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Rochelle can grow smartly with data center
Rochelle stands at the doorstep of another wave of technology investment: data centers. Questions about water, energy and neighborhood impact are natural – but so are the opportunities. Just to our east, DeKalb’s experience shows what happens when these projects are planned with transparency and balance.
Meta’s DeKalb campus brought more than $1 billion in private investment, 1,200 construction jobs, and about 200 permanent positions. The city’s equalized assessed value rose by more than one-third in a single year, allowing both the city and park district to cut their tax rates by over 20% while maintaining services.
Those changes stabilized residents’ bills today and built a more substantial revenue base for tomorrow. For a community like Rochelle – with its own municipal utility and a long record of industrial stewardship – that’s a model worth studying.
Quiet neighbors. Rochelle already hosts data centers for Allstate, Northern Trust and Rochelle Municipal Utilities. They’ve operated quietly and responsibly for more than a decade. Backup generators run only for brief tests or emergencies, and sound enclosures keep noise below residential levels.
Water and environment. Modern facilities focus on efficiency and reuse rather than continuous draw. Major operators have pledged to be water-positive by 2030 – restoring more water to local ecosystems than they consume through reclaimed water and watershed projects.
Preliminary figures discussed publicly place daily use in the tens of thousands of gallons – comparable to other industrial facilities already active in Rochelle’s business parks, such as food processors and distribution centers. Unlike those operations, many data centers can recycle cooling water
LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
Chana UMC Candlelight Christmas event set for Saturday, Dec. 6
The annual Candlelight Christmas Event begins at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Chana United Methodist Church, located at 606 N. Main St., in Chana.
The program, “Tis the Season for Laughter,” features speaker and humor author Mary Kay
COMMUNITY VIEWS
or switch to air-cooled systems in cooler months.
Power and rates. Northern Illinois is served by ComEd as part of the PJM regional grid, which balances electricity supply and demand across 13 states. When demand rises anywhere in that system, capacity prices tend to increase for all utilities –including Rochelle’s. If we already share those regional cost trends, it makes sense to welcome balanced local projects that bring jobs, tax base, and infrastructure improvements in return.
The proposed load discussed for Rochelle – around 50 megawatts – sounds large, but it fits comfortably within the city’s available capacity. Rochelle Municipal Utilities already serves major manufacturers, rail operations, and cold-storage facilities whose combined demand is of similar scale. A data center would join that mix as another managed industrial customer, not an unprecedented burden.
Rochelle’s municipal generation gives it a unique advantage. By “peak-shaving” –running local units during the most expensive hours – RMU lowers costs for everyone on its system. RMU Superintendent Blake Toliver has explained that large special-contract customers procure their own energy, and the utility uses market hedging to shield residential rates. Its wholesale-power contract locks in rate stability through 2029, and any new facility would operate under terms that protect ratepayers, according to City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh.
Meanwhile, ComEd’s Kishwaukee Area Reliability Expansion (KARE) project is
strengthening the shared backbone between Afton Township and the lines serving Rochelle – investments that improve reliability for homes, schools, and businesses alike.
Planning responsibly. Rochelle has decades of experience balancing industrial growth with community quality of life. The same principles apply here:
• Commission independent noise and water studies
• Maintain scaled setbacks and visual buffers
• Be transparent about who funds and maintains utility extensions
As Fiegenschuh has said, the city won’t recruit a project that doesn’t benefit the community. That openness is precisely what builds trust.
Most reputable developers already meet or exceed these standards. The key is open communication, so residents understand both the real impacts and the real benefits.
As someone who works in Internet and data-center infrastructure right here in Northern Illinois, I have no financial interest in Rochelle’s proposals – only an interest in seeing our region thrive. DeKalb’s success proves that data centers can be quiet neighbors, strong taxpayers, and partners in sustainability. With clear planning and public understanding, Rochelle can do the same – turning cautious curiosity into confident, well-managed growth.
A longer version of this column, with full source citations and supporting documents, will be posted on my LinkedIn page.
Mike Hammett has worked in internet and data-center infrastructure formorethan20yearsandlivesin DeKalbCounty.Hehasnofinancial interestinanycurrentdatacenter proposals.
Morrison. Amid the stress, rush and preparation for the holiday season, this will be a delightful occasion to relax, laugh together and reflect on the joyful spirit of the season. Following the program, a dessert/snack buffet will be held in the candlelit social hall. There is no admission charge – a love offering will be taken for the presenter. A
door prize drawing will be held near the event’s end.
All are welcome to attend. Call the church office at 815-732-7683 or Carole Sutton at 815-595-4559 by Dec. 2 if you plan to attend and have not been previously contacted.
HOW ARE WE DOING?
Picture of the original Chapman Farms homestead in Ashton during John R. Chapman’s farming days in the 1800s.
Photo provided by Brenda Chapman ON THE COVER
We want to hear from you. Email us your thoughts at feedback@shawmedia.com.
Mike Hammett
Persistence, perseverance, endurance keeps Ashton sesquicentennial family farm thriving
The Chapman family’s seventh-generation Ashton farm carries a legacy of hard work and humility
By CODY CUTTER ccutter@shawmedia.com
Life on a family farm has always been filled with hard work and long hours, but it’s also a life filled with memories made in fields and farmhouses alike, by families forged from a shared dedication and devotion to living off the land – and if they were fortunate enough, turning the land into a livelihood.
North of Ashton – particularly, LaFayette Township in Ogle County –the family behind a farm there has been one of the ones fortunate enough to do just that. For more than 150 years, the land has been a way of life for the Chapman Family, who are carrying on a legacy that began with John R. Chapman in the 1860s – but like the industry they’re in, they’ve had to learn to grow to do it. These days, time and toil alone aren’t enough.
“It’s become different,” said Stephen Chapman, who represents the sixth generation of Chapmans on the family farm. “It used to be that you could work hard and then work your way out of most situations, but that’s really not the way it is anymore. You got to be on top with it and sharp with your pencil and your plans.”
Stephen – named after his grandfather, who died in 2015 – does much of the farming these days, having taken over from his father, David, and uncle Brad. His grandma Brenda continues to live on the farm, as does David. The elder Stephen’s father, Phillips, farmed up until the mid-1900s and his father, Emmerson, operated it around the turn of the 20th century. Today, the family raises grain, cattle and chickens, and some apple trees remain from when the fruit was an important part of the operation many decades ago.
Being more aware and strategic in planning to sustain the multi-generational farm’s success weighs heavy on Stephen’s mind, and he sometimes won-
ders how his ancestors kept the farm — once called Willow Farm – going more than a century ago. “You’d love to talk with your ancestors to ask them what drove them and what kept them going,” he said.
Emmerson was the nephew of John, who had two girls who died at an early age. Emmerson’s father, Madison, served in the Civil War and died two years after its conclusion from injuries he suffered in it.
Stephen’s young daughters with his wife, Amanda, carry on their ancestors’ legacies through their names, Madison and Emmerson, representing the seventh generation and performing small tasks such as filling the farm’s sweet corn and egg stands.
“They love to help,” their father said. “They love riding in the tractors and love checking cows. They’ll be involved, but you just never know.”
The Chapmans attribute much of their success to their commitment to
Chapman Farms’ current farmer Stephen Chapman (left) reads through a copy of the original trust deed for the Ashton family farm, while his uncle Brad watches.
hard work – but that doesn’t mean they haven’t been able to carve out time to unwind, like playing sports or games like Cowboys and Indians, which is what Brad and David did a lot when they were young, just a few of the fond memories the family shares.
