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Rochelle Veterinary Hospital welcomes new veterinarian Dr. Christina Edlebeck
‘The thing I love most is the people and the interaction’
By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
Dr. Christina Edlebeck joined Rochelle Veterinary Hospital on July 21 as its newest veterinarian. Raised in a military family, Edlebeck spent her childhood in Germany, Japan and across the U.S. before settling in Illinois.
She earned her veterinary degree from Texas A&M University in 2025. Edlebeck has a special interest in senior pet wellness, focusing on recognizing and addressing the changing needs of aging animals.
She values open communication and enjoys helping pet owners feel confident, supported and informed in caring for their companions.
“In my fourth year of vet school I did an externship here at Rochelle and I ended up falling in love with the community and the practice,” Edlebeck said. “The people here are so kind and it feels like a family here. Rochelle is rural enough to see a cool variety of cases and close enough to Chicago and universities if you need to refer something. It’s a really neat location and the people are great.”
Edlebeck is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and a Fear Free Certified Professional. Her dog, Bailey, is her best buddy and favorite hiking partner.
Rochelle Veterinary Hospital is a general practice facility focusing on preventative care, dental procedures, spaying and neutering, minor surgical procedures, and occasional more major surgeries. The facility also provides client education on nutrition, vaccines, tick and heartworm prevention, caring for animals from birth through senior years.
The aspect of her job that Edlebeck enjoys most is interacting with pet owners.
“I like learning people’s stories and getting to know them. I really enjoy the client education aspect,” Edlebeck said. “I think a lot of the conditions we see in dogs and
cats are easily preventable. It just takes a little bit of education. I like to approach veterinary medicine as a collaboration and partnership between the veterinarians and owners.”
Owners know a lot about their pets. I trust they’ll be transparent with me and I’ll be transparent with them and honest about what I’m seeing so we can work together to provide the best care for pets. Interestingly enough, my favorite part about veterinary medicine is the people attached to the animals.”
Edlebeck stressed the importance of regular vet visits for pets at least once a year for exams and to catch potential health issues as early as possible.
Rochelle Veterinary Hospital sees firsthand how people treat their pets as family members.
In my fourth year of vet school I did an externship here at Rochelle and I ended up falling in love with the community and the practice. The people here are so kind and it feels like a family here. Rochelle is rural enough to see a cool variety of cases and close enough to Chicago and universities if you need to refer something.”
Dr. Christina Edlebeck, veterinarian
“Now more than ever, people’s animals mean a lot to them,” Edlebeck said. “And they’re taking them to the vet more because they’re part of their family. The amount of people having dogs instead of kids is growing. To be able to treat someone’s family member is so meaningful to me and it means a lot to them.
A grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for U.S. Silica’s Rochelle Innovation Center on Thursday, Sept. 18, at 1951 S. Steward Road in Rochelle. See story on Page 3. Jeff Helfrich ON THE COVER
“It’s like taking your loved one to the doctor. I recognize that people see their pets as family and I treat them like that. It makes our partnership with our pet owners more meaningful.”
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Photos by Jeff Helfrich
ABOVE: Dr. Christina Edlebeck, who joined the Rochelle Veterinary Hospital, earned her doctor of veterinary medicine degree from Texas A&M University in 2025. RIGHT: The Rochelle Veterinary Hospital is located at 1381 N. 7th St. in Rochelle.
US Silica’s Rochelle Innovation Center ramps up innovation work, research and development
Facility has 10,000 square feet of new R&D lab space
By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
A grand opening was held Thursday, Sept. 18, for U.S. Silica’s Rochelle Innovation Center at 1951 S. Steward Road in Rochelle.
U.S. Silica is a mining company that has been in business for more than 100 years with more than 20 active mining and production sites across the country. The Rochelle facility, which recently was idle due to shifts in the industry, now has 10,000 square feet of new research and development lab space with a state of the art pilot plant facility. U.S. Silica representatives said it will be a “hub for innovation and scaling up new products for many years into the future.”
Speakers at the event included U.S. Silica Vice President of Products and Innovation Mason Borlik, Executive Vice President and President of Industrial & Specialty Products Zach Carusona and Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Bryan Shinn, along with Rochelle Mayor John Bearrows and Rochelle Chamber of Commerce Exec-
utive Director Tricia Herrera.
U.S. Silica has a hand in the making of items such as plates, absorbents and bourbon. Carusona said the Rochelle Innovation Center project began in 2020. The origin of the facility goes back to 2009 when it was built as a production facility for products used in the oil field market in drilling for oil and gas.
“Unfortunately due to changes in market conditions, a few years later this facility was idle despite being state of the art,” Carusona said. “The products were just no longer in demand. However, now with reinvestment in the facility, state-of-the art-equipment, world-class people and world-class scientists are here. We’re happy and proud to be back in Rochelle. This site will provide growth and innovation and allow us to have smart people in the right place with the right equipment that will help U.S. Silica and our industrial business supercharge our research and development efforts and bring more specialized products into the marketplace and
further contributions to the business and the community.”
Herrera said she’s proud that the building is no longer idle and to have U.S. Silica back as a chamber member.
“The recent conversation I had with staff here and their first question was, ‘What can we do to help the community and the chamber?’ I was very inspired by that,” Herrera said. “We are proud to have you in our membership. We’re always proud when we can add industry to bolster our membership. We’re proud to have you and welcome you. We look forward to lots of future projects together.”
Bearrows thanked city staff, namely economic development, for its work on projects like U.S. Silica’s Rochelle Innovation Center.
“We’re very happy to have your business back here and it’s a great indication of the direction that our country and technology are headed,” Bearrows said. “This is a great thing for Rochelle. You’re right next door to our Rochelle Intermodal Transload
Center, which has a $5 million expansion underway. I’m extremely proud of all the things we’ve been able to accomplish in Rochelle. There’s 140-plus employees behind and alongside me that make all of this come together. Congratulations and thank you for being a part of Rochelle.”
Shinn called the event “a momentous occasion” for U.S. Silica as it works towards doing more in research and development. Rochelle is close to one of U.S. Silica’s major mine sites in Ottawa and has access to scientists and “top-tier talent,” Shinn said.
