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The REC Center in Rochelle marks 5 years
Facility
saw use by 123,395 total drop-ins and members in 2025
By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
The REC Center in Rochelle recently celebrated the five-year anniversary of its opening.
The Flagg-Rochelle Community Park District opened the $14 million facility at 802 Jones Road on Dec. 1, 2020. It offers a four-court gymnasium, indoor turf, a fitness center, multi-purpose rooms, an indoor walking track and an aquatic center with two pools.
Park District Executive Director Jackee Ohlinger called the past five years “fabulous” following challenges brought about by opening the new facility during the COVID-19 pandemic. Memberships were sold before The REC opened. With the pandemic, the park district pivoted to selling only short-term passes upon opening. In May 2021 when restrictions eased it went back to the membership strategy. Membership numbers have grown from 1,600 to about 2,400 today, Ohlinger said.
“I think our staff has really weathered the storm and now we can move forward and Rochelle can reap all the benefits from this place,” Ohlinger said. “We’ve had so many successes over five years. One of the best things I hear is, ‘What were we doing before The REC?’ I can’t tell you how many times I hear that from people in the facility. We have hundreds of people use the facility during any given evening. Hearing those things and seeing the smiles on their faces makes those past obstacles fade away.”
Ohlinger said she’s seen how The REC has become a gathering space for the community. Each Tuesday and Thursday the facility hosts a senior stretch and fit class, which outgrew its fitness classroom and multi-purpose room and is now done on the basketball courts.
Many attendees of that class stay after to socialize, Ohlinger said. The REC has over 400 seniors that utilize memberships to The REC through their insurance plans at no cost to them.
Ohlinger said program offerings at The REC have expanded over the past five years, which she credited Park District Director of Recreation Maureen Stevens for. The park district’s youth sports programs this winter saw record numbers, drawing from areas surrounding Rochelle.
Winter nights at The REC often see a full facility and parking lot, which Ohlinger said brings with it a sense of community.
“Seeing this place filled up on a busy night is incredibly rewarding for me,” Ohlinger said. “It makes me emotional to think about. This place is my family. Our staff does such a good job of being dedicated to the cause of Rochelle. I couldn’t be more proud. On a cool winter night, there are hundreds of people utilizing this place. I think one of my favorite things is seeing the pickup basketball or kickball games. Seeing the different age groups and talents coming together just to have fun and be active is amazing.”
The REC Center saw 99,800 drop-ins and member check-ins in 2022. That number increased to 104,000 in 2023, to 110,523 in 2024 and 123,395 in 2025. Those numbers do not include spectators, coaches, team players in leagues, programs, swim lesson participants and meeting group participants.
Ohlinger said she will be interested to see what long-term impact The REC has on the community, such as participation in Rochelle schools sports and the overall health of Rochelle residents.
Membership numbers at The REC are starting to reach a point where park district leadership previously theorized a leveling off due to the area’s demographics, Ohlinger said.
“Although our membership may level off here pretty soon, we can continue to strengthen The REC by enhancing our programs, services and overall membership,” Ohlinger said. “In 2026, our focus is raising the bar and taking this place to the next level.”
The idea of a recreational center in Rochelle was discussed for 50 years before the construction of The REC. Ohlinger recalls working for the park district as superintendent of recreation in the 1990s and hearing it talked about then. She became executive director in 2018 and worked to help bring it to fruition.
“It’s amazing to see how it is now,” Ohlinger said. “The past and current board members have had incredible vision. They’re dedicated to the Rochelle community and I’m honored to just be a small part of that. We’re proud of what we’ve achieved and we remain committed to our mission moving forward.”
Ohlinger said the park district is looking at “a lot of” potential new programming for The REC Center, which now has its flow in place, and staff members understand the purpose it can serve for the community.
“Every recreation center is different and depends on the community they’re in,” Ohlinger said. “We took the time to see what The REC would be to this community and how it functions and flows with usage and clientele. And now that we have a good grasp on that, we can really advance. We have people stay to just socialize after they have an activity of some sort. People meet friends here for activities. It really has become the hub of the community, which is perfect for Rochelle.”
The City of Rochelle and Rochelle Municipal Utilities held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, Jan. 12, for RMU’s new wellhouse at Well 8.
Jeff Helfrich ON THE COVER
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Jeff Helfrich
The REC Center, located at 802 Jones Road in Rochelle, is celebrating its 5-year anniversary.
City, RMU hold ribbon-cutting for new well house
By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
Rochelle and Rochelle Municipal Utilities held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday for RMU’s new well house at Well 8 off Caron Road.
Well 8 is in the heart of Rochelle’s industrial park and was originally constructed in 1961. In the 1990s, high iron levels were detected and the well was taken offline. As industrial expansion continued, the need to meet water demand rose and a study was done to see if Well 8 could be repaired to make it a viable water source.
Work began to secure funding and build a new well house that would house an iron removal filter. In fall 2024, the construction of the new well house
began. The $7.4 million project was 100% funded through the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency State Revolving Fund with full principal forgiveness.
Well 8 will now use a pressure filtering system to remove iron, with the capability to remove radium if the need arises. It is designed to pump and treat 2.6 million gallons per day with the well drilled at a depth of 1,000 feet.
“This is probably my favorite water
project we’ve done, because we know we’ve had issues with iron here for the longest time,” City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh said at the ribbon cutting. “This wouldn’t be possible without an amazing mayor and city council that continue to support infrastructure upgrades. In the eight years I’ve been here we’ve spent roughly $100 million on infrastructure reinvestments across all departments. That’s only because our
mayor and City Council support us in those endeavors.”
RMU Superintendent of Water/ Water Reclamation Adam Lanning said that when he started with the city in 2014, he started questioning where the iron problems came from. A split casing was found as the problem and a fix was attempted in 2020. Due to a bend in the well when it was drilled, the fix could not be made.
The city then decided to build an iron removal plant, and eventually received the principal forgiveness opportunity.
“We’re using chlorine to remove the iron,” Lanning said. “We’re set up for the future if we have a radium problem. We have the infrastructure to remove radium without any added cost. This is one of five wells we have in town. We have a capacity of about 9.6 billion gallons per day city wide. Since 2014, this is the last well we’ve completely rebuilt brand new. It’s all done above ground. We’re proud of it. We’ve spent over $20 million on our wells and roughly half of that was forgiven.”
Jeff Helfrich
Rochelle Mayor John Bearrows speaks Jan. 12 at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Rochelle Municipal Utilities’ new wellhouse at Well 8.
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Continued from page 3
Rochelle Mayor John Bearrows thanked RMU’s water and water reclamation teams for their work on the project and in general.
“We’re not here to just cut a ribbon on a well,” Bearrows said. “We’re here to cut a ribbon on a project that sustains life in Rochelle. Water is the No. 1 element to supporting life. It’s not just supporting life. What if our fire department went to a fire and there was no water in the hydrants? It’s a key element for our community with safety and supporting life. We go to the sink and turn the faucet on and we don’t even think about all the things that are going on in the background to make that possible. I really appreciate everything our team does.”
