ROCK VALLEY SHOPPER
Changes Counseling
marks 15 years ‘We continue the tradition of helping others’
BY JEFF HELFRICH MANAGING EDITOR
ROCHELLE — Changes Counseling began because Christine Novak wanted to go on maternity leave.
In 2010, she had an independent practice working out of Mendota Community Hospital when she became pregnant with her third child. Instead of telling clients she wouldn’t be available for three months, she hired another therapist to help. Changes Counseling now has been in business for 15 years with offices currently in Rochelle and Peru. Novak serves as its director as well as still working as a therapist.
Over 15 years, Changes Counseling has learned to adapt to changes in the counseling field. It has opened and closed offices, added and lost therapists, adapted to telehealth services and continued to learn and grow. It offers individual, couple, youth and family counseling to people of all ages.
“Fifteen years later, the same intention holds true,” Novak said. “We focus on helping others while we’re helping ourselves. We have helped people recover from depression, get back to work after debilitating anxiety, helped families stabilize and supported families with ADHD and Autism. We have literally saved hundreds of lives as we give clients skills to navigate life after a suicide attempt. We have helped couples and families reconnect and rebuild after divorce. We have helped kids over-
Over 15 years, Changes Counseling has learned to adapt to changes in the counseling field. It has opened and closed offices, added and lost therapists, adapted to telehealth services and continued to learn and grow.
come their fears, stand up to bullies and succeed in school and beyond.”
Novak thanked the Northern Illinois community for its support over 15 years, along with community partners and clients.
Changes Counseling currently has availability for new clients at its Rochelle and Peru offices and through its online confidential teletherapy. The business accepts most insurance companies.
See CHANGES COUNSELING page 2
Local resident Jason King recently took second place in the straight truck division at the 2025 Truck Driving Championships (TDC) State Truck
King places 2nd in straight truck division at TDC State Truck Rodeo
BY JEFF HELFRICH MANAGING EDITOR
ROCHELLE — Jason
King recently took second place in the straight truck
division at the 2025 Truck Driving Championships (TDC) State Truck Rodeo in Tinley Park June 6-7.
See KING page 3
Ogle County releases letter addressing claims of permitting animal cruelty
OREGON — The following is a June 26 letter by Ogle County Board Chairman Bruce Larson addressing claims of Ogle County permitting animal cruelty.
“The Ogle County Board believes it necessary to set the record straight on this issue.
In 2012 a permanent special use permit was issued to the property located at 16989 Ritchie Road, Rochelle, for a rodeo. The only conditions placed on the permit were that all activity ends by 1 a.m. and there is no loud activity after midnight.
The permanent special use stays with the property until the conditions of the special use have been violated or a request by the landowner to change or remove the permit. The special use permit cannot be removed for violations of the conditions prescribed without evidence the conditions were violated and must go through the
due process of hearings before the special use permit can be revoked.
Ogle County contacted the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Animal Health and Welfare to get the department’s help with the issues raised by the outside entities making claims of animal abuse. The department’s humane investigator advised that they would not be getting involved and that it is very difficult to regulate rodeos under existing law because animals can get hurt in rodeos, shows and even in pastures.
The act of ‘steer tailing’ is not specifically illegal under Illinois law. In the just-concluded Illinois legislative session a law introduced that would make ‘steer tailing’ illegal failed to pass.
Another complicating factor is that the Illinois Attorney General Civil Rights Bureau sent a letter cautioning the Boone County
Board against acting against ‘Mexican Rodeos’ after the board attempted to regulate said activity. The letter stated, ‘[t]he State of Illinois is committed to protecting the civil rights of all Illinois residents, which include the right to live free from unlawful discrimination. We urge the board to ensure that it is complying with its obligations under all applicable anti-discrimination laws, both with respect to special and temporary use permitting and related ordinances, and in carrying out all other aspects of its duties.’
Perhaps those people wanting Ogle County to do something they cannot do should channel their efforts in a direction that may become more fruitful such as lobbying their state representatives to specifically outlaw ‘steer tailing’ or completing a witness slip for SB 45. Unfortunately, rather
than working on a solution to the issue, these out-of-county entities have engaged in the repeated email and telephone harassment of the Ogle County Board, Sheriff, State’s Attorney, Zoning, & Animal Control. Further, these same outside organizations have encouraged the making of false 911 calls which is illegal and could impact Ogle County residents receiving services in the event of a real emergency.
Ogle County does not condone animal cruelty. Ogle County cannot simply ‘Deny the permit.’ It was approved 13 years ago in perpetuity if the conditions of the permit have not been violated. Ogle County cannot simply ‘arrest people’who have caused an injury to an animal. And Ogle County cannot ‘simply ban’ the activity as the Illinois Attorney General’s office had made that abundantly clear.”
(PHOTO BY JEFF HELFRICH)
Rodeo in Tinley Park June 6-7.
(COURTESY PHOTO)
CHANGES COUNSELING:
From page 1
Changes Counseling currently has availability for new clients at its Rochelle and Peru offices and through its online confidential teletherapy. The business accepts most insurance companies.
Changes Counseling opened its first Rochelle office 12 years ago on Carrie Avenue. It added its current office at 604 N. Main St. Suite 4 in Rochelle seven years ago. Over the years it’s had offices in Oregon and Mendota as well.
“We’ve had as many as seven therapists and now we currently have four,” Novak said. “On average we do around 300 sessions per month. We serve roughly 350 families a year. Our offerings have remained the same. We help people mostly with anxiety, depression and life’s ups and downs.”
With all of the clients Changes Counseling has
served over 15 years, Novak often thinks about the ripple effect that has had across the community, such as improved relationships impacting family members positively or those that have navigated depression being able to now help others with it.
Novak thanked her staff for their support over 15 years and said she’s enjoyed the team environment and growing and learning together. The licensed clinical professional counselor enjoys her work because there’s never a dull moment.
“I enjoy the creativity of it,” Novak said. “I enjoy working with kids because they always bring a new sense of life. Teens are always bringing up what new thing they’re doing. I like helping people through their high school or young adult years. It’s awesome to help someone take off in their life. As people get families and marriage and become
couples, it’s just great to be able to help them navigate and make those positive changes in their lives. Even as older folks come in, we like helping them to grieve losses and maintain a healthy quality of life. All of the stages of life are neat.”
To celebrate its 15-year anniversary, Changes Counseling will host an ice cream social for the community on Friday, July 11 from 2-4 p.m. at 604 N. Main St. Suite 4 Rochelle, IL, 61068 with the Roiel Scoop Ice Cream truck.
Changes Counseling will soon be hiring an additional therapist to provide services locally. Novak said having a local therapist provides knowledge of and access to other local partners. The therapists at Changes Counseling are well acquainted with doctors, teachers, school counselors and drug and alcohol abuse support resources locally.
Novak said anxiety is the top issue that local therapists are helping the community to navigate. Changes Counseling does not offer substance abuse counseling, but sees those issues locally as well and often refers clients to community partners such as AA and the Rochelle Recovery Center.
“Here, along with anxiety, there’s definitely substance abuse and depression,” Novak said. “We have helped patients with Autism. We’ve helped patients from the LGBTQ+ community. We see the whole range of issues people are dealing with in our society. It’s all here in our small community.”
Around the COVID-19
pandemic, Novak said Changes Counseling saw “a huge influx” of patients and encountered waiting lists. She believes since then, the awareness of mental health has improved and there’s less stigma.
“We can keep up with the demand now and we can continue to do the work we do,” Novak said.
“At this point, we’ve been reaching out more to the community. Because we were so busy in recent years, we’re kind of reintroducing ourselves to the community and those people that maybe hadn’t heard about us. We want people to know we’re here to help. We’re happy to be part of a community that’s supportive of each other.”
Changes Counseling currently has availability for new clients at its Rochelle and Peru offices and through its online confidential teletherapy. The business accepts most insurance companies.
(PHOTO BY JEFF HELFRICH)
LOCAL NEWS
Ribbon cutting held for Las Tapatias Family Kitchen
‘It all started by selling tacos out of our house. Making this happen is awesome’
BY JEFF HELFRICH MANAGING EDITOR
ROCHELLE — On
Friday, June 27, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held for Las Tapatias Family Kitchen, a new restaurant at 1310 N. 7th St. in Rochelle. The small business, owned by the Castillo family, grew from selling tacos out of a house to catering to a brick-andmortar restaurant.
The ribbon cutting was hosted by the Rochelle Chamber of Commerce and the City of Rochelle. In attendance were family members, community members and city and chamber representatives. Speakers included Chamber Executive Director Tricia Herrera, Mayor John Bearrows, and siblings Yael and Celia Castillo.
Herrera said she was excited to celebrate the family business.
“We are very excited to have you here and to have people that have been involved in businesses and restaurants here in our community for years,” Herrera said. “My husband and I came here for dinner the other night and we very much enjoyed it. We want to welcome you and offer our help. It’s great to celebrate a new business when it opens, but we need to celebrate every day with them and support them and continue to provide business to them and share and tell friends. This is a beautiful space and you have done a wonderful job with it. You have a delicious product and we’re very excited. We look forward to many years of working
together.”
Bearrows welcomed the Castillo family and Las Tapatias Family Kitchen on behalf of the city.
“We always remind businesses that they have partners in the Rochelle Chamber of Commerce and City of Rochelle,” Bearrows said. “Small businesses are the backbone and heartbeat of our entire community. We take that very seriously and
I can remember during the pandemic when a large part of our attention turned to the retention and salvation of our businesses to create sustainability for them. We’ve carried that on and I’m very proud to say that. We have a very supportive city council and programs for small businesses such as facade and blade sign grants. We’re here to help you. Welcome to Rochelle.”
are
practices.
From page 1
Yael Castillo thanked those in attendance for coming and for the help they’ve given to get the restaurant to its opening. He also thanked the chamber and city for their assistance.
“My mom has been looking forward to this for many years,” Yael Castillo said. “It all started by selling tacos out of our house. Making this happen is awesome. It took a lot of
work to do it. Doing this while working our day jobs was a lot to handle. I have a newborn too, and I want to thank my partner for always helping me and believing in this. I want to thank my brother for always helping me and my sisters for being a part of this and believing in this. My mom and I were the stubborn ones in pushing for this. I’m glad we got it into our heads that this
was possible.”
The Castillo family thanked the Rochelle area for its support and patronage over the years and since the restaurant opened.
“Thank you all for being here and thank you to everyone who helped,” Celia Castillo said. “Thanks to the community for being so welcoming. I hope we continue to be here over many years.”
divisions,
The Kings resident competed in the event for the second time in his capacity as a truck driver for UPS.
The event is put on by the Illinois Trucking Association and there are nine divisions, with winners qualifying for the national competition. Drivers at the State TDC compete to showcase their skills, knowledge, and safety practices.
The pre-trip involves six minutes to find 15 hidden defects on the truck, such as a cracked headlight or mirror, something stuck in the driveshaft, a beer bottle placed on the floor or an inoperable headlight. The written test is 40 questions, and the driving course includes six objectives including a loading dock portion, a scale stop and precision turns.
“I wanted to try it,” King
The competition is made up of a pre-trip inspection, a written test and driving course. King finished with 229 total points after scoring 34 points in the written test, 45 points in the pre-trip inspection and 150 points in the skills course. Joseph Carson won the division with 272 total points. Eight drivers competed in King’s division.
said. “It makes you a better driver. It’s the state level and it’s the best of everybody from different companies throughout the state. Three years ago I knew they did it at the company and I asked about participating. My first year I was in the flatbed division and then I took a year off.”
King has worked at UPS for five years and regularly drives a sleeper semi cross-country, starting in Chicago before stops in
New Jersey, North Carolina, Arizona and back to Chicago. The longtime area resident has driven trucks since 1998, starting out at Maplehurst Farms.
The TDC State Truck Rodeo took place at the Tinley Park Convention Center and 15 teams competed, King said. Companies that sent drivers include UPS, FedEx Freight, FedEx, Walmart, DHL, Dominion, and Landstar.
“It means a lot to me to be
the second-best driver in the state in my division,” King said. “I wasn’t expecting much. I had some problems in the third and fourth portions of the driving course. It just makes you better. It was good for me to go and compete and watch everyone else. Because it’s the best of the best. I plan on doing it more in the future. I’d like to get first next year and get the chance to compete at nationals. Next year that’s in Pittsburgh. I aspire to that one day. I enjoy driving trucks. It was something I always wanted to do.”
Kings resident Jason King competed in the event for the second time in his capacity as a truck driver for UPS. The event is put on by the Illinois Trucking Association and there
nine
with winners qualifying for the national competition. Drivers at the State TDC compete to showcase their skills, knowledge, and safety
(COURTESY PHOTOS)
On Friday, June 27, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held for Las Tapatias Family Kitchen, a new restaurant at 1310 N. 7th St. in Rochelle. The small business, owned by the Castillo family, grew from selling tacos out of a house to catering to a brick-and-mortar restaurant.
(PHOTO BY JEFF HELFRICH)
LOCAL NEWS
ByronFest’s Cacciatore Quilt Show is July 11-13
BYRON — ByronFest’s Cacciatore Quilt Show will be held at the Byron Museum of History July 11, 12, and 13. Special thanks to Wanda Murphy Cacciatore for spearheading this quilt show since 1987!
Quilt Show hours to view and vote: Friday, July 11 5-8
p.m., Saturday, July 12 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday, July 13 10 a.m. to noon.
The museum is seeking area quilters and collectors to display their fabric works of art. First place winners in ten categories will win cash prizes. Quilt registration opens Wednesday, June 25 and ends on Wednesday, July 9 at 3 p.m. Entries will be accepted at the museum during normal museum hours Wednesday – Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost to enter the Quilt Show is $5 for each item to be judged, there is no fee to enter Just For Show items that will not compete for awards.