“This is a defining moment for U.S. Silica,” Shinn said. “We’re really transforming our company from a more traditional mining company to a company that is focused on high-end products that we can make from our minerals. I think they will be world-changing, innovative products.
“There are lots of different innovations that I’m confident are going to come out of this facility. We’re really going to push the boundaries of science in some areas. A lot of patents are going to come out of this facility. I’m very excited about that. What we’re trying to do here is seize opportunities to really create a different kind of company in U.S. Silica. And it’s all going to happen right here in Rochelle.”
Jeff Helfrich
A grand opening was help Sept. 19 for U.S. Silica’s Rochelle Innovation Center at 1951 S. Steward Road.
Tricia Herrera Bryan Shinn
$3.1M bid for downtown work approved
Phase 2 of project will see stage, public restrooms built for Rochelle
By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
The Rochelle City Council voted 4-3 on Monday, Sept. 22, to accept a $3,127,095 bid from DPI Construction, Inc. for Phase 2 of its Rebuild Downtown & Main Street Grant Project.
That phase will see the construction of a stage and restrooms downtown, the reconstruction of three parking lots, a new parking lot on the corner of Washington Street and Second Avenue, the reconstruction of the alley between Fourth and Fifth avenues, and a new storm sewer on Fourth Avenue. The first phase saw other parking lots in the downtown area reconstructed.
The project stems from the city’s receipt of a grant for $1,151,794 for the downtown work in 2022. DPI Construction was the lowest bid of three, but was 11.4% over the engineer’s estimate. The City Council considered removing the new parking lot from the project, which would have saved $321,545. City Council members Dan McDermott, Tom McDermott and Bil Hayes voted against the bid approval Sept. 22.
“I just wonder about the need for the new parking lot,” Dan McDermott said. “It’s nice to have a parking lot, but I don’t see a lot of commercial business down there that’s in need of parking.”
Mayor John Bearrows said the cost of the new parking lot would only go up in the future due to rising construction costs.
“If you don’t do it now and you wait a year, the cost is going to be higher next year,” Bearrows said. “If we have the money to do it, we owe it to the businesses there. We’ve told everyone we’re going to put a parking lot in there.”
The project will be paid for through the grant funds, downtown tax increment financing (TIF) bonds, and landfill, hotel/motel tax and railroad funds.
“We have the money to pay for the entire project,” City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh said. “If we’re ever going to pave that parking lot, we should do it now while the contractor is here and mobilized. If we wait, it will cost sig -
are some of the issues that we’re concerned about. There are a few areas we want resurfaced and more substantial improvements.”
The city will reevaluate the agreement no later than 2028 to determine if IDOT has taken a more proactive approach to addressing upgrades along its state routes in the city. The city can opt out of the agreement with notice.
Rate
nificantly more to do it.”
Spring Lake
The council unanimously approved a $73,937 expenditure relating to an incident where a utility pole fell at Spring Lake on June 5.
On July 29, Clean Harbors (Hepaco) took soil samples of the area next to and at the base of the waterfall area where mineral oil had leaked from the severed utility pole’s transformers. Soil samples taken confirmed the continued presence of mineral oil, and excavation of the oil-impacted soil is now needed.
Clean Harbors will do the excavation and removal of the special waste. The project will move forward soon due to concerns about weather and impacts on the Flagg-Rochelle Community Park District’s spring operations.
The Rochelle Municipal Utilities electric department is working with a utility technology solutions company to provide visual inspection and documentation of utility poles and lines to proactively identify similar potential issues before they occur.
Bobcat
The council unanimously approved a resolution for the purchase of a new Bobcat T86 compact track loader with an 84-inch sweeper bucket and an 84-inch angle broom from Bobcat of Dixon for $115,554 for its public works department.
The new loader will replace a current 2016 Bobcat T770 and broom attachments, which will go to the RMU Water Department for use in its operations.
City Public Works Director Tim
The council unanimously approved a resolution establishing an M1 electric rate for RMU electric department customers. The market-based rate is designed to serve large industrial users and will permit qualifying customers to secure power directly through wholesale markets while continuing to utilize RMU as their local provider.
Fiegenschuh said the city does not currently have a power customer large enough to utilize the new rate, but may in the future, such as a large data center.
As an additional safeguard, Rate M1 requires participating customers to post a bond, thereby ensuring that the city is not financially liable for any consumption shortfalls or nonperformance by the customer.
Banners
Isley said Monday that Bobcat track loaders are used for about 75% of what his department does.
IDOT
The council unanimously approved a 10-year intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation for the maintenance of various state routes within the city.
City Engineer Sam Tesreau said the agreement does not include major reconstruction or resurfacing projects but instead provides for normal routine maintenance responsibilities.
Tesreau and Isley have concerns about the condition and maintenance needs of state routes in Rochelle and hope to see them maintained better in the future through the agreement.
“We are compensated for work we do, like pothole patching,” Tesreau said. “But needs are starting to be beyond just pothole patching. Those
Banners were recently installed in the downtown area reflecting the city’s recent branding change to the color purple. The change came as part of a communication plan put together by City Community Engagement Director Jenny Thompson, following the community’s positive response to the water tower in the center of town being painted purple. The banners were put up just ahead of Rochelle Township High School’s Homecoming Week.
“I was joyfully amazed on my way here tonight when I saw the new banners,” Tom McDermott said. “I’m glad they’ll be up for the parade. Thank you very much to everyone who was involved. It makes me very proud to see the Hub City signs.”
Proclamations
Bearrows read four proclamations at the meeting that were accepted by members of the community and city employees, including VFW Day (Sept. 29, 2025), Public Power Week (Oct. 5-11, 2025), Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 5-11, 2025) and Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October).
Photos by Heff Helfrich
At the Sept. 22 meeting of the Rochelle City Council, a proclamation was read in honor of Fire Prevention Week Oct. 5-11 and accepted by Rochelle Fire Department Chief Dave Sawlsville.
The city of Rochelle recently installed new purple banners downtown reflecting its rebranding to the color purple ahead of Homecoming week.
RTHS fall play based on Brother Grimm is Oct. 2-4
By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
The Rochelle Township High School Theater Department will present its fall play, “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon” by Don Zolidis 7:30 p.m. Oct. 2 to 4 in the RTHS Auditorium. Entry for adults is $5 and student entry is $3.