The ribbon-cutting was the final city event for Fiegenschuh, who is leaving the city to take on the position of city administrator in Washington, Illinois, after eight years as Rochelle’s city manager.
Bearrows thanked Fiegenschuh for his work on the Well 8 project and the other endeavors the city has taken on over eight years.
at Well 8.
“He has been great to work with,” Bearrows said. “There have been so many projects that have come about during his time here. I want to thank
Water is the No. 1 element to supporting life. It’s not just supporting life. What if our fire department went to a fire and there was no water in the hydrants? It’s a key element for our community with safety and supporting life. We go to the sink and turn the faucet on and we don’t even think about all the things that are going on in the background to make that possible. I really appreciate everything our team does.”
our City Council. Jeff’s job is to find the money and Adam did that work on this project, too. I want to thank Jeff for everything he’s done. Without his leadership, it would be very tough for the City Council. Thanks to everyone who made this happen. It’s another great project for the city of Rochelle.”
Jeff Helfrich
Rochelle Municipal Utilities Superintendent of Water/Water Reclamation Adam Lanning speaks Jan. 12 at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for RMU’s new wellhouse
John Bearrows, Rochelle mayor
Investigator: ’16 Ogle County fatal house fire was set
By EARLEEN HINTON
Shaw Local News Network correspondent
An investigator with the State Fire Marshal’s Office told Ogle County jurors on Friday that a 2016 fire at a teacher’s home in Byron started on or near the couch where her body was found.
“It was obvious that the fire originated from the area of that couch,” testified Gregory Castronovo, an investigator for the State Fire Marshal’s Office. “The fire was extremely heavy on her mid-torso. The entire surface of her body was damaged by the fire.”
Castronovo’s testimony came on the fourth day of the jury trial for Duane “DC” Meyer, 43, of Stillman Valley. He is charged with killing his ex-wife, Margaret “Maggie” (Rosko) Meyer, 31, and then setting her Byron home on fire with their 3-year-old son inside.
Meyer, referred to as DC during the trial, is charged with four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated arson and one count of concealment of a homicidal death in connection with the Oct. 19, 2016, house fire in which Mag-
from the couch indicated to him that the origin of the fire was on the sofa in the first-floor living room where Maggie’s burned body was found in the morning fire. He said damage to the ceiling of the basement – directly below where the sofa was located – also pointed to the fire starting on the sofa.
He said he found no evidence that the fire started from electrical or mechanical issues or a cigarette or candle, ruling the fire as incendiary (purposely set) and not accidental in nature.
He said the greatest amount of damage was found in the center of Maggie’s body. The kitchen area also had smoke damage, with items covered with soot.
gie was found dead.
The couple’s 3-year-old son, Amos Meyer, who was in an upstairs bedroom in the home at the time of the fire, was later pronounced dead at a Rockford hospital.
DC Meyer has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges and has been held in the
Ogle County Jail since his arrest Oct. 9, 2019.
Maggie was a teacher at the Chana Education Center at the time of her death. She filed for divorce in 2014, and court records show the divorce was finalized in September 2016.
Castronovo said the “V” burn pattern
He said smoke and carbon monoxide from the fire traveled upstairs to the bedroom where Amos was asleep. Castronovo said the outline of the toddler’s body that could be seen on the mattress in his crib was caused by soot from the smoke.
He said the fire smoldered for some time, but he could not say as to how long or when it started. He said he responded to the scene about an hour after the fire
See MEyER on page 19
Earleen Hinton for Shaw Local News Network
Assistant Ogle County State’s Attorney Matthew Leisten (far left) shows photographs that were taken by crime scene investigators at Maggie Meyer’s home after she was discovered dead on the first floor. This photo shows the damage to the home’s basement following the fire. Her ex-husband, Duane C. Meyer (far right), is on trial, accused of killing her and setting the home on fire.
Gerber, Van Gonser, Matilda Goodwin, Caden Green, Mark Harris, Reece Henning, Bobbie Hernandez, Miranda Higueros Lopez, Samuel Hill, Corrie Horner, Ava Hull, Brooklyn
Hunley, Miles Johnson, Andrew Kemp, Audyn Koziol, Annaliese Lara, Abigail Lewis, Macy Lozano-Barragan, Ashley Macias, Cammyla Macklin, Connor Martinez, Jorge Mascote, Christian
Mayen, Elijah Messer, Anna Metzger, Brode Metzger, Ian Mickley, Emori Molgas Báez, Gabriel Molina, Rene Montes, Gabriel Mortensen, Caleb Munoz, Hugo Nasca, Frank
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Dorwaldt, Izabel Downing, Mackayla Etes, Dylan Etes, Tyler Faivre, Natalie Garcia, Danny Good, Magdalene Groves, Kathryn Hansen, Marcus Heller, Emma Herrera, Rafael
Hill, Cloe Holmgren, Cooper Horn, Ty Hunley, Connor Isham, Dylan Lara, Amor Lassiter, Joshua Lewis, Connor Lopez, Amy Lopez, Arturo Losoya, Sophia
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Johnson, Piper
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SENIORS
Albers, Keagan
Bonilla, Alessandra
Bonilla, Aliyah
Cacique, Estefania
Cortes Rodriguez, Miriam
Cortes, Brandon
Dorwaldt, Sean
Dreska, Zachary
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Hernandez, Emely
Ibarra, Brittany
Kettleson, Jack
Kopec, Jayme
Logan, Brianna
Martin, AJ
McGee, Declan
Mulholland, Jorja
O’Dell, Victor
Rodriguez, Marely
Schabacker, Deegan
Tabor, Rylin
Tenorio, Abril
Villalobos, Roman
Ward, Mia
Wilson, Savanna
JUNIORS
Albertson, German
Becerra, Alejandro
Beckman, Joseph
Bruns, Brody
Cacique, Emy
Damask, Kami
Elshoff, Savannah
Gensler, Tyler
Gittleson, Isaac
Guzman Nambo, Diana
Hernandez, Aaron
Rochelle Township High School
1st Semester Progress Report Honor Roll
JUNIORS CONTINUED
Hernandez, Alexia
Hudzik, Olivia
Hueramo, Jayden
Huerta, Andrew
Losoya, Abygail
Malone, Raelynn
Mashaw, Aiyana
McQuillian, Jon
Metzger, Briel
Metzger, Camryn
Munoz, Samantha
Olazagasti, Carlos
Pizano, Albertina
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Somers, Trey
Soto, Alexa
Walsh, Jasmine
Wells, Bryson
Welter, Christopher
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Andrews, Abbigail
Bergschneider, Kyler
Blas, Tania
Carmichael, Charlie
Carmichael, Tyson
Dougherty, Abigail
Escobar, Alexis
Esquivel, Rodolfo
Fore, Madison
Garcia, Danny
Garcia, Jesus
Garcia, Odalis
Heal, Delaney
Hernandez-Turcios, Anna
Jones, Trinity
Landa, Landin
Lawrence, Cristopher
SOPHOMORES CONTINUED
Ledesma Cruz, Maria
LeFevre, Lydia
Lopez, Aidan
Louis, Maggie
Ludwig, Madison
Metzger, Emma
Milan, Eric
Millard, Clara
Myers, Isabella
Nava-Barrientos, Jayden
Olguin, Gianna
Ramsey, Jackson
Rodriguez, Audrina
Schweitzer, Elijah
Schweitzer, Nolen
Suneson, Margaret
Taylor, Abigail
Taylor, Mackenzie
Truckenbrod, Alexander Villavicencio, Mia
Williams, Ariana
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Arrez, Ryan
Atkinson, Chase
Battershell, Wyatt
Bruns, Braxton
Burgins, Caelynn
Bybee, Gabe
Calderon, Dayana
David, Lucas
Dettman, Olyvia
Farthing, Alayna
Foster, Gavyn
Fry, Kylyn
Garcia, Daniel
Garcia, Daniela
FRESHMEN CONTINUED
Heitkamp, Owen
Hernandez, Alexander Hernandez, Efrain
Hernandez, Juliahna
Hueramo, Ariana
Jaradat, Jehan
Kettleson, Charles
Kissack, Tess
Law, Alivia
Licastro, Cristin
Lira, Nevaeh
Lopez, Diana
Macias, Charlie
McGee, Braley
McKinney, Declan
McMeekan, Braydon
Metz, Kiara
Molgas Báez, Sara
Nay, Wakeley
Norberto Gonzalez, Camila
O’Rorke, Eviana
Reed, Norah
Riddell, Jamie
Rodriguez, Celeste
Rohrdanz-Miller, Bentley
Schabacker, Georgia
Shah, Om
Shelby, Blake
Smardo, Mayson
Smith, Riley
Soto, Joel
Sutton, Tyler
Swords, Lillian
Tartaglia, Zeagan
Tornabene, Vincent
Torres, Keyler
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REMEMBER WHEN ...