“It’s work, but it’s fun,” said Brenda,
who continues to perform light errands on the farm. “It’s a team effort to make this place work. The kids had a lot of fun on the farm. Their friends always wanted to come to the farm.”
The free-roaming nature of growing
Chapman on page 4
Photos by Cody Cutter
The Chapman Family of Ashton has farmed on the same land for more than 150 years. The family currently consists of (from left) Stephen and Amanda Chapman – the sixth generation to operate the farm – Stephen’s uncle Brad Chapman, aunt Teresa Davidson, father David Chapman and grandma Brenda Kay Chapman. In the back row are Madison and Emmerson Chapman, Stephen and Amanda’s children.
up on a farm sometimes made it challenge to get used to hanging out with friends in town, David said, where businesses and buildings weren’t as much fun as barns in the back forty.
Even with all the joy and freedom that came from growing up on the farm, the Chapmans never lost sight of the challenges that came with it, each year a test of their patience and grit.
“There’s a lot of great times and there’s a lot of challenging times,” David said. “The perseverance that you have to have year in and year out, whether you’re successful or having a bad year, you just got to persevere. If you raise a cow and see one of its calves die as soon as it’s born, you keep going. You just endure and keep going. You have dry years, you have good years. It’s just a way of life. A lot of people would probably give up, but it’s just not in our blood to give up.”
It’s also not in their blood to dwell on the downsides; farmers can’t afford it, Brad said.
“As kids, you complain about having to work harder than anybody else, like the town kids, but eventually as an adult, that’s instilled in you,” Brad said. “Only until you reflect on all of the time that’s passed, and how quickly it’s passed, do you realize what it is that you are accomplishing. You don’t think of each individual task, and if you did, you’d go crazy. You’re taught your morals and your ethics to just work hard and push through it.”
These days, Brad and David have pulled back somewhat from their farm duties as they’ve gotten older, but they still enjoy watching how the current crop of Chapmans are keeping the farm healthy. Brad says he’s proud of the way Stephen is handling the farm’s finances, admitting his nephew’s doing a lot better than him. When Stephen took over, he reduced the farm’s debt and sought help from other growers to help keep the farm going.
That steady work ethic has carried through each generation, shaping how the Chapmans approach both their labor and their legacy.
an entire process, but when you’re farming, you get to do the whole thing, literally from seed to harvest.”
Brad and David’s sister Teresa Davidson no longer lives on the farm and is a nurse for the University of Wisconsin health care system in the Rockford area, but her time on the farm helped her understand the value of teamwork and looking out for others.
“Humanity is the biggest thing, helping each other,” Teresa said. “I think it’s different in the city versus growing up in the country – there’s more of a camaraderie.”
The family and farm’s history are documented not only on paper, but the stories passed down through generations, helping today’s generation learn from those who came before them.
David recalls his aunt Hollis’s ability to control horses: “She had a grip, even when she was old, just from holding the reins all of the time,” David said. “When Hollis was working the fields, the reason she said that there was a big tree at the end of the field was because it was there they could take the horses to rest.”
ground. He was also tied to the seat of an M when he was little because the tractors that had a hand clutch … were more expensive than the ones [with a foot pedal]. If you couldn’t reach the clutch you tie it to the seat and if you had to stop, he said that you could put it at a higher gear and go uphill and it’ll quit.
“With those kinds of stories, I don’t care if you’re 5 or 10, you’re going to get your work done, and just because you can’t reach the clutch isn’t an excuse.”
Brad and David never got to know great-grandpa Emmerson, but Brad recalls a story told to him about how he was able to control his horses: “They would tell me stories about how he couldn’t get the horses to stand still long enough to get them haltered up,” Brad said, so “he’d come out with his stick and would holler and pound the stick on the wood floor, and all of the horses would stand to attention and they could get the halters on.”
Sports have been a big part of the Chapmans’ lives growing up, and even then, farming played a role.
too, giving them an edge over the city kids.
“We had three hours of blood pumping through us by that time,” David said. “When two-a-days started in football in the fall, the only ones not throwing their guts up from all of the running and calisthenics were the farm boys who were active. The town boys would be puking and just beat.”
While the farm’s history is a point of pride and priceless memories for the family, it hasn’t always necessarily been a cause for a celebration. The Chapmans even declined to seek recognition as a state centennial farm in 1975, as the family long held that they weren’t ones for attention.
“We’d all agree that we’re not people who want the notoriety or the spotlight,” David said. “We just like to lay low and do our work and make it to the next year. We’re just not attention grabbers. We’re very privileged to have kept it in the family for this long.
Even if they had sought that centennial designation, they would have been several years late to the party – not they would have wanted to have one. “Papa was more concerned about jinxing it,” added David.
This year was originally believed to be the farm’s sesquicentennial, with 1875 long thought to be when the farm was established, but a little digging recently revealed there were actually a few more candles on the farm’s birthday cake. During research in late August, the Chapmans discovered that the farm was actually purchased nine years previously, in 1866. The discovery was made due to the property’s tax liens being released much later; it took John five years to pay off the purchase of the property (with 7 percent interest), but no records were officially filed until 1875.
Today, Stephen doesn’t mind a little recognition – the family worked hard for it, after all – so the family has filed paperwork to seek recognition as a sesquicentennial farm, even though, technically, 2025 would mark the farm’s 159th anniversary.
“It’s a unique thing that a lot of people don’t have the privilege to experience,” Stephen said. “You have to like it, and it can be very fulfilling and rewarding. There’s not many lifestyles that are also a career. There’s not many careers where you can start something, finish something, and see the fruits of your labor. Most people have jobs with one specific workflow, or one specific part of
Another of David’s memories: his dad’s homemade barbecue sauce. The recipe wasn’t written down, so each time it would taste a little different, he said.
Brad recalls a story about Phillips having a very young Stephen help him on the International Harvester tractor out on the field.
“Dad would ride on the back of the disc to add weight when the corn was too thick, so the disc could cut into the
The elder Stephen was a star player for the Ashton Aces high school football team, but turned down a scholarship to play football at the University of Colorado in 1960 to tend to the farm. He would also become Brad and David’s Little League baseball coach, and incorporated the farm into keeping them in shape for the game, giving them exercises on the farm, and workouts with rocks, tires and hay bales.
When Brad and David got into football, their time on the farm paid off then,
“Papa thought it was bad luck and didn’t want to do it,” he said. “We kind of talked [Grandma] into it. We made it this far, and we’ll sign up for it. Why not?”
For the Chapmans, the legacy of their farm isn’t measured in acres or awards, but in the endurance of a family bound to the land and to one another. Each generation has faced its share of long days and lean years, yet the farm remains – not only as a livelihood, but as a living record of perseverance, humility and quiet pride. Continued from page 3
Cody Cutter
Chapman Farms in Ashton raises cattle in addition to grain and chickens.
Ogle County’s Focus House marks 50 years of serving, empowering at-risk youths
By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
Focus House celebrated its 50-year anniversary Friday, Nov. 14, to honor the half century it has provided a continuum of services, including residential, counseling, education and alternative programming, to at-risk youths.
The event saw speakers including Foundation for Focus House Board President Dave Tess, Focus House Executive Director Brenda Mason, New Hope Fellowship Church Pastor and Former Focus House Teacher Nick Tornabene, Judge John B. Roe III, Rochelle Schools Superintendent Jason Harper and Former Focus House Director Greg Martin.
