RNL_073025_Rochelle News Leader

Grand opening held for Willis Senior Lofts Ceremony held in Rochelle on Friday, July 25

BY JEFF HELFRICH MANAGING EDITOR

ROCHELLE — On

Friday, July 25, a grand opening event was held for Willis Senior Lofts, a new 60-unit senior housing development at 410 Willis Ave. in Rochelle. The project was completed in the spring after breaking ground in November 2023.

Lincoln Avenue Communities (LAC) was the developer of the project, its second new construction deal in Illinois.

Willis Senior Lofts is an Enterprise Green and Net Zero-certified senior housing development (55 and older). It features a double-volume community room opening up to an out-

On Friday, July 25, a grand opening event was held for Willis Senior Lofts, a new 60-unit senior housing development at 410 Willis Ave. in Rochelle.

door patio, a theater room, fitness center, community laundry rooms, an indoor dog washing room, a walking path, raised community garden, and bicycle parking. The four-story building is

Rain,

heat

equipped with an elevator and other accessible design features making it well-tailored to the needs of seniors.

See WILLIS LOFTS page 12

The Rochelle City Council heard a presentation on stormwater detention areas that could be placed at the rear of the former site of Hickory Grove Illinois Route 251 on the north side of Rochelle.

Rochelle City Council discusses Illinois Route 251 project, stormwater detention

BY JEFF HELFRICH MANAGING EDITOR

ROCHELLE — At its meeting Monday, the Rochelle City Council heard a presentation from the Illinois Department of Transportation on stormwater detention areas that could be placed at the rear of the former site of Hickory Grove to assist with drainage as the state prepares to widen and reconstruct Illinois Route 251 on the north side of Rochelle.

See CITY page 3

aiding growing season for Ogle County farmers

Farm Bureau’s Ron

BY JEFF HELFRICH MANAGING EDITOR

OGLE COUNTY —

Warm temperatures and timely, heavy rains have Ogle County crops growing well as the summer months roll on, Ogle County Farm Bureau Manager Ron Kern said July 23.

The early spring saw a dry planting season and “a lot” of beans were planted into dry soil conditions by farmers hoping for rain, Kern said. Some Ogle County farmers even took the time and resources to replant beans. In the months that followed, rain hit county fields when it was needed.

“That rain we got on June 18 was a Godsend,”

Kern: Movement on new Farm Bill by Congress still needed

Kern said. “Corn and beans were screaming for water before that. We got two inches of rain or more. In June it seemed like every kernel of corn in the county germinated. The corn looks spectacular right now. Some of the beans are thin due to low moisture. Some bean yields may suffer a bit in the fall. With the rain we’ve gotten since July 4, corn has been tasseling and shooting ears and that’s exactly what we hope for. It looks very good right now. We still have two months to go, but it looks very good. Beans are putting on pods and showing potential.”

Higher-than-usual temperatures have also aided in growth. Kern said heat

will continue to be ideal as long as moisture keeps up.

Recent rains have been heavy in short windows, but Kern said he hasn’t heard of any flooding issues in Ogle County fields, with the ground likely being dry enough to soak it in. The point crops are at now makes them likely safe from mild flooding, Kern said.

“I’d say we’re about on schedule for harvest with where the crops are,” Kern said, “The planting season went a bit quicker than normal.”

Current work for Ogle County farmers include spraying fungicide, which is done with planes, helicopters, ground sprayers and drones. Kern extended

Warm temperatures and timely, heavy rains have Ogle County crops growing well as the summer months roll on, Ogle County Farm Bureau Manager Ron Kern said July 23.

condolences on behalf of himself and the Ogle County Farm Bureau to the family of Alexander Leamon, a 23-year-old Lena man that died in a

crop dusting plane crash near the Mt. Morris Airport on July 22.

See FARMING page 2

LOCAL NEWS

FARMING: OCFB’s

From page 1

“Something like that shows the dangers of agriculture and the things our farmers do each day in this region,” Kern said.

In the coming months, Kern hopes to see “a couple more decent rains” through August to set up bean yields, followed by cooler, dryer days in the fall to mature and dry down crops naturally so gas dryers don’t have to be used when they’re harvested.

Outside of the field, Kern hopes to see improved commodity prices, and a new federal Farm Bill finished by Congress in the coming months.

The current Farm Bill, passed in 2018, has been extended for a year twice, most recently in December. The federal Farm Bill allocates funding for crop insurance, disaster assistance and conservation programs for farmers.

“We need Congress to get that done so farmers have assurances going forward and understand the risks they’re taking,” Kern said.

Kern said the situation with The White House and tariffs brings about

uncertainty for farmers and the global market for their products. He believes there’s currently “a lot of” pressure on corn and soybean prices. Beef prices are currently rising rapidly due to cattle supply being at its lowest since around the 1950s, Kern said. The hog market is currently “steady,” he added.

Input costs are not currently front of mind at this time of year for farmers, as fungicide work is the only main expense. Fuel prices are currently stable as fall approaches, along with propane and gas for crop dryers.

With current uncertainty in markets, with tariffs, and a Farm Bill, Kern said a promising harvest comes at a good time for Ogle County farmers.

“One thing about farmers is they want to grow as much as they can on every acre regardless of what the price is that they’ll get for it,” Kern said. “I’d rather sell 200 bushels at $4 a bushel than I would 100 bushels at $6 a bushel.”

Kern has been advocating for research funds for new domestic crop uses in the next Farm Bill to bring crop prices up.

Kern: ‘The corn looks spectacular right now’

“A friend of mine, Jim Gill, who was the Illinois Farm Bureau director of commodities, said some-

thing to me 20 years ago that I remember,” Kern said. “I asked what had to be done to bring prices

up. He said, ‘Find domestic uses for our crops.’

Then the ethanol industry exploded a year or two

later and it helped prices. I think we’re in a similar spot again. We’ll see what happens.”

Brass From The Past to play Mt. Morris Aug. 1

MT. MORRIS —

Brass From The Past

“Rock & Soul Revue” A Tribute to the Legends of Rock & Soul make their long-awaited return to perform from 7-9 p.m. on the Mt. Morris Bandshell on Aug. 1.

Brass From The Past will take our audience on a musical journey from late 60s into the early 80s... touching on a few 90s and 2000s to end the show.

Featuring an unstoppable six-piece horn section, including resident trumpet ace, Terry Connel, a tight four-piece

rhythm section, and five powerful singers who command the stage. This is no ordinary band!

Brass from the Past plays the music of Stevie Wonder, Four Tops, Temptations, Michael Jackson, Chicago, Doobie Brothers, Prince, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, BS&T, Pattie Labelle, Bruno Mars, Chaka Kahn, O’Jays, Tower of Power and more.

Concessions for the evening will be provided by both the Oregon Lions Club, who will be serving Italian beef sand-

wiches as well as other items, and the Mt. Morris Moose Lodge, who will serve homemade chicken strips, fries, cheesy fries, and drinks. Just 4 Fun Ice Cream will be there as well, all starting around 5 p.m. Ewe and Me Acres will have a fresh produce stand with a variety of fruits, vegetables, baked goods, jams, jellies and dog treats on the Campus along with other craft and plant vendors from 4-8 p.m. Popcorn Girls Emmie and Lily from the Mt. Morris Center will likely be serving fresh popcorn

uptown too. Encore’s Art Gallery and the Mt. Morris Historical Museum will be open during concerts on

the Campus as well. Please bring a blanket or lawn chair, as the benches will likely fill fast, and join us on our Historical Cam-

pus, located two blocks south of Illinois Route 64 on Wesley Avenue and enjoy the free classic rock and soul concert.

CITY: Expenditures for RMU electric work approved Monday

From page 1

The former site of Hickory Grove at 1127 N. 7th St. is owned by the city after it purchased it and demolished the building on the site in recent years with plans for future development by a buyer that has not yet been seen.

The state is currently slated to do the Illinois Route 251 work from south of Flagg Road to just south of Illinois Route 38. The deteriorating portion of the state-owned Illinois Route 251 will see a widening to five lanes with bidirectional turn lanes and new signaling, lighting and pedestrian improvements. The city hopes to see construction start by 2027.

IDOT desires additional drainage in the area for rainfall events and first approached the city council with the idea early this year. The council provided feedback in February, including the desire for as much space as possible being left at the front of the property for a potential development, and the detention pond being a dry bottom.

The size of the land for a potential building on the land would now be over 7,700 square feet, which City Engineer Sam Tesreau said is good-sized and more parking and potential space for a drive thru would be available.

Voter

“At the back we have the proposed stormwater pond and an area in the center of Tilton Manor Drive that IDOT would like to utilize as well,” Tesreau said. “The intent is to agree to an easement and agreement here in the future. We want to keep this moving forward. This project has been a long time coming. We have momentum going and I want to keep that going.”

IDOT Studies & Plans

Engineer Mike Kuehn said the detention area would accommodate for a 25 or 100-year flood and would help the 251 and 38 intersection significantly. The front portion of the Hickory Grove lot would be just over an acre, the detention pond would be about an acre and the Tilton Manor Drive portion would be .3 acres.

“It looks nice,” City Councilwoman Kate Shaw-Dickey said. “I appreciate that you were able to accommodate some extra space on that front lot. I think that makes it more marketable for someone to put a business in. Before it was a concern for parking and more. It looks much better.”

Mayor John Bearrows said the Hickory Grove property has only seen one proposal over five years and making the developable portion smaller gives him pause. He

also asked Kuehn when the long-awaited Illinois Route 251 reconstruction project by the state would start.

“This detention would be built at the same time as the rest of the Illinois Route 251 project,” Kuehn said. “I’m thinking 18 months to two years out is where we are now with when we’ll begin construction. We still have to purchase right of way and easements and that takes time.”

A potential agreement on the detention project will be brought to the council for approval at a later date.

RMU

The council approved two items during the meeting relating to the Rochelle Municipal Utilities electric department.

The first was a resolution authorizing the continued retention of BHMG Engineers for phase two of RMU’s electric systems upgrades. The council chose to retain BHMG for the work nearly four years ago and BHMG recently submitted a price adjustment request due to the scope and design of the project evolving.

Phase two of the electric upgrades include a new transformer for the RMU generation plant, a new substation and running lines from substation to substation. With the price

approved

items during the meeting relating to the

Municipal Utilities electric department. The rst was a resolution authorizing the continued retention of BHMG Engineers for phase two of RMU’s electric systems upgrades. The council also approved a proposal $94,800 from Utility Dynamics Corporation for an Illinois Route 38 boring contract for electric line upgrades.

adjustment the engineering cost remains under 10 percent of the total estimated project cost of nearly $20 million.