Memorial Garden pays tribute to Diane McNeilly
‘Each role [McNeilly] embraced played a vital part in the shaping of the future of Rochelle’
Editor’s note: The Rochelle News Leader is taking a look back at some of the stories published in celebration of 175 years of Shaw Media.
By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
The city of Rochelle honored longtime community leader Diane McNeilly on Aug. 26 with a ribbon cutting and dedication of a memorial garden at North Seventh Street and 10th Avenue.
On Tuesday, Aug. 26, a ribbon cutting and dedication were held for the Diane McNeilly Memorial Garden at the intersection of North Sevent Street and 10th Avenue in Rochelle.
McNeilly, who died in late 2023 at the age of 79, was an active community leader and volunteer, serving on many boards and working to bring about change within the city. The city of Rochelle erected the garden at the site in recent years and chose to dedicate it to her, along with a bench that bears her name, provided by the Rochelle Kiwanis Golden K Club. The garden is near McNeilly’s former home.
The ribbon cutting and dedication were hosted by the Rochelle Chamber of Commerce and the city of Rochelle. Speakers included Chamber Executive Director Tricia Herrera, Mayor John
Bearrows and McNeilly’s daughter, Kristine.
“Everyone has a story about Diane and how special she was and what she taught them and how instrumental she was,” Herrera said. “Right up until she passed away, she was still doing all of those things and promoting Rochelle and telling everyone how wonderful it was. It’s a wonderful way to celebrate someone who was so proud of our community and steeped in the history of it. We are so fortunate.
“She was a great educator. People like that are the heart of Rochelle and are what small-town pride is all about. We are thankful to the family for sharing her with us. We’re happy that people can come to this beautiful space and have a seat on the bench and honor her and her dedication,” she said.
McNeilly worked at Kishwaukee College from 1969-2000 and served in multiple
See gaRdEN on page 18
Jeff Helfrich
Dentistry
positions there, including vice president of instruction. Outside of her professional life, McNeilly had decades of involvement in the Rochelle community through a number of governing boards, nonprofits and civic organizations. She had a passion for sports and recreation, which led to her involvement in Spring Lake Pool, founding the Rochelle Rays Swim Club and serving as a Flagg-Rochelle Park District commissioner.
McNeilly also served on the Rochelle Township High School District board, the city of Rochelle’s Planning & Zoning Commission and the Downtown Rochelle Association. McNeilly was integral in the creation of LOTS (LeeOgle Transportation System) and the Hub City Senior Center. That allowed for more public transportation for seniors and residents in general in the city and area, something McNeilly was passionate about. McNeilly had a passion for political activism, especially civil rights, which led to her years of leadership of Rochelle’s League of Women Voters organization.
Bearrows called McNeilly “a
Along with her community activism, McNeilly also wrote a popular “Dear Diane” column in the News-Leader, educating readers about health and fitness and inspiring others.
“She approached her civic duties with the same seriousness and passion she devoted to her family and friends,” Bearrows said. “As we stand here today, let us remember her not only for her achievements, but for the spirit of community service she instilled in all of us. May this park serve as the Diane McNeilly Memorial Garden, a place where her memory can inspire future generations to contribute to the betterment of our community just as she did.”
Kristine McNeilly recalled attending community events with her mother, and she thanked the community for embracing her mother.
remarkable individual” who he remembers for dedication and commitment.
“Diane served in every role she undertook with an exceptional level of commitment, always prioritizing the well-being of her community over her personal preferences,” Bearrows said. “It’s fitting that we dedicate this garden and bench in her memory and even more special that this site lies behind
the last house she lived in and cherished. This location symbolizes the deep roots that she planted in Rochelle and reminds us of her lasting impact on our lives.
“Diane was filled with dedication. Her contributions were vast and each role she embraced played a vital part in the shaping of the future of Rochelle,” he said.
“The neat thing is this was a place that let her be who she was,” Kristine McNeilly said. “Rochelle became a place that she called home. She moved into this house behind us, overlooking this garden. This being her space is beautiful. And she loved flowers. Even though she’s not here, there’s so much of her here. This is all that she’d ever want. Thanks to the community for being a place she could be herself. She loved it here.”
Jeff Helfrich
Rochelle Mayor John Bearrows speaks at the Diane McNeilly Memorial Garden dedication on Aug. 26 in Rochelle.
was reported at 6:34 a.m.
“The fire burned for some time,” Castronovo said, adding that it was unlikely the fire started at 5 a.m. as suggested by Patrick Moore, one of DC’s defense attorneys, during cross-examination. “Based on my experience, for a fire to do that much damage, it was unlikely set a short while before.”
Sam South, who worked with DC at the Nippon Sharyo plant in Rochelle in 2016, testified that DC made a comment to him before Maggie’s death. Under questioning by Assistant Ogle County State’s Attorney Allison Huntley, South said he knew DC was going through a divorce and he made a comment to him when referring to a wooden box located on the floor of the mechanical area of the factory.
“He said, ‘If could get her in this box all my troubles would be over,’” South testified.
On cross-examination, South said he could not recall the date the comment was made and did not report it to anyone.
“I didn’t think it was serious. I thought he was just venting,” South said.
Late Friday afternoon, the state presented text message records from DC and Catherine Mearns’s cellphones. Mearns was Meyer’s girlfriend in 2016.
Defense attorney Christopher DeRango objected to those records being entered as evidence, arguing that the state had not laid a proper foundation and not shown a clear change of custody path between police agencies.