“Tonight we celebrate 50 years of empowering youth,” Tess said to open the event.
The facility, located just north of Rochelle, offers residential treatment for males aged 12-17 who are court ordered by a judge to go to the facility. Kids in the program eventually transition back to their homes after education, treatment and public service work at Focus House. The facility has three teachers and two paraprofessionals.
Other programming includes alternative to suspension services for kids who receive out-of-school suspension in Ogle County.
Focus House also offers alternative to expulsion services and outpatient treatment for youths on probation,
along with evaluations for youths and work with students at the Chana Education Center.
Tornabene spent 17 years working at Focus House from 1999-2016.
“I have a huge place in my heart for the young men and women that were placed at Focus House,” Tornabene said. “I truly believe the best aspect of Focus House is its family atmosphere. Focus House is a very special place.”
Focus House is one of two facilities of its kind in the state. It is owned and operated by Ogle County. The facility is supported by the community through donations and outreach. Community members come in and work and talk with kids, and Focus House students work for area organizations.
When Focus House first started, it served as a home for youths involved in juvenile abuse and neglect cases without places to go. It previously served boys and girls from infants to teenagers, typically for longer terms than today.
The first location was the Miller House in Rochelle before the move to its current Illinois Route 251 location that has seen new buildings over the years.
Roe worked at Focus House in his early 20s, and he said that time shaped his career when he had opportunities to serve kids in the community in the juvenile justice system.
“I was able to put myself in the shoes of the kids and families that we serve,” Roe said. “Without the community and its support of Focus House, we wouldn’t be celebrating 50 years tonight. Many of you have taken kids into your homes over the holidays or taken them on trips. These kids came from less fortunate backgrounds, and those mentoring moments meant tons. I think the program has been visionary. It’s supported change over time. It’s changed with the services and needs of our community.”
Rochelle Township High School employs the teachers that work at Focus House, providing academic services in an individualized fashion for the youths that go there. Harper praised those that have worked to improve the lives of youths at Focus House over the past 50 years.
“All the way from 1975 to 2025, that
vision and commitment to at-risk youth has somehow transcended and moved through changes,” Harper said. “That isn’t common. Organizations change over and rules on placement of kids change. Somehow the one thing that persevered is the commitment of all the people who have worked on behalf of the kids in our community, which is incredibly special. Thank you to everyone who has had a hand in this.”
Martin told stories of staff’s dedication and work with students during his time with the organization.
“What made Focus House work was the staff members,” Martin said. “Every day, I could depend on the fact that we had great staff taking care of the kids. They were committed to the program. I was amazed at how well the teachers did in the teaching environment they had.”
Roe called Focus House staff “dedicated, passionate and accountable” and said every kid that entered the program is treated as an individual with goals. He said the program is respected across the state and is being used as a model for more facilities like it.
“Success is the kids who are now adults and serve our community that went through the program at Focus House,” Roe said. “That’s how we define success. I’m confident that the pillars that support Focus House will continue and there will be a 100-year celebration. It’s about the community, the kids and the program.”
Jeff Helfrich
A Focus House 50th anniversary celebration was held on Friday, Nov. 14, at Luna in Rochelle.
Nick Tornabene
Greg Martin Dave Tess
Lincoln Hwy, Rochelle | 815-562-2030 1110 South Mulford Road, Rockford | 815-398-3879 5473 Reimer Drive, Roscoe | 815-623-2193 maintainyoursmile.com
HONORING OUR AMERICAN HERO
Holcomb’s Adams served in U.S. Army 1955-1957
Dewayne Adams: ‘It teaches you to listen to commands and have respect for people and property’
By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
Dewayne Adams of Holcomb served in the U.S. Army from 1955-1957. His duty included driving a supply truck during the Korean War.
Adams volunteered for the draft in 1955, figuring he would probably be drafted anyway with the Korean War winding down and the Vietnam War ramping up. He went to basic training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri before Fort Lee in Virginia for supply school. He was then put on a boat to Korea.
“I had never been on a boat before,” Adams said. “Everyone got seasick. It was crazy. I lived on Coke and soda crackers for three days. I got to Incheon, South Korea, and they took us on a bus and we got assigned jobs. I was a truck driver in the service. I could drive anything that had wheels.”
The Holcomb man, now 90, was stationed at ASCOM (Army Service Command) City near Incheon. The large army logistics and supply depot supplied U.S. and U.N. forces with necessities like fuel, ammunition and food. The depot was so extensive that it became known as a city, complete with its own facilities for personnel.
Adams worked with 10 warehouses and supplied divisions up north and would pick up requisitioned items and deliver them.
“You were assigned a duty when you got there,” Adams said. “It was either working in a warehouse, delivering supplies or working in an office. I didn’t want to work in an office. We had everything in that compound from an M1 rifle to tires, truck parts and more. It was a good job.”
Adams grew up in Holcomb with 10 siblings. Getting into the service resulted in his first train ride, plane ride and ship ride. While deployed to Korea, he took rest and recuperation time in Japan, which he enjoyed. He saw things he never would have seen if he wasn’t in
the Army.
Four of Adams’ brothers served in the military as well. His brothers, Ben and Fritz, were in the Marines for four years and saw combat action. Ben was missing for 16 months before he was found safe. Bill Adams served the Army and Jerry Adams served in the Army reserves. Every Adams brother found their way home.
“Serving your country is just the way it was back then,” Adams said. “It was a way of life. Every young man in this country should go into the service for at least six months. It teaches you to listen to commands and have respect for people and property. I don’t see enough of that in the world today. That’s what it taught me.”
After his service, Dewayne Adams came home and worked at Del Monte and Knox Motor before farming for 18 years. He worked as a crop adjuster for another 18 years after that and retired. The Holcomb man believes the disci -
Dewayne Adams, now 90, was stationed at ASCOM (Army Service Command) City near Incheon.
pline and work ethic he learned in the military helped him in his career.
He’s a member of the Rochelle VFW Post and the Stillman Valley American Legion Post.
“I take a lot of pride in being a veteran and the service of my family members and friends,” Adams said. “I’m
glad I went to serve the country.”
Honoring our American Hero is a featureonlocalveteransthatrunstwice a month in the Rochelle News-Leader. To submit a veteran or service member for consideration, please email Jeff Helfrich at jhelfrich@shawmedia.com.
Jeff Helfrich
Dewayne Adams of Holcomb served in the U.S. Army from 1955-1957. His duty included driving a supply truck during the Korean War.
Photo provided by Dewayne Adams
Rochelle teen accused of shooting at vehicle makes court appearance
By EARLEEN HINTON
Shaw Local News Network correspondent
A Rochelle teenager will appear in court again Dec. 3 as he continues to face felony charges of shooting at a vehicle.
Camren Hastings, 18, who has been housed in the Ogle County Jail since his arrest in late October, made his third court appearance on Wednesday, Nov. 19, with his attorney, Assistant Ogle County Public Defender Eric Morrow.
Morrow asked for a continuance for more time to receive and review discovery evidence provided by prosecutors.
Hastings, who turned 18 in July, is charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm, a Class 1 felony, and aggravated use of a firearm as a person under the age of 21, a Class 4 felony.
Both charges are in connection with an Oct. 4 incident in which he is accused of firing a gun in the direction of a vehicle that was occupied by another person.
He has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.
He was arrested after a search warrant was executed Oct. 28 by the Rochelle Police Department’s Emergency Response Team at 7:10 a.m. in the 400 block of Lake Lida Lane.