The cast of the show includes Aletheia Venuso, Derek Swartz, Kayla Manarchy, Julian Groves, Daphne Wise, Kacey Lundgren, Kiara Metz, Bobbie Henning, Alexa Adams. Adlai Venuso, Austin Cruz, Mackenzie Taylor, Sophia Stein and Yana Bartkiv.
Henning, an RTHS senior in her fourth year in the theater program, described the show.
“It’s a bunch of fairy tales mashed together to make something silly,” Henning said. “There’s a lot that’s been done to the original scary stories for example by Disney, but ‘The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon’ changes it and takes it from scary like it originally was by The Brothers Grimm and happy like it was with Disney to a silly, goofy fever dream of a show.”
Henning plays the Enchantress and the Witch in the production, which will include reimagined stories of Rumpelstiltskin/Rapunzel, Hansel & Gretel, Snow White, Faithful Johannes, Cinderella and a closing scene. She mostly does set crew work for RTHS theater, along with some acting and took on a medium-sized role this fall so she could continue set work.
“People who come to see the show can expect something fun and eclectic,” Henning said. “There’s something for people of all ages and references for all ages. This isn’t just a kids’ show. Parents can enjoy it, too. I’m really excited to just put the show in front of people. It definitely works with an audience. There’s some audience interaction and I can’t wait to see how the audience reacts.”
RTHS Theater Department Director Betsie Swartz said rehearsals for the show have been going on since the second week of school, with student actors spending two hours preparing each day after school.
Swartz is in her first year as director and has enjoyed seeing the work ethic kids have. She believes the comedic effect of the show will jump off the stage for audiences. RTHS students learn life lessons in its theater program.
1 and Narrator 2,
and Derek
their parts for the Rochelle Township High School Theater Department’s fall play, “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon”.
“The idea of being up in front of other people is terrifying to most people, but almost everybody has to do it at some point in their professional career,” Swartz said. “I think that’s a huge advantage of being involved in theater, you start to learn to deal with those nerves and that it’s not so terrifying. Kids learn a lot about time management and how to work together as a team. Several of them did not get the role they hoped for, so they learned to deal with that disappointment and still do the very best they could in the opportunity they were given. Those are lessons for life.”
Seeing students improve in a role is the most fun Swartz has in her job, she said. Students grow from the first rehearsal to the first night of the show and learn the best way to portray their characters. Swartz is looking forward to the audience seeing the product of students’ hard work and hopes the community comes out to celebrate with them.
Henning has been involved with RTHS theater for every single show since she was a freshman. She got involved to get to know other people and has stuck with it ever since.
“I really like acting,” Henning said. “I absolutely love being on the set crew and building the set. I’ve learned a lot over my years here. I stick with it even when it’s hard just because I feel connected to the auditorium and the theater itself.
“If you’re thinking about joining RTHS Theater, you should join, even if it’s just for one show. Even if it’s just for one of the one-act shows. Even if you’re just behind the scenes in the crew or working on the set. It’s a place for everyone.”
Jeff Helfrich
Narrator
played by Aletheia Venuso (left)
Swartz, rehearse
La Fiesta Hispana in Rochelle
By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
La Fiesta Hispana de Rochelle was held Saturday, Sept. 13, in downtown Rochelle to mark the start of Hispanic Heritage
Month. The event included music, dancing, food, a craft and vendor fair, bounce houses and more.
Photos by Jeff Helfrich
TOP LEFT: A child rides a mechanical bull at La Fiesta Hispana de Rochelle on Saturday, Sept. 13, in downtown Rochelle. TOP RIGHT: A band plays at La Fiesta Hispana de Rochelle. ABOVE: A craft and vendor fair was held as a part of La Fiesta Hispana celebrations. LEFT: La Fiesta Hispana de Rochelle featured activities for kids such as bounce houses.
Carmichaels win Rochelle Chamber Lawn of the Week award
The Rochelle Chamber of Commerce recently presented its Lawn of the Week award for the week of Sept. 24 to Noah and Raegan Carmichael. They received a sign and a $25 gift card from Rochelle ACE Hardware, presented by Manager Jesse Lopez. The chamber partnered with Rochelle Ace Hardware to award gift cards to the winners. The 2025 Lawn of the Week program has finished for the year. “We are proud to recognize our residents who display community pride in Rochelle,” Chamber Executive Director Tricia Herrera said. “We love that this program gives us the chance to showcase the hard work and dedication they put into making our city look great.”
Photo provided by Rochelle Chamber of Commerce
MARIAN RICHMAN
Born: May 9, 1940
Died: July 11, 2025
Marian (Asselborn) Richman, 85, of Rochelle passed away on July 11, 2025. She was the matriarch of the Asselborn family and Granny’s Berries. Marian was born at home on her family farm north of Rochelle, on May 9, 1940, to Elmer and Alice Greenfield. She spent her early years growing up in the Rochelle and Ashton area. She was a 1958 graduate of Ashton High School. In 1960, she married James Asselborn and started a family. Throughout her life, Marian assisted James “Jim” on the farm, and raised their children. In the early 1970s, she attended beauty school and became a licensed beautician.
“The Country Curl” became Marian’s newest challenge and delight, where she enjoyed styling hair for nearly 50 years in her home salon.