Ogle County Judge John “Ben” Roe denied DeRango’s motion and allowed Illinois State Police Lt. Nate Macklin to testify and read text messages extracted from DC and Mearns’s phones.
That testimony, followed by cross-examination by DeRango, went past 5 p.m. The trial is scheduled to resume on Tuesday, Jan. 20, since Monday is a court holiday.
Thursday recap of testimony
On Thursday, two forensic pathologists testified they found ante-mortem injuries on Maggie’s body that occurred before her death. Both said she died before her body was found in the living room of the home, but could not give a definitive cause of death.
Dr. Mark Peters of Rockton said Maggie’s body was burned “100 percent” with charring covering her entire body. He said some of the injuries she suffered were from the heat of the fire, which caused limbs to be distorted and one femur to break.
Peters and Dr. Hilary McElligott of the DuPage County Coroner’s Office said no
soot was found in her throat or lungs, indicating that she was dead when the fire occurred. Examinations of her internal organs found fluid in her lung, which was indicative of a prolonged death, possibly by strangulation. Peters and McElligott said they both found hemorrhaging on the lower part of her scalp and on her back posterior shoulder and neck. Examinations of her skin for other areas of predeath injuries were made impossible by the severe charring from the fire.
McElligott said the charring on Maggie’s body was “extensive” and could have masked other injuries.
However, she said an internal examination under the skin showed hemorrhaging and clotted blood on the skull, beneath the scalp, which indicated some type of blunt trauma before she died.
McElligott said DNA samples were unable to be taken from the body due to the “significant disruption of tissue” due to the extensive thermal injuries.
Peters said Amos died by asphyxia from carbon monoxide from the fire, indicated by soot in his larynx.
Also testifying on Thursday was Timothy Gray, a senior analyst with Verizon, who was called to testify about cell phone records requested in 2016 by investigators. Gray started to testify to spreadsheets that prosecutors say listed calls, texts and cell tower locations, but defense attorney Patrick Moore raised many objections as to the accuracy of the data and the foundation for how it was provided on a spreadsheet.
That issue was argued for 90 minutes outside the presence of the jury.
Leisten argued that the data on the spreadsheets was compiled from data secured from a 2016 search warrant from the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office.
After reviewing arguments and case law, Roe allowed Leisten to continue questioning Gray over DeRango’s objection.
Prosecutors have argued that their evidence – which includes cellphone data and messages – will show DC planned to end Maggie’s life. But the defense has argued that texts sent by DC before the deaths were only part of a “contentious” divorce, were taken out of context and not indicative of anything nefarious.
More state witnesses are scheduled to testify next week, with the trial expected to take up to two more weeks.
Prosecutors say they will prove DC “attacked and murdered” Maggie while Amos was sleeping in his upstairs bedroom.
Defense attorneys told jurors that while the deaths were a “heartbreaking tragedy,” DC was not responsible and the state’s case was based solely on circumstantial evidence.
ROCHELLE VETERINARY HOSPITAL
Rochelle man dies, 1 injured in Sunday morning fire on South Thorpe Road west of Rochelle
By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
A Rochelle man was identified as the victim of an early Sunday morning fire on South Thorpe Road west of Rochelle, Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle said Monday.
James Supancic, 84, of Rochelle, was killed in the blaze, VanVickle said. The Ogle County Sheriff’s Office and area fire personnel were called at 2:07 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 18, to 6080 S. Thorpe Road for the structure fire.
der to the upstairs windows to locate Supancic, to no avail.
“With the wind and the home being in the country, the fire spread pretty quickly,” Sawlsville said, “That was a situation where we wouldn’t put firefighters on the second floor due to safety. We had more response come and the home was fully involved with fire and we took a more defensive approach. We had to fight the fire from outside. The rest of our time there was spent on debris removal and locating the deceased.”
Upon arrival, the second story of the house was completely engulfed in flames. The Rochelle Fire Department extinguished the fire with assistance from surrounding agencies.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau and the Illinois State Fire Marshal. VanVickle said the preliminary cause of the fire is suspected to be a supplemental heat source.
Sawlsville said 911 was called by a second resident in the home, who was taken to Rochelle Community Hospital and then OSF St. Anthony Medical Center in Rockford with burns and smoke inhalation.
RFD Chief Dave Sawlsville said Monday that after arriving to the home’s second floor being fully engulfed in flames, fire personnel attempted to bring a lad-
The home at 6080 S. Thorpe Road was a total loss. No other structures on the property were damaged. Ogle County
Jeff Helfrich The Ogle County Sheriff’s Office and area fire personnel were called at 2:07 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 18, to 6080 S. Thorpe Road for a structure fire.
CHURCH DIRECTORY
Ashton Bible Church, corner of Main and Paddock in Ashton. Pastor Farrel Stauffer, church phone is (815)453-2190, church website www.ashtonbible.org0. Sunday School for all ages 9:00-10:00am, Morning Worship 10:15am, Wednesday Prayer Meeting/Bible Study 6:30-8:00pm.
Calvary Lighthouse Church, Assemblies of God, Senior Pastor, Dr. James Horvath. 14409 Hemstock Rd., Rochelle. Sunday Morning: Sunday Worship & Children’s Church 10:00 A.M., Wednesday Evening 7:00 P.M. – Adult Teaching, Missionettes & Royal Rangers Childrens Classes, Nursery available for all services. HE-Brews Cafe is open before and after services. For further information, please call the CLC office at 815-5627701, or email us at staff@calvarylighthouse.com
Church of Christ, Keeping Christ at the center in the Hub City. We meet Sundays at 9:00am for Bible Study and 10:00am for worship. We also have a Wednesday Bible Study at 7:00pm. 206 Erickson Rd, Rochelle, IL 61068. You can call us at (815) 562-6572 or visit us on the web at rochellechurch.com. We also have a radio program Sundays just after 8am on WRHL 1060AM. Minister Dominic Venuso.
Creston United Methodist Church - Rev. Ilhan You, Creston: 126 West South Street, P.O. Box 209, Creston, Illinois 60113. Sunday morning worship 9:00am. Coffee fellowship at 10:15am. Steward: 507 Main Street, P.O. Box 80, Steward, IL 60553. Adult Sunday School, 10:00am. Sunday morning worship and Children’s Sunday School 11:00am. Contact the church office at 847-730-4370 for more information. facebook. comcrestonumcil faccebook.com/stewardilumc
Elim Reformed Church, 140 S. Church Road, Kings, IL 61068. Phone: 815-562-6811. Email goelimchurch@gmail.com Website www.goelimchurch.org Sunday Morning Worship 10:00 Rev. Marv Jacobs
Faith Lutheran Church – (14206 E. Flagg Rd.) – “Making Christ Known Through Lives of Faith.” In-person worship is available each Sunday at 9:00 a.m. or online at “Faith Lutheran Social” on YouTube. Worship resources are also available on our Facebook page - ‘Faith Lutheran Church ELCA.’ You may also e-mail Pastor Joy Alsop at Pastor@ faithlcrochelle.org for more information. All are welcome to join us!
