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Veterans honored
Volunteers placed wreaths on Dec. 13 at snowy graves that are buried southeast of Oregon / 4 TODAY’S EDITION: 32 pages • Vol. 37, Issue 38
At last Ogle County Board meeting, Laura Cook (center) retired as county’s clerk & recorder and Rebecca Duke filled her role / 3
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LOCAL NEWS BRIEF
OGLE COUNTY LIFE
Ogle County Fair Association hosts meeting, adds several directors
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Ogle County Life / shawlocal.com • Monday, December 29, 2025
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The Ogle County Fair Association had its annual meeting at the farm bureau building Nov. 15. After a potluck dinner, a business meeting for all association members was held. The meeting included approval of last year’s minutes and treasurer’s reports, and a review of the year’s activities. Miss Ogle County Ruby Mulvaney gave an update about her activities as queen. The mowing crew of Brian Grover, Rick Bergner, Steve Pumfrey and Chip Lewison was recognized as volunteers of the year. New bylaws were approved, which included adding three more directors to the board. The association members voted to fill this year’s open director seats with Brenda Holm, Justin Simpson, Randy Anderson, Joseph Ring and Jon Sheely. Shaw Local News Network
Photo provided by Ogle County Fair
2025 Ogle County Fair elected directors are Brenda Holm, Joseph Ring, Randy Anderson, Justin Simpson and Jon Sheely.
IT’S YOUR WRITE Grateful for Byron football program jumping jacks in support! All great accomDear Editor: As a Byron High School football fan (I raised my children in Byron and my oldest played football for Byron in the early 1990s), I want to express my gratitude to the Byron high school program for the many years of excitement I have come to enjoy. I am especially grateful for the character building that comes from the Byron program. Many thanks to the “village” that it takes: the coaches, the parents, the grandparents, the students and the fans. Many life lessons are learned through team sports. If these young people are our future, which they are, we have reason to be proud! I want to congratulate the current team on winning another class 3A state title through all of their dedication and hard work. I also wish to thank not only “The Boys of Fall,” but also the cheerleading squad for all of their efforts in keeping the fans involved. Just a few 2025-26 team stats: Byron went 14-0, averaged 50.57 points per game and allowed an average of 10.79 points per game. And the cheerleading squad did 3,154
founding documents, or even just a course in basic civility. If you pass it, lower taxes. I read with some interest the various – Bill Pirnat Byron opinion columns in this newspaper as well as other local publications. They prove Ignorance is… the maxim that everybody has an opinion, Dear Editor: even more than one; but as to providing “Preach, my dear sir, a crusade against ig- any depth and guidance to work our way norance; establish and improve the law for through our current difficulty, I find them educating the common people.” (Thomas to be lacking. There is a difference between Jefferson, 1786) gaining knowledge and seeking wisdom. For the experiment of democracy to work, Knowledge may well be abundant, but citizenry must work to become enlightened. wisdom seems scarce. Change comes from This is critical for our continued presence the use of both resources. on the world stage as uniquely the land of Once more from Thomas Jefferson, “... the free, and a peaceful place of sanctuary. with the progress of the human mind, as As well as for our own liberty. This goes far that becomes increasingly developed, more beyond being Republican or Democratic or enlightened, as new discoveries are made being engaged or not interested. .... institutions must advance to keep pace It means we cannot afford to be lazy, nor with the times. [Otherwise], we might as self-serving. We must not seek to improve well require a man still to wear the coat our own position by destroying the position that fitted him when a boy as civilized or reputation of another. That is not an edu- society remains under the regiment of their cated way to live. I do wonder if it would not barbarous ancestors.” (Jefferson, 1816) be a good idea taking a course as an adult -Rev. Ronald D. Larson in American Democracy, or a study of our Mt. Morris plishments.
ON THE COVER
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Ogle County Board Chairman Bruce Larson (right) presents a proclamation in honor of retiring Ogle County Clerk Laura Cook (center). Rebecca Duke (left) was appointed to fill the role of clerk. Jeff Helfrich
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Ogle County Board Chairman Bruce Larson (right) reads a proclamation in honor of retiring Ogle County Clerk Laura Cook (center). Rebecca Duke (left) was appointed to fill the role of clerk.
the meeting and said he will be retiring from his position. The Village of Progress serves people with developmental disabilities in Ogle County through evaluation and assessment, job training, supported employment, social and recreational experiences, health care and maintenance and living skills instruction. Brooks thanked the county board for its years of support to his organization. He’s served in his position for 11 years. “The past 11 years have been the most rewarding of my professional life,” Brooks said. “Ogle County has Board picks Duke to replace Cook been exceptional in its willingness to Following recognition of Cook for help the disabilities community at large her retirement, the board voted unani- and VOP in particular. We would not be mously to appoint Rebecca “Becky” where we are without the county’s supDuke to the office of county clerk and port. Thanks for all you have done and recorder until the next election. Duke all you will continue to do.” will hold the powers and responsibilities of clerk and recorder until Nov. 30, Solar update 2026. Duke is an employee of the county The board unanimously approved a clerk’s office. special-use permit by a vote of 20-2 to “She is qualified and capable to allow for the construction and operation serve in the position,” Larson said. “It of a two-megawatt community solar is in the best interest of Ogle County to energy facility on 17.1 acres in the 12000 ensure a seamless transition of conti- block of West Grove Road. nuity and government operations.” The solar facility will be located in Lincoln Township in the Forreston area Executive Director Brion Brooks to and will be operated by Summit Ridge retire from Village of Progress Energy. The entire property parcel is Village of Progress Executive Direc- 47.54 acres, and what is not used for solar tor Brion Brooks spoke to the board panels will remain agricultural land. during the public comment portion of The board also passed a commercial
Village of Progress Executive Director Brion Brooks speaks at the Tuesday, Dec. 16, meeting of the Ogle County Board. He announced his retirement from VOP and thanked Ogle County Board for the support it has shown for the Village of Progress. battery energy storage system siting and operating ordinance by a vote of 15-7 for renewable energy. The state legislature’s recently passed Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA) will include new standards regarding battery power storage. Board members Wayne Reising and Ryan Reeverts spoke against the ordinance Tuesday, stating the county should wait until a state standard is seen. Board Vice Chairwoman Pat Nordman said the language of the ordinance could be edited in the future after the state puts the act into effect. “I believe we are on the curve of this and need to be in front of it just as we were with solar,” Nordman said. “Going forward is the best idea. We can always come back and look at it. I think this is a
good foundation to start with. What goes on in Springfield is not always best for Ogle County.”
Historic Ogle County Courthouse roof work continues
Board member Zach Oltmanns said roofing work on the historic Ogle County Courthouse will be continuing through winter weather. The contractor recently installed heated pallets for winter work at no additional cost to the county. Work will be done as long as weather doesn’t provide hazardous conditions, Oltmanns said. Sterling Commercial Roofing was the low bidder for the project at $813,125, with a $30,000 general contingency allowance.
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The Ogle County Board unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday, Dec. 16, recognizing Ogle County Clerk and Recorder Laura Cook, who will retire this month after 271/2 years in the clerk’s office. The board proclaimed Dec. 19 as “Laura Cook Day” in Ogle County and Board Chairman Bruce Larson presented Cook with a plaque for her service. Cook began as a deputy clerk in 1988 and was chief deputy clerk before being elected clerk and recorder in 2016. “She has faithfully and diligently served the citizens of Ogle County,” Larson said. “She has demonstrated exceptional commitment. Her service has been marked by dedication to the efficient and transparent operation of county government in its various departments.” Cook thanked the board and the county for their recognition and work over the years. “When I first moved here, I knew three people, my husband and two children,” Cook said. “Coming from my humble beginnings of not knowing anyone here to being a representative of the county, I’ve enjoyed every bit of it. Thank you.”
3 OGLE COUNTY LIFE Ogle County Life / shawlocal.com • Monday, December 29, 2025
Ogle County Board Clerk Laura Cook recognized upon retirement after 271/2 years of public service
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Ogle County Life / shawlocal.com • Monday, December 29, 2025
OGLE COUNTY LIFE
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Volunteers fight snow, cold to honor veterans 215 veteran graves receive special attention during Wreaths Across America By EARLEEN HINTON Shaw Local News Network correspondent Below-zero windchills and piles of snow did not stop volunteers from braving the winter weather to remember and honor veterans who are buried at Daysville Cemetery southeast of Oregon on Saturday, Dec. 13. “The temperatures this weekend will be very cold and there’s still plenty of snow at the cemeteries, but those who serve in our U.S. Armed Forces don’t stay home when it’s cold and neither will we,” said Laurie Carlin-Perry, regent of the Rochelle Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, which coordinated the Wreaths Across America event with help from Oregon VFW Post 8739. As wind whipped through the rural cemetery dropping temperatures below zero, Perry spoke briefly about the Wreaths Across America program, noting that Saturday’s event was part of a national effort to honor local veterans by placing wreaths at their graves. Girl Scouts from Troop 2189 led the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a moment of silence and prayer. Ceremonial wreaths were placed in front of the cemetery’s Civil War Veteran’s Memorial to honor of all of the military services, including the U.S. Coast Guard, Merchant Marines, and POW/ MIAs. Laying those wreaths for each branch were Don Stevens, Brian Guida, Roberta Kelser, Jim Lauer, Anne Stevens, Chip Lewison, Stan Asp, Mike Long, and Gary Burgess. About 20 volunteers – some clad in snowpants and boots, covered in multiple layers – spread out across the cemetery to place the donated wreaths at each grave, signified by American flags. According to Saturday’s program, 215 veterans are buried at the Daysville Cemetery, located five miles southeast of Oregon on Daysville Road. “We will check our list and walk through the cemetery again to make sure no one was missed,” said Perry, clutching a map of the cemetery and the list of veterans buried there. Wreaths Across America Day, held annually in December, also includes a
Photos by Earleen Hinton for Shaw Local News Network
Volunteers Anne Stevens of Oregon (right) and Craig Beauchem braved bitter cold temperatures to lay wreaths on veteran graves at the Daysville Cemetery during the Wreaths Across America program on Saturday, Dec. 13. wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, in addition to other locations in all 50 states. All the wreaths are provided through donations. Other local Wreaths Across America events were held on Saturday at Palmyra Cemetery, Dixon; Creston Methodist Church/Woodlawn, Creston; and St. Patrick’s and Lawnridge Cemetery in Rochelle.
Veteran Don Stevens of Oregon lays a wreath at a veteran’s grave at the Daysville Cemetery during the Wreaths Across America program on Saturday, Dec. 13.
About Wreaths Across America
According to the Wreaths Across America website, the wreath-laying that began more than 30 years ago still is held annually on the second or third Saturday of December. WAA’s annual pilgrimage from Harrington, Maine, to Arlington National Cemetery has become known as “the world’s largest veterans’ parade.” Every year the convoy of trucks, local law enforcement, staff and supporters stop at schools, monuments, veterans’ homes and communities along the way to talk about the Wreaths Across America mission and remind people how important it is to remember, honor and teach. In 2024, more than 3 million sponsored
veterans’ wreaths were placed on headstones of service members at 4,909 participating locations. More than 4 million volunteers helped place wreaths, a third of whom were children. This was accomplished with the support of more than
7,400 sponsorship groups, corporate contributions, and in-kind donations from the transportation industry across the country, according to the website. For information or to donate, visit wreathsacrossamerica.org.