Marian enjoyed taking vacations with her family and friends in St. Germain, WI. Watching her children and grandchildren waterski and snowmobile with family and friends or just relaxing with a good cocktail were a few of her favorite activities. In 1981, Marian and her late husband, Jim Asselborn, opened Granny’s Berries, a u-pick berry farm on their farm just northwest of Rochelle. Marian became “Granny” with the passing of her mother-in-law. She enjoyed seeing the customers each summer as they returned to pick berries. The original berry farm consisted of asparagus, strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. After 44 years, the farm continues to produce blueberries and is a yearly ritual for many families. Marian enjoyed volunteering for social
events and attending weekly mass as a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Her faith was always of great importance, believing that one day she would be reunited with those that have preceded her in death. Marian is survived by her husband, Robert L. Richman, of Rochelle, IL; four daughters, Kristine (Pam) Asselborn of Sun City West, AZ, Kathleen (Linda) Asselborn of Poplar Grove, IL, Jeanne (Brett) Madison of Mazon, IL, and Jane (Steve) Cassidy of Rochelle, IL; one stepdaughter, Lisa (Roland) De La Rosa of Cherry Valley, IL; siblings, Caroline (Russell) Levan of Grand Detour, IL, and John Greenfield of Rochelle; sister-in-law, JoAnne (Nelson) Woodard of Fullerton, CA; grandchildren, Courtney (Eric) Arnquist of Byron, IL, Zack (Danelle) Cassidy of Kings, IL, Cody (Sarah) Cassidy of Oregon, IL, Nick (Claire) Madison of Noblesville, IN, Mark Madison of Kingston, TN, Brittney (Michael) Madison Higdon of Barrington, IL, Scott Wietrzykowski of Chicago, IL, and Allison Wietrzykowski of Poplar Grove, IL; and 10 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her late husband of 44 years, James Asselborn; her parents, Elmer and Alice (Killmer) Greenfield; and mother-in-law, Mildred (Briggs) Asselborn.
A memorial mass will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Marian and James’ 65th wedding anniversary, Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at the St. Patrick Catholic Church, 236 Kelley Drive, Rochelle. The memorial visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, October 1 prior to the service. Burial will follow at St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery in Rochelle.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Shriners Children’s Hospital or St. Patrick Catholic Church, Rochelle, IL. Guest book at www.UngerHorner.com.
VIVIAN O. HOLT
Born: January 10, 1922
Died: September 22, 2025
Vivian O. Holt, age 103, passed away on Monday, September 22, 2025, at the Rochelle Community Hospital. She was born on January 10, 1922, in Lauderdale County, Alabama, the daughter of Clarence and Pearl (Craven) Eppes.
Vivian married Thurman L. “T.L.” Holt on November 28, 1940, in Cross County, Arkansas. He preceded her in death on October 28, 2008. She also was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Clarence Jr., Kenneth and Jerry Eppes; two sisters, Pauline Cowan, and Viola Grantham; and her daughter, Rita Holt. Vivian loved spending time and keeping in
contact with her family, especially her grandchildren. She was an avid reader and enjoyed creating art, finishing many amazing pictures with her color pencil set. She is survived by her daughter, Lynda (Ron) Sassaman of Rochelle; three grandsons, Tim (Heather) Potts, Jim Potts, and Tom Potts; two stepgranddaughters, Kim (Greg) Burgess, and Sherri (Kevin) Smith; four great-grandchildren, Emily, Hannah, Dawson and Vivian; great-great-grandson, Chase; several step-great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.
Funeral service was at 10 a.m on Friday, September 26, 2025, at the Unger Horner Funeral Home, 400 N. Sixth St., Rochelle, with Rev Dominic Venuso officiating. Visitation was Friday from 9 AM to 10 AM prior to the funeral. Burial will follow at Trinity Memory Gardens. Memorials may be made in Vivian’s memory to Church of Christ. Visit www.ungerhorner.com to sign the online guest book.
VETERANS
Exciting developments as autumn approaches
As we transition into the vibrant season of fall, we are experiencing a bustling period here in Rochelle. Our city is making strides in community development and progress, and I’m eager to share some key updates that reflect our dedication to enhancing the quality of life for our residents.
One of the most significant pieces of news is the City Council’s decision on Sept. 22 to approve the bid for Phase 2 of the downtown revitalization project. This project, with a budget of $3,127,095.12, promises to bring visible and lasting improvements to our downtown area.
Included in this exciting endeavor is the construction of a band shell, public restrooms, and the rebuilding and expansion of parking lots, particularly a new one on Second Avenue. Additionally, we will complete the alley cleanup by placing wires and essential services underground in the 400 block between Lincoln Highway and North Main Street.
I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our Community Development team for securing the grant that makes this project possible and to all the city departments collaborating to bring it to fruition.
In the midst of these developments, I’m thrilled to report that the pocket park is nearing completion.
VIEWS
John Bearrows
Located at the site of the former Vinny’s Barber Shop – which the city acquired and demolished due to its structural issues – this pocket park will create a welcoming space for residents to enjoy, whether for a leisurely stroll, reading a book, yoga or simply having a conversation with friends.
September also was a month of celebration, marked by three significant ribbon-cutting ceremonies organized by the Rochelle Chamber of Commerce. The first was at U.S. Silica, where we celebrated the reopening of a remarkable research center on Steward Road, adjacent to the city/ GREDCO-owned transload yard. This facility represents an investment in innovation and economic growth within our community.
Next, we gathered at Rochelle Township High School to unveil its newly renovated library, an inspiring space equipped with the latest resources to foster learning for our youth.
Finally, Northern Rehab held a
ribbon-cutting event to mark its relocation to a larger facility at 1211 Currency Court, enhancing its ability to serve our community’s needs.
I congratulate all of these organizations for their growth and ongoing commitment to supporting our local community.
Looking forward, as the summer festivals conclude, we now set our sights on the upcoming Lighted Christmas Parade. This event brings together the community for the lighting of the Christmas tree, signifying the beginning of the season, a festive parade, the presentation of the Rochelle Gratitude Award, and an opportunity to support our downtown merchants. The Christmas event will take place Dec. 5.
Relative to another event, the city and the VFW are beginning to plan this year’s Veterans Day celebration on Nov. 11, with discussions underway to partner with the VFW for a collective event at their location (The VFW), which promises to both honor our veterans and strengthen community ties.
Additionally, this next year marks a significant landmark for our nation, as we prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. The planning meetings for the July 4 festivities have commenced, and I am
excited to announce that the city’s fireworks will take place on July 4, 2025. We anticipate this will be an expanded celebration over the entire weekend, honoring our nation’s rich history while bringing our community together.
In the spirit of transparency and open communication, I will continue providing monthly updates on these and other projects. I invite everyone to join me at 10 a.m. on the third Thursday of each month at the Hub City Senior Center and at 2 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at Hawthorn/Liberty Village.
Additionally, every other month, including our next gathering at 10 a.m. Oct. 7 at Lincoln Manor, I look forward to engaging with residents, answering questions, and hearing your thoughts on the developments in our city.