First General Baptist Church, 500 S. 12th St, Rochelle. Phone: 815-562-5221. Email: fgbcrochelle@gmail.com.Website: www.fgbcrochelle.org. Facebook: www.facebook. com/fgbcrochelle.Pastor: Rev. Angelo Bonacquisti. Sunday worship services: 8:30 am, 11:15 am and 6:00 pm. Sunday school: 10:00 am. We’d be honored to have you join us as we worship JESUS and continue to grow in truth and love for God and each other. A nursery, children’s church, youth group and small groups are available. If you need a ride please contact our church bus driver, John, at (815) 262-4275 by 8:30 am on Sunday. “For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
First Presbyterian Church – An Amazing Place for Amazing Grace - 1100 Calvin Road, Rochelle. Email: info@placeforgrace.com. Sunday morning worship 9:00am. In person or streamed online. On our Website and Facebook Live. www.placeforgrace.com/ www. facebook.com/placeforgrace
Harvest Baptist Church 241 Scott Ave. (Hillcrest). Rev. Duane Boehm, pastor. Email duane712@hotmail.com, cell 815-757-3427. Visit us on Facebook! Service times: Sunday morning worship with Children’s Church at 10 am. Wednesday night worship at 7 pm.
Immanuel Lutheran Church Missouri Synod 16060 E. Lindenwood Road, Lindenwood, IL 61049. Rev. Dr. Matthew Rosebrock. Church Phone 393-4500. Church Worship 9:00 a.m. Sunday School Christian Education Hour at 10:30 a.m.
Living Water Community Church 405 N. Main St, Downtown Rochelle. Phone 815561-6249, Website: www.lwccr.com, Like us on Facebook. We are Non-Denominational, Christ Centered, Casual dress, Christ Centered Live Band Worship. Mike Vogeler - Outreach and Seven C’s Pastor, Chris Bender- Teaching Pastor and Doug BungerMissions and Children’s Pastor. Sunday Worship Service- 10:00am. Nursery/Toddlers
Ages 0-5 available during the service in the Splash building. Swim- Grades 1st-5th worship with the adults then break out for age appropriate teaching. Youth groups, Small groups, Life Groups and Workshops meet throughout the year for Bible teaching. 7C’s Mission- serves the community physically & spiritually each month from 1135 Lincoln Hwy, providing lightly used clothing, Hygiene items, a light lunch and Elder Prayer open the second Saturday from 10am-2pm and the 4th Thursday from 4pm to 7:00pm and by appointment.
New Hope Fellowship (Church of God - Anderson, IN), 1501 10th Ave., Rochelle, IL 61068. Service: Sunday at 9 a.m. 10:30 a.m., (815)561-8400, www.NHFchurch.net. Our pastors are: Pastor Dan Sergeant, Pastor Nick Tornabene, and Pastor Dana Cox. (Classes for children through age fifth grade during service.)
Rochelle United Methodist Church welcomes all people to worship, and practices openness for all activities including communion. Worship is at 9:00 am. Sunday school for children begins around 9:15, following the Children’s Time in worship. A fellowship time with food and space for conversation occurs in Hicks Hall every week following the worship service. We celebrate communion with an open table on the first Sunday of every month, and on other appropriate occasions. Youth group is held two Sundays a month from 3:00-5:00 and occasional excursions are scheduled as well . Our youth program includes service projects, discussion topics, field trips, Bible Study, and lots of fun and fellowship together. Some of our activities include packing meals at Feed My Starving Children, helping at Rochelle Christian Food Pantry and 7C’s, Mystery trips (Destination Unknown!), and Interactive experiences on issues of concern. Youth group is for grades 4 and up and friends are always welcome. Recorded services are available on our YouTube channel and our website at www.rochelleumc.com. Our services are on the radio (93.5 FM) on Sunday mornings at 9:00 am. Our Facebook page is www.facebook. com/rochelleumc. Our pastor is the Rev. Dr. Katherine Thomas Paisley. Our address is 709 Fourth Ave. (815) 562-2164. Email is admin@rochelleumc.com. At Rochelle United Methodist Church, everyone is welcome and loved!
Steward United Methodist Church - Rev. Ilhan You, Creston: 126 West South Street, P.O. Box 209, Creston, Illinois 60113. Sunday morning worship 9:00am. Coffee fellowship at 10:15am. Steward: 507 Main Street, P.O. Box 80, Steward, IL 60553. Adult Sunday School, 10:00am. Sunday morning worship and Children’s Sunday School 11:00am. Contact the church office at 847-730-4370 for more information. facebook. comcrestonumcil faccebook.com/stewardilumc
St. John’s Lutheran Church, 126 E. South Street, Creston. Phone 815-384-3720, Email: StJohnsLutheran@aol.com, members of NALC/LCMC. Worship is led by Pastor Terese Whitten 231-878-4150. St. John’s Lutheran Church is a part of God’s Family, planting hope, nurturing faith and harvesting love. Coffee or Fellowship at 10:00 a.m. Worship begins at 10:45 a.m. Sunday school is conducted during worship service except during the summer.
St. Patrick Catholic Church Rev. Jesus Dominguez; Deacon Prosper Agbetrobu; Deacon Fermin Garcia; Deacon George Schramm; 244 Kelley Dr. (Corner of Kelley & Caron Rd.) PO Box 329, Rochelle, IL, 61068. Office Hours: 9:00 AM - 4 PM Monday-Thursday, Phone: 815-562-2370. Mass Times: 8:00 AM Monday-Thursday, Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:00 PM English, 7 PM Spanish, Sunday Mass 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM in English and 11:00 AM in Spanish. Confessions: Monday 8:30-9:00 AM & 6:00-6:45 PM, Tuesday 8:30-9:00 AM, Thursday 6:00-6:30 PM, Saturday 4:00-4:45 PM Or by appointment. Religious Education: Erin Robles, Director of Religious Education, 903 Caron Road, Rochelle, IL 61068, 815-561-0079 or 815-562-2370. Website: stpatricksrochelle.com. Email: stpatrick-rochelle@rockforddiocese.org. Facebook.com/StPatrickRochelle.
St. Paul Lutheran Church “Building Relationships in Christ, Now and Forever!” Rev. Michael Gudgel, Pastor Steven Hall, Principal, Parish Nurse-Marcia Schnorr. 1415 Tenth Ave., Rochelle. Church Office-562-2744. Worship times: 6:00 p.m. Saturday, 9:00 a.m. Sunday. Our service is broadcast over WRHL 1060AM at 10:00 a.m. Sunday. Sunday School 10:15-11:15 a.m. Call 562-6323 for more information about the school.
Animal Control took some dogs from the property into their care and there were farm animals on the property, including geese, miniature horses and goats.
Sawlsville said the coming days will show how those animals were affected by smoke inhalation.
No first responders were injured, Sawlsville said.
“We had to truck in water because there are no hydrants in that area and we relied on our mutual-aid partners for that,” Sawlsville said. “That was good to have. It was super cold. There were high winds. I think the fire got a pretty good head start on us. We were behind when we got there. We focused on getting to the trapped individual when we got there rather than on the fire. That let it grow.”
