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The history of the Ku Klux Klan in Rochelle and Ogle County

Whether you remember George Santayana’s quote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” or Winston Churchill’s later misquote, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” The point remains the same; you do not need to like what happened, but you owe it to the future to remember the good and the bad. This story is about the bad.

In the 1850s, the community of Byron had a secret. The Lucius Reed home was part of the “Underground Railroad” –slaves seeking freedom had friends in Ogle County. Rochelle joined the rest of the county in the early 1860s, sending men to fight in the Civil War against slavery and man’s inhumanity toward man. Cemeteries across the county hold the remains of those who were willing to give their lives so others could enjoy freedom.

In the 1920s, something changed. The end of World War I saw more than 200,000 Black men return from combat overseas. These men had fought for their country and expected to be treated as equals when they returned. Much of Europe had been destroyed during the war, Ireland still had not recovered from the “Potato Famine.” Many felt the United States of America offered more opportunity. The Great Migration, which started in 1910, had flooded the United States with foreign people and foreign ideas. Prohibition was the law of the land, which led to a quick rise in illegal bootlegging and organized crime. Fear and confusion opened the door for a new way of thinking. The Klan was eager to help define that change.

“I did not sell the Klan on hatred. I sold it on Americanism. These people knew what they signed up for. That oath could not have been more specific about the absolute superiority of one race and one religion, and the inferiority of all others,” said Grand Dragon David Stephenson.

The first mention of the Ku Klux Klan in Ogle County appears in local newspapers around 1923: “In a field west of Mt. Morris, thousands of members of the Ku Klux Klan met for an induction cere-

Tom McDermott COMMUNITY VIEWS

mony. At dark, fireworks were displayed and an immense fiery cross was ignited and could be seen from miles away. A large number from Mt. Morris and surrounding towns took the pledge of membership.”

Byron, once home to the Underground Railroad, held a monster demonstration at the Burd Pine Grove located north of town. About 10 p.m. the group donned their robes and hoods and came to town. Two robed figures on horseback led a parade of 90 Klansmen on foot and 50 automobiles. The first car had a large cross with white lights and the second car had a large cross with red lights. Those on foot carried lit torches. All wore the robe and hood of the Klan.

“The Ku Klux Klan bears the same relationship to the Protestant churches of America as does the Knights of Columbus to the Roman Catholic church,” asserted Dr. C.C. Crawford in an address before a crowd that packed the tent at the closing session of the three-day Klantauqua held in Rochelle in 1924. “The first Klansmen were patriots, who disguised as Indian, boarded an English ship tied up in Boston harbor and dumped overboard a cargo of tea to secure American liberty.”

“The Klan, he said, “is essentially a law and order organization and opposed to evil in all forms. It fights the battle with ballots and not bullets.” The Klantauqua was a three-day event held at the “Prairie” located at 10th Street and Sixth Avenue.

The Ku Klux Klan sold itself as wholesome, family friendly, faith-based, and supportive of Midwestern values. There were many ready to join in the perceived defense of shared values. The identification of the “enemy” varied depending on locale. Ogle County in the 1920s had very

Customers, friends, and Mt. Morris officials filled the storefront at 103 S. Wesley Ave. in Mt. Morris on Jan. 10, to celebrate the grand opening of The Board Room. Photo provided by Sandra Stengel ON THE COVER

few people of color so Blacks, Jews and Catholics were chosen. In the southwestern states Blacks, Jews, Hispanics, and Catholics posed the threat. On the West Coast, Blacks, Jews, Asians, and Catholics must be stopped. The enemies to democracy could be varied to suit the prejudices of the specific community.

Frank Carney moved to Rochelle in 1906. Frank was a partner in the firm of Carney & Longenecker Clothing Store. Frank served as a state director of the National Retail Clothiers Association. He was a member of the Rochelle Business Men’s Club, the Chamber of Commerce, president of the National Bank of Rochelle, and a charter member of the Rotary Club. Mr. Carney at one time served as Grand Knight in the Knights of Columbus. Frank Carney also had the sad distinction of having the Ku Klux Klan burn a cross in his yard.

When he was 9 years old, Rochelle resident Saul Druker remembered a Ku Klux Klan parade through Rochelle. The parade had 4,000 to 5,000 marchers in full Klan robe and hood. A 15-foot-tall lighted cross filled the intersection in front of the Bain building. As Saul Druker, a local Jewish boy, recalled, “Us kids threw stuff at them and ran.”

By 1928, the Klan in Ogle County was disappearing; the wheel of time moved on. In 1952, Vince Carney (son of Frank), was selected Man of the Year for the community. Elzie Cooper became the first Black man to become Man of the Year in 1964. Had Rochelle completely changed? Such is not the way of the world. There have always been good people and there have always been bad people, and there will always be.

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

Let us remember what has been, not with shame but with an eye toward making the future better.

•TomMcDermottisaFlaggTownship Museum historian and Rochelle city councilman.

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The Board Room lauds grand opening in Mt. Morris

Customers, friends and Mt. Morris Village Board and Economic Development Corporation members filled the storefront at 103 S. Wesley Ave. in Mt. Morris on Jan. 10 to celebrate the grand opening of The Board Room.

The ribbon cutting signaled the official opening of The Board Room – Games, Crafts & Collectibles, a place to play and purchase trading cards and tabletop games.

Owner Ashton Rutherford called it a reopening at the refurbished storefront in Mt. Morris, a move from his former location in Oregon. Remaining in the Mt. Morris/Oregon area is important to him, he said.

“I grew up in Mt. Morris and Oregon,” Rutherford said. “Went to school in Mt. Morris and Oregon. To me, it’s one community – both are my hometowns – and I want to give back by having my store here.”

Rutherford said local players don’t have to travel to find a store or play with others, an opportunity appreciated by customer James Wood, who waited outside in the cold for the grand opening as a nod to waiting outside a store for a new product release. Rutherford plans to host events for both serious competitors and casual players.

“We are blessed by this [local gaming] community,” Rutherford said. “They are very welcoming to all players, experienced and new. That’s different from some places. I give all the credit to my player base.”

Learn more about The Board Room – Games, Crafts & Collectibles at theboardroomgcc.com and on social media.

Fire crews were called to 209 Main St. in Chana around 8:30 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 19, for a report of an attic fire. Oregon firefighters found flames coming through the roof when they arrived at the scene.

4 residents displaced, Chana home a total loss

after Monday night fire

By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com

There were no injuries to residents or firefighters during a Jan. 19 house fire in Chana, but four residents were displaced, and the home was a total loss, Oregon Fire Protection District Chief Michael Knoup said Tuesday, Jan. 20.

Fire crews were called about 8:30 p.m. Jan. 19 to 209 Main St. in Chana for the report of an attic fire. Oregon firefighters found flames coming through the roof upon arrival. Knoup said all four residents of the home had evacuated by then, and a search found no other people inside.

“There was active fire in the attic space,” Knoup said. “We penetrated holes in the ceiling and extinguished it. We did have some trouble getting to the fire. There was difficult weather and multiple additions to the home. We were on scene until 1:30 a.m.”