BHMG requested a total of $710,350 in increases and RMU requested $329,260 in new construction work. The agreement will also ensure an engineer is on site for the construction of the electric substation and line.

RMU Superintendent of Electric Operations Blake Toliver said Monday that the city plans to get bids for construction of the new substation and line by the end of October.

The council also approved a proposal $94,800 from Utility Dynamics Corporation for an Illinois Route 38 boring contract for electric line upgrades. The bid was the lowest of four.

That project will place all lines underground at the intersection of Dement Road and Illinois Route 38. Due to the proposed redesign of the intersection from IDOT, the new back of the curb would have been right on top of RMU pole line which posed a “significant risk” to RMU poles getting hit in the area. After internal discussions

it was determined undergrounding was the best way to move forward with the intersection for RMU. The bid was strictly for putting pipe in the ground and RMU linemen will perform the rest of the work in house.

The city will also consider looking at undergrounding Interstate 39 overhead electric lines.

IDOT recently began a redesign of traffic in the area of Illinois Route 38 and Interstate 39 to convert it to a diverging diamond interchange style to improve safety and capacity. The project will take place

registration purge begins in Ogle County

OREGON – The Voter Registration purge has begun in Ogle County. Ogle County Clerk and Recorder Laura J. Cook, states per the Illinois state statutes, election officials are required to purge certain voters from the county’s voter registration rolls every two years. The purge keeps voter registration accurate because it allows the removal of voters who are ineligible because they have changed their name, moved or passed away. If you have moved without notifying us, the Voter ID card will be sent back to our office by the Post Office as this type of mail cannot be forwarded. If there is a forwarding address on

the returned card that is within our jurisdiction, we will send a “confirmation letter” to this new address. Please fill out and return the “confirmation letter” with the correct information. If your new address is in Ogle County, we will update your information and send you a new voter registration card. If there is a forwarding address on the returned card that is out of our jurisdiction, we will also send a “confirmation letter” to your new address. Please fill out your new address and return the “confirmation letter” to us or register in your new jurisdiction and that jurisdiction will notify us and we will cancel your voter

registration in our system. If you do not reply to the “confirmation letter”, do not update your address within our jurisdiction, and do not vote in two general elections, you will be inactive in our system. After 30 days, voters whose cards have been returned to us will be inactivated. Inactive status requires the voter to re-register to

vote. Voters need to be correctly registered so they are placed in the correct voting districts and voting precincts.

The County Clerk’s Office mailed new voter registration cards to every registered voter in Ogle County the week of July 18. Once you receive your new voter registration card, please review the

printed information for accuracy. If the person no longer resides at the address listed, if you are

registered and do not receive a card or if you notice a discrepancy, please call the office at 815-732-1110.

OBITUARIES/LOCAL NEWS

Teresa Abbott

ROCHELLE — Teresa Abbott, beloved daughter of Andrew William Beach Abbott Jr and Bertha Jean Abbott (Carson), was born on February 13, 1960, in Rochelle, IL.

She peacefully passed away on July 13, 2025. Teresa had a knack for trying new things and never shied away from exploring different career paths. After studying at Rochelle Township High School and Westwood High School, she graduated in 1978 and eventually retired in 2022 after working in various fields.

One of Teresa’s greatest joys in life was crafting. She loved spending hours creating beautiful pieces with her hands and found immense satisfaction in the creative process. Though she never had children of her own, Teresa leaves behind a legacy of laughter and joy in the hearts of all who knew her.

ROCHELLE POLICE REPORT

ROCHELLE — On

July 17 at 3:03 p.m. Anthony Bruge Jr., 32, of Sycamore was cited for speeding 60 in a 40 miles per hour zone. He signed a promise to comply and was given an Aug. 8 Rochelle court date.

On July 17 at 7:09 p.m. Patricia Escobar, 51, of Rochelle was cited for speeding 62 in a 40 miles per hour zone. She signed a promise to comply and was given an Aug. 8 Rochelle court date.

On July 17 at 7:28 p.m. Christopher Combs, 52, of Rochelle was cited for speeding 62 in a 45 miles per hour zone. He signed a promise to comply and was given an Aug. 8 Rochelle court date.

On July 17 at 9:54 p.m. David Echelbarger, 34, of Rochelle was cited for operating an uninsured vehicle. He signed a promise to comply and was given an Aug. 8 Rochelle court date.

On July 17 at 9:54 p.m. Catrina Buchman, 25, of Wisconsin was cited for improper pushing of vehicle. She signed a promise to comply and was given an Aug. 8 Rochelle court date.

On July 18 at 3:06 p.m. Dean Ford, 35, of DeKalb was cited for violation of license class first/second. He signed a promise to comply and was given an Aug. 8 Rochelle court date.

On July 19 at 1:55 a.m. Roman Martinez, 31, of Creston was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and cited for illegal transportation of alcohol by driver and disobeying a stop sign. He signed a promise to comply and was given an Aug. 22 Rochelle court date.

On July 18 at 9:46 p.m. Pablo Caniz Alvarez, 26, of Rochelle was cited for speeding 65 in a 45 miles per hour zone. He signed a promise to comply and was given an Aug. 8 Rochelle court date.

On July 20 at 2:11 a.m. Israel Nava, 31, of Rochelle was arrested for driving under the influence and DUI .08 and cited for disobeying a stop sign. He signed a promise to comply and was given an Aug. 22 Rochelle court date.

On July 21 at 5:17 p.m.

Cassandra M. Lindsey, 30, of Rochelle was cited for suspended registration. She signed a promise to comply and was given an Aug. 22 Rochelle court date.

On July 21 at 4:46 p.m. Jacob R. Rose, 26, of Rochelle was cited for speeding 63 in a 40 miles per hour zone. He signed a promise to comply and was given an Aug. 22 Rochelle court date.

On July 22 at 4:55 p.m. Felipa D. Ibarra, 41, of Malta was cited for speeding 66 in a 40 miles

She will be deeply missed by her family, friends & her lifelong dog, Chauncey…To the moon & back & infinity & beyond!

per hour zone. She signed a promise to comply and was given an Aug. 22 Rochelle court date.

On July 22 at 4:51 p.m. Juan R. Borges Yanez, 35, of DeKalb was cited for speeding 67 in a 45 miles per hour zone. He signed a promise to comply and was given an Aug. 22 Rochelle court date.

On July 22 at 8:30 a.m. Jacqueline M. Lopez, 42, of Rochelle was arrested on an Ogle County warrant and transferred.

On July 22 at 1:12 p.m. Dontavion Horton, 33, of Rockford was arrested for driving while license revoked and cited for speeding 60 in a 40 miles per hour zone. He signed a promise to comply and was given an Aug. 22 Rochelle court date.

On July 23 at 12:25 a.m. Anjolie E. Hall, 20, of Rochelle was arrested for driving under the influence and cited for no insurance, unlawful transportation of alcohol and underage consumption. She signed a promise to comply and was given an Aug. 22 Rochelle court date.

On July 22 at 11:29 p.m. Montavion D. Ross, 42, of Rochelle was arrested for domestic battery and an Ogle County warrant and transferred.

All individuals are considered innocent until proven guilty in the court of law.

HOW TO

CONTACT

OREGON — On July 19 at approximately 8:54 a.m. deputies conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of Kishwaukee Road and Hales Corner Road. After investigation, deputies placed Santana Williams, 39, of Roscoe under arrest for driving while license revoked. Williams was additionally issued citations for no seat belt and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Williams was transported to the Ogle County Jail where she was released on a notice to appear and given a return court date.

On July 20 at approximately 12:20 a.m. deputies responded to a crash with injuries in the 12,000 block of West Judson Road. After an investigation, deputies placed a 17-year-old female juvenile, under arrest for driving while under the influence of alcohol. The juvenile was additionally cited for failure to reduce speed. The juvenile was transported to OSF Saint Katharine Hospital and treated for suspected minor injuries. The juvenile was released on a notice to appear with a future court date.

On July 20 at approximately 3:40 p.m. deputies conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Illinois Route 26 and Baileyville Road. After investigation, deputies placed Walter Edwards, 64, of Freeport under arrest for driving while license suspended. Edwards was released on a notice to appear and given a future court date.

On July 20 at approximately 4:16 a.m. deputies responded to the 3000 block of South Ridge Road, Oregon, for a single-vehicle crash. After a brief investigation, deputies determined the driver of a Jeep Cherokee, Anna M. Eichelberger, 22, of Mt. Morris, lost control of the vehicle, entered the west ditch, traveled into the corn field before traveling back through the ditch and onto the roadway.

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Eichelberger was placed under arrest for resisting a police officer. Eichelberger was transported to the Ogle County Jail and released on a notice to appear with a future court date. Eichelberger was additionally issued citations for no insurance, improper lane usage, failure to reduce speed, and driver failure to give notice of an accident. Deputies were assisted by the Mt. Morris Police Department and the Oregon Fire Department.

On July 20 at approximately 8:51 p.m. deputies responded to the 11,000 block of North Tower Road, Byron, for the report of a single-vehicle crash with injuries. After an investigation, deputies determined Petrovaa Porter, 46, of Byron, was traveling southbound when she struck a deer in the roadway. Porter was transported to the hospital to be treated for suspected minor injuries. Porter was issued no citations as a result of the crash. Byron Fire/EMS assisted with the crash.

On July 21 at approximately 9 p.m. deputies responded to the 400 block of North River Road in Oregon regarding a reported disturbance. After an initial investigation, deputies placed Jeremy W. Miller, 40, of Mt. Morris, under arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol. Miller was transported to the Ogle County Jail, where he was additionally cited for DUI/ BAC greater than .08. Miller was released with a notice to appear in court on a later date.

On July 21 at 7:05 p.m. deputies conducted a civil process service in the 7,000 block of South Illinois Route 2 in Grand Detour. After a brief investigation, Christopher D Rasmussen, 48, of Dixon was arrested on an active Lee County warrant. Rasmussen was transported by Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies to the Lee County Jail.

protection, and Bradley A. Prosser, 56, of Rochelle, was placed under arrest for aggravated domestic battery and domestic battery. Both subjects were transported to the Ogle County Jail and held pending an appearance before a judge.