‘I want to see long-term growth and long-term success [at Focus House]’ By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
Photos by Jeff Helfrich
Rochelle Area Community Foundation Executive Director Emily Anaya (left) and Focus House staff accept a Future of Focus House Fund designation from Dina and John Bearrows of Rochelle. Anaya said the fund will start as an “acorn fund” before it reaches $10,000 and endowment status. After it starts to receive grants from the fund each year, Focus House still will be able to apply for other RACF grants. RACF fundraises and gives grants to community organizations each year. “RACF’s job is to educate people about this fund and how it can impact our community,” Anaya said. “It’s a nice way to continue to grow and educate people about what Focus House is. Fifty years is phenomenal, and they’ve done a great job, and now they’re going to grow even more and expand, and hopefully this will help facility improvements to come to fruition. RACF wants to help with that, and it’s great working with longtime donors who see that impact.” Focus House Executive Director Brenda Mason said the establishment of the fund “means everything” to Focus House, which is in the early stages of potential building improvements to continue to serve at-risk youths. Focus House serves youths of Ogle County who likely would have to travel out of the area for services if the facility
Focus House is located at 3279 Illinois Route 251 in Rochelle.
didn’t exist locally. “The agency has been around for 50 years, and the building has been around for 50 years,” Mason said. “Eventually, we do need to grow out of our building and into something else. I know that’s a couple million dollars, and this is a step in the right direction and a step for conversations. RACF being willing to help us promote this and start this fund is so wonderful. The county has been wonderful, but they can only do so much. It does take other people.”
Along with success stories, John Bearrows, who also serves as Rochelle’s mayor, was impressed by concept plans for Focus House’s future. “In order to have more of those stories, they need this facility improved,” John Bearrows said. “That’s why I thought we’d put something in place to help with that part of it. I want to see long-term growth and long-term success here. The success stories coming out of Focus House are the leaders of tomorrow.”
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The Rochelle Area Community Foundation announced Tuesday that a new designated fund – Future of Focus House – that will be aimed at continued improvement of the Ogle County facility that recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. Located north of Rochelle, Focus House provides a continuum of services for at-risk youths, including residential, counseling, education and alternative programming. The facility offers residential treatment for boys ages 12 to 17 in the justice system who are 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 Future of Focus House Fund was started through RACF by John and Dina Bearrows of Rochelle. The couple heard success stories of former residents at Focus House’s 50th anniversary celebration and were moved to start the fund. Once the RACF fund reaches $10,000, it will start granting unrestricted funds toward future improvements at Focus House, including potential capital improvements for the county-run facility. “I want to thank the county for its support of Focus House,” John Bearrows said. “I thought about the things that Focus House may need that it doesn’t have funds for now. Maybe it’s something for a classroom, or a new building or part of a new building. We’re working on getting people and corporate sponsors to contribute to this fund. Our hope is that this can help with Focus House’s future. It’s amazing to hear someone’s story of how they evolved with guidance and support here.” RACF Executive Director Emily
OGLE COUNTY LIFE Ogle County Life / shawlocal.com • Monday, December 29, 2025
Bearrows family, RACF start Future of Focus House designated fund
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New Year’s Eve celebration ideas for families The New Year’s Eve countdown is on, with people eagerly awaiting the opportunity to say goodbye to this year and welcome the possibilities of the year ahead. The month of January’s name was derived from the Roman god Janus, who was the god of beginnings, endings, doorways, and transitions. Symbolized by his two faces looking in opposite directions, Janus presided over many transitions. Billions enjoy celebrating the arrival of a new year. While New Year’s Eve may be known for its raucous nature, complete with overflowing cocktails and packed dance floors, parents looking to celebrate with their young children have plenty of options to turn NYE into a more family-friendly affair. Explore these ideas for family-friendly NYE fun. • Noon Year’s Eve: Staying up until midnight might be a stretch for young children, who tend to get wired and cranky the later into the evening they go beyond typical bedtime. Instead of waiting until 12 a.m. for the countdown, move it back (or ahead) 12 hours to 12 noon. Young children won’t mind if it’s the sun out instead of the moon, as long as they get to make noise and throw confetti. • Homemade noisemakers: Making noise is part of the fun of welcoming the new year. Kids can get in on
the act of crafting their own noisemakers from items that already may be around the house. Collect empty toilet paper or paper towel cardboard tubes for this purpose. Cover one end of the tube with masking tape or a round piece of plastic. Fill the tube with beads, small seashells, rice, or dried beans, leaving enough room for the materials to move around inside the tube. Seal the other end and allow the kids to decorate their noisemakers. Then it’s only a matter of shaking them
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Ogle County Life / shawlocal.com • Monday, December 29, 2025
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when it’s time to welcome 2026. • Dress-up photo booth: Many people love to dress up for a special occasion. At a family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration, set aside a corner of a room with dress up props like funny glasses, feather boas, top hats, and NYE-specific items. Explore digital disposable camera apps like POV, Lense or Pixel Party. Guests simply scan a QR code for the event that the party host has established for a low price, and can snap moments at this “photo booth” that are shared effortlessly to one digital place. • Kids beverage bar: Ensure that younger guests can be age-appropriate mixologists with sodas, fruit juices, citrus slices, and maraschino cherries. Or set up a hot cocoa bar with miniature marshmallows, whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and peanut butter chips. • Family-friendly dance club: Put together a playlist of popular songs and choose the “clean” versions so children will not hear questionable lyrics. Clear an area of the party to serve as the dance floor, and utilize strobe lights or a disco ball to enhance the atmosphere. Families can celebrate New Year’s Eve with kids in entertaining ways that are appropriate for everyone in the home.
The holiday season is always a busy time of year for the travel industry, and 2025 figures to be no exception. A November report from CNN indicated that the aviation analytics firm Cirium reported that passenger booking on major airlines for Thanksgiving were up by 2.22 percent from a year earlier, when holiday travel reached a record high. Traveling is indeed a key component of the holiday season for millions of people, and long lines at airports, crowded train stations and trains, and even heavily trafficked roadways are among the challenges such individuals must navigate as they aim to spend time with loved ones between late November and the first week of January. Finding ways to stay healthy while traveling is another challenge such individuals face. While that can be difficult, travelers can look to various strategies to stay healthy when taking to the rails, roads or friendly skies this holiday season. • Take some creature comforts to ensure a good night’s rest. The Clayton Sleep Institute reports that as much as 80 percent of travelers report sleeping worse while traveling than they do at home. Jet lag, general weariness and unique sleeping environments can compromise travelers’ ability to get sufficient and quality rest while away from home. When possible,
taking some creature comforts along, such as the pillow you sleep on at home, can facilitate better rest on the road. That can promote a healthier holiday season, as the Mayo Clinic notes people who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to get sick after exposure to a virus, including the common cold. • Do some homework on nutrition. Healthy food and the holiday season are not exactly synonymous, and it’s easy to overindulge in unhealthy fare like baked goods when visiting loved ones between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. It’s also more difficult to eat healthy when traveling, regardless of the time of year. Some pre-travel homework can help travelers find restaurants that offer healthy fare on the road to their destination and locate restaurants with nutritious foods
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once they arrive. Travelers also can pack healthy snacks to enjoy during their travels. • Stay somewhere you can exercise. Many hotels now feature on-site fitness facilities and/or swimming pools so guests can exercise during their stay. Travelers can book stays in these facilities rather than staying in hotels with no such offerings or in loved ones’ apartments. Some hotels may include access to a local fitness facility with each booking in lieu of an on-site exercise room. Travelers who want to stay healthy while on the road can take advantage of these offerings during their stay. • Take something along to calm the stress. Even the most seasoned travelers can succumb to travel-related stress, especially during the busy holiday travel season. Take along an engaging book, a tablet pre-loaded with films and television shows, a smartphone with a full array of podcasts to listen to, or additional items that might help you remain calm should a stressful situation arise during your travels. Stress can compromise the immune system, so having a distraction during travel delays can help people get through their holiday travels in a healthy way. Staying healthy when traveling during the holiday season can come down to some simple planning.
OGLE COUNTY LIFE Ogle County Life / shawlocal.com • Monday, December 29, 2025
How to stay healthy while traveling for the holidays
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8 OGLE COUNTY LIFE
Tips to identify when someone is too impaired to drive
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Ogle County Life / shawlocal.com • Monday, December 29, 2025
Roughly 34 people in the United States die in crashes related to drunk driving every day. That equates to one person every 42 minutes, says the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. MAAD Canada indicates there are about nine charges per hour for alcohol or drugimpaired driving in Canada, with an average of 215 charges and shortterm suspensions daily. Although progress has been made regarding the prevention of impaired driving, drivers under the influence continue to present a serious public health issue, killing hundreds and injuring thousands a year. Considering recreational marijuana has joined alcohol as a legal substance in many areas, time will tell how impaired driving statistics may shift now that another substance that can make driving hazardous has been legalized. Laws are in place to keep drivers, passengers and pedestrians safe from impaired drivers. But without a breathalyzer test, how can people know if a person is too impaired to drive? Or what if the substance causing the impairment is not alcohol? Learning more about impairment can prevent injuries and deaths.
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What is BAC?
Field sobriety tests
A range of drugs, both licit and illicit, can impair one’s ability to drive. The relationship between blood levels of drugs and driving impairment hasn’t been established for drugs other than alcohol, says the NHTSA. However, law enforcement may use Field Sobriety Tests (FSTs) to assess a driver’s physical and cognitive abilities. Such tests include the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test, which requires the subject to follow a moving object with their eyes while an officer looks for involuntary jerking; the Walk and Turn test, in which the subject walks nine heel-to-toe steps, turns, and walks back the same way while counting; and the OneLeg Stand test. These tests help officers identify if a person is impaired.
It is always better to be overly cautious and avoid driving if someone has consumed alcohol or used a drug that can affect the ability to operate a motor vehicle. Medications affect everyone differently and are metabolized in different ways depending on the person, which is why many medical procedures that involve sedation require the patient to get a ride home. When in doubt, it’s best for a person to grab a rideshare or taxi or have a trusted friend or family member drive them where they need to go. Driving while under the influence of alcohol or another substance risks one’s life and the lives of others. It’s important to recognize when a person might be unfit to drive and take action to prevent a dangerous situation.
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Individuals may determine if a person is too impaired to drive based on various factors. Physical symptoms can include signs of poor balance, stumbling or bumping into objects. Speech may be slurred, slow or at a volume different from normal. The person may complain of blurry or double vision. Cognitive symptoms also can indicate a person is too impaired to drive. Anyone making risky decisions or having trouble concentrating, focusing or remembering things likely is too impaired to drive.
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OGLE COUNTY LIFE Ogle County Life / shawlocal.com • Monday, December 29, 2025
The amount of alcohol in a person’s body is measured by the weight of the alcohol in a certain volume of blood. This measurement is called the blood alcohol concentration, or BAC. Alcohol can be measured within 30 to 70 minutes after a person has had a drink, notes the NHTSA. Absorption will be slowed by food in the stomach and weight. In the United States (apart from Utah, which has a lower limit), the standard legal BAC limit for drivers is 0.08 percent. Canadian law also sets the limit at 0.08 percent.
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Barn burns on Milledgeville Road, west of Polo By EARLEEN HINTON Shaw Local News Network correspondent Polo fire crews, with the help of several surrounding agencies, battled a barn fire in frigid temperatures Friday, Dec. 19, at 14765 W. Milledgeville Road. “The call came in at 9:05 p.m.,” Polo Fire Chief Jim Ports said Saturday. “There were lawn mowers ... all kinds of equipment. It was a big barn and another shed went up with it.” The cause of the fire has yet to be determined and there were no injuries, Ports said. Firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading to a two-story home also located on the property, located just east of Freeport Road. Mutual aid from eight departments helped Polo firefighters on scene for about four hours, Ports said. “We had to haul water in and then were called back out at 3:30 a.m. when it rekindled,” Ports said. Departments providing mutual aid included Sterling, Lanark, Forreston, Oregon, Mt. Morris, Dixon City, Dixon Rural, and Advance Ambulance. Stillman Valley covered the Polo station while crews were on scene. “I want to thank all the area departments for all their help,” Ports said.
Earleen Hinton for Shaw Local News Network
Smoke rises from the charred remains of a barn located at 14765 W. Milledgeville Road, west of Polo, on Saturday, Dec. 20, after an evening fire Friday, Dec. 19. The barn housed tractors and other machinery. No injuries were reported.
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Ogle County Life / shawlocal.com • Monday, December 29, 2025
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who can help seniors assess their skills behind the wheel. These trained professionals may assess existing skills and offer advice about how to overcome any issues aging drivers might be having.