As we move forward, I am reminded of a quote from former President Lyndon B. Johnson: “We want to be a country of which all of us can be proud, because of what we are doing together.” Let us continue to embody this spirit of collaboration and pride as we work together for the betterment of Rochelle.
• John Bearrows is the mayor of the City of Rochelle.
City of Rochelle to provide leaf pickup starting Oct. 20
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
The city of Rochelle will begin providing leaf vacuuming services for residents Oct. 20. The vacuuming service will end Dec. 1 or upon an accumulating snowfall, whichever occurs first.
Other landscape waste (grass, plants, weeds and leaves) may continue to be placed in paper landscape bags or standard garbage containers marked with an “X” (maximum size 32 gallons weighing under 50 pounds), and set at the curb by 5 a.m. for pick up weekly on your regular garbage day.
Leaf collection will begin at 7 a.m. and will end by 3 p.m. Monday through Friday based on need and weather. The leaf vacuum, towed behind a dump truck, forces the leaves from the parkway into the truck bed. During peak sea-
Shaw Local News Network file photo
The city of Rochelle will begin providing leaf vacuuming services for residents on Oct. 20.
son two leaf vacuums will be operated.
The following rules must be followed:
• Please rake leaves into a pile or row up to the curb, or edge of the road if you do not have a curb. To ensure all leaves
are collected, piles and rows shall not exceed 5 feet in width. Do not place leaves on the street as they will clog storm water inlets and could cause flooding.
• Please do not place leaves behind obstacles such as trees, poles, hedges, etc.
• Please do not park vehicles within 30 feet of a leaf pile or row.
• Please do not mix trash, yard waste such as limbs, weeds, grass or any other material with the leaves. Yard waste or other materials mixed with leaves can cause safety concerns and equipment malfunction. For these reasons, these piles will not be accepted.
Leaf vacuum schedule:
• Monday: South of First Avenue
• Tuesday/Wednesday: North of First Avenue and east of North Seventh Street
• Thursday/Friday: North of First Avenue and west of Seventh Street Leaf vacuuming may be impacted by inclement weather.
After Dec. 1 or upon an accumulating snowfall, all remaining leaves shall be placed in paper landscape bags or standard garbage containers marked with an “X” (maximum size 32 gallons weighing less than 50 pounds), and set at the curb by 5 a.m. for pick up weekly on your regular garbage day ending Dec. 15.
Several communities in Illinois have found leaf vacuuming to be an efficient way to handle the accumulation of autumn leaves. This disposal option also provides health benefits, particularly for those with breathing disorders.
If you have any concerns, call City Hall at 815-562-6161 or the Street Department at 815-562-2494.
THE FIRST AMENDMENT
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
It’s really, really easy to shove stuff into the garbage
I’ve wheeled two barbecue grills to my curb, hoping someone would take them. They did.
I was relieved, but part of me felt guilty both times. The grills were salvageable. I analyzed my history with repair skills, the time it would take, and the probable resulting injuries. My laziness also was duly noted. The curb won.
I am thrilled the grills found a new home, and I can check off one of those boxes under the heading: What have you done for the planet today?
I think I join millions of decent American citizens who have done the same. However, I do not deserve any badges. I throw away a lot of useful stuff. At least that’s how it feels. And this is not easy for me. I grew up with parents who found a way to use most everything they had. I inherited that habit.
My wife likes to tell the story of what my kitchen cabinets were filled with when she was getting to know the real me. She threw away a lot of my precious plastic containers. Not Tupperware, mind you. Instead, I saw great usefulness in empty butter con-
PAPERWORK
Lonny Cain
tainers. Actually, I saved any plastic thing with a lid.
My oldest son also knows the curb appeal of trash. His house in Denver has a magical alley off the backyard. He can put any item in the alley and it will vanish in minutes. I should warn him to never sit in the alley.
Like all of us, he also tends to toss stuff he no longer wants. Stuff that is still useful.
So now I need to tell you about a guy who is an expert at knowing the difference between trash and treasure. He made it part of his career with the New York City Department of Sanitation. He manned a truck that picked up trash.
When Nelson Molina grabbed one of those black, plastic bags on the curb, he’d give it a shake and listen carefully. He knew the sounds that mattered. After 34 years, he rescued more than
45,000 items from those bags.
He calls it his “Treasures to Trash” collection that takes up the entire second floor of a sanitation garage in East Harlem. It looks a lot like an antique store but is more like a museum – a magnificent display of nostalgia. Along with true treasures such as a stuffed bear, he says, is worth $450, and a book signed by Lena Horn in 1965.
Molina retired in 2015 but stayed as curator of his collection. He became a favorite for journalists who wanted to share his story and passion for rescuing “trash” from landfills and incinerators.
His collection is not for sale. I also don’t think there are public tours. There are videos online, including a great short movie by Heller Films that tells his story.
Author Andrew Larsen and illustrator Oriol Vidal rolled the collection into a picture book: “Gifts from the Garbage Truck: A True Story About the Things We (Don’t) Throw Away.” Molina wrote the foreword.
And a professor of anthropology is helping to catalogue the collection,
hoping to learn more about cities and the trash they produce.
So Nelson Molina also has turned trash into a bit of stardom. That was not his goal.
His mother told him to never throw anything out if it can be used. When he was 9 years old, he would grab things that people threw away, especially at Christmas time. Old toys. Broken toys that he tried to fix. A habit he never gave up.
Molina hopes the collection opens to the public, but for now, he simply wants people to learn what he learned.
“Before you throw something out, think about it,” he says. “Everything can have a home.”
And that includes my grills. Because, thankfully, there’s a little bit of Nelson Molina in a lot of people in a lot of communities.
• Lonny Cain, retired managing editor of The Times in Ottawa, also was a reporter for The Herald-News in Joliet in the 1970s. His PaperWork email is lonnyjcain@gmail.com. Or mail the NewsTribune, 426 Second St., La Salle IL 61301.
State can’t force its way to increased voter participation
Sometimes officials ask the right question but choose the wrong answer.
In other cases, the premise is flawed, which makes the outcome inevitably poor.
House Bill 2718 falls under the former umbrella. Barely.
