Northern Rehab expands Northern Rehab recently announced an expansion to better serve its patients. Section B
ROCK VALLEY SHOPPER
VOLUME 37, ISSUE 17
MONDAY JULY 14, 2025
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1 dead after skydiving accident in Rochelle 2nd skydiver injured, investigation indicates mid-air collision
BY JEFF HELFRICH MANAGING EDITOR
Messer retires from OCSO The Ogle County Sheriff’s Office announced the retirement of Lt. Jamie Messer after 30 years. Page 8
Ribbon cutting held for mural A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the new Rochelle VFW mural on. Page 5
ROCHELLE — One skydiver passed away following a Wednesday evening skydiving accident near Chicagoland Skydiving Center and the Rochelle Municipal Airport, a release from Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle said Wednesday night. At approximately 6:50 p.m. the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a skydiving incident involving an uncontrolled descent in the area of 8887 S. Illinois Route 251 in Rochelle. Upon arrival, deputies located a male subject in the parking lot of the facility who had suffered significant injuries. He was transported to Rochelle Community
Hospital by the Rochelle Fire Department, where he was later pronounced deceased, the release said. The individual was identified as a 40-year-old male. His name is being withheld pending family notification. A second skydiver involved in the incident was located at Koritz Field at the Rochelle Municipal Airport and was also transported to RCH with minor injuries, the release said. Preliminary investigation indicates the two skydivers collided mid-air, resulting in canopy collapses for both individuals. Reserve parachutes were deployed, but the collision led to the uncontrolled descent of one skydiver, VanVickle’s release said. The area of 8887 S. Illinois Route 251 is lo-
(PHOTO BY JEFF HELFRICH)
One skydiver passed away following a Wednesday evening skydiving accident near Chicagoland Skydiving Center and the Rochelle Municipal Airport, a release from Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle said Wednesday night.
cated across the road from the Rochelle Municipal Airport and Chicagoland Skydiving Center. The incident remains under investigation by the Ogle County Sheriff’s
Office in coordination with federal authorities. Further information will be released as it becomes available, the sheriff ’s release said Wednesday night.
A message to Ogle County Life subscribers The subscribers of the Ogle County Life did not receive the print copy of their newspaper on Monday, July 7 due to unforeseen circumstances with our printing process. Monday’s paper only ran online and can still be found at oglecountylife. com. The Life would like to apologize to its subscribers for any inconvenience. This paper features stories from the Monday edition along with current news and happenings from the Ogle County area. The Life appreciates the support of our subscribers and the community, each and every day. Jeff Helfrich, Managing Editor
Stillman Valley’s Seaworth served 23 years active duty as U.S. Army pilot, officer ‘It prepared me for what else would come in life...’ BY JEFF HELFRICH MANAGING EDITOR
WEATHER
MONDAY
HIGH LOW
TUESDAY
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85 61 87 68
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
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85 70
77 65
FRIDAY
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72 60 82 58
OBITUARIES
STILLMAN VALLEY — After growing up in Holcomb, Stacy Seaworth commissioned into the United States Army in 1994 as a second lieutenant out of the Illinois State University ROTC program as an aviation officer. Seaworth, now a Stillman Valley resident, spent the next 23 years on active duty and retired from the service in 2017 as a lieutenant colonel. Seaworth’s duty assignments over the years included Fort Rucker, Alabama; Heidelberg Army Airfield in Germany; Fort Huachuca in Arizona, Hunter Army Airfield, the University of Iowa, Camp Arifjan in Kuwait, Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, COB Speicher in Iraq, Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii, Camp Al Udeid in Qatar, and Camp Humphreys in Korea. Seaworth was first
(PHOTO BY JEFF HELFRICH)
Changes Counseling now has been in business for 15 years with offices currently in Rochelle and Peru.
(COURTESY PHOTO)
After growing up in Holcomb, Stacy Seaworth commissioned into the United States Army in 1994 as a second lieutenant out of the Illinois State University ROTC program as an aviation officer.
trained as a helicopter pilot, as all Army aviators are. She was at flight school at Fort Rucker for 18 months and went on to train in fixedwing flight. Her career in the air included mostly military intelligence collection and VIP transport in fixed-wing aircraft. “I flew missions when I was stationed overseas as a pilot, which was on top
of my officer day job in the Army,” Seaworth said. “I worked in logistics and operations as an officer and commanded three different units. You serve both as a pilot and as a leader. My dad served in the Air Force long before I was born. He did radar technician work.” See SEAWORTH page 9
Changes Counseling marks 15 years: ‘We continue the tradition of helping others’ BY JEFF HELFRICH MANAGING EDITOR
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 avail-
able 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. See CHANGES pg 2
• Bradley ‘Brad’ J. Cox • John T. Spradlin • Jeremy Walter Bolisenga • Dorothy A. Springer • Robert ‘Bob’ John Piros • Keith Henry Padgett See pages 3-4
INSERTS • Felker Foods • Polo Foods • Menards • Snyder Pharmacy • Runnings
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