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Take a driving course Safe driving courses can help drivers of all ages stay up-to-date on the latest safety protocols and advice on how to drive safely. Modern driving is vastly different than it was when many current seniors became licensed drivers. A safe driving course can refresh drivers’ memories about safety protocols, and some may even offer advice on how to navigate modern roadways, which may be marked by distracted drivers and feature vehicles with brighter headlights that can make it more difficult for older drivers to drive at night. Aging can compromise seniors’ ability to safely operate motor vehicles. But aging adults can employ various strategies to improve their skills behind the wheel.
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Motor vehicles have come a long way since the days of the Model T. Safety features in particular have undergone significant enhancements over the last several decades. Improvements in airbags, structural modifications like crumple zones and technological features like automatic emergency braking have helped to make modern vehicles far safer than the cars and trucks of yesteryear. While there’s no denying that modern vehicles are safer than ever, the human element remains an unpredictable variable. Even in an era marked by vehicles with greatly enhanced safety features, distracted or impaired drivers can compromise the well-being of everyone on the road. Age is another
Speak with your physicians about your medications A recent study from the U.S. Food and Drug Adminstration found that the average adult age 65 and older now uses roughly four medications. Medications produce side effects that can affect every area of a user’s life, including their ability to drive. Those effects might be heightened when taking more than one medication, and interactions also can lead to side effects that might not manifest if individuals were taking just one prescription. Aging drivers can maintain an honest and ongoing dialogue with their physicians to ensure they’re aware of the effects their medications might be having on their ability to drive
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By EARLEEN HINTON Shaw Local News Network correspondent An Ogle County judge denied a rural Rochelle man’s request Wednesday, Dec. 17, to be released from jail as he faces charges of possessing and sharing images of child sexual abuse. Matthew S. Robinson, 29, was sent back to the Ogle County Jail after making his first court appearance on charges of dissemination of images of child sexual abuse and possession with the intent to disseminate images of child sexual abuse – both Class X felonies – and possession of child sex abuse images, a Class 2 felony. Assistant Ogle County State’s Attorney Matthew Leisten said Robinson possessed and shared the images through SnapChat between July 25 and Dec. 16. Leisten said the girls depicted were under the age of 13. Leisten also told Associate Circuit
Judge Anthony Peska that Robinson’s criminal history included a previous adjudication for a similar offense when he was a juvenile in another county. “Based on the Matthew S. Robinson type of images and his prior record, he should remain in custody,” Leisten told Peska. Assistant Ogle County Public Defender Eric Morrow argued for Robinson’s release, telling Peska that Robinson was gainfully employed and had scored low on a pretrial risk assessment. “He has no pending charges, no violent convictions. He has led a law-abiding life since the juvenile offense,” Morrow said, suggesting additional pretrial
conditions be levied by the court such as no contact with minor children, electronic monitoring, and forbidding the use of cellphones or computers. “He could be released under very strict conditions,” Morrow argued. Leisten argued that Robinson was listed as a sex offender after his juvenile charge was adjudicated. Peska agreed, denying Robinson’s pretrial release. Robinson was arrested Dec. 16 about 10:05 a.m. after Ogle County Sheriff’s detectives executed a search warrant at a residence in the 10000 block of East South Woodlawn Road in rural Rochelle. Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle said in a news release that the arrests were made after a lengthy investigation. He said Ogle County detectives were assisted by the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. Peska allowed Robinson to be repre-
sented by Morrow at Wednesday’s hearing, but denied appointing that office for further hearings because Robinson earned too much at his current job. Defendants can request to be represented by the public defender’s office, but they must fill out a financial affidavit that a judge then uses to determine whether they qualify for the free service. Robinson’s next court appearance is a status hearing scheduled for 10 a.m. Dec. 24. Class X felonies are punishable by six to 60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, with three years to natural life of mandatory supervised release. If convicted, defendants must serve 85% of their sentence and register as a sex offender upon their release. Class 2 felonies are punishable by three to seven years in prison with two years of mandatory supervised release to follow.
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Sold to the next generation: Bearrows Auction changes hands to longtime partner Hickey Bearrows has worked 50 years in auctions: ‘I’ve had so many people help me’ By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com Bearrows Real Estate & Auction Co. owners John and Dina Bearrows of Rochelle recently announced the sale of the auction side of their business to Josh and Kristen Hickey of Steward. John Bearrows has worked in the auction business in the area for over 50 years. Josh Hickey will be taking over the business as Hickey Auctioneering effective Jan. 1, 2026, after working with Bearrows for the past 21 years. Bearrows said he will continue to help Hickey if needed, but will be focusing more on the real estate portion of his business and his responsibilities as Rochelle’s mayor. “Dina and I have made the decision to slow down on the auction side,” John Bearrows said. “Josh and Kristen are taking over, and that was always my hope and I’m very proud of that. I might still help some. I’ve met fellow auctioneers over my 50 years that may call and need an extra auctioneer someday. I hope to still do some work with them, but it’s time.” Bearrows started working in auctions in the area in 1972 for Howard McAnly. He finished auction school in 1975 and later purchased the business from McAnly in 1991. John Bearrows estimates he’s done about 75 auctions per year in the area in his time in the business, including farm, land and household sales. John Bearrows thanked the community for its support over his 50 years in the auction industry and said he’s grateful the Hickeys will carry on the work. “Josh has been a great addition to our group,” John Bearrows said. “He’s very good at what he does and he’s an Illinois state champion auctioneer. He’s very dedicated to the auction profession. In my 50 years in the business, I think I’ve only missed one or two auctions. I remember Josh was working
Photo provided by John Bearrows
John Bearrows (right) hands over the keys of his auctioneering business to Josh Hickey, who will be taking the business over after partnering with Bearrows in the business for many years. with me when I missed one, and I never had to worry about a thing. I know we’re making the right decision.” Hickey is a part of over 300 auctions per year. He said the local auction business will remain as it has been for years. The Hickeys said they’re excited to take the reins, along with their two sons. When he graduated from auction school in 2004, Hickey’s father called John Bearrows and asked if Josh could help him. “I was so mad he did that and thought I didn’t need the help,” Josh Hickey said. “John called me and told me to come over to a sale and I showed up and worked. And he’s been helping me ever since. I’ll always be grateful for that. We’re looking forward to the next step and seeing where it goes from here.” Josh Hickey said he’s always enjoyed selling items, and he and his wife enjoy meeting people at auctions. John Bearrows said he’s always enjoyed the auction business because
no two sales are ever alike. He and Dina called the decision to sell the business “tough” but said they’re looking forward to more free time. “In our last 10 years we started doing auctions for third generations after I did sales for their grandparents when I first started,” John Bearrows said. “That’s when I felt it was time to start slowing down and enjoy life a little more and what Dina and I have worked hard for. I’m looking forward to the day when I can just go and help Josh sell and not have to worry about all the preliminary work before the day of the sale and work after the sale.” The Bearrows’ auction business has served the local area from DeKalb to Dixon and Mendota to Rockford over the years. John recalled working to grow the business and find clients in his early years. The first house he sold at auction was in Rochelle. “I remember being nervous about
it,” Bearrows said. “As an auctioneer, people are going to bid and you just keep score. It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. The local support has been pretty amazing. That all goes with how you service your customers and help them. We had household sales for years and there’s times when someone buys an appliance and it doesn’t work. How you take care of them determines whether or not you’re going to have a future in this business.” Since the COVID-19 pandemic much of the auction industry has shifted to online, which has been a change for the Bearrows and Hickeys. Josh Hickey said he hopes to do more live auctions in coming years. “I enjoy the live auctions,” Josh Hickey said. “There’s a certain kind of auction for every kind of item and certain things work better online or live or with a combination of the two. I’m hoping to do more live auctions again as time goes on.”
Hemstock Road bridge repair estimated to cost $85,000 in spring By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com The Hillcrest Village Board of Trustees on Wednesday, Dec. 10, unanimously approved three ordinances that will allow for the future construction and operation of a 200-acre, 49-megawatt solar farm north of Twombly Road. The board approved a special-use permit to allow for the solar farm. It also approved a text amendment to its code to allow for the location of commercial solar panels on agriculturally zoned land, and a zoning variance for the project to have barbed wire on its fencing, which the village does not allow.
The project is now owned by Greenbacker, which purchased it from Enel Green Power, which submitted for the first two special-use permits. The project has seen no changes besides the need for a special-use permit after its previous versions expired. The project has seen delays due to interconnection agreement issues with ComEd and the sale of the project. The project recently cleared a hurdle and came to an agreement with ComEd and is in the preliminary design and construction phase. Construction is expected to begin in Jeff Helfrich the second quarter of 2026 and be comJim Rodriguez, attorney for Greenbacker, speaks Wednesday, Dec. 10, at the Hillcrest Village pleted by May 2028. Greenbacker also Board meeting. has plans for a solar field in the same area south of Twombly Road that it is All three ordinances were approved by 2021 and extended it in 2022. Work on the working with the city of Rochelle on a vote of 3-1 with Village Trustee Eileen project has seen delays and construc- that would be constructed at the same Braski voting against each of them. tion has not started, which made the time. The village previously approved a project’s special-use permit through the special-use permit for the solar farm in village expire. See Hillcrest on page 16
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Hillcrest board: Special-use permit, variance and code change approved for solar farm
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Jim Rodriguez, an attorney for Greenbacker, said during the meeting that the power from the solar farm will go onto the grid for purchase, and that the city of Rochelle is among those that have considered purchasing it. The project will generate about $152,000 in property taxes for the village Jeff Helfrich over its 25-year life, and $4,136,951 in total Village President Rick Rhoads (left) and Trustee James Wiley (right) participate in the Hillcrest property taxes to local taxing bodies.
Rhoads informed the board during the meeting that Trustee Tim Ball has resigned from his position due to moving out of the area. The village will be seeking applicants for potential appointment to his trustee seat. Ball handled ordinances for the village. The Hillcrest Village Board is currently made up of Rhoads and Trustees Dan Potter (water), Braski (finance), Pam Pittman (community relations), Patricia Garcia (health and welfare) and James Wiley (public works).
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Village Board meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 10.
Village President Rick Rhoads read a report from Village Engineer Kaitlin Wright during the meeting that said a planned repair of the Hemstock Road bridge to reopen it in the spring is estimated to cost $85,000. The bridge was closed by the Illinois Department of Transportation in mid-October. In July, Ogle County inspected the bridge and found that its load rating declined sharply from a 7 to a 4. After seeing those numbers, IDOT inspected the bridge in October and determined the steel piles that support it have deteriorated and that it should be closed. The bridge is owned by the Village of Hillcrest. Baxter & Woodman
inspected the bridge on Nov. 6 and found that all eight steel piles are corroded, with two severely corroded and no longer supporting the bridge. The bridge is 50 years old. Long term, the bridge needs to be replaced in its entirety, which could cost about $1 million and take 3 to 4 years for funding and construction. In the short-term to reopen it, the village will be pursuing a repair of the bridge. Corroded parts of the two failing steel piles would be removed and then encased in concrete. Concrete work would need to be done in the spring. Inspection and reopening would take place after that. Rhoads said Wednesday
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that the village plans to go out for bids for the project in January. For the full replacement of the bridge, the village will work with IDOT long term. Eighty percent of the anticipated $1 million project could be covered by federal funds. Hillcrest would cover the remaining amount. The multi-year process would begin soon with potential funding in 2028 or later, Wright said in November. The bridge was previously owned and maintained by White Rock Township. When Hillcrest annexed land in the area of the bridge in recent years, it came under village ownership due to village land being on both sides of it.
The village is still collecting donations for an “Adopt a Grandparent” campaign to benefit Liberty Village residents for the holidays. Monetary donations and unwrapped gifts can be dropped off at Village Hall at 204 Hillcrest Ave. by Dec. 19. Gift ideas include lap blankets, slip-proof socks, sweaters M-2XL, large print word search books, coloring books with colored pencils, 300piece or less puzzles, wooden puzzles, mini cans of soda, shatter-proof plastic or acrylic tumblers, Squishmallows, new release DVDs, and plastic shower caddies. Monetary donations can be made in cash or checks made out to Liberty Village.