Items will be selected for awards by a judge and viewers will also have an opportunity to vote on their favorite quilt or wall hanging to win a “People’s Choice” award at the end of ByronFest. The main categories include; Antique Quilts, Wearable Art, Wall Hangings, Just For Show,
and quilts identified by technique, such as Hand, Machine, and Commercially Quilted. Cash Prizes and Blue Ribbons will be awarded for first place in each of categories and ribbons awarded to second and third place winners.
The Quilt Show and museum admission is free, no wristbands are required to enter. Volunteers are needed to help over that weekend by greeting visitors. If you are able to volunteer or have any questions, call the museum from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday 815-234-5031 or send an e-mail to director@ byronmuseum.org. The Byron Museum of History is located at 110 N. Union Street in Byron, Illinois, 61010. Our website address
is www.byronmuseum.org
The Byron Museum of History is dedicated to preserving the Byron area’s rich history through exhibits, programs, and artifact preservation. The Museum Complex consists of a large exhibit hall with varied displays and encompasses the historic Read House - which is a listed site on the National Park Service Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Permanent museum exhibits include; Agriculture Then and Now, Underground Railroad, Local Veterans, Byron Business, Outhouses, Trains, andA.G. Spalding’s Early Baseball. Open Wednesday-Saturday 10-3 p.m., located at 110 N. Union St., Byron IL 61010. www.byronmuseum.org
Leaf River Soaring Eagles help at mini-food center
On Tuesday, June 24 the Leaf River Soaring Eagles 4-H Club helped at one of the Ogle County Mini-Food Centers by cleaning out the center and throwing away any old food. This mini-food center is located in Oregon. The mini-food centers were created to help people, who have limited access to food, have an option to healthy choices of food that have been donated by people and other organizations in the community. The Ogle County Health Department received a grant from the CDC in 2022 to help our community fight food insecurity which a portion was used to develop these mini-food centers. Pictured are Lydia Sherburne, David Bagwell and Kaden Lingbeck. (Courtesy photo)
Leaf River Soaring Eagles participate in Leaf River Daze Parade
On Sunday, June 8, the Leaf River Soaring Eagles 4-H Club participated in the Leaf River Summer Daze Parade. Leaf River Daze is a fun event in Leaf River with a market of vendors, tractor pull, fireworks and other fun activities. The Leaf River Soaring Eagles 4-H Club also helped Friday, June 6 with the Leaf River Lions’ grill out just before the fireworks. They helped serve on the line. Pictured are Kaden Lingbeck, David Bagwell, Kolton Motszko, Finn Slattery and Kenlie Motszko. (Courtesy photo)
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Mt. Morris man arrested on drug charges
MT. MORRIS — On Tuesday, June 17 at approximately 9 p.m. the Mt. Morris Police Department, assisted by Oregon Police Department, executed a search warrant in the 10 block of East Front Street in Mt. Morris. The search warrant was executed based on information that the Mt. Morris Police Department had been investigating for the past several weeks.
As a result of the search warrant, Blake A. Britsch, 24, Mt. Morris, was located and arrested on Friday,
June 20 by the Mt. Morris Police Department with assistance from the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office. Britsch was charged with the following: Unlawful possession of a controlled substance-two counts (classfour felony); unlawful possession of a controlled substance-cocaine (class-one felony); and unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver-Cocaine 15-100 grams (class-X felony).
During Britsch’s arrest
and subsequent search, contraband was located that resulted in additional charges that include: Unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver 1-15 grams cocaine (classone felony) and armed violence (possession of dangerous weapon during commission of a felony) (class-x felony). Britsch was transported to the Ogle County Jail These charges are merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent
Elders welcome baby girl
On June 16, 2025 at 7:57 a.m. in Rockford, Taren and Taylor (Gilbert)
Elder of Davis Junction welcomed a baby girl, Thalia Lorraine Elder, weighing eight pounds two ounces and 21 and a quarter inches long.
OGLE COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORT
OREGON — On June
23 deputies conducted a traffic stop on a maroon Chevy Tahoe in the 1,000 block of East Illinois Route 64. The maroon Chevy was reported stolen out of Cicero. The driver of the vehicle, Christopher M. Bowling, 37, of Chicago was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle, driving on a suspended license, and he also had a warrant for burglary out of Ogle County. Bowling was left at the Ogle County
Jail awaiting to see a judge the following day for the warrant.
On June 25 at 10:40 p.m. deputies conducted a traffic stop in the 5,000 block of North Illinois Route 251. After a brief investigation, deputies arrested Muzaliwa Puka, 40, of Rockford, for driving while license suspended. Puka was transported to the Ogle County Jail, processed, and released with a notice to appear at a later date. Puka was
Mon-Thur 4 - 8PM & Fri 4 - 9PM
also issued citations for speeding and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. All subjects are presumed innocent.
On June 25 at 6:36 p.m. deputies, with the assistance of the Byron Police Department, conducted a traffic stop at Kishwaukee Road and Illinois Route 72. After a brief investigation, deputies arrested Sheyanne Dahlberg, 29, of Dixon, for an outstanding Winnebago County warrant for domestic battery. Dahlberg was transported to the Ogle County Jail and held in lieu of bond. A passenger, Daniel Marlow, 32, of Rockford, was issued a citation for possession of adult use cannabis outside of an approved container by a passenger. All individuals are considered innocent until proven guilty.
The Oregon Lions Club recently held a pancake breakfast to raise funds for our Ogle County K-9 unit, pictured are Lion Grant Afflerbaugh and Lion Carol Orn as they present K-9 Unit Kyle White and Gator with the proceeds from that breakfast. Thank you to all that donated! (Courtesy photo)
Oregon Lions Club holds pancake breakfast for County K9 Unit
ByronFest’s Cacciatore Quilt Show will be held at the Byron Museum of History July 11, 12, and 13.
(COURTESY PHOTO)
LOCAL NEWS
Forreston FFA members honored at state convention
SPRINGFIELD
Members of the Forreston FFA chapter attended the 97th annual Illinois FFA State Convention June 1012 along with more than 5,000 other FFA members, advisors, and guests. With a 2025 theme of “The Final Mission,” the three-day event annually recognizes achievements of Illinois FFA members, elects the major state officer team, and celebrates agriculture. During the convention, the following awards were presented to Forreston FFA: Illinois State FFA De-
gree: Kyla Lamm, Aspen McGlynn, Hunter Miller, and Justin Myers were conferred with State FFA Degrees by the Illinois Association for meeting all requirements including productive financial investments and earnings in a supervised agricultural experience and FFA participation, leadership, and academic excellence. The State FFA Degree is the highest achievement an FFA member can achieve in Illinois; less than 2% of members statewide earn this prestigious recognition.
Foundation Star Supporter: The Forreston FFA Alumni group was recognized for making a gift of at least $1,000 to the Illinois Foundation FFA during the annual fundraising campaign which designates them as a One Star Foundation Sponsor.
Diversified Crop Production Entrepreneurship State Proficiency Winner: Justin Myers was selected as the State FFA Proficiency Winner in Diversified Crop Production - Entrepreneurship. Justin is the son of Dave and Gail Myers. He is a member of the
All Star Superband performing July 11
MT. MORRIS — The Mt. Morris Jamboree is pleased to announce the debut of the All Star Superband on July 11 at 7 p.m. Hailing from Milwaukee, the All-Star SUPERband is an 18-piece rehearsal big band that’s been performing every week since the year 2000. The band has been featured in concerts alongside Mindi Abair, Bobby Caldwell, Sal Lozano, and Doc Severinsen.
The Superband is known for performing a wide variety of big band jazz. Music from the classics like Count Basie, Stan Kenton, and Woody Herman; to the screamers like Maynard Ferguson
and Buddy Rich; the avant-guard like Don Ellis and Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra; to modern day bands such as Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra are all performed regularly. Notable big band arrangers featured include Neal Hefti, Sammy Nestico, Bill Holman, Michael Abene, and Wisconsin’s own Frank Mantooth. Concessions for the evening will be provided by the Mt. Morris Senior and Community Center, who will be serving authentic Mexican tacos and nachos, as well as hosting a bake sale. Popcorn girls Emmie and Lily will be
there too, starting at 5.
Ewe and Me Acres will host a Farmers market from 4-8 offering fresh produce, baked goods, crafts, and more every Friday on the Campus. Just 4 Fun Ice Cream and Bill’s Famous Lemonade will be on site as well. Encore’s Art Gallery and the Mt. Morris Historical Museum, located in College Hall will be open during concerts on the Campus. Please bring a blanket or lawn chair, as the benches will likely fill fast, and join us on our Historic Campus, located two blocks south of IL Rt. 64 on Wesley Ave. and enjoy the free Big Band Jazz concert.
Mulvaney named to Marquette Dean’s List
MILWAUKEE, Wis.
— The following student has been named to the Dean’s List for the spring 2025 semester at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Stillman Valley: Ruby Mulvaney, Bachelor of Arts, Journalism. To make the Dean’s List, students must have earned at least 12 credits for the spring 2024 semester and have no disqualifying grades. The
GPA threshold varies by college — for the College of Education and the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, undergraduate students must have at least a 3.7 to be named to the Dean’s List.
Forreston FFA Chapter, advised by Kelley Parks. His Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) consists of his corn, soybean, and hay books. He grows corn and soybeans using a crop rotation plan, focusing on no-till growing methods. For his hay operation, he makes 4x5 round bales and small square bales to sell to local customers. Justin owns some acres, plans to increase that acreage, enjoys working alongside his dad and uncle, and hopes to eventually take over the family farm.
State Star Farmer Final-
ist - District 1: Justin Myers was selected as the 2025 District 1 FFA State Star Farmer. Justin is the son of Dave and Gail Myers. He is a member of the Forreston FFA Chapter, advised by Kelley Parks. Justin’s Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) consists of his corn, soybean, hay, steer, and sheep books. His corn and soybeans are on a crop rotation with notill practices. For hay, he makes small squares and 4x5 round bales to market to local customers or use for his livestock. Justin buys steers at 600 pounds and sells them at 1,300 pounds. He sells lambs as spring lambs. Justin owns some acres, plans to increase that acreage, and hopes to take over the family farm eventually. Students at the convention were greeted with activities including a career fair featuring colleges and agribusinesses and an opportunity to engage in the history of Illinois’ capital city. The sessions featured addresses by National FFA President Thaddeus Bergschneider of Illinois and from each of the retiring major state officers.
Legislative Lunch N’ Learn set for July 28 in Oregon
OREGON — The Oregon Area Chamber of Commerce invites the public to attend a Legislative Lunch N’ Learn on Sunday, July 28, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM at the Coliseum Museum of Art, Antiques & Americana (CMAAA), located at 124 N. 4th St. in downtown Oregon.
This educational event offers a unique opportunity for residents, business owners, and community members to hear directly from elected officials about what is happening in Springfield and across the state of Illinois. While
there will be a brief Q&A session at the conclusion of the event, the focus is on listening, learning, and gaining insights from legislative leaders.
“This is not a campaign event or town hall,” said Chance Munroe, Executive Director of the Chamber. “It’s a professional forum to learn more about the direction of our state, policies that affect our local businesses and communities, and how we can stay informed.”
The event is free to attend, but registration is required. Attendees are encouraged to bring
their own lunch or may opt to purchase one when registering.
To register or learn more, visit the Oregon Area Chamber’s website or contact the Chamber office atchamber.director@oregonil.com or 815-732-2100.
The Oregon Area Chamber of Commerce exists to empower local businesses to succeed and grow in the region. As an independent organization, it provides connection, advocacy, and opportunity to help the local economy and community thrive.
Above (left) from left to Right: Advisor Kelley Parks, Cylee Kirchner, Neveah Scheffner, Emma Lenkaitis, Jenna Alexander, Aspen McGlynn (State Degree), Justin Myers (State Degree), Kyla Lamm (State Degree), Levi Bocker, Charlie Lindquist. Pictured above (top right) in the Farm Credit Newsroom (from left to right): Neveah Scheffner and Jenna Alexander. Pictured above (bottom left) in the Farm Credit Newsroom (from left to right): Dave and Gail Myers, parents; Justin Myers, recipient; Kelley Parks, advisor. Pictured above (bottom right) in the Farm Credit Newsroom (from left to right): Dave and Gail Myers, parents; Justin Myers, recipient; Kelley Parks, advisor.
(COURTESY PHOTOS)
The Mt. Morris Jamboree is pleased to announce the debut of the All Star Superband on July 11 at 7 p.m.
(COURTESY PHOTO)
VIEWPOINT
"Congress
shall make no law. . . abridging the freedom of speech or of the press"
MOMENTS IN TIME
* On July 1, 1984, the Motion Picture Association of America, which oversees the voluntary rating system for movies, introduced its new rating of PG-13, indicating material that “may be inappropriate for children under 13 years old” and “may contain very strong language, nudity (non-explicit), strong, mildly bloody violence or mild drug content.”
* On July 2, 1992, theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking broke British publishing records when his book “A Brief History of Time” held its place on the nonfiction bestseller list for three and a half years, selling more than 3 million copies in 22 languages.
* On July 3, 1887, Clay Allison, an eccentric gunfighter and rancher who displayed odd tendencies even in his youth, was believed to have died in a freak wagon accident in Texas. When the Civil War began, Allison had joined the Confederate Army but later received a rare medical discharge for a condition doctors described as “partly epileptic and partly maniacal,” which may have been the result of an early head injury.
every Monday Jeff Helfrich, Managing Editor
The Ogle County Life is a division of News Media Corporation.
Renewable Energy, Tension Between State and Counties, Part 1
* On July 5, 1950, near Sejong, South Korea, 19-year-old Private Kenneth Shadrick became the first American reported killed in the Korean War when he looked up to check his aim and was cut down by enemy machine-gun fire.
