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Ogle County to host residential electronics recycling event Nov. 21
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
The Ogle County Solid Waste Management Department will host a residential electronics recycling event and food drive Friday, Nov. 21.
The event will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 909 Pines Road in Oregon.
This event is for Ogle County residents only and a free permit is required in advance of the event. To obtain a free permit call 815-732-4020 or email solidwaste@ oglecountyil.gov and provide your name, address, phone number and email address by 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20.
Accepted items include all residential televisions and computer monitors, computers, computer hardware and cables, laptops, tablets, cell phones, printers, FAX machines, scanners, shredders (no tubs), copiers, video gaming equipment, DVD/VCRs, cable/satellite boxes, stereo equipment, radios, digital clocks, cameras, calculators, phone systems, holiday light strands, extension cords, rechargeable batteries, printer ink cartridges, CD/DVDs and CFL bulbs. Microwave ovens are accepted for $5 a unit. Cash and checks are accepted.
Large toner cartridges are no longer accepted. They can be taken back to office supply stores or recycled through the business recycling program for a nominal fee.
The limit is seven large or bulky items per permit and one permit per county household per month. Business or institutional electronic materials are not accepted at these events. Business or institutional electronics are accepted by
A computer equipment recycling event will be held 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, at 909 Pines Road in Oregon. It’s for Ogle County residents only and people need to get a free permit by 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, to participate.
the OCSWMD via separate program. Call the number above for more information and pricing for business electronic recycling, and to make an appointment for drop off of the materials to be recycled.
Also, in conjunction with this event, the county is again this year hosting a food drive. All donations will be distributed by OCSWMD to local food pantries across Ogle County.
Items accepted include non-expired
canned goods and jars of food, boxed food items, as well as household essentials such as sealed toothpaste, soap, cleaning supplies, laundry supplies, paper towels and toilet paper.
For more information about this recycling event, call the OCSWMD at the number above or visit www.oglecountyil.gov or the Ogle County Solid Waste Management Department’s Facebook page.
City of Rochelle to host electronics recycling event Nov. 8
The city of Rochelle will host a free electronics recycling event on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Rochelle street department, 251 E. First Ave.
Up to seven items will be accepted per household, such as TVs, computers, DVD players, VCRs, phones, printers, scanners, stereos and cameras. No kitchen appliances, fans or air conditioners will be accepted.
On Friday, Oct. 31, Halloween trick or treaters head to the Hope Chest during the annual Downtown Trick or Treat event was held in Rochelle. Jeff Helfrich ON THE COVER
Dumpsters will be available for household trash and furniture. Pumpkin recycling is also available at the event.
The event is open to Rochelle residents only. Please bring identification. –ShawLocalNewsNetwork
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Rochelle’s Trick-or-Treat time downtown
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
On Friday, Oct. 31, the annual
the
Downtown Trick or Treat was held in Rochelle. Candy seekers took to
streets on Halloween and were greeted by downtown business owners and employees.
Photos by Jeff Helfrich
TOP LEFT: On Halloween on Friday, the annual Downtown Trick or Treat event was held in Rochelle. Shown is trick-or-treater Lemon Burkhart at Colonial Flowers. TOP RIGHT: On Friday, Oct. 31, the annual Downtown Trick or Treat event was held in Rochelle and trick or treaters are walking on Lincoln Highway. ABOVE: On Oct. 31, the annual Downtown Trick or Treat event was held in Rochelle. Trick or treaters are mingling at the Rochelle Fire Station. LEFT: On Halloween, Rochelle are trick or treaters are hanging outside Little Hubs Learning Center with Quinn’s Jewelry in the backround.
City sees public response to potential data center, will hold public meeting
City currently working with developer, answering questions from residents
By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
The city of Rochelle has recently seen social media reaction to news of it talking with a developer about a data center potentially locating in Rochelle.
Through its Facebook page, the city has responded to questions and concerns raised by residents about the impact of a potential data center, and has scheduled a public meeting on the topic in Rochelle on Nov. 18.
That meeting will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at City Hall at 420 N. Sixth St. The meeting will be streamed live on Facebook and YouTube.
Resident concerns voiced on social media and at the Rochelle City Council’s Oct. 26 meeting have included impacts to utilities such as electricity and water, the amount of jobs the data center would create, noise issues, and what entity would pay for infrastructure costs.
A petition, titled “Reject plans for a data center in Rochelle, Illinois,” had 150 signatures as of Oct. 31.
“It’s crucial that we take a stand against this proposal and protect our beloved town from unnecessary harm,” Dawn Nance, the petitioner’s organizer, wrote on the site.
“The cost savings purported by hosting a data center are overshadowed by the risks and long-term undesired consequences it poses. Our voices, as residents of this town, must be heard and considered by those making these decisions.”
The city of Rochelle recently created a “Data Center Q&A” page on its website in an effort to address residents’ concerns. The city has not approved any agreement with any developer or data center. The city owns Rochelle Municipal Utilities, which would see it provide power, water and storm water services to a potential data center, which would procure its own power off the market and use RMU for billing and delivery.
The Q&A page said the proposed data
center would use up to 50 megawatts of electricity. Rochelle currently has more than 90 megawatts of additional electric capacity available, according to the page. The proposed data center is not a “mega site” like those commonly seen in national data center developments, such as Meta in DeKalb.
The potential data center customer would pay an 11% power distribution surcharge and standard demand charges, and may elect to manage their own capacity and transmission costs. RMU’s power rates would not increase due to a potential data center because of long-term power purchase contracts and behind-the-meter generation it has in place, the city said.
A data center developer would be required to post a surety or bond to cover any purchased power or infrastructure obligations if it ceased operations or relocated. The data center would see a hard cap on electric use. If
the data center needed more power than expected in the future, it would have to pursue a ComEd reconfiguration of transmission lines, the city said.
Data centers are large users of water, and the potential development in Rochelle would use 100,000 gallons a day with a closed-loop cooling system to minimize water consumption, the city said. RMU pumps 4-5 million gallons of water per day, with its largest current customer using 1 million gallons per day. A data center’s water use would be capped in a development agreement, the city said.
All costs of potential infrastructure and utility improvements would be paid for by the data center developer and enforced by a development agreement with the city.
Data centers are only permitted to locate in industrial-zoned areas. The lot under consideration is 75 acres and is currently farmland, the city said. The
project would be subject to EPA requirements and the city can apply specific conditions or restrictions through a development agreement.
Any potential noise concerns would be addressed through a development agreement, the city said, including the use of muffling materials to reduce noise.
The potential data center would be located in the Lee-Ogle Enterprise Zone and benefit from a 50% tax abatement for six years, as previous local large developments such as Americold, Mighty Vine, Wheatland Tube, and CHS Ethanol have.
The company name of the data center is not available at this time, and the city currently is working with a developer that would then work to bring a company to Rochelle, the city said. City officials have not been asked to sign
Jeff Helfrich
The city has been talking to a data center about coming to town and its caused chatter in the community via Facebook. The city has decided to hold a public meeting on the subject from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, at City Hall at 420 N. Sixth St. in Rochelle.
Rochelle hospital to celebrate National Rural Health Day on Nov. 20, seeking feedback
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
Rochelle Community Hospital is proud to join communities across the country in celebrating National Rural Health Day on Thursday, Nov. 20.
Since 2011, this annual observance –founded and coordinated by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health – has been held on the third Thursday of November to spotlight the unique healthcare challenges and remarkable strength of the nearly 61 million people living in rural America.
“Rural communities are the backbone of our state, and their health is vital to our collective future,” Kirby Heward, RCH marketing specialist, said. “We’re proud to celebrate National Rural Health Day and honor the unwavering commitment of rural healthcare providers, organizations, and community leaders who work every day to improve the lives of others.”
This year, RCH is marking the occasion by asking its employees and community members to share how they would describe “Rural Healthcare” to someone who otherwise has no knowl -
• CITY HALL
Continued from page 4
non-disclosure agreements regarding the project.
It is anticipated that 25-35 full-time jobs would be created by the potential data center, with an average salary of $85,000 per year for the permanent positions.