Police said the search warrant
Leisten said Hastings was one of 10 individuals walking on the street shooting guns. It is believed another juvenile has been charged in connection with the incident, but juvenile charges and hearings are not available to the general public.
Video footage obtained by officers showed four males and two femalessome appearing to be juveniles – running into a nearby cornfield, Leisten told the court. He said it appeared that between 13 to 14 shots were fired at the vehicle during the incident.
Morrow disagreed, telling Peska that Hastings could be released with court-ordered conditions such as home confinement and electronic monitoring. Those conditions would allow Hastings to continue to attend school at the Chana Educational Center in Chana, Morrow argued.
stemmed from an evening incident on Oct. 4 where “a vehicle had been shot approximately 13 times in the 100 block of Willis Avenue.”
During Wednesday’s hearing, Morrow told Ogle County Judge Anthony Peska that he has been in contact with prosecutors.
“The state has made us an offer,” Morrow told Peska. “We may be close to a disposition.”
Peska remanded Hastings to the Ogle County Jail and set his next court date for 1 p.m. Dec. 3.
Hastings made his first court appearance Oct. 29 for a detention hearing in front of Peska. During detention hearings, a judge determines whether to release a defendant from custody as the case proceeds through the court system.
At the Oct. 29 hearing, Assistant State’s Attorney Matthew Leisten said Hastings was one of a group of people who were seen “shooting at vehicles” on Oct. 4.
Leisten said police collected 12 bullet casings and two firearms near the scene.
He said bullet holes in the vehicle were consistent with the guns found. He argued that Hastings should remain in custody because he posed a danger to the Rochelle community.
Morrow said Hastings had no criminal history as an adult or juvenile and had scored a zero on the pretrial risk assessment. In those assessments, defendants are rated from 0-14 as to their risk if released, with zero being the lowest score.
“He’s never been in any trouble before,” Morrow argued.
Peska disagreed, citing the seriousness of the charges and said no conditions could mitigate the risk to others by releasing Hastings at this point in the investigation.
Earleen Hinton for Shaw Local News Network
The Ogle County Judicial Center is located in
Rochelle DAR, Scout troops place flags on veterans’ graves to prepare for Wreaths Across America
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
The Rochelle Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, with the assistance of the Rochelle-area Scout Troops 409, 1168 and 553, placed flags on veterans’ graves at St. Patrick’s and Lawnridge cemeteries for Veterans Day and in preparation for Wreaths Across America.
Wreaths may be sponsored up until the deadline of Nov. 28 for placement this December.
Forms are available at St. Patrick’s Church, the Rochelle VFW and online at https://wreathsacrossamerica.org/ IL0136P.
The Rochelle Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, with the assistance of the Rochelle area Scout Troops 409, 1168 and 553, placed flags on veterans’ graves at St. Patrick’s and Lawnridge Cemeteries for Veterans Day and in preparation for Wreaths Across America.
Photo provided by Lydia
Vince Carney Community Theater’s 10th annual winter gala is Dec. 13 in Rochelle
Event includes dinner, a silent auction and an Elvis Christmas Special
By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
The Vince Carney Community Theater at 108 S. Main St. in Rochelle will host its 10th annual Winter Gala fundraiser at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13.
The event includes a meal catered by Faye’s Finest Food, a silent auction, and an Elvis Christmas Special presented by Chicago-based Elvis performer Hugo Colin.
Doors open at the Lincoln Arts Center at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are available for $60 at vcctrochelle.org.
Tickets must be purchased by Dec. 7. No tickets will be sold at the door.
VCCT Board Secretary and Event Director Kimberly Ekes said the gala serves as VCCT’s main fundraiser for the year.
“We’ve done a play or a Christmas show in years past,” Ekes said. “We wanted to do something special for the 10-year mark. We had Hugo Colin here last year for a show and it was amazing. He’d seen that we do the winter gala and asked about it and told us that Elvis sang Christmas music. That’s how it came about.”
VCCT presents three productions per year at its newly renovated Lincoln Arts Center venue, the former site of Lincoln Elementary School.
Proceeds from those shows, fundraisers and donations help it to finance future productions and building improvements.
The Lincoln Arts Center recently saw new windows and front doors installed and has a new LED sign on the way.
The venue has also been used for more attractions like comedy shows and musical performances and movie showings are in the works.
Ekes said gala attendees can expect a nice night out with entertainment and food.
“There will be plenty of auction items from local businesses and arti -
members and the community.
It has members from outside Rochelle, with those involved volunteering their time and becoming part of the VCCT family.
Ekes has been excited in recent years to hold the winter gala in VCCT’s very own building.
sans,” Ekes said. “We like to dress up and we’ll have a ’60s theme. I’m excited to see everyone again. We have a lot of people that come year after year. I’m excited to see Christmas Elvis. It will be a completely different show than what he did last time he was here.”
Colin pays tribute to everyone’s favorite entertainer for the enjoyment of lifelong Elvis admirers and to introduce the music legend to a brand-new generation of fans.
After being exposed to the music of Elvis by his parents and performers, Colin started performing his tribute to Elvis when he was in kindergarten at his elementary school’s talent show.
Since 2015, Colin has performed at many venues and events and has participated in various competitions for Elvis tribute artists.
He’s performed in Las Vegas and at Graceland in the past. He shared live streams around the world and performed sidewalk concerts during the COVID-19 pandemic when typical concerts weren’t possible.
Ekes said the gala provides respite for attendees during the busy holiday season. It’s grown every year after starting as dinner and a show at Hickory Grove 10 years ago.
“It acts as an end-of-year celebration,” Ekes said. “We announce our upcoming season of shows at the event and for a lot of our members it’s about celebrating and looking towards the future. Our spring show will be Gilli -
gan’s Island.”
The community theater troupe has been in operation since 1981, funded by
“VCCT having its own building was 40 years in the making,” Ekes said. “I recently found VCCT board meeting minutes from the early 1980s and they talked about having their own building. It took a while, but now we have it. It’s so nice. We have to maintain it, but it’s worth it. It’s ours and we can bring in events and bigger, better shows. People don’t have to leave Rochelle to see comedy shows and more. We can have our local dance organizations and bands perform there and host parties and weddings. It gives people that space.”
Jeff Helfrich
The Lincoln Arts Center at 108 S. Main St. in Rochelle is home to the Vince Carney Community Theater.
Oregon’s 39th annual Candlelight Walk is Nov. 29
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
Oregon’s 39th annual Candlelight Walk will be held Saturday, Nov. 29.
The event will be from 3 to 8 p.m.
Thirty-nine years ago a group of merchants in Oregon’s Conover Square Mall combined their energies and created the first Candlelight Walk to celebrate the holiday season.
Little did those businesses know that the event would grow to encompass the entire community and the celebration become recognized as one of the best small-town holiday events in Illinois. The current organizers thanked those Conover Square businesses for their vision and creativity to create a lasting legacy for the community.
Throughout the years, family-focused events have been added, allowing residents and visitors alike to share in the celebration. Conover Square remains a staple in the tradition offering special entertainment, guest performers, and special treats.
Attendees are invited to visit all of the local Oregon businesses, celebrate the community tree-lighting ceremony, enjoy the horse-drawn wagon rides and local entertainment, get some treats on Candy Cane Lane, find unique gifts at the Holiday Gift Fair and Sip and Shop at The River’s Edge Experience, visit Santa and have some family fun at Kid’s Winter Carnival at the United Methodist Church.
Attendees can register at local Red Bow merchants to win special prizes.
