon, Illinois 61021. The estate will be administered without court supervision Claims against the estate may be filed in the office of the Clerk of the Court at 106 S Fifth St., Oregon, Illinois 61061, or with the representative, or both, on or before August 17, 2026 which is six (6) months after the date of the first publica tion of this Claim Notice, or, ifmailing or delivering of a notice from the representative is required by section 18-3 of the Probate Act of 1975, the date stated in that notice. Any claim not filed on or before that date is barred.
Illinois. Letters of Office were issued to Barbara Deen, of 7767 W. White Eagle Rd., Leaf River, IL 61047, as Executor, whose attorney of record is Kelly Flessner of Ehrmann Gehlbach Badger & Considine, LLC of 114 E Everett St., Suite 300, Dixon, Illinois 61021. The estate will be administered without court supervision Claims against the estate may be filed in the office of the Clerk of the Court at 106 S Fifth St., Oregon, Illinois 61061, or with the representative, or both, on or before August 17, 2026 which is six (6) months after the date of the first publica tion of this Claim Notice, or, ifmailing or delivering of a notice from the representative is required by section 18-3 of the Probate Act of 1975, the date stated in that notice. Any claim not filed on or before that date is barred. Copies of a claim filed with the clerk must be mailed or delivered to the representative and to the attorney within 10 days after it has been filed.
the representative is required by section 18-3 of the Probate Act of 1975, the date stated in that notice. Any claim not filed on or before that date is barred. Copies of a claim filed with the clerk must be mailed or delivered to the representative and to the attorney within 10 days after it has been filed.
Copies of a claim filed with the clerk must be mailed or delivered to the representative and to the attorney within 10 days after it has been filed.
Notice is also given to the heirs of Ada Folkers and Albert Folkers, including those of Harry B Rhodes, Phyllis White, Lotilla Paap, and Dorothy Shipman, as well as Raymond Rhoads, Marie Folkers, Helen Folkers, and Mabel Folkers, all of whom would be heirs at law of Melvin L. Folkers,
Notice is also given to the heirs of Ada Folkers and Albert Folkers, including those of Harry B Rhodes, Phyllis White, Lotilla Paap, and Dorothy Shipman, as well as Raymond Rhoads, Marie Folkers, Helen Folkers, and Mabel Folkers, all of whom would be heirs at law of Melvin L. Folkers, and whose whereabouts are unknown and are interested in the above proceeding to administer the decedent's estate, and whose addresses are not stated in the Petition, that order was entered by the court on February 2, 2026, opening the Estate and appointing Barbara Deen as Executor.
Within 42 days after the effective date of the original order of admission any heir or legatee may file a petition with the court to require proof of the will by testimony of the witnesses to the will in open court or other evidence, as provided in 755 ILCS 5/6-21 of the Probate Act E-filing is now mandatory for documents in civil cas-
es with limited ex-
Notice is also given to the heirs of Ada Folkers and Albert Folkers, including those of Harry B Rhodes, Phyllis White, Lotilla Paap, and Dorothy Shipman, as well as Raymond Rhoads, Marie Folkers, Helen Folkers, and Mabel Folkers, all of whom would be heirs at law of Melvin L. Folkers, and whose whereabouts are unknown and are interested in the above proceeding to administer the decedent's estate, and whose addresses are not stated in the Petition, that order was entered by the court on February 2, 2026, opening the Estate and appointing Barbara Deen as Executor. Within 42 days after the effective date of the original order of admission any heir or legatee may file a petition with the court to require proof of the will by testimony of the witnesses to the will in open court or other evidence, as provided in 755 ILCS 5/6-21 of the Probate Act E-filing is now mandatory for documents in civil cases with limited exemptions. To efile, you must first create an account with an e-filing service provider. Visit http://efile.illinois courts.gov/serviceproviders.htm to learn more and to select a service provider. If you need additional help or have trouble e-filing, visit http://www.illinois courts.gov/FAQ/ gethelp. asp, or talk with your local circuit clerk's office You also have the right under 755 ILCS 5/8-1 of the Probate Act to contest the validity of the will by filing a petition with the court withi n six months after admission of the will to probate
