More local news
Local food truck vendor No Prep Tacos will be opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant in March just outside Rochelle at 7034 S. Klondike Road, the former site of The Kitchen Table. 
No Prep Tacos to open restaurant next month at former site of The Kitchen Table
Local food truck vendor No Prep Tacos will be opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant in March just outside Rochelle at 7034 S. Klondike Road, the former site of The Kitchen Table. 
Willis Senior Lofts, a 60-unit senior housing development at 410 Willis Ave. in Rochelle, will be completed in March or April and move-ins should start in April, Lincoln Avenue Communities (LAC) Vice President & Regional Project Partner Hume An said. 
Willis Senior Lofts nearing completion, accepting applications for spring move-ins
Willis Senior Lofts, a 60-unit senior housing development at 410 Willis Ave. in Rochelle, will be completed in March or April and move-ins should start in April, Lincoln Avenue Communities (LAC) Vice President & Regional Project Partner Hume An said. 
On Friday, Feb. 7, Rochelle Community Hospital celebrated National Wear Red Day in support of National Heart Month in February with staff members sporting the color red to raise and spread awareness of the leading cause of death in the United States, heart disease. 
RCH staff supports Heart Month with National Wear Red Day
On Friday, Feb. 7, Rochelle Community Hospital celebrated National Wear Red Day in support of National Heart Month in February with staff members sporting the color red to raise and spread awareness of the leading cause of death in the United States, heart disease. 
Sports

Wrestling: Oregon Hawks win IHSA 1A Byron Regional

The Oregon High School varsity wrestling team scored 251 points to win the IHSA 1A Byron Regional on Saturday, Feb. 8. The Hawks landed four champions and 12 sectional qualifiers during the tournament. Oregon had three runner-ups and five third-place finishers.

Wrestling: Byron Tigers take fourth at Oregon OSF Tournament

The Byron High School wrestling team finished fourth with 161 points during the 2025 Oregon OSF Fresh/Soph Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 1.
Boys Bowling: Oregon Hawks finish 12th at IHSA State Championship
The Oregon High School varsity boys bowling team finished 12th during the 2025 IHSA State Championship at St. Clair Bowl in O’Fallon from Jan. 31 through Feb. 1. The Hawks landed with a final count of 11,414 pins.
Wrestling: Oregon Hawks finish second at Oregon OSF Tournament
The Oregon High School wrestling team finished second with 187.5 points during the 2025 Oregon OSF Fresh/Soph Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 1.
Swimming & Diving: Byron Tigers win Northern Illinois Independent Invitational
The Byron High School Coop varsity boys swimming and diving team finished first with 66.5 points during the 2025 Northern Illinois Independent Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 8.
Softball: Polo's Wilkins commits to Judson University, competes at The Cup in The Netherlands
Polo High School senior softball player Cheyenna Wilkins represented the United States during the 2025 edition of The Cup, which was held from Jan. 17-19 in The Netherlands. The annual tournament features some of the top high school softball players from around the world.
Former Stillman Valley High School football standout Adam Cox has been named the next defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Drake University. Cox will join the staff of new head football coach Joe Woodley, who takes over for the Bulldogs after leading Grand View University in Des Moines to an NAIA National Championship in 2024.
SVHS alum Cox named defensive coordinator, linebackers coach at Drake University
Former Stillman Valley High School football standout Adam Cox has been named the next defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Drake University. Cox will join the staff of new head football coach Joe Woodley, who takes over for the Bulldogs after leading Grand View University in Des Moines to an NAIA National Championship in 2024.
The Byron High School varsity wrestling team placed second out of 23 schools with 180.5 points during the 42nd Annual Bob Mitton Invitational at Orion High School from Jan. 24-25. The Tigers landed two champions and three additional top-4 finishers in the meet.
Wrestling: Byron Tigers take second at 42nd Annual Bob Mitton Invitational
The Byron High School varsity wrestling team placed second out of 23 schools with 180.5 points during the 42nd Annual Bob Mitton Invitational at Orion High School from Jan. 24-25. The Tigers landed two champions and three additional top-4 finishers in the meet.
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Obituaries
Obituaries
Charlene Gaye Topping
Charlene Gaye Topping
Charlene Gaye Topping 73, of Birmingham, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 19, 2025, at Jefferson County Hospital in Fairfield.
Marian L. Gross
Marian L. Gross, 97, a long time resident of LaMoille, IL, passed away peacefully on Feb. 8, 2025 at Oregon Living and Rehab Center in Oregon, IL.
Jacquelyn “Jackie” J. Gambrel
Jacquelyn ‘Jackie’ J. Gambrel
Jacquelyn “Jackie” J. Gambrel, 99, long-time Oregon resident, died Sunday, February 9, 2025 at Wesley Willows, Rockford, following a long illness.
Gary L. Clark
Gary L. Clark
Gary L. Clark, 74, passed away at Serenity Hospice and Home of Oregon, IL, on Monday, February 10, 2025. 
Sarah Carlota Valdivieso
Sarah Carlota Valdivieso
Sarah Carlota Valdivieso, age 91, went home to be with her Lord on January 29, 2025 surrounded by her family after an adventurous life.
Opinion

Enjoying the ride to the post season

It was a smorgasbord of basketball for me the past weekend with two girls games sandwiched around the boys championship game of the Little Ten conference. To cap it off, a trip was made to Steward on Monday to watch grade school girls.

Letter: Government debt: Should we be concerned?

You or someone in your family may have or had debt: to buy a car, residence (mortgage) or to pay medical expenses not paid by insurance.  Companies will lend to you only if your credit rating is good; worse your credit rating, higher interest rate you are charged.

Letter: Antisemitism Awareness Act

The guys attending the usual morning coffee gathering are positively giddy. They envision better times ahead as President Trump swings the wrecking ball at most of what they take issue with: high taxes, woke agencies created by Democrats, including DEI hiring practice, the Federal Board of Education, and everything else they deem liberal-leaning policy.  
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