Earleen Hinton for Shaw Local News Network
Food vendors brave the winter weather to serve visitors on Candy Cane Lane on Nov. 30, 2024, during Oregon’s Candlelight Walk.
Official: Oregon man dies after being hit by car
Cause of collision under investigation; no charges filed at this time
By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
An Oregon man died Thursday after he was struck by a car on Route 2 in Ogle County, just north of Grand Detour.
The pedestrian, James Morrison, 68, of Oregon, died at OSF St. Katharine’s Medical Center in Dixon as a result of the collision, Lee County Deputy Coroner Jerry Denault said.
Ogle County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched at 6 p.m. Thursday to the single-vehicle collision in the 7000 block of South Route 2 for a
report of a vehicle striking a pedestrian in the road.
According to an Ogle County Sheriff’s Office news release, a white 2012 Kia Sorento, driven south by Justin A. Lange-Anderson, 30, of Camanche, Iowa, struck a pedestrian that was in the road in the 7500 block of South Route 2.
Morrison, who suffered serious injuries, was helped at the scene by Dixon Rural emergency medical services and taken to OSF St. Katharine’s Medical Center in Dixon, where he later was pronounced dead.
The Ogle County Sheriff’s Office and its crash reconstruction unit responded to the scene. The cause of the collision is under investigation.
Deputies were assisted at the scene by Dixon Rural Fire/EMS, Oregon Fire/EMS and the Oregon Police Department.
Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame inducts
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
Ogle County 4-H recently announced that Karen Marsh has been inducted into the 2025 Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame, recognizing her 24 years of service and dedication to local youths.
The Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame honors volunteers who demonstrate outstanding service to 4-H or have achieved notable career and community accomplishments.
For the past 24 years, she has served as a 4-H Club leader and a member of the Ogle County 4-H Fair Committee, with many of these roles including dairy goat superintendent.
She can always be counted on to lend a hand. Her enthusiasm for 4-H has brought her back into the organization as a leader for the Ogle Jolly 4-H Club, as her grandkids have become old enough to be active in the club. Previously, Marsh was a 4-H leader for Hayseed Kids 4-H Club, in which her kids were involved.
“I am proud that the 4-H program is so important to our youth in the com-
munity. It allows them not only to learn but to inspire them with dreams for the future! There is no limit to what kids can do in 4-H,” Marsh said.
In 2019, Ogle County 4-H collected plastic to be donated and turned into a bench. Since then, Marsh has taken this project to other community groups, schools, libraries, and various other organizations.
Photo provided by Ogle Extension
Karen Marsh of Ogle County was recently inducted into the 2025 Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame.
Roof project in Oregon for historic Ogle County Courthouse ‘moving along’
By EARLEEN HINTON
Shaw Local News Network correspondent
The roof replacement project for Oregon’s historic Ogle County Courthouse is moving right along, according to the chairman of the county’s Long Range and Strategic Planning Committee.
“The project is moving ahead. You’ve noticed that besides the scaffolding being up there they are doing some repairs up there,” Don Griffin, of Oregon (District 5), told his fellow board members on Tuesday, Nov. 18. “They are doing the underlayment for the new material to come in and be put down.”
Griffin said crews had been switching out the stainless steel flashing used in the valleys of the 134-year-old building, opting instead for something that was a better match for the new shingles.
“We did make a change because the stainless steel really showed up in a way we didn’t want to in the valleys, so we changed that to a material to that’s going to match the roofing shingles,” he said. “And that will make it look a lot better for the historic building that we have here.”
The picturesque courthouse was built in 1891 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.
The county courthouse has undergone several renovations during its life and still houses the county offices of County Clerk and Recorder, and Treasurer.
The Ogle County Judicial Center, built in 2005 and located across South Fifth Street just west of the courthouse, contains courtrooms, judicial offices, and the county offices of the Circuit Clerk, State’s Attorney and Probation Department.
This year’s roof project is one of several restorations and maintenance projects completed on the historic courthouse over several years.
In October, the county board awarded the 2025 roof contract to Sterling Commercial Roofing, which was the low bidder for the project at $813,125, with a $30,000 general contingency allowance.
The new shingles are replacing slate shingles and are expected to maintain the historical status of the building and have a similar lifespan but not break or crack.
Scaffolding surrounds the historic Ogle County Courthouse on Wednesday, Nov. 19, in Oregon as
slate shingles from the 134-year-old structure.
Griffin told the board that he expects the rest of the roofing material to arrive early in December.
“I think it’s going to be somewhere in that first week in December so we can move along with that process,“ Griffin said.
Griffin said information about the old roof has been submitted to the county’s insurance company. The cost of the project is being covered partially by insurance.
“So that’s going along very well, very nicely, and hopefully we’ll have a mild winter,” Griffin said.
Don Griffin, chairman of the Ogle County Board’s Long Range and Strategic Planning Committee, speaks on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at the Ogle County Board meeting. Griffin of Oregon, gave board members an update on the roof project for the Ogle County Courthouse.
Photos By Earleen Hinton for Shaw Local News Network
Sterling Commercial Roofing workers remove
DEAN FRANCIS HERRMANN
Born: May 31, 1938 in Waterman,IL
Died: November 19, 2025 in Rochelle, IL
Dean Francis Herrmann, 87, passed away peacefully Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at his home in Rochelle, Illinois. Dean was born on May 31, 1938, the fifth of nine children to Edwin and Martha (Sauter) Herrmann in Waterman, IL. On December 28, 1961, he married Janet “Jan” Casey in Sterling, IL. They created and grew their family in the Rochelle area where they raised five children: Brian, Sheila, Evie, Deana and Shawn. After Jan passed in 2005, he married Joannie (Caspers) Ahlensdorf on January 18, 2007 in Rochelle. Dean attended University of Illinois and worked for IBM after college. He returned to his rootsand started farming with his brotherin-law, Larry Casey. They added selling Arctic Cat snowmobiles out of the shop during the off-season. He was also the “H” in the original MFCH Trucking Company. They expanded the retail
side of things and opened Southgate Sun & Snow on the south edge of Rochelle where they added John Deere snowmobiles, lawn & garden equipment as well as Grady-White Boats. This is when his passion for collecting John Deere toys and memorabilia started! Dean decided he liked the mechanical side of things more than farming, so Dean took over Sun & Snow until he sold the business in 1989. He went to work as head of maintenance at the Best Western Hotel for a few years. He then went to work at Rochelle Elementary Bus Garage as the Director of Transportation/Mechanic, until they merged with the high school. He then finished his career as a teacher of auto repair at Kishwaukee Education Consortium. After he retired, he continued to repair small engines out of his shop at home.
He was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic church for 60 years. He loved singing in the choir, and sang for many funerals and nursing home visits. He was a member of the Lions Club for many years, and after his retirement, was a member of Golden K’s, where he received the Walter Zeller Fellowship award and was Kiwanis of the Year in 2019. Dean was known to be able to fix almost anything – a true jack-of-all-trades. More
importantly, he was known for his laughter, his big bear hugs, and always had a joke (or 3) to tell! He was a man who loved with his whole heart and wasn’t afraid to tell you. Dean’s door was always open and he loved when people just stopped by for a visit. The family has many great memories of such visits, as well as snowmobiling, impromptu volleyball games and big family gatherings with many joke fests!
