Northern Illinois University announces its fall 2024 Dean's List students.

Byron High School Students of the Month for December were recently named.

Stillman Valley High School Students of the Month for December were recently named.

Isabella Bergstrom was recently named the December Student of the Month at Polo Community High School and received a scholarship from the Polo Schools Foundation for her efforts. She is the daughter of Janette and Phil Krontz and Chris and Jennifer Bergstrom.

The Byron Museum of History will host an art exhibit of work by members of the Eagle’s Nest Art Group. The show will begin with an Opening Reception on Saturday, Feb. 15 from 1-3 p.m.  Several artists will be on hand to welcome visitors.

The Byron Schools Food Pantry has had a great holiday season of donations that started before Thanksgiving. The BHS National Honor Society collected money from donut sales to purchase their annual Turkey dinners for all of the food pantry families. Nikki Yerly pointed out, “This is a yearly event for NHS and they never let us down.”

Kishwaukee College has announced the students named to the Fall 2024 Part-Time Student Honors List.

Kishwaukee College has announced the students named to the Fall 2024 Dean’s List.

In the spirit of giving back this holiday season, Stillman Bank held a food drive to benefit area families this Christmas. Nearly 1,000 pounds of non-perishable food items were collected during the two-and-a-half-week event.

Recently, John Putnam, an Oregon native, returned to present two paintings to the Ogle County Historical Society from his family.

Kishwaukee College is proud to announce the graduates for the Fall 2024 semester.

Across the state, more than 650 University of Illinois Extension employees work to serve the communities where they live and help tackle local issues with research-based solutions.

During the fall of 2024, over 10,000 students from elementary, junior high and high schools around Illinois participated in a virtual audition process and of those auditions, more than 7,000 students were selected to participate in district festivals celebrating student musicians in bands, orchestras, choruses, and jazz ensembles. 

At its annual meeting on Saturday, Nov. 9, Ogle County Fair Board President Tom Simpson, presented the Volunteer of the Year award to Lukas Horst. 

As part of the national Wreaths Across America program, the Rochelle Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution placed over 700 wreaths on Veterans’ graves at Daysville, Lawnridge, St. Patrick’s, Trinity, and Woodlawn cemeteries on Dec. 14 & 15.

Due to the increase of respiratory illness in the area, and in an effort to better care for all patients, visitors, and employees; Rochelle Community Hospital is implementing visitor restrictions for the month of January.

At the recent 4-H Achievement Day Awards, many 4-H club members did a great job. The Leaf River Soaring Eagles 4-H Club had many members honored. President Kaden Lingbeck, Vice President Grant Johnson, Secretary David Wehler, Treasurer Kaeden Motszko and Historian Kaden Lingbeck were all honored with the Outstanding Club Officer Achievement Awards.

Stillman Bank held its 60th annual Holiday Giveaway drawing on December 23. The bank had a total of 6 winners throughout its six locations. The winners received either a beef quarter or pork half.

Stillman Bank recently held their annual Christmas Coloring Contest for kids up to 10 years old.  This year’s picture was of a gingerbread house and gingerbread Man. The winners received their very own gingerbread house kit. Congratulations to the winners!

On Dec. 9, members of the Oregon Woman's Club brought presents for a client family of Hope House of Dixon.

Oregon Elementary School recently named its December Students of the Month.

With the season of giving upon us, the students of Highland Elementary in Stillman Valley, IL donated an incredible (almost) 5,000 items to support Monroe Center Community Church’s food pantry Manna-Fest Ministry. The project required collaboration between the Meridian CUSD 223 district, Monroe Center Community Church and Fire Dept. Coffee.

The Forreston FFA started a new tradition this year by offering three floral arranging classes to the public throughout the year.

Byron Middle School’s band instructor, Matt Maurizio, was named the 2025 Mary Hoffman Award of Excellence recipient through the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA), one of premier awards given to Illinois music instructors annually. 

Katelyn Rockwood was recently named the November Student of the Month at Polo Community High School and received a scholarship from the Polo Schools Foundation for her efforts. She is the daughter of Tim and Melissa Rockwood.