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Henry & Abe’s last ride home
Henry Henze was born in 1826 and lived in Germany for the first 28 years of his life.
Like so many others, Henry sought better opportunities and decided to emigrate to the United States of America in 1854. Henry took a job with the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad and worked his way west with the growth of the rail system.
By 1859, Henry found himself living in a log cabin next to a small creek in a community known as Hickory Grove. The cabin itself has an important place in local history. It was in 1837 that John Randall had built the cabin, the first log cabin erected in Hickory Grove.
The log cabin was erected just north of the Kyte Creek and to the east of today’s Main Street in Rochelle. Henry lived peacefully in his cabin by the creek for two years before his world changed. The Civil War broke out in 1861 and Henry, at the age of 35, felt the need to enlist in the Union Army.
Henry Henze became a waggoneer in the Illinois 16th Cavalry. The Illinois 16th was under the command of Captain Christian Thieleman and destined to be at the center of many battles.
The Illinois 16th was formed in Chicago and quickly headed south. While in Kentucky, the Illinois 16th grew. Permission was granted to recruit. Thus, the original group was designated Company A, and the new group became Company B.
The move south moved at a snail’s pace but was not without excitement. At Purdy, Mississippi, the Illinois 16th clashed with four companies of confederates. Although outnumbered, the Union troops won the day.
During the siege of Vicksburg, the Illinois 16th was assigned escort duty for General William Sherman. Escort duty involved providing protection for General Sherman as well as the everyday duties of members of the cavalry. These duties included scouting, picket and vidette duties. The primary duty though, was to ensure the safety of one of the Union Army’s leading figures. The Union could not risk General Sherman, and the Illinois 16th made sure he was as
safe as possible.
Tom McDermott COMMUNITY VIEWS
The importance of the capture of Vicksburg can be summed up best by quotes from two presidents. Abraham Lincoln stated, “Vicksburg is the key! The war can never be brought-to-a-close until the key is in our pocket.”
Jefferson Davis said simply, “Vicksburg is the nail head that holds the South’s two halves together.”
The siege of Vicksburg lasted 47 days before General John Pemberton surrendered the city to General Ulysses Grant. The Union now had control of the Mississippi River. It is also crucial to remember that the Battle at Gettysburg ended only the day before Vicksburg fell. The Confederacy was facing the beginning of the end of the war.
The Illinois 16th Cavalry saw many victories, from small skirmishes to major battles, Henry Henze and the rest of the group counted on skill and fortune to survive battle after bloody battle.
On Jan. 3, 1864, it was luck alone that spared Rochelle’s Henry Henze. The Illinois 16th was needed for two assignments: now Colonel Thieleman, led Company A to the Cumberland Gap and Major Beers with Company B was sent to Powell’s Valley.
The Cumberland Gap was fairly quiet but not so at Powell’s Valley. Major Beers was attacked by three Brigades of Longstreet’s command. Outnumbered five to one, Major Beers and Company B fought for 10 hours, losing 356 men and 56 officers.
In the end, it was lack of ammunition, not lack of courage that caused Major Beers to surrender. For the dead, the war was over; for the living the horror was going to hit a new high. Prisoners were sent to Andersonville prison. Fewer than one-third of the prisoners survived Andersonville; the rest are buried in the National Cemetery at that site.
Henry Henze reached the end of his
On Friday, Oct. 24, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for Doug Smith Motors, Mason Smith Auto Repair and Superior Dent Services at 1400 N. Seventh St. in Rochelle. Jeff Helfrich ON THE COVER
enlistment but chose to reenlist. In 1865 he became a member of Hancock’s Veteran Corp.
The war was over but there was much to be done and one of the most memorable events related to the war was still on the horizon.
President Abraham Lincoln was with his wife at the Ford’s Theater on April 14, 1865 when an assassin ended his life. Hancock’s Veteran Corp was given two assignments: bring the conspirators to justice and bring the body of the president back to his home in Illinois.