Rochelle already is home to two data centers, Allstate and Northern Trust, which are smaller than the potential future development.
edge or experience. Community members, partners and stakeholders are encouraged to participate and help highlight rural health’s impact in Rochelle and its surrounding communities.
RCH encourages anyone that can share their perspective on the power of rural healthcare, by emailing their answers to kheward@rcha.net. Responses must contain at least one full sentence, but may be as long as needed, may include personal anecdotes, and even pictures. In doing so, participants will also be entered for the chance to win one free meal at RCH’s Café 900.
In 2026, there will be fewer options with higher prices and increased out of pocket costs. Join us for a free, in-person presentation. Learn the basics, explore your options, and get ready for annual enrollment with confidence.
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Rochelle City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh said Oct. 15 that a development agreement with a potential data center could come before the City Council for a vote in the coming months and if approved, the build would be within three years.
The city’s data center information page said the potential project would strengthen RMU’s electric system and generate new local revenues such as property tax, utility tax, rate revenue and “other negotiated fees.”
“The data center would have minimal impact on police, fire, and public works services,” according to the city data center page. “It will provide property tax revenue for other taxing districts [schools, parks, social services] without increasing service needs.”
Elsewhere in Ogle County, Byron also may be a potential site for a data center in coming years. The Ogle County Board voted in August 2024 and 2025 to rezone a total of 709 acres around the Byron Nuclear Plant from agricultural to industrial use for Constellation Energy, the plant’s owner. Constellation is considering attracting industrial development such as data centers, which locate near power availability.
Jeff Helfrich Rochelle Community Hospital is located at 900 N. Second St. in Rochelle.
By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
Ogle County’s Dewayne Adams placed fifth in his division at the recent National Corn Husking Contest in Nappannee, Indiana, and, at age 90, was the oldest competitor at the event.
“I felt pretty good to get fifth place out of nine states, being as old as I am,” Adams of Holcomb said of the Oct. 18 event in which he both hand picked and husked corn. “I think the next oldest person was around 80. I continue to do it each year because it’s become my hobby. It’s something to do and I enjoy doing it each year.
Before farming became mechanized, picking corn by hand and pitching ears into a horse-drawn wagon was how harvesting was done.
In the late 19th century, local contests
in National Corn Husking Contest
with tractors,” Adams said. “You draw a number to decide the land you pick in. They pick rain, shine or snow. When you pick, you can’t miss an ear on the stalk or miss the wagon, or you get a deduction. You’re allowed to have 2% of the husk still be on the ear.”
Adams farmed for 18 years in the area before working as a crop adjuster for another 18 years. He’s now retired. He got into hand corn husking competitions through a friend that took part in them. He’s done it every year since.
were held to determine the best corn picker in the community. By the 1930s, hand corn husking became the fastest-growing sport in America, drawing more than 100,000 spectators at national contests.
Adams has memories of attending the popular contests as a small child. His brothers competed locally and his father once took the family to attend a national contest in Illinois. Decades later, the Holcomb man is competing, and placing, in the contest.
The National Cornhusking Association sponsors a contest in the fall to determine who is the best. There are 12 classes that huskers can participate in. Nine states are members of the National Cornhusking Association: Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, South Dakota and Nebraska.
Adams qualified for the national contest by finishing in the top two in the state. He’s been participating in contests since 2017.
“Wagons are pulled just ahead of you
“I’ve done a lot in my lifetime,” Adams said. “I feel lucky to be able to do it at my age. I try to stay active. I try to do something every day. I felt pretty good about getting fifth and I got third last year at nationals in Iowa.”
Adams plans to enter the contest again next year at age 91. He practices the craft at home and did some physical therapy for a few weeks before the event this year to get his arms and legs loosened up.
“I like going to state,” he said. “I think they’ll keep it going. I think they have enough active members that want to keep it going. You meet a lot of different people. It’s fun to do.”
Photo provided by Dewayne Adams
Ogle County’s Dewayne Adams placed fifth in his division on Saturday, Oct. 18 at the National Corn Husking Contest in Nappannee, Indiana. At age 90, he was the oldest competitor at the event.
Turkey Giveaway
Win a FREE Turkey from Rochelle News-Leader
We are so very thankful for each one of these businesses for making the Turkey Giveaway possible again this year! Please visit these businesses & show your appreciation for their community spirit & support.
MW&F 9:30AM-1PM T&TH 1PM-4PM 1381 N. 7th Street, Rochelle 815-562-5207 M-F 8AM-5PM & Sat 8AM-12PM 516 Lincoln Hwy, Rochelle 815-562-7552 M-F 9AM-5PM & Sat 9AM-12PM Agent James E. “Spud” Supancic
CONTEST RULES:
Entrants Must Be 18 Years or Older. | Fill Out the Original Entry Forms Completely (incomplete and photo copied forms will be discarded). | Entry Forms Must Be Submitted by the Individual Listed on the Form. | Submit Entry Forms to Participating Businesses from Wednesday 11/5 to Sunday 11/16. Check Entry Forms for Exact Business Hours. | One Winner from Each Business will be Drawn on Monday, 11/17 at 10AM. Winners will be Notified by Phone before 5PM the Same Day. Only One Turkey per Person. | Winners May Pick Up Gift Cards for the Free Turkey at the Business on Wednesday 11/19 or Any Time Thereafter. | No Purchase Necessary to Enter. | Employees of the Newspaper & Participating Businesses Are Not Eligible to Enter.
Kish to offer 5 Short-Term programs in spring
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
Kishwaukee College will offer five short term programs during the spring 2026 semester.
Kish Short-Term programs provide students with the expertise needed to meet local workforce demands. The programs range from 11-15 weeks, allowing students to start a career immediately or build on skills with additional training.
Spring 2026 classes are available in hybrid, online and in-person formats. Participants need internet access to participate in programs with an online component. Some programs include an externship/clinical.
The programs offered in spring 2026 are:
• Appliance repair technician: Jan. 13-April 23 (in-person). Appliance repair technicians are skilled professionals trained to assist clients with household appliance installation, troubleshooting and repairs. In-person instruction is from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and
Dental assistants work with dentists and dental hygienists to provide preventive and corrective dental care and administrative support in dental offices.
tion medication while performing various duties in a pharmacy setting. Online instruction is delivered in an asynchronous format. Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding is available to those who qualify.
• Real estate broker pre-license: Jan. 13-March 5 (online). Real estate brokers perform many duties in real estate transactions, including marketing homes, establishing escrow accounts, and working to ensure transactions are fair and legal. Online instruction is from 6-9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Online instruction is delivered in an asynchronous format. In-person practice is from 6-9 p.m. on four Tuesdays in a local dental office.
• Sterile processing technician: Jan. 12-April 17 (online). Sterile processing technicians support patient services in a health care facility. Technicians help decontaminate, clean, process, assemble, sterilize, store and distribute medical devices and supplies needed in patient care, especially during surgery. Online instruction is delivered in an asynchronous format.
Spring 2026 registration opens online at 6 a.m. Monday, Nov. 3. Learn more or register for Kishwaukee College ShortTerm programs at kish.edu/shortterm.
Photo provided by Kishwaukee College
In Ogle and Carroll counties there were 26,203 student contacts made through 1,298 programs. Program activities included making butter, kneading bread, studying soil, enjoying pumpkin pie and much more.
Ogle, Carroll county teachers receive IAA Foundation grants
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom is a go-to resource for teachers wanting to help students grow connections to agriculture. Local programs recently received funding to continue classroom lessons thanks to IAA Foundation grants.
Eighty ag literacy coalitions serving 89 Illinois counties were awarded $668,150 in grant dollars, which can be used for materials, training, educational lessons, and activities taking place during the 20252026 school year.
“Providing these grants ensures teachers have a local connection and access to engaging resources to integrate accurate agricultural content into their classrooms,” Kevin Daugherty, IAITC education director, said.
Last school year, 643,958 students and 36,335 teachers engaged in ag literacy lessons through IAITC. County AITC programs presented 31,233 individual programs throughout the state, an average of 390 per coalition. Classroom presentations, farm field trips, and agriculture expos add a new dimension to existing curricular standards.