* On July 6, 1933, Major League Baseball’s first All-Star Game, dreamed up by a determined sports editor, debuted at Chicago’s Comiskey Park. The event was designed to support the sport and improve its reputation during the bleakest days of the Great Depression.
* On July 7, 2005, suicide bombs were detonated in three crowded London subways and one bus during the peak of the city’s rush hour. Thought to be the work of al-Qaida, the explosions killed 56 people, including the bombers, and injured another 700 in the largest attack on Great Britain since World War II.
* On July 4, 1965, more than two dozen LGBTQ activists demonstrated in front of Philadelphia’s Independence Hall in one of America’s earliest gay rights protests. While the “Reminder” demonstration drew little mainstream media coverage at the time, it is now seen as an important predecessor to the broader gay liberation movement.
Leaf River Lions thank community
DEAR editor, As we begin our new club year, we would like to extend our sincerest thanks to our community for their support and appreciation of all that we do for the community. We also wish to extend a thank you to our two great 4-H clubs who have provided great support over the year. We have done many activities for the community over the year, such as a drive thru luncheon where all money went to support veterans, the Christmas Breakfast where the kids of our community were able to meet Santa and have great food, a free Halloween
costume contest and trunk or treat, the Easter Breakfast where kids were able to meet the Easter Bunny and participate in a free Easter egg hunt, provided fireworks for Leaf River Daze, and did multiple fundraisers to support charities local and national. If you wish to join the Lions please call either Secretary Laura Werner at 815-276-5773 or Treasurer Nickie Lingbeck at 815-275-2492. Once again on behalf of the club I thank you all for your support.
Kaden Lingbeck, Vice President of the Leaf River Lions
DEAR editor, This is in response to chairman Larson’s letter about rodeos in Ogle County. I have been trying to stop illegal rodeo activity at the state level for a few years now. It’s insulting that you assume that the people concerned about Ogle County violating the Illinois Humane Care for Animals Act have not reached out at the state level. Unfortunately, our state passes the buck back to the county. It’s up to you to make a decision!
“There are several business developments, such as data centers, being planned in Illinois that could bring a total of 30 gigawatts of electricity, the equivalent of 3 billion light bulbs, to the grid starting in 2029, according to Anna Markowski, Midwest director of Place-Based Advocacy on Climate and Energy for the Natural Resources Defense Council. That’s more than double the grid’s current maximum capacity, Markowski said.
“A study by the Illinois Commerce Commission released early May estimated that the state could lose approximately $12 billion in direct development investments, along with $60 billion in hardware and systems investments, for every gigawatt of power that can’t be provided.”(Addison Wright, Government Technology, 28 May, 2025)
“During January’s [2023] lame-duck session the Illinois General Assembly enacted, and Governor Pritzker signed into law, HB 4412[Public Act 102-1123], which requires counties and municipalities to adopt statewide standards for utility-scale solar and wind facilities. This law requires local zoning authorities to rewrite their zoning ordinance within 180 days to match the standards set in the law and precludes them from adopting bans or moratoria on future approvals of these renewable facilities.
“HB 4412 arose from Illinois’ aggressive renewable portfolio standard (“RPS”) program. The Illinois Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (“CEJA”) adopted in 2021 required Illinois to phase out private fossil fueled electrical
There’s a
IThe Illinois Humane Care for Animals Act clearly states that overwork and abuse of an animal is illegal. Ripping the tail off of an animal would be considered abuse.
If your special use permit only requires that people don’t make noise after 1 AM perhaps you might go back and revisit your ordinance language.
Running an animal until they can no longer stand would be considered abuse. Running an injured animal is abuse. It’s sad that I have to explain that. There is video evidence of the abuse that has occurred in Ogle County. Rodeos are not supposed to run an animal more than once. These poor creatures are run a dozen to 20 times. Horses are routinely hit and spurred.
Open your eyes, please!
Terry Rossi, Belvidere
generation by 2030 and municipal coal-fired power plants by 2045. CEJA required the state to be at 100% clean energy by 2050 with deadlines for 40% by 2030 and 50% by 2040. To meet those goals, CEJA more than doubled funding for the RPS and provided more than $40 million in funding for renewable initiatives.
“The CEJA (along with enhanced federal incentives) had the desired effect of creating an avalanche of proposed renewable facilities. Developers proposed building the majority of these facilities in Illinois’ vast agricultural Downstate (i.e., the areas of the state outside the six county Chicago area), primarily due to the abundance of affordable land and interconnection opportunities. Conflicts have arisen, however, with local communities concerned about their agricultural character. While Downstate could experience increased prosperity from wind and solar lease and tax revenues, local farming communities have sought to preserve a measure of control over their agricultural lands. Recently, some Downstate counties and municipalities began to consider moratoria or outright bans on renewable facilities in an attempt to preserve local land use decision making.
law requires that local zoning authorities adopt a standard zoning ordinance that sets uniform allowable setbacks for solar and wind projects from surrounding houses and fish and wildlife areas. The law precludes local communities from adopting more stringent operational and decommissioning standards than those adopted by state agencies, such as the Pollution Control Board’s noise standards and the Department of Agriculture’s requirements in its Agricultural Impact Mitigation Agreements. It also precludes local communities from requiring renewable energy developers to construct earthen berm barriers or offer property value guarantees. The law establishes further standards for considering natural resources issues as well as limits on county and township road agreements.
place any restriction on a renewable facility unless it adopts an ordinance that complies with the law’s standards. Whether that means that a noncompliant county cannot impose any restrictions on new facilities or that it can only impose the restrictions in the law may well be the subject of future litigation.
“Concerned that the local backlash to renewable projects could hinder CEJA’s ambitious renewables goals, the state adopted HB 4412 to limit the ability of counties and municipalities to make independent land use decisions in siting utility-scale renewable facilities. The
“HB 4412 also mandates process standards for zoning authorities, requiring hearings to be held no more than 45 days after a proposal is submitted and requiring final decisions to be made no more than 30 days after the last hearing. Zoning authorities cannot adopt moratoria or bans on approving renewable facilities, and all zoning decisions involving utility scale solar and wind projects must comply with HB 4412. Existing zoning ordinances that are inconsistent with HB 4412 must be revised within 120 days.
“The law does not set out any specific penalties for failing to meet these deadlines, but it does state that a county may not
“While clearly a great boon to the renewable industry, the issues HB 4412 is intended to address are not going away. The state has nearly unlimited power to establish and limit authority of counties and municipalities, but the issues dividing the renewable energy and agricultural communities will persist and potentially be exacerbated by the state’s action. The law does not deprive individual landowners and local residents of their ability to bring private nuisance and other legal actions that could also be used to slow project development. Compliance with the law is also uncertain, as the deadlines both for adopting zoning ordinances and completing local approval are probably unrealistic considering the thinly staffed and voluntary nature of many Downstate governments. While HB 4412 may expedite and make zoning decisions more consistent in some communities, it will not eliminate the potential for conflict and delay in the local zoning process or bridge the differences between agricultural and renewable energy interests.”(U.S. Energy, Infrastructure, and Resources David L. Rieser, K&L Gates,13 March 2023) Henry Tideman, Oregon
need for foreign language education
just returned from a trip to Japan and it was only the second time I had a hard time with the language. The other time was in Morocco. I’ve visited 35 countries, many multiple times and while I don’t speak all the languages, I can usually figure out what is being said or at least figure out what is written because they use the Roman alphabet. Japan on the other hand uses Japanese characters. It was so difficult for my brain to make any sense. It made me think of all the people who move to the United States and do not speak English. Many of them live here for years and they can’t communicate properly with the majority of the population and when they go to the stores they have to rely on pictures on the packaging for their purchases. How difficult it must be. The same goes for Americans who move abroad and don’t speak the language of the country where they are living.
I am fortunate that I grew up speaking Portuguese, which is natural for me, but I understand it is a very difficult language to learn because of all the
complex tenses and sounds that are not present in other Romance languages. I also was fortunate that I started learning English in first grade. During my school years it was really just school English. But as I grew older and my parents understood the importance of speaking English, they sent me to English classes. I enjoyed them immensely.
When I moved to the US in middle school I was given the opportunity to take French classes. I took French throughout high school and even thought about getting a minor in French in college. Learning a second, or in my case a third, language has so many benefits. They include increased cognitive abilities, expanded career opportunities, improved communication skills and a deeper understanding of diverse cultures. And might I hope that it also teaches tolerance to other people.
while I don’t boast fluency in these languages I can communicate with others, get my meaning across and understand what they are saying. I find that after a few days in a country I start to think in that language. When my children started high school in Rochelle, many people discouraged them from taking French, thinking that Spanish would be more useful for them. While I agree that in Rochelle there are many native Spanish speakers, limiting our ambitions to our little part of the world is short sighted. My son has since lived in France and Switzerland. Because he spoke French, Spanish was easy and because he learned Portuguese at home learning these languages was easier. Since then he has expanded his languages to include German and Catalan. I think speaking all these languages helped him with his career choice.
Because I spoke three languages already, learning Spanish and Italian was very easy for me. And
I am not telling you this to boast but to make you think about the need for foreign language education. Once you learn
LIFE letters'
policy
one, it is easier to learn others. It gives you the opportunity to see the world differently. It also helps with your decision making, increases your attention span, helps you memorize other things and overall improves your communication skills. Technology has made language learning cheap and available to everyone. There are many apps that will help you learn. There are also podcasts and books. So, choose a language, set time aside every day and just dive in. In no time you will be speaking or at least understanding a foreign language. (don’t you want to know what they are saying at the nail salons?) And when it is time for your children to go to high school, encourage them to take a foreign language, even if they already speak one. You can never know too many languages.
Silene Walters is a CPA, the owner of Walters Accounting Inc in Stillman Valley. When she is not preparing taxes she travels with her husband George and shares her experiences on https:// www.facebook.com/dreamoftraveling
Concise letters are most likely to be chosen for publication, but the use of any material is at the discretion of management. All letters must be signed or they will not be considered for publication. During election times, no letters written by the candidates endorsing themselves will be considered for publication. Editing may be necessary for space, clarity or to avoid obscenity or libel, but ideas will not be altered. Writers are urged to use discretion and refrain from sarcasm or personal attacks. Criticism of individuals or organizations that is not broached tactfully will jeopardize the publication of a letter. Letters will be published in the order that they are received, unless there is a time factor involved, space permitting.
Silene Walters
Stillman Valley Leos Club made donations to the Stillman Food Pantry and Cardinal Hope. The monies came from fundraisers that the Leo club participated in. The spaghetti supper held in Stillman at the Wooden Nickel and selling and delivering roses for Rose Day are the two biggest fundraisers for the Leo Club. Pictured are two Leo members Brooklyn Lee and Alyse Rogers with Audrey at the Food Pantry and Jen who is chair for Cardinal Hope of Stillman. Please consider donating to these fundraisers next year and all year long as the community benefits from them. (Courtesy photos)
I-39 and Illinois Route 38 interchange reconstruction in Rochelle begins July 7
ROCHELLE – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced June 25 that weather permitting, a multi-year project to reconstruct the interchange of Interstate 39 and Illinois 38 (exit 99) in Rochelle will begin Monday, July 7. In addition to the interchange, the work zone on Illinois Route 38 will be from Dement Road to Mulford Road.
The $23.9 million project involves reconfiguring the existing diamond interchange into a diverging diamond design and repairs to the structure carrying Illinois Route 38 over Interstate 39. Other project details include intersection improvements at Illinois Route 38 at Dement Road,
culvert replacement on Illinois Route 38 west of the interchange, new lighting and traffic signals, and the installation of a multiuse path across Interstate 39.
One lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained at all times and there will be multiple traffic shifts throughout the project. Traffic at all interchange ramps will be controlled by temporary signals during the project, which is expected to be completed by the end of June 2027.
Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zone areas, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and
equipment.
Over the next six years, IDOT is planning to improve more than 3,000 miles of highway and nearly 10 million square feet of bridge deck as part of the Rebuild Illinois capital program, which is investing $33.2 billion into all modes of transportation. Accomplishments through Year Five of Rebuild Illinois include approximately $16 billion of improvements statewide on 6,541 miles of highway, 686 bridges and 986 additional safety improvements.
For IDOT District 2 updates, follow us on X at @IDOTDistrict2 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.
The
Stillman Valley Leos Club donates to Stillman Food Pantry and Cardinal Hope
Ogle Jolly 4H club held their 4H Dairy Days at the Royal Blue in Stillman Valley on a very hot Saturday. Information and prizes and gift cards were handed out to customers who came in to beat the heat with delicious ice cream treats. President Aubrey and Vice President Alyse helped to hand out gift cards to the lucky winners. (Courtesy photo)
Ogle Jolly 4H Club hosts Dairy Days in Stillman Valley
The $23.9 million project involves reconfiguring the existing diamond interchange into a diverging diamond design.
(COURTESY PHOTO)
Tractor & Truck Show Saturday July 19.
Waterman Lions celebrate 25th Anniversary Summerfest & Antique Tractor & Truck Show
WATERMAN — The Waterman Lions Club proudly announces its milestone 25th Anniversary Summerfest and Antique Tractor & Truck Show, happening Saturday, July 19 at the scenic, tree-shaded Waterman Lions Park on South Birch Street.
Billed as a full day of family-friendly fun, this beloved tradition promises something for everyone — affordable entertainment, community spirit, and a little nostalgia thrown in for good measure. In honor of its silver anniversary, this year’s event will be extra special, with returning favorites and new surprises alike.