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LaPage: ‘We want to continue to do things like this and be a good community partner’ By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com Rochelle Community Hospital hosted its fifth annual holiday drive-thru dinner Thursday, Dec. 18, distributing 200 meals to people in need. The event is made possible by the RCH Foundation, the hospital’s dietary department and volunteers. The menu included a choice of ham or turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetable medley, dinner roll and cheesecake, and was made by the RCH dietary staff. RCH has now offered the dinner for five years after it started
Jeff Helfrich
The Rochelle Community Hospital dietary staff poses for a photo after preparing 200 holiday meals. during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to RCH marketing, foundation and organizational development manager Michelle LaPage. “We had the full 200 meals we had
available reserved,” LaPage said. “That’s what we expected. We work closely with organizations in town such as the Rochelle Rescue Mission and Lincoln Manor to get the word out and
serve their people if they need it.” RCH has also held food drives and mobile food pantries to address food insecurity in the community in recent years, which is part of its strategic plan. The community’s need has been shown in all of RCH’s food-related events, LaPage said. “We will continue to do it,” LaPage said. “We want to keep doing things like this and be a good community partner.” LaPage said the event gets RCH staff and volunteers in the holiday spirit every year. She thanked those that put in the work on Dec. 18. RCH wants to address the community’s health in more ways than treating patients. “I think our commitment to the community and its health shows in the different events we do,” LaPage said. “We have community and support and we’re here for our residents of Rochelle and Ogle County. We really enjoy providing not only health care, but also resources if they’re in need.”
17 OGLE COUNTY LIFE Ogle County Life / shawlocal.com • Monday, December 29, 2025
Rochelle Community Hospital serves 200 people with fifth annual holiday drive-thru dinner
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18 LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS United Way of Ogle County recently treated Bertolet Memorial Library’s youngest patrons to a morning of fun winter books, creative crafts and tasty snacks to promote literacy through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. All patrons under the age of 5 were enrolled to receive a free book each month. Contact United Way of Ogle County to register your child. Photo provided by Lydia Sherburne
Stillman Valley, Byron residents named to Olivet Nazarene University dean’s list
Pictured are David Wehler and Barb Diehl, pantry director at Loaves and Fish Food Pantry.
Leaf River Soaring Eagles participate in 4-H Cares, make donation to food pantry
Ogle County 4-H is helping the community with the 4-H Cares campaign initiative. It is a way for the 4-H members of the county to make a difference for some local organizations. Leaf River Soaring Eagles 4-H Club
Gwendolyn Baker and Paul Baker of Stillman Valley and Shawn Clinton and Photo provided by Raina Dyck Alaina Haas of Byron were recently named United Way of Ogle County recently treated Bertolet Memorial Library’s youngest patrons to a morning of fun winter books, creative crafts and tasty snacks to promote literacy through Dolly to the fall 2025 dean’s list at Olivet Parton’s Imagination Library. All patrons under the age of 5 were enrolled to receive a free book Nazarene University. To qualify for inclusion on the dean’s list, a each month. Contact United Way of Ogle County to register your child. student must have been enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student and must members recently participated in one of On Nov. 24, the club members donated have attained a semester grade-point average the activities that is part of the prosome nonperishable food and a check to of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 grading scale. gram. Loaves and Fish Food Pantry. – Shaw Local News Network
OBITUARIES KATHLEEN F. THOMAS
Paetow of Louisville, KY; grandchildren Rachel Cotrell, Kara Thomas and Trevor Paetow; Born: November 25, 1945 in Albany, NY great-grandchildren Avery and Abel Cotrell; Died: December 17, 2025 in Byron, IL and brothers Mike (Beverly) Graf of Mesa, AZ, and Dennis (Christine) Graf of Peoria, AZ. She Kathleen F. “Kathy” Thomas, 80, of Oregon, was preceded in death by her grandson Ryan Paetow. Illinois, passed away A private burial will be held at a later date at Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at Generations Daysville Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation (crohnat Neighbors in Byron. scolitisfoundation.org). The family wishes to She was born thank the staff at Generations at Neighbors for November 25, 1945, their compassionate care. the daughter of John Graf and Lillian (Smith) Arrangements in the care of Farrell Holland Kindermann. Kathy graduated from Mt. Morris Gale Funeral Home of Oregon, IL. To leave an High School in 1963. On February 21, 1964, online condolence or plant a tree in her memoshe married Robert F. Thomas in Mt. Morris; ry, please visit, www.farrellhollandgale.com. he preceded her in death in February 2004. A devoted homemaker, Kathy also held a variety of jobs in the Oregon area and was cherished for her love and commitment to family. Survivors include her son Kevin (Jean Ann) Thomas of Rochelle; daughter Michelle (Todd)
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Oregon man charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse of teenager By EARLEEN HINTON Shaw Local News Network correspondent An Oregon man charged with sexually abusing a teenage girl will remain in jail as his case proceeds through the court system. Brett A. Barnes, 42, is charged with five counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, one count of attempted aggravated criminal sexual abuse and grooming. Barnes was remanded to the Ogle County Jail after his first court appearance Wednesday, Dec. 17. According to court documents, the incidents happened between May and July and involved a 16-year-old girl. The grooming charge accuses Barnes of using a cellphone to “seduce, solicit,
lure or entice” the girl to engage in unlawful sexual conduct with him. Assistant Ogle County State’s Attorney Matthew Leisten told Associate Circuit Judge Anthony Peska that Brett A. Barnes Barnes and the girl were coworkers when the alleged incidents occurred at Barnes’ residence. Leisten said Barnes admitted to buying alcohol for the girl and allowed her to stay at his home on at least one occasion, arguing that he should remain in jail to ensure the safety of the victim and the
ATTENTION VENDORS!
surrounding community. Assistant Ogle County Public Defender Eric Morrow argued that Barnes should be released to continue needed medical treatments in regard to his 2008 kidney transplant. Morrow also argued that Barnes had no criminal record and would not be a flight risk since he had spent his entire life in Oregon or Mt. Morris. “He has never been in any trouble before except for maybe a couple of speeding tickets,” Morrow said. “The court has the ability to monitor his whereabouts.” Peska denied Morrow’s request for release, noting that the girl was “obviously too young to consent” and that Barnes had a history of “collusion.” He set Barnes’ next court appearance
for 10 a.m. Dec. 24. The Oregon Police Department took Barnes into custody Tuesday, Dec. 16. “The Oregon Police Department would like to acknowledge and thank the Ogle County State’s Attorney’s Office, Shining Star Children’s Advocacy Center and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their assistance and collaboration during this investigation,” Police Chief Matthew Kalnins posted on social media. All of the charges filed against Barnes are Class 2 felonies punishable by three to seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections upon conviction, followed by two years of mandatory supervised release. Convictions also require registration as a sex offender.
Wedding Expo 2026 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2026 12PM - 3PM Northland Mall • Sterling, IL Booth Space Is Still Available
Showcase Your Products or Services to Local Couples Deadline is January 29th Call 815-632-2566 or email marketing@saukvalley.com for more information Sponsored By:
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SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com The Rochelle Area Community Foundation recently announced the results of its 2025 Giving Tuesday campaign, raising a total of $27,800 to support community programs and charitable funds throughout Rochelle and the surrounding area. This year’s results exceeded the foundation’s $25,000 goal thanks to the generosity of local residents, donor-advised fund advisers, and committed corporate partners. This year’s donors supported a wide variety of RACF funds, including the Rochelle Area Community Endowment, Human Services Fund, Berg-Burkholder Family Fund, The Howard Family Fund, Jacobs Family Fund, HP “Jim” Walker Memorial Fund, and the Ron “Stony” Stonebraker Police and Fire Memorial Fund. Significant corporate gifts included contributions from Constellation, Cen-
Rochelle Rotary Club, among others. “Our community showed up in such an extraordinary way this Giving Tuesday,” Emily Anaya, executive director of RACF, said. “We are surrounded by outstanding partners and individual donors who truly want to make an impact and give from their hearts. Their generosity is the embodiment of true philanthropy, and we are deeply grateful for every person and organization that helped make this day such a success.” Ashley Jackson, board member and event chair, added, “It’s inspiring to see our community come together to support local causes. Giving locally through RACF ensures that your generosity has a direct impact right here at home – The Greater Rochelle Economic Development Corporation (GREDCO) presents a donation to the strengthening programs, supporting families and improving lives in Rochelle. Rochelle Area Community Foundation for Giving Tuesday. I am proud to serve as chair for the fourth year and look forward to continutral Bank, Holcomb Bank, Stillman ment Corporation, the Rochelle Town- ing our mission of connecting donors Bank, First State Bank, Americold, the ship High School Interact Club, St. Paul Greater Rochelle Economic Develop- Lutheran School-EarlyAct, and the See Giving on page 23
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Rochelle Area Community Foundation raises $27,800 on Giving Tuesday 2025
OGLE COUNTY LIFE Ogle County Life / shawlocal.com • Monday, December 29, 2025
Photos provided by Rochelle Area Community Foundation
Americold presents a donation to the Rochelle Area Community Foundation for Giving Tuesday.
Ogle County Life / shawlocal.com • Monday, December 29, 2025
OGLE COUNTY LIFE
22
AREA CHURCH DIRECTORY BYRON
FORRESTON
ALL SAINTS LUTHERAN CHURCH
FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH
624 Luther Drive, Byron, IL 61010 815-234-5277 Pastor: Vicar Michelle Wandersee All are welcome to weekly Sunday Worship services at 9:00am Holy Communion is served every Sunday. A Contemporary Style Worship with our Praise Team is on every 3rd Sunday of the month. A recording of each Sunday’s service is available on our Facebook page:
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 402 First Ave., Forreston, IL Phone: 815-938-2380 Worship at 9:00 a.m. (childcare provided) with coffee and fellowship immediately following. Sunday School Age 3-Adult, 10:15 am. God is Good, All the Time, All the Time, God is Good!
ST. JAMES LUTHERAN CHURCH
All Saints Lutheran Church and on our website: http://www.allsaintsbyron. org Sunday School for ages 3 through 5th grade students are held at 10:15am each Sunday. Middle School Confirmation class for 6th grade - 8th grade students are held at 10:15 am each Sunday. Both classes begin in September and end in May.
Celebrating 175 Years! West Grove Rd. At Columbine Rd. Worship Service 10:30 am. Communion is served every Sunday. “Singing the Song of Christian Faith in Worship, Service, Learning, Outreach and Welcome” in a beautiful rural setting. Everyone is cordially invited to be with us. Follow Us on Facebook “St. James Lutheran Church”
LEAF RIVER
Adult Bible Studies are held on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 pm and on Wednesdays at 1:30 pm.
LEAF RIVER BAPTIST CHURCH
Visit our website for more information or email us at allsaints624@ hotmail.com.
CORNERSTONE FAMILY CHURCH 205 N. Peru St., Byron 815-234-8737 www.cornerstonefamily.church Sr. Pastor: Erik Ness, NextGen/ Family Pastor: Collin Nicholls Children’s Ministry Director: Katie Dodd Worship Service on Sundays at 10am with Children ‘s Worship Service and Nursery Available Revive Jr High and Sr High Youth Ministries Meet Sundays at 6:30pm Numerous Small Groups Available for All Ages throughout the week . Please call our Church Office or visit our website for more details . Office Hours: 8:00am -4:30pm Mondays-Thursdays
BYRON ST. MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH 226 E. 2nd St, Byron, IL 61010 - Phone 815-234-7431 – Fr. Romeo
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402 2nd Avenue, Forreston, IL 61030, Phone 815-938-3203Pastor Scott Ralston Sunday Worship 9:00 am; Sunday School 10:00 am
“Mio” Pavino Weekday Masses: Tuesday – Friday 7:30am, Weekend Masses: Sat. 5:00 pm, Sun. 8:00 am and 9:30 am, Reconciliation: Fri. 8:00 am – 8:30 am; Sat. 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm or by app. Eucharist Adoration Fri. 8-9am www.saintmaryinbyron.org secretary@saintmaryinbyron.org
UNITED CHURCH OF BYRON A Member of the United Church of Christ 701 W. Second Street; PO Box 927, Byron IL 61010, 815-234-8777 Email: ucb@comcast.net Website: unitedchurchofbyron.org Pastor: Rev. Tyler Spellious Youth Ministry Coordinator: Richard Simpson Sunday Schedule & Worship opportunities: Service of Meditation & Prayer: 8:15am- 8:45am Adult Sunday School Hour: 9am Kids Sunday School: (for ages 3 thru 5th grade) during the 10:30 worship Coffee & fellowship time: 10:00am - 10:30am Main Worship: 10:30am Spark Youth Group (for ages 6th grade thru 12th grade) - Sundays, 5pm-7pm For complete ministry schedule and other activities, please check our website or Facebook page or contact the church office. Whoever you are or wherever you are on your journey, you are welcome here!