Four residents were displaced from the home after the fire, and the Red Cross was contacted to help them with living accommodations and supplies. Knoup said the home is a total loss because of the fire and is uninhabitable.

Knoup said the suspected cause of the fire is electrical in nature, originating in the attic. The residents had furnace issues, had multiple electric heaters running amid cold temperatures and had problems earlier in the day with the home’s electrical system being overloaded.

“We believe the fire was related to that,” Knoup said. “Two residents there

are elderly with multiple health issues and disabilities. I was glad the son that lived with them noticed the fire quickly and got them out. They attempted to put it out with a fire extinguisher and were unsuccessful due to the size of the fire. I’m glad they acted quickly and got out and pointed us in the right direction for the attic access point.”

Along with Oregon Fire, responding departments included Stillman Fire, Mt. Morris Fire, Byron Fire, Ashton Fire, Rochelle Fire, the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office and Advance Ambulance.

Oregon Fire covers 120 square miles in its district, and the call in Chana was 10 minutes away from its station. Fulltime staff were at the station when the call came in and were able to respond immediately, along with “a good turnout” of paid on-call staff, Knoup said.

“We were able to initiate an attack on the fire quickly,” Knoup said. “It was 4 degrees outside at the time of the fire, and we had issues with hoses and pumps freezing up. There are no hydrants in Chana. Tenders were filled at Oregon and taken there, which requires more mutual-aid help.”

Knoup said there was no working smoke detector in the Chana home and stressed the importance of residents having them.

“Oregon Fire has a grant program for residents if they need us to come out and inspect theirs, and we can provide one free of charge,” Knoup said. “There’s no way to overstate their importance.”

Park district board OKs pool painting proposal

By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com

The Flagg-Rochelle Community Park District Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Monday, Jan. 19, to approve a $26,000 bid from IPS Inc. to paint the main pool at Spring Lake.

The park district received two bids for the work, which will take place in the early spring, Executive Director Jackee Ohlinger said. The baby pool at the facility was repainted last spring.

Pecover Decorating Services was the second bid received and that business saw scheduling conflicts for the work.

Equipment

The board voted unanimously to purchase new cardio equipment for The REC Center for $12,343 from Midwest Fitness.

The bond issuance was handled for the park district by Raymond James, which serves as its municipal adviser and provides long-term and capital planning and debt and financial assistance.

Board member

The board voted unanimously to appoint Melody Worthington to an open commissioner position. The board member position was vacant since the resignation of Kristi Gonzales last year.

The purchase includes a new treadmill and a seated elliptical.The park district recently saw a treadmill become inoperable and the cost to repair it was over half of the cost of a new treadmill. The old treadmill’s spare parts will be used for repairs of other units. Seated ellipticals are among the most-used equipment at The REC, Ohlinger said.

Bonds

The board voted unanimously to issue

two sets of bonds for park operations. The first set of bonds was $559,000 in tax-exempt general obligation park bonds with Stillman Bank at a 3.05 percent interest rate.

The second set of bonds was $568,000 in taxable general obligation park bonds with Central Bank at a 3.9 percent interest rate. Two bids were received for each set of bonds. The park district saw better rates this year for its bond issuance than it did last year.

“I know she’ll do a great job,” Commissioner John Dobbs said. “She’s been raising her family in our town and they’ve been using our facilities for 20 years. It makes sense.”

Permit

The board voted unanimously to approve a special-use permit for the Rochelle Chamber of Commerce’s Lucky Hub Dash, which will take place March 14. The event will start and end at Flannigan Park and will utilize the bike path from 8-11 a.m. The board also waived the deposit and permit fee for the chamber’s 5K fundraising event.

AUTO INTERIOR MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING TIPS

A number of factors are involved in keeping a vehicle functioning and looking good. Ensuring a vehicle interior is clean and tidy is easily overlooked, but such efforts can improve the driving experience. Drivers who want their cars and trucks to look their best should not forget their vehicle interiors. Drivers unsure where to start can spruce up their vehicle interiors in the following ways.

• REMOVE ANY TRASH.

Wrappers, receipts, empty water bottles, and other items can quickly pile up inside a car, especially for drivers who have young children. Routinely go through the vehicle to gather and remove debris.

• VACUUM THE INTERIOR.

Start off with a can of compressed air and blow out dust and any other dirt that has accumulated in tight crevices. Then use a high-powered vacuum to conduct a thorough cleaning. Pay attention to the seams of car seats, door handles, armrests, floor mats (and under them), underneath child safety seats, and the trunk or cargo area. If you don’t have a vacuum with a lot of suction, utilize one at a do-it-yourself car wash location.

• SCRUB FLOOR MATS.

Drivers with rubber mats can remove them and make a mild cleaning solution of a few drops of dish soap and warm water. Use a

soft-bristled brush to clean the mats. Upholstered mats can be shampooed using a carpet cleaner. Then rinse and hang to dry. All mats should be completely dry before being returned to the vehicle.

• CLEAN THE UPHOLSTERY.

Seats can get dirty and dingy over time. For cloth vehicle seats, use a proper spray or foam upholstery cleaner. All-purpose cleaner can work on vinyl seats, but leather seats require a special leather soap and conditioner. Avoid products with silicone, which can stain your clothes and may make interior surfaces too slippery.

•

ADDRESS GLASS SURFACES.

Turn your attention to the windshield, windows and mirrors. You can use a store-bought

glass cleaner on these surfaces and a lint-free cloth. Avoid products containing ammonia, which may damage tinting on windows.

• CONSIDER LINGERING ODORS.

If the interior of the car has an odor, the cabin air filter may need to be changed, or there may be water entering the vehicle somewhere and creating a musty smell. Seek out any problems and address. A car air freshener can further improve the interior smell.

A thorough deep cleaning can be done at least once a month to keep a vehicle’s interior fresh and clean. However, keeping up with interior cleaning and maintenance by doing small jobs regularly will reduce the need for routine deep cleaning.

RTHS Board: Potential solar field on school property discussed

Presentation made on bilingual and dual language programming

By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com

The Rochelle Township High School District board on Jan. 20 heard a presentation on a potential future solar array project that could take place this year.

District Business Manager Kevin Dale made the presentation, as RTHS and its facilities committee have been recently working with solar power vendors regarding the potential installation of solar panels on district property in the future to lower district power costs.

Dale said RTHS has been considering a solar installation for about 15 years, and previously considered installing it on the school’s roof. That will not take place, due to the school’s roof being close to the end of its life before replacement.

RTHS leadership has worked with Rochelle Municipal Utilities on the project and wants to maximize savings on all nine of its electric meters. The school

is considering a 5-acre solar array on farmland on the western side of its property between the softball/baseball fields and North 20th Street. The solar panels would be surrounded by fencing and trees.

Dale said the solar array will aim to produce 100-105% of the power RTHS uses. RTHS used $140,140 in electricity last year.

“We’d see a net savings of $135,000 on power costs in the first year alone,” Dale said.

The construction of the solar array would cost $3.8 million. Dale said the project would result in about $7 million in savings over 25 years, with $3 million in energy savings and $4 million in incentives.