In Ogle and Carroll counties last year, there were 26,203 student contacts made through 1,298 programs. Program activities included making butter, kneading bread, studying soil, enjoying pumpkin pie and much more.
County coalition grants are made possible through funding partner gifts to the
IAA Foundation, and the generosity of individuals who support IAITC. Operating as the charitable arm of the Illinois Farm Bureau, the IAA Foundation raises funds for the IAITC program each year, and in addition to county grants, provides funding for Ag Mags, teacher grants, Summer Ag Academies, and more.
“Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom is a true partnership,” Susan Moore, IAA Foundation director, said. “From committed funding groups, employment agencies for ag literacy coordinators, in-kind services, to every volunteer and each dollar donated, we are Illinois agriculture unified in a common goal to enhance ag literacy and aid in early discovery of connections to agriculture. Our partners are committed to making ag literacy a priority, and we are grateful for that.”
Partner organizations of IAITC include Illinois Farm Bureau, Facilitating Coordination in Agricultural Education, University of Illinois Extension, Illinois Beef Association, Illinois Corn Marketing Board, Illinois Pork Producers Association, Illinois Soybean Association, Midwest Dairy Association, Illinois Department of Agriculture and the Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
In addition, annual donors include agribusiness partners and individuals with an interest in supporting the future of agriculture. For information on how individuals can contribute, or to view a listing of all major donors, visit www.iaafoundation.org. For information on IAITC, visit www.agintheclassroom.org.
Photo provided by Ogle Extension
Ogle County 4-H celebrates 2025 winners
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
Ogle County’s top 4-H members and clubs were honored for outstanding achievement at a special program held Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, in the Pinecrest Grove Theatre.
Top county honors went to 4-H teens Shelby Harbaugh, Chana, and David Wehler, Leaf River. Harbaugh, Hub Hickory Nuts 4-H Club and Wehler, Leaf River Soaring Eagles 4-H Club were the recipients of the Co-op Watch Awards sponsored by Ogle County Farm Bureau and its affiliates. Watches are awarded each year to the two 4-Hers with the most impressive records of long-term leadership and service at the club level and beyond.
Colton Gehrke, Byron, was the recipient of a $50 cash award sponsored by the Ogle County 4-H Foundation. The Foundation Award is presented annually to a single 4-H member who has demonstrated leadership skills and a willingness to assist with 4-H activities, serving as a positive example to younger members.
Several awards were distributed to community clubs throughout the county in recognition of outstanding community service, educational programming, and promotional efforts. Additionally, one club’s leadership team was recognized for their outstanding efforts to work together effectively and meet the needs of their club, as well as coordinate their work. Congratulations go to all the following club winners:
Window Display Promotion Award: First place – Leaf River Soaring Eagles 4-H Club (Leaf River); Second place – Pine Creek Valley 4-H Club (Polo); Third place – Mighty Clovers 4-H Club (Monroe Center).
Other special award winners include: Outstanding Club President: Allissa Martin, Carefree. Outstanding Club Vice President: Katelyn Rockwood, Pine Creek Valley. Outstanding Club Secretary: Skyler Holmes, Pine Creek Valley. Outstanding Club Treasurer: Isabelle Blumhoff, Pine Creek Valley. Outstanding Club Historian: Kaden Lingbeck, Leaf River Soaring Eagles. Outstanding
Club Reporter: Lydia Sherburne, Leaf River Soaring Eagles. Ogle County Club Recreation Chairperson: Kodi Hubbard, Carefree. Outstanding Club Junior Leader: Lydia Sherburne, Leaf River Soaring Eagles. Electricity Achievement Award: Julia Herring, Hub Hickory Nuts. Illinois Holstein-Friesian Association Award: Anna Marquardt, Carefree.
Ogle County 4-H Club-of-the-Year: First place – Carefree 4-H Club (Oregon). Second place – Leaf River Soaring Eagles 4-H Club (Leaf River). Third place –Mighty Clovers 4-H Club (Stillman Valley).
Top Leader Team Award: Mighty Clovers 4-H Club (Stillman Valley): Stephanie King & Julie Beckman. Alumni Award: Teddy Snapp. Hall of Fame: Karen Marsh.
Photo provided by Ogle Extension
Outstanding 4-H Leader Team Award was presented to Stephanie King (left) and Julie Beckman (right) of the Mighty Clovers 4-H Club.
Rochelle woman wins 815 Innovation Award
ILMS offers tutoring services onsite and online
By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
Rochelle resident and co-owner of Institute of Languages, Mathematics, & Sciences, Faten Abdallah, was awarded the 2025 EIGERlab 815 Innovation Award for Education Innovation on Saturday, Oct. 25, at an awards dinner.
Abdallah, along with Maliha Khan, owns ILMS, a business located at 5601 Wansford Way in Rockford that offers customized tutoring services online and onsite. Abdallah and Khan are both former teachers and started the business in 2019. They both work as tutors for ages 3 through adults. More information can be found at www.ilmstutor.com.
Khan said Abdallah and ILMS were nominated for the award by parents of children that the business serves. The women and minority-owned business was proud to be nominated and win amid competition with other learning centers in Rockford.
“It was an honor to be nominated,” Abdallah said. “We work to be creative and innovative. To stay in business nowadays, you have to be. We’re able to combine traditional methods with nontraditional methods. We still use books, paper and pencils. But we also use technology. We teach students how to balance that. Winning meant that our business is out there more. We’ve become experts. We’re recognized for our innovation in education and that we’re not afraid to try new things.”
Along with tutoring, the services offered by ILMS include standardized testing preparation and summer camps for traditional students, along with computer literacy skills, English as a second language, and citizenship tests for adults. Along with area students and residents, the business tutors people remotely in the Chicago area, on the West Coast, and even in Turkey.
Abdallah and Khan previously worked together as teachers at a private school. After 9-10 years of that work and discussing the idea, they decided to work for themselves and open their own tutoring business after seeing gaps in education that students couldn’t catch up to.
ILMS started tutoring in libraries and remotely in 2019 and opened its brick and mortar location in January
2020. After the March 2020 COVID-19 shutdown began, they had to move their timeline up to offer more online services and immediately transitioned all tutoring to online and helped students that were learning remotely during the pandemic. That catchup work continued in the years that followed.
“We saw that learning gap when students returned to school after remote learning,” Khan said. “ Some students were behind almost two years. We saw more students come in for tutoring. Being here with customized programming that works differently with every student, I think that helped students bridge that gap. We work with the teachers of some students and they let us
know what they need help with to catch up. We’ve seen some of them improve two letter grades in their time here.”
Successes at ILMS have included kids coming in for assessment testing and seeing scores improve and students with reading issues improving to higher grade levels. Along with rising grades and scores, Abdallah said increased confidence is also seen in students, which she enjoys.
Abdallah has also taught adults how to read English. She believes education is for all ages and groups and she and Khan wanted to make ILMS a comprehensive tutoring center for all.
“Teaching adults how to read and write is a big thing,” Khan said. “Until
the parent generation learns the language, they will struggle finding jobs and teaching and mentoring their children. Things like setting rules and focusing on your children’s education all come when the parents are educated. We have a great scholarship program as well for families that can’t afford tutoring. That helps the community and our families.”
Being a local tutoring center helps ILMS to know the community and what’s happening locally and what’s expected at area schools. Abdallah and Khan enjoy being a resource for the community and seeing its growth.
Khan and Abdallah like working for themselves and seeing students come in for help and get what they’re looking for. They enjoy having the freedom to be creative and innovative and making families feel welcome.
Khan estimates ILMS’s business is three times larger than it was upon starting six years ago.
“Being six years into our business and receiving an award like this is very nice,” Abdallah said. “Now we want more awards. We want to be out there more and more competitive and network more and become more involved.”
Photos by Jeff Helfrich
Rochelle resident Faten Abdallah was awarded the 2025 EIGERlab 815 Innovation Award for Education Innovation on Saturday, Oct. 25.
ILMS is co-owned by Maliha Khan (left) and Faten Abdallah.