Henry Henze, of Rochelle, stood guard over Abraham Lincoln’s casket from Chicago to Springfield on his last ride home.
Henry Henze mustered out of the Army in 1866. Of the original 1,200 men and 100 later recruits of the Illinois 16th Cavalry, almost 1,000 were lost in battle, 258 survived. They had fought in 31 general battles and numerous skirmishes.
Henry Henze had fought beside Generals Sherman and Grant in some of the deadliest battles of the war. Henry had also helped to bring Abraham Lincoln to his final resting place.
Henry Henze, at 39 years of age, was ready to return home to Rochelle.
Henry returned to his log cabin next to the Kyte River. It wasn’t long before Magdalena Yetter caught his eye and they were married in 1866. Magdalena joined Henry in the log cabin and they lived in these austere conditions for eight more years. In the 1870s Henry and Magdalena built a modern two-story home north of the log cabin and lived there for the rest of their lives.
Through the years they had children Minnie, George, Henry, Fred, Anna and Millie, each with a story of their own. Henry died in 1909 and Magdalena in 1929.
From a German boy, to a young man from Rochelle, Henry Henze lived through many of the definitive events of our country’s early history. It has been an honor to keep his story alive.
•TomMcDermottisaFlaggTownship Museum historian and Rochelle City Council member.
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Ribbon-cutting held for 3 automotive businesses at 7th Avenue in Rochelle owned by Smith family
Doug Smith: We’ve had a lot of help from the community to get started
By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
A ribbon-cutting was held Friday, Oct. 24, for three automotive businesses at 1400 N. Seventh St. in Rochelle: Doug Smith Motors, Mason Smith Auto Repair and Superior Dent Services.
Members of the Smith family have teamed up to fill the 1400 N. Seventh St. location, a longtime car dealership site.
Superior Dent Services is owned by Richard Smith.
The family officially joined the Rochelle Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 24 and was welcomed by Chamber Board President Kari Andrist and Rochelle Mayor John Bearrows.
“We’re happy to celebrate these three great businesses today and welcome them officially to the chamber,” Andrist said.
“The Smith family is well respected in our community and their knowledge in the auto field is respected as well. They took this corner and they’ve turned it into something vibrant and welcoming for our community. We always say business owners can open anywhere, and we’re happy you chose Rochelle,” Andrist said.
Bearrows said that upon joining the Chamber, the three businesses gained new partners in the city and Chamber. He’s excited about the future of the Smith family business owners because of their long history in Rochelle.
“I’ve known the Smith family my whole life,” Bearrows said. “The Smith family is no stranger to honesty, integrity and hard work. That’s what these folks have put forth in opening up these businesses. They want to make sure they take care of their customers. That’s awesome, because we have local people working in our local community. When you do business here, the
money stays here. I think that’s extremely important.”
Richard Smith said he felt like a paintless dent repair service was needed in Rochelle to help people with issues like door dings and hail damage. He’s excited to grow his business in the community.
Doug Smith said his dealership has seen success since it opened just under a year ago. About three quarters of its sales have been local.
Doug Smith Motors tries to have a good mix of cars “for just about anybody,” he said.
“We’ve had a lot of help from the community to get started,” Doug Smith said.
this opportunity came to get this property, we had been considering it for a while. The banks in town were a big help. People cheered me on to do it and I needed that. It’s working out great,” Doug Smith said.
Mason Smith Auto Repair has been open since June and its owner brings nine years of automotive service experience.
The business has seen more than 500 cars come in for service since opening and offers work on tires, brakes, suspension, lift kits and more.
“Rochelle has been fantastic. I’ve felt blessed to experience that. When
“We want to make sure we take care of the community,” Mason Smith said, “That’s what we’ll keep doing.”