“The district would get a payback on its initial $3.8 million in about 10.5 years between energy credits and savings on electric bills,” Dale said.

The board will consider a vote on moving forward with the solar array at its February meeting. In order to ensure ease of receiving federal and state tax incentives, the project would need to break ground by July 4.

Steps required for the project if it

goes forward would include approval by the Rochelle planning and zoning committee and City Council, notification of nearby property owners, land parcel consolidation, an intergovernmental agreement with the city and a request for proposals to find a contractor for construction.

Dual language

The board heard a report on bilingual and dual language programming from District Language Services Director Celeste Canfield, who also serves in that position for the Rochelle Elementary School District.

In the fall, the first class of elementary district dual language program students will start at RTHS after beginning kindergarten in the program in 2017-18. About 40 students will be included in that group and dual language math and science will be offered, along with freshman students potentially being able to begin further along in RTHS’s foreign language program.

“There’s been a lot of planning,” Canfield said. “I’m really excited for the opportunity that next year will bring. We want to go beyond academic success, and give them that multicultural experi-

least one final and 42 seniors waived all finals. In 2024, 67 students in grades 9-11 waived one final, 70 seniors waived at least one final and 61 seniors waived all finals. In 2025, 74 students in grades 9-11 waived one final, 80 seniors waived at least one final and 65 seniors waived all finals.

“One of our goals is to increase attendance since COVID-19,” Lewis said. “One of the things we feel has helped is this incentive program for finals. For seniors, we allow them to waive more finals based on ACT scores. Freshman through juniors we allow to waive one based on attendance and referrals.”

Personnel

ence for an ever-changing society and world.”

About 16% of current eighth graders in the dual language program have tested at a proficient rate for the Spanish portion of the Seal of Biliteracy. About 90% of those students are within range of earning the Seal of Biliteracy in coming years, Canfield said.

RTHS will have different foreign language program tracks for dual language program students based on their vary -

ing levels of proficiency. Incoming freshmen have already taken placement tests for where they’ll start in RTHS’s foreign language program.

Finals

RTHS Principal Chris Lewis presented a report on how many students have waived finals through an incentive program during the last three Decembers.

In 2023, 62 students in grades 9-11 waived one final, 80 seniors waived at

The board unanimously approved personnel changes, including the employment of Nelson Baker (part-time wrestling assistant coach, 2025-26 school year), Jack Patting (part-time wrestling assistant coach, 2025-26 school year), Finley Callahan (Key Club adviser), Austin Schaefer (substitute teacher) and Ariel Zuercher (substitute teacher).

Meeting

The board’s February meeting will be held Feb. 17, because of the Presidents Day holiday on Feb. 16. The meeting will begin at the 5:30 p.m. regular time in the district office boardroom at RTHS.

Rochelle Municipal Utilities saved almost $2.9 million through electricity generation in 2025

Toliver: ‘It means more to have those things now in a volatile time for power costs’

By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com

The Rochelle Municipal Utilities electric department saved nearly $2.9 million through its generation plant in 2025, RMU Superintendent of Electric Operations Blake Toliver said.

The generation plant at 127 N. Ninth St. has dual-fueled engines that run on diesel fuel and natural gas and it is used as a peak power shaving plant on hot days during the summertime when residents and businesses are running their air conditioners and putting stress on the power grid. That saves the city from

having to pay for capacity and transmission costs of buying power off the grid to meet increased demand.

Total savings from 2025 was

$3,948,123. After $1,081,607 in operating costs, the net savings to the city and RMU was $2,866,516.

“If we didn’t have the generation

plant here, we wouldn’t have those savings,” Toliver said. “That means the customers would ultimately be on the hook for those expenses. We’ve had a lot of city council support for generation and we’re looking at newer generation and more generation. The more generation we have online, the more money we’ll save. I think it’s a great asset to have. And we can also use the engines to power portions of the city if it goes dark as backup generation.”

Toliver said the generation plant typically saves the city between $1.5-2 million per year. He said the increase this year is due to rising power prices. He believes the power market will continue to see rising prices which will bring about more savings for Rochelle through generation.

RMU has long-term power contracts locked in that have protected its customers from large rate increases that area

See RMU on page 10

AFC Community Matters

investor-owned utilities have seen recently due to higher power prices.

“The city having these engines is just going to become more and more lucrative for the utility,” Toliver said. “The city having long-term power contracts with generation on site is huge for RMU. It means more to have those things now in a volatile time for power costs. I think the power market is going to get worse before it gets better. And I think we’re going to have some years of some pretty significant savings here. Now is the time to reinvest in that utility and get every dollar that we can while we can.”

RMU and the city are considering purchasing dual-fuel turbines that would be fueled by natural gas and diesel fuel and possibly hydrogen in the future. The potential two 10-megawatt turbines would be located on Caron Road and would replace six Caterpillar diesel engines at the location that would be sold.

Toliver said the turbines would be “much more efficient, modern and easier to maintain” than the engines. The turbines would add 10 megawatts of

power to the city’s capabilities if the move was made, making it able to cover “almost all” of Rochelle’s daily power capacity.

“It would be a significant amount of money that we would be saving,” Toliver said. “I think it would be more than enough to make the payments on bonds or however the city would pay for it.”

The RMU generation plant has five employees and its run season is from

June 1-Oct. 1 when peak temperatures and power needs take place. The plant also runs occasionally during the winter if extremely cold temperatures are seen. Outside of the run season, employees work on maintenance of engines. 2025 saw the plant’s first year in many without any mechanical failures to engines.

Generation is not common among other publicly owned utilities like

Rochelle Community Hospital Auxiliary offers scholarships

SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com

Scholarships are available through the Rochelle Community Hospital Auxiliary to area students who are planning to pursue careers in the health care field.

Six scholarships are available in 2026, including the Ward A. and Mabel T. Miller Scholarship.

The $2,000 scholarships are available to students who are currently attending or graduates of Rochelle, Ashton-Franklin Center or the Oregon High School districts, a current Rochelle-area resident (living within 15 miles of Rochelle), or an RCH employee or child of an RCH employee. If you have previously received an RCH scholarship, you may reapply after two years.

Applicants should be currently enrolled or have been accepted into an accredited program. An application form can be found on the hospital’s Facebook page or website at www.

rochellehospital.com/pressreleases.

Applications must be returned to Michelle LaPage, RCH Auxiliary scholarship chairman, at the hospital by Wednesday, March 4.

RMU. Rochelle started its electric utility in 1896 and was an independent generating entity until 1971, when the city tied to the grid. Instead of mothballing the generators in 1971, the city saw it as an opportunity to make money in the market and provide redundancy for members of the community.

“I think RMU is a good use case for utilities that are still running their own generation,” Toliver said. “The savings you can have with adding more generation and having your own generation can be paramount for a utility of our size. We are very lucky to have generation. We are very fortunate to have city council support for moving forward with this. We’re seeing a lot of city councils that are mothballing their generation plants throughout the country.”

Toliver said RMU rates would be “significantly higher” if the city did not have generation capabilities. Generation has brought a net savings to RMU six of the past seven years.

