Hellmich: Most people in the Sauk Valley value the spirit of collegiality and use it to find common ground with people of varying political, social, and religious views to improve our communities.

Breakfast with Jesus begins at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24, at Albany United Methodist Church, and the Symphony of Lights at Eagle Point Park is open to visitors through Dec. 30.

The Dixon City Fire Department, Dixon Rural Fire Department and Advance EMS responded Tuesday, Dec. 23, to a report of a grill fire at McDonald’s, 207 N. Galena Ave., Dixon.

The concert will begin at 7 p.m. Jan. 9 and is presented by the city of Sterling. It will feature pieces from many genres, including traditional and contemporary band works, jazz and popular music.

Wagon rides were offered Friday, Dec. 19, through the Holiday Lights Display in Rock Falls.

The Prophecy will pay tribute to Trans-Siberian Orchestra at The Dixon Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 27.

Senate Bill 642 was signed into law, creating Public Act 104-045, which increases the “maximum income limitation” for the Low-Income Senior Citizen Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption.

OSF HealthCare Saint Katharine Medical Center, located at 403 E. First St. in Dixon, is enhancing its commitment to area moms by offering an expanded selection of classes and support groups, now hosted in a newly designed space called The Mom Spot at Town Square Centre clinic.

Montini junior quarterback Israel Abrams, who threw for over 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns and led the Broncos to a 14-0 record and the Class 4A state championship, is the 2025 Friday Night Drive Offensive Player of the Year.

Here is the 2025 Friday Night Drive Team of the Year.

Brother Rice sophomore defensive lineman Kameron McGee, a five-star prospect who recorded 21 TFLs and 10.5 sacks while guiding the Crusaders to an IHSA 7A state championship this season, is the 2025 Friday Night Drive Defensive Player of the Year.

Newman girls basketball won, Dixon boys fell at Harlem, Sterling girls bowling is 6-0 and more in Monday's Sauk Valley roundup.

DeWalt: Heavy alcohol use can cause genetic mutations, impair tumor suppression, and limit the body’s ability to absorb nutrients from food that help protect against cancer.

Members of the Rock Falls Police Department were dispatched Monday, Dec. 22, to complete operation Santa Claus.

The charges, filed Oct. 10 in Whiteside County Circuit Court, accused man of striking Sterling police officer, grabbing the officer by the vest and kicking him on Oct. 9.

Morrison firetrucks, filled with Santas, Mrs. Clauses and elves, rolled through the streets Friday, Dec. 19, to deliver toys collected through the Morrison Fire Department’s annual Caring for Our Community Toy Drive.

All school-age children are invited to the library’s January craft event at 10 a.m. Jan. 10.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, met with Illinois Farm Bureau members at the organization’s annual meeting in Chicago to highlight agriculture’s vital role in the economy and the importance of providing fair, balanced support as farmers navigate ongoing challenges.

The $500 donation will be used to purchase meat, produce and dairy to give to those in need in the local community.

Community bankers around the country gathered in Washington in November to discuss the latest challenges currently facing community banks across the country, according to Sally Scanlan, president of Community State Bank of Rock Falls.

The Illinois Community College Board has announced $9.3 million in Innovative Bridge and Transition grants to support initiatives that help Illinois residents transition more effectively into postsecondary education, job training, and high-demand careers.

Generations Woven is a newly launched podcast and community project created by Tasha Garcia, Judy Randall and Nerina Human – three women from different generations with a shared mission to bring women together through honest conversation, reflection, and connection.

Dixon's Ahmyrie McGowan is the Sauk Valley Athlete of the Week after an online vote. She is averaging a double-double for the 9-1 Duchesses this season. Here is a Q&A with the junior standout.

Catch up on the week’s top Sauk Valley news for Dec. 14-20 in minutes. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

The Chicago Bears beat the Green Bay Packers 22-16 in an important NFC North battle Saturday night at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Oregon took third at the Stillman Valley Holiday Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025 at Stillman Valley High School.