By: Barbara Deen, Executor
Prepared
by:
Ms. Kelly L. Flessner
and whose whereabouts are unknown and are interested in the above proceeding to administer the decedent's estate, and whose addresses are not stated in the Petition, that order was entered by the court on February 2, 2026, opening the Estate and appointing Barbara Deen as Executor. Within 42 days after the effective date of the original order of admission any heir or legatee may file a petition with the court to require proof of the will by testimony of the witnesses to the will in open court or other evidence, as provided in 755 ILCS 5/6-21 of the Probate Act E-filing is now mandatory for documents in civil cases with limited exemptions. To efile, you must first create an account with an e-filing service provider. Visit http://efile.illinois courts.gov/serviceproviders.htm to learn more and to select a service provider. If you need additional help or have trouble e-filing, visit http://www.illinois courts.gov/FAQ/ gethelp. asp, or talk with your local circuit clerk's office You also have the right under 755 ILCS 5/8-1 of the Probate Act to contest the validity of the will by filing a petition with the court withi n six months after admission of the will to probate
es with limited exemptions. To efile, you must first create an account with an e-filing service provider. Visit http://efile.illinois courts.gov/serviceproviders.htm to learn more and to select a service provider. If you need additional help or have trouble e-filing, visit http://www.illinois courts.gov/FAQ/ gethelp. asp, or talk with your local circuit clerk's office
You also have the right under 755 ILCS 5/8-1 of the Probate Act to contest the validity of the will by filing a petition with the court withi n six months after admission of the will to probate
By: Barbara Deen, Executor
Prepared by:
Ms. Kelly L. Flessner
Ehrmann Gehlbach
Badger & Considine, LLC
114 E. Everett St., Suite 300 Dixon, IL 61021 815-288-4949 flessner@egbclaw. com
Feb. 16, 23, March 4, 2026
Flessner Ehrmann Gehlbach
Badger & Considine, LLC
114 E. Everett St., Suite 300 Dixon, IL 61021 815-288-4949 flessner@egbclaw. com
Feb. 16, 23, March 4, 2026
Notice The Byron Township will be accepting bids for mowing the Byron Cemetery loca ted at the Northwest corner of Mineral & 5th Street in Byron Illinois, consisting of 11.5 acres more or less for the 2026 mowing season. For Specifications and bid packets please contact Byron Cemetery Sexton, Josiah Henson at 815-988-9177. Bids are due at the Byron Township Office, 507 N. Colfax Street, Byron IL 61010 by 6:30 PM on March 12, 2026. Bids may be mailed to “Byron Township - Mowing Bid 2026”, 507 N Colfax Street, Byron IL 61010 or email to supervisor @byroniltownship com with “Byron Township - Mowing Bid 2025” in the subject line Bids will be read March 12, 2026 at 6:45p.m in the Byron Township Office Byron Township reserves the right to accept or reject any and/or all bids.
Colfax Street, Byron IL 61010 by 6:30 PM on March 12, 2026. Bids may be mailed to “Byron Township - Mowing Bid 2026”, 507 N Colfax Street, Byron IL 61010 or email to supervisor @byroniltownship com with “Byron Township - Mowing Bid 2025” in the subject line Bids will be read March 12, 2026 at 6:45p.m in the Byron Township Office
Byron Township reserves the right to accept or reject any and/or all bids.
Barbara Rundle Byron Township Clerk
February 23, 2026
PUBLIC NOTICE
Sealed bids will be received by the Ogle County Highway Department, Oregon, Illinois, until 2:00 P.M. March 6, 2026 for the following Sections:
1. 26-00000-04GM 2026 County Striping
2. 26-00000-01GM County Patching Materials
3. 26-XX000-00GM Township Patching Materials
4. 26-03000-01GM Byron Township Paving
til 2:00 P.M. March 6, 2026 for the following Sections:
1. 26-00000-04GM 2026 County Striping
2. 26-00000-01-
GM County Patching Materials
3. 26-XX000-00GM Township Patching Materials
4. 26-03000-01-
GM Byron Township Paving
5. 26-06000-01GM Flagg Township Paving
6. 26-13000-01GM Marion Township Paving
7. 26-21000-00GM Rockvale Township Cold in Place Recycling
8. 24-10123-00-BR
Leaf River Township Sumner Rd
Bridge
9. 23-22124-00-BR
Scott Township Big Mound Rd
Bridge
Proposals are available at the Ogle County Highway Department, 1989 South IL Rt 2, Oregon, IL between the hours of 7:00 A.M and 3:30
P.M. Monday - Friday. The Road and Bridge Committee reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids.