Northern Illinois’ water system sold
Aqua America provides water in Ogle, DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Kankakee, Lake, McHenry, Will counties, among others
By LEE PROVOST lprovost@shawmedia.com
Where your water comes from isn’t changing.
However, the company that will manage, operate and supply area customers soon will change if all goes as planned.
The merger of American Water Works and Essential Utilities Inc., in which Aqua America operates, is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2027.
American Water Works, a Camden, New Jersey-based company, is heading the merger and will operate under the name American Water and will have an enterprise value of $63 billion.
Essential Utilities is based in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, where it operates as Aqua America and Peoples Natural Gas. When the merger is completed, the company will call Camden home.
The deal must clear public utility commissions in at least seven states, including Illinois, as well as shareholder approvals and federal antitrust clearances, according to published reports.
American Water is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the U.S.
With a history dating to 1886, the company provides drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and 18 military installations.
In addition to Illinois, American Water serves customers in Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Hawaii, Georgia and California.
The company has a workforce of some 6,700.
Essential Utilities served about 5.5 million customers in nine states, including Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New Jersey, Texas and Pennsylvania.
Asked how long Aqua Illinois leader-
ship was involved in the merger discussions, spokesman Patrick Wenger said that detail will be made available when the companies file their proxy materials in the coming weeks.
“It’s important to note that operations will continue normally until the transaction closes,” Wenger said regarding a question about the fate of the South Schuyler Avenue office in Kankakee.
The Kankakee office has a workforce of about 40.
Wenger said the Aqua Illinois name will continue to be used until the merger’s closing.
Aqua Illinois replaced Consumers
be no change in customer rates.
The company “will be better able to maintain an average customer water bill that is affordable, supporting the economic prosperity of the more than 2,000 communities in which the combined company will operate,” Essential Utilities officials said.
Aqua Illinois serves about 280,000 people across 14 counties in Illinois. These counties include Kankakee, Will, DuPage, DeKalb, Kane, Lake, Winnebago, McHenry, Vermillion, Ogle, Knox, Cook, Champaign and Boone.
County in March 2004.
Essential Utilities said there would
In Illinois, American Water provides water and/or wastewater services to 1.3 million residents.
Illinois as the drinking water source in Kankakee
Photos by Tiffany Blanchette
The Aqua Illinois office in Kankakee is shown on Wednesday, Oct. 29. Aqua America, the company which owns area water supplier Aqua Illinois, has been sold and is expected to begin operating under the name American Water in 2027 following the merger of American Water Works and Essential Utilities Inc., in which Aqua America operates.
The Aqua Illinois office on South Schuyler Avenue is shown on Wednesday, Oct. 29.
OPINIONS
THE FIRST AMENDMENT
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
A 5-point plan for Democracy’s identified patient
Lowell Harp VIEWS
The mental health profession doesn’t recognize Trump Derangement Syndrome as a true mental illness. The President’s supporters have nevertheless enjoyed some success in discrediting his opponents with that label. They probably don’t, however, appreciate its larger meaning.
We all—Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike—have allowed our feelings about the President to impair our judgment. We all suffer from TDS. Sometimes I think of the President as the nation’s identified patient. Family therapist Virginia Satir popularized that concept back in the 1960s in her book, “Conjoint Family Therapy.” It refers to the family member whose troublesome behavior is the focus of attention.
The therapist discovers that it serves a purpose for the family, that of a distraction from other problems that it’s afraid to deal with openly. The family appears to struggle against the identified patient’s misbehavior, but it secretly and unconsciously cooperates to maintain it.
The President, like an identified
IT’S YOUR WRITE
Does the truth matter?
Shortly after being sworn into office in 2017, President Trump dispatched his press secretary to announce to the gathered press, and the world, that the crowd in attendance at his inauguration had been larger than the crowds at any previous inauguration. The media quickly produced photographic evidence that proved this boast to be false. The President’s response, delivered by a close aide the next day, was that, in making the claim, the President was simply relying on “alternative facts”.
This creative view of reality seems now to be a central feature in appeals of several lawsuits involving the President’s deployment of National Guard troops into Los Angeles, Portland and Chicago in response to protests of ICE immigration tactics.
In each of these cases, the President has relied on a law that allows him to deploy
patient, distracts our national family from problems that we find to be even more difficult to confront than the ones he presents. We encourage him openly or unconsciously—and whether we’re supporting or opposing him—to continue in that role.
This paradox has special meaning for President Trump’s opponents. Fighting him at every turn can, as in family relationships, strengthen the cycle of misbehavior instead of weaken it. It nevertheless can seem less intimidating than attacking the underlying problems that produced him in the first place.
The President emerged from social changes that have divided the nation and have empowered hard-core and extremist members in both parties. Their power also abides in deeply rooted institutions, including parts of the Constitution, that throw up formidable barriers to reforms that would weaken their hold on the country.
I offered a list of remedies for some of those impediments four years ago, in the Dec. 6, 2021 issue of the Ogle County Life (See fb.me/lowellharp). I called them my Five-Point Plan to Revive Democracy. They were, and still are:
1. Outlaw gerrymandering, which allows politicians to create safe districts where there’s no need for them to com-
the National Guard where one of three circumstances exists: invasion by a foreign nation; rebellion against the authority of the federal government; or an inability with regular forces to execute the laws of the United States. In each case, the President has alleged the existence of facts which, he says, justify his actions. In each case, the trial court has determined that the “facts” were not supported by evidence.
Now the Supreme Court has accepted the Chicago case which raises this question: What standards should the courts use to judge the truthfulness of the President’s determination that the extreme circumstances he alleges as the basis for his actions actually exist? There appear to be three possible decisions that the Supreme Court could make on this issue. It would be possible for the Supreme Court to simply consider the evidence presented in court
promise with the other party.
2. Reform primary elections. Open primaries and ranked choice voting would discourage extremism and polarization in each party.
3. Replace the current state-based system of representation in the Senate with one that gives an equal voice to each citizen, and more accurately embodies the broad political core of the country.
4. Abolish the Presidential Electoral College, which grants extra voting power to some citizens at the expense of the rest, so that the President can justifiably claim to truly represent the whole country.
5. Abolish the filibuster, which allows Senators to veto popular laws instead of compromising on them.
These and other reforms won’t be easy to enact and won’t automatically produce a new age of civility and good government. They could, however, help revive the influence of moderates in a political system that too often empowers extremists. Reformers are working beneath the noise of everyday politics to enact some of them.
The Fair Representation Act, for example, is stalled in committee in the House of Representatives. It would require independent redistricting commissions, multimember districts, and
without affording the President’s determination any special weight. That seems unlikely, given the fact that the President is a wholly separate and co-equal branch of government entitled to respect by the judiciary. At the opposite extreme, the President maintains that his determination is not subject to review by the courts at all, but must simply be accepted as true.
Such a holding would seem to undermine the fundamental judicial power assigned to the Supreme Court by the Constitution. There is a middle ground between these two extremes, which was adopted by the federal district court in the Chicago case and the Portland case. Under that approach, the President’s determination would be entitled to “a great level of deference”, but it must be grounded in actual facts supported by evidence produced in court, and must be made in good faith within a range of honest
ranked choice voting in congressional contests.
The bill would reduce the influence of hardcore extremists in both parties, end gerrymandering, and give more representation to the minority party in solid red and blue states. The nonprofit organization FairVote, at fairvote.org, supports the bill and provides detailed information about its provisions and benefits.
These and other reforms struggle for public attention amidst opposition from both parties, but they’re as important as any of the issues that dominate the headlines. Taxes, global warming, tariffs, ICE raids, the Epstein files, the latest government shutdown—none are more critical. We can’t effectively deal with any of them if we don’t have a political system that discourages extremism and polarization and that instead represents the broad core of the American people.
I and my liberal fellow-travelers who want to save democracy must acknowledge that it will take more than just defeating Donald Trump. He’s the symptom, not the illness. The cure is in the system—and in the wisdom of the American people.