Johnsburg wrestlers won the Stillman Valley Holiday Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025 at Stillman Valley High School.

Sterling's Denver Sandrock was named swimmer of the meet after two wins. Newman's Blair Grennan won her weight class at Hampshire, Sterling girls basketball split two games and more in Saturday's Sauk Valley roundup.

A shootout between Dixon and Sycamore essentially came down to one quarter Saturday night, and it was the Duchesses’ big run in the second period that sunk the Spartans in a 55-47 victory at Lancaster Gym.

The 8-1 Dixon Duchesses hosted the 7-4 Sycamore Spartans in a non-conference game. The game was played at Lancaster Gym in Dixon on Saturday, December 20th, 2025.

Eastern Iowa Community Colleges is proud to be recognized by Community Colleges for Iowa with multiple honors as part of the 2025 Outstanding Community College Awards. EICC includes Clinton, Muscatine and Scott community colleges.

The Oregon High School bowling team hosted Harvard at Town & Country Lanes in Mt. Morris on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025.

The Lee-Ogle-Whiteside Regional Spelling Bee will be Thursday, Feb. 19, at Dixon High School. Sponsors are the First National Bank in Amboy, Sauk Valley Media and Lee-Ogle-Whiteside Regional Office of Education.

To be eligible for the dean’s list, degree-seeking undergraduate students must earn a minimum semester grade-point average of 3.4 while taking at least 12 graded credits.

Fulton's Landen Leu scored 22 points in a win over Bureau Valley, Sterling boys fell at Rock Island, Oregon boys bowling is 6-2 and more in Friday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Torrie Nelson of Sterling was named to the fall 2025 dean’s list at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais.

Here's a list of property transfers for Dec. 8-12, 2025.

Newman overcame a slow start and a red-hot shooting Byron team to win Friday's Forreston Holiday Tournament championship in a 68-65 overtime classic.

Sycamore scored 11 points in the final 59 seconds of the first half to turn a first-half deficit into a 71-59 victory over Dixon in a nonconference game Friday night at Lancaster Gym.

The Dixon Dukes host the Sycamore Spartans in a non-conference game. The game was played at Lancaster Gym in Dixon on Friday, December 19th, 2025.

A new 6-round competition (instead of seven rounds) will be introduced at this year's Stupor Bowl trivia event that will be Saturday, Feb. 7, at Reagan Middle School, 620 Division St., Dixon.

The Rochelle City Council and Ogle-Lee Fire Protection District Board of Trustees recently approved a $669,000 purchase for the third phase of their joint fire training facility at 920 S. Main St. in Rochelle.

April House's mission is to make sure children who have suffered abuse are heard, protected, and given a path toward justice and healing.

Meier: If you hold a professional license, a great deal of detailed information about you and your work is public information, likely published online by regulatory authorities. This increases the chance of a targeted scam attempt against you.

On this episode of Talk Line, host Brandon Clark chats with Penny Stark, the Board president for the Sauk Valley Voices of Recovery (SVVOR) and senior outreach manager for Recovery Centers of America.

The Dixon School Board approved new hires, a change of status, and several coach appointments Wednesday, Dec. 17.

As Dixon’s oldest landmark, the 1837 foundation of the Nachusa House reaches back almost 200 years. None of the city’s other historic buildings – religious, commercial, residential or governmental – come even close to the age and prestige of the grand old Nachusa House.

Newman boys basketball advanced to Friday's Forreston tournament championship against Byron. Eastland boys and girls also won tournament titles, Morrison boys wrestling beat Newman and more in Thursday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Sterling may be undersized, but the Golden Warriors make up for it with effort and energy on defense. Sterling's relentless pressure helped force 23 turnovers in a 54-31 Western Big 6 Conference win over United Township on Thursday.

A Dixon native now serving as an elementary principal in Polo will be Dixon Public Schools' next superintendent after current Superintendent Margo Empen retires in July 2026.