“I encourage our customers to learn about our utility and what we do for our residents and ratepayers,” Toliver said. “We’re doing everything in our power to make sure we maintain stable rates and do infrastructure upgrades to make our system more reliable.”

CHURCH DIRECTORY

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 for all ages. 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.

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 – LCMS 16060 E. Lindenwood Road, Lindenwood, IL 61049. Pastor: Rev. Dr. Matthew Rosebrock. Web: immanuel-lindenwood.org or find us on Facebook. Phone: 815-393-4500. Sunday Mornings: Divine Service at 9am, Fellowship at 10am, Sunday School and Bible Study at 10:30am. Food Pantry: 1st and 3rd Saturdays, 9am–11am.

New Hope Fellowship is a non-denominational church serving the Rochelle area since 2006. The church offers two contemporary worship services each Sunday at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., featuring biblical, applicable preaching designed to help people live out their faith in everyday life. Children’s Ministry is available for nursery through 5th grade during the first service and nursery through kindergarten during the second. Led by Pastors Dan Sergeant and Nick Tornabene, New Hope Fellowship also offers Men’s, Women’s, and Youth Ministries throughout the week. For more information or to find their YouTube channel, visit www.nhfchurch.net. Come see us at 1501 10th Ave., Rochelle, IL 61068.

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!

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.

St. Vincent DePaul of St. Mary’s in Byron is January 100+ Women Who Care of Ogle County recipient

SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com

The women who attended the quarterly meeting of 100+ Women Who Care of Ogle County on Thursday, Jan. 15, at the Coliseum in Oregon had a choice to make in deciding who should receive an $11,800 charitable donation.

Many of the members of the more than 100 women meet every three months to hear three not-for-profit organizations and decide, by vote, who the recipient should be. St. Vincent DePaul of St. Mary’s in Byron, Polo Area Community Theater, and the Lutheran Outdoor Ministry Center were the three presenters this month. Each group explained their valuable and unique offerings to the community.

The recipient of the $11,800 charitable donation was St. Vincent DePaul of St. Mary’s in Byron Tagra Grennan of St. Mary’s gave a

presentation with examples of helping folks in the Byron, Leaf River and Davis Junction area. The group’s vision statement says the society “will help those in need in the Byron area. Services will be offered on a temporary basis to give immediate aid in answer to a crisis.”

Ogle County prescribed burn workshop to offer training on Feb. 18

SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com

Local conservation partners are inviting landowners, land managers and community members to a free Prescribed Burning & Natural Areas Management Workshop on Feb. 18.

The workshop will be from 8 a.m. to noon at The Nature Conservancy Headquarters Barn, 8772 S. Lowden Road, Franklin Grove.

The workshop will introduce participants to the fundamentals of prescribed fire, including fire ecology, burn planning, implementation techniques and safety practices. Additional sessions will cover natural areas management beyond fire, including invasive species control and real-world examples from regional

conservation professionals.

Organizers said the event is designed for anyone involved in land stewardship or interested in learning how prescribed fire can be used safely and effectively to improve habitat health. A light breakfast will be provided.

Weather permitting, attendees also will have the option to join a guided tour of Nachusa Grasslands facilities and fire breaks after the classroom presentations.

The event is sponsored by the Ogle County Soil & Water Conservation District, The Nature Conservancy, Byron Forest Preserve District, and DeKalb County Forest Preserve District. RSVPs are requested by Feb. 15. To register, call 815-732-6127 ext 3, email Woodyatt. ogleswcd@gmail.com, or visit OgleSWCD. org.

If you live near Byron and are in a crisis situation, leave a message at 815-406-8368.

100+ Women Who Care of Ogle County has given almost $140,000 to 501(c)(3) charities in Ogle County since its inception in January 2020.

For more information about becoming part of 100+ Women Who Care of Ogle County and making a difference in your community, contact Deanna Forrest at forrestdede5@ gmail.com or find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/oglegives.

Ogle County 4-H invites youths to Day of Dabbling on Feb. 28

Ogle County 4‑H is welcoming families to a hands‑on morning of discovery at Day of Dabbling, a youth learning event. The program takes place from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 28 at the Oregon Church of God, 860 W. Oregon Trail Road, Oregon.

Designed for children and teens ages 5 to 18, Day of Dabbling encourages young people

OBITUARIES

SHIRLEY CARLSON

Born: August 24, 1935

Died: December 26, 2025

On December 26, 2025, Shirley Carlson, 90, went home to be with her Lord and Savior. No more Parkinson’s, no more dementia, no more sundowning. We rejoice with her that she is finally whole and truly home. Shirley lived her life as a strong born-again Christian (John 3:3). A true Jesus Christ follower, one of her primary endeavors

to explore new skills through interactive sessions that spark imagination and problem‑solving. Participants can dive into activities such as 3‑D Printing, Soap Making, LEGO Challenge, Stained Glass Art, Chocolate Around the World, and many other hands‑on experiences. Families are encouraged to bring plenty of energy and get ready to dabble in something new. Registration is required and can be completed online at go.illinois.edu/ DayofDabbling, where youths will select the

in life was to identify biblical truth, incorporate it into her life, and teach it to her family, her Sunday school classes, her many Bible studies, and anyone else who would listen.

On August 24, 1935, she was born in Chicago into a broken situation and spent most of the first 33 years of her life in the Hinckley/Big Rock/Aurora area.

Shirley married Alan Dean, an active military man, in 1953. Together, they had a daughter, Marlice (Marcy) Ann Dean. In 1955, while on deployment in Europe, Alan was killed in an accident leaving Shirley a widow and single mother. While working as a waitress/cook at the Big Rock Truck Stop, Shirley met Robert (Bob) R Carlson who she would marry in 1964. After a few of years of marriage and the birth

sessions they wish to attend. The event is open to all young people – no previous 4‑H membership or project experience is needed. 4‑H members are welcome to participate regardless of their project areas.

A fee of $10 per Ogle County 4‑Her or $15 per non‑Ogle County 4‑Her will be collected at the door. A full list of available classes can be viewed at go.illinois.edu/DayofDabbling Classes. Day of Dabbling offers a welcoming space for youths to try new things, meet new

of their son, Richard (Rick) R Carlson, the family moved to a farm outside Steward, IL in 1968. The couple lived there 43 years before decamping for Rockford in 2011. After Robert’s passing in 2018, Shirley moved to a farmette in Franklin, TN where she could be nearer both children. She enjoyed spending time with family, viewing the horses outside her kitchen window, and watching NBA— especially Steph Curry and 815’s own, Fred VanVleet. While primarily a homemaker over the years, Shirley was proud of her accomplishments outside the home. At various times she served as cafeteria cook for Steward Elementary School, administrative secretary for Ashton Bible Church, and truck driver for R&R Cattle Company. She was multi-talented

friends, and discover interests they may carry with them for years to come.

For more about this or any other county 4 H program or if you need a reasonable accom modation to participate, call the Ogle County Extension at 815 732 2191 or visit online at extension.illinois.edu/bdo/4 h ogle county.