LowellHarpisaretiredschoolpsychologistwhoservedschooldistrictsin OgleCounty.Forpreviouscolumns,follow him on Facebook.
judgment. In simple terms, it must be based on the truth and not on “alternative facts”.
Should the Supreme Court hold that the President’s determination may not be reviewed at all, or should it adopt a deference standard so broad as to effectively eliminate proven facts and good faith from the equation, the ramifications would be frightening. It would effectively obliterate the distinction between true facts and “alternative facts” as a justification for Presidential actions that are not within the powers given to the President by the Constitution or Congress. What would then prevent the President from declaring –based on “alternative facts” which cannot be questioned –that other emergencies exist which justify new presidential orders restricting other freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution?
Alan Cooper Rochelle
Warranty Deeds
• Clinton Veterinary Clinic Sc to Arthur Mueller, 18530 E Twombly Rd, Rochelle, $140,000
• David G. Schoenholz to Lawrence Burke, 3606 W Cedar St, Dixon, $85,000
• Hre Builders Llc to Denise R. Frankes and Jeffrey S. Frakes, 522 N 6th St., Rochelle, $67,500
• Mackenzie G Chudzik and Bailey R. Lang to Diana K. Penaran, 604 N 7th St, Rochelle, $244,00
• Suzanne K. Altenburg to Unique Needs Property Management Llc, 211 Jeffrey Ave, Rochelle, $110,000
• Sydney R. Adkisson to Joseph King, 306 W Front St, Mt. Morris, $165,000
• Richard J. Harms and Janaan K. to Jack Schuit and Allyson Bartling, 10-07-300-006, $728,250
• Wendy J. Mertes Trustee and Wendy J. Mertes Tr. To Charles J. Ostrander Iii and Averi G. Ostrander, 703 N 4th St, Oregon, $15,000
• Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation to Cook Colten Mcquay, 109 N Seminary St,
OBITUARIES
JOAN PIERCE
Born: June 7, 1936 in Chicago, IL
Died: October 28, 2025 in Naperville, IL
Joan Hoffmann Pierce, 89, passed away on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at The Springs at Monarch Landing in Naperville, IL. Joan was born on June 7, 1936 to Edwin and Virginia (Bradley) Hoffmann in Chicago, Illinois.
Joan spent her early years in both Illinois and Wisconsin, attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison and graduating with a degree in English. Joan raised her three children in Arlington Heights, IL while doing some teaching at the local schools and later working for Westinghouse selling home security systems. She frequently received awards for being the top sales person for her company (no surprise there). After relocating to Creston, IL, she worked many years for Rockford Alarm company.
As a child, Joan loved spending time with her family at her uncle’s cottage in Ellison
Mt. Morris, $148,000
• Matthew Gendusa and Haylee K. Gendusa to Jared Lee Pottorff, 707 S 7th St, Oregon, $170,000
• Gary K. Dunn, Lori J. Dunn and Lori J. Halterman to Randal D. Tabor and Mandy D. Tabor, 155 Joanne Lane, Rochelle, $130,000
• Shreeji Prakash Llc to Swamibapa Rochelle Llc, 601 E IL Rte 38, Rochelle, and one parcel in DeMent Township, $2,400,000
• City Of Rochelle Illinois, City Of Rochelle Illinois, and City of Rochelle to Jason M. Harper and Eryn M. Harper, 1414 Carrie Ave, Rochelle, $6,000
• William Messenger and Nancy Messenger to Kevin M. Wolf, 1071 W Washington St, Oregon, $300,000
• Hale Airport Properties Llc to Jeffrey M. Lizeth L. Kay, one parcel in Rockvale Township, $160,000
• Timothy A. Dayton to Steven E. Grover and Cambria C. Grover, one parcel in Pine Rock Township: 17-02-100-011, $290,000
Quit Claims
• Kalen Spengler to Tristen Spengler, 403 N
Division Ave, Polo, $0.00
• Bonnie L. Blumeyer to Francis E. Blumeyer, 7202 S Lowden Rd, Oregon, $0.00
• Haleigh Palchik to Colin O. Malley, 210 E Lincoln St, Mt. Morris, $0.00
Trustees Deeds
• Donna J. Cerveny Trustee, Lori L. Fagan Trustee and Dj Cerveny Living Tr to Donna J. Cerveny, Brian C. Fagan, and Lori L. Fagan, 847 W Jennie Ln, Oregon, $0.00
• Stillman Bank Trustee and Alvin D. Roberts to Williams H F Roberts, 4392 E Short Rd, Byron, $327,000
Deeds in Trust
• Katherine A. Braner to Katherine A. Braner Trustee and Katherine A. Braner Rev Tr, 20620 E Lindenwood Rd, Lindenwood, $0.00
• Jorge Delatorre and Susann Delatorre to Jorge Delatorre Trustee, Susann Delatorre, and Jorge & Susann Rev Lv Tr, 17934 E Marcia Dr, Monroe Center, $0.00
• Stanwood S. Black, Stanwood Black, Tricia M. Black and Tricia Black to Stanwood S. Black Trustee, Tricia M. Black Trustee, and
Black Family Trl., 409 E Hitt St, Mt. Morris, and 505 N Hannah Ave., Mt. Morris, $0.00
• Jacqueline K. Holder, to Jacqueline K. Holder Trustee and Jacqueline K. Holder Land Tr., 120 W 2nd St, Byron, and one parcel in Byron Township: 05-32-152-007, $0.00
• Scott L. Martin to Angela L. Martin-Bakener Trustee, Slm Tr825, Angela L. Martin-Bakener Trustee, one parcel in Pine Creek Township: 15-12-100-009; 715 Monroe St, Oregon; and one parcel in Oregon-Nashua Township: 16-04-289-002, $0.00
• Aaron Mendoza, Heather E. Mendoza and Heather Mendoza to Heather Mendoza Trustee, Aaron Mendoza Trustee, and Aaron & Heather Mendoza Lv Tr, one parcel in Oregon-Nashua Township: 16-03-126-003, $0.00
• Aaron Mendoza, Heather E. Mendoza, and Heather Mendoza to Heather Mendoza Trustee, Aaron Mendoza Trustee, Aaron & Heather Mendoza Lv Tr, 791 N River Rd, Oregon, $0.00
Shaw Local News Network
Bay, Door County, WI. As an adult, she and her sisters and their late mother, Virginia, built and enjoyed “Gigi’s Place” on the same grounds. Many, many good times were had there with family and friends.
A second marriage for Joan and her husband, Lewis Blanford “Blan” Pierce, Jr., almost reached the 47-year anniversary last June; add to that the four years they dated. Blan was the fourth generation of Woodlawn Farms L.B. Pierce and Sons in Creston, IL. Blan continued the Black Angus cattle business at Woodlawn until its dispersal in May of 2005. Joan worked tirelessly alongside Blan taking care of the business of Woodlawn Farms. She was very proud of the legacy of Woodlawn Farms and spent much of her time caring for this very special place. Joan’s mother-in-law, Lucy, once said, “If you have an important job that needs to get done, give it to Joan.” Joan lived by the motto her father, Ed, taught her, “a job worth doing is worth doing well.” Her strength was known by all who knew her.
A second breed caught their eye about 18 years ago when they began to acquire Shorthorn cattle from their partner, Steve French’s herd in Michigan. It was coming full circle as Blan’s great-grandfather had Shorthorns for
10 years before he began a 136 year love of Angus. Joan so enjoyed spending time with her partners and she had quite a knack for coming up with great names for a new bull calf. She proudly served on the board of the Woodlawn Cemetery and volunteered for many years at the Creston Library.
Joan loved all animals, and had an affection for golden retrievers. She and Blan raised purebred golden retrievers for many years, raising hundreds of puppies that would go to happy families throughout the Midwest. She loved horses, and had many at the farm over the years, enjoying a ride with Blan out in the pastures of Woodlawn.
The bird feeders were always full at Joan’s house, the corn was out for the squirrels, and the wild animals could find shelter or food around the property. Joan generously donated to many local animal shelters and rescues.