Highlights include:
7:30 a.m. breakfast
hosted by Shabbona Community Church Kid’s shows and activities, including an exotic animal show, Farmer Jeffro, kiddie train, bounce houses, the ever-popular pedal pull and “Drive-aTractor” experience
Live music performances throughout the event
Classic attractions like the Lions food concession, Fay’s Finest Foods, and the beer garden
Craft & flea markets, antique farm exhibits, garden tractor competitions, and more Tractor pull presented by Weak End Antique Pullers
The awe-inspiring Parade of Power
Capping off the evening: a dazzling fire -
works display Legendary farm broadcaster Max Armstrong is slated to return once again as guest announcer—always a crowd pleaser.
Also joining the festivities is the Northwest Illinois Chapter of the American Historical Truck Society , who will host their annual truck show in conjunction with the event.
“This show has built a reputation for quality and charm,” said Publicity Chair Pam Gaston. “The 25th is destined to be the best one yet.”
For more information, visit www.WatermanTractorShow.com. Don’t miss this unforgettable celebration of smalltown heritage and heart.
In 2024, OCUSD first-grade teachers received checks from the Mt. Morris Community Library Foundation to buy books for first-grade students for the 2024/25 school year. The 9x9x9 program has given books to first graders since 2019.
July 16 Pie and Ice Cream Social will benefit first graders
MT. MORRIS — The Mt. Morris Community Library Foundation is hosting a pie and ice cream social on Wednesday, July 16, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on the Mt. Morris campus, during the Kable Band concert. All donations will go toward the 9x9x9 Program, the Foundation’s most successful program.
For $10 per child (formerly, $9), a first grader will receive one book per month for nine months, i.e., nine books during the school year: 9x9x9. Fall 2025 will begin the sixth
year that the Mt. Morris Community Library Foundation has sponsored the 9x9x9 program. They are seeking enough funds to ensure that every first grader in the Oregon school district receives nine books this coming school year.
The Mt. Morris Community Library Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports the Mt. Morris Community Library through funding, by matching every memorial gift given to the library, and by
supporting the library’s services and programs. The Foundation also gives away books to kids who visit Santa during the Mt Morris Christmas on the Square event. Donations are welcome, and anyone can become an annual member of the Foundation for $25/yr. or purchase a lifetime membership for $100. More information is available at the Mt. Morris Community Library, the MMCLF page at www. mtmorris-il.org , or by messaging the library on social media.
The Stillman Valley Lions Club made a donation to the 4H Spin Archery club to help them purchase new targets. Lions President Carol Holstraka presented the check to advisor Beth Kennedy at the Stillman Lions meeting in June. (Courtesy photo)
Stillman Valley Lions Club donates to 4H Spin Archery Club
(COURTESY PHOTO)
Jazz In Progress is one of the featured bands performing at The Waterman Lions 25th Anniversary Summerfest and Antique
(COURTESY PHOTO)
New USDA policy targets small family farms
BY TAMMIE SLOUP FARMWEEK
USDA released a new policy agenda outlining actions aimed at ensuring the profitability and prosperity of small family farms.
Dubbing it the Make Agriculture Great Again initiative, Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins introduced the first set of proposals that address a number of issues for farmers, including reliable access to credit; access to farmland; transitioning farms to the next generation; access to markets and infrastructure; access to reliable agricultural labor; and access to appropriate risk management and business planning tools.
In 2023, based on the USDA Economic Research Service report titled “America’s Farms and Ranches at a Glance,” about 86% of all farms were small family farms. These farms, which have a gross cash farm income below $350,000, operated on 41% of U.S. agricultural land, while producing just 17% of the total value of agricultural production.
“To ensure small family farmers can start and stay in business for generations to come, USDA is placing specific emphasis on understanding the barriers to starting and keeping small family farms viable — especially for the next generation,” according to the policy.
As USDA implements its action plan, ongoing assessment of gaps in service
July 10: The Polo Farmers Market, located at the Polo Marketplace (under the pavilion) just south of Shell on South Division Ave. will be held on Thursdays 3-6 p.m. (weather permitting).
July 12: The 24th Annual Hib Reber Memorial Car Show will be held on July 12 at the United Church of Byron, (corner of Colfax Street and 2nd Street.). Along with the car show, the Church will be hosting their an-
and support will occur.
Some of the actions outlined in the agenda include:
Reforming the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Rural Development (RD) loan programs to streamline delivery and increase program efficiencies, and disincentivize the use of federal funding for solar panels to be installed on productive farmland.
Calling on Congress to ensure most farms are protected from an increase in the death tax. The administration is also urging Congress to expand Section 179, which allows eligible small businesses to deduct the full purchase price of qualifying farm and business equipment upfront and restore 100% bonus depreciation expensing. USDA will also be engaging with agricultural tax and legal professionals across the country to identify ways the department can assist in developing tools that help to facilitate the orderly transition of agricultural operations from one generation to the next.
Leveraging USDA’s agricultural labor affairs coordinator in actively working with other federal agencies such as the Department of Labor and the Department of Homeland Security to address the critical issue of labor access for agricultural producers. USDA is aggressively exploring coordinated solutions with agencies and Congress to ensure a stable, reliable and legal workforce for agriculture.
Reviewing farm size definitions to ensure they
nual Trash & Treasure Sale with concessions. Registration is fee is $10 prior to July 3, after July 3, it’s $15. Registration is 8-11 a.m., voting noon-1 p.m., Awards 2 p.m. Car Show participants are invited to join the ByronFest Parade at 3 p.m. All makes of cars, trucks, and motorcycles are welcome. Top 50 Awards are by participant voting, 20+ Best of Awards are judged. Door Prizes will be given throughout the
adequately reflect modern-day realities while also helping to ensure resources are appropriately tailored to the needs and size of farms.
Evaluating new shared services platforms for the FSA and RD programs to streamline delivery and increase program efficiencies.
The policy rollout builds on the Farmers
day. Vendor booths are available for a $15 fee. More information check webpage www.hibrebercarshow.com or www. Facebook.com/Hibrebercarshow
July 19: Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lindenwood will be hosting a one-day Vacation Bible School on Saturday, July 19 from 3-6 p.m. Our theme this year is “Going Fishing,” based on Luke 5. We will learn how God calls all of us to “Follow
First Roundtable event recently held at the USDA headquarters in Washington, D.C., where the secretary met with more than 20 farmers and ranchers from 11 states who run smaller-scale, family-owned operations, as well as Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen and the Board of Directors of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
me, and I will make you fishers of men!” (Matthew 4:19). Families are invited to stay after the VBS at 6 p.m. for a free cookout. All children ages three through entering sixth grade are invited. Online registration is now open at immanuel-lindenwood.
org July 19: The German Valley Historical Society will sponsor updated historical tours of German Valley on Saturday, July 19 in conjunction with
about challenges facing smaller-scale family farms across America.
“America’s family farms help feed, fuel and clothe the world, but they also face some of the greatest challenges in getting their farms started and keeping them running. Putting farmers first means addressing the issues farmers face head-on and fostering an economic
the annual German Valley Days Festival. Tours, in the comfort of an authentic trolly, will begin at 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. from the German Valley Historical Museum, 805 Church Street. The cost is $5.00.
July 19: The Silver Creek Reformed Church ACTS Ministry will serve a Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, July 19 in conjunction with the annual German Valley Days Festival. Breakfast hours will be from 7:00 to 10:00
environment that doesn’t put up roadblocks on business creation but removes them,” Rollins said.
Read the full policy at bit.ly/44MO1Oy This story was distributed through a cooperative project between Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Press Association. For more food and farming news, visit FarmWeekNow.com
a.m. at the German Valley Fire Station, 600 Church Street. Pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, and applesauce will be on the menu. Costs are $8 for adults, $4.00 for those ages 5 – 12,those 4 and under free. Proceeds will go toward the education of children in Haiti.
Aug. 5: The Oregon Police Department will host National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 5 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the 100 block of North 2nd Street.
A historic red barn is the centerpiece of this DeKalb County farmstead. USDA recently unveiled new policy aimed at preserving small family farms.
(PHOTO BY CATRINA RAWSON)
LOCAL NEWS
Rep. Fritts honors Carquest Auto Parts for June Local Business Highlight
DIXON – For his June 2025 local business highlight, State Representative Bradley Fritts (R-Dixon) chose to highlight Carquest Auto Parts. Rep. Fritts spent time touring the business and presented the owners with a certificate of appreciation for their contributions to the community.
“I chose to honor Carquest Auto Parts for my June Local Business Highlight because it is a local, family-owned auto shop that goes above and beyond for their customers and our community,” said Rep. Fritts. “They pride themselves on providing excellent service to uphold their family legacy and help the community. At a time when many large corporations focus on profit over customer satisfaction, Carquest is a great example of how business should be done.”
Carquest Auto Parts began in 1953 as Shulz Engine Machine Shop. The shop was initially founded by the grandfather of current
State Representative Bradley Fritts (R-Dixon) chose to highlight Carquest Auto Parts.
owners, Marc Blanc and Thelmarose Gerrits. Over time, the shop grew and changed into CarquestAuto Parts, now with five stores in the region. Two Carquest locations, in Dixon and Mendota, are located in the 74th District.
Rep. Fritts continued, “Carquest is also very involved in our local community, supporting organizations such as the Cub Scouts and Al Morrison Baseball. Both their community involvement and
dedication to service made Carquest the perfect choice to be this month’s Local Business Highlight.”
Carquest is located at 975 N. Galena Ave. in Dixon and at 1200 13th Avenue in Mendota. For more information, visit their website at Carquest.com
To nominate a local business in District 74 for a future highlight, visit RepFritts.com and select Local Business Highlight Submission Form under Resources.
The Rock River Senior Center has collected 1000 lbs of recyclable plastic and this has enabled them to receive a Trex recycled plastic bench. Christine shows where the bench is set up outside the Rock River Center. Thank you all who brought in your recyclable plastics to achieve this goal. (Courtesy photo)
Rock River Senior Center receives plastic bench
How communities benefit when consumers shop local
Ideas about shopping are never set in stone, and the pandemic illustrated just how quickly consumer trends and opinions can change. Many individuals are now reevaluating how they spend their hard-earned money, particularly since inflation has affected just how far a dollar can be stretched. When consumers think about which stores to patronize, locally owned businesses may be the smartest option for a number of reasons — not the least of which is the way such enterprises benefit the communities they call home.
More money kept in the community
Shopping locally means that more money will stay in the community. According to recent research from Civic Economics, local eateries return nearly 79 percent of revenue to the community, compared to just over 30 percent for chain restaurants. Overall, for every $100 spent at a local business, around $73 remains in the community, verus roughly $43 when shopping at a non-locally owned business.
Get a personal touch
Local business owners typically are inclined to go the extra mile for their customers and are personally invested in the services and products they are selling. As a result, shopping locally tends to be a personalized experience. Furthermore, a local business owner may be more amenable to ordering products for spe-
How to cut back on your
BOX HABIT
cific clientele. Such personalized service is typically not accessible when shopping big box stores or other shops where owners are off-site.
Lines are short
Waiting in long lines for checkout or to pick up merchandise ordered online can drain consumers’ energy and contribute to stress. Local businesses tend to have short lines and small crowds, which can lead to a more pleasant shopping experience.
Generates tax revenue
Local businesses generate more tax revenue per sales dollar, according to Rubicon, a digital marketplace for waste and recycling businesses. Taxes paid by local small businesses go to support schools, parks, roads, and other programs that benefit the community as well.
Support nonprofits
Support other local businesses
Local businesses often support good work in the community, such as nonprofit groups. These can include schools and sports teams, among other groups. According to Dr. Sue Lynn Sasser, professor of eco nomics at the University of Central Oklahoma, studies indicate nonprofits “receive 250 percent more support from small businesses than larger ones.”
Local business support other local businesses by buying and selling among each other. A local, independently owned restaurant may source its ingredients from local farms, which means visitors to
nesses that are
to town or already esta blished. A greater awareness of shopping options could mean a greater propensity for stopping in and shopping these stores rather than the chain alternatives.
Increase in-person shopping
It’s tempting to simply shop online and order something from one of the national chains that can afford to ship items straight to your home. However, small retailers tend to have more unique offerings
and boast pleasant shopping experiences. Plus, in-person shopping allows consumers to get a real feel for a product, which can save them the time and effort it takes to return things that don’t fit or aren’t quite right. Many small businesses now offer their own e-commerce options, where a shopper can buy an item online and then pick it up in the store or curbside to save time. Consumers have grown accustomed to shopping at big box retailers. But kicking that habit and patronizing small local businesses can benefit consumers and communities alike.
ers discover new brands while using the platform. Such reports illustrate how effective positive reviews and references to small local businesses can be. Consumers won’t need much time to share a story about a great local business on their social media accounts, but that small investment of time can pay big dividends for those companies.
• Share experiences through word-of-mouth. Word-of-mouth marketing still works, and consumers can play an important role in ensuring that it benefits local businesses. According to the marketing solution experts at Hibü, word-of-mouth marketing remains the most popular way to recommend a business. Consumers trust what others say about a business, so positive experiences with a local firm can be shared with family, friends and neighbors looking for similar services.
• Review the business online. Review Trackers reports that more than 81 percent of consumers are likely to visit Google Reviews prior to visiting a business. That’s a
ROCK VALLEY SHOPPER
MONDAY, JULY 7, 2025 • SECTION B • PAGE 1
Christel Ackland 815-561-2153
NEED A WELL-TARGETED AD?
Our sales reps would be glad to lend a helping hand!
Chris Grimm 815-561-2125
Reduce energy consumption and stay safe during summer heat waves
URBANA — The first heat wave of the summer hit the Midwest earlier than usual this week, with a heat index forecast of up to 105 degrees, pushing many indoors to stay cool. All those air conditioning units running almost nonstop put pressure on the electrical grid and increase the risk of power outages. Take steps to stay safe and reduce the demand for electricity with resources from University of Illinois Extension.