On July 22 at approximately 3:46 a.m. deputies responded to the 100 block of North 3rd Street in Oregon regarding a domestic disturbance. After investigation, Toby R. Gilberto, 46, of Rockford was placed under arrest for domestic battery. Gilberto was transported to the Ogle County Jail and held pending an appearance before a judge.

On July 22 at 11:46 p.m. deputies responded to the 1,700 block of West Flagg Road for a single-vehicle accident with no injuries reported. After an investigation, Juan G. Ugalde, 46, of Rochelle, was placed under arrest for no valid driver’s license. Ugalde was released on a notice to appear with a future court date.

On July 23 at 2:23 p.m. deputies responded to 8,000 South Illinois Route 2 for a driving complaint. The vehicle was eventually located at West Pines Road and South Forest Road. After a brief investigation, deputies arrested Christopher Gillentine Jr., 20, of Dixon, for driving unlicensed. Gillentine was released with a notice to appear.

On July 24 at approximately 1:20 p.m. deputies conducted a traffic stop at Illinois Route 26 and Montague Road. After an investigation, Kip Pontnack, 34, of Freeport was arrested for no valid Illinois driver’s license. Pontack was given a notice to appear with a return court date of Aug. 13. Pontnack’s 2016 Ford F250 was towed from the scene.

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On July 22 at approximately 4:40 p.m. deputies responded to the 5,000 block of Mill Pond Road in Rochelle regarding an unwanted subject. After investigation, Rhiannon J. Waters, 42, of Rochelle, was placed under arrest for violation of an order of

On July 25 at 2:38 a.m. deputies conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of South Freeport and Weset Henry Road. As a result, deputies arrested Ryan A. Espinoza, 33, of Rockford on a Rockford PD warrant for resisting an officer/no bond. Espinoza was transported to the Ogle County Jail.

All individuals are considered innocent until proven guilty.

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OBITUARIES

Donna Marie Wood

ROCHELLE — Don-

na Marie Wood, 95, passed away Friday, July 25, 2025 at Manor Court in Rochelle with her girls by her side.

Donna was born on May 5, 1930, the daughter of Earl and Hazel (Gibson) Secoy in Oregon, Illinois. On June 22, 1951, she married Oval Eugene “Gene” Wood in Rochelle, IL. He preceded her in death on November 2, 2010. Donna was actively involved with the First Presbyterian Church and volunteered for numerous years along side her husband Gene at the Presbyterian Church thrift store.

Donna was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and

great grandmother.

Donna is survived by her three daughters: Linda (Phillip) Kimbrell of Aiken, SC, Susan (Mark) Hendrix of Lake Wales, FL and Melissa (Robert) King of Rochelle, IL; sister, Jean Shepardson of DeKalb, IL; 4 grandchildren: Alan (Kristy) Kimbrell of Spring Creek, NV, Sara Wright of Bartow, FL, Daniel Stone of Brandon, FL, and Rachel Cardott of Roscoe, IL; 3 great grandchildren: Taylor and Jonathan Kimbrell and Julia Wright.

In addition to her parents and husband Gene, Donna is predeceased by an infant daughter, Lisa

Wood, brother, Bob Secoy and sister, Sandy Miller.

Private grave side services will be held at a later date at the Lawnridge Cemetery in Rochelle. Visit www.ungerhorner. com for online guest book. Memorials can be directed in her honor to Serenity Hospice and home, PO Box 462, Oregon, IL 61061

Larry D. Brown

ROCHELLE — Larry

D. Brown passed on July 24th, 2025, surrounded by a loving family, to be with our Heavenly Father. He departed with a sharp mind, precise memory, and a well-used and worn body. Larry was born on November 9th , 1932 to Ralph and Stella Brown of Louisville, NE. He was number “6” of 9 children. He leaves behind a loving and dedicated wife, Becky Brown, a schoolteacher. Larry must have thought he had some things to learn. After 71 years of marriage, Larry and Becky were fruitful, having 4 children: Teresa (Terry) VanHise, Robert Brown, Don (Leanne) Brown, and Rex (Deb) Brown. They had 8 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Larry served in the military with honor during the Korean War. Although he earned a purple heart, he survived battles at “Million Dollar Mountain” and “Heartbreak Ridge.” The memories of his service were clear and etched into his mind. He

shared the stories rarely but did comment ‘God must have had a purpose for him, having survived.’Larry was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church and attended when able. Larry worked many jobs, 14 total, with his most memorable being with Swift and Company, with his last job being with Macklin Quarries. He finally retired from any kind of paid work at age 82, with Becky also ending paid work at age 80. Larry approached work and play with the same intensity. He was tough and had a ‘never quit or complain’ attitude. What struck people who knew Larry was his ability to tell a story or remember a joke. Many times before he would even say ‘hello’, he would say “two guys walked into a bar….”, followed by laughs or groans. He was social and loved to be around people, with his usual group of family and friends enjoying social time at the VFW for a steak fry or pizza and beer. Larry was sporting. He could shoot

pool and bowl better than most. He was a lifelong Cubs fan, even in his final days on this earth. Larry enjoyed spending time fishing, camping, and being with family, especially when they were competing in a sporting event. All of that said, he treasured his time spent with Becky, the most. Memorial visitation will be Sat. Aug. 30th 2025 from 10:00 - 11:00 AM at the Unger-Horner Funeral Home in Rochelle, IL. Memorial for service will immediately follow at 11:00 AM with pastor Katherine Paisley officiating. Memorials can be directed to Rochelle VFW post 3878.

Visit www.ungerhorner. com for an online guest book.

PAW PAW — Daniel Todd Countryman, age 60,of Paw Paw, IL , passed away peacefully July 25th 2025 after a long battle with cancer.

Born to Emily (Turcotte) and Oscar Countryman on September 30,1964 in West Allis, Wisconsin, Daniel was a graduate of Mendota, Illinois High School.

Daniel was a traveling Union Laborer of Local 393. He was extremely passionate about his job, as it afforded him the opportunity to travel the country for work and also the chance encounter to meet the love of his life Jennifer Krantz, whom he married on February 21, 2024 after 13 years of courtship.

A loving husband, father, papa, brother, and uncle, and favorite nephew to many aunts and uncles; Daniel was hands down the hardest working man we all knew.

Junior Copeland Daniel Todd Countryman

He was the living embodiment of work hard play hard. He loved all things sports, especially playing softball, he loved to throw darts and he loved to fish and could always count on him to show up to a card game with his coffee can full of quarters. But he loved nothing more than the countless good times he spent with friends and family, especially with his wife, his two boys and his grandkids.

A celebration of life will be held this Saturday August 2nd from 2pm -8pm at the Clayton Residence, 211 Wheeler Street in Paw Paw, IL.

Please visit www.tormanfuneralhome.com to sign the online guest book.

Daniel is survived by his wife Jennifer (Krantz) Countryman of Paw Paw, IL. His two boys Cole (Brittany) Countryman of Rochelle, IL and Ethan (Molly Petry) Countryman of Rochelle, IL. Four grandchildren, Chase, Owen, Aurora and Elaina. His brother Randy (Esther) Countryman of Compton, IL and their two children Alicia and Alexis. His brother Keith (Sherri) Countryman of Ottawa, IL and their two children Tylar and Jordyn. His sister Sandy Stoner of Rochelle, IL and her three children Dane, Kassandra, and Emily. He was preceded in death by his parents Emily and Oscar; a daughter Erica Countryman, granddaughterAubrey Countryman, and nieceAmanda Countryman.

Boyce ‘Butch’

LOVES PARK —

Boyce “Butch” Junior Copeland, 66, passed away Thursday, July 24, 2025 at his home in Loves Park, Illinois, with his daughters at his side. Butch was born February 9, 1959 in Rockford, Illinois and was raised in Holcomb, Illinois. He raised his family and lived in Rochelle, Illinois, for many years.

Butch was a husband, son, father, uncle, author, and the neighborhood dad, as well as a proud construction worker. He worked as a laborer at the Byron Nuclear plant at the age of 18. He was proud to be a part of building the cooling towers. He worked at Chicago Carpenters Local Union 1889/58 for 20 years, concluding his career in high-end trim work. One of his most enjoyable and proudest jobs was doing trim work at the Chicago House of Blues.

He later graduated from Rock Valley Community College in 2008 with an associate’s degree in applied science, Building Construction Technology. Then he continued his education at Western Illinois University, where he graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Project Management. Butch was able to work every day and do the thing he loved the most, construction and

building. After graduating from college, he published a book in July 2025 that he had worked on for ten years, Angels of Pangaea: The Missing Link. Butch was a very faithful man and had a relationship with God and the Lutheran religion.

He was a beloved husband to Jennifer Copeland (Atkinson), who passed away before him in July of 2024. Butch loved her, and they had a fantastic relationship, taking very good care of each other. He enjoyed building projects for Jennifer’s daycare and helping her grow her business. They enjoyed camping and being outdoors. They had two dogs, Moses and Katie, that they took with them everywhere.

Butch had three daughters to whom he was a fantastic dad. He would take them camping, hiking, riding go-karts, and a minibike that he built for them. He was their softball coach for 6 years when they were young. He enjoyed retirement, making and building things for others on his lathe. He made lamps for all his girls and his granddaughters, as well as salt and pepper shakers and other items.

Butch was a great and strong man who was deeply loved. Butch is preceded in death by his wife, Jennifer Copeland (Atkinson);

parents, Syble and Henry Copeland; and sister, Betty Gosnell (Copeland). He is survived by one brother, Alan Copeland; three daughters: Felicia (Troy) Laundry, Jennifer Copeland (Thomas Shaw), and Rachel Copeland; ex-wife, Jacqueline Griswold; six grandchildren: Kayleigh, Alyssa, Andrew, Caden, Brandon, and Noah: two great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews: Michael (Colleen) Gosnell, Amie (David) Love, and Vera (Dylan) Atkinson; mother-in-law, Patricia Atkinson and brother-in-law, Jeff Atkinson.

The visitation will be from 10:00 - 11:00 A.M., Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at the Unger-Horner Funeral Home, 400 N. 6th St., Rochelle. The funeral service will follow at 11:00 A.M., Tuesday with Pastor Dave Rogula officiating. Burial will be at Daysville Cemetery, Daysville, Illinois. Memorials may be made in Butch’s memory to Shriners Children’s Chicago. Visit www.ungerhorner.com to sign the online guest book.

FARM NEWS

Approved megabill provides tax certainty for farmers

BY TAMMIE SLOUP FARMWEEK

THE recently signed federal budget reconciliation bill includes key safety net and tax provisions that help farmers, but the legislation doesn’t replace a comprehensive five-year farm bill.