Joan was the proud mother to Tim (Suzi) Pleune of Batavia, IL, Beth (Jeff) Martin of Bonita Springs, FL and Laura (Mike Loptien) Sykes of Sycamore, IL; grandmother to Jamie Pleune, Alyssa (Zach) Clark, Andy (Julie) Martin, Joe (Sarinna) Martin, Samantha (Marcus Bobo) Sykes and Jarrett Sykes; great granddaughter, Delilah Martin, great grandson,
Ellis Martin; and great granddaughter Penelope Martin. She was also the proud stepmother to Carl (Kris) Pierce of Reedsburg, WI and Jake (Edie) Pierce of Byron, IL; grandmother to Carl’s daughter, Carly (Nate) Vogeler and great grandmother to Henry, Theo and Ben Vogeler and grandfather to Jake and Edie’s son, Wyatt. Sister to Gail McCallum-Prine and Lyn Hale and aunt/great aunt to many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Edwin and Virginia Hoffmann, Joan was preceded in death by her husband, Blan.
The family would like to thank Northwestern Medicine and the Springs at Monarch Landing for their exceptional care and support. We love you, Mom. We will hold you in our hearts forever.
There will be a private family memorial graveside service at Woodlawn Cemetery, Creston, IL. Memorials may be made in Joan’s memory to the American Angus Foundation for the Woodlawn Farms Scholarship Endowment Fund. Cremation care has been provided by the Unger-Horner Funeral Home of Rochelle. Visit www.ungerhorner.com to sign the online guest book.
ERIC BELL
Eric S. Bell, 60, of Rochelle, passed on 11/01/2025.
Arrangements entrusted to Unger Horner Funeral Home, ROCHELLE.
FUN&GAMES
Archie
B.C.
Pearls Before Swine
Frank & Ernest
Beetle Bailey
Blondie
Monty
Baby Blues
Arlo & Janis
Zits
HOW TO PLAY
Each row, column and set of 3-by-3 boxes must contain the numbers 1 through 9 without repetition.
Pickles
Wizard of Id
Alley Oop
Garfield
Hagar the Horrible
Barney Google and Snuffy Smith
Daddy Daze
JANRIC CLASSIC SUDOKU
MEETING NOTICE
The Commissioners of the KYTE RIVER DRAINAGE DISTRICT NO. 2 OF OGLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS will meet on Monday, November 24, 2025, at 4:00 p.m at 1720 Squires Landing, Rochelle, Illinois, for the purpose of assessing the work to be done in the District for 2026 and to establish the amounts necessary to perform such work Nov. 5, 2025
ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION School Business Services 217-785-8779
ANNUAL STATEMENT OF AFFAIRS FISCAL YEAR ENDING June 30, 2025
SCHOOL DISTRICT/JOINT AGREEMENT NAME: Creston CCSD 161 DISTRICT TYPE RCDT NUMBER: 47-071-1610-04 Elementary X
ADDRESS: 202 W south Street Creston, IL 60113 High School COUNTY: Ogle Unit
NAME OF NEWSPAPER WHERE PUBLISHED: Sauk Valley Joint Agreement
ASSURANCE
The Annual Statement of Affairs has been posted on the district's website and published in accordance with Section 10-17 of the School Code no later than December 1. (Put “X” in blue box if yes.) Yes X
SIZE OF DISTRICT IN SQUARE MILES 0 NUMBER OF
The ASA must be posted on the school district’s website and published in a newspaper of general circulation no later than December 1, 2025. Refer to Section 10-17 and Section 10-20.44 of the School Code.
Data previously included in the Annual Statement of Affairs can be found at: Payments to certified personnel Posted on district website per 105 ILCS 5/10-20.47 Student Counts Included in district’s report card
Financial Data Included in district’s Annual Financial Report posted on ISBE’s Cerberus Server
SALARY SCHEDULE OF GROSS PAYMENTS FOR NON-CERTIFICATED PERSONNEL
Salary Range: Less Than $39,999 Brizuela, Diana; Burnette, Christian; Dagg, Matthew; Dreska, Cheryl; Gelander, Cynthia; Hohlfeld, Kellie; Horn, Jodi; Miller, Ashley; Ortiz, Maribel; Perkovich, Christine; Price, Savannah M.; Streit, Margaret; Theisen, Alyssa Salary Range: $40,000 $54,999; Burnette, Douglas S.; Collins, Karen PAYMENTS TO PERSON, FIRM, OR CORPORATION OVER $2,500 EXCLUDING WAGES AND SALARIES
A Kerns Construction 6,100; Blue Cross Blue Shield 40,209; BMO Harris Bank 43,110; C&C Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling 9,072; Caseys Business Mastercard 6,373; Comcast 4,392; Common Goal Systems, Inc. 3,587; Creston Imprest 46,327; EMS Linq Inc. 5,939; Federal Income Tax 131,833; Frontier 2,868; Garry Adams 3,645; GRP Mechanical Company, Inc. 277,955; HD Supply 13,457; Holcomb Bank 44,792; Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing, Inc. 12,756 ; IASB 4,134; IDES 2,531; IEA 6,649; Illinois Counties Risk Management Trust 24,270 ; Illinois Department of Revenue 43,712 Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund 18,784; Johnson Tractor 11,260; Kohl Wholesale 10,878; Newkirk & Associates, Inc. 7,000; Nicor Gas 11,954; Northern IL Disposal SVC 4,014; NWEA 5,110; Ogle County
Education Cooperative 77,153; Rochelle Municipal Utilities 10,506; Rochelle Township High School 6,949; ROE #47 4,088; Santander Bank N.A. 23,155; Savvas Learning Company LLC 7,833; SHI, International 25,256; Trico Mechanical Inc. 5,734; TRS 85,462; Village of Creston 3,156; Xerox Financial Services 1,197
PAYMENTS TO PERSON, FIRM, OR CORPORATION OF $1,000 TO $2,500 EXCLUDING WAGES AND SALARIES
Alpha Baking 1,238; Correct Electric 1,999; Country Mutual Insurance Company 1,876; Creston 1,545; Dunn’s Repair Service 1,041; Emily Byrne 2,000; FNIC 2,480; HOH Water Technology 1,490; IASA 1,654; Ideal Environmental Engineering, Inc 1,474; IXL Learning, Inc. 2,300; Luminex, Inc. 1,618; Lisa Hohlfeld 2,000; Prairie Farms 2,186; Protective Life 1,102; Robbins Schwarz 1,201; Rochelle Elementary Dist. 231 2,500; Rochelle Janitorial Supply 2,493; Rochelle Newsleader 1,653; Specialty Floors, Inc. 1,645; Verizon Wireless 1,469
REPORT ON CONTRACTS EXCEEDING $25,000 AWARDED DURING FY2025 In conformity with sub-section (c) of Section 10-20.44 of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/10-20.44], the following information is required to be submitted in conjunction with publication of the Annual Statement of Affairs [105 ILCS 5/10-17].
1. Total number of all contracts awarded by the school district: 0
2. Total value of all contracts awarded: $0.00
3. Total number of contracts awarded to minority owned businesses, female owned businesses, businesses owned by persons with disabilities, and locally owned businesses:
*If there are no contracts of this nature, please enter “0” in box to the right.
4. Total value of contracts awarded to minority owned businesses, female owned businesses, businesses owned by person with disabilities, and locally owned businesses:
*If there are no contracts of this nature, please enter “0” in box to the right.
Playoff losses need to be put in perspective
VIEWS
Andy Colbert
This was one of those weeks when it was hard to get motivation to do a column. Could it be from a bad head cold, writer’s block or burnout from 627 trick-or-treaters on Halloween?
I’d like to say yes to any of the above, but sadly it is from emotional distress after seeing my beloved Rochelle Hubs lose a playoff game by the cruelest of measures.
Ahead 14-13 with less than a minute to play, all the Hubs had to do was recover an onside kick to seal the win. Instead, Geneseo managed to grab the loose ball and drove down to connect on a knuckleball field goal as time expired for a miracle victory.
Sorry to sound like a whiner as this isn’t the first time I shared emotional pains experienced from high school sport losses. Sure, I have a long history with the old alma mater of Rochelle, but still haven’t quite gotten over the sting felt on a long three-hour drive in Barney Vecchia’s RV from Carthage after an improbable football loss by Oregon in the 2008 playoffs.