More than 120 million Americans were under an extreme heat advisory or heat warning as of June 24, according to the NOAA National Weather Service.
The heat index, humidity combined with the temperature, is expected to reach record daytime highs of 100 to 105 degrees with overnight temperatures of 75 to 85 degrees.
“There is a high-pressure weather system sitting over the Midwest and eastern part of the U.S. referred to as a heat dome, which is causing the excessive heat and minimizing wind and cloud cover,” said Jessica Rudnick, Illinois Extension climate resilience specialist.
“These heat domes push warm air toward the ground,
where it warms up more as it is further compressed and begins to feel hotter.”
Powering air conditioning units puts a sudden strain on energy systems, especially from the afternoon to early evening when outdoor temperatures soar. Making small changes to conserve energy can help even out energy use, save money on your utility bill, and avoid service interruptions.
“Consider running major appliances like washing machines or the oven earlier in the day,” said Andrea Wagner, Extension sustainable energy specialist.
“It’s a change in routine, but together those small steps to conserve energy are much less disruptive and dangerous than a full power outage.”
Other ways to reduce energy use during extreme temperatures include:
Turn up the thermostat by two degrees or more and program it to a higher temperature when no one is home.
Check that the HVAC system works well and consider purchasing a smart thermostat.
Turn off or disconnect electronics that are not in use, operate major appli-
ances in the early morning or late evening, and use a countertop convection oven or air fryer instead of the oven.
Program smart devices to run appliances at off-peak times.
Use minimal lighting and close window coverings during the hottest part of the day, and use bathroom and kitchen fans to temporarily remove heat and humidity.
Find more energy efficiency and electrical safety tips at SafeElectricity.org.
Hot weather can lead to a rise in heat-related illnesses, and death rates tend to increase during and after heat waves. The heat can also affect air pollutants, leading to poor air quality and impacting vulnerable populations; check the NOAA air quality index. Those who work outdoors, children, seniors, and pregnant women are most vulnerable to serious heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
When possible, stay in air-conditioned spaces at home, a public space, or a designated cooling center. Check with your town or local health department for cooling centers in your area,
find one using the 2025 Illinois Cooling Centers map. Seniors can also contact the Illinois Senior HelpLine at (800) 252-8966 for assistance with locating senior centers and other cooling centers.
Those without air conditioning should use fans only if the indoor temperature is under 90 degrees, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At temperatures higher than that, fans can increase body temperature. Set ceiling fans to turn counterclockwise to create a cooling downdraft. Watch for symptoms of heat exhaustion, including headache, nausea, dizziness, irritability, thirst, heavy sweating, elevated body temperature and decreased urine output; or heat stroke symptoms of confusion, altered mental status, slurred speech, hot and dry skin or profuse sweating, seizures, very high body temperature and coma. If someone is displaying symptoms, call 911 and move the person to a shaded, cool area. Give them liquids to drink and circulate air around them. Remove unnecessary clothing and apply cold compresses or splash cold water on the
head, face, neck, armpits, and groin.
More hot weather health tips: Drink plenty of water or electrolyte-rich drinks and carry a refillable bottle. Avoid alcoholic beverages, coffee, and soda, which can be dehydrating. Avoid or minimize physical exertion and take cool baths or showers. Do not sit in a hot car, even for a short time, and never leave a child or pet in a hot car. Avoid going out in the heat and direct sun. Try to schedule outside time during the coolest parts of the day, in the early morning or evening, and stay in the shade. Wear loose, light colored cotton clothing and wear a wide-brimmed hat. Check on family members,
friends, and neighbors to make sure they are safe.
To connect with Extension natural resources, environment, and energy staff about a program or for a consultation, visit go. illinois.edu/NREEstaff. Extension’s natural resources, environment, and energy program provides research-based education for awareness and action to sustain healthy environments and ecosystems that support quality living and resilient communities. Extension staff empower people across Illinois to make a difference through the Master Naturalists, Climate Stewards, and Watershed Stewards volunteer and training programs.
The first heat wave of the summer hit the Midwest earlier than usual this week,
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Wishing you fireworks, freedom, and
place to
home! From all of us at RE/MAX of Rock Valley
The following events are happening at the Mt. Morris Senior & Community Center! Our Summer Potluck is Tuesday, July 8th at 12:00. Bring a dish to share. Join us for games on our front lawn (9 East Front Street, Mt. Morris) on July 9th at 4 pm! Go out to lunch with us at Mom’s Diner at 11:30
on Thursday, July 10th
Enjoy a Euchre night with us on July 10th at 6:00 pm. It is free to play and all are welcome! Prizes will be awarded!
The Center will be serving dinner on the Campus on Friday July 11th. Join us for authentic Mexican street tacos! YUM! Every 3rd Wednesday (July 16th) we have Bin-
go from 10:30 – 11:30 followed by lunch. Is Trivia your thing? Join us July 17th at 6:00 for Tacos followed by a fun and friendly trivia competition.
We have an ongoing Highland Sponsored exercise class at The Center every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning at 9 am! Come and try it out!
LOCAL NEWS
Seed Library Discover the joy of gardening with our NEW seed library! Borrow, grow and share from a diverse selection of seeds, and help cultivate sustainability and biodiversity in our community…one seed at a time! March 1-October 31. Summer Reading Challenge Scoop, here it is! It’s finally Summer, and if you’re like us, you’re ready to chill... with a stack of library books and plenty of sweet treats. You can satisfy BOTH of those cravings with our 2025 Summer Reading Program: Scoop Up A Good Book! When you participate, you’ll collect badges by logging your reading, completing fun activities and attending library programs... for a chance to win real prizes. It’s fun. It’s easy.
Rock River Center is a resource center located at 810 S. 10th Street, Oregon. Our activities and trips are open to all ages. Call our office @ 815-732-3252 for assistance with Benefit Access Application for a license plate discount, Medicare, housing, homemaker service, heating assistance or other things. Visit us at www.rockrivercenter.org and like us on Facebook.
MORNING MUG
CLUB – JULY 8
9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
OUTING OF THE MONTH – July 10
DeKalb Farmers Market Lunch Afterward at Grubsteakers Register by July 7
POOL PLAYERS
LEGO Club, Monday, July 7th at 5:00PM: Don’t forget that LEGO Club meets the first Monday of each month at 5pm. All the bricks and bases you could ever need are provided for you to start creating!
Color Our World Summer Reading Program, Thursday, July 10th, 10:30AM: It’s the last week of our kids Summer Reading Program, Color Our World. Miss Stacey has one more week of color to share with us. Join us Thursday at 10:30!
Ag In The Library, Thursday, July 24th at 10:30AM: Miss Melinda
Crossroads Blues Society Presents Wheatbread Johnson
Thursday, July 10. 1 –3:00 pm. Kick back and enjoy the sounds of live blues music played by the one and only Wheatbread Johnson - Good vibes, great tunes, and stories you’ll be talking about long after the last note fades. Please call 815-234-5107 to register for this program.
Creative Studio
Our Creative Studio is open on Sunday afternoons and two evenings a week, so stop by for monthly crafts and to use our maker space equipment! Crafts out on the tables are free of charge, while some other projects will incur a cost depending on materials. Middle school and high school youth can use some of the materials
It’s free! ALLAGES. May 26 – Aug 2.
Tween Scene: Ice Cream Pop Art Celebrate summer by creating a masterpiece depicting ice cream in the iconic Pop Art style. Tuesday, July 8, 6 p.m. Ages 10-13. Registration required: 815-645-8611. Storytime in the Park Join us for a special storytime in Davis Junction Park! We’ll enjoy stories, songs and parachute play. Feel free to bring blankets or lawn chairs for your comfort. Ages 2-9. Wednesday, July 9, 10 a.m. Registration required: 815-645-8611.
Toddler Time: Bubble Play
Bubble, Bubble, bubble…pop! Indulge your little one’s curiosity as we play with bubbles big and small. Friday, July 11, 10 a.m. All materials supplied. Ages 1-4. Reg-
Monday – Friday8:30 – 11:30 a.m. RUMMIKUB Mondays -12:15 – 3:15 p.m.
BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS
Tuesdays – 10:00 –11:00 a.m.
MEXICAN TRAIN DOMINOES
Wednesdays - 9:3011:00 a.m.
MICHIGAN RUMMY
Wednesdays – 12:30 –3:15 p.m.
Veteran’s Assistance
The Veteran’s Service Officer serves Veterans of all ages and assists them with applications and other benefits available to them. Your VSO will now be serving you at: 1001 Pines Road Oregon, Illinois
would love for you to come learn about colorful Nutrition. We will make MyPlate Bracelets, play Fruit & Veggie Bingo, and enjoy a Fruit Parfait Snack.
Adult Summer Reading is here!! Sign up today at the circulation desk to receive your reading log. When your log is completed, turn it in for a goodie bag and a chance to win a grand prize. The more logs you fill in, the more chances you have to win that grand prize! Get started today; the contest ends August 31st.
Spice of the Month: Cinnamon: We are familiar with it in ground or stick
while with an adult, or during Teen Time. Creative Studio hours: Sunday 1 - 5:00 pm, Monday 9:00 am-1:00 pm & 5 – 8:00 pm, Tuesday 9 am - 1:00 pm & 5 – 8:00 pm, Wednesday 9:00 am – 1:00 pm, Thursday 9:00 am – 1:00 pm, Friday & Saturday closed. Check out
Our Mobile App
Did you know that there is an easy way to use the library from your phone? Just download the PrairieCat app to your phone or mobile device and log in with your library card number and PIN! You’ll be able to view your checkouts and holds, renew renewable materials, and search the library catalog. There’s even a digital copy of your library card! Curbside Delivery
istration required: 815645-8611.
Preschool Playdate
Preschool storytime is taking a short summer vacation. In the meantime, you can join us each Wednesday at 10 a.m. for a Preschool Playdate. Join fellow kids and their caregivers to socialize, play and build friendships. Each week will feature a unique, self-directed activity. Registration required to ensure we have enough activities available: 815-645-8611.
Community Blood Drive
The need for blood doesn’t take a bummer break! Be a lifesaver to your community: donate blood and help prevent a summer shortage. Friday, July 18, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Register online with the American Red Cross, or by calling the library: 815-645-8611.
Fridays from 9:00 am – 3:00 p.m.
By Appointment Only
To schedule your appointment, please call 815-633-8266 or 217836-6575
Benefit Access Pro -
gram
The Benefit Access Program allows you to get a discount on your license plate sticker. The cost of your sticker could be as low as $10.00.
To qualify, you must meet income guidelines as follows:
You must be 65 years of age or older by December 31 of the current year; or You must be 16 years of age or older and totally disabled before January 1 of this year.
form, but did you know it used to be considered as valuable as gold? Pick up your Spice Kit to learn more about the history of cinnamon and try two delicious recipes!
July Book of the Month: In Winter Garden by Kristen Hannah, Meredith and Nina Whitson are the daughters of Anya whom they cannot connect with and always feel like they are coming up short. As their father lays dying, he makes the daughters promise to listen to Anya’s fairy tale, a story that they grew up with, all the way to the end. As the girls listen, they start to
The library is open for browsing, but patrons can still use our curbside service! Place your holds online at byronlibrary. org or call us at 815-2345107. Not sure what you want? Call us for help! We will call or email you with a confirmation when your holds are ready to be picked up. Call us when you arrive at the library, and we will bring your items out to you, already checked out. A receipt with your due dates will be included with your items.
Visit the Byron Library Facebook page, or subscribe to our newsletters at byronlibrary.org, to keep up to date on library news and programs! Be sure to also check out the Byron Library and Byron Library Teen Instagram pages!
Roush makes UW-Oshkosh Spring Dean’s List
OSHKOSH, Wis. — University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh officials have released the names of students who qualified for the Dean’s List and University Honor Roll in spring 2025. Among the honorees was Byron’s Anika Roush, Dean’s List. The term grade-point average (GPA) requirement for University Honor Roll is 3.3; the term GPA requirement for Dean’s List is 3.75 out of a possible 4.0. To qualify, a student must have been enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits. (P/F courses do not count toward a 12-credit minimum.) There can be no individual grades below a “C” and no incomplete or non-reported grades at the time the process is run.
Your annual income* must be less than:
$33,562 for a 1-person household
$44,533 for a 2-person household
$55,500 for a 3-person household
You must live in Illinois at the time you file your application.
Property Tax Assessment Freeze
This exemption “freezes” your assessed value at a certain level and base year, depending on what year you originally applied. Your future real estate tax bills are calculated at this “frozen” assessed value, thereby slowing the increase of your property taxes. You must re-apply for this exemption every year.
view their mom differently. Stop by the circulation desk and pick up a copy today.
July Take & Make Craft: Stop by to pick up a kit to make a Rainbow Jellyfish. It goes perfectly with Color Our World!
Community Puzzle: At press time, the puzzle is soooo close to completion! Fingers crossed our dedicated puzzle lovers will have found homes for all the pieces to fit before July 4th!
Coloring Pages: Don’t forget we have new color-
Although your assessed value is frozen under this exemption, tax bills can continue to increase if spending by any of the local units of government (like schools, cities, parks, etc.) goes up. Also, please be aware that you may, later in the year, receive a “change of assessment notice” if the township assessor has re-evaluated your property. This will in no way affect your status under this senior assessment freeze exemption. Real estate taxes are calculated on your “frozen” assessed value.
To qualify, you must meet guidelines as follows: You must be 65 or older, own and use the property as your principal residence. Your total income, and the income of any other individuals using the property as their principal residence, must be less than $65,000.
ing pages each week available for you to choose from.
Card Making: Card Making supplies are always available for you to create with. Call ahead for room availability.