Along with RFD and the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office, responding agencies included the Rochelle Police Department, Hillcrest Fire Department, Oregon Fire Department, Stillman Valley Fire Department, LynnScott-Rock Fire Department, Byron Fire Department, New Milford Fire
The aftermath of a fire at 6080 S. Thorpe Road in rural Rochelle is shown. The fire claimed the life of 84-year-old James
Department, Ashton-Franklin Center Fire, Monroe Center Fire Department, DeKalb Fire Department, Shabbona Fire Department, Paw Paw Fire Protection District, Blackhawk Fire Protection District, Ogle County Emergency Management, Ogle County
Animal Control, Illinois Department of Transportation, Flagg Township and the Illinois State Fire Marshal.
“You can’t overstate the importance of support from other agencies,” Sawlsville said. “It was cold and in the middle of the night and a lot of the people who came and helped are paid on-call. It’s not their career. They showed up when it was below zero in the middle of the night. We had tremendous support. I want to send heartfelt sympathy to the family of the deceased. It’s always a tragedy to have a loss like that.”
Now Available
Electrical Safety
Tips for Kids
1. Fly kites far away from power lines.
2. Don’t fly drones near power lines.
3. Stay away from electrical substations.
4. Never play on transformers.
5. Don’t climb trees near power lines.
6. Electricity and water don’t mix.
7. Never yank an electric cord from the wall.
8. Electric outlets are only for plugs.
9. Avoid using cords that are damaged.
10. Electric cords should be kept out of reach.
Jeff Helfrich
Supancic of Rochelle.
Meyers joins Stillman Bank as director of loan ops
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
Stillman Bank recently welcomed Monica Meyers as director of loan operations, according to Thomas R. Hughes, president and CEO.
agement and leadership from Judson College and an MBA from Northern Illinois University.
In her position, Meyers will be responsible for overseeing commercial/consumer loan processing, loan accounting, document imaging, loan quality review, and mortgage underwriting/processing. She will be located at the bank’s Roscoe office at 5250 Bridge St.
Meyers brings 30 years of experience in banking and operations management, having held leadership positions including senior operations manager, vice president operations manager, and director of operations training and risk management. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in man -
“We are excited to welcome Monica to Stillman Bank,” Hughes said. “Her deep industry knowledge, strong operational background, and proven leadership make her an excellent addition to our team as we continue to grow and serve our customers.”
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Meyers remains actively involved in the community. She currently serves as treasurer for the Rockford Area SRHM Board and has volunteered with organizations such as United Way and Habitat for Humanity.
A lifelong resident of the Rock River Valley area, she was born and raised in Rockford and has made her home in Machesney Park for the past 25 years with her husband and three children. As a family, they enjoy vacations at the lake in Spooner, Wisconsin, and road trips around the country.
For more information on Meyers or to find out more about Stillman Bank’s products and services, call 815-6231800.
OGLE COUNTY PLANNING & ZONING DEPARTMENT RELEASES
December permits
• The Ogle County Planning & Zoning Department recently released the December permits it issued.
• Robin Williams, Leaf River Township for an agricultural building.
• Darrel Stukenberg, Mt. Morris Township for an agricultural building.
• Lee Heeren, Monroe Township for an agricultural building.
• Doug Knodle, Byron Township for a residential accessory building.
• Jerry Moore, Monroe Township for a residential accessory building.
• Kerri Carroll, Woosung Township for a dwelling addition.
• SMJ International/Verizon Wireless, Oregon-Nashua Township for co-location of wireless equipment on existing telecommunications tower estimated to cost $10,000.
• Summit Ridge Energy doing business as Forreston IL Solar 1, LLC, Lincoln Township for a special-use solar permit approved by the Ogle County Board on Dec. 16, 2025.
• Northern Illinois Service Company/ Seabold, Marion Township to remove a farm building.
• Lucas Baxter, Marion Township for a dwelling addition.
Monica Meyers
PUZZLES
ACROSS
1. Mechanical lever
7. Rocky peak
10. Leave a country
12. Discount
13. D.C. ballplayer
14. Partner to “oohed”
15. Engine sound
16. Japanese ornamental box
17. Fido is one
18. Amounts of time
19. DiFranco and Phyo are two
21. Yearly tonnage (abbr.)
22. Make secret plans
27. “Tiny Bubbles” singer
28. “His Airness”
33. Morning
34. Perfected
36. Winger guitarist Beach
37. Abba __, Israeli politician
38. Self-immolation by fire ritual
39. A way to save money
40. Pulpit
41. Make ecstatically happy
44. Once more
45. Works on
48. Nocturnal S. American rodent
49. State again
50. Expression of disappointment
51. Type of door
DOWN
1. Yugoslavian communist leader
2. Exchange rate
3. High school dance
4. Peter’s last name
5. When you anticipate arriving
6. Israeli city __ Aviv
7. Goat-like mammals
8. Margarine
9. End-of-the-spectrum color
10. Make poisonous
11. Popular beverage
12. Actress Lathan
14. Where planes land and depart
17. Political fundraising entity
18. The distinctive spirit of a
people or an era
20. Buffer used in microbiology
23. Light, open carriage 24. Metrical feet
25. Email subject line feature
26. A street with lots of nightmares
29. Rapper Rule
30. River in Scotland
31. One who settles a dispute
32. Most chummy
35. We all have our own
36. Arab tribe
38. Slap
40. Ottoman military commanders
41. Scottish or Irish Gaelic
language
42. Emit coherent radiation 43. Sun or solar disk (Egyptian mythology)
44. Inclined to 45. Olfactory reference syndrome
46. Chest muscle (slang)
47. Body part
FUN&GAMES
Archie
B.C.
Pearls Before Swine
Frank & Ernest
Beetle Bailey
Blondie
Monty
Baby Blues
Arlo & Janis
Zits
12, 2026, MORRISON, whose address is 7589 S. Illinois Rte 2, Oregon, IL 61061, and whose attorney is James G. Ahlberg, P.O Box 358, Rochelle, IL 61068.
As sumed Name
Notice is
that on
PROF ES SIONAL TRU CK DRIVERDry
& Liquid Bulk (Local & Lo ng Distance)
Holper Trucking - Ohio, IL Full Time
About the Role:
We are currently seeking a reliable Truck Driver to join our team
This role involves the safe and timely hauling of dry bulk and liquid bulk materials, both locally and over long distances
Opportunity is available to make up to $100,000+ a year. You'll be operating well-maintained equipment, delivering to a variety of industrial, agricultural, and commercial clients.