– Shaw Local News Network

and widely loved. She will be missed. Shirley is survived by her daughter, Marcy (Dean) Hall, her son and daughter-in-law, Rick and Melissa Carlson, and three grandchildren: Caleb Alan Hall, Kenzie L Carlson, and Reagan R Carlson. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Alan Dean, her husband of 53 years, Robert R Carlson, and her grandson, Michael Robert Hall in 1998. Shirley’s earthly body has been laid to rest at Welsh Cemetery, Big Rock, IL.

Visitation with the family will be Saturday, February 7, 2026 at the Unger-Horner Funeral Home, 400 N 6 th St, Rochelle from 10AM-1PM. Rick Carlson is slated to say a few brief words from 11-11:30AM.

Gwendolyn “Gwen”

Rose (Gibby) Hayes died on December 9, 2025, in Mars, Pennsylvania, where she had lived to be closer to family since moving from Rochelle in 2014. She was surrounded by family when she passed away at age 96. Gwen was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 12, 1929, to Murrell Gibby and Rosellen Murphy Gibby. She excelled at every level of her education, both academically and in a dizzying array of extracurricular activities. Her senior entry in the Southeast High School yearbook included this partial list: editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, president of the Girl Reserves, Knightlites theater group, American Association of University Women (high school chapter), Commercial Club, senior class secretary, junior class treasurer, Beta club treasurer, Teen Town committee, a cappella

choir, and girls’ chorus. In her youth she was a versatile athlete who participated in the sports of archery, six-on-six basketball, field hockey, bowling, volleyball, swimming, ice skating, and table tennis.

She attended Park College in Parkville, Missouri, graduating with a degree in sociology in 1951. She then moved to Chicago, where she flew through the master’s degree program in education at the University of Chicago, graduating in 1952. Urged to pursue a doctoral degree by U of C professors, she decided she had had enough of studying and wanted to start teaching. Before she had even finished her master’s, Rochelle Schools superintendent David Crawford snapped her up to teach eighth grade at Central School. Not long after arriving in Rochelle, she met local pharmacist William “Bill” Hayes, a third-generation Rochellite, whom she married at St. Patrick’s Church on December 26,1953. Gwen left teaching while raising four of their five children. She then went back to work as

an educator, teaching sixth grade at Tilton Elementary School until her retirement. (To family members, it seemed she never finished grading papers, not even on vacation.)

Besides teaching, she dedicated much of her 62 years in Rochelle to social justice and humanitarian causes. Many of Gwen’s volunteer activities in Rochelle centered around St. Patrick’s Church. She took part in the Christian Family Movement (CFM), the church’s Peace and Justice Committee, and the church choir. She was also a eucharistic minister, delivering Holy Communion to people unable to attend church. For her work with the Illinois Migrant Council, she received the Diocese of Rockford’s Catholic Woman of the Year award in 1966. She was a proud member of the Rochelle chapter of the League of Women Voters, for which she held several board positions. After retirement and her move to Pennsylvania, Gwen still had a beautiful singing voice, and remembered and often sang scores of hit songs from the 1940’s and 1950’s. Well into her 90s, she surprised family members by singing the French national anthem in French and English back to back. She also played the piano and, one afternoon when she was 94, she

played every song in a music book of 1940’s big band classics.

Never considered vain by anyone who knew her, Gwen nonetheless could often be found re-reading the book about her life on which she, her son Jack, and daughter-in-law Regina collaborated, and which they published in 2024. It includes stories of both the joyous and difficult parts of her life.

Gwen is survived by her five children, John “Jack” (Regina White), Falls Church, VA; Lynn, Mars, PA; Patricia “Patty” Crawford (Don), Antioch, TN; William “Bil” (Julie Hanson), Rochelle, a longtime member of the Rochelle City Council; and Michael “Mike” (Cheri), Cranberry Township, PA. She was predeceased by her husband Bill in 2010. Her four grandchildren are Tyler (Bridget Esterhuizen) Crawford, Susannah Crawford, Will Hayes, and Kiley Hayes. Freya and Sable Crawford are her great-granddaughters. She is also survived by her brother and sister, John Gibby and Marilyn Hon, as well as many nieces, nephews, godchildren, and at least one cousin in Wales.

Gwen will be laid to rest next to her husband at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery in a private ceremony in the spring.

FUN&GAMES

PUZZLES

ACROSS

1. Racket sport pros

4. Make tea

8. City South of Moscow

10. Spanish bullfighting term

11. Egg-shaped

12. Could not remember

13. French modernist painter

15. Persons

16. Painful intestinal obstruction

17. Professions

18. Is up to the task

21. Wood or metal bolt

22. Tax collector

23. A way to save for the future

24. Georgia rockers

25. Midway between north and northeast

26. High schoolers’ test

27. Does not accept responsibility

34. One who prepares

35. Gout-indicative deposits

36. Place to play games

37. Book of Genesis character

38. Cleans oneself

39. Unloaded for money

40. Genus of flowering plants

41. Take a puff

42. Congressmen

43. God of battle in Scandinavian mythology

DOWN

1. Type of bomb

2. South Pacific islands

3. Celestial body

4. Negotiates

5. Consider in a specified way

6. Type of group in organic chemistry

7. Buddhist monasteries

9. Inhabitant of Bering Sea island

10. Body part

12. Milestone birthday

14. Thyroid-stimulating hormone

15. More (Spanish)

17. Chicago ballplayer

19. Leaves a place 20. Cannot be found

23. One’s internal body parts

24. Tell on 25. North American peoples of southwest

26. Soviet Socialist Republic 27. Extract used for jams and jellies

28. Greek goddess of the dawn

29. Old English letter

30. A way to exaggerate 31. Get up and leave 32.

Hanging cloth used as a blind

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.

CLASSIFIED

pub inspection at the Flagg Township Office Building, 303 W. Highway 38 Rochelle, starting February 10, 2026, during regular office hours of 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

ing, 303 W. Highway 38

Rochelle, IL, starting February 10, 2026, during regular office hours of 8:00 a.m. - 3:00

FARMLAND AUCTION

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 JAMES 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.

JAMES G. AHLBERG. Attorney for TINA MORRISON, Executor of the Estate of JAMES L. MORRISON, Deceased

Jan. 14, 21, 28, 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

PUBLIC NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS fo r GUR ANTEED ENERGY SAVINGS CONTRACT

Creston ESD 161 at 202 W South St Creston, IL 60113, is requesting Qualified Providers to propose innovative solutions and energy conservation measures through a guaranteed savings contract on a performance contracting basis. Proposals shall be in sealed form and submitted no later than March 3, 2026, 9:30 AM, at the existing Administrative Office at which time they will be publicly opened The District's RFP is available online at https://cdb.illinois. gov/procurement/ escos.html For questions contact Nicole Zellmer, the District's Superintendent, 815-3843920.

January 28, 2026

Creston, IL 60113, is requesting Qualified Providers to propose innovative solutions and energy conservation measures through a guaranteed savings contract on a performance contracting basis. Proposals shall be in sealed form and submitted no later than March 3, 2026, 9:30 AM, at the existing Administrative Office at which time they will be publicly opened The District's RFP is available online at https://cdb.illinois. gov/procurement/ escos.html For questions contact Nicole Zellmer, the District's Superintendent, 815-3843920.