Game Table: We have a variety of board games, including checkers, for anyone to play. Stop in and bring your competitive streak.
Plastic Recycling: *No animal feed bags are allowed (cat, dog, bird, etc)* We ask that you make
Homestead 65 This annual exemption is available for a single-family property that is occupied as the principal residence of a person, who is 65 years of age or older during the assessment year. The person must be the owner, or a lessee with an ownership interest in the property who is liable for the payment of the property taxes. The amount of the exemption is a $5,000 reduction in the EAV of the property.
sure plastic is clean with no debris in the donation. Also please remove any ziploc-type seals and paper/ sticker labels. Thank you for your cooperation. NEW RELEASES: Adult Books
Tough Luck by Sandra Dallas Finders Keepers by Stuart Woods Chapter Book The Night War by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley Picture Book There by Ally Condie
Nostalgia Entertainment returned to Julia District Library to heat things up with a musical show capturing the essence of summer, featuring music by The Beach Boys, the Beatles and more.
BYRON PUBLIC LIBRARY
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Level Up at Your Library youth summer reading program is in the last month…
Activities, books, prizes, story time, special presenters, movies and more are all a part of the program. Registration is required, so contact the library for more details.
And there’s more.... the Adult Summer Reading program ending August 9th is also available for those 18 years and older! Summer Reading Program Schedule, Registration required for all programs.
Monday, July 7 Story Time 10 am (18 months-6 yrs.)
Monday, July 7, Dan Gogh’s Color Game Show, 2 pm (All ages)
Join Artist-Magician Dan Gogh using comedy, magic, and art to unlock the mystery of creativity! Magic, puppets, and comedy are all part of the fun.
Wednesday, July 9, Meet the Author, 6 pm (13 yrs. & up)
Join us for an in-person interview with YA author, D.L. Taylor. Taylor is the author of “The Beasts
We Bury”, just published in February 2025, and the first of “The Broken Citadel” duology. OPL’s Richard Pulfer will talk with Taylor, followed by a Q&A from the audience and a book signing.
Monday, July 14, Story Time, 10 am (18 months-6 yrs.)
Thursday, July 17, Activity Time, 1:30 pm (grades 1st & up) Scrabble Art
Saturday, July 19 Level Up @ Your Library selected book title entries DUE FOR 3-6-year old.
Monday, July 21, Story Time 10 am (18 months-6 yrs.)
Tuesday, July 22, Lego Club, 2 pm (2nd grade & up)
Friday, July 25, ALL Youth Book Logs & raffle tickets DUE
Summer Eats: Free Meals for Kids & Teens (provided by the United Way of Lee County)
Grab-and-go meals are provided free of charge to all kids and teens. No registration or paperwork required. Three kid-friendly lunches plus extra goodies will be available to each
person. Pick up at the Oregon Public Library. Stop in and ask a librarian for more info. Lunches are available until supplies last and are resupplied each week.
Try It Tuesday – Tuesday, July 15 at 1:30 pm or 5:30 pm (Choose your time slot)
Diamond Painted Hummingbird Suncatchers. This is an adult-only class, 18 and up. Registration required, limited spaces.
Please call (815) 7322724 or visit www.oregonpubliclibrary.com.
Book Clubs
The 2WBC meets Wednesday, July 9, at 12:30 to discuss The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Is This Just Fantasy? Book Club will meet July 15 at 6 pm at the Library to discuss Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart. The Afternoon Book Club meets Wednesday, July 16, at 1 pm to discuss The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin. Cocktails and Crime will meet July 20, so stop by the Library to find out title, location and time.
Books on Tap Book Club will meet Thursday, July 24 at 6 pm at Cork & Tap to discuss The Husbands by Holly Gramazio.
Ink with A Friend
Monthly Card Club-Monday, July 21 at 6:00 pm
Sending personal cards to your friends and family is a way to let them know you care and are thinking about them. All designs include beautiful colored cardstock, gorgeous designer series paper, detailed stamped images, die-cut pieces, matching ink, ribbon, and embellishments. All cards come with matching envelopes. Whether you’re a new card maker or a seasoned pro, our kits are suited to every skill level. Don’t wait! Sign up today to reserve your spot. Oregon Patrons only. Registration required, call (815) 732-2724 or visit www. oregonpubliclibrary.com Movie at the Library, Wednesday, July 23 at 1:30 pm
Join us for an hour of science fiction, superstition, drama, and plenty of twists with Rod Serling. Registration requested.
Functional Fitness –Wednesdays at 9:30 am
In this class, we use exercises based on wholebody movements to restore posture, improve body mechanics, build strength and endurance, and fine-tune balancing skills. We start with a slow warm-up followed by core exercises – then explore how to utilize these tools based on real situations in daily life. Bring your yoga mat! All levels are welcome. - OREGON PATRONS ONLY - Registration required, this class fills quickly. Please call (815) 732-2724 or visit http://www.oregonpubliclibrary.com.
Knit & Crochet - Mondays at 1:00 pm
This group meets every Monday at 1 pm and is open to anyone. From beginner to expert, all skill level are welcome to join. Bring any hand craft and work on it while socializing. Need help getting started with your knitting project, stop in on a Monday. Registration is requested, visit http://www. oregonpubliclibrary.com or call (815) 732-2724.
Photo Printer at the library!
The library has a photo printer capable of printing 4 x 6, 5x7, 8x10, and 8.5 x 11 from computer, USB drive or SD card. It will not print directly from a phone. Call for more info. Community Seed Library It’s not too late to plant a garden this year. You can’t beat the taste of fresh food that you grow yourself. Come in and browse our seed library. Seeds are FREE for anyone.
Oregon Writers Group - meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 10:00 am The OWG is a gathering of writers or writer-wannabes who meet to support each other and further their own writing. The purpose of the group is to help and encourage you in your writing. If you need brainstorming ideas, we can help suggest ideas or aid with the creative process.
OPLD Dial-A-Story & Oregon Public Library StoryWalk @Oregon Park West
OPD responds to vehicle vs. pedestrian accident, minor injuries
OREGON — On Wednesday, June 25 at approximately 10 a.m., officers from the Oregon Police Department responded to a report of a vehicle-ver-
sus-pedestrian accident at the intersection of 4th Street and Washington Street. Upon arrival, officers determined that a vehicle driven by Nancy Swieter
(Oregon) struck pedestrian Gary Mead (Oregon) while he was in the crosswalk. Swieter was turning east onto West Washington Street at the time of the incident.
Oregon Ambulance personnel responded to the scene and provided medical care to Mead, who sustained minor injuries. He was
transported to OSF Saint Katherine Medical Center in Dixon for further evaluation. Following an on-scene investigation, Swieter was cited for failure to yield
AREA CHURCH DIRECTORY
right of way to pedestrian in a crosswalk. The OPD reminds drivers to remain vigilant and yield to pedestrians at all marked crosswalks.
LINDENWOOD
SPORTS/LOCAL NEWS
ROCKFORD — In a significant move to enhance its athletic facilities and student-athlete experience, the Rock Valley College Board of Trustees approved the installation of artificial turf on the college’s baseball, soccer, and softball fields during its meeting on Tuesday, June 24.
“Student success is a holistic process that is encapsulated by our strategic plan, and this investment
Library Closings
The Mount Morris Library will be closed on Friday, July 4th and Saturday, July 5th, for Independence Day weekend. We hope that everyone has a great time at the Let Freedom Ring festivities!
Mount Morris Library Hours
The Mount Morris Library is open every day Monday through Saturday. Hours are Monday through Thursday 11am7pm, Fridays 11am-5pm, and Saturdays 10am-2pm. Stop by and see us!
Level up at Your Library-Monday, July 7th at 1pm
Come on Monday at 1pm to read some great books and learn about firefighters! Our guest this week will be one of our local firefighters! They will be here for books and to create a craft! Stop by to ask questions and talk with a firefighter! This program is available to everyone, regardless of library card or not. Then, at 2pm our drop-in craft is an edible campfire!
Summer Reading Program Schedule July7th-July 12th
Firefighters! Program
Monday, July 7th 1pm
Edible Campfire DropIn Craft Monday, July 7th 2pm-6pm, while supplies last Grab-N-Go Craft Kit Tue-Sat, July 1st-7th while
directly supports student success,” said Dr. Howard Spearman, president of Rock Valley College.
“By enhancing our athletic facilities, we’re creating more opportunities for student-athletes to grow, compete, and excel—on the field and in the classroom. It’s about removing barriers and building the foundation for achievement.”
This major investment represents a transfor -
supplies last
Pre-School Story Time Wednesday, July 9 th at 11:15am
TOUCH TANK Family Night Thursday, July 10 th at 5:30pm
Lego Challenge-Summer Vacation Friday, July 11th drop-in 11am4:30pm
Touch Tank-Mississippi River Museum-Thursday, July 10th at 5:30pm Mount Morris library will be hosting a touch tank with rays from the Mississippi River Museum! Come to family night on Thursday, July 10th at 5:30 to learn all about how we can help these creatures from here in Illinois. Thenget a chance to touch a ray! Touch Tank is sponsored by Reising Insurance and Kandu/Rat Worx/Custom Seal and Rubber Products, Inc. Please be sure to thank these wonderful local sponsors! THANK YOU!!!
Lego Night! Thursday, July 17th at 6pm Bring the family out for some awesome brick building! We will pull out #AlltheLegos for this night and kids can build whatever they can imagine. Then, they can put a name on their creation and keep it on our display for all to enjoy until the next Lego night! Ink with a Friend Monday, July 14th at 5pm
mative step forward for Golden Eagle Athletics, offering year-round access to high-quality, consistent playing surfaces and significantly reducing weather-related disruptions. The improvements will allow for more efficient scheduling of practices, competitions, and recruiting events while underscoring Rock Valley College’s commitment to athletic excellence and growth.
“Our facilities reflect
We will be offering a card-making class from a local crafter, Liz Gullett. She will be here on Monday, July 14th at 5pm! You will get all the materials to make two beautiful cards to take home. Stop by to see the samples, $5 fee when you register. Registration is limited so call the library or stop by to save your spot before July 7th!
Display Case Showings
Stop by to see the awesome display of dolls from our very own, Margaret Dannhorn. Dolls play a critical role in many families’ lives and these are no different. Come admire all the ups and downs of childhood through the styles of our dolls. We are always looking for collectors or artists who are willing to share their treasures in our display cases. If you are interested, please call 815-734-4927.
Mount Morris Library is FINE FREE!
Yep! You no longer need to worry about paying fines for late books, dvd’s, audiobooks, etc. at the Mount Morris Library! We have no fines due for late materials, just return the item and you can check out any other item at no cost! We love serving our community and invite all patrons to visit the Mount Morris Library!
Explore More Illinois
Explore More Illinois
our priorities,” said RVC Athletics Director Darin Monroe. “This upgrade shows that we are serious about providing a championship-level experience for our student-athletes, from recruitment to development to competition. It’s not just about keeping up; it’s about setting the standard.”
The decision was met with enthusiasm from coaches across the athletics department.
users can access, and reserve passes from any of our attractions on the Mount Morris Library website, mtmorris-il.org, under the resources page. Visit the website to browse attractions.
Hot Spots available at Mount Morris Library
The library has hotspots available to check out for use at home. These are available to Mount Morris Library card holders and will be checked out for fourteen days. Get more information from a librarian if you would like to use this free service!
Book Donations Welcome
Our book sale was such a great success due to all of your wonderful donations! We are accepting donations again for the next book sale! If you have any media you no longer need or want-bring them to the Mount Morris Library! We cannot accept textbooks, encyclopedias, Reader’s Digest Condensed books, VHS tapes, or audio cassettes.
Lions Club Glasses and Hearing Aids Collections Donation boxes for eyeglass recycling are available at the library. When the boxes are full, they are picked up by local Lions members and dropped off at collection depots. These recycled eyeglasses are given to
Head baseball coach Chad Herren called the turf installation “a tremendous asset,” adding, “Having consistent field access in the Midwest in the spring nearly guarantees games and practices can proceed.”
Men’s soccer head coach Tim Romanello noted, “This is about consistency and commitment. We now have a playing surface that matches our ambition.”
people in need, with the help of various medical missionaries, in Central and South America and around the world. When the eyeglasses arrive in these countries, doctors and technicians conduct eye exams and provide a free pair of prescription eyeglasses that are as close as possible to that person’s sight needs. When donating HEARING AIDS, please be sure to place them in a small box or hard-covered case so they do not get crushed or damaged.
Adult Programming We would love to hear from you. Do you have any program ideas? Do evenings or weekends work better? Do you have a program you would like to share/lead? Contact Mary Cheatwood at the library through email at mmlib@mtmorris-il.org or call 815-734-4927.
Memorial Gifts
Give a gift that lasts, brings joy to many, and doubles in value. Your memorial gift to the library is matched by the Mt. Morris Library Foundation, doubling your generosity! Many thanks to all who gave memorial gifts in 2023.
Newspaper Available!
Women’s soccer head coach Kevan Watkins added, “This investment allows us to grow the game locally, host more events, and give our players the best opportunity to succeed.”
Construction is expected to begin in September 2025, with all fields competition-ready in 2026. For more information about Rock Valley College Athletics, visit https:// rvcsports.com/.
Additional Services
Offered
We make copies ($0.25 per black and white page). We fax ($2 for the first page and $0.50 each additional page). We can scan a document and send it to email ($2 per document). You can use a computer without a library card for $1.00. Resume software is available on our computers. Come visit us and let us help you!