Responsibi lities:
Haul dry and liquid bulk loads safely and on time
Run a mix of local and long-distance routes
Keep the rig clean and in good shape (we'll help with that)
Handle paperwork and basic load checks
Communicate clearly with dispatch and customers
Requirements:
Valid CDL Class A license with tanker endorsement
Clean driving record and up- to-date medical card
Ability to work flexible hours, including overnights and weekends as needed
Strong communication and time management skills
Intere sted? Let's Talk
Call Jacob at: 81 5-878-4014 - orEmail us at: J.holper@aol.com
ANNOUNCEMENTS
OVARIAN cancer after use of TALC products such as BABY POWDER or SHOWER TO SHOWER, you may be entitled to compensation Contact Charles
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT STATE OF ILLINOIS SS COUNTY OF OG LE IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF JAMES L. MORRISON, Deceased NO. 2025 PR 69 CLAIM NOTICE
Notice is hereby given of the death of JAM ES L. MORRISON, of Oregon, Illinois. Letters were issued on January 12, 2026, to TINA MORRISON, whose address is 7589 S. Illinois Rte 2, Oregon, IL 61061, and whose attorney is James G. Ahlberg, P.O Box 358, Rochelle, IL 61068.
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT STATE OF ILLINOIS SS COUNTY OF OG LE IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF JAMES L. MORRISON, Deceased NO. 2025 PR 69 CLAIM NOTICE Notice is hereby given of the death of JAM ES L. MORRISON, of Oregon, Illinois. Letters were issued on January 12, 2026, to TINA MORRISON, whose address is 7589 S. Illinois Rte 2, Oregon, IL 61061, and whose attorney is James G. Ahlberg, P.O Box 358, Rochelle, IL 61068.
Claims against the estate may be filed in the office of the Circuit Clerk of the Court at Ogle County Courthouse, Oregon, Illinois, or with the representative, or both, no later than August 1, 2026, and 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 within 10 days after it has been filed.
Claims against the estate may be filed in the office of the Circuit Clerk of the Court at Ogle County Courthouse, Oregon, Illinois, or with the representative, or both, no later than August 1, 2026, and 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 within 10 days after it has been filed.
JAMES G. AHLBERG. Attorney for TINA MORRISON, Executor of the Estate of JAMES L. MORRISON, Deceased
Jan. 14, 21, 28, 2026
15, 2026, a
the
Publication Notice
was
ting
the
and post office address of all of the persons owning, conducting and transacting the business known as:
Highpeak beauty 101 N Main St Creston, IL 60113
Dated: January 15, 2026
s/Laura J. Cook Laura J. Cook, Ogle County Clerk
Jan. 21, 28, Feb. 4, 2026
Public Notice is hereby given that on January 15, 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: Highpeak beauty 101 N Main St Creston, IL 60113
Dated: January 15, 2026
s/Laura J. Cook Laura J. Cook, Ogle County Clerk
Jan. 21, 28, Feb. 4, 2026
Claims against the estate may be filed in the office of the Circuit Clerk of the Court at Ogle County Courthouse, Oregon, Illinois, or with the representative, or both, no later than August 1, 2026, and 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 within 10 days after it has been filed.
JAMES G. AHLBERG. Attorney for TINA MORRISON, Executor of the Estate of JAMES L. MORRISON, Deceased
Jan. 14, 21, 28, 2026
2026
J.
Flagg Township, Ogle County, IL. Farmers & Investors, don't miss these quality soils located close to excellent grain market outlets, with an open lease for the upcoming 2026 crop year!
JAMES G. AHLBERG. Attorney for TINA MORRISON, Executor of the Estate of JAMES L. MORRISON, Deceased
ASSELBORN IRR TRUST
KATHLEEN ASSELBORN, TRUSTEE
Representing Attorney: Debra A. Delia | Oliver Close, LLC Suite 300 Waterside Center, 124 N Water St., Rockford, IL 61107 | (815) 963-0009
Auction Managers: Kevin Haas (309) 264-7767 & Eric Ifft (309) 825-3730
Jan. 14, 21, 28, 2026
Forreston boys chop down AFC,
84-31
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
Ashton-Franklin Center boys varsity basketball team got off to a rough start against the host Cardinals on Jan. 17 at Forreston High School. After the first quarter, AFC trailed 27-2.
AFC woke up and outscored Forreston, 18-10, in the second quarter. But it was all Cardinals after that as the defense held AFC to just 11 second-half points in a 84-31 victory.
Photos by Earleen Hinton for Shaw Local News Network
TOP LEFT: Forreston’s Joseph Kolber (0) and Jonathan Milnes (32) reach for the ball against AFC on Jan. 17 at Forreston High School. TOP RIGHT: AFC’s Chase Near drives to the basket Jan. 17. ABOVE: Forreston’s Brennan Byers grabs a rebound Jan. 17. LEFT: Forreston’s Drayvin Peters passes the ball Jan. 17.
HUBS SUPER FANS
Hubs’ wrestling competes in dual meet
Photos provided by Robin Rethwill
TOP LEFT: Rochelle’s Alex Pelletier (top) tries to turn over his opponent in his match during a dual meet Jan. 8 with Morris and Sandwich. TOP RIGHT: Rochelle’s Josh Lassiter (top) gets in the referee position before restarting his match Jan. 8. ABOVE: Rochelle’s Zander Griner (left) tries to get some back points in his match Jan. 8. LEFT: Rochelle’s Benjamin Morris (top) looks to pin his opponent during his match Jan. 8.
Here are Robin Rethwill’s photos from Rochelle’s wrestling meet with Morris and Sandwich on Jan. 8. – Shaw Local News Network
Top of top revealed at Pole Vault Summit in Reno
Andy Colbert SPORTS VIEWS
Being retired and living alone, there is much latitude in traveling. This previous weekend was an example of that with a trip to Reno, Nevada, for the Pole Vault Summit, an event that brings more than 1,000 of some of the best high school, college and professional competitors.
Held in an indoor convention arena with 14 runways and pits, it is quite the spectacle with nonstop action for two days. The Summit is something I always have wanted to attend and this year seemed like the perfect time with Andrew Nuyen of Rochelle on display among the elite high schoolers.
The real thrill, however, is the Olympian men and women vaulters who draw thousands of fans from all over the country to Reno.
As someone who built his own pole vault pit in the family backyard many decades ago, it was a near pilgrimage for me to be there.
I imagine everyone geeks out on at least one thing and for me it’s always been pole vaulting. The only person in town who out-geeks me is Dave Gilbert, who at older than 60 remains one of the top master vaulters in the world.
As critical as I have been of club sports and the negative impact it has on high schools, the high level of competition among the pole vaulters wouldn’t be what it is without the clubs scattered throughout the country.
Illinois has two of them that regularly dominate IHSA state placing in the Flying Dragons of Bloomington and RISE of Joliet, which is where Nuyen developed skills to go from 9 feet as a freshman to 17 feet as a junior.
So is this the case of the pot calling the kettle black in that it is OK if it applies to my favorite sporting event, but not so with, say, basketball or volleyball?
About the only difference is track and field is more of an individual sport, whereas basketball and volleyball are team sports.
One thing that is the same in club sports is the sense of community that athletes in a particular sport have with one another. In pole vaulting, it goes beyond hanging with peers of one’s own age group.
At the Pole Vault Summit, the professional athletes finished competing Friday night, but they all came back on Saturday to help work the pits on all the runways for the high schoolers. You don’t get that in the same manner with pros in baseball or basketball.
As one of the meet officials told me, you can’t afford to be a jerk in track and field, as it doesn’t have the same financial windfall as lucrative contracts in other sports, which has a tendency to spoil athletes and make them jerks.