In February, state Rep. Maurice West II, D-Rockford, introduced the bill he calls the Facilitating Voting By All Eligible Citizens Act. In short, it would make Illinois the first state to have mandatory voting. Sort of.
“Provides that all eligible citizens shall cast a ballot in every general election. Provides that an eligible citizen who casts a blank ballot in a general election shall satisfy the requirement. Provides that no fine, fee or penalty shall be assessed if an eligible citizen does not cast a ballot in a general election.”
The bill text doesn’t stipulate who
is considered eligible, but there are clues.
“While precise data does not exist, there are likely fewer than 10 million citizens who are eligible to vote in Illinois. Of those eligible voters, approximately 8.1 million are registered to vote and approximately 5.7 million cast a ballot in the 2024 general election.”
Reading between the legislative lines, enforcing the law would mean the 1.9 million unregistered voters would be deemed eligible voters. And then all 10 million of us would have to cast a ballot. But you could leave yours blank. And if you don’t, there’s no penalty.
It might seem odd for someone who routinely – perhaps excessively –advocates for readers to become informed, active voters to push back on a plan that would guarantee increased (if not complete) turnout and participation. But consider the wisdom of state Rep. Patrick Windhorst, R-Metropolis, who spoke this week during a House Ethics and Elections Committee hearing:
“Part of our electoral process and part of being a free people is the right not to engage. We have the freedom of speech. We also have the freedom not to speak.”
While that last sentence is great advice for anyone with a social media account, the entire thought is essential: Voting is a regulated privilege. The case law against forced participation is well established, which leads back to whether this premise is flawed.
At the same hearing, West asked, “What can we do as a state to foster greater and more consistent participation in the Democratic process?”
Candidates should be motivated to increase turnout. But for elected officials, there are myriad better tweaks to enhance participation: reimagined primary process, campaign finance reform, nonpartisan district maps and easier ballot access for alternative parties and citizen referendum. But those and other changes mean the established political parties would have to weaken their power
Illinois has made registering and voting easier. What we need are candidates who give people reasons to participate.
• Scott T. Holland writes about state government issues for Shaw Local News Network. He can be reached at sholland@shawmedia.com.
Scott T. Holland EYE ON ILLINOIS
Rochelle Edward Jones office supports Toys for Tots drive
Anthony Rowley, a Rochelle Edward Jones financial adviser, is supporting the Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program by using his office as a drop-off location for this year’s toy drive.
Residents can help make a difference for children in the area by bringing in a new, unwrapped toy to the office, 104 Oak Ave., Suite C, during regular business hours beginning Oct. 1 through December. Monetary gifts, including gift cards, cannot be accepted.
Flagg-Rochelle Public Library District lists events
Here’s a list of upcoming events at Flagg-Rochelle Public Library: Sept. 29
Pokémon Club 4-5 p.m. Calling all Pokémon trainers. Together, we’ll have fun while doing everything Pokémon. From games to crafts, there are activities for younger and older fans. This program is free to attend and is intended for kids in second grade through 12th grade.
Sept. 29
Taylor Swift Club, 5-6 p.m. Calling all Swifties to the Flagg-Rochelle Library’s brand new club. From friendship bracelet making to Taylor Swift karaoke to finding all the hidden Easter eggs, there’s something for every Swiftie. This program is free to attend and is intended for those in third grade through 12th grade.
Oct. 2
4C Play & Learn, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Birth to 5 years. Join us for singing, dancing, music, stories and crafts.
Oct. 2
Gamer Thursday, 4-6 p.m., first Thursday of the month. Enjoy a variety of video and board games at the library. Bring your own device or use one of ours.
Lego Club
Lego Club meets the first Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. Lego Club is for all ages. Activities include Lego challenges, free building and more.
Oct. 4
Read with a Princess: The upcoming Saturday Storytime will be at 11 a.m. Oct.
4, featuring a special guest reader, “Beauty.” She absolutely adores books and will be sharing some of her favorites.
Changes
Counseling to offer free depression screenings
Changes Counseling by licensed therapists will offer free depression screenings from 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 6 at the Flagg-Rochelle Public Library in conjunction with National Depression Screening Day. Screenings will be offered in both English and Spanish and will provide referrals. Call Changes Counseling for your appointment at 815-501-2088 or call the library at 815-562-3431 or email ashleyc@ flaggrochellepubliclibrary.org. Walk-ins are also welcome.
National Depression Screening Day is Oct. 10 and the purpose of it is to raise awareness about depression, encourage individuals to get screened for depression and provide access to resources and support for those experiencing depression. The library is located at 619 Fourth Ave. in Rochelle.
– Shaw Local News Network
COMMUNITY BOARD
Shaw Local News Network file photo
Residents can drop off a toy for the Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program at Anthony Rowley’s Edward Jones office in Rochelle.
Rochelle High School celebrates Homecoming
By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
Rochelle Township High School’s Homecoming parade was held on Thursday, Sept. 25, and made its way through the downtown area and the city. Students from sports teams and school organizations took part in the parade. Retiring RTHS golf coach and teacher Glen Mehrings was the parade’s grand marshal. RTHS will take on LaSalle-Peru on Friday in its Homecoming game.
Photos by Jeff Helfrich
TOP LEFT: The RTHS band plays in the Rochelle Township High School Homecoming parade on Thursday in downtown Rochelle. TOP RIGHT: Retiring golf coach and teacher Glen Mehrings was the grand marshal for the Homecoming parade. ABOVE: Children snatch up candy during the parade. LEFT: RTHS volleyball players participate in the Homecoming parade on Thursday.
Hubs’ 2025 Homecoming Parade
Photos by Jeff Helfrich
TOP LEFT: RTHS football players ride in the Rochelle Township High School Homecoming parade on Thursday, Sept. 25, in downtown Rochelle. TOP RIGHT: The Rochelle Fire Department participates in the Homecoming parade. ABOVE: The RTHS senior Homecoming court rides in the parade. LEFT: The RTHS flags team strolls down the street during the parade.
Grand Detour Arts Festival winners announced
• 3rd – Gracelynn Wicker for watercolor
• Honorable Mention – Finley Becker for mixed media
The Grand Detour Arts Festival took place recently, and the results are in, with many accolades for area artisans.