President Donald Trump signed the nearly 900-page bill into law on July 4.

Hundreds of provisions are included in the legislation, including updates to key commodity risk management programs.

The funding for farm bill programs is good news for farmers, however, ag groups, including Illinois Farm Bureau, have stressed the inclusion does not replace a five-year farm bill. The ag industry continues to operate under the 2018 farm bill, which has been extended multiple times by Congress.

“This bill addresses key Illinois Farm Bureau priorities, including permanent tax provisions and updates to parts of the farm bill — both critically important to Illinois farm families who’ve been navigating a tough ag economy for several years,” IFB President Brian Duncan said. “There’s still work to be done. Several key items could not be included in the reconciliation budget bill due to the Senate rules. We will continue to work with our delegation in Washington to see these items are addressed in

follow-up legislation.”

Hard lines were drawn between the two parties, specifically concerning cuts to Medicaid and an overhaul of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which entails pushing some costs onto states for the first time.

Farm provisions

The bill includes enhancements to the farm safety net with up to $66 billion provided over 10 years.

These provisions include raising reference prices and commodity loan rates to better reflect today’s higher production costs and market conditions.

Crop insurance programs would see about $6.3 billion in increased spending over 10 years, with higher subsidies for some supplemental area-based plans and other improvements to premium support. Beginning farmers also will receive additional premium assistance. The bill also updates the federal crop insurance program to allow farmers to purchase the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) while enrolled in Agricultural Risk Coverage. Historically, SCO was available to only those enrolled in Price Loss Coverage, limiting coverage options.

Payment limits would increase from $125,000 to $155,000 for individuals, and then the payment limit would increase based on an inflation index. The bill

also removes income caps for farmers or entities that draw 75% or more of their income from agriculture or forestry.

The bill also has provisions that would allow USDA to enroll up to 30 million new base acres for farmers based on the production history of that ground. Base acres were established in the 2002 farm bill and, up until the 2014 farm bill, mostly reflected planted acreage from 1998 to 2001.

In conservation, the bill takes back as much as $16 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and rolls those funds into the 10-year budgets for USDA’s main conservation programs.

Other provisions in agriculture would double funding for USDA trade promotion programs as well.

Many farm bill programs could not be included in reconciliation because they are policy, not budgetary. Those updates and extensions will have to be addressed in what many are dubbing a “skinny farm bill.”

Tax provisions

The 45Z credit was one of the few IRA incentives spared in the reconciliation bill, which terminates or phases out many of the IRA’s credits established under the Biden administration. The bill extends the 45Z, or clean fuel production credit, from 2027 to 2029 and prevents the use of foreign feedstocks outside of the U.S.,

Canada and Mexico. The emissions rate also will be adjusted as necessary to exclude any emissions attributed to indirect land use change.

However, the bill lowers the value of the tax credit for sustainable aviation fuels.

In relation to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), farmers and rural businesses will continue to receive tax parity to their corporate counterparts through a permanent Section 199A deduction. The bill makes permanent a 20% deduction for qualified business income for smaller businesses. In addition to payment limitation increases, the bill creates new exemptions from the limitations to any qualified pass-through entities, including limited liability

companies (LLCs), general partnerships, S corporations and partnerships.

For the nearly 98% of family farms that operate as sole proprietorships, partnerships or S corporations, USDA’s Economic Research Service estimates that 199A is the single-most impactful tax provision for farm businesses when evaluated separately from other TCJA provisions.

The legislation also reinstates 100% bonus depreciation from 20252030 and also increases the Section 179 deduction for smaller businesses to $2.5 million.

The bill increases the estate tax exemption to $15 million for single tax filers and $30 million for married couples starting in 2026 and the exemption would be indexed for inflation,

preventing the Death Tax from hitting more than 2 million family farms that otherwise would have seen their exemption cut in half.

For individuals, the bill also increases the standard income deduction as well as the child tax credit for couples and exempts taxes on tips for people through 2028. For the state and local tax deduction, the bill caps itemized deductions for state and local taxes at $40,000 per household with an annual increase, then reverts to $10,000 in 2030. The current cap was set to expire next year.

This story was distributed through a cooperative project between Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Press Association. For more food and farming news, visit FarmWeekNow. com.

Innovative farmer opening deep-fried popcorn market

BY HANNAH SPANGLER FARMWEEK

WHAT started as a kitchen experiment on a Knox County farm has grown into a deep-frying method that could bring popcorn to restaurant menus, and open fresh opportunities for specialty crop growers.

Andrew Bowman of Pilot Knob Farm near Oneida has developed a specialized fryer basket that allows restaurants to deep-fry popcorn using existing kitchen equipment. The innovation could create a new market for his family-grown, hull-less red and blue popcorn.

“We’re very excited for this,” Bowman said. “It will be a novel way for people to experience our no-toothpicks-required popcorn.”

The concept addresses a common challenge for small-scale food produc-

ers: breaking into crowded grocery store shelves.

Despite strong feedback on taste and quality, Bowman said it’s been difficult to scale retail sales due to the sheer number of products grocery buyers manage.

That challenge led Bowman to explore new markets where his popcorn could stand out.

The idea came from a viral video his son found online. After testing the concept in a small fryer, Bowman realized deepfried popcorn could offer restaurants a unique, quick-cooking side that fits easily into existing kitchen routines.

“Can you imagine having a nice bowl of popcorn to go with some cheese curds at Culver’s, or a nice sandwich or a steak at Texas Roadhouse?” Bowman told RFD Radio Network’s DeLoss Jahnke.

The key is a custom-designed fryer basket made from food-grade perforat-

ed stainless steel. It allows popcorn to be cooked in a standard deep fryer, right alongside fries or onion rings. While the basket is more complex and costly than typical fryer equipment, Bowman said the goal isn’t to sell hardware.

“We’re not equipment salesmen. We’re farmers,” he said. “We want people to enjoy the bounty from our family farm.”

Instead, Pilot Knob Farm plans to provide the baskets at little or no cost to restaurants that agree to source their popcorn exclusively from the farm. It’s a model designed to build long-term relationships and open a new sales channel for a product that’s already proven popular with consumers.

Bowman is offering a pilot program for restaurants interested in trying the product. Participating establishments will receive free popcorn and temporary use of the cus-

tom fryer basket with no upfront cost.

The goal is to fine-tune both the equipment and the process before scaling up.

Bowman said he’s especially interested in working with Illinois-based restaurants and food entre-

preneurs who value local sourcing and are open to offering something new on their menus.

“It’s a phenomenal product. It tastes amazing,” Bowman said. “Now we just have to execute on it, and that part is going to require feedback.” This story was distributed through a cooperative project between Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Press Association. For more food and farming news, visit FarmWeekNow. com.

HUB NEWS

Aug. 6 Freshman Orientation Session 1 9am-11am Freshman Orientation Session 2 1pm-3pm

Aug. 7 Freshman Orientation Session 3 9am-11am Freshman Orientation Session 4 5pm-7pm RTHS Office open late - open until 7pm

Aug. 13 First Day of School

Aug. 18 RTHS Board Meeting 5:30pm

Aug. 19 Student Picture Day

Aug. 20 Freshman Parent Meeting 6pm Open House 6:30pm

formwillgolivetothestudent’sschoolemailat 7:30amonMonday,Aug.4.Thecostthisyearwill be$50.TheformONLYRESERVESYOUASPOT.Youwill needtostopbythemainofficeThursday,Aug.7and Friday,Aug.8topayforyourtagandpickitup. Studentsarenotallowedtoparkinthewestlot.

2024-2025 Yearbooks have shipped! If you placed an order last school year, your Tatler yearbook will be delivered to your home soon. Online sales for 25-26 school year will be opening soon. If you have any questions contact Mr. Bergeson at dbergeson@rthsd212.org

LOCAL VIEWS

Consider this: Response to O’Connor column

Iwant to start out thanking Mr. O’Connor for writing his opinion in Wednesday’s paper of the Rochelle News-Leader dated July 16. President Kennedy was one of the most levelheaded presidents in our history and probably, for stopping Operation Northwoods and maybe for a couple of statements, he was taken away from us. And not by a single shooter. Also, I thank Mr. O’Connor for bringing the book “Votescam: The Stealing of America” to our attention. It can be purchased on Amazon. Finally, although Mr. O’Connor wrote most of the article pertaining to liberals rather than conservatives, I’m sure this was due to more liberal opinions being written in our paper recently and not his leaning towards conservatism over liberalism.

America’s past is not all encouraging, but our focus must be on our current situation/future. If we don’t, it won’t matter what our past was like as our future will likely be worse. It doesn’t help when Mr. O’Connor

calls the mainstream media the propaganda ministry without any information to back it up. How does any news corporations affect public education? How do these news outlets censor education? I hope we are teaching out of textbooks not from social media. I do think that 24-hour news coverage, no matter what news corporation (mainstream media or not), perverts any actual news we need to know. It is hard to really understand a news story if we are bombarded with 24 hours of news on television, telephone, and other devices.

Now, let’s talk about the many derogatory signs around Illinois that are opposed to our current Gov. Pritzker that I feel I must say something about it. Since he has taken over our taxes have gone up, yet our standing in the financial community has improved. Yes, we have lost population and some industry but concerning industry, things are changing. During his two terms so far, he has had COVID-19

to deal with and had a failing state to prop up. So, has he done bad or good? Only you can determine that for yourselves. For more on how he has done, read the article at Crains Chicago Business link: “www.chicagobusiness. com/politics/pritzkers-record-fiscal-gains-economic-challenges”

In case you have forgotten where we were before Pritzker came onboard, Illinois was in dire shape. Among other things that had to be done, raising taxes was needed to get our state back on its feet. Of course, some additional raises were due to COVID-19 and trying to keep business afloat, especially small business. You should read both the article mentioned above and the article in Politico at “www.politico.com/story/2017/06/10/ illinois-debt-deficit-budget-election-239384” to determine where you stand with his efforts.