Library Board Meetings
**July’s board meeting will be at 5:30pm, July 16 th .** Monthly board meetings are held the third Wednesday of the month at 7pm at the library unless otherwise noted. The public is welcome to attend. The Mount Morris Public Library is located at 105 S. McKendrie Ave. Mt. Morris IL 61054 – 815-734-4927 Fax-815-734-6035 www. mtmorris-il.org
We will now be receiving the Dixon Telegraph daily! We receive the Ogle County Life, Sauk Valley, and Mt. Morris Times. If you want to keep up with the local news-stop on by! Curbside Service is available! We want to remind everyone that you still have the option of having your materials delivered to your vehicle. If you have holds waiting for you, call us to tell us you are on your way, and we will bring them out to your vehicle when you arrive. Call us if you need more information.
LOCAL NEWS/COMICS
Illinois teen’s legacy remembered with FFA donation
BY HANNAH SPANGLER FARMWEEK
NEARLY50 years after playing tuba in the Illinois FFA State Band, state Rep. Charlie Meier returned to Illinois FFA State Convention for the next generation of agriculturalists.
Meier visited the convention June 11 to ensure every FFA chapter received a multimeter, a safety tool used to check if an electrical outlet is wired properly.
The multimeters were given in memory of Caleb Elliot, an 18-year-old from Madison County, who lost his life in 2017 after being electrocuted on a job site.
“If he had a multimeter, he would have realized that the plug-in he was hooking into was wired incorrectly, and he would not have used it, and he would be here today with his family,” said Meier, R-Highland.
Caleb’s father, Doug Elliot, recalled the morning of the accident “start-
ed off to be a good day” as he sent his son off to his job at a local heating and cooling company. On his second job of the day, Caleb plugged equipment into an outlet with reverse polarity, causing the electrical current to flow back into the device.
“I believe that pump was metal, Caleb was on the ground, it had rained the night before,” Doug Elliot said. “When he turned the pump on, everything continued on from there to where he became the ground, and he was electrocuted.
“That was the start of this awareness, bringing us to where we’re at here now in 2025.”
Doug Elliot and Meier partnered to purchase 300 multimeters from Buchheit Stores, which provided a discounted rate. Along with donating the devices to each FFA chapter, they asked advisers to spend 15 to 20 minutes teaching students about electrical safety and proper multimeter use.
In addition, Illinois House Resolution 283, sponsored by Meier, designates Aug. 14 as Caleb Elliot Day. Meier told FarmWeek the goal
is to raise awareness and save lives.
“Our youth are our future. We want them to be safe,” Meier said. “We do have a bright
future, we just need to help make sure we keep them alive so we can have that future.”
This story was distributed through a coop -
erative project between Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Press Association. For more food and farming
Rep. Charlie Meier, left, and Doug Elliot donated 300 multimeter safety tools to Illinois FFA chapters.
(PHOTO BY HANNAH SPANGLER OF FARMWEEK)
IAITC coordinators in the driver’s seat for 2026 program
BY PHYLLIS COULTER FARMWEEK
PLAY was a key part of the day for about 100 Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom (IAITC) coordinators from about 80 Farm Bureau county offices as they gathered in Bloomington on May 20 to get in the driver’s seat of the 2026-transportation-themed program.
In addition to participating in activities that children will do in classrooms, they gathered ideas and supplies for their Summer Ag Institute programs, where they will teach the teachers.
“There is a lot of energy in this group at the end of the school year, getting ready for next year,” Kevin Daugherty, director of Illinois Center for Agricultural Engagement for Illinois Farm Bureau, told FarmWeek.
Some of that energy was shown as participants loaded box after box into their cars, trucks and Jeeps off nine bulging pallets in the drizzling rain to deliver to teachers and use at Summer Institutes.
The coordinators in-
spired each other when the PEARS (pretty exciting ag-related stuff) award winners shared their ideas about birthday party themes, virtual book clubs and even farmer’s tan contests.
“You can’t hold a birthday party without a farmer,” said Jennifer Fink, who brought party fixings that included products of corn farmers (plastic), tree farmers (paper decor) and wheat farmers (birthday cake).
Kathleen Agney, a Shelby County IAITC coordinator for 10 years, has never seen so much excitement from teachers signing up for her SummerAg Institute program.
“I think it’s partly the theme. Roads, Rivers and Rails has teachers excited,” she said. Often, about 10 teachers sign up, but it looks like she will have double that many this year. Several coordinators, including Agney, are planning trips to the river with area teachers to connect with the water transportation aspect of the theme.
As for the roads component, Julie Werland, Fulton coordinator, has already navigated students and
teachers along Route 66 activities. Others will join in celebrating the 100th birthday of the Mother Road next year. She gives the students a map of interesting things to see along the highway, so they can go for a ride with their parents and experience adventures. That ride means – to actually look out the windows and not be playing on the electronics during the drive, she challenges students.
Coordinators also exchanged information about ag-related tourism sites and activities in their communities and examined travel passports and other creative items provided by Daugherty and the IAITC team.
Participants exchanged favorite books, often with interesting titles such as “Poo Pile on the Prairie.”
Mayonnaise united coordinators under the tutelage of John Heiser, program advisor for Facilitating Coordination in Agricultural Education.
In an exercise, also performed by some of the 41,000 ag students across the state, Heiser tasked 15 coordinators with naming ag careers involved in cre-
Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie congratulated the winners of her 2025 Photo Contest. First place - Lincoln Smith (Byron).
McCombie announces photo contest winners
House Minority Leader Tony McCombie congratulated the winners of her 2025 Photo Contest. The contest encouraged area residents to submit photographs that best represent the people and places of the 89th legislative district during the beauty of Spring. “Each year of the photo contest I am impressed by the creativity of our residents and the beauty of the district,” said Leader McCombie. “This year, three amazing photos were selected that showcase our unique recreation opportunities that make our communities and countryside such a fun place enjoy with families and friends.” Winning submissions
can all be viewed on RepMcCombie.com: First place - Lincoln Smith (Byron). Second place - Michelle Hubbard (Mt. Carroll). Third place – Kristina Linenfelser (Galena).
The photos will be displayed in McCombie’s Savanna district and Springfield capitol offices.
ating a jar of mayonnaise and getting it to the grocery. In all, 43 ag careers touch the process of mayonnaise on its way to the store. Of those, only two are actually farmers – poultry/egg producers and grain farmers. Others worked in trans-
portation, equipment sales, design, sales and more.
In addition to the fun and games, coordinators polished their skills on fundraising, grant writing, social media efforts, pollinator projects and collaborating with 4-H teen teachers. This story was distributed through a cooperative project between Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Press Association. For more food and farming news, visit FarmWeekNow. com
(COURTESY PHOTO)
At left, Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom coordinators braved a little rain to load boxes of supplies off nine pallets for teachers and students in their vehicles at Illinois Farm Bureau. At right, Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom county coordinators made some interesting faces as they got a whiff of different scents as they gathered ideas for their summer ag programs to teach the teachers. From left are Jenny Bierman, Jasper County; Kambry Price, Clark County; Karen Scott, Stark County; and Lisa Hadden, Cass-Morgan counties.
(COURTESY PHOTOS)
made on or before October 10, 2025. This matter is set for hearing in the Circuit Court of Ogle County in Oregon, Illinois on October 30, 2025 at 9:00am with Judge Roe via Zoom and in Courtroom 302
You may be present at this hearing but your right to redeem will already have expired at that time.
YOU ARE URGED TO REDEEM IMMEDIATELY TO PREVENT LOSS OF PROPERTY
Installment Number N/A
THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN SOLD FOR DELINQUENT TAXES
Property Located at 3640 West Broad Street, Dixon, Illinois
Legal Description or Property Index No.: 2113-157-003
INC
Purchaser of Assignee
Dated: 6/10/2025
CASE NUMBER: 2025TX24
vise you that a petition has been filed for a Tax Deed which will transfer title and the right to possession of this property if redemption is not
MILITARY, SPORTSMAN ONLINE AUCTION
BIDDING OPENS: SAT, JULY 5TH @ 8AM
HACK’S ANTIQUE AUCTION CENTER
400 W. THIRD ST, PECATONICA, IL 61063
Large Firearm & Collector Auction! Featuring Antique & Modern Rifles-Shotguns-PistolsRevolvers-Ammunition. Great Selection of U.S. & Foreign Military Rifles & Pistols, German Luger, Mauser P.38, Springfield, Astra, Winchester, Ruger, Savage, Remington, Browning, Smith & Wesson, Colt, Marlin, Trap, Target. Black Powder Pistols & Rifles. Ammunition & Reload Equipment. Game Calls. Knives. U.S. 1918 Trench Knife & Bayonets & More! Quality Firearms & Related Being Accepted.15% Buyers/Online Fee. All State & Federal Firearm Laws Apply. FFL#3-36-201-01-7J-03526
Hack’s Auction & Realty Service Greg & Swan Hachmeister, Auctioneers Pecatonica, IL 815-239-1436 www.hacksauction.com I.A.F.L. #44000128
Redemption can be made at any time on or before October 10, 2025, by applying to the County Clerk of Ogle County, Illinois at the Office of the County Clerk in Oregon, IL. For further information contact the County clerk
ADDRESS: 105 South 5th Street, Suite 104, Oregon, IL 61061
TELEPHONE: (815) 732-1110
P&N PROPERTIES, INC
Purchaser of Assignee
Dated: 6/10/2025 CASE NUMBER: 2025TX20
Billy J Wheeler; Unknown Spouse of Billy J Wheeler; Fleet Mortgage Corp, n/k/a JPMorgan Chase; Occupants; Ogle County Clerk; Claimants, Judgment Creditors and Decree Creditors, if any of the above described as “unknown owners” “Unknown owners or parties interested in said land or lots” No.0613 (June 23, 30 and July 7, 2025)
NOTICE
TAX DEED NO. 2025TX24 FILED 6/9/2025 TAKE NOTICE
County of OGLE
Date Premises Sold November 2, 2022 Certificate No. 202100145 Sold Certificate for General No. Taxes of (year) 2021 Sold for Special Assessment of (Municipality) and Special Assessment Number N/A Warrant Number N/A
This notice is to advise you that the above property has been sold for delinquent taxes and that the period of redemption from the sale will expire on October 10, 2025. The amount to redeem is subject to increase at 6 month intervals from the date of sale and may be further increased if the purchaser at the tax sale or his assignee pays any subsequently accruing taxes or special assessments to redeem the property from subsequent forfeitures or tax sales. Check with the county clerk as to the exact amount you owe before redeeming.
This notice is also to advise you that a petition has been filed for a Tax Deed which will transfer title and the right to possession of this property if redemption is not made on or before October 10, 2025. This matter is set for hearing in the Circuit Court of Ogle County in Oregon, Illinois on October 30, 2025 at 9:00am with Judge Roe via Zoom and in Courtroom 302
You may be present at this hearing but your right to redeem will already have expired at that time. YOU ARE URGED TO REDEEM IMMEDIATELY TO PREVENT LOSS OF PROPERTY Redemption can be made at any time on or before October 10, 2025, by applying to the County Clerk of Ogle County, Illinois at the Office of the County Clerk in Oregon, IL. For further information contact the County clerk
ADDRESS: 105 South 5th Street, Suite 104, Oregon, IL 61061
TELEPHONE: (815) 732-1110 P&N PROPERTIES,
Thomas L Huggins; Unknown Spouse of Thomas L Huggins; City of Dixon; Occupants; Ogle County Clerk; Claimants, Judgment Creditors and Decree Creditors, if any of the above described as “unknown owners” “Unknown owners or parties interested in said land or lots” No: 0614
(June 23, 30 and July 7, 2025)
NOTICE TAX DEED NO. 2025TX19 FILED 6/9/2025 TAKE NOTICE
County of OGLE
Date Premises Sold
November 2, 2022
Certificate No. 202100220 Sold Certificate for General No. Taxes of (year) 2021 Sold for Special Assessment of (Municipality) and Special Assessment Number N/A Warrant Number N/A
Installment Number N/A
THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN SOLD FOR DELINQUENT TAXES
Property Located at split part that is the West and East part of the property commonly known as 209 West Depot Street, Creston, Illinois
Legal Description or Property Index No.: 2523-258-001
This notice is to ad-
vise you that the above property has been sold for delinquent taxes and that the period of redemption from the sale will expire on October 10, 2025. The amount to redeem is subject to increase at 6 month intervals from the date of sale and may be further increased if the purchaser at the tax sale or his assignee pays any subsequently accruing taxes or special assessments to redeem the property from subsequent forfeitures or tax sales. Check with the county clerk as to the exact amount you owe before redeeming. This notice is also to advise you that a petition has been filed for a Tax Deed which will transfer title and the right to possession of this property if redemption is not made on or before October 10, 2025. This matter is set for hearing in the Circuit Court of Ogle County in Oregon, Illinois on October 30, 2025 at 9:00am with Judge Roe via Zoom and in Courtroom 302 You may be present at this hearing but your right to redeem will already have expired at that time. YOU ARE URGED TO REDEEM IMMEDIATELY TO PREVENT LOSS OF PROPERTY Redemption can be made at any time on or before October 10, 2025, by applying to the County Clerk of Ogle
305 GARAGE / ESTATE SALES
model cars, wood/ brass music box
• Antique Warmink Wuba mantel clock, vintage Maelzel Metronome
• 22k gold plated Bavarian porcelain tea set, unique chess sets and pieces
• 39” Wooden ship wheel, brass ship bell, US flags
• Handmade items by Maui artists: blown glass, artwork, ukulele, pottery, wood carvings
• Several Indian/Southwest themed items
• Cookware, Corelle dishes, flatware, large cutting boards, cookbooks
• Outdoor Kitchler lights, new 52” ceiling fan, cement statues, bird bath
• Antique table, oak plant stands, full size bed frame,rolling work table, portable lightbox
• Bronze Blackhawk Indian statue, bronze gecko, 2 large cast iron pumpkins
• Willow Tree nativity set, Christmas village collection, Santa pictures by RJ Reynolds
• Noritake china “Silk Ribbons”, Lenox dinnerware “Winter Greetings”
• Native American Indian Flute with stand & music books, piano sheet music
• Victrola, victorian table, Kenmore cabinet sewing machine
Handmade marionette puppets
• Sugar Ray Leonard punching bag w/leather gloves, horseshoe set
• Tempur-Pedic Office Chairs & Paper Shredder, Medline walker
• Celestron NexStar 102SLT Computerized Telescope And much more!