BEACON HILL ASSEMBLY OF GOD “Building Faith for Life” 6467 N. German Church Rd., Byron, IL - Ph. (815) 246-2685 beaconhillbyron.org Mailing Address: P.O. Box 448, Byron, IL 61010 Pastor: Gary Cortese Service Times: Sundays at 10AM; Wednesday night Faith-Lift at 6:30PM Find us on Facebook/Beacon Hill Assembly of God
CHANA
Pastor Billy Hardy Sunday Morning: 9:30am Bible Classes for all ages 10:30am Worship Service with nursery available. Live stream available at leafriver.church/live-now 6941 N. Mt. Morris Rd., Leaf River, IL 61047 815-738-2205
office@leafriverbaptist.org leafriver.church
LEAF RIVER UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 104 E. 3rd St., Leaf River, IL 61047 - Phone: 815-345-3038; Pastor Cherie Quillman Mailing Adress: PO Box 126, Leaf River, IL 61047 Worship Service: Sunday at 10:30 am Brewed Connections - Free Coffee with Devotion, 2nd & 4th Tuesdays www.leafriverumc.org leafriverumc@gmail.com
LINDENWOOD IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH – LCMS immanuel-lindenwood.org (for sermons, events, etc.) 16060 E. Lindenwood Road, Lindenwood, IL 61049 815-393-4500 • office@immanuel-lindenwood.org Sunday Mornings: Divine Service @ 9am; Food & Fellowship @ 10am; Sunday School and Adult Bible Study @ 10:30am Food Bank: 1st and 3rd Saturdays, 9am-11am Pastor: Rev. Dr. Matthew Rosebrock pastor@immanuel-lindenwood.org
KINGS ELIM REFORMED CHURCH 140 S. Church Road, Kings, IL 61068 • Pastor Marv Jacobs Phone 815-562-6811 E-mail: goelimchurch@gmail.com Website: www.goelimchurch.org Sunday morning worship 10:00 am
MOUNT MORRIS DISCIPLES UNITED METHODIST CHURCH “By God’s grace in Christ, we LIVE, LOVE, and SERVE” All are welcome here! 9:30 a.m. – Sunday Worship with Communion open to all, followed by fellowship hour 10:45 a.m. Sunday School (Sep. – May) 102 N. Maple Ave., Mt. Morris, IL 61054 815-734-4853 secretary@disciplesumc.org www.disciplesumc.org Pastor Marcia Peddicord
EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH OF MT. MORRIS 102 S. Seminary Ave., Mt. Morris, IL 61054 815-734-4942 www.efcmm.org Senior Pastor: Bruce McKanna. Associate Pastor: John Foss Sunday Schedule: 8:30 a.m. Sunday School for all ages. 9:30 a.m. Coffee Fellowship. 10:00 a.m. Morning Worship with Childcare and Children’s Church.
MT. MORRIS CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN Allure of Pinecrest Grove Community Building (S. McKendrie Ave. and Evergreen Lane) Mt. Morris, IL. 61054 Phone 815-734-4573 Sunday Worship 9:30 a.m. followed by fellowship time and Christian education. Worship service available online, call or email for details. Email: mtmorriscob@gmail.com
MOUNT MORRIS
OREGON
TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH MT. MORRIS
ST. MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH
308 E. Brayton Rd., Mt. Morris IL | Phone: 815-734-6354 | Rev. Josh Ehrler Worship Services: Saturday 5:30 PM, Sunday 9:30 AM. Sunday School 10:45AM www.trinitymmil.net| facebook.com/tlcmm
301 N 4th St, Oregon, IL 61061 - Phone 815-732-7383 - Fr. Bernard Sehr; Mailing/Office Address: 8 81 Mongan Dr, Oregon IL 61061
OREGON
Weekday Masses: Mon. 12:05 pm, Wed. and Fri. 8:30 am
EAST OREGON CHAPEL CHURCH OF GOD East Oregon Chapel Church of God The Sharing is Caring Church 107 N Daysville Rd. Oregon, IL Phone: 815-732-2960 Sunday Worship: 10:30 AM We look forward to meeting you!
LIGHTHOUSE UNITED METHODIST Pastor Dave Rogula 4962 S. Daysville Rd., Oregon, IL 61061 lighthouseUMC@yahoo.com Worship at 11:00 a.m. Holy Communion celebrated the first Sunday of each of month. Lighthouse will lite up your life!
LITTLE PRAIRIE MENNONITE CHURCH 1831 S Harmony Rd. Oregon, IL 61061 Worship Services: 10:00 AM Sunday Morning, 7:00 PM 1st & 3rd Sunday Evening, 7:30 PM 2nd & 4th Wednesday Evenings of the Month. Pastor: Norman Reinford 779-861-3700
Weekend Masses: Sat. 4:30 pm, Sun. 8:30 am and 6:00 pm Communion Service: Tues. 8:30 am; Reconciliation: Sat 3:30-4:00 pm or by appt. Eucharistic Adoration: Wed. 9-10 am www.stmaryop.org stmary-oregon@rockforddiocese.org
ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH, NALC 114 S. 5th St. Oregon, IL Phone: (815) 732-2367 Website: stpaulnalcoregonil.weebly.com 10:15 a.m. Fellowship/Education hours 11:30 a.m. Worship
POLO ST. MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH 211 N Franklin Ave, Polo IL 61064-Phone 815-732-7383 -Fr. Bernard Sehr Mailing/Office Address: 881 Mongan Dr, Oregon IL 61061 Weekend Masses: Sun. 10:15 am Daily Masses: Tues. and Sat. 8:30 am Reconciliation: Sat. 9:00-9:30 am or by appt. www.stmaryop.org stmary-oregon@roclcforddiocese.org
OREGON CHURCH OF GOD
STILLMAN VALLEY
860 W. Oregon Trail Road, Oregon, IL. 61061 Phone: 815-732-6847 www.oregoncog.com Pastor Michael Hoffman; Associate Pastor Nathan Massie Sunday School for all ages, 9:30 am; Worship - 10:30 am Tuesday - Prayer Group - 9:30 am; Women’s Bible Study 1:00 pm Thursday Men’s Group - 7:00 pm
RED BRICK CHURCH OF STILLMAN VALLEY
OREGON FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 505 Hill St. Oregon, IL 61061 Phone: 732-2642 Pastor: David Snow “A Christ-centered, Bible-believing, family-oriented ministry.” Sunday School 9:45 a.m.; Sunday Morning Service 10:45 a.m.; Sunday Afternoon Service 1:15 p.m.; Wednesday Night Bible Study 6:30 p.m.
OREGON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 200 S. 4th Street, Oregon, IL 61061 | 815-732-2994 www.oregonumc.org Pastor Rev Megan Smick 9:00 am Adult & Youth Bible Study 10 am Worship & Children’s Sunday School In-person or live on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/OregonUMC 5:30 pm Wednesday Night Meal All are welcome!
RIVERSTONE CHRISTIAN CHURCH 609 S. 10th Street , Oregon, IL 61061 Pastor Craig Arnold ~ 812-236-1213 Sunday Service @ 10:45 AM ~ contemporary style worship with coffee and doughnuts in our cafe! Online worship is also available via Facebook. We believe in sharing Communion every Sunday as an act of worship. RiverKids Service @ 10:45 AM for nursery-6th grade ~ provides a safe and fun environment where kids can learn about who God is and who they are because of Him. Encounter Youth Ministry for kids in 7th-12th grade meets on Sunday afternoons. Please see our Facebook page for scheduled dates and times. For complete ministry info and events, visit us online at Riverstonecc.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/RiverStoneChristianChurch
ST. BRIDE’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 902 Mongan Drive (at the top of Liberty Hill), Oregon, IL 732-7211 -Office Rev. Eldred George Webpage: saintbrides.org • E-mail:saint.bride.church@gmail.com Worship Services: Sunday 10 am Holy Communion with Hymns Christian Education Available
Pastor Rev. Dr. Chris Brauns | Associate Pastor David Bogner 207 W Roosevelt Road (Rte 72), Stillman Valley. 815-645-2526 | www.theredbrickchurch.org Sunday: Worship at 9:00 and 10:30 am. Sunday School at 9:00 am. Wednesday: AWANA (Sept – April) from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. Men, women, youth Bible Studies throughout the year. See website for all activities or contact the church office.
KISHWAUKEE COMMUNITY EVANGELICAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 8195 Kishwaukee Road, Stillman Valley, IL 61084 / 815-965-1940 Rev. Nick Garner, Pastor www.kishchurch.org Sunday Schedule: Discipleship Hour 8:45 AM, Coffee Fellowship 9:30 AM, Gathered Worship 10:00 AM For complete ministry schedule check out our website or call the church office.
VALLEY EVANGELICAL COVENANT CHURCH Lead Pastor Barry Norris 103 S Maple St, Stillman Valley, IL 815-645-8872 | www.valleycov.org Sunday Morning 9am ‘Gather’ for learning & conversation, 10:15am Worship both onsite and online at facebook.com/VECCfSV Home of Valley Covenant Preschool 815-645-8882 Director Jill Huber Bible Studies, Youth Group, Bread of Life Food Pantry Please visit website for more information or contact the church office M-F 9am-2pm
WINNEBAGO MIDDLE CREEK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 12473 Montague Road, Winnebago, IL 61088 Located West of Tower Road on Montague Rd. Sunday: Worship Service at 10:30 am. Sunday School: 9am Pastor Phil Thompson Phone: 815-335-2609. Email: middlecreekchurch@gmail.com Coffee & Chat (Everyone is welcome!): Tuesdays 8-10am Visit our Facebook page or YouTube channel for online worship
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• GIVING
success reflects the power of collective giving and the enduring spirit of generContinued from page 21 osity within the Rochelle community, according to an RACF news release. with meaningful ways to give.” For more information about RACF or RACF extended its appreciation to to learn how to support local funds and every donor, business, adviser and vol- initiatives, visit www.rochellefoundaunteer who contributed to this achieve- tion.org or contact director@rochellement. The foundation’s Giving Tuesday foundation.org.
Ogle County assessor: New state law makes changes to Senior Assessment Freeze Eligibility
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. The change begins with the 2026 (payable 2027) tax year increasing the maximum household income to $75,000 (from $65,000 for 2025 tax year payable 2026). It will increase the next year 2027 tax year (payable 2028) to $77,000 then in 2028 tax year (payable in 2029) to $79,000. The applications for the 2026 tax year will be mailed to all taxpayers who received the Low-Income Senior Citizen Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption in 2025 tax year (payable 2026) by March 1, 2026. For first-time applicants, the form will be available on the Ogle County website, (www.oglecountyil.gov) or in the Supervisor of Assessments Office.
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LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
OGLE COUNTY LIFE Ogle County Life / shawlocal.com • Monday, December 29, 2025
Photo provided by Rochelle Area Community Foundation
Constellation presents a donation to the Rochelle Area Community Foundation for Giving Tuesday.
Forms can also be mailed on request by calling the Supervisor of Assessments office at 815-732-1150.