I think a good look at federal dependency also helps in determining how a state is doing. For every dollar Illinois sends to the federal coffers, it gets only 76 cents in return. Also, only 17.5 % of Illinois revenues is given to the federal fund. That is a low percentage when comparing it to other states and is a positive for Illinois. When a state can rely less on the federal government, it is a very good thing. To learn more, see the Money Geek link at “www.moneygeek.com/resources/states-most-reliant-on-federal-government/” or the Time link at “time. com/7222411/blue-statesare-bailing-out-red-states/”

Yes, Illinois residents pay some of their tax money to prop up other states. Is this a bad thing? Are we not a country comprised of 50 states dependent on each other? Should we not help our fellow citizens? Although the passing of the “Big Beautiful Bill”

will change some of these figures, Illinois will still be funding Medicaid to care for all their citizens among other necessary needs. And remember, in these United States, a person can move at any time if they don’t like what a particular state is doing. It is not necessary to be derogatory to their Governor or state legislature.

A few last remarks concerning our current handling of legal and illegal immigrants in America. Concentration camps are not the answer. Masked and unidentified thugs in kakis without any identification on their clothing, detaining people that look a certain way, is unconstitutional. Setting a quota for detaining so many immigrants for a given period is wrong. Even calling in the National Guard and/or the military to help Ice harass legal citizens or documented workers is also unconstitutional. Sure, there might not be an easy way to detain illegal and violent immigrants, but the above steps are unacceptable. We are not yet an authoritarian or fascist

country so we still have laws, and they must be followed.

Finally, our president has already tried to change the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and it’s having quite a bit of blowback. I’m sure this is not the end of what he would like to do with other names. Will the name United States stand when the states are not united? Will the name of America still be dominant? Will the FBI change to become the FBS, the Federal Bureau of Supremacy? Will the DOJ become the DOPL, Department of Presidential Lawyers?

We may have to start thinking about the Statue of Liberty. The iconic symbol of a nation that welcomed all people into our fold and began to unshackle our blacks and bring in a new era of equality and justice. Will the broken shackle at her right foot now be restored to an unbroken restraint? If this happens, maybe, one morning, we’ll wake up to find her gone. Having escaped her plight via an under-ocean railway.

Flanagan: Wrapping up Summer Reading at the library

THE library has had a fabulous summer! We will be having an End of Summer Reading Celebration Foam Party on Friday, Aug. 1 from noon-1:30 p.m. Join us for Fun in the Foam with Foam Party All Stars. Please bring a towel and wear clothes and shoes that can get wet and messy. We will also have face painting with Buttercup Paints from 12:30-1:30 p.m. We will have make your own ice cream sundaes, popsicles and popcorn. Our Summer Reading Grand Prize drawing will be at 1 p.m.

We will be having our

Annual Book Sale starting on Saturday, Aug. 16 and continuing through Aug. 23. The Book Sale starts during the Heritage Festival weekend. It will be open during the library’s regular business hours; Monday-Thursday 10-7 p.m., Friday-Saturday 10-5 p.m., Sunday - closed. We take donations for the sale all year. Look for the library in the Lincoln Highway Heritage Festival Parade on Sunday, Aug. 17 at 1 p.m. The theme this year is “Fun In the Park.”

The library will be getting ready for our Fall programing. Plans are

underway to make this Fall so much fun. Check our website and Facebook page for the most up to date programming information. The schedule will be coming out soon. Thank you for a great summer!

We enjoy seeing all of you at the library having fun, reading and participating in all of our events. See you in the Fall!

begins. Reading helps keep the mind busy and working. Using your imagination and thinking helps the individual to problem solve and create a vocabulary that helps them develop as a better reader.

Hopefully you have been reading throughout the Summer months to keep your reading skills in top shape before the school year

“Writing and reading decrease our sense of isolation. They deepen and widen and expand our sense of life: They feed the soul. When writers make us shake our heads with the exactness of their prose and their truths, and even make us laugh

How to contact government officials KEEPING YOU IN TOUCH WITH YOUR LOCAL LEADERS

U.S. Con. Darin LaHood 1424 Longworth HOB Washington, D.C. 20515 (202) 225-6201

IL Sen. Li Arellano Jr. Stratton Office Bldg Springfield, IL 62706 (217) 782-1942

IL Rep. Bradley Fritts Stratton Office Bldg Springfield, IL 62706 (217) 782-0535

Have a letter you want to submit to us? Send it to (news@rochellenews-leader.com

Rochelle City Council

*John Bearrows jbearrows@rochelleil.us

Kathryn Shaw-Dickey kshaw-dickey@rochelleil.us

Bil Hayes bhayes@rochelleil.us

Rosaelia Arteaga rarteaga@rochelleil.us

Dan McDermott dmcdermott@rochelleil.us

Tom McDermott tmcdermott@rochelleil.us

Benjamin Valdivieso bvaldivieso@rochelleil.us

Rochelle Elementary School Board

*Steve Builta sbuilta@d231.rochelle.net

Ashley Jackson ajackson@d231.rochelle.net

Stephanie White swhite@d231.rochelle.net

Javier Zepeda jzepeda@d231.rochelle.net

Jennifer Thompson jthompson@d231.rochelle.net

Evan Tracy etracy@d231.rochelle.net

Stacey Dunphy sdunphy@d231.rochelle.net

Rochelle Township High School Board

*Jeff Tilton jeff.tilton@rthsd212.org

Bobby Chadwick bobby.chadwick@rthsd212.org

Brent Ohlinger brent.ohlinger@rthsd212.org

Laurie Pillen laurie.pillen@rthsd212.org

Joel Thompson joel.thompson@rthsd212.org

Trisha Vaughn trisha.vaughn@rthsd212.org

Janet Kacvinsky janet.kacvinsky@rthsd212.org

about ourselves or life, our buoyancy is restored. We are given a shot at dancing with, or at least clapping along with, the absurdity of life, instead of being squashed by it over and over again. It’s like singing on a boat during a terrible storm at sea. You can’t stop the raging storm, but singing can change the hearts and spirits of the people who are together on that ship.” – Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird.

Reading is your getaway to another place. Coming to your local library gives you a chance to explore and experience places that you have

never seen before. Using your imagination to discover a new adventure or learning about something factual allows you to comprehend information. It gives us the knowledge needed to make an educated decision about many subjects. Reading can take us to faraway places or give us the data that we have been searching for. Come into your local library and see what materials we have that might interest you. We have something for everyone. See you soon!

Sarah Flanagan is the director of the Flagg-Rochelle Public Library.

* Denotes Chairman/President

Flagg-Rochelle Park Board

Brent Carmichael bcarmichael@rochelleparkdistrict.org

John Dobbs jdobbs@rochelleparkdistrict.org

Dale Wells dwells@rochelleparkdistrict.org

*Tim Hayden thayden@rochelleparkdistrict.org

Jodie Hart jhart@rochelleparkdistrict.org

Joe Lenkaitis jlenkaitis@rochelleparkdistrict.org

Ogle County Board Dist. 3

Austin Gillis agillis@oglecounty.org

Dan Miller dmiller@oglecounty.org

Joseph Simms jsimms@oglecounty.org

Ogle County Board Dist. 4

Jackie Ramsey jramsey@oglecounty.org

Skip Kenney skenney@oglecounty.org

David Williams dwilliams@oglecounty.org

Creston Village Board

*Tom Byro tommyb_47@yahoo.com

Greg Hopkins ghopkins522@comcast.net

Justin Hibshman jhibshman20@gmail.com

Mike Kerns ac.kerns@comcast.net

Curt Ward caward92@comcast.net

Mark Hibshman mark@headons2go.com

Reid Elliot oneluckydog7@gmail.com

Jennifer Payton creston.clerk09@gmail.com

Hillcrest Village Board

*Richard Rhoads rrhoads@hillcrestil.us

Pam Pittman ppittman@hillcrestil.us

Dan Potter dpotter@hillcrestil.us

Tim Ball tball@hillcrestil.us

Eileen Braski ebraski@hillcrestil.us

Patricia Garcia pgarcia@hillcrestil.us

Flagg Township

Sue Messer supervisor@flaggtownship.org

Joanna Patrick clerk@flaggtownship.org

Rachel Berry assessor@flaggtownship.org

Scott Seebach commissioner@flaggtownship.org

Board of Trustees

Lance Noggle noggle62@gmail.com

Eric Gruben egruben@comcast.net

Susan Hager susanhager303@comcast.net

Jim Kenney jimk@rocketsupply.com

Flagg-Rochelle Library

*Teresa Haggestad haggestads@comcast.net

Lanning Nicoloff nicoloff118@comcast.net

Sheri Klindera alwayslefty2@gmail.com

Susan Sevedge nit1prl22@yahoo.com

Darci Waltrip doobs12@comcast.net

Jaqueline Dickow dickow@comcast.net

Faten Abdallah abdallahawad@gmail.com

RCH offering $35 sports physicals at XCEL Orthopedics Sycamore

SYCAMORE – Rochelle Community Hospital makes it easy for student-athletes to get game-ready with affordable $35 sports physicals at XCEL Orthopedics Sycamore, located at 2670 DeKalb Ave. The special two-day event will be held on Tuesday, July 29 and Thursday, July 31, with appointments available

between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day.

Appointments are required and can be made by calling XCEL at 815561-2774. Space is limited, so early scheduling is encouraged.

The cost is just $35 per student, payable by cash or check only, and all proceeds from the event will be donated back to a

local community charity of the athlete’s choice.

“This is a win-win for families and the Sycamore area,” said Michelle LaPage, the Rochelle Community Hospital marketing manager. “We’re helping students meet school and athletic requirements while giving back to the community we serve.”

Sports physicals are a requirement for student participation in many school athletics programs, helping ensure young athletes are healthy and safe as they return to sports this fall.

For more information, visit rochellehospital. com or follow Rochelle Community Hospital on social media.

Petition packets available Aug. 5 for county elections

OREGON — Ogle

County Clerk Laura J. Cook announces that Petition Packets for the upcoming General Primary Election on March 17, 2026, will be available Aug. 5, 2025, on the Ogle County website. Petition Packets may be

Coffee Break COMMUNITY

accessed on our website www.oglecountyil.gov

Click on “County Clerk” under Departments, then “Elections.” Next select “General Primary Election – March 17, 2026” and “Petition Packets”. The necessary forms and information are available

to print.

The petition packets are for County Board, County Clerk and Recorder, County Sheriff, County Treasurer and Precinct Committeepersons. Candidates may begin circulating their petitions on Friday, Aug.

5, 2025.

Filing of petitions: Office hours for filing will be: Oct. 27, 2025 through Oct. 31, 2025 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Nov. 3, 2025 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For further information, contact Cook at 815-7321110.