Photos by Jeff Helfrich
From left to right: Mason Smith, Doug Smith, Richard Smith, Rochelle Chamber of Commerce Board President Kari Andrist and Rochelle Mayor John Bearrows attend the ribbon-cutting that opened the Smith’s auto businesses on Friday, Oct. 24, at 1400 N. Seventh St in Rochelle.
John Bearrows
Mason Smith (from left), Doug Smith and Richard Smith take turns talking at the ribbon-cutting for their businesses on Oct. 24.
$7.6M bid for substation construction approved
Public comments heard against potential data center development
By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
The Rochelle City Council unanimously approved a $7,673,358 bid from Tri-City Electric Co. on Monday, Oct. 27, for the construction of a new electric substation for Rochelle Municipal Utilities on Centerpoint Drive.
The Tri-City Electric bid was the lowest of three received. It includes a 10% contingency to cover any unforeseen site conditions that may arise during construction. The base bid was $6,975,780.
The construction cost will include the substation, the roadway to it, and gates and fencing.
The basis for the new substation is to free up two power feeders that are currently tied up to feed one customer. The new substation will alleviate that congestion and make RMU able to serve residential customers more reliably. After completion, RMU will be able to backfeed power to areas in an outage. The substation will also allow for more possible industrial growth.
Back in January 2024, the council bought switchgear for $2.672 million with a 77-week lead time and a transformer for $2.047 million with a 56-week lead time, both for the substation project. The total project is expected to cost over $20 million.
Projects
The council held discussion on issuing alternate revenue bonds for potential projects at the Rochelle Municipal Airport and the Rochelle Technology Center. The council resolved to vote on looking into bonding at its next meeting.
The projects would total $2.7 million, City Public Works Director Tim Isley said. The city desires the construction of a new hangar at the airport due to all its current hangar space being full, with waiting lists. Hangar rental is the top source of revenue at the airport. That potential project would cost $1.9 million. The hangar project could see $1.2 million in grant funding after the city funded it up front.
The Rochelle Technology Center work would involve electrical upgrades to provide backup power in the case of an outage to the system that supports RMU fiber
the developer.
Fiegenschuh said the city is planning a public meeting in November to receive public feedback on a potential data center. It is anticipated that 25-35 full-time jobs would be created by the data center. The city would put a hard cap on utility consumption by the development, which would be located on property that is currently farmland. A development agreement would include language for sound muffling.
Storm sewer
The council unanimously approved a $374,069.16 bid from Martin & Company Excavating for storm sewer improvements on North 14th Street. Eleven bids were received. The Martin bid was the lowest, and 21% lower than the engineer’s estimate of cost. Approval was also given for $73,000 in potential additional or change order work on the project.
The project will include new larger diameter storm sewer drainage upgrades to enhance or replace old deteriorated and undersized existing storm sewers that currently service a large, developed and urbanized area upland watershed north and east of the 14th Street right of way.
It’s anticipated that construction will be substantially complete by late May 2026.
Collocation
service customers. That potential project would cost $700,000.
“This project is extremely critical,” City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh said. “If we ever have a major outage at the tech park, we don’t have backup power currently. So people with RMU internet service could see an outage for a significant amount of time. This project is a high priority and we need to get it done.”
Data center
The council heard from two people during the public comment portion of the meeting regarding the city’s ongoing discussions with a developer that could result in a new data center locating in
Rochelle and becoming an RMU customer.
Rochelle resident Dawn Nance spoke at the meeting and said she was against a data center locating in Rochelle due to concerns including the number of people it would employ and its water consumption.
“I would prefer a business that would employ more people and get more people to live in this community,” Nance said. “We need something more than a data center.”
Daniel VanKirk, a local property owner, spoke at the meeting as well and asked the council to consider noise and utility concerns as it works with
The council unanimously approved a collocation agreement with Digital Network Access Communications for leased space at the City of Rochelle Technology Center. Having DNA Communications located within the city’s existing data center will allow the city to enter into a VLAN transport services agreement where DNA Communications would be able to provide internet and phone service to customers within the RMU service area using its fiber infrastructure.