2025 adult winners
• Charles Kested Best of Show – Ryan Jandrey, Dixon
• Best Painting Medium – Karen Tucker, Dixon; runner-up, Stuart Roddy, Coleta
• Best 3D – Nancy Ocken, Polo; runner-up, Robert Spickerman, Sheridan
• Best 2D – Ben Calvert, Villa Park; runner-up, Petal Pushers, Dixon
• Best Photography – Stephen Hart, Sterling; runner-up, David Bingaman, Dixon
• Best Woodwork – Michael Kriz, Walnut; runner-up, Bill Thumm, Rockford
• Best Jewelry – Margaret Rogowski, Lockport; runner-up, Carol Musial, Lombard
• The Tradition Continues Award – Rachel Newell, Chillicothe
Student winners
Kindergarten through second grade:
• 1st – Jeremiah Anderson for watercolor
• 2nd – Lilah Bunch for oil pastel and glitter
• Judge’s Choice – Riveya Galindo for marker Third grade through fifth grade:
• 1st – Emersyn Smice for chalk
• 2nd – Grey O’Rourke for oil pastel and watercolor
• 3rd – London Laurent for chalk
• Honorable Mention – Mitzy Peralta for oil pastels
• Judge’s Choice – Kaylee Steele for mixed media Sixth grade through eighth grade:
• 1st – Olivia Showalter for oil pastel and watercolor
• 2nd – Kenzie Alletto for mixed media
• 3rd – Mishel Yordy for clay
• Honorable Mention – Cooper Fox for mixed media
• Judge’s Choice – Charlotte Gallagher for crayon Ninth grade through 12th grade:
• 1st – Nivea Noon for colored pencil
• 2nd – Abbie Ludwig for watercolor
• 3rd – Claire Freeman for colored pencil
• Honorable Mention – Cristen Morgan for computer generated
• Judge’s Choice – Daeshia Palmer for colored pencil
• Best of Show – Nivea Noon for ceramic
Photo provided By Grand Detour Arts Festival
Ryan Jandrey, the Charles Kested Best of Show winner, is pictured with Judge Danielle Koenig at the 2025 Grand Detour Arts Festival in Grand Detour.
Ogle County students learn about modern farming
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
On Sept. 4 and 5, 446 Ogle and Carroll County fourth and fifth graders descended on the Ogle County Fairgrounds to learn about modern agriculture and its influences on daily living.
Hosted by University of Illinois Extension, Ag Awareness Day took youths on a fast-paced, interactive, guided tour of the science, engineering and technology that drive today’s farm operations.
Students engaged in 30-minute workshops led by a variety of agricultural professionals from the area. Students were able to mingle with livestock, explore different ag careers, chat with a
leather boots, wrap up in a wool blanket, drink a glass of milk or eat a bowl of cereal. The Midwest has long been heralded as a top agricultural production site. It is logical that tomorrow’s leaders understand how they fit into it.
Many students reported that they most enjoyed hearing firsthand the daily events of a livestock vet, harvesting honey, and using a GPS unit to find hidden coordinates in a scavenger hunt. Students also had fun collecting cool fact cards at each of the workshop stations.
traveling vet, discuss basic biotechnology concepts, learn about different crops and discuss how much soil it takes to grow crops.
This was the 23rd consecutive year
for U of I Extension’s award-winning Ag Awareness Day program. It is intended that participants will think twice the next time they fry an egg, pass a cornfield-turned-subdivision, put on their
Participating classrooms were Chadwick-Milledgeville Schools, Kings School Elementary, Eswood Community Consolidated School, Monroe Center Grade School, Oregon Elementary School and West Carroll Primary School.
Photos provided by U of I Extension
Students from Chadwick-Milledgeville Schools, Kings School Elementary, Eswood Community Consolidated School, Monroe Center Grade School, Oregon Elementary School and West Carroll Primary School learned about modern farming on Sept. 4 and 5 at the Ogle County Fairgrounds in Oregon. A total of 445 Ogle and Carroll County fourth and fifth graders were hosted by the University of Illinois Extension for Ag Awareness Day.
Hosted by University of Illinois Extension, Ag Awareness Day took youth on a fast-paced, interactive, guided tour of the science, engineering and technology that drives today’s farm operations. The kids also learned about modern agriculture and its influences on daily living.
FUN&GAMES
Archie
B.C.
Pearls Before Swine
Frank & Ernest
Beetle Bailey
Blondie
Monty
Baby Blues
Arlo & Janis
Zits
HOW TO PLAY
Each row, column and set of 3-by-3 boxes must contain the numbers 1 through 9 without repetition.
Pickles
Wizard of Id
Alley Oop
Garfield
Hagar the Horrible
Barney Google and Snuffy Smith
Daddy Daze
JANRIC CLASSIC SUDOKU
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What We're Loo king For:
Strong on- air presence and excellent communicatio n skills
Ex perience in radio broadcasting, audio production, and Adobe Audition preferred. Ability to write, voice, and produce engaging segments and commercials
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Rochelle seventh-grade volleyball vs. Prairie Knolls
Photos by Robin Rethwill
TOP LEFT: Rochelle’s Lily Erickson directs a pass to the front row during a seventh-grade volleyball match with Prairie Knolls. TOP RIGHT: Rochelle’s Madelynn McRoberts attempts to set a teammate. ABOVE:
Rochelle’s Annalyce Harris spikes the ball over the Prairie Knolls net. LEFT: Rochelle’s Emily Garcia executes a bump pass during the Prairie Knolls match.
Here are Robin Rethwill’s photos from Rochelle’s seventh-grade volleyball match with Prairie Knolls.
Rochelle JV football defeats Sycamore
Photos by Robin Rethwill
TOP LEFT: Rochelle’s Sebastian Albertson (52) leads running back Luke Chadwick (2) upfield during a JV football game with Sycamore. TOP RIGHT: Rochelle’s Kristian Dassie (13) and Jace Spears (23) combine on a tackle of a Sycamore ballcarrier. ABOVE: Rochelle’s Andrew Eyster and Brayden Harley (78) make the stop as Jonathan Andrist tries to strip the ball from Sycamore. LEFT: Rochelle’s Jace Spears (23) and Andrew Eyster (12) bring down a Sycamore player. Rochelle won 18-6.