Monday - Friday Notice is further given that a public hearing on said budget and appropriation ordinance will be held on Monday, March 9, 2026, at 7:00 p.m in the Flagg Township Office Building Board Room, 303 W. Highway 38, Rochelle, IL whereas final action on said ordinance will be taken by the Flagg Township Board of Trustees.

Joanna G. Patrick Flagg Township Clerk

January 28, 2026

PUBLIC NOTICE ON FLAGG TOWNSHIP ROAD DISTRICT

BUDGET

Notice is hereby given that a tentative budget and appropriation ordinance for the Flagg Township Road District in the county of Ogle, State of Illinois, for the fiscal year April 1, 2026, and ending March 31, 2027, will be on file and conveniently available for public inspection at the Flagg Township Office Building, 303 W. Highway 38 Rochelle, starting February 10, 2026, during regular office hours of 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Monday - Friday Notice is further given that a public hearing on said budget and appropriation ordinance will be held on Monday, March 9, 2026, at 7:00 p.m in the Flagg Township Office Building Board Room, 303 W. Highway 38, Rochelle, IL whereas final action on said ordinance will be taken by the Flagg Township Board of Trustees.

Joanna G. Patrick Flagg Township Clerk

Jan. 28, 2026

Jan. 28, 2026

PUBLIC NOTICE ON FLAGG TOWNSH IP BUDGET

Notice is hereby given that a tentative budget and appropriation ordinance for Flagg Township in the county of Ogle, State of Illinois, for the fiscal year April 1, 2026, and ending March 31, 2027, will be on file and conveniently available for public inspection at the Flagg Township Office Building, 303 W. Highway 38 Rochelle, IL, starting February 10, 2026, during regular office hours of 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Monday - Friday.

Notice is further given that a public hearing on said budget and appropriation ordinance will be held on Monday, March 9, 2026, during the regular board meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the Flagg Township Office Building Board Room, 303 W Highway 38, Rochelle, IL whereas final action on said ordinance will be taken by the Flagg Township Board of Trustees.

Joanna G. Patrick Flagg Township Clerk

Jan. 28, 2026

p.m. Monday - Friday. Notice is further given that a public hearing on said budget and appropriation ordinance will be held on Monday, March 9, 2026, during the regular board meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the Flagg Township Office Building Board Room, 303 W Highway 38, Rochelle, IL whereas final action on said ordinance will be taken by the Flagg Township Board of Trustees.

Joanna G. Patrick Flagg Township Clerk

Jan. 28, 2026

As sumed Name

Publication Notice

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

Low-Barrier Showers

Soaker Tubs

‘He

impacted so many people’

Hall of Fame basketball coach Russ Zick, who led PaxtonBuckley-Loda to state, remembered by former players, colleagues

By CHRIS WALKER contact@shawmedia.com

There was only one Russ Zick.

Zick, who coached boys high school basketball for 40 years with lengthy stints at Rochelle and Paxton-Buckley-Loda, died at 72 on Jan. 13.

Zick’s Hubs won 238 games and six regional titles between 1997 and 2011. His journey also included an additional 14 years at Paxton-Buckley-Loda, seven years at Ashton-Franklin Center (AFC), four years at Scales Mound and a final season at Kaneland in 2018-2019.

He took his Paxton-Buckley-Loda squad to the Class A Final Four in 1996. Ultimately, he was at the helm for 613 victories.

“The record books show the wins and losses through his Hall of Fame career, but looking back that is just a part of it all,” said Dr. Jason Harper, superintendent for Rochelle CCSD 231. “I would guess the first stories his former players tell when they get together is about who he was as a person and coach. We all carry our own individual memories of him. The fun stories, and the tough times he led us through, come together and form his legacy.”

Zick not only won games, he changed lives.

“Two years after I graduated, I had a chance encounter with Coach Zick in the office of Rochelle Township High School while interviewing for a youth coaching position,” said Scott Stevens, who played for Zick at Rochelle. “Russ was in the main office, spinning around in a chair with his eyes to the ceiling, waiting for his next Drivers Ed student.”

After Zick overcame his self-induced dizzy spell he asked Stevens what he was doing there.

“As a result of that serendipitous meeting, he ended up inviting me to join the Ashton-Franklin Center High School basketball staff under him as his assistant coach,” Stevens said. “Little did I know at the time, but that chance meeting would change the course of both my character and career. I spent three seasons working for Russ at AFC

but of respect.”

Current Rochelle boys head basketball coach Tim Thompson called Zick a tremendous coach and a great friend and mentor.

Thompson served as assistant for Zick for 12 years at Rochelle. When Zick retired from his teaching position at Rochelle and departed to coach at Ashton-Franklin Center, Thompson took his former job.

“He was always prepared and had a passion for coaching.” Thompson said. “He was a great motivator of young men.”

And he promoted the game.

“I think one of his greater strengths was his passion for basketball at the youth level,” Thompson said. “He would not just run camps and manage local travel leagues, but always make a great effort to get to kids games whether it was travel games, middle school games, or grade school games. The kids would love to see him there. He played in open gyms into his 60s. He has impacted so many people in all the areas he taught and coached. He will be missed by many.”

and I love Russ Zick and his whole family.”

That included Zick’s brother John, who gave Goff his first coaching job at Ashton-Franklin Center.

“John and I just talked the other day that it’s been 31 years ago that he hired me,” Goff said. “And then the Rochelle job opened up and they hired Russ. That’s when I met Russ and we became good friends and then when I became head coach at Sterling there were some great battles between us in the old NCIC [North Central Illinois Conference]. And we went everywhere scouting together when we had off days.”

Former Rock Falls and Rock Island coach Thom Sigel also had some battles against Zick.

before he retired. I was fortunate enough to step into my first head coaching role equipped with the lessons and spirit he played a large part in instilling within me. I am forever grateful for those lessons.”

Stevens played during Zick’s 14th season at Rochelle in 2010-2011.

“That was the season that Russ retired from Rochelle, and the season was full of hope, lessons and passion,” Stevens said. “While this was true, I don’t think that those sentiments were exclusive to that season when it came to Russ. As I came up through the school system, Russ always stuck out to me as someone that I wanted to make proud.

“This was not due to his status as head coach, rather it was because of the draw that he exuded to anyone he came in contact with. Coach Zick was firm in his beliefs but open to hearing others perspectives. He was dedicated to his craft and elevated his players to be the same. This reality was not out of fear

Peter Goff, athletic director at DeKalb, went head-to-head with Zick on the hardwood when he was coaching.

“He loved basketball and he’s a Hall of Famer.” Goff said. “He’s done everything. And he loved the kids, and later in life when we talked we talked about our grandkids and basketball. And he was crazy. They said one time he had his trampoline in his living room. That was some of the quirky stuff he did.”

Goff called his high school coach Cal Hubbard recently simply to thank him, a gesture undoubtedly inspired by Zick.