First Fridays Open Mic is Jan. 2 at Oregon VFW in Oregon
The First Fridays Open Mic presents its monthly show at the Oregon VFW on Friday, Jan. 2. This indoor event attracts many talented performers, but musicians and singers of all skill levels find acceptance from its supportive audience. The show starts at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free, although a jar is available for donations. Performers can sign up for time slots on a first-come, first-served basis, so it’s best to arrive by 6 p.m. or earlier. Interested parties who have questions can contact Jerry Tice at 815-449-2660. The VFW is located at 1310 W. Washington St. in Oregon. It provides ample parking, along with the availability of a restaurant and bar within the building. A fish fry runs from 4-8 p.m. – Shaw Local News Network
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Ogle County Life / shawlocal.com • Monday, December 29, 2025
OGLE COUNTY LIFE
24 OGLE COUNTY PROPERTY TRANSFERS FOR DEC. 1-12 Warranty deeds
• Jason R. Penticoff and Kimberly S. Penticoff to Michelle M. Allen, 1 Parcel: 1427&1431 Crimson Ridge Ln, Byron, $290,000 • Donna J. Hayenga to Marc A. Personette, 2 Parcels: 8538 N Valley View Dr, Byron, and 8518 N Valley View Dr, Byron, $282,000 • Sandra L. Helton to Ryan Zwettler and Nicole Zwettler, 1 Parcel: 512 N Franklin Ave., Polo, $137,000 • Diane M. May and Sean P. Tracy to Christine Wegrzyn, 1 Parcel: 7522 N River Rd, Byron, $215,000 • Carlos Calderon and Olga L. Calderon to Alfonso Hernandez-Rojas, Alfonso Hernandez-Rojas, Marisol Garcia-Belmonte, and Marisol Garcia-Belmonte, 1 Parcel: 925 N 15th St, Rochelle, $130,000 • Naf Cash Llc to David Oliver and Reema B. Oliver, 1 Parcel: 10282 E Clara Ave., Rochelle, $495,185 • Aaron R. Roe and Rachel Schupbach Roe to Michael Mascio, 1 Parcel: 505 E King St., Polo, $176,000 • Cynthia Raye Hatch to Linden Petre and Krystal Petre, 2 Parcels: 7029 W Penn Corner Rd, Polo, and 7029 W Penn Corner Rd, Polo, $180,000 • Bradley L. Barker, Kaitlyn P. Barker and Kaitlyn P. Anderson to Theodore W. Morris Jr. and Carol D. Morris, 1 Parcel: 118 N Prairie Dr, Forreston, $335,000 • Cornerstone Contractors Of Florida Llc to Brandon Dejonge, 1 Parcel: 114 River Rd, Oregon, $240,000 • Danny S. White and Danae D. White to Jose Odilon Reyes, 1 Parcel: 113 Janet, Rochelle, $178,500 • Gregory D. Bennett Jr. and Heather M. Bennett to Brandon A. Huddleston and Angel S. Huddleston, 1 Parcel: 217 W Merchant St, Byron, $170,000 • Mary E. Bushland to Seth A. Stevens, 1 Parcel: 2308 N Leaf River Rd, Mt. Morris, $90,000 • Robert C. Colwell and David J. Didier to Grandpa’s Dirt Llc and Grandpas Dirt Llc, 3 Parcels in Lafayette Township: 23-07-300003, 23-18-100-005, 23-18-100-006, $0.00 • Tracey Renee Anders to Robert B. Borgen Trustee and Robert B. Borgen Rev Tr., 1 Parcel: 207 S Division Ave, Polo, $50,000 • Contry Homes Group Llc to Andrew J. Szychilinski and Nancy J. Szychilinski, 1 Parcel: 203 Autumnwood Ln, Davis Junction, $262,205
• Bradley D. Wolber and Dolores Wolber to Ruth D. Cross, 1 Parcel: 110 W 1st St, Mt. Morris, $118,000 • Rhonda Book to Dorinda R. Hammer and Adam W. Larson, 1 Parcel: 926 W 2nd St, Byron, $145,000 • Tammy J. Hubbard to Jfa Properties Llc, 1 Parcel: 17684 W Eagle Point Rd, Polo, $181,250 • Allison S. Toal and Erik A. Guglielmi to Tabernash Lp, 1 Parcel: 102 W Main St, Byron, $122,000 • Rick Mcquality and Kayla Richolson to Tyler Clark, 1 Parcel: 1011 N Limekiln Rd, Oregon, $244,000 • Meggan L. Franklin to Taylor James Mccarthy and Madison Elaine Mccarthy, 1 Parcel: 174 S Fox Run Ln, Byron, $165,000 • James O. Rainwater and Paula Rainwater to Timothy Gunderson and Cynthia Gunderson, 1 Parcel in Monroe Township: 12-21-482-014, $10,500 • Hre Builders Llc to Chad Herring, 1 Parcel: 247 Creekside Dr, Byron, $342,000 • Brian D. Stouffer and Gayle L. Madsen to Joshua Skinner, Selena Clemons-Skinner, and Selena Clemons Skinner, 4 Parcels in Mt. Morris Township: 08-25-300-004, 08-25-300-005, 08-25-300-006, and 08-36-100-052, $695,000 • Kyle Phillip Macias and Crysta Nicholle Macias to Abraham Martinez, 1 Parcel: 534 Westfield Dr, Stillman Valley, $299,000 • Lake Lida - Phase 1 to Capitol-Farwell Corp and Capitol Farwell Corp, 1 Parcel: 433 W Willis Ave, Rochelle, $7,450,000 • Javier R. Salinas and Carol E. Salinas to Leonard M. Schulfer and Joanne M. Schulfer, 1 Parcel in Flagg Township: 24-20203-002, $35,000 • Corrine S. Wallace to Eugene R. Logan, 1 Parcel: 412 S Congress Ave, Polo, $63,000 • Nancy D. Alderks and Becky J. Borchers to Straight Roes Farm Llc and Straight Roe’s Farm Llc, 1 Parcel: 18427 E Mcneal Rd, Monroe Center, $0.00
• Renee Barnhart to Nancy Loput and Joseph Rovira, 1 Parcel: 809 Franklin St, Oregon, $0.00 • Donald W. Lund to Donald W. Lund Trustee and Donald W. Lund Tr101, 3 Parcels: 1248 N Lynnville Rd, Lindenwood; 1144 Lynnville Rd, Lindenwood; and one parcel in Lynnville Township: 19-08-300010, $0.00 • Kyle A. Johnson to Lisa K. Johnson, 1 Parcel: 21208 Tilton Park Dr, Rochelle, $0.00 • Scott W. Roberts and Ellie L. Roberts to Richelle L. Lumpkins, 1 Parcel in Buffalo Township: 14-16-327-024, $0.00 • Martin Brennan and Sarah Gale Brennan to Martin Brennan Trustee, Martin Brennan 2025 Declaration Tr, Sarah Gale Brennan Trustee, and Sarah Gale Brennan 2025 Declaration Tr, 1 Parcel: 1247 Tilton Park Dr, Rochelle, $0.00 • Steven Sims to Steven Sims and Christina Sims, 1 Parcel: 411 S 6th St, Oregon, $0.00 • Raymond F. Saathoff to Angela Dawn Saathoff, Daniels Raymond Saathoff, Raymond F. Saathoff Life Estate, 1 Parcel: 319 S. Rural Road, Stillman Valley, $0.00 • Shelby Beardin to Shelby Beardin, 1 Parcel: 165 Harvest Glenn Dr, Davis Junction, $0.00 • Bruce Powell, Tammie L. Richter, and Tammie L. Powell to Bruce Powell and Tammie L. Powell, 1 Parcel: 1410 Brookside Dr, Rochelle, $0.00 • William John Messer, Susan Lynn Messer, to William J. Messer Trustee, William J. Messer Tr, Susan L. Messer Trustee, and Susan L. Messer Tr., 1 Parcel: 5846 S Brooklyn Rd, Rochelle, $0.00 • Andrew D. Koenig and Jacqueline L. Koenig, 1 Parcel: 1020 N 3rd St, Rochelle, $0.00 • Washington Grove Cemetery Association to Michael R. Hardesty, 1 Parcel: 4551 E Flagg Rd, Ashton, $1,500
Quit claims
Trustees deeds
• Debra Barron to Daniel S. Barron, 1 Parcel in Rockvale Township: 09-05-200003, $0.00 • Sarah A. Harshman to Sarah Harshman and Benjamin A. Harshman, 1 Parcel: 311 S 4th St, Oregon, $0.00 • Kristi Bowman to Kenneth J. Mrozek Ii and Kathy M. Mrozek, 1 Parcel: 229 S Franklin St, Byron, $0.00 • Gustavo Esquivel to Vicente Silva Nunez and Christian Silva, 1 Parcel: 148 Wayne Rd, Rochelle, $0.00
• Jerry R. Funk Trustee, Lynn D. Genandt Trustee, and Robert & Johanna Funk Tr. to Lori K. Gipper, 1 Parcel in Forreston Township: 02-08-100-007, $0.00 • Vicki A. Wine Trustee and Luan B. Wine Tr to Nicki Como, 1 Parcel: 1060 Westview Dr, Rochelle, $140,000 • Old National Bank Trustee and Patricia D. Best Tr. to Peter Todd Stofflet, 2 Parcels in Flagg Township: 24-24-106-023 and 24-24-106-024, $30,000 • Lindsay B. Mitchell Trustee, Ashley B.
Adams Trustee, and Roger L. Adams Tr to Lindsay B. Mitchell, 1 Parcel in Leaf River: 04-33-300-008, $0.00 • Lindsay B. Mitchell Trustee, Ashley B. Adams Trustee, and Roger L. Adams Tr to Lindsay B. Mitchell, 1 Parcel: 370 Creekside Dr, Byron, $0.00 • Jill L. Izer Trustee and Izer Family Tr to Everett Albright, 1 Parcel: 603 S 10th St, Oregon, $185,000 • John Daniel Michaux Trustee and William F Michaux Iii Tr to John Daniel Michaux, 1 Parcel: 7179 German Church Road, Byron, $0.00 • Donald L. Kinn Trustee and Donald L. Kinn Tr to Garett Samp, 1 Parcel: 1176 Westview Dr, Rochelle, $162,000 • Arlene H. Grubb Trustee and Ahg Tr314 to Leah M. Beneventi, 1 Parcel: 05-26-403007, $10,000 • Jerry R. Funk Trustee and Lynn D. Genandt Trustee to Joy Marie Brattrud, 1 Parcel in Marion Township: 02-08-100007, $447,850 • Jerry R. Funk Trustee, Lynn D. Genandt Trustee, and Robert & Johanna Funk Tr to Randall H. Battrud, 1 Parcel in Forreston Township: 02-07-200-001, $1,043,276 • Brian J. Henry Trustee, Fjh1 Tr, and Joseph J. Henry to Brian J. Henry, Kevin M. Henry, and Kathleen M. Bybee, 1 Parcel in Rockvale Township: 09-36-100-002, $0.00
Deeds in Trust
• Brian Morsch and Brian H. Morsch to Brian Morsch Trustee and Brian Morsch Tr, 1 Parcel in Oregon-Nashua Township: 16-26-400-016; one parcel in Flagg Township: 24-20-478-020; and 110 S 7th St, Rochelle, $0.00 • Robert D. Carpenter and Marlys A. Carpenter to Robert D. Carpenter Trustee, Robert D. Carpenter Tr., Marlys A. Carpenter Trustee, and Marlys A. Carpenter Tr., 6 Parcels: 2 Parcels in Lincoln Township: 07-25-100-004 and 07-36-200-004; 2 parcels in Mt. Morris Township: 08-19300-003 and 08-30-100-001; 505 W Fieldstone, Mt. Morris, and 1 Parcel in Oregon-Nashua Township: 16-02-156-013, $0.00 • Judy L. Beesing to Judy L. Beesing Trustee and Jlb Tr725, 950 N Etnyre Ter, Oregon; 2 Parcels in Oregon-Nashua Township: 16-04-201-012 and 16-12-200004, and 114 S. Marsh Road, Oregon, $0.00
– Shaw Local News Network
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Alley Oop
Pickles
Hagar the Horrible
Barney Google and Snuffy Smith
JANRIC CLASSIC SUDOKU
OGLE COUNTY LIFE Ogle County Life / shawlocal.com • Monday, December 29, 2025
Garfield
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Daddy Daze
Wizard of Id
HOW TO PLAY Each row, column and set of 3-by-3 boxes must contain the numbers 1 through 9 without repetition.