“A little over a year ago, we lost our biggest lease agreement at the tech center and we’ve been trying to find new ways to generate revenue,” City Advanced Communications Director Pat Brust said. “DNA is a local company and it will be able to provide services to customers on RMU-owned fiber that we really can’t provide.”
Proclamation
A proclamation was read in honor of National Family Literacy Day on Nov. 1, and was accepted by members of the Rochelle Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Photos by Jeff Helfrich Rochelle Municipal Utilities Superintendent of Electric Operations Blake Toliver speaks at the Monday, Oct. 27, meeting of the Rochelle City Council.
At the Oct. 27 meeting of the Rochelle City Council, a proclamation was read in honor of National Family Literacy Day on Nov. 1. The proclamation was accepted by the Rochelle Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Shown from left to right are DAR Members Becky Danner and Lydia Roberts and Rochelle City Council member Tom McDermott.
Judge grants continuance for mother accused of killing her 7-year-old son in 2021
By EARLEEN HINTON
Shaw Local News Network correspondent
An Oregon woman charged with killing her 7-year-old son in 2021 made her second appearance in front of a new judge Wednesday.
Sarah Safranek, 38, and her attorney Ogle County Public Defender Kathleen Isley, appeared before Associate Judge Anthony Peska for a pretrial hearing following an Oct. 8 hearing in which Isley argued for a different judge to proceed over Safranek’s hearings.
That effort was denied by Ogle County Chief Judge John “Ben” Roe, who ruled that Peska would remain as the presiding judge.
Safranek is accused of suffocating her son, Nathaniel Burton, in the family’s Oregon home in February 2021. She is charged with five counts of first-degree murder and one count of aggravated battery. She was arrested April 21, 2021, was indicted May 4, 2021, and pleaded not guilty May 6, 2021.
She has been held in the Ogle County Jail since her arrest.
Isley filed a defense motion in September arguing that Safranek could not receive a fair trial if Peska remained as the presiding judge.
Judge John Redington was the initial judge for Safranek’s case, presiding over many hearings and delivering pretrial rulings before he retired in 2024.
Roe entered an order in July 2024 assigning the case to Peska upon Redington’s retirement.
The Oct. 8 hearing was just the third time in more than a year that Safranek had appeared in court, as some pretrial rulings made by Redington were under appeal.
Peska only presided over one hearing for Safranek, on Sept. 17, when the motion for a substitute judge was made.
Isley had argued that Safranek’s case should be assigned to another judge and that the motion asking for the substitution was timely due to the monthslong delay, as the appeal was pending.
She said the trial would not have
Ogle County State’s Attorney Mike Rock filed that appeal July 10, 2024, nine days after Redington ruled on several motions in limine filed by the defense and prosecutors.
Motions in limine determine whether certain evidence may be presented to the jury. They are commonly entered and argued before a trial begins, allowing evidentiary questions to be decided by the judge. Motions in limine in the Safranek case have been sealed and are not viewable to the public.
In June 2024, Redington listened to testimony and arguments regarding the motions and, after reviewing case law, limited the state’s ability to enter all internet searches and journal entries they said Safranek made. He also limited hearsay statements prosecutors said others made regarding domestic violence directed toward Nathaniel.
Redington removed Safranek’s scheduled jury trial date over the objection of Isley, and no court dates were set, pending the appeal process.
The appellate court issued its opinion July 25 and its mandate Sept. 4.
Nathaniel was a first grade student at Oregon Elementary School. He was found unresponsive and not breathing at 2:30 a.m. Feb. 17, 2021, in his bed at home in the 400 block of South 10th Street. He was pronounced dead later that day at KSB Hospital in Dixon.
been done before Redington retired, and no matters could be heard while rulings were under appeal.