“I’m really sad that I didn’t reach out to [Zick],” Goff said. “We talked about it at Christmas about getting together. You never forget your coaches. I called my high school coach today because I just wanted to say I love you and everything you did for me. I remember the last time I talked to [Rich] Herrin [former Benton and SIUC coach] and told him the things you have done for me are unbelievable. And I loved him for that,

“We had some heated battles, some great games,” Sigel said. “Obviously, playing at Rochelle was very tough and playing at Rock Falls was pretty tough at that time. In the midst of battle it might look like there was a problem with the relationship or look like he was fuming, but my recollection is he would go through the handshake line win or lose and I could call the next day and ask ‘do you got something on so-so (team) and he was always willing to help out. Great coaching friends go against each other and don’t want to lose to each other, they want to battle until it’s over and I think he epitomized that as much as anybody.”

Sigel, a Hall of Fame member himself, guided Rock Island to the 2011 Class 3A state title during Zick’s final season at Rochelle.

“I think one of the things I would say is he was innovative,” Sigel said. “He was willing to play a different style and even game strategies. He studied the game and implemented those things.”

Throughout his time with Zick, Stevens said unexpected awe seemed to be a common occurrence in his company.

“In retrospect, I don’t think it was chance happenings that created the ‘awe’ I felt, rather it was the environment that Russ willed into existence,”

See COACH ZICK on page 20

Byron girls basketball grabs win from Dixon

Andy Colbert SPORTS VIEWS

In a closely contested girls basketball game between Byron and Dixon, it was the Tigers emerging on top in overtime. From the opening tipoff until the final score of 46-43, it was tight all the way between the stateranked teams.

Similar to the first game between the two at the KSB tourney where Byron came back in the final minute to win, Dixon rallied from five points down to force overtime. Hard-nosed defense and big plays on offense certainly were on display at the Byron gym in the Saturday afternoon tilt.

A few days before, Byron (20-2) avenged a KSB title game loss to Sterling with a 52-40 win over the Golden Warriors, this time with a healthy roster.

Byron continues to be the odds-on favorite to advance out of the Wilmington Supersectional to the Class 2A state finals. The toughest 2A super looks to be at Benton with five of the top 10 ranked teams.

If you happen to be at Stillman Valley on Thursday, Feb. 5, for the girls game with Byron, there will be a special presentation to Scott Leber of WTVO/WQRF TV. Leber, who has been covering local high school sports for 36 years, was named a Distinguished Media Service Award winner by the IHSA.

There are a few area radio guys with more longevity, but no one in TV approaches Scott’s work ethic. The man is everywhere and his dedication is off the charts.

With so many area sports cancellations last weekend, it was nice to see Oregon did not let cold weather get in the way of the boys basketball game with Winnebago on Friday. As Superintendent PJ Caposey explained to me, there’s a big difference between closing school when you have grade

Continued from page 19

he said. “For example, I walked into AFC High School for practice at six in the morning one day as I thought to

schoolers waiting for a bus in frigid temps versus teenagers with cars to travel to a game.

Yes, I realize some schools have policies against having sporting events when classes are called off for weather. But as this column has rallied against over the years, a societal fear of weather, be it hot or cold, leads public-sector entities (not just schools) to complete shutdowns.

It was nice to visit with Winnebago coach Joe Murphy before the Hawk game. At 73 years of age and closing in on 800 wins, Murphy shows no sign of slowing down.

Even after 38 years as head coach at ‘Bago, he’d love to continue many more years. The all-time IHSA leader is Gene Pingatore, Westchester (St. Joseph), 1969-2019, with 1,035 wins.

Murphy may not reach that high, but has a decent shot of catching up to Boylan’s Steve Goers (881) to take over third place.

Speaking of coaching victories, a slight correction from a couple of weeks ago, when Mike Lalor was listed below Everett Stine in total football wins. Actually, Mike is one spot ahead with 223 wins, as the IHSA site wasn’t updated to include this past year.

However, the way Jeff Boyer is racking up wins, with 139 in only 14 years, he could eventually become the county’s all-time leader. Already, he has the highest win percentage at .832.

According to IHSA records, other coaches over 100 wins at one school are Rochelle’s Kevin Crandall (160-96 in 24 years), Oregon’s Pat Holland (136-53 in 25 years), Polo’s Dwight Sellers (118-60 in 21 years) and Oregon’s John Bothe (112-85 in 19 years).

No one at Forreston has had the longevity to even come close to that mark.

The public-private debate in football continues to make news. This time it’s in Alabama, where its high school association voted to split from everyone together to separate state championships.

One reason given was that recent

myself that I would be the early one this time. Instead, I found an empty rack of balls because Russ had perfectly placed every available ball in the most impossible places in the gym.”

Balls were wedged between each

Byron’s Brynn Green handles the ball in front of Dixon defender Presley Lappin. The Byron Tigers won over the Dixon Duchesses, 46-43, in overtime. The girls basketball game took place on Saturday, Jan. 24, at Byron.

state legislation allowed for up to $7,000 in tax credits for private tuition. Maryland, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia also have separate football playoffs for public and private. Will Illinois soon be joining those ranks?

At this point, no. That is something

hoop and balanced on the back of the rim. Others rested on the top edge of the backboard. Another was at least 20 feet high on a fire alarm cage. Not a single ladder was in sight.

“He stood firm on his claim that each placement could be credited to ‘a

the IHSA wishes to avoid at all costs. But it is not out of the realm, either.

• Andy Colbert is a longtime Ogle County resident with years of experience covering sports and more for multiple area publications.

perfectly placed shot,’” Stevens said. “To this day I have no idea what time he showed up to the gym to pull off this incredible feat. This was all done to squeeze every ounce of joy out of me, his players, and life. That is Russ Zick to me.”

HUBS SUPER FANS

Rochelle’s Roman Villalobos commits to D-III power North Central: ‘It felt like the right choice’

All-State running back went for 2,821 yards, 36 touchdowns over three-year varsity career

By RUSS HODGES rhodges@shawmedia.com

Roman Villalobos wanted to be remembered as a leader.

When junior teammate Dylan Manning suffered a season-ending head injury during Rochelle’s varsity football game against Morris, Villalobos took it upon himself to bring his team together. A senior and the team’s starting fullback, Villalobos carried the Hubs to the playoffs at a time when Rochelle’s season hung in the balance.

“Mentally, it was a lot for a bunch of kids,” Villalobos said. “When Dylan went down, everyone kind of told me that it’s on me and it’s officially my team now... After that injury, everything changed. I really became a different person. I was leading these younger guys and letting them know we would be OK and we could keep winning.”

With Villalobos leading the charge, Rochelle won three consecutive games to make the postseason for a fifth straight year. Rochelle’s all-time leader in carries (479) and an IHSFCA All-State honoree, Villalobos will look to bring his leadership skills to North Central College, where he recently committed to continue playing football.

North Central, in Naperville, has reached the last six NCAA Division III National Championship games. The Cardinals were runners-up in 2025 and won national titles in 2019, 2022 and 2024.

“I’ve wanted to go to North Central since I was a little kid,” said Villalobos, whose older cousin Eddie wrestled and played football for the Cardinals. “Seeing him play football and wrestle there his freshman year, it became seared into my mind. It always felt like home because Eddie went there, so I was comfortable with it... It felt like the right choice and I’m glad I finally made the decision.”