Maybe putting this down on paper will have a cathartic effect and relief
will be found. Rochelle was the only team in the state to lose a first-round rematch against a team it had beaten (41-14) in the regular season, but it was a legitimate loss.
It was a different case for the Fairfield Mules in far downstate Illinois. Like Rochelle, they also lost on a last-second field goal, but winning team Porta was allowed five downs before kicking the field goal.
Apparently, officials got confused in the frantic final seconds and failed to recognize the extra down.
Video evidence of this debacle was sent to the IHSA and here are excerpts from a statement by Executive Director Craig Anderson:
IHSA by-law 6.033 clearly states that “the decisions of game officials shall be final; protests against the decision of a game official shall not be reviewed by the Board of Directors. Neither have the ability to alter the outcome of a contest that has been determined on the field. The contest result shall remain final with PORTA Coop advancing to the 3A second round.”
I recognize that there will be calls for the game result to be changed, or for PORTA to forfeit, but neither option is a possibility within the IHSA by-law structure. What occurred on the field in the waning moments of the contest appears to be a simple case of human
BEARS 3 AND OUT
The Bears got breakout games from rookies Colston Loveland and Kyle Monangai and survived a wild fourth quarter to beat the Bengals 47-42 Sunday at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.
Three moments that mattered
1
Lovely finish: Chasing a one-point deficit in the final minute, after blowing a 14-point lead with 4:53 left in the fourth quarter, the Bears got big-time heroics from their second-year quarterback and rookie tight end. From the Bears 42, Caleb Williams stepped up in the pocket and fired his best pass of the day, a laser over the middle to Colston Loveland, who bounced off tacklers at the 35-yard line and barreled into the end zone for a 58-yard touchdown pass with 17 seconds left.
2
Hello, Austin Booker: With the Bears protecting a 31-27 lead early in the fourth, the 2024 fifth-round pick, making his
error, something that occurs in all levels of sport.
The most important part of what was essentially a 455-word apology to Fairfield from the IHSA was the fact that a human error occurred.
As evidenced by social media, people not only in Fairfield, but in all parts of the state are irate over this perceived miscarriage of justice. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a march with pitchforks and torches on the IHSA headquarters in Bloomington. Well, maybe not.
Let’s not forget a cautionary tale from 31 years ago.
In a quarterfinal playoff game between Stockton and Durand, officiating errors contributed to Durand losing 20-14. After being subjected to a barrage of criticism and insults one of those officials attempted suicide.
Written on the back of a sheet of paper from the IHSA that mentioned the official had been selected to referee the state finals was the suicide note. That official was the son of one of the most successful officials in the state and had been waiting 20 years for the call to do a state final, like his father had done so many times.
After the game, the IHSA rescinded the opportunity to do that coveted state final. Combined with the outrage from Durand, the coach and educator
season debut, recorded a strip/sack on Joe Flacco, who was brilliant all day in rallying the Bengals. Booker, a rangy DE who had been sidelined with a knee injury, flattened four-time Pro Bowl tackle Orlando Brown Jr. Gervon Dexter Sr. recovered the ball for the Bears, who turned the turnover into three points.
3
Sleepy “D”: WR Tee Higgins’ off-balance, deft, sideline catch over CB Nahshon Wright went for a 44-yard touchdown with 1:12 left in the half and put the Bengals up 20-17. The back-breaking scoring drive took only two plays and 17 seconds after the Bears couldn’t put the ball in the end zone and settled for a field goal. The defensive lapse was similar to the one the Bears had against New Orleans last month.
Three things that worked
1 Williams to Loveland: Finally, the Bears’ top picks in the past two drafts showed chemistry and gave a glimpse of what the future could hold. Loveland had his best game in a Bears jersey. Williams delivered on-target throws to the 2025 10th overall pick, allowing him to show off his skills and physicality. The 6-foot-6, 241-pound Loveland had six receptions – none bigger than his last one – on seven targets for 118 yards (all career
couldn’t take it anymore. Into his garage he went on a November day like this, downing pills and turning on the ignition of his car to end the pain he felt.
Fortunately, he came to his senses before death set in and left the garage seeking help. Eventually he got back into everyday life, including officiating, but those scars from 1994 never left him.
As hard as it is to accept, we have no other choice than to realize that mistakes are made. Simple ones with little consequences can be easy to look past. But when one teams’ playoff life is at stake, not so easy.
Throw out common sense, grace and kindness to our fellow man. The final outcome of a game has taken precedence over anything. Apart from divine intervention, emotions will overrule intellect.
Trust me, I know what that emotional roller coaster is like after seeing Rochelle stop a 2-point conversion at the goal line to preserve the lead, totally convinced the game was over, until the unthinkable happened. I’m no different that the Fairfield people whose team lost.
• Andy Colbert is a sports writer for Shaw Local covering high school sports in Ogle County.
bests) and his first two NFL TDs.
2 Creativity: Head coach Ben Johnson dipped into his bag of tricks early. On the Bears’ opening drive, Williams lateraled to TE Cole Kmet, whose pass to WR Rome Odunze was dropped. While that didn’t work, more razzle dazzle resulted in Williams catching a 2-yard TD pass from WR D.J. Moore. Later, Williams flipped a 2-foot pass to WR Olamide Zaccheaus, who scored from 15 yards out. A double pass from Williams to backup QB Tyson Bagent to Williams gained 20 yards early in the fourth.
3Kyle Monangai: Getting in his first NFL start with D’Andre Swift (groin injury) inactive, the 2025 seventh-round pick ran hard, effectively and dynamically. He rushed 11 times for 63 yards (5.7 average) in the first quarter, had 100 yards at halftime and finished with 26 carries for 176 yards (both career bests).
What’s next?
The 5-3 Bears return to Soldier Field after two straight road games to play the 2-7 New York Giants, who have lost three in a row. It’s a noon kickoff Sunday.
How Bears pulled off the impossible against Bengals
By MICHAL DWOJAK mdwojak@shawmedia.com
Chicago Bears players struggled to find the right words Sunday afternoon inside the visiting locker room at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati. As soon as they came close to maybe finding an answer, it didn’t seem right.
How does one describe what they had just been through?
A thrill?
Craziness?
Madness?
Every answer seemed unsatisfactory. The Bears had just been part of the wildest two minutes of their careers in a last-minute 47-42 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Many players said the game had taken years off their lives.
But when Bears quarterback Caleb Williams stood at the lectern Sunday in a room inside the stadium in front of reporters, he found the right words to describe what had just happened.
“That’s what we are,” Williams said in Cincinnati. “When things don’t go our way, when adversity hits, we find ways to win for each other, that’s it. I think that’s what it’s been this year.”
It didn’t seem like it’d be that difficult to sum up Sunday’s win late in the game.
The Bears took control of the game when wide receiver DJ Moore rushed in for a 16-yard touchdown to give his team a 41-27 lead with 4:53 left in the game. It looked like Chicago put the final nail in the coffin when linebacker Tremaine Edmunds intercepted a pass deep in Bears territory with 2:42 left in the game.
Then the adversity hit.
Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco continued the string of heroics he’s accomplished since Cincinnati traded for him from the Cleveland Browns last month. Despite dealing with an AC joint sprain in his throwing arm, Flacco led the Bengals on a four-play, 55-yard touchdown drive that shrank the Bears’ lead to 41-35 after a two-point conversion with 1:43 left in the game.
Cincinnati attempted an onside kick and the Bengals recovered it after it hit off defensive lineman Daniel Hardy’s leg. Then came what seemed like the inevitable. Flacco led the offense 57 yards down the field in 49 seconds to take a 42-41 lead with 54 seconds left in the game.
The few remaining Bengals fans in the stands couldn’t believe what had just happened. But Williams could.
“Speaking to coach [Ben Johnson] throughout the week, we knew this was an explosive offense that can score at any moment,” Williams said. “He said it a day before the game, ‘If we get up two touchdowns, don’t get comfortable.’ That’s what they did, they made plays.”