Assistant Ogle County State’s Attorney Matthew Leisten disagreed, arguing that Isley’s motion was “untimely” and had missed the 10-day window to ask for a substitute judge.
Isley said Peska had never ruled on any matters in relation to the case, making the state’s argument that case law supports a 10-day filing limit inapplicable.
Roe disagreed, basing his decision to deny the motion after reviewing
case law.
On Wednesday, Isley asked for another continuance. Leisten did not object.
Safranek’s next court appearance is set for 1 p.m. Nov. 12.
Safanek’s jury trial was removed from the court calendar in July 2024 after a motion by prosecutors argued that some rulings made by Redington limited the evidence they wanted to present to jurors. They argued that Redington’s decision had “impaired” their ability to proceed with first-degree murder charges.
According to records obtained by Shaw Local in a Freedom of Information Act request, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services visited the house about a dozen times over two years, following up on five reports of suspected abuse and neglect.
Each time, DCFS closed the case after finding no indications of parental wrongdoing. Nathaniel was 4 when the allegations first surfaced.
Redington ruled in November 2022 that Safranek was fit to stand trial after he reviewed a mental health evaluation requested by the defense.
Redington agreed with attorneys on June 28, 2024, to exclude Safranek’s mental health records from being entered at the trial.
Earleen Hinton for Shaw Local News Network
Sarah Safranek is escorted into a courtroom at the Ogle County Judicial Center on Wednesday for a pretrial hearing. She is charged with killing her 7-year-old son in 2021.
Merlin’s Greenhouse & Flowers and The Other Side Boutique Premier Night is Back!
House
Christmas Open House
November 6th from 4PM to 7PM
November 8th from 9AM to 3PM
The Otherside Boutique will be closed Nov. 4th & Nov. 5th, to prepare for event.
Enjoy Holiday lights, Christmas decor, and storewide discounts, food sampling.
This year, Merlin’s is giving back to our area animal shel ters
We will also be accepting donations for “Toys for Tots”.
“Remie” says remember our furry friends this year-bring a toy, treat or blanket to donate.
300 Mix Street • Oregon, IL • 815-732-2969
Check out our Facebook page for all the latest details.
Rochelle teen charged in vehicle shooting
Judge denies pretrial release of 19-year-old, who will remain in county jail
By EARLEEN HINTON
Shaw Local News Network correspondent and JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
A Rochelle teenager will remain in the Ogle County Jail as he faces felony charges of shooting at a vehicle.
Camren Hastings, 18, was denied pretrial release on Wednesday after appearing in court with his attorney, Assistant Ogle County Public Defender Eric Morrow.
Hastings, who turned 18 in July, is charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm, a Class 1 felony, and aggravated use of a firearm as a person under the age of 21, a Class 4 felony.
Both charges are in connection with an Oct. 4 incident in which he is accused of firing a gun in the direction of a vehicle that was occupied by another person.
Hastings was arrested after a search warrant was executed Tuesday by the
Rochelle Police Department’s Emergency Response Team at 7:10 a.m. in the 400 block of Lake Lida Lane.
“The search warrant stemmed from an incident on Oct. 4 where a vehicle had been shot approximately 13 times in the 100 block of Willis Ave.,” according to a Rochelle Police Department news release.
Wednesday was the first court appearance for Hastings. During detention hearings, a judge determines whether to release a defendant from custody as the case proceeds through the court system.
Criteria used by judges to make that decision include the nature of the alleged offenses, whether the defendant’s release would pose a “clear and present danger” to the community or certain individuals, and whether the defendant is considered to be a “flight risk” and likely will not appear again for scheduled court cases.
At Wednesday’s hearing, Assistant State’s Attorney Matthew Leisten said Hastings was one of a group of people who were seen “shooting at vehicles” on Oct. 4.
“There were 10 individuals walking on the street shooting guns,” Leisten told Associate Judge Anthony Peska. “One of those was identified as Camren Hastings.”