Ogle County Highway Department, 1989 South IL Rt 2, Oregon, IL between the hours of 7:00 A.M and 3:30 P.M. Monday - Friday. The Road and Bridge Committee reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids.
Feb. 16, 23, 2026
As sumed Name Publication Notice Public Notice is hereby given that on February 10, 2026, a certificate was filed in the Ogle County Clerk's Office setting forth the names and post office address of all of the persons owning, conducting and transacting the business known as:
Come & Go Laundry Taxi
207 S 5th Ave Forreston, IL 61030
Dated: February 10, 2026
s/Rebecca K. Duke Rebecca K. Duke, Ogle County Clerk
Feb. 23, Mar. 4, 11, 2026
5. 26-06000-01GM Flagg Township Paving
6. 26-13000-01GM Marion Township Paving
Feb. 16, 23, 2026
7. 26-21000-00GM Rockvale Township Cold in Place Recycling
Barbara Rundle Byron Township Clerk
February 23, 2026
By: Barbara Deen, Executor
Prepared by: Ms. Kelly L. Flessner
Ehrmann Gehlbach
Badger & Considine, LLC
114 E. Everett St., Suite 300 Dixon, IL 61021
815-288-4949 flessner@egbclaw. com
Feb. 16, 23, March 4, 2026
8. 24-10123-00-BR Leaf River Township Sumner Rd
Bridge
9. 23-22124-00-BR
Scott Township Big Mound Rd
Bridge
Proposals are available at the Ogle County Highway Department, 1989 South IL Rt 2, Oregon, IL between the hours of 7:00 A.M and 3:30 P.M. Monday - Friday. The Road and Bridge Committee reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids. Feb. 16, 23, 2026
Oregon basketball beats Forreston, 72-53
The Oregon varsity boys basketball team beat Forreston, 72-53, in a nonconference game on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at the Blackhawk Center in Oregon.
– Shaw Local News Network
Photos by Earleen Hinton for Shaw Local News Network
TOP LEFT: Oregon’s Cooper Johnson drives in for a basket against Forreston on Feb. 17, at the Blackhawk Center in Oregon. TOP RIGHT: Oregon’s Keaton Salsbury draws contact as he drives between Forreston’s Kendall Erdmann (right) and Johnathan Milnes. ABOVE: Oregon’s Tucker O’Brien (left) and Forreston’s Mickey Probst battle for a loose ball on Feb. 17. LEFT: Oregon’s Benny Olalde passes to the outlet for a fast break against Forreston.
Stillman Valley downs Oregon at 2A regional
Photos by Earleen Hinton for Shaw Local News Network
TOP LEFT: Stillman Valley’s Emma Withers (21) drives to the basket as Oregon’s Shaylee Davis (left) and Lola Schwarz (right) defend at the 2A Winnebago Regional on Feb. 16 at Winnebago High School. TOP RIGHT: Oregon’s Shaylee Davis (center) protects the ball from Stillman Valley’s Dailene Wade (left) and Emma Withers (right) as she drives to the basket on Feb. 16. ABOVE: Stillman Valley’s Alyvia Bagg shoots against Oregon during games Feb. 16 at Winnebago High School. LEFT: Oregon’s Lola Schwarz passes the ball as Stillman Valley’s Emma Withers defends at the 2A Winnebago Regional on Feb. 16.
Stillman Valley beat Oregon, 54-33, at the 2A Winnebago Regional on Monday, Feb. 16, at Winnebago High School. – Shaw Local News Network
Oregon’s Ege state-bound; Polo, SVHS girls get regional wins
By DRAKE LANSMAN dlansman@shawmedia.com
Tuesday, Feb. 10
Boys basketball
Oregon 73, Stillman Valley 39: Benny Olalde scored 25 points to lead the Hawks in the home win. Keaton Salsbury added 15 points and Tucker O’Brien added 11.