July 22 - Shining Star - Dixon, $25

July 23 - Donald C. Burke, Rochelle, $25

July 24 - Sharon Nordman, Leaf River, $25

July 25 - Shannon Underwood, Rochelle, $25

July 26 - Kayte Hamel, Sycamore, $25

July 27 - Jon Coughlin, St. Charles, $50

July 28 - Guillermo Martinez, Rochelle, $25

July 29 - Frank Hartman, Maple Park, $25

July 30 - Adam Lanning, Rochelle, $25

July 31 - Jeanie Sparaciro, Rochelle, $25

LOCAL NEWS

Weight restrictions in effect on northbound I-39 Kishwaukee River bridge

ROCKFORD – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced July 22 that a 20-ton load limit and lane restrictions have been placed on the northbound Interstate 39 bridge crossing the Kishwaukee River south of Rockford. The crossing is just north of the Baxter Road interchange (exit 115).

A recent structural inspection of the bridge identified some critical issues requiring repair.

Efforts to begin the needed repairs are underway.

To ensure the safety to the traveling public and prevent further damage to the structure, the right lane of the bridge has been closed to traffic.

Also, loads over 20 tons must exit at the Illinois Route 72 interchange (exit 111) and detour using westbound Illinois Route 72, northbound Illinois Route 251 and eastbound Bypass U.S. 20 to travel on northbound

Interstate 39.

Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zone areas, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment.

For IDOT District 2 updates, follow us on X at @IDOTDistrict2 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.

(COURTESY PHOTO)

Lt. Jason Plumb was recently congratulated upon his retirement after 17 years with the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office. “Thank you for your service to the community, and for your dedication to this agency,” an Ogle County Sheriff’s Office Facebook post said. “From complex criminal investigations to mentoring the next generation of detectives, you have served with integrity and distinction. Your contributions to public safety and to this office will not be forgotten. Enjoy your well-earned retirement, Lt. Plumb!” (Courtesy photo)

OCEDC appoints Hiemstra as new director of economic development

OREGON – The Ogle County Economic Development Corporation (OCEDC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Liz Hiemstra as its new director of economic development, effective immediately.

Hiemstra brings a dynamic background in marketing, community engagement, and small business support to her new role. She currently serves as the market manager for the popular Rivers Edge Farmers Market, where she has successfully grown vendor participation, expanded outreach efforts, and fostered strong connections between local producers

and the community.

“We are thrilled to welcome Liz to the OCEDC team,” said Randy Schoon, chair of the OCEDC Board. “Her passion for Ogle County, her deep understanding of local business needs, and her marketing expertise make her an outstanding choice to lead our economic development efforts.”

In her new role, Hiemstra will oversee strategic initiatives to attract new business, support existing enterprises, and promote sustainable economic growth throughout Ogle County. Her hands-on experience in marketing and collaborative leadership

will be critical assets as the organization works to advance its mission.

“I’m honored and excited to take on this role,” said Hiemstra. “Ogle County is full of potential, and I look forward to working with our business community, local leaders, and residents to build on the momentum we’ve created and drive thoughtful, inclusive growth.”

The OCEDC is a nonprofit organization committed to supporting the economic vitality of Ogle County by connecting businesses with resources, advocating for development, and fostering a thriving local economy.

Community Unity

Youth programs, schools and nonprofit groups look to our businesses first when fundraising. These community-minded businesses donate faithfully to local youth sports programs, community clubs, nonprofit groups and churches – just to name a few. Shouldn’t we look to those same businesses first when we need goods and services? Of course we should!

High rate of return. For every $100 spent in independently owned stores, $68 returns to the community through payroll, taxes and other expenditures. Online orders return absolutely nothing to Rochelle, IL.

9 Biggest Benefits Of Shopping Rochelle First

Banking with people who know you is a luxury found only in hometowns. You don’t have to show your ID every time you go in. You can get a loan from people who know you and understand your needs, whether it be money for your first car or to help your business grow. Local banks believe in the value of community members helping one another.

Customer service after the sale is invaluable. Local retailers not only take responsibility for the product they sold, they will often fix it or replace it – no questions asked. Appliances, furniture, computers and electronics sometimes have glitches. Would you rather box yours up, send it to who knows where, and wait six to eight weeks, or just go back to the nice guy that helped you when you bought it?

One word: Jobs. When you do business of any kind in Rochelle, it creates and maintains jobs for others in our area . A healthy employment rate is the cornerstone of all economies. How can you help the economy recover? Start at home. 1 5 9 2 6 3 7 4 8

Seeking health care in your hometown brings the comforts of receiving qualified care from people you know and trust. Whether it be a trip to the dentist, regular health care screenings, a visit to a specialist or an emergency, you need not travel. It’s all right here.

No one wants to have to make an insurance claim, but it’s painless when your agent is your neighbor. You don’t have to convince them that there was a hail storm, or that the wind nearly took your roof off. They know because they live here. Which do you want when you’ve had a bad day: A face-to-face meeting with your local agent, or a machine answering the phone at that big national insurer that advertises on TV?

Time is money. It’s simple math (especially when you figure in gas mileage.) Shopping locally can actually save you both time and money!

Keeping it local encourages community growth. By choosing to do business locally, you help maintain Rochelle’s diversity, charm and appeal; which attracts new community members.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2025

SPORTS

Rochelle Rampage

BY RUSSELL HODGES SPORTS EDITOR

SANDWICH — The Rochelle Rampage 8U baseball team went 5-0 over five games to win the 2025 Sandwich Summer Classic from July 18-20. The team includes Owen Gittleson, Noah Jarvis, Brekkon VanKirk, Jed Harper, Jonah Scarbrough, Sebastian Napolitano, Zeke McClanahan, Easton Huff, Sebastian Solis, AJ Hueramo, Jaxon Cooper and Jack Musselman. The team is coached by James Huff, Jacob Scarbrough and Sebastian Solis.

Ridge Beverly 1

Rochelle edged out the RB Celtics Gold 8U team 18-17 in its first tournament game on Friday. Jed Harper went 4 for 4 with three RBIs, while Noah Jarvis went 4

for 4 with one RBI for the Rampage offense, which finished with 30 hits in the win. Owen Gittleson went 3 for 3 with two RBIs, Sebastian Solis went 3 for 3 with three runs and Easton Huff went 3 for 3 with an RBI.

The Rampage took a 5-0 lead after tallying five runs in the bottom of the first inning. Noah Jarvis sparked the frame with an RBI single to second and Brekkon VanKirk followed with an RBI single two batters later. Jed Harper and Sebastian Napolitano slapped backto-back RBI singles to cap off the five-run frame for the Rampage, who clung to a 5-4 advantage after one inning.

Jonah Scarbrough shot an RBI single to short that gave Rochelle one run in the bottom of the second inning. The Celtics captured the lead with three runs in

the top of the third inning, but the Rampage answered with an RBI groundout from Zeke McClanahan in the bottom of the third. Trailing 12-7 after a five-run frame for Ridge Beverly in the top of the fourth, Rochelle fought back within two after an RBI single from Easton Huff and a two-run single from Owen Gittleson.

Rochelle faced a 17-10 deficit after four-and-a-half frames, but the Rampage continued to fight, scoring five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Sebastian Napolitano fueled the rally, bashing an RBI double to right field before Jack Musselman rolled an RBI single to second base. Jaxon Cooper delivered a clutch at-bat for the Rampage, firing a two-run double into right field to make the score 17-14. With two outs in the frame, Sebastian Solis

BY RUSSELL HODGES SPORTS EDITOR

SANDWICH — The Rochelle Rampage 12U baseball team went 4-1 over five games to finish second in the 2025 Sandwich Summer Classic from July 18-20. The team includes Grange Kissack, Noah Hayden, Gavin Smith, Dominic Escatel, Brayson Bouland, Eli Thompson, Brycen Williams, Brantley Koenig, Riley Heal and Devin Hansen. The team is coached by Tim Hayden, Adam Heal and Mike Thompson.

IHTT NABA

Rochelle exploded for eight runs in the second inning and 10 runs in the third inning to roll for a 29-5 win against the IHTT NABA Hurricanes in the first game on Friday. Dominic Escatel went 4 for 5 with two home runs and seven RBIs, while Eli Thompson went 2 for 5 with a home run and four

RBIs. Gavin Smith went 2 for 3 with four RBIs in the victory.

Rochelle led 5-0 after the top of the first inning, where Gavin Smith ripped an RBI single to right field before Dominic Escatel blasted a three-run homer to center field. Riley Heal capped off the five-run frame with an RBI single to left for the Rampage offense, which had 20 hits in the win.

RBI singles from Dominic Escatel and Brayson Bouland ignited an eightrun surge from the Rampage offense in the top of the second inning, where a tworun single from Riley Heal gave Rochelle an 11-run lead before Devin Hansen and Grange Kissack earned RBIs on a groundout and a single, respectively. The Rampage carried a 13-1 advantage into the top of the third and broke the game wide open with 10 runs on seven hits including a threerun homer from Escatel.

Brycen Williams,

Grange Kissack and Gavin Smith smacked run-scoring singles in the top of the third for the Rampage, who led 23-3 after three frames and tacked on six runs during the top of the fourth inning, where Noah Hayden drove home Devin Hansen on an RBI single to right field and Eli Thompson crushed a grand slam to center.

Oak Park

Rochelle moved to 2-0 in tournament play with a 10-0 shutout win over the Oak Park Eagles on Saturday. Dominic Escatel and Grange Kissack combined for five shutout frames, with Escatel striking out four batters across the first two and two-thirds innings. Noah Hayden went 3 for 4 with three singles and four RBIs to lead the Rampage offense.

Brycen Williams poked an RBI double into left field to spark a four-run first inning for the purple and white, who led 4-0 after RBI

scored on a steal of home. After a shutout top of the sixth, Rochelle walked off in the bottom of the sixth

8U BASEBALL TEAM WINS SUMMER CLASSIC

Rochelle posts five consecutive victories during three-day event in Sandwich

The team includes Owen Gittleson, Noah Jarvis, Brekkon VanKirk, Jed Harper, Jonah Scarbrough, Sebastian Napolitano, Zeke McClanahan, Easton Huff, Sebastian Solis, AJ Hueramo, Jaxon Cooper and Jack Musselman. The team is coached by James Huff, Jacob Scarbrough and Sebastian Solis.

inning, where Zeke McClanahan and Jed Harper came through with RBI singles to tie the score before

Rochelle Rampage 12U baseball team takes second at Sandwich Summer Classic Rochelle finishes with 4-1 record over five tournament games from July 18-20

singles from Devin Hansen and Noah Hayden as well as an RBI double to left from Grange Kissack. The Rampage extended their lead

in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring five runs on four walks and three hits including a two-RBI single from Noah Hayden and

an RBI single from Gavin Smith, who proceeded to score on a passed ball.