The Pole Vault Summit is a true grassroots endeavor that a local college coach and an equipment manufacturer based in Carson City, Nevada, started 34 years ago. The initial idea was to have a clinic, but why not incorporate a competition, they thought.
Almost every American Olympian and even some from other countries
you with pole vault talk when we have basketball and wrestling going on.
I was sad to hear of Russ Zick’s passing from cancer. Russ coached at several schools, including Rochelle and AFC. He was very personable to interview before and after games and was very candid.
It was just last winter that I had the pleasure of sitting in the stands at a Byron game with him and his brother John. There was genuine warmth in our conversation, devoid of any standard coachspeak.
Besides his death, another sad moment came after Rochelle’s 76-73 loss to Moline in the finals of an AA sectional in 2002. The Hubs may have had their best team ever and held a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter.
Inexplicably, it all fell apart and Rochelle missed out on a rare chance to make state.
I happened to be covering that game and there was a glazed look to coach Zick in the Streator gym afterward. It was a dream team for Rochelle and he knew a chance like that would not come along again.
If there was any solace, Zick did make it downstate in 1996 with Paxton-Buckley-Loda.
The next year, Zick coached Paxton to a state’s best 26-0 record, but couldn’t get out of a sectional. On a side note, that was the season that Warsaw beat Hall Township 92-85 in overtime for the state title, with Shawn Jeppson scoring 51 points for Hall.
have made appearances, including world record holder Mondo Duplantis (20-8) of Sweden, who started out by making 7 feet as a 7-year old there. OK, OK. I know I’m probably boring
On another side note, I never did get to see Andrew Nuyen pole vault at Reno. He has mononucleosis and is laid up for awhile. But he was there cheering on his RISE teammates.
• Andy Colbert is a sports writer for Shaw Local covering high school sports in Ogle County.
Andy Colbert
The Pole Vault Summit, held in Reno, Nevada, brought more than 1,000 of some of the best high school, college and professional pole vault competitors.
Rochelle’s Dylan Manning has cranioplasty, continues recovery from October head injury
Junior football player suffered severe head injury, collapsed on sideline after varsity game at Morris
By RUSS HODGES rhodges@shawmedia.com
Rochelle junior Dylan Manning, who was hospitalized for one month after suffering a severe head injury during the team’s varsity football game against Morris in October, underwent a successful cranioplasty Jan. 7 at Loyola Medical Center.
Manning underwent the cranioplasty to repair a missing portion of his skull, which was removed to alleviate swelling after his initial injury. Manning, a threetime All-Interstate 8 player who earned Rochelle’s Hackett MVP Award in 2025, wore a protective covering on his head for nearly two months before the cranioplasty. The procedure involved implanting a 3-D printed portion of his skull.
“The surgery went well,” said Ben Manning, Dylan’s father. “The incision is basically a big horseshoe on the side of his head, just above his ear, that goes up to his forehead. ... We stayed in the ICU for three days and we went home on Saturday. He’ll go back to get all of his stitches out and then we’ll really learn more about what they’ll allow him to do and what physical things he can do.”
Manning suffered the initial injury on Oct. 3, when he collapsed on the sideline and was taken to a local hospital. He was flown to Loyola Medical Center for further treatment. At Loyola, Manning underwent multiple brain surgeries, including an initial surgery to remove a blood clot and relieve pressure on his brain.
On Oct. 4, Rochelle Township High School held a prayer gathering for Manning. Inspired to “Play like Dyl,” the Hubs won their last three regular season games and made the playoffs, finishing 6-4 with a first-round loss to Geneseo. Manning had surgery on Oct. 11 to address a possible infection and provide relief. He then had all three of his drains removed on Oct. 15, 18 and 24, respectively.
Manning’s breathing tube was removed on Oct. 27 and he was discharged from the ICU on Nov. 2. Manning continued to recover at Marianjoy in Wheaton, where he started outpatient therapy on Nov. 7. One week later, he returned home to Rochelle. Since that time, Manning has completed speech therapy and is doing physical therapy at Northwestern Medicine in Sycamore during the week.
“He started speech therapy at Marianjoy and he continued some of that at Northwestern, but he’s good to go on that,” Ben Manning said. “We just got home from the REC and we walked a mile. He has a long way to go to get anywhere near what he was in terms of his conditioning and his overall strength... He’s eating normally and stretching his stomach back out by eating as much as he can.”
A starting running back and defensive back for the Hubs, Manning eclipsed the 2,000-yard rushing mark during his junior season. He was named an IHSFCA Academic All-State honoree in 2024. A two-sport athlete who pitches and plays outfield for the RTHS baseball
team, Manning is slowly regaining the strength lost from his stay in the hospital. He lost about 30 pounds, but he’s gained 20 back.
“He went from playing at 185 to 155 after that first month in the hospital,” Ben Manning said. “His shoulders rolled forward from being curled up in the hospital bed and he was so tight. But they’ve been working on that at PT. They’ve been working on his shoulders and balance has been a huge thing they’ve been working on so he isn’t falling and hitting his head. ... He’s just improved overall.”
Manning reunited with his Rochelle classmates at a Hub basketball game on Dec. 3. It was the first public appearance since the injury for Manning, who has been catching up on his classwork remotely since returning home from the hospital. Should Manning’s follow-up appointment go well, the goal is for him to return to school in the morning and catch up on core classwork in the afternoon.
“He caught up on all of his math classes,” Ben Manning said. “We had a teacher who was willing to swing by the house and meet with him through
Teams to get him caught up. The first time they met and he started doing that homework, I asked him how it went and he remembered it all. Mentally, he’s doing really, really well. ... Dr. [Chris] Lewis and everybody at the high school have been great.”
RTHS and the Rochelle community supported Manning and his family throughout his time in the hospital. On Oct. 16, Culver’s in Rochelle donated 10% of its proceeds to the Manning family. The Northern Illinois University football program also donated 10% of ticket sales from its Oct. 25, Nov. 18 and Nov. 28 games to the family. Cornett’s Chana Tap is another business that has helped.
“I’ve tried to say it in a few Facebook posts, but Jen and I are just blown away by the support, the love, the prayers and the financial support,” Ben Manning said. “I can’t say enough thanks to all of the businesses or people who’ve sent money, calls, texts or letters. Several football teams around the state sent cards... It was an eye opening experience for us to see the amount of love and support.”
Photo provided by Rochelle Hubs Football
Rochelle’s Dylan Manning underwent a successful cranioplasty earlier this month to repair a head injury suffered during the football season. Manning now is home, where he continues on with physical and speech therapy.
SPORTS
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
1979: Steelers beat the Cowboys, 35-31, in Super Bowl XIII.
2010: Kobe Bryant became youngest player in NBA history to reach 25,000 points.
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
HUBS SPLIT DUAL MEET
The Rochelle varsity wrestling team competed against Morris (56-21) and Sandwich (31-43) on Jan. 9 at Rochelle Township High School / 29
Rochelle’s Aiden Lopez (left) locks up with his Sandwich competitor in their match during a dual meet on Jan. 8 at Rochelle Township High School.