Girls basketball
Eastland 54, Polo 42: Sienna Peterson scored 16 points, Tatum Grim (nine rebounds) had 15, and Morgan McCullough added 10 in the Cougars’ win. Cam Jones led Polo with 22 points and Avalyn Henry with nine. Eastland improved to 25-6.
Newman 50, Oregon 18: The Comets jumped out to a 19-4 lead after the first quarter in the dominant road win. Elaina Allen had 12 points, and Lucy Oetting (10 rebounds) added 10 for Newman. Gisselle Martin had 13 rebounds and eight points, and Veronica Haley added nine points and nine boards.
Wednesday, Feb. 11
Boys basketball
Pecatonica 66, Forreston 53: The Cardinals had a five-game win streak snapped in the home loss.
Thursday, Feb. 12
Boys basketball
Fulton 48, Polo 41: Landen Leu led the Steamers with 12 points, while Braedon Meyers and Jacob Voss each scored 11. Mercer Mumford scored 15 points for Polo.
Girls basketball
Oregon 53, Morrison 13: Sarah Eckardt led the Hawks with 15 points, and Aniyah Sarver scored eight in the first quarter of the home win.
Friday, Feb. 13
Boys basketball
Forreston 51, Fulton 47: At Forreston, Kendall Erdmann scored 16 to lead the Cardinals over the Steamers. Connor Politsch added 12 and Drayvon Peters 10 for Forreston (15-13, 4-7 in the NUIC). DeAngelo Dodd scored 12 and Jacob Voss 11 for Fulton (11-17, 6-3).
Saturday, Feb. 14
Girls wrestling
Oregon’s Kendra Ege qualifies for state:
Oregon
left,
14,
Ege was the runner-up at 100 pounds at the DeKalb Sectional after falling to the No. 1 seed, DeKalb senior Alex Gregorio-Perez. Ege, a freshman, won her previous three matches by pin and two technical falls.
Girls basketball
Polo 83, Galva 45: Cam Jones scored 33 points and Carlee Grobe had 25 in the regional quarterfinal win. Polo will face Bureau Valley in Tuesday’s semifinal at Galva at 7:30 p.m. The Storm beat Morrison 51-11.
Orion 54, Forreston 50: The Cardinals fell short in the 1A regional quarterfinal matchup. Xairyn Goeddeke scored 20 points and Hailee Vogt had 18 for Forreston.
Stillman Valley 54, Oregon 33: Sarah Eckardt and Aniyah Sarver each scored 13 points for the fifth-seeded Hawks in the 2A Winnebago Regional semifinal setback. Dailene Wade led the Cardinals
Polo’s Camrynn Jones (4) fends off Eastland’s Tatum Grim (20) during a fast break on Feb. 10, at Eastland High School in Lanark.
with 22 points. Oregon (18-14) finished with its first winning season since going 19-12 in 2014 under Kristy Eckardt.
Boys basketball Mendota 71, Oregon 62: Benny Olalde led the Hawks with 21 points in the setback. Cooper Johnson and Brian Wallace each had 12. Aden Tillman led Mendota with 21 points. Oregon led 31-30 at halftime.
David Toney for Shaw Local News Network
wrestler Kendra Ege,
competes against Alex Gregorio-Perez of DeKalb in the 100-pound weight class in the sectional championship round on Feb.
held at DeKalb High School.
Earleen Hinton for Shaw Local News Network
SPORTS
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
1968: Wilt Chamberlain becomes first NBA player to score 25,000 points.
1980: Spped skater Eric Heiden wins 10,000 meters and sweeps 5 events at Lake Placid Winter games
Monday, February 23, 2026
BOXING OUT
Forreston’s Brennan Byers won the battle of the boards on this play but the Cardinals fell to Oregon, 72-53 / 37
Forreston’s Brennan Byers brings down a rebound against Oregon on Feb. 17 at the Blackhawk Center in Oregon.