See 12U page 3

SPORTS

8U: Rochelle Rampage finish 5-0 at Sandwich tournament

From page 1

Somonauk

Rochelle rolled over the Somonauk Bobcats 16-8 in the first of the team’s two games on Saturday. Jonah Scarbrough went 3 for 3 with four RBIs to lead the Rochelle offense, which racked up 27 hits in the game. Zeke McClanahan went 4 for 4 with two RBIs and Owen Gittleson went 3 for 4 with three RBIs. Easton Huff and Jed Harper each added two RBIs.

Jed Harper ripped an RBI double and scored two at-bats later to give Rochelle a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Jonah Scarbrough blasted a two-run double to center and scored two batters later to spark a five-run second inning for the Rampage, who led 7-1 after two complete. Owen Gittleson and Noah Jarvis slapped back-to-back RBI singles to end the top of the second.

Somonauk tallied three runs in the bottom of the third inning, but the Rampage responded with four runs in the top of

the fourth inning, where Easton Huff, Owen Gittleson, Zeke McClanahan and Jed Harper all drilled RBI singles to extend the Rochelle lead. Leading 11-5 after four frames, Rochelle surged ahead with five runs in the top of the fifth inning, capitalizing on a two-run double from Jonah Scarbrough as well as RBI singles from Easton Huff and Owen Gittleson. Zeke McClanahan shot an RBI double to the first-base side to cap off the frame.

Lake in the Hills

Rochelle moved to 3-0 in the tournament after defeating LITH 8U 20-7 in its second game on Saturday. AJ Hueramo went 3 for 3 with four RBIs, while Noah Jarvis and Easton Huff each collected two hits and three RBIs for the Rampage offense, which totaled 27 hits in the win.

Both teams recorded five runs in the first inning. Rochelle raced out to a 5-0 lead in the top of the first inning, where Noah Jarvis poked an RBI double into

left field and Jed Harper flew an RBI double to right field two batters later. Zeke McClanahan and AJ Hueramo followed with RBI singles for the Rampage, who ended the top half when Jonah Scarbrough scored on a steal.

Rochelle took a 10-5 lead in the top of the second inning, scoring five runs on a two-run double from Easton Huff as well as a trio of run-scoring hits including RBI singles from Owen Gittleson and Noah Jarvis. Brekkon VanKirk’s RBI double concluded the top half of the second inning for the Rampage, who surged ahead of LITH 15-7 after the top of the third inning, where Zeke McClanahan, AJ Hueramo, Sebastian Napolitano and Easton Huff all recorded RBI singles.

The Rampage locked down their win with a fiverun fourth inning, capturing a 13-run lead behind Brekkon VanKirk’s RBI doubles and a trio of RBI singles from Jed Harper, Jonah Scarbrough and AJ Hueramo. Noah Jarvis sparked the offense with

an RBI groundout.

Ridge Beverly 2

Rochelle faced the RB Celtics Gold a second time on Sunday, winning 16-14 to move one step closer to claiming the tournament championship. Noah Jarvis went 3 for 3 with three RBIs to lead the Rochelle offense, which ended the game with 26 hits. Jonah Scarbrough went 3 for 3 with two RBIs and AJ Hueramo went 3 for 3 with two RBIs to aid the Rampage in the win.

RBI doubles from Brekkon VanKirk and Jonah Scarbrough allowed Rochelle to hold a 2-0 lead after the bottom of the first inning. Ridge Beverly briefly held the lead after a five-run top of the second inning, but the Rampage responded with a fiverun bottom half, where five straight RBI singles from AJ Hueramo, Jaxon Cooper, Jack Musselman, Owen Gittleson and Noah Jarvis gave Rochelle a 7-5 advantage. The Rampage remained ahead 7-6 after the top of the third.

A five-run bottom of the third put Rochelle ahead

12-6. Jonah Scarbrough lit the match for the Rampage offense, lining a two-run double to center before Zeke McClanahan rolled a two-run single to second base two batters later. Sebastian Solis reached on an RBI single to second.

Leading 12-9 after the top of the fourth, Rochelle tacked on two runs during the bottom of the fourth, where Noah Jarvis pounded a two-run single into left field. Sebastian Napolitano and AJ Hueramo smacked RBI singles in the bottom of the fifth inning, where Rochelle claimed a 16-10 lead and clinched the win despite the Celtics scratching four runs in the top of the sixth inning.

Rollo

Rochelle completed its unbeaten run at the tournament with a 21-5 victory against the Rollo Rippers 8U squad on Sunday. Jaxon Cooper went 3 for 3 with three total RBIs, while Jonah Scarbrough went 2 for 3 with three RBIs for the Rochelle offense, which posted 30 hits. Noah Jar-

vis, Brekkon VanKirk, Jed Harper, Sebastian Solis and Jack Musselman all had three hits. Jed Harper’s two-run single sparked a five-run top of the first inning for the Rampage, who led 5-0 after run-scoring doubles from Jonah Scarbrough and Sebastian Napolitano. Rochelle carried a 5-1 lead into the top of the third inning, where Jaxon Cooper and Owen Gittleson smacked backto-back RBI singles before Brekkon VanKirk bashed an RBI double into left field. Jed Harper’s RBI single and Sebastian Napolitano’s RBI double put Rochelle ahead 10-1. The Rampage put up another five-run frame in the top of the fourth inning, taking a 15-3 lead behind RBI doubles from AJ Hueramo, RBI singles from Sebastian Solis, Jack Musselman and Jaxon Cooper and an RBI groundout by Owen Gittleson. Rochelle scored three runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to seal the victory and clinch the tournament championship.

SPORTS

of spectators during the annual Lift-A-Thon at RTHS on Thursday evening. The event, which raises money for the RTHS football program, features athletes completing one-rep maxes in bench press, front squat and hang cleans. Above are RTHS

12U: Rochelle Rampage take second at Sandwich tournament

From page 1

Noah Hayden clinched the win for the Rampage, shooting an RBI single into right field during the bottom of the fifth inning that allowed Grange Kissack, who drew a two-out walk in the previous at-bat, to come home.

Sandwich

Rochelle remained unbeaten in the tournament after defeating Sandwich 13-5 in the second of its two games on Saturday. Devin Hansen, Brantley Koenig and Riley Heal each pitched two innings while combin-

ing to strike out eight batters for the Rampage defense. Dominic Escatel went 2 for 3 with three RBIs, while Brayson Bouland and Devin Hansen each had two RBIs.

Dominic Escatel gave Rochelle a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, sending a two-run homer to center field. The Rampage added two runs in the bottom of the second inning, where Brantley Koenig reached on an error to drive home Brycen Williams and Devin Hansen grounded into a fielder’s choice to score Koenig. Sandwich scored one run in the third.

Leading 4-1 after two-

and-a-half innings, Rochelle pulled away in the bottom of the third inning, tallying five runs in a frame that Dominic Escatel and Brayson Bouland sparked with two straight RBI doubles. Brycen Williams and Riley Heal followed with RBI singles for the Rampage, who carried an 8-3 lead into the bottom of the fourth inning, where Devin Hansen launched a solo homer to center and Brayson Bouland popped into a fielder’s choice to score Grange Kissack.

Rochelle’s 10-4 advantage grew in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Rampage tallied three runs

in the frame, with Brycen Williams scoring on a passed ball before Gavin Smith drew a bases-loaded walk and Grange Kissack touched home on an error. A solo homer in the top of the sixth inning wouldn’t be enough for Sandwich to mount a comeback.

Bridgeview

Rochelle moved one step closer to winning the tournament after taking down Bridgeview 9-3 in the first of two games on Sunday. Brayson Bouland and Eli Thompson each threw three innings while combining for 11 strikeouts to lead the

Rampage, who finished with five hits in the victory.

The Rampage started strong, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning, where two errors led to three runs before Brantley Koenig rolled an RBI single to short and Devin Hansen drew a bases-loaded walk. Both teams exchanged home runs soon after, with Bridgeview hitting a two-run shot in the top of the third inning and Brayson Bouland blasting a solo homer for Rochelle in the bottom of the third inning. Rochelle held a 6-2 lead after three complete.

River Forest

Rochelle faced River Forest for the tournament crown, falling short in an 11-1 defeat to end the tournament in second place. Eli Thompson went 1 for 2 with one single and one RBI for the Rampage, who tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the second inning.

Gavin Smith smacked an RBI double and scored on a passed ball to ignite a three-run fourth inning for the Rampage offense. An RBI groundout in the top of the sixth inning would be the final damage done by the Bridgeview offense, which Rochelle held to one hit in the win.

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Sizzlin’ Summer

Arellano wraps up summer town hall tour

DIXON – State Sen. Li Arellano Jr. (R-Dixon) recently wrapped up his Summer Legislative Session Recap Town Hall tour, traveling throughout the 37th Senate District to provide legislative updates and hear directly from constituents.

Stops on the tour included Dixon, Geneseo, Rochelle, and Chillicothe, where residents had the opportunity to engage in open discussion with the senator about key issues facing Illinois and their local communities.

“These town halls provide citizen feedback and input that is important for

my duties as a legislator,” Arellano said. “I’m here to have real conversations. When constituents show up to voice their thoughts, they help shape the work I do in Springfield. I’m so grateful to everyone who took the time to participate because their voices make a difference.”

Throughout the tour, Arellano fielded questions and comments on a wide range of issues, including the rising cost of living and taxes, the continued use of taxpayer funds for abortion services, the lack of meaningful ethics reform in state government, Illinois’ ongoing pension

State Sen. Li Arellano Jr. (R-Dixon) recently wrapped up his Summer Legislative Session Recap Town Hall tour

crisis, and the need for stronger support for the state’s agriculture industry. Senator Arellano looks forward to more opportunities to meet with residents as part of his ongoing efforts to maintain direct communication with the people of the 37th District.

Fritts honors M. Thomas Suits Law

for July Local Business Highlight

POLO – For his July 2025 local business highlight, State Rep. Bradley Fritts (R-Dixon) is recognizing M. Thomas Suits Law Office in Polo. Fritts met with the firm and presented a certificate of appreciation for their legal service and exceptional community involvement.