As the final two minutes spiraled out of control, Williams said he was calm during the turmoil. But Williams looked anything but calm during the first two plays.
He threw two incompletions as he scrambled to find an open receiver. Williams scrambled again for a 14-yard run to the Chicago 42-yard line and Johnson burned the team’s final timeout with 25 seconds left in the game.
Then the Bears finally got the coverage they had waited for all game. Cincinnati had two split safeties deep in coverage and Williams darted the ball to rookie tight end Colston Loveland in between them at about the Bengals 35.
Loveland bounced off a Bengals defender and sprinted the rest of the way to the end zone with one thing in mind.
“Man, I gotta get in the end zone now,” Loveland said. “I can’t leak it down to six
seconds, get tackled on the one and that’s game. That was crazy.”
He didn’t. Loveland powered through, reached the end zone and the Bears took a 47-42 lead with 17 seconds left.
The defense responded from its shaky last two minutes to wrap things up. Flacco completed a pass that got the ball to the Bengals 48 with four seconds left in the game. But the defense made a stand in the final seconds when Nahshon Wright intercepted Flacco’s Hail Mary attempt as time expired.
“It’s easy to fold,” Johnson said. “Our guys didn’t do that. They kept the faith and found a way to come out on top.”
Sunday was hardly the first time the Bears found a way to top adversity. Sunday was the third time Williams led a game-winning drive in the final minute. Chicago did it against the Las Vegas Raiders and Washington Commanders earlier in the year, a vast difference from last season’s numerous collapses.
But Sunday was the first time the Bears had to find a way to win in an offensive shootout. It didn’t look perfect at times. Williams missed some receivers and
scrambled too much at times.
But Williams threw for 280 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. When the odds seemed against him, Williams found a way to get his teammates to pull off some heroics once again.
“He’s made for the spotlight,” Moore said. “He loves it when it comes, the lights are on at their brightest and we go from there.”
There will be plenty of questions left to answer in the week following Sunday’s win. Johnson said he was encouraged that some players were disappointed in themselves in the locker room afterward for mistakes they made Sunday even though they won.
But the Bears feel they’re building something special with these last-minute wins as they improve to 5-3 heading into the second half of the season. There’s never a doubt Chicago can win until the game ends.
“In those moments, we have belief we’re going to win those games,” Williams said. “Finding ways to win only provides confidence to us, and we have to keep going.”
AP photo
Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland scores a touchdown during the second half of Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati.
Photos from Friday night
Photos provided by Marcy DeLille
TOP LEFT: Rochelle’s Mark Green (14) gets in on a tackle of a Geneseo player during Friday’s Class 4A first-round game at Geneseo. TOP RIGHT: Rochelle’s Holden Liebhaber (20) and Roman Villalobos (40) celebrate a play during Friday’s Class 4A first-round playoff game at Geneseo. ABOVE: Rochelle’s Mark Green (7) intercepts a pass during Friday’s Class 4A first-round playoff game at Geneseo. LEFT: Rochelle’s Tyler Gensler (21) runs in for a touchdown during Friday’s game at Geneseo.
Rochelle loses nail-biter after onside kick, buzzer beater
Geneseo comes back to win in final seconds over Hubs
By DRAKE LANSMAN dlansman@shawmedia.com
After a mostly ho-hum first 47 minutes, Friday night’s first-round playoff matchup between Geneseo and Rochelle became an instant classic between two longtime rivals after an improbable finish.
Geneseo junior Carson Peters lined up with four seconds to play before kicking a 36-yard field goal as time expired to send the Maple Leafs to a 16-14 win at Bob Reade Field. It was their first lead of the game.
The sixth-seeded Leafs (8-2) advance to face the winner of No. 3 Macomb and No. 14 Hillcrest in the Class 4A bracket. The 11th-seeded Hubs finished 6-4 as Geneseo avenged a 41-14 loss in Week 1.
Rochelle was 47 seconds away from winning the game after denying Geneseo’s two-point run after Kye Weinzierl caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from Jackson McAvoy.
It all came down to recovering an onside kick.
Peters’ kick got the right bounce, Rochelle fumbled it after a hit and Jadyn Wexell recovered the ball past midfield. Geneseo got just enough yardage and a five-yard penalty to set up Peters’ game-winning kick that knuckle-balled its way in as timed expired.
“I honestly thought it wasn’t going to go in at first,” Peters said. “It was just a crazy moment for me. A lot of work that I put in in the offseason, a lot of work that I’ve been putting in during practice, fixing my onsides, working on those.”
Peters said he didn’t really have any nerves lining up for the game-winner.
“I just think about breathing and just think about zoning out,” he said. “Just me with the field goal.”
Wexell was in the right place at the right time.
“It just fell into my hands,” he said. “I can’t control it, but it happened.”
Geneseo’s win came after Rochelle’s grind-it-out, clock-draining run game dictated much of the game.
Rochelle took a 7-0 lead after an 80-yard, 15-play opening drive took nearly 10 minutes off the clock. It was capped by Tyler Gensler’s 15-yard TD.
Roman Villalobos finished with 136 yards on 29 carries for the Hubs. His
one-yard plunge gave Rochelle a 14-7 lead with 5:31 to play.
Geneseo tied it 7-all after Kye Weinzierl’s 13-yard TD run. The Leafs looked to go for the win late after Weinzierl’s TD catch with 47 seconds left. But Rochelle stuffed McAvoy’s run up the middle and he was ruled short.
Villalobos said it was back-and-forth all game before a crazy finish.
“After I saw that ball come out ... I still felt confident in our team,” he said. “I knew our defense could still do it. All game we held them to seven points. It was just a crazy moment.”
Villalobos was proud of the team’s fight, despite the loss.
“This whole season has just been a blessing,” Villalobos said. “We fought through adversity throughout the whole season.
“I’m just so proud of all of our people, and just pushing through everything that we’ve been through. Now is not the time to be sad, it’s time to be
grateful and just think back on everything that we’ve accomplished so far.”
Geneseo coach Matt Furlong knew it would be a battle with Rochelle. It took every last second to get the win.
“Just proud of how our kids competed and how they kept belief and stayed with it,” he said. “And found a way to win.”
Furlong credited his junior kicker for executing.
“He’s a composed kid who has a lot of confidence in himself and his teammates,” he said. “When he went to line up, there wasn’t anything that needed to be said.”
In a game against a tough Rochelle team where possessions are at a premium, Geneseo came through when it mattered most.
“They’re a great team, really physical team,” McAvoy said. “And we’re a completely different team than at the start of the season.”
“We had a sour taste in our mouth
after Week 1,” Weinzierl said. “We came out this week having something to prove, and I think that really solidified this game.”
Mark Green intercepted McAvoy as he finished with 67 yards passing. Weinzierl had 44 yards rushing, McAvoy ran for 63 and Mark Nelms had 42 yards on the ground. Weinzierl finished with four catches for 72 yards and a TD. He also caught a pass on fourth down to extend Geneseo’s final TD drive.
It has been an emotion-filled season for Rochelle, and they battled until the end.
Villalobos and the Hubs have been playing for injured teammate Dylan Manning, who is recovering from a head injury suffered earlier this month.
“Everything since the injury has been for Dylan,” he said. “That’s why we play so hard. We kept fighting, you know, we wanted to come in here and win for him, cause he’s actually up and watching the game right now.”
Photo provided by Marcy DeLille
Rochelle’s Keagan Albers (left) makes a tackle while a Geneseo player grabs the facemask of Rochelle’s Reece Harris during Friday’s game at Geneseo.
SPORTS
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
1994: George Foreman, 45, becomes boxing’s oldest heavyweight champion. 1969: Brazilian soccer icon Pele’ scores his 1,000th career goal.
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
IMPROBABLE FINISH
Geneseo’s field goal with 4 seconds to play ends
Rochelle’s football season with a 16-14 setback / 22-23
Rochelle’s Roman Villalobos (40) and Tyler Gensler (41) celebrate Gensler’s touchdown during Friday’s Class 4A first-round playoff game at Geneseo.