Dean is survived by his wife, Joannie of Rochelle; five children: Brian (Sheila) Herrmann of Steward, IL, Sheila Berg of Rochelle, Evie (Denny) Musselman of Dixon, IL, Deana Blevins of Shelley, ID and Shawn (Dave) Higgs of Richmond, IL; two step sons: Dustin (Sheila) Ahlensdorf of St. Germain, WI and Shad Ahlensdorf of Rockford, IL; three sisters: Helen (Mick) Finnestad of Rochelle, Ruth (George) Wixom of Mendota, IL and Donna (Bob) Waters of Steward, IL; two sisters-in-law: Pat Casey of Rochelle, Marjorie Casey of Davis Junction, IL; 14 grandchildren: Joseph (Sarah) Herrmann, Lance (Lindsey) Herrmann, Elora and Garrett Berg, Cole (Brenna) Hedrick, Elyse (Dylan) Fisher, Isaac (Tara) Musselman, Cheyane (Devon) Merz, Sierra (Matthew) Rutten, Brynn (Cole) Barnett, Hunter (Taralyn) Blevins, Gavin, Jackson and Grace Higgs; two step grandchil-
dren: Alyse and Braden Ahlensdorf; 20 great grandchildren: Haleigh, Zachary, Landon, Kimber, Kendra, Leo, Axel, Wyatt, Oakley, Colton, Lucy, Luke, Rin, Clara, Bria, Barrett, Ryder, Eileene, Aspynn and Myra and many wonderful nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and wife, Jan, Dean is preceded in death by his granddaughter, Cora Higgs; son-in-law, Christopher Blevins; three brothers: Kenny, Arvene and Vince and two sisters: Lillian Larson and Mary Munn. The visitation will be from 3:00 - 6:00 P.M., Sunday, November 23, 2025 at the Unger-Horner Funeral Home, 400 N. 6th St., Rochelle. The funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Monday, November 24 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 236 Kelley Drive, Rochelle with Father Jesus Dominiguez officiating. A luncheon will be served at the parish center immediately following the funeral service. A private family burial of his ashes at Lawnridge Cemetery in Rochelle will follow at a later date. Memorials may be made in Dean’s memory to Serenity Hospice and Home, who the family would like to thank for all their care and support during the last couple months. A special thanks to the M&M twins. Visit www.ungerhorner.com to sign the online guest book.
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
Amboy tops Polo for 3rd straight 8-man title
Clippers scored 30 straight points to become first 3-time I8FA champion
By DRAKE LANSMAN dlansman@shawmedia.com
Adversity hit two-time defending Illinois 8-Man Football Association champion Amboy/LaMoille/Ohio early in Friday’s championship game in Monmouth.
Down two scores to Polo after the first quarter, the Clippers were unfazed. Amboy scored 30 straight points en route to a 30-20 win at Monmouth College’s April Zorn Memorial Stadium.
The defense dug in, and Jose Lopez ran for 292 yards and three touchdowns as Amboy (12-1) became the first three-time state champion in the I8FA.
“It feels great, but I’ve got to give thanks to my O-line,” Lopez said. “They opened up the holes – it was open, and I just had to make the cuts.”
In a battle of two teams with a pair of I8FA state titles, Amboy remains the league’s team to beat after an unprecedented three-peat.
“We have a great coach that pushes us through everything, and that’s all you really need,” Lopez said. “You need a strong head coach who can keep pushing, who has the right game plan. We have a strong line, and that’s what keeps us going.”
Last year’s Amboy team was led heavily by its seniors. This year, a number of new players needed to step up to get it done again.
“They were always there for us,” Lopez said of last year’s seniors. “They did a really good job at passing the torch, and we knew that we had big shoes to fill. Every single one of us did just that.”
Polo’s Mercer Mumford had a huge first quarter to give the Marcos the early advantage. He ran for two touchdowns as Polo (11-2) forged a 14-0 lead.
Lopez got rolling in the second quarter with a 29-yard TD, and Cody Winn caught a 9-yard score from Tanner Welch just 10 seconds before halftime to help tie the game and give the Clippers momentum.
Winn said that play shifted the game in Amboy’s favor. It was Welch’s only completion of the game in five passes.
“I think it was a big momentum shift,
and it got us ready to roll,” he said. “It took us into halftime with a good mentality.”
Polo was putting together a strong drive to start the second half, but turned it over on downs at the 6. Amboy held Polo until Jordan Reed caught a 14-yard TD from JT Stephenson with 1:12 to play.
Amboy coach Scott Payne said it showed a lot for his team to respond after getting down 14-0. Polo also took advantage of a high snap on an Amboy punt for good field position.
“I told the kids before the game adversity is going to hit throughout this game. It depends on if you flinch or not,” he said. “They bounced back. We got down 14-nothing, didn’t play very well in the first quarter, and they came back in that second quarter and tied it up.
“It just says a lot about these kids and how they just never give up and they just keep fighting.”
One of the biggest catalysts for Amboy this postseason has been Lopez, and he came through again in the biggest game of the season.
“He played great against Milledgeville, and this week I think he played even better,” Payne said. “Nobody really knew about him throughout the season, and then all of a sudden in the playoffs, he started ripping off some really good games.
“Jose played great today, and our offensive line after that first quarter really stepped up and started opening up the holes for him.”
Payne is proud of the three-peat, but directs all the credit to his players.
“The kids are the ones that put in all the work. Us coaches, we just tell them what to do, obviously in the weight room and the running, and they’re the ones that go through and they do it. And they push themselves, and they don’t question us in anything.
“They deserve all the credit in the world because this is their accomplishment for their hard work since last March.”
Amboy junior Evan Flanagan said it took grit.
“The ‘A’ on our helmets, they mean a lot to us,” he said. “We had to be more physical than the other team.”
Amboy senior Rylan McNinch said this year’s junior class was a big factor in the repeat. McNinch tipped a pass that he intercepted in the win.
“The juniors were a big help,” he said. “The majority of our offense and defense are juniors or sophomores, so they’ll definitely be back next year.”
Despite the loss, Polo battled in its first state appearance since winning it all in 2021.
Mumford was injured in the third
quarter and was unable to return. He finished with 162 yards and two scores. Stephenson threw for 131 yards and a touchdown on his final pass. Polo’s two-point conversion failed, and Amboy recovered the ensuing onside kick before icing the game.
“They started running it down our throats, really, and we didn’t give up,” Stephenson said. “We kept playing. You can’t be mad about that, we just kept going.”
Stephenson said Amboy made some changes on defense after the hot start.
“They’re tough players,” he said. “We shouldn’t be disappointed in ourselves. We made it all the way.”
Polo coach Ted Alston said Amboy’s size and physicality eventually took control of the line of scrimmage in the second quarter.
“Our kids played their hearts out against a really good team,” he said. “They were just a little bit too much for us up front.”
The Marcos were still a play or two away from potentially a different outcome.
“We needed to make a couple here or there that would have really changed things,” Alston said. “It’s a great experience for the kids. I know it’s disappointing for them right now, but I’m glad they got to experience it.”
Scott Anderson
Amboy/LaMoille/Ohio’s Jose Lopez, sprints down the field against Polo during the 8-man I8FA championship game on Friday, Nov. 21, at April Zorn Memorial Stadium in Monmouth.
Symmetry in this year’s state football finals
There is nearly perfect public/private symmetry in IHSA state football championships. In Lena-Winslow, Wilmington, Byron, Rochester and East St. Louis, we have the five top public programs in Illinois.
Then there are the Chicago Catholic League juggernauts, with likely titles in 4A, 5A, 7A and 8A. At least it won’t be seven championships like last year.