One of Rochelle’s all-time leading rushers, Villalobos rumbled for 2,821 yards and 36 touchdowns over three sea-

sons. A three-time All-Interstate 8 honoree, Villalobos ranks third in school history in rushing yards and sixth in rushing touchdowns. Villalobos rushed for 1,161 yards and 16 touchdowns during his senior campaign.

“Roman’s impact on our program has been substantial,” Rochelle coach Kyle Kissack said. “From taking on a significant role early in his career to being the primary threat at the end of his senior year, Roman bore quite a bit of the weight of our offense as the fullback. I’m excited for him and his next step. His willingness to embrace tough moments will be the foundation for his collegiate success.”

Roman’s older cousin Xavier, Eddie’s brother, currently wrestles at North Central. A four-year wrestler and football player at Rochelle, Villalobos has over 100 victories on the mat and was an IHSA state qualifier as a junior. Villalobos intends to study business in college.

“I’m excited to grow as a person and to be with a great group of guys,” said

who committed on Tuesday. “I hope to bring leadership and I hope to be one of the leaders of my class. I hope to learn from the older guys... If I keep working hard and I keep grinding, I have a good chance of getting some playing time as a freshman. That’s what I’m hoping for and I’m hoping to dress.”

Villalobos made his varsity debut as

a sophomore, filling in for injured starter Erich Metzger during Rochelle’s nonconference game against Morton. Thrown into the fire, Villalobos churned for 546 yards and six touchdowns that season, earning an Honorable Mention in the conference and guiding the Hubs

See VillalOBOS on page 23

Rochelle bounces back with victory at Streator

Hubs use first half burst to key 71-46 win over Bulldogs

By BRIAN HOXSEY bhoxsey@shawmedia.com

The Rochelle boys basketball, coming off a tough, high-scoring conference loss to Sycamore, came out firing on all cylinders against Streator in Saturday afternoon’s game at Pops Dale Gymnasium in Streator.

The Hubs used a game-changing 22-9 run spanning the final four minutes of the first quarter and first four minutes of the second to help build an 18-point lead at halftime in a 71-46 victory over the host Bulldogs.

“I was really proud of how our kids played overall today,” Rochelle coach Tim Thompson said. “We had a great battle with Sycamore [a 94-82 loss on Friday], but came up a little bit short, so it was nice to get right back at it. We knew Streator was going to really try and slow the game down and run a bunch of offensive sets in the halfcourt. We knew we’d have to make some adjustments as the game went along defensively, but offensively we just had to stick with what we do well.”

Rochelle (11-10) jumped out to a 20-12

lead after the opening eight minutes as Mason Ludwig sank a pair of 3-pointers and Kasin Avila added five points. The Hubs then pushed the advantage to 35-17 at the intermission as Brody Bruns, in his second game back from injury, scored six points and Van Gerber five points.

Avila led Rochelle with 16 points, Bruns added 14 points, Gerber 12 points, Warren Schweitzer nine points and Ludwig eight points.

“I felt like right from the start we were able to do a good job of limiting Streator to one shot, and that in turn allowed us to get out in transition and play a little free,” Thompson said. “In the past, we used a lot of defensive pressure to create some offense, but with the big guys we have we want to take advantage of them. We will always take a fast break when we can, but we also feel we have some pretty talented big guys who can do good things around the rim.

“We weren’t really able to go on any big extended runs, but it felt like in the first half we were trading two hoops for one. If you can do that over a long period of a game, you’re obviously going to put yourself in a great position to win.”

Streator (8-10), behind LA Moton

scoring 13 of his game-high 18 points in the third, was able to close the gap to 15 near the end of the period, but Rochelle responded with a 12-2 run to help seal the win.

After Moton, Joe Hoekstra recorded another double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds to go along with five blocked shots, while Colin Byers chipped in a pair of 3s for six points.

“We have to be top to bottom, and that starts with me, better mentally to start games,” Streator coach Beau Doty said. “I’m not sure what it was today, but we just didn’t come out ready to go and never really got on track.

“Rochelle has a bunch of size [front line of 6-5, 6-5, 6-7], which we knew would be a challenge for us. The Bruns kid is such a tremendous player, and while he’s coming off an injury, he is still really good even not at 100%. Our bread and butter is trying to beat teams up on the boards, in the paint, but Rochelle was able to neutralize that, and we just didn’t step up in other areas to counteract that.

“They have so much firepower it’s very difficult to get two or three defensive stops in a row, so once we got behind double digits in the first half it was going to be a tough hill to try and climb back from. We had a good offen -

• VILLALOBOS

Continued from page 22

to the playoffs.

“Being thrown into that really helped develop me,” Villalobos said. “It helped me be ready for anything at all times, so whenever my number is called now, I’ll always be ready. I have to give thanks to my older teammates because those older guys really helped me. They knew I was young and they knew it was a new experience.”

Returning as the starting fullback his junior season, Villalobos was one of three ball carriers to eclipse the 1,000yard rushing mark in 2024. Villalobos recorded 1,111 yards and 14 touchdowns for the Hubs, who went 10-2 and advanced to the 5A state quarterfinals. Rochelle’s final three wins came against CCL/ESCC opponents.

“Not a day goes by where I don’t think about something from that season,” Villalobos said. “That class was so close and tightly bound together. It

We weren’t really able to go on any big extended runs, but it felt like in the first half we were trading two hoops for one. If you can do that over a long period of a game, you’re obviously going to put yourself in a great position to win.”

sive stretch there in the third quarter, but just weren’t able to make up any ground.”

Streator will need to regroup for a home Illinois Central Eight Conference game against Manteno on Tuesday before entertaining East Peoria on Wednesday and a trip to play Morton on Saturday.

Rochelle has away games Monday and Tuesday against Freeport and Genoa-Kingston, respectively, before a home Interstate 8 Conference game against Ottawa on Friday.

felt like an actual family and every day at practice felt like I was just hanging out with my brothers. My junior season is definitely a huge highlight of my high school career. Being able to put ourselves on the map was one of the best feelings of my life.”

A Rochelle native, Villalobos grew up with the Rochelle Wrestling Club and the Rochelle Junior Tackle football program. Villalobos, whose father and uncles played for the Hubs, managed to achieve two important goals before his senior year concluded. The first was earning All-State honors and the second was going to college.

“Being named All-State, that was a goal my dad and I have been dreaming of since I was a little kid watching Eddie play,” Villalobos said. “That was the one goal I really chased during my high school career, so once I found out that I achieved it... words can’t really describe how happy I was. I was fulfilled, but it made me want to keep going. I’m excited to keep competing at North Central.”

SPORTS

HISTORY

1943: Blackhawks, powered by 4 Max Bentley goals in the third period, beat Rangers 10-1. 1960: NFL announces Dallas Cowboys (1960) and Minnesota Vikings (1961) franchises.

ROCHELLE COUPLE START 50TH YEAR

Chuck and Lydia Roberts of Rochelle just started their 50th year teaching skiing at Wilmot Mountain in Wisconsin.