Here are Robin Rethwill’s photos from Rochelle’s JV football game with Sycamore. Rochelle won 18-6.
Rochelle boys golf second, girls golf fifth at I-8 meet
By KEVIN NEWBERRY knewberry@shawmedia.com
Boys Golf
Interstate 8 Conference meet: Rochelle, with a team score of 304, placed second behind Ottawa (290) at the Interstate 8 Conference meet on Sept. 22 at Kishwaukee Country Club.
Rochelle’s Connor Lewis and Ian Metzger each shot a 70 to tie for second place. Alex Dyer shot a 76 to tie for ninth and Owen Carmichael carded an 88.
Girls Golf
Interstate 8 Conference meet: Rochelle placed fifth with an 88 over par at the Interstate 8 Conference meet held Sept. 23 at Sycamore Golf Club.
Abigail Smith shot Rochelle’s low round of 104 for ninth place. Alexa Undesser carded a 126.
Boys Cross Country
Rochelle European-Style Cross Country Invite: At Rochelle on Sept. 18, Rochelle took first place for the second straight year behind a medal-winning performance from sophomore Tyler Johnson (1st, 17:17.91)
Johnson was joined in the top five by freshman Esam Farraj (4th, 18:50.72) and sophomore Gregory Smith (5th, 19:27.44).
Girls Cross Country
Rochelle European-Style Cross Country Invite: At Rochelle on Sept. 18, the Hubs took fourth place out of five, led by a fifth-place individual finish from senior Annaliese Koziol (5th, 23:14.17).
Volleyball
Morris 2, Rochelle 0 (25-18, 25-22): At Rochelle on Sept. 22, Audyn Kemp had five kills in a losing effort at home.
Jaydin Dickey added eight assists, two kills and three digs and Emori Mickley had seven digs.
Rochelle 2, Kaneland 1 (25-17, 17-25, 25-23): At Rochelle, the Hubs came out on top in a thriller with Kaneland in three sets.
Jillian Bruns led the way with 12 kills, eight digs and a pair of aces, while Kemp added six kills and Emori Mickley turned in 16 digs.
Girls Tennis
Sterling 5, Rochelle 0: At Sterling on Sept. 17, the Hubs were held scoreless on the road.
LaSalle-Peru edges Rochelle in PKs for 10th win of season
By KEVIN CHLUM kchlum@shawmedia.com
La Salle-Peru boys soccer coach David Spudic doesn’t have the Cavaliers’ record in penalty kick games, but he knows it hasn’t been good.
“It feels like every time we’ve gone to penalty kicks, we haven’t come out on top,” Spudic said. “It’s something we talked about at the beginning of the season that we’re not the guys on TV. You walk up, you take deep breaths, you visualize yourself scoring, you blur out the crowd, and it’s just you and the back of the net. You don’t need to stutter step. You just choose your spot and you play the ball into it.”
The Cavs took a step in the right direction in curing their PK woes Monday as they outshot Rochelle in PKs to pull out a 3-2 Interstate 8 Conference victory in La Salle.
“It’s definitely nerve-wracking, especially with L-P’s history with penalty kicks,” L-P junior Ismael Mejia said. “We haven’t really won any. But we had confidence in each other, and we took the win in the end.”
The Hubs kicked first in PKs, and L-P goalkeeper Logan Grzywa made the save.
Mejia stepped to the ball first for L-P and booted it past Rochelle keeper Antonio Hueramo, who came on for PKs to replace injured keeper Danny Garcia.
“I tell myself I’m going to score, I pick out a spot before I even walk up there, and I just take it and shoot it with confidence,” Mejia said.
L-P also got PK scores from Damian Cortes, Adrian Gonzalez and Alex Rax, which sealed the deal as the Hubs managed only two makes in their first four attempts, with Grzywa making two stops.
“Just confidence and attempting to look where they were going to kick,” the
junior Grzywa said about the key to stopping two PKs.
It was Grzywa’s first shootout at the varsity level.
“It’s amazing,” Grzywa said about winning in his first shootout.
While L-P finished strong, the Hubs started that way as they scored nine minutes into the game when they played the ball into the box. Heilly Zepeda slid and tapped it toward the corner of the net and Yandel Mendez ran up and blasted it in.
The Hubs maintained the 1-0 lead throughout the first half.
“Scoring that early goal always gives you the momentum,” Rochelle coach Brad Male said. “We had a lot of opportunities. They had a lot of opportunities. It’s unfortunate we came out on the losing end. I think these are two evenly matched teams.”
The Cavs tied it early in the second half when Mejia poked in a cross from Adan
Pantoja with 36:32 left, and L-P took the lead when Pantoja scored on an assist from Jaime Gonzalez with 14:32 left.
“We started off rocky,” Mejia said. “Our defense was kind of slow. Our midfield was kind of slow. The whole team started off a little slow, but coach gave a good speech and we came out in the second half stronger and better. We came out with more energy.”
Rochelle (6-9-1, 1-4) evened it up when Antonio Ruiz sent a rocket into the net from just outside the box.
“We kept the pressure on, kept moving the ball, moving to space, and I think that helped us,” Male said.
With the PK win, the Cavs improved to 10-1 overall and 3-1 in the conference.
“We’re just playing as a team,” Spudic said. “Everyone’s on the same page that as a team we can accomplish a lot of great things together. They’re all on the same page of not trying to do it by themselves.”
Mark Busch
Rochelle’s Alexa Undesser chips onto the second green Tuesday, Sept. 23, during the Interstate 8 girls golf meet at the Sycamore Golf Club.
SPORTS
UPCOMING
OCT. 3: Rochelle varsity football at Morris, 7 p.m.
OCT. 10: Rochelle varsity football at Kaneland, 7 p.m.
Sunday, September 28, 2025
CHIPPING AWAY
The Rochelle girls golf team finished fifth and the boys second at Tuesday’s Interstate 8 Conference meet at Sycamore / 23
Rochelle’s Abigail Smith chips onto the second green on Tuesday, Sept. 23, during the Interstate 8 girls golf meet at the Sycamore Golf Club. Smith finished ninth with a low round of 104.
