On Thursday, March 13, the Rochelle Hiring Expo, presented by the City of Rochelle, the Rochelle Chamber of Commerce, Kishwaukee College and Rochelle Township High School was held at RTHS at 1401 E. Flagg Road.
On Monday, the deceased person was identified as Jill Bier, 67, of Oregon. Bier was a staff member at Oregon Elementary School, which was detailed by Oregon School District Superintendent PJ Caposey in a release to district families and confirmed by VanVickle.
The Ogle County Sheriff’s Office has opened a death investigation after receiving a call to an address Friday in rural Oregon with a report of a deceased person.
With move-in plans in place, the new Creston-Dement Public Library building at the corner of Main and Cederholm Streets is planned to open March 17, Library Board President Doug Kroupa said March 3.
On March 3, Oregon VFW Post 8739 presented Greg Hunter of the Oregon Fire Department with its EMT of the Year Award. VFW Senior Vice Commander Lee Ossmann and Assistant Quartermaster Robert Coulter along with OFD Chief Michael Knoup presented Hunter with a certificate and his wife Lyn Hunter pinned his award on his chest.
There were no injuries and a home was a total loss after a structure fire on Wednesday afternoon in rural Ashton, Rochelle Fire Department Captain Zach Prewett said.
In a Feb. 28 press release, Ogle County State’s Attorney Mike Rock announced that a 29-year-old Palatine man pleaded guilty to the charge of first degree murder of a Rochelle woman in 2022. Gary C. Freeman, 29, of Palatine was then sentenced to serve 35 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
On Friday, Feb. 28, Rochelle VFW Post 3878 presented a $458,464.50 check to the winner of its Queen of Hearts contest, Lauri Hays. The contest ran for 49 weeks and reached a $705,330 total jackpot.
After a dry fall, Ogle County farmers have seen lower-than-expected moisture over the winter months so far, Ogle County Farm Bureau Manager Ron Kern said Feb. 26.
In a letter to the community on Feb. 24, From the Heart President and Founder Dave Eckhardt said the organization would be ceasing operations after 18 years.
At its monthly meeting Tuesday, the Ogle County Board approved an electrical aggregation resolution by a vote of 20-0. The resolution is for county residents and small businesses not in a township or city to have the opportunity to pay a power rate agreed to by the county if they so choose.
The Family Healthcare Clinic at Rochelle Community Hospital recently welcomed Kristi Gonzales, MSPAS, PA-C, to its list of providers as a physician assistant.
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.
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.
With a record crowd of 330 people on hand, the 17th Annual From the Heart Gala was held on Saturday, Feb. 1 at the hangar at Flight Deck Bar & Grill in Rochelle and raised $90,000 for nine area nonprofits, From the Heart Founder and President Dave Eckhardt said. That number tied a record amount raised in 2024.
On Saturday, Jan. 25, the Flagg-Rochelle Public Library hosted a Seed Swap Day. The event served as the 2025 kickoff for the seed library at the location, which is free and available to the public each day in its second year since its inception.
Rochelle Community Hospital’s Convenient Care department, which treats patients of all ages for minor illnesses and injuries with no appointment necessary, has seen an increase in viral illnesses over the past month, Family Nurse Practitioner Chenin Congrave Rude said Jan. 22.
At its monthly meeting Tuesday, the Ogle County Board approved three amendments to the Lee-Ogle Enterprise Zone that would see it increase in size, including one that would see the addition of Constellation’s Byron Nuclear Plant as the facility plans for capacity upgrades in coming years.
The Flagg-Rochelle Public Library and the Ogle County Master Gardeners will host a Seed Swap Day at the library on Saturday, Jan. 25 from 2-4 p.m. The event will serve as the 2025 kickoff for the seed library at the location, which is free and available to the public each day in its second year since its inception.
On Tuesday, Jan. 14, a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony were held for the newly-branded BP gas station at 1180 N. 7th St. in Rochelle. The location was previously a Clark station.
At a public hearing Thursday, Jan. 9 at Oregon City Hall, three amendments to the Lee-Ogle Enterprise Zone that would see it increase in size were detailed, including one that would see the addition of Constellation’s Byron Nuclear Plant as the facility plans for capacity upgrades in coming years.
The trustees of the Oregon Fire Protection District have announced plans for a $4.1 million renovation and expansion of the current fire station.
Small Business Bingo raised $3,540 to be split between nonprofits Habitat for Humanity of Ogle County and the Hub City Senior Center at its final event of this season on Thursday, Jan. 2 at the Chicagoland Skydiving Center hangar in Rochelle, Event Organizer and AP Massage Therapy Owner Ashley Patrick said.
The City of Rochelle hopes to see a data center development within the city limits in coming years, City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh said Dec. 18.