Lena-Winslow, Wilmington and Byron should ensure that won’t happen, as all are huge favorites at ISU’s Hancock Stadium on Friday. East St. Louis, more of a national power than any other team in Illinois, should win 6A.
In all there are 115 state title appearances by this year’s entrants. It’s definitely a Who’s Who of Illinois grid royalty.
It’s too bad the IHSA can’t set up a mythical state championship a week after the finals, with East St. Louis and Class 8A Chicago Mt. Carmel going after each other. Reputedly, they are head and shoulders above everyone else in the state and would make for must-see viewing.
With so many potential blowouts on tap, the IHSA finals won’t be that tantalizing. Usually, the most excitement occurs in the rounds leading up to Thanksgiving weekend.
Brown County, Le-Win’s opponent in 1A, upset Camp Point Central and Hardin Calhoun to reach the finals. In the regular season, it lost to them.
Brown County has never been downstate in football. At this point, it probably doesn’t care if it wins or loses a state title. Beating conference rivals in such close calls to reach the big stage carries more emotional cachet than winning state.
Sometimes, getting there is more
Andy Colbert SPORTS VIEWS
important than what you do once you get there.
That’s not the case for Le-Win, which might toss the runner-up trophy in the Illinois River on the way home should Brown County beat it. It’s win or bust for them in a sixth straight title game appearance.
I had the pleasure of being in Stockton for the Le-Win semifinal and couldn’t think of anywhere else in the world I would rather have been on that Saturday afternoon.
What a scene with fans standing 15 to 20 deep completely around the football field.
On the field was a display of 1A football at its absolute best. Stockton may have lost, but they were state-championship caliber.
After seeing Byron and IC Catholic the previous week and then Stockton and Le-Win, it was like watching the real state championships. Plus, they were shorter drives than going to Normal.
In a testament to Byron’s grid prowess, the Tigers ran all over a very good team in Richmond-Burton. If they can put 44 points on such a worthy foe, one can only imagine the scoring carnage that may be inflicted on Tolono Unity. Two years ago, Byron put up 69 points in the championship game.
Last week, I erroneously listed R-B as having a 2-0 playoff advantage over Byron. It should have been the other way and now we can up it to 3-0 in Byron’s favor.
According to the MaxPreps website, Byron is ranked as the 12th-best team in the entire state. It’s hard to fathom a small rural school reaching such lofty status ahead of so many Chicago-area 7A and 8A powers.
In its 2A semifinal game against El Paso-Gridley, Wilmington had a 41-0 lead before the first half ended. Look for more steamrolling to continue as it pursues a third state title in five years.
After taking on 4A Rochelle this year, Le-Win has scheduled Wilmington for next year in Week 2.
The reason I know Le-Win and Wilmington are playing is because of my source to the northwest, Kyle Kampmier. As a means for promoting high school sports, Kyle offers a pair of groups on Facebook in NUIC Football and NUIC All-Access.
Both are quite accurate and interesting to follow. Along with listening to Don Werntz broadcast games on the radio, they are my source for info in the northwest part of the state. Those two gentlemen are devoted to the cause and have their finger on the pulse of what is going on.
Kyle’s website has a rating system that predicts game scores better than anything I’ve seen. His rankings also are better than what the AP provides.
He supports every school in the league, as evidenced by his covering of the eight-man championship between Amboy and Polo, with the Clippers pulling off the three-peat.
Several years later, there continues to be disparaging remarks on the quality of play of eight-man and why certain schools are playing it instead of 11-man, such as Amboy.
Let’s start with quality of play. Of course, these teams aren’t going to be at the level of a Le-Win or Stockton. But the game itself is the same, with
the only difference being width of the field.
There will be more hitting in 11-man because there are six more players on the field. Hence, the more people, the potential for more physical contact.
Every time I’ve gone to Polo for a game, the Marcos bring it physically.
As far as larger schools playing eight-man, it is not the number of the players standing on the sideline, but the actual number of varsity players. A team may dress freshmen and sophomores for state games and that can look deceiving.
It is very important to understand that the vast majority of freshmen and sophomores are not physically mature enough to play against juniors and seniors.
That is the main reason schools have opted to leave 11-man for eightman. Young kids were getting pounded and that’s a sure fire way to discourage participation.
Schools don’t leave 11-man because they want an easier path to a state trophy. The No. 1 reason is not enough bodies to fill out a roster.
Yes, Amboy’s football enrollment of 303 (also include LaMoille and Ohio) is larger than anyone in the 11-man NUIC other than EPC and Du-Pec. By comparison, Milledgeville has an enrollment of 95 and beat Amboy in the regular season.
I’m assuming Amboy/LaMoille/ Ohio continues to stay in eight-man because of lack of participation. I know Ohio can’t be sending too many players there, as it has only 21 students total in the high school.
• Andy Colbert is a sports writer for Shaw Local covering high school sports in Ogle County.
Jackson, Ogbongbemiga step up for Bears
By MICHAL DWOJAK mdwojak@shawmedia.com
D’Marco Jackson couldn’t help but let a smile slip through as he stood in front of his locker inside the Chicago Bears locker room at Soldier Field on Sunday afternoon. He stood there, pridefully, and answered questions from reporters as if he’d waited years to talk.
Amen Ogbongbemiga couldn’t hold back his emotions, too, as he answered questions. He’d lower his voice at times as he tried to find the right words to sum up what he felt at the moment.
Neither was supposed to make a major impact this season. Much wasn’t expected out of Ogbongbemiga as Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers kicked off. But as both stood at their lockers after the Bears’ 31-28 win, there was little doubt how important their roles were that day.
The duo led the defense in total tackles as each had stepped up when their teammates needed them the most to help the Bears improve to 8-3.
“It was just special because every single guy, there wasn’t any jealousy or anything like that,” Jackson said Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field. “It was just everyone just wanted to get that win, that 1-0 feeling. Just to be out there and in the game, on defense and just feel that support and love for everybody, from coaches to the players to the support staff and everybody. It was special.”
Both Jackson and Ogbongbemiga made the most of their opportunities after the Bears played Sunday’s game without any of their starting linebackers. Tremaine Edmunds, T.J. Edwards and Noah Sewell were each ruled out ahead Friday ahead of Sunday’s kickoff. The team placed Edmunds on injured reserve on Saturday.
Jackson knew he’d be making his first career start at middle linebacker for Edmunds once the team officially ruled him out. But he had worked all week to be ready for the moment, which included being the Bears defender who received the play call in his helmet from Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.
Sunday was just the second time in his career Jackson had called out the play calls. He practiced calling them out throughout the week at practices and
checked in with his teammates after to make sure they understood and liked the way he communicated.
It seemed to work well. The Bears created two turnovers and Jackson led the team with 15 total tackles. He made the most of his moment he’d waited a long time to come.
“You never hope guys go down,” Jackson said. “But at the same time, like being a backup for so long, you never know when you’re when your time is gonna come. So honestly, just preparing even like weeks ahead, like weeks before this happened. Preparing like, ‘Hey, you can be that next guy up.’ So preparing just the same way, never changing or wavering with what’s going on.”
Ogbongbemiga was frustrated at the start of Sunday’s game. After missing the first eight games because of injury, Ogbongbemiga felt he had proved enough to earn a start Sunday. But rookie Ruben Hyppolite earned the start over him at weakside linebacker.
Despite the frustrations, Ogbongbemiga didn’t have to wait long to make an impact. Hyppolite exited the game with a shoulder injury in the first quarter
and Ogbongbemiga stepped in instantly.