Perfect for collectors, artists, and bargain hunters. Don’t miss out!
Payment: We accept Cash and Venmo. (Sorry, no checks or credit cards).
Please note: All items sold as-is. No early birds, please.
PIA#30/06302025
County, Illinois at the Office of the County Clerk in Oregon, IL. For further information contact the County clerk
ADDRESS: 105 South 5th Street, Suite 104, Oregon, IL 61061
TELEPHONE: (815) 732-1110
PEACEOFMIND
ALERT, INC
Purchaser of Assignee
Dated: 6/10/2025
CASE NUMBER: 2025TX19
Margaret L Sanderson; Financial Freedom Senior Funding Corporation, n/k/a Financial Freedom Acquisition, LLC; Village of Creston; Occupants; Ogle County Clerk; Claimants, Judgment Creditors and Decree Creditors, if any of the above described as “unknown owners” “Unknown owners or parties interested in said land or lots” No: 0615 (June 23, 30 and July 7, 2025)
NOTICE TAX DEED NO. 2025TX23 FILED 6/9/2025 TAKE NOTICE
County of OGLE
Date Premises Sold November 2, 2022 Certificate No. 202100143 Sold Certificate for General No. Taxes of (year) 2021 Sold for Special Assessment of (Municipality) and Special Assessment Number N/A Warrant Number N/A Installment Number N/A THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN SOLD FOR DELINQUENT TAXES
Property Located at 7911 South Main Street, Dixon, Illinois Legal Description or Property Index No.: 2113-129-001
This notice is to advise you that the above property has been sold for delinquent taxes and that the period of redemption from the sale will expire on October 10, 2025. The amount to redeem is subject to increase at 6 month intervals from the date of sale and may be further increased if the purchaser at the tax sale or his assignee pays any subsequently accruing taxes or special assessments to redeem the property from subsequent forfeitures or tax sales. Check with the county clerk as to the exact amount you owe before redeeming.
This notice is also to advise you that a petition has been filed for a Tax Deed which will transfer title and the right to possession of this property if redemption is not made on or before October 10, 2025.
This matter is set for hearing in the Circuit Court of Ogle County in Oregon, Illinois on October 30, 2025 at 9:00am with Judge Roe via Zoom and in Courtroom 302 You may be present at this hearing but your right to redeem will already have expired at that time. YOU ARE URGED TO REDEEM IMMEDIATELY TO PREVENT LOSS OF PROPERTY Redemption can be made at any time on or before October 10, 2025, by applying to the County Clerk of Ogle County, Illinois at the Office of the County Clerk in Oregon, IL. For further informa-
ByronFest 2025 scheduled for July 11-13
BYRON — Byron -
Fest, one of the finest family festivals in Northern Illinois, is held annually during the second full weekend in July.
2025’s festival is scheduled for July 11-13. The festival is located in Byron’s downtown area. Additional events are held in other venues throughout the city, including athletic events at the Jarrett Prairie Center and quilt show at the Byron Museum of History.
ByronFest is a venture of the Byron Chamber of Commerce designed to encourage and promote tourism in the Byron area and to showcase the Byron community to the many visitors who travel to Byron for the threeday event. In addition, the festival provides an opportunity for many not-for-profit organizations to raise funds for various projects. During the past 38 years, ByronFest has returned more than $830,000 to local charitable groups. These organizations have in turn used the funds for community improvements and programs throughout the area.
Some local organizations that have taken advantage of this opportunity throughout the years include Byron Lions Club, Byron Kiwanis Club, Byron Key Club, Byron Firemen’s Association, Boy Scouts, Byron High School Cross Country, Byron High School Volleyball, Stillman Valley Boys Basketball, Dakota Cheerleaders, and many others.
Want to Help? Planning and operating an event of this size requires not only the work of the Chamber staff and ByronFest Steering Committee but also the efforts of over 400 dedicated local volunteers. If you are interested in donating a few hours of your time to assist with this worthwhile community festival, please contact the Chamber of Commerce office at 815.234.5500.
Taste of
ByronFest
TASTE OF BYRONFEST HOURS
Friday, July 11th, 5:00 PM - Midnight Saturday, July 12th, Noon - Midnight Sunday, July 13th, Noon - 5:00 PM
BEVERAGES*
Soft Drinks - 4 tickets 16 oz Can Domestics - 5 tickets 16 oz Craft Cans - 5 tickets
Specialty Cans - 6 tickets
TICKETS
$1/each
There are 3 ticket booths within the festival grounds.
CASH OR CASHLESS
Food vendors will be located on Walnut & 2nd Street
(within the festival grounds - ByronFest wristband or carnival Mega Pass required)
ByronFest Bags
Saturday, July 12, 2025
Tournament Start | 12:00 pm
Teams must be present at 11:30am
PRIZES
Cash prizes will be awarded to the first, second, and third placed teams. 1st - $275, 2nd-$150, 3rd-$75
ENTRY
If entry form is in by June 30, entry fee is $50 per team.
After July 1, the entry fee is $60 per team.
Includes ONE team admission into the tournament, TWO ByronFest wristbands & TWO beers
Registration begins at 11:30am on July 12, for new teams if the bracket has not been filled.
Please make a check payable to: ByronFest, P.O. Box 405, Byron, IL 61010.
RULES
Teams of two compete in a bean bag toss game. The tournament will be run using ACO (American Cornhole Organization) rule and regulations. Boxes are 4’x2’ and bags are 6”x6”, 1 lb corn feed filled duck cloth. No outside bags will be allowed in play. First teams to 21 points advance to the next round. It is a double elimination tournament. Must be 18 to play. The brackets will be set up at random (no seeding). For a full list of rules, refer to www. americancornhole.com. A full explanation of rules will be announced before games begin Saturday.
ByronFest
Parade
PARADE ROUTE
PARADE STARTS at Maple & 2nd Street, travels east on 2nd Street,
North on Colfax, then east on 3rd street. Parade ends at 3rd & Market.
BE IN THE PARADE!
Cost: None, simply submit an application!
Line Up Begins at 1:30 p.m.
Line Up Staging: Maple & 2nd Street
A confirmation will be sent to you the week of ByronFest. Parade line-up number, directions, and other pertinent information will be included. If you have any questions, please contact the Byron Chamber of Commerce office at (815) 234-5500. Thank you for helping make our parade a special event!
ByronFest 5K & Fun Run
Race Time | 8:00 am Fun Run | 8:05am
Registration & CheckIn Time: 7:00-7:45 am Byron Forest Preserve Jarrett Prairie Center 7993 N. River Road Byron, IL
Sign-up is through the Byron Park District registration site.
Registration questions? byronparks.org or 815234-8435
ByronFest Pickleball
Tournament Start | 9:00 am Doubles (Partner) Format
Duper rating divisions: 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0
Ages: 18+
Sign-up is through the Byron Park District registration site.
Registration questions? byronparks.org or 815234-8435
ByronFest Idol
ByronFest Idol is back again this year!
Starting May 8th @ 7pm we will have ByronFest Idol at all different locations with guest judges at each location.
Contestants are encouraged to arrive 20 minutes early will compete in random order.
This karaoke style contest will start at 7pm at selected locations each week and contestants are encouraged to arrive 20 minutes early will compete in random order. There is NO COST to participate in ByronFest Idol!
Semi-Finals will feature 10 contestants - 2 from each week & 2 wild cards from any given week! Top five performers will perform two songs each on Saturday July 12th, at the ByronFest Lions Stage.
Each Winner will be awarded a prize: 1st$300, 2nd- $200 and 3rd - $100!! We are so excited to see all the talent!
ByronFest Quilt Show
Enter your quilt during museum hours!
Museum Hours Wed-Sat 10am-3pm See page 12
Byron Bank to host Dunk Tank Event at ByronFest 2025
BYRON – Byron
Bank is excited to bring back and announce the Dunk Tank schedule for ByronFest 2025. This year’s dunk tank aims to raise money for Trek for Troops Byron, reflecting our “You Ask, We Help” philosophy and commitment to community support.
“At Byron Bank, giving back to our community is at the heart of everything we do,” said Samantha Ciaccio, Marketing Officer at Byron Bank. “The dunk tank is a fun way of turning summer fun into community impact.” 2025 Dunk Tank Schedule: Friday, July 11th: Byron School’s Night!
6-6:30PM – Mrs. Sarah Hogan, Mary Morgan Principal
6:30-7PM – Mr. Michael Sand, Byron Middle School Principal
7-7:40PM – Mr. Andy Donaldson, Byron High School Principal 7:40-8:20PM – Ken Franch, Byron High School Assistant Principal
8:20-9PM – Buster Barton, Byron CUSD Superintendent Saturday, July 12th: 4-5PM – Shawn McCammond, Byron Forest Preserve
5-6PM – Logan Byers, Mr. Goodwater 6-7PM – Nolan Brass,
UW Oshkosh Football Player and former Byron Tigers Athlete
7-8PM – Michelle Lorenz, Byron Chamber of Commerce Executive Director and Power Combat Fitness Owner
8-9PM – Caden Considine, Byron Tigers
Byron Museum’s 38th Annual Cacciatore Quilt Show
held
Quilt Show hours to view and vote: Friday, July 11 5-8pm Saturday, July 12 10am-7pm Sunday, July 13 10am-12pm
The museum is seeking area quilters and collectors to display their fabric works of art.
Three-Sport Athlete Sunday, July 13th: 2-3PM – Charles Van Horn, News and Sports Director with 102.3 The Coyote
3-4PM – Jess Lane, Byron Dance Academy
Our amazing lineup is ready to get soaked to support Trek for Troops Byron – all proceeds during ByronFest weekend go to support their amazing mission! Join us for ByronFest 2025, July 11 th -13 th , to dunk your favorites and truly make a big splash in our community this summer!
832 N. Galena
FROM OAK
From page 11
For more information, contact the Byron Museum of History at 815234-5031 or email them at info@byronmuseum. org!
STOP BY JULY 1113, 2025
Friday 5-8pm | Saturday 10am-7pm | Sunday 10am-12pm ByronFest Carnival Carnival Midway Hours Friday, July 11, 5pm11pm Saturday, July 12, 12pm-11pm Sunday, July 13, 12pm-5pm
WEEKEND MEGA
PASS
$60 in advance
$65 at the festival
DAY MEGA PASS
$35 only at the festival!
Mega Pass provides UNLIMITED rides and entry onto festi -
val grounds! ByronFest wristband not required with a Mega Pass!
You can purchase your Mega Pass at the Byron Chamber of Commerce office at 232 W 2nd Street in City Hall (upstairs), Monday-Friday 9-4pm. MEGA PASS ADVANCE CUT OFF ONLINE PURCHASES
IN-PERSON July 10th at Noon
Individual ride tickets will also be sold at the festival only for $1.25 a ticket!
Directions
FROM ROCKFORD
- Take IL Bypass 20 West (towards Freeport) to Dixon exit (Route 2). Travel approximately 12 miles south to Byron.
FROM FREEPORT
- (Dubuque, Galena, Savanna, northwest Illinois) Illinois Route 20 East to Pecatonica Road (right before Illinois State Police Headquarters). Turn
right (south). Go through Seward. First stop sign out of Seward is Montague Road. Go straight at stop to next stop sign (IL Route 72). Turn left onto 72. Follow to end (72/2). Turn left onto 72/2 to Byron.
FROM MADISON
- (Beloit, Janesville, South Beloit, Rockton) Take I-90 South to Rockford to IL Bypass 20. Take Bypass 20 west (towards Freeport) to Dixon exit (Route 2). Travel approximately 12 miles south to Byron.
FROM MOLINE
- (Rock island, Davenport, Bettendorf, Sterling, Rock Falls) Route 88 East. Take I-88 east to SR-26. Turn right onto SR-2 (east). Travel NE on Route 2 approximately 25 miles to Byron.
FROM BLOOMINGTON(Normal, LaSalle, Peru, Mendota, Decatur, Rochelle) Take I-39 (US 51) north to Exit 111.
At exit, turn right onto Sr-72. Travel on 72 west approximately 12 miles to stop sign at Intersection of 72 and German Church Road. Turn right. Continue over bridge, and turn left at stop light (Route 72/2).
FROM HARVARD
- (Richmond, Zion, Antioch, Waukegan, far Northeast suburbs) Take 173 west until it ends (straight at Forest Hills Road) at Meridian Road. Turn left onto Meridian Road. Meridian ends at Route 2. Turn right onto Route 2. Continue on Route 2 into Byron.
FROM DEKALB
- (Western Chicago suburbs - Aurora, Naperville, Bolingbrook) Take I-88 west to I-39 north. At Exit 111, turn right (west) onto Route 72. Travel west on Route 72 approximately 12 miles to stop sign at intersection of 72 and German Church Road. Turn right. Continue over bridge, and turn left at
stop light (Route 72/2).
FROM CHICAGO
- (Northwest suburbs - Buffalo Grove, DesPlaines, Skokie, Evanston, Elgin) Take I-90 (Northwest Tollway) to IL-20 in Rockford. Take Route 20 Bypass west (towards Freeport) to Dixon exit (Route 2 south). Turn right onto Route 2 south. Travel Route 2 approximately 12 miles south to Byron.
Friday, July 11th
ByronFest 2025 Schedule of Events
July 12th