“M. Thomas Suits Law Office has been serving our region for over three decades, providing legal guidance in real estate, estate planning, probate, and municipal law,” Fritts said. “What stands out just as much as their legal work is their deep and sustained commitment to the community. From local boards to service organizations, they’ve shown what it means to be truly invested in the people they serve.”

The practice was founded in 1990 and is led by attorney Thomas Suits, who has built a reputation of legal excellence and extensive public service. He has been a member of the Lions Club for over 48 years with a perfect attendance record. Thomas also has decades of

service on the Park Board, Library Board, Rock River Center Board, KSB Board, and the Governor Lowden Memorial Committee.

Rep. Fritts continued, “Thomas Suits exemplifies servant leadership. His dedication to helping our community through his legal expertise and involvement made M Thomas Suits Law

Office a natural choice for this month’s Local Business Highlight.” M. Thomas Suits Law Office is located at 114 W. Mason Street in Polo. To nominate a local business in District 74 for a future highlight, visit RepFritts. com and select Local Business Highlight Submission Form under Resources.

PRIME TIME

Activities for seniors with limited mobility

HYSICAL activity is a valuable tool in the fight against chronic disease and other conditions. In fact, the Cleveland Clinic highlights physical activity among its nine ways to prevent disease in an effort to live a long and rewarding life.

Children, adolescents, young adults, and even men and women in middle age may not face too many physical hurdles when they try to exercise, but seniors are not always so lucky. Aging men and women with mobility issues may wonder if they can reap the rewards of physical activity, and thankfully there are many ways to exercise even if getting up and going isn’t as easy as it might have been in years past. Sometimes referred to as “aerobic exercise” or simply “cardio,” cardiovascular exercise is an

umbrella term that encompasses a wide range of physical activities that raise the heart rate and improve endurance. Seniors with mobility issues can look to various forms of cardio for inspiration as they seek to be more physically active without compromising their overall health.

• Walk your way to a healthier you. Walking is a form of cardiovascular exercise that is ideal for older adults with mobility issues because it need not be physically demanding and it’s safe to walk just about anywhere. Walking in a place such as a local park can be particularly good for older adults because they can take periodic breaks on benches if aches, pains or stiffness is affecting their ability to keep moving.

• Take up swimming. Swimming might be tailor-made for seniors

with mobility issues because it’s a great workout and exercising in water tends to be less taxing on muscles and joints. The Cleveland Clinic notes that swimming promotes heart health, strengthens the lungs, helps to burn calories, and builds muscle, among other benefits. And many seniors fi nd swimming is just as fun in their golden years as it was in their youth, which means aging adults might not face problems with motivation when the time comes to get in the pool.

• Use an exercise bike or portable pedal exerciser. Cycling is a wonderful exercise but one that seniors with mobility issues may feel is no longer possible. If doctors advise against riding a traditional bike, an exercise bike or portable pedal exerciser can provide many of the benefi ts of cycling without as great a risk for

accident or injury. A portable pedal exerciser can be carried to a park, where seniors can still spend time in the great outdoors, which is one of the most appealing reasons to get on a bike and go.

• Take beginner yoga or tai chi. HelpGuide. org notes that gentle

yoga or tai chi can help to improve flexibility and reduce stress and anxiety. Though yoga and tai chi can provide as much demanding physical activity as individuals allow, beginner classes in each discipline don’t require much movement but do provide enough for

seniors hoping to be less sedentary.

Even seniors with mobility issues can find safe and effective ways to be more physically active. Prior to beginning a new exercise regimen, seniors with mobility issues are urged to discuss activities with their physicians.

How seniors can cultivate a new hobby

RETIREMENT

is often characterized as a carefree time in life when adults who spent years in the workforce get to enjoy the fruits of their labors. But upon retiring, many retirees find themselves fighting boredom. A recent study from Indeed found that, as of March 2022, 3.2 percent of workers who retired a year earlier had already reentered the workforce. No two retirees are the same, and a host of variables, boredom among them, likely compelled recently retired professionals to go back to work.

Retirees who like the

freedom of not working but are confronting a good bit of boredom can consider these tips to cultivate a new hobby that can help them pass the time in a rewarding and engaging way.

• Identify new (or old) interests. Many retirees discover new passions in retirement, while others turn back the clock and revisit favorite hobbies from their youth. A good way to begin cultivating a new hobby is to jot down a list of activities you always found interesting but never had the time to learn or became too busy to fully invest in. Some seniors hit the links for the first time in retirement, while others

return to school to study subjects they find interesting but did not engage with during their college years. The options are endless, and jotting down a list of new or old interests is a great way to get the ball rolling.

• Embrace new ways to engage a passion. Virtual resources like online courses and book clubs conducted over Zoom with fellow readers across the nation and possibly even the globe are a great way to cultivate a new hobby in retirement. Virtual resources can be especially beneficial for seniors with mobility issues.

• Consider locally based resources. Community

parks departments and libraries may offer an array of free or affordable opportunities for seniors to engage with a new hobby. Parks departments may offer anything from cross

country skiing tutorials to age-based hiking excursions, while libraries may offer weekly crafting sessions or wellness programs to local residents. In addition to providing

fun ways to discover and cultivate a new hobby, programs offered through parks departments and local libraries are great ways to meet fellow retirees.

• Put your experience to use. Retirees with years in their field don’t have to go back to work to make use of their professional expertise. Contact local youth organizations or outreach programs sponsored by churches, libraries or local law enforcement agencies and offer to share your expertise with young people. Such opportunities allow retirees to continue to engage with their professions and help a younger generation of aspiring professionals gain valuable insight into fields they’re interested in. There’s no shortage of ways for seniors to overcome retirement boredom and cultivate rewarding hobbies.

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113 FINANCIAL

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NOTICE Advance Fee Loans or Credit Offers Companies that do business by phone can’t ask you to pay for credit before you get it. For more information, call toll-free 1-877-FTCHELP. A public service message from your hometown newspaper and the Federal Trade Commission.

“This publication does not knowingly accept fraudulent or deceptive advertising. Readers are cautioned to thoroughly investigate all ads, especially those asking for money in advance.”

119 ANNOUNCEMENTS

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facility, may cause to be published any advertisement soliciting a child care service. A childcare facility that is licensed or operating under a permit issued by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services may publish advertisements of the services for which it is specifically licensed or issued a permit. Your Hometown Newspaper strongly urges any parent or guardian to verify the validity of the license of any facility before placing a child in its care.

301 ANTIQUES

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It’s Trusted. Newspapers still rank highest among all media for consumer engagement and trust.

The benefits of purchasing cattle from a live auction

A live auction can be a great place to source cattle. If you’re on the fence about going to a cattle auction in your area, here are four good reasons to attend.

1. You’ll have access to a variety of animals. You’ll be able to view and bid on a large variety of cattle of different breeds and pedigrees. If you buy cattle privately, you’ll have to visit numerous farms to see the same kind of selection.

2. You’ll get good value for your money. At a cattle auction, you’ll be able to negotiate a fair price for the cattle you want. Conversely, if you buy cattle from a private farmer, they set the price and often won’t consider negotiating.

3. You’ll be certain of your investment. If you purchase cattle from a live auction, the animals come with health papers. This allows you to rest assured knowing the cattle you buy are in good health. These papers aren’t required when selling cattle privately.

It’s Cost-Effective.

Newspaper advertising reaches a large number of potential consumers.

It Has Staying Power. A print newspaper ad doesn’t disappear, meaning your audience will see it when they have time to focus.

It Reaches the Right Audience. Newspapers reach an affluent and engaged local audience. It Gets Results. Newspaper ads increase marketing ROI by three times on average, according to a study from Newsworks.

4. You’ll be able to network. Attending a cattle auction will give you the opportunity to get to know other people and organizations in the agricultural industry. This can be useful for promoting and expanding your business.

If you’re still hesitant about attending a live cattle auction, don’t be afraid to ask the more seasoned farmers in your area for their advice.

Villalobos commits to wrestle at North Central College

BY RUSSELL HODGES SPORTS EDITOR

ROCHELLE — Xavier Villalobos couldn’t shake the idea of his wrestling career ending after his second chance at a state championship fell one point short at the IHSA state finals in February.

Still motivated after ending his high school career as a four-time state qualifier, three-time state medalist and two-time state runner-up, Villalobos has committed to continue his academics and his wrestling career at North Central College. Villalobos, whose older brother Eddie wrestled at North Central for three years, finished his high school career as one of the winningest wrestlers in RTHS history. A twosport athlete, Villalobos went 170-24 over four varsity seasons at RTHS.

“I chose North Central for academics because my brother went there and he successfully graduated college and found a career that he loves,” Villalobos said. “I also chose North Central for wrestling because their wrestling program is getting better and better. What I’m looking forward to most about competing at the collegiate level is the competition and the level change in the sport. I’m also looking forward to meeting and working with new teammates and coaches. I hope to bring individual titles and team awards while also bringing competition in the room.”

Villalobos earned a starting role at 113 pounds during his freshman season, when he won his first Interstate 8 title before medaling at both the IHSA regional and sectional meets. Villalobos carried that momentum into the state tournament, where several clutch victories resulted in a magical run that saw him become the youngest

IHSA state finalist in RTHS wrestling history. Villalobos moved up to 120 pounds and finished with a 39-8 record during his sophomore year.

“While wrestling at Rochelle, my coaches helped prepare me mentally and they were always supportive of me,” said Villalobos, who intends to compete at 133 points with the North Central team. “They always encouraged me to move forward. During high school, I think I’ve grown the most with being more comfortable in certain situations on the mat and knowing what moves to use in those circumstances. I hope I can get better physically and mentally in college. I hope to get better as an individual on and off the mat and I hope I can help others achieve their goals.”

The first four-time state qualifier and threetime state medalist in RTHS history, Villalobos went 44-4 at 126 pounds during his junior season and returned to 126 pounds as a senior, finishing 42-6 and placing second at the state finals. Villalobos, who finished fifth in the state during his junior season, will enter North Central as an undecided major and pursue a bachelor’s degree.

“I’m undecided so I can explore the classes and see what I truly like and see which career fits me best,” Villalobos said. “I want to get a bachelor’s degree in whatever I decide to pursue.”

Villalobos played four years of football at RTHS, spending three seasons with the varsity team. A two-time All-Interstate 8 Honorable Mention, Villalobos played cornerback and wide receiver, helping lead the Hubs to three consecutive playoff appearances. Villalobos posted 96 tackles, 10 pass breakups, five interceptions and four fumble recoveries for the Hubs from 2022-24.