Ogbongbemiga made some tackles during a Steelers drive in the second quarter that halted the momentum they had built. No play was bigger than when he and cornerback Nahshon Wright came together to stop the Steelers from executing a tush push on fourth down.
It was the most snaps defensive snaps Ogbongbemiga played in a game since 2020 when he played at Oklahoma State. But he finished the game with 14 tackles.
“I’m a competitor, so I was expecting to play,” Ogbongbemiga said. “And you know, when I was told I wasn’t going to be with the first team, that bothered me. I stayed down, stayed with my process and just kept going.”
Bears head coach Ben Johnson and his coaching staff were confident that different players would step up despite the team’s injury troubles. It did take some defensive adjustments to pull off.
Chicago was forced to play a bunch of dime Sunday, when the defense used six defensive backs. Safeties Jaquan Brisker and C.J. Gardner-Johnson played on the line of scrimmage at times
and were forced to play like linebackers. But the Bears were confident they could make those adjustments based on what they saw at practice during the week.
“You’ve got different guys stepping up and answering that bell,” Johnson said. “That’s why the week of preparation is so important for us, too. These young players get a chance to instill confidence from the coaching staff.”
Sunday’s win was another check on how much the players believe in Johnson’s culture. The Bears were without six defensive starters in their secondary and linebacking corps, but different players stepped up to help the team win its eight games out of its last nine.
It’s that top-to-bottom strong culture that Johnson has built up that’s gotten the Bears to this point. It’s allowed anyone to make an impact, no matter the odds.
“Man, we don’t blink, no matter who’s getting thrown into the fire,” Ogbongbemiga said. “You know you’re expected to hold a high standard, and every single time you’re expected to go out there and put out your best. That’s exactly what we did.”
Mark Busch
Chicago Bears linebacker D’Marco Jackson celebrates after stopping the Pittsburgh Steelers offense late in the fourth quarter sealing the win Sunday in their game at Soldier Field in Chicago.
‘Explosive’ Caden Considine, Byron best R-B
Tigers all-stater rushes for 287 yards, 5 touchdowns
By JOE AGUILAR jaguilar@shawmedia.com
Byron got more than a momentum-changing turnover early against host Richmond-Burton.
Almost immediately afterward, Tigers all-stater Caden Considine got his confidence, or at least he rediscovered his “explosive-play ability,” as he called it. That might have shaken the confidence of the Rockets’ stingy defense, which had held seven of its 12 opponents going into Saturday’s Class 3A state semifinal to single-digit points.
A confident Considine crushed the home team. Considine rushed for 287 yards and five touchdowns on 24 carries as second-seeded Byron rallied from an early deficit to beat No. 1 Richmond-Burton 44-10 in Richmond.
The win earned Byron (13-0) a berth in the state championship game against Tolono Unity (12-1). The teams will play at 4 p.m. Friday at Illinois State University’s Hancock Stadium in Normal.
R-B, which was seeking its first appearance at state since it won the Class 4A title with a perfect record in 2019, finished 12-1.
“Like I told the boys, today doesn’t define our season,” Rockets coach Mike Noll said.
R-B’s early turnover against Byron didn’t define its performance, but Considine said it “switched the momentum of this game.” The Rockets had struck first, with all-stater Hunter Carley (23 carries, 87 yards) capping a game-opening, 15-play, 73-yard drive with a 2-yard TD run with 3:25 left in the first quarter.
Then after Byron went three-and-out on its first possession, R-B’s Luke Johnson, who’s been wearing a club on his left arm during the playoffs, fumbled the ball on a sweep after a 5-yard gain, and Byron recovered at the R-B 37.
Byron’s hard-hitting junior defensive back JJ Edmonson forced the fumble.
“We thought they were going to do a little jet pass with [Johnson], but we didn’t know how he was going to throw that ball with a club on his hand,” Considine said. “We weren’t trying to blow him up because of the club on his hand, but I think that’s a little bit of the reason why he fumbled that ball.”
Considine carried for 9 yards, then 3 and then 25, scoring on the third carry, 35 seconds into the second quarter to even the score.
The previous week, IC Catholic had held Considine to 70 yards. Dawson Criddle and Kole Aken provided the ground production for Byron with IC Catholic committed to stopping Considine, as each had more than 100 yards rushing.
“Those first couple of runs felt good, especially after last week,” Considine said. “IC Catholic did a great job containing me, but it was good to get my explosive-play ability back this week.”
After Trey Maziarz kicked a 20-yard field goal to give R-B the lead back at 10-7 with 5:32 left before halftime, Byron needed only one play to answer. Considine busted off an 81-yard TD run, breaking tackles and outrunning Rockets to the end zone, and the Tigers had the lead for good.
Considine’s 19-yard TD run capped a five-play, 44-yard drive after the Tigers stuffed Carley on fourth-and-1, and Byron went into halftime up 21-10.
Considine scored his fourth and fifth TDs in the third quarter, from 13 and 2 yards, respectively. Aken added a fourth-quarter TD from 1 yard out.
“We couldn’t tackle [Considine],” Noll said.
Unlike against IC Catholic, Considine said he was able to get outside against R-B. When he did, the 6-foot, 210-pound senior either outraced defenders, knocked them over, stiff-armed them or shook off attempted tackles.
Considine has offers from Iowa (preferred walk-on), Western Illinois and North Dakota State.
“It’s been a long season and hadn’t really found somebody who runs like he does,” Rockets senior middle linebacker Trevor Szumanski said. “He runs hard, and he’s a good athlete. It stinks that we had to go out like that, but he’s a good player. [Byron) plays hard, and they deserved the win, so good luck to them at state.”
Byron did not throw a pass, but Considine’s effort led a ground attack that gained 379 yards against a Rockets
defense that hadn’t allowed more than 20 points in a game all season.
R-B totaled 204 yards of offense, including 135 on the ground. Quarterback Ray Hannemann completed his first five passes and finished 6 of 12 for 69 yards.
“First drive [of the game] was good,” Noll said. “But we just made too many mistakes, penalties (six for 24 yards). We just couldn’t maintain anything consistently. We knew we had to be perfect today, and we weren’t close. [Byron] is very good.”
Noll had no regrets, insisting the Rockets got the most out of their players this season and that anyone would have taken 12 wins at the beginning of the season.
“We’re in the semifinals, and the last two years I was on varsity we lost in the first round, so it’s a lot different this year,” said R-B senior outside linebacker/tight end Luke Robinson, who had two catches for 36 yards. “It’s just a testament to my class, the juniors, the sophomores and even the freshmen who came up for the playoffs. Just like a band of brothers, we’re a family, all the way through.”
Gregory Shaver
Byron’s Caden Considine stiff arms Richmond-Burton’s Cooper Nagel as he runs with the football during an IHSA Class 3A semifinal on Saturday, Nov. 22, at Richmond-Burton High School in Richmond.
SPORTS
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
1975: Boston’s Fred Lynn was first to win rookie of the year and MVP is same season. 2010: UConn women win 82nd consecutive game, setting NCAA mark.
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
Members of the Amboy/LaMoille/ Ohio football team hoist the 8-man I8FA championship trophy after defeating Polo, 30-20, on Friday, Nov. 21, at April Zorn Memorial Stadium in Monmouth.
3 IN A ROW
Amboy/LaMoille/Ohio scores 30 consecutive points to nab a 30-20 victory
Nov. 21 at Monmouth College to win a third straight 8-man state title / 19
