ByronFest set for July 11-13 The 2025 ByronFest will take place from July 11-13. Several events will be held at the festival. Section B
ROCK VALLEY SHOPPER
VOLUME 37, ISSUE 17
Visit www.oglecountylife.com
MONDAY JULY 7, 2025
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Ogle County's most widely read weekly newspaper!
Changes Counseling marks 15 years ‘We continue the tradition of helping others’
BY JEFF HELFRICH MANAGING EDITOR
Pie & Ice Cream Social is July 16 The Mt. Morris Pie & Ice Cream Social is set for July 16. Page 8
Oregon Lions make donation The Oregon Lions Club donated to the Ogle County Sheriff’s K9 Unit. Page 4
WEATHER
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84 70 83 66
WEDNESDAY
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81 64 80 67
FRIDAY
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79 64 79 64 OBITUARIES None
INSERTS • Felker Foods • Polo Foods • Menards • Farm & Fleet • Snyder Pharmacy
ROCHELLE — Changes Counseling began because Christine Novak wanted to go on maternity leave. In 2010, she had an independent practice working out of Mendota Community Hospital when she became pregnant with her third child. Instead of telling clients she wouldn’t be available for three months, she hired another therapist to help. Changes Counseling now has been in business for 15 years with offices currently in Rochelle and Peru. Novak serves as its director as well as still working as a therapist. Over 15 years, Changes Counseling has learned to adapt to changes in the counseling field. It has opened and closed offices, added and lost therapists, adapted to telehealth services and continued to learn and grow. It offers individual, couple, youth and family counseling to people of all ages. “Fifteen years later, the same intention holds true,” Novak said. “We focus on helping others while we’re helping ourselves. We have helped people recover from depression, get back to work after debilitating anxiety, helped families stabilize and supported families with ADHD and Autism. We have literally saved hundreds of lives as we give clients skills to navigate life after a suicide attempt. We have helped couples and families reconnect and rebuild after divorce. We have helped kids over-
(PHOTO BY JEFF HELFRICH)
Over 15 years, Changes Counseling has learned to adapt to changes in the counseling field. It has opened and closed offices, added and lost therapists, adapted to telehealth services and continued to learn and grow.
come their fears, stand up to bullies and succeed in school and beyond.” Novak thanked the Northern Illinois community for its support over 15 years, along with community partners and clients. Changes Counseling currently has availability for new clients at its Rochelle and Peru offices and through its online confidential teletherapy. The business accepts most insurance companies. See CHANGES COUNSELING page 2
(COURTESY PHOTO)
Local resident Jason King recently took second place in the straight truck division at the 2025 Truck Driving Championships (TDC) State Truck Rodeo in Tinley Park June 6-7.
King places 2nd in straight truck division at TDC State Truck Rodeo BY JEFF HELFRICH MANAGING EDITOR
ROCHELLE — Jason King recently took second place in the straight truck
division at the 2025 Truck Driving Championships (TDC) State Truck Rodeo in Tinley Park June 6-7. See KING page 3
Ogle County releases letter addressing claims of permitting animal cruelty OREGON — The following is a June 26 letter by Ogle County Board Chairman Bruce Larson addressing claims of Ogle County permitting animal cruelty. “The Ogle County Board believes it necessary to set the record straight on this issue. In 2012 a permanent special use permit was issued to the property located at 16989 Ritchie Road, Rochelle, for a rodeo. The only conditions placed on the permit were that all activity ends by 1 a.m. and there is no loud activity after midnight. The permanent special use stays with the property until the conditions of the special use have been violated or a request by the landowner to change or remove the permit. The special use permit cannot be removed for violations of the conditions prescribed without evidence the conditions were violated and must go through the
due process of hearings before the special use permit can be revoked. Ogle County contacted the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Animal Health and Welfare to get the department’s help with the issues raised by the outside entities making claims of animal abuse. The department’s humane investigator advised that they would not be getting involved and that it is very difficult to regulate rodeos under existing law because animals can get hurt in rodeos, shows and even in pastures. The act of ‘steer tailing’ is not specifically illegal under Illinois law. In the just-concluded Illinois legislative session a law introduced that would make ‘steer tailing’ illegal failed to pass. Another complicating factor is that the Illinois Attorney General Civil Rights Bureau sent a letter cautioning the Boone County
Board against acting against ‘Mexican Rodeos’ after the board attempted to regulate said activity. The letter stated, ‘[t]he State of Illinois is committed to protecting the civil rights of all Illinois residents, which include the right to live free from unlawful discrimination. We urge the board to ensure that it is complying with its obligations under all applicable anti-discrimination laws, both with respect to special and temporary use permitting and related ordinances, and in carrying out all other aspects of its duties.’ Perhaps those people wanting Ogle County to do something they cannot do should channel their efforts in a direction that may become more fruitful such as lobbying their state representatives to specifically outlaw ‘steer tailing’ or completing a witness slip for SB 45. Unfortunately, rather
than working on a solution to the issue, these out-of-county entities have engaged in the repeated email and telephone harassment of the Ogle County Board, Sheriff, State’s Attorney, Zoning, & Animal Control. Further, these same outside organizations have encouraged the making of false 911 calls which is illegal and could impact Ogle County residents receiving services in the event of a real emergency. Ogle County does not condone animal cruelty. Ogle County cannot simply ‘Deny the permit.’ It was approved 13 years ago in perpetuity if the conditions of the permit have not been violated. Ogle County cannot simply ‘arrest people’who have caused an injury to an animal. And Ogle County cannot ‘simply ban’ the activity as the Illinois Attorney General’s office had made that abundantly clear.”