WORD FIND
This is a theme puzzle with the subject stated below. Find the listed words in the grid. (They may run in any direction b always in a straight line. Some letters are used more than once.) Ring each word as you find it and when you have com pleted the puzzle, there will be 17 letters left over. They spell out the alternative theme of the puzzle.
WORD FIND
26 OGLE COUNTY LIFE
Dairy farming
Ogle County Life / shawlocal.com • Monday, December 29, 2025
© 2025 Australian Word Games Dist. by Creators Syndicate Inc.
Solution: 17 Letters
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Acres Agist Barren Bike Bloat Bran Break Bunk Calf Care Churn Clean
Clover Colt Cook Crops Cups Dairy Dams Dogs Dust Earth Eggs Ewes
Feed Foals Gate Germ Growth Heat Herd Lush Mail Milk Pens Pests
Plant Ponies Processing Pump Raise Rake Rich Risk Role Shed Shoot Sows
Stable Tank Task Toil Tough Tube Wool Yards
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AUCTIONS
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Ogle County, IL
FARMLAND AUCTION Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026 at 10:30 AM
257.558 Surveyed Acres Selling in 2 parcelsNO COMBINATIONS
OPEN TENANCY FOR 2026
Section 32 in Lincoln Township, Ogle County, IL Parcel A) 102.696 Surveyed Acres Farmland Only Parcel B) 154.862 Surveyed Acres Farmland Only For complete listing of survey, sale bill, maps, tax info, and terms & conditions, etc. visit
www.lennybrysonauctioneer.com
Owner, Lester Rae Rothermel Trust, Brian Rothermel Trustee, Polo Seed Company, Michelle R. Goetz Trust, Kevin R. Rothermel Special Needs Trust Attorney, Plager, Krug, Bauer, Rudolph & Stodden, Ltd.
For Information Contact: Lenny Bryson - Auctioneer Ph: 815-946-4120
STERLING STEEL COMPANY
ELECTRONICS SUPERVISOR
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Sale to be held at: Polo Senior Center 101 E. Mason St. Polo, IL 61064
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27 OGLE COUNTY LIFE Ogle County Life / shawlocal.com • Monday, December 29, 2025
being at least six NOTICE - CLAIMS IL 61111. Notice is given of The estate will be (6) months from the the death of Harold administered with- date of the first H. Fleenor, who out Court Supervi- publication. died on August 19, sion, unless under Claims against the 2024, a resident of section 28-4 of the estate may be filed Act of with the Clerk of Ogle County, Illi- Probate STATE OF (755ILCS the Circuit Court, nois. Letters of Of- 1975 ILLINOIS fice were issued on 5/28-4) any inter- 106 S. 5th Street, IN THE CIRCUIT December 3, 2025, ested person may Oregon, IL 61061, COURT OF THE and the Repre- terminate indepen- or with the Repre15TH JUDICIAL sentative for the dent administration sentative, or both. CIRCUIT estate is Denise at any time by Any claim not filed OGLE COUNTY, Miller, 8898 S. mailing or deliver- within that period ILLINOIS Lynn St., Rochelle, ing a petition to is barred. Copies In the Matter of: IL 61068. The at- terminate to the of a claim filed with HAROLD H. torney for the es- Circuit Court Clerk. the Clerk must be FLEENOR, tate is Amanda J. Claims against the mailed or delivered Deceased. Martinez, 5732 E. estate may be filed to the Representa2025 PR 64 Riverside Blvd., on or before June tive and to the atPUBLICATION #201, Loves Park, 15, 2026, that date torney within ten being at least six (10) days after it NOTICE - CLAIMS IL 61111. Notice is given of The estate will be (6) months from the has been filed. the death of Harold administered with- date of the first Attorney Amanda H. Fleenor, who out Court Supervi- publication. J. Martinez died on August 19, sion, unless under Claims against the ARDC#: 6287970 EGAL OTICES EGAL OTICES EGAL OTICES LEGAL NOTICES L N L N L N LEGAL NOTICES estate may be filed The Law Office of section 28-4 of the 2024, a resident of Act of with the Clerk of Amanda Adams Ogle County, Illi- Probate STATE OF (755ILCS the Circuit Court, Martinez LLC nois. Letters of Of- 1975 ILLINOIS fice were issued on 5/28-4) any inter- 106 S. 5th Street, 5732 E. Riverside December 3, 2025, ested person may Oregon, IL 61061, Blvd., #201 IN THE CIRCUIT and the Repre- terminate indepen- or with the Repre- Loves Park, IL COURT OF THE sentative for the dent administration sentative, or both. 61111 15TH JUDICIAL estate is Denise at any time by Any claim not filed 815-491-8065 CIRCUIT 8898 S. mailing or deliver- within that period amartinez@adams Miller, OGLE COUNTY, Lynn St., Rochelle, ing a petition to is barred. Copies martinezlaw.com ILLINOIS December 15, 22, IL 61068. The at- terminate to the of a claim filed with In the Matter of: torney for the es- Circuit Court Clerk. the Clerk must be 29, 2025 HAROLD H. tate is Amanda J. Claims against the mailed or delivered FLEENOR, Martinez, 5732 E. estate may be filed to the RepresentaDeceased. Blvd., on or before June tive and to the at2025 PR 64 Riverside #201, Loves Park, 15, 2026, that date torney within ten PUBLICATION being at least six (10) days after it NOTICE - CLAIMS IL 61111. The estate will be (6) months from the has been filed. Notice is given of date of the first Attorney Amanda administered withthe death of Harold J. Martinez H. Fleenor, who out Court Supervi- publication. died on August 19, sion, unless under Claims against the ARDC#: 6287970 2024, a resident of section 28-4 of the estate may be filed The Law Office of Act of with the Clerk of Amanda Adams Ogle County, Illi- Probate (755ILCS the Circuit Court, Martinez LLC nois. Letters of Of- 1975 E. Riverside S. 5th Street, 5732 any inter- 106 fice were issued on 5/28-4) EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT December 3, 2025, ested person may Oregon, IL 61061, Blvd., #201 Loves Park, IL terminate indepenor with the Repreand the Representative for the dent administration sentative, or both. 61111 estate is Denise at any time by Any claim not filed 815-491-8065 Miller, 8898 S. mailing or deliver- within that period amartinez@adams Lynn St., Rochelle, ing a petition to is barred. Copies martinezlaw.com December 15, 22, IL 61068. The at- terminate to the of a claim filed with 29, 2025 torney for the es- Circuit Court Clerk. the Clerk must be mailed or delivered Claims against the tate is Amanda J. to the Representaestate may be filed Martinez, 5732 E. Riverside Blvd., on or before June tive and to the atImmediate opportunity for an Electronics professional with thorough #201, Loves Park, 15, 2026, that date torney within ten being at least six (10) days after it IL understanding 61111. of PLCs, VSDs, & ability to troubleshoot electrical issues. The estate will be (6) months from the has been filed. date of the first Attorney Amanda administered withHeavy industrial electronics exp. required; Supervisory exp. preferred. Salary J. Martinez out Court Supervi- publication. Claims against the ARDC#: 6287970 sion, unless under + monthly incentive pay, insurance, retirement & time off benefits. section 28-4 of the estate may be filed The Law Office of Probate Act of with the Clerk of Amanda Adams Detailed description, payMartinez infoLLC & application available at the Circuit Court, 1975 (755ILCS 5/28-4) any inter- 106 S. 5th Street, 5732 E. Riverside https://Leggett.com/careers, search “Electronics Supervisor” in the Keyword box. ested person may Oregon, IL 61061, Blvd., #201 terminate indepen- or with the Repre- Loves Park, IL both. 61111 dent administration sentative, orEmployer EEO/Veteran/Disability at any time by Any claim not filed 815-491-8065 SM-ST2295691 within that period amartinez@adams mailing or delivering a petition to is barred. Copies martinezlaw.com December 15, 22, terminate to the of a claim filed with 29, 2025 Circuit Court Clerk. the Clerk must be Claims against the mailed or delivered estate may be filed to the Representaon or before June tive and to the at15, 2026, that date torney within ten being at least six (10) days after it (6) months from the has been filed. date of the first Attorney Amanda J. Martinez publication. Claims against the ARDC#: 6287970 estate may be filed The Law Office of with the Clerk of Amanda Adams the Circuit Court, Martinez LLC 106 S. 5th Street, 5732 E. Riverside Oregon, IL 61061, Blvd., #201 or with the Repre- Loves Park, IL sentative, or both. 61111 Any claim not filed 815-491-8065 within that period amartinez@adams is barred. Copies martinezlaw.com December 15, 22, of a claim filed with 29, 2025 the Clerk must be mailed or delivered to the Representative and to the attorney within ten (10) days after it
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Ogle County Life / shawlocal.com • Monday, December 29, 2025
OGLE COUNTY LIFE
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LEGAL NOTICES IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OGLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF MILDRED PAAR, Deceased. 2025 PR 67 NOTICE OF CLAIM Notice is given of the death of Mildred Paar, who died on September 2, 2025. Letters ofOffice were issued on December 5, 2025 to Susan Hagen, as Independent Adminiswhoseadtrator, dress is 409 N. Barber Ave., Polo, IL 61064, and whose attorney is Kelly Flessner of EhrmannGehlbach Badger & Considine, LLC, 114 E. Everett St., Suite 300, Dixon, Illinois 61021.The estate will be administered without court supervision unless under Chapter 755 ILCS5/28-4 of the probate act, any interested person terminates independent administration at anytime by mailing or delivering a petition to terminate to the Circuit Clerk of the Ogle County Court.Claims against the estate may be filed in the office of the Clerk, or with the representative,or both within six months from the date of the first publication, no later than June 15, 2025 andany claim not filed within that period is barred. Copies of a claim filed with the clerk must bemailed or delivered to the representative and to the attorney within ten days after it has beenfiled. Kelly L. Flessner Attorney for Administrator Prepared by: Ms. Kelly L. Flessner (ARDC 631282) Attorney for Petitioner Ehrmann Gehlbach Badger & Considine, LLC 114 E. Everett St., Suite 300 Dixon, IL 61021 815-288-4949 flessner@egbclaw. com
beenfiled. Kelly L. Flessner Attorney for Administrator Prepared by: Ms. Kelly L. LEGAL NOTICES Flessner (ARDC 631282) Attorney for Petitioner Ehrmann Gehlbach Badger & Considine, LLC 114 E. Everett St., Suite 300 Dixon, IL 61021 815-288-4949 flessner@egbclaw. com Dec. 15, 22, 29, 2025 PUBLIC NOTICE Sealed bids will be received by the Ogle County Highway Department, Oregon, Illinois until 2:00 P.M., January 9, 2026, for the purchase of the following new equipment: 1) 1-Ton Dump Truck. 2) Tandem Axle Dump Truck with 13' body. 3) 80 hp Tractor. Specifications for the new equipment are available at the Ogle County HighDepartment, way 1989 South IL Rt. 2, Oregon, IL between the hours of 7:00 A.M. and 3:30 P.M. Monday - Friday. Also available online at www.ogle countyil.gov. Call 815-732-2851 with questions. The Road and Bridge Committee reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids. Dec. 22, 29, 2025, Jan. 5, 2026
LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICES
DOCUMENT 001113 - ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS 1.1 PROJECT INFORMATION A. Notice to Bidders: Qualified bidders may submit bids for project as described in this Document. Submit bids according to the Instructions to Bidders. 1. Regulatory Requirements: Applicable laws and regulation of those having jurisdiction in the State of Illinois shall govern submittal, opening, and award of bids. 2. All Contracts for the Construction of Public Works are subject to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS 130/1-12). B. Project Identification: 2026 SITE IMPROVEMENTS 1. Project Location: Rochelle Township High School, 1401 Flagg Road, Rochelle, Illinois 61068. 2. Architect's Project Number: 0713-2025045 C. Owner: Rochelle Township High School District 212, 1401 Flagg Road, Rochelle, Illinois 61068. 1. Owner's Representative: Kevin Dale, Business Manager, 815-562-4161, kdale@rthsd212.org. D. Architect: Green Associates, Inc., 1437 Harmony Court, Itasca, Illinois 60143. 1. Architect's Representative: George Prosiliakos, AIA, 847-317-0852 ext.154, gprosiliakos@greenassociates.com. E. Project Description: Project consists of the removal and replacement of asphalt, concrete curb and gutter, concrete sidewalk, grading, site restoration, pavement striping, and associated work as identified here-in. F. Construction Contract: Bids will be received in a Single Prime Contract. 1.2 BID SUBMITTAL AND OPENING A. Owner will receive lump sum bids until the bid time and date at the location given below. The sealed bid must be submitted on the Bid Form provided, Project Name, Date and Time of Bid clearly marked on the outside of the sealed envelope to prevent premature opening. Owner will consider bids prepared incompliance with the Instructions to Bidders, and delivered as follows: 1. Bid Date: 27 January 2026. 2. Bid Time: 10:00 a.m., local time. 3. Location: Rochelle Township High School, 1401 Flagg Road, Rochelle, Illinois 61068. a. Enter Door 2 at the High School. B. Bids will be thereafter publicly opened and read aloud. C. Any bid submitted unsealed, or unsigned, without bid bond or received subsequent to the aforementioned date and hour will be disqualified and returned to the bidder. D. Owner reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive informalities and irregularities. 1.3 BID SECURITY A. Bid Security is required in the form of a Bid Bond, AIA Document A310-2010 in an amount equal to not less than ten percent (10%) of the Base Bid and all Additive Alternates. B. It is the Owner's intent to issue a Notice of Award to the successful Bidder within thirty (30) calendar days of the Bid Date. No bid shall be withdrawn for a period of sixty (60) calendar days after the opening of bids. 1.4 PREBID MEETING A. Prebid Meeting: A mandatory prebid meeting for all bidders will be held at Rochelle Township High School, 1401 Flagg Road, Rochelle, Illinois 61068 on 13 January 2026 at 3:30 p.m., local time. Prospective bidders are required to attend. Failure to attend may result in rejection of bid. 1. Enter Door 2 at the High School. B. Additional visits to the site may be arranged by contacting Mark C. Klouse, Director of Facility and Grounds for HSD212 at 815-562-4161 Ext. 7160 by phone at least one day prior to visit. Bidders are encouraged to visit the site and familiarize themselves with the conditions under which the work is to be performed. 1.5 BID AWARD A. It is the Owner's intent to issue a Notice of Award to the successful Bidder within thirty (30) calendar days of the Bid Date. No bid shall be withdrawn for a period of sixty (60) calendar days after the opening of bids. 1.6 DOCUMENTS A. Bidding Documents: Obtain access after 23 December 2025, by going to BHFX website atwww.bhfxplanroom.com/jobs/public and registering. B. Bid forms are included in the bidding documents and can also be downloaded separately from the BHFX website. C. Addenda will be made available, in digital format, to plan holders of record. D. Bidding Documents can be viewed at the Architect's office. 1.7 TIME OF COMPLETION AND LIQUIDATED DAMAGES A. Successful bidder shall begin the Work on receipt of the Notice of Award and shall complete the Work within the Contract Time. Work is subject to liquidated damages. 1.8 BIDDER'S QUALIFICATIONS A. Bidders must be properly licensed under the laws governing their respective trades and be able to obtain insurance and bonds required for the Work. B. The successful bidder will be required to furnish a Performance Bond and a Payment Bond, in the amount of one hundred percent (100%) of the contract sum, on AIA Document A312-2010, as issued by the American Institute of Architects. December 29, 2025
Don’t need it? Dec. 15, 22, 29, 2025
LEGAL NOTICES
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29 OGLE COUNTY LIFE Ogle County Life / shawlocal.com • Monday, December 29, 2025 OCL
Hawks bowlers roll past Harvard SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com In a high school bowling match held on Friday, Dec. 19, at Town & Country Lanes in Mt. Morris, Oregon defeated Harvard 3,412 to 2,818, behind top series from the Hawks’
RJ Keene (674) and Rylann Delehanty (610). Harvard was led by Ty Fischer (524 series) and Camryn Roesler (524 series). Oregon improved to 6-2 with the win.
Photos by Earleen Hinton for Shaw Local News Network
TOP LEFT: Oregon’s RJ Keene releases the ball during a match with Harvard on Friday, Dec. 19, at Town & Country Lanes in Mt. Morris. TOP RIGHT: Oregon’s Caleb Ehrler gives a thumbs up after rolling a strike during a match with Harvard at Town & Country Lanes in Mt. Morris. ABOVE: Oregon’s RJ Keene reacts after making a spare during a match with Harvard on Friday in Mt. Morris. LEFT: Oregon’s Ethan Rowe smiles after throwing a strike during a match with Harvard on Friday at Town & Country Lanes in Mt. Morris.
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Ogle County Life / shawlocal.com • Monday, December 29, 2025
OGLE COUNTY LIFE
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Photos by Earleen Hinton for Shaw Local News Network
Oregon’s Josiah Perez holds Johnsburg’s Chase Vogel in the 120-pound championship at the Stillman Valley Holiday Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 20, at Stillman Valley High School.
Oregon wrestlers take third at Stillman Valley By RANDY HOLLAND Shaw Local News Network correspondent The Oregon varsity wrestlers finished third at the Stillman Valley Holiday Tournament on Saturday. In the varsity gym, the Hawks put together a strong medal round to finish with 154 points, seven ahead of Marengo and 18 more than Stillman Valley. Johnsburg ran away with the team title with 219 points and Wheaton Academy was second with 196 points. Oregon’s Josiah Perez took the 120pound championship. He had a firstround bye and a 20-5 technical fall in the semifinal. Perez rolled to a 15-2 major decision in the title match, with a half nelson netting four points in the second period. Nelson Benesh, Jayden Berry and Jordan Lowe all reached the champion-
Amboy’s Tyler Florschuetz lifts Stillman Valley’s Xander Bell in the championship match at 126-pounds at the Stillman Valley Holiday Tournament on Dec. 20 at Stillman Valley High School. Stillman Valley finished fifth overall.
and pinned midway through the second period. Lowe got a bye to the semifinal where he had a 16-8 win after leading 14-1. He lost a third-period tilt and fell 8-0 in the championship match. Finishing third was Newt Wright with a takedown in a half nelson. Fourth-place medalists were Cole Suter, pinned in a spladle at 2:47, and Jacksyn Windham, who lost a late reverse in an 11-6 decision. Kendra Ege rolled to a 16-1 technical fall in the 106pound fifth-place match. Carson Benesh pinned with a half nelson for fifth, and Tyler Hewndrickson escaped and countered into a takedown and a half nelson to take fifth at ship match and were defeated. Berry had a takedown to the back at 175 pounds. Benesh pinned with a cradle in the 1:33 in his opener and won his semifinal Suter and Windham both pinned in semifinal but fell 10-3 in the first-place with a takedown 27 seconds into overmatch. time. In the title match, he was stacked See Wrestling on page 31
SPORTS VIEWS Andy Colbert I can remember my Rochelle football team making the 1975 playoffs. That was when the first round was played on Wednesday, giving a team limited time to prepare. An impromptu decision was made by the school to allow us a Sunday evening practice, bearing in mind that it would not interfere with morning church worship. That was also an era when schools had an unwritten rule not to schedule games on Wednesday nights, as that was when churches had youth activities. The majority of school administrators were churchgoers and perhaps God-fearing ones at that. It would have been unthinking to desecrate God’s day of worship for the sake of highschool athletics As we’ve seen, though, there has been a secular movement to separate church and state. Court cases have ruled against government, and particularly public school districts. The long-held belief that Sundays
were a time for church and rest is slowly dissipating. School administrators, coaches and teachers that influence decision-making are not as responsive to the church as they once were. Statistics on declining church attendance bear that out, making Sunday just another day to most of America. Maybe that’s why Sunday morning wrestling wasn’t that big of a deal. Of the 30-team field at Harlem, several of the schools were Catholic, including champion Lombard Montini and runner-up Mt. Carmel. Being on the mats instead in the pews must have been OK with them. This piece isn’t meant to be critical of Harlem High School, but rather a reflection (or lack thereof) of the influence of church on today’s society. Truthfully, very few parents put church ahead of athletics. That is borne out by the large number of parents and grandparents, as well, who would much rather travel with their son or daughter to sporting events than church. I’ve seen a jam-packed parking lot at the Blackhawk Center in my town of Oregon for club volleyball on Sunday morning. What is happening there is no different than anywhere in the country, save deeply religious pockets. But, for schools to adopt Sunday play
makes a much more significant societal statement, effectively giving God second billing. Prayer left the public school long ago, so why get so wrapped up with a wrestling tournament that was trying to schedule the 30-team event as conveniently as possible? The only answer that comes to mind is that the more God has been edged out, the more schools have experienced anxiety and depression among students, suicide, violence, less student motivation and discipline problems. What a church can do is show the love of God and that every single person is important to Him. That lesson is far greater than learning algebra or a wrestling takedown. If God’s love can come into the heart of our young people through the workings of the Church, it stands to reason that the woes of a school would be drastically reduced by such a spiritual transformation. Shouldn’t that be enough of a reason to set aside just a few hours each week for Him?
• Andy Colbert is a longtime Ogle County resident with years of experience covering sports and more for multiple area publications.
Earleen Hinton for Shaw Local News Network
Oregon’s Jayden Berry (left) and Wheaton Academy’s Lincoln Hoger start their 150-pound match at the Stillman Valley Holiday Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 20, at Stillman Valley High School.
• WRESTLING
144 pounds. In the JV gym, Kayden Cover and Landon Ege both pinned their way to Continued from page 30 titles. the consolation semifinal. Landon BatCharles Collins had a fall and an ton-Harriet represented the Hawks at 18-12 win before he lost a 17-1 technical
fall in the title match to take second. Yovanni Carreno had two pins before he lost by fall in the title match. Ian Tajiboy-Kilkan took third, losing his opener by a fall and pinning twice. Jaxson Oltman had two falls before he
was pinned in the third-place match to tale fourth. Tyshawn Gordy and Brody Stradinger both had a fall but did not place. Finn Ruane represented Oregon at 138.
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Andy Colbert is away for a couple of weeks. Here is one of his columns from Dec. 27, 2019. In a testament to how spiritual values have changed, a Sunday conclusion to the prestigious Dvorak wrestling tournament did not merit much, if any consternation. It was a 9 a.m. start for the finals, held at Harlem High School, on a day that has always been set aside for church worship. Club and AAU sports have long used Sundays as a day for competition, but school districts have generally refrained from it. In decades past, it would have been scandalous for a school to even consider having competition on a Sunday morning. How dare sports be put above church? At least that was the prevailing attitude in this country for generations and not just with high school athletics. There was a time when stores and businesses were closed on Sunday. Besides religious observation, there was a matter of one day a week rest for workers, a Sabbath if you will. Those so-called blue laws have loosened up, but you still can’t buy a car on Sunday in Illinois. Alcohol sales went from never on Sunday, to noon only and now to anytime of the day.
OGLE COUNTY LIFE Ogle County Life / shawlocal.com • Monday, December 29, 2025
Sports on Sundays? How values have changed
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SPORTS
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY 1963: Bears beat Giants 14-10 at Wrigley Field to win NFL Championship. 2020: Bucks break NBA record for most 3-pointers made by a team in a single game with 29 in a 144-97 win over Miami. Monday, December 29, 2025
Oregon’s Cole Suter holds Johnsburg’s Jordan Sylvanus during their 165-pound match at the Stillman Valley Holiday Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 20, at Stillman Valley High School. Photo by Earleen Hinton for Shaw Local News Network
THIRD PLACE FOR HAWKS The Oregon Hawks varsity wrestling team finished third at the Stillman Valley Holiday Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 20 / 30