Video footage obtained by officers showed 4 males and 2 females - some appearing to be juveniles – running into a nearby cornfield, Leisten told the court. He said it appeared that between
13-14 shots were fired at the vehicle during the incident.
Leisten said police collected 12 bullet casings and two firearms near the scene.
“The bullet holes in the vehicle were consistent with the guns found,” Leisten said, arguing that Hastings should remain in custody because he posed a danger to the Rochelle community.
“The defendant shot at vehicles in a neighborhood where other people are,” Leisten said. “We don’t believe he has the maturity to be released.”
Morrow disagreed, telling Peska that Hastings could be released with court-ordered conditions such as home confinement and electronic monitoring. Those conditions would allow Hastings to continue to attend school at the Chana Educational Center in Chana, Morrow argued.
“He rides the bus from his home to Chana for school,” Morrow said, noting that Hastings did not have a driver’s license. “There is no reason for him to be anywhere else except at home or school.”
Morrow said Hastings had no criminal history as an adult or juvenile and had scored a zero on the pretrial risk assessment. In those assessments, defendants are rated from 0-14 as to their risk if released, with zero being the lowest score.
“He’s never been in any trouble before,” Morrow argued. “I realize the seriousness of the charges, but there are conditions [the court could set] to mitigate any risk.”
Peska disagreed.
“The seriousness is very significant, to the people in the car and others,” Peska said. “There are no conditions that can mitigate the safety of others.”
Peska remanded Hastings to the Ogle County Jail and set his next court date for 10 a.m. Nov. 5.
On Oct. 6, the Rochelle Police Department issued this information following the Oct. 4 incident:
“On Saturday, Oct. 4, at approximately 11:10 p.m., Rochelle Police were dispatched to the 100 block of Willis Avenue for a report of suspicious activity. The caller reported a large group of individuals, all dressed in black, causing a disturbance in the roadway.
“A short time later, police received additional reports near Southview and Randall of a vehicle being shot at by a large group of subjects matching the same description.
“Upon arrival, officers located a vehicle that had been struck by gunfire approximately eight times. The driver reported that while traveling down the street, a large group attempted to stop their vehicle. The driver did not stop and instead drove around the group. The driver and several passengers stated that as they passed, they heard gunshots striking the vehicle. Fortunately, no one in the vehicle was injured.
“The group was last seen running west from the area. Police recovered two firearms in close proximity to the scene.”
Fire chief: No one injured during Rochelle combine fire
‘We took every precaution in case it was a bigger issue’
By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
There were no injuries and minimal damage to equipment and crops after the Rochelle Fire Department was called for a report of a combine fire Monday evening, RFD Chief Dave Sawlsville said.
RFD and the Ogle-Lee Fire Protection District station of Flagg Center responded at 6:27 p.m. Monday to a report of a combine fire at 10749 E. Flagg Road. Sawlsville said the combine’s owner smelled smoke and called first responders.
“The farmer was picking corn and it
The Rochelle Fire Department responded to a combine fire on Flagg Road between Center Road and Indian Trail Road on Monday evening.
Jeff Helfrich
appeared to be a hot bearing,” Sawlsville said. “Even after we cleared out the corn and sprayed water on it we kept getting a lot of steam back.
The farmer pulled the combine out of the field right away. There was minimal damage to the combine and no burnt
corn. We sprayed 500-600 gallons of water on the hot part to cool it down. We never saw any flames.”
Sawlsville said the corn head was removed from the combine during RFD’s response to find the root of the issue. The owner shut the combine off and planned to revisit the mechanical issue Tuesday. With harvest ongoing and dry conditions in the area, Sawlsville said RFD took every precaution Monday night.
“We’ve had four calls in recent weeks with combines that were farming beans,” Sawlsville said. “The conditions are really dry. On Monday there was a six-alarm field fire in Winnebago County. We responded to the Flagg Road call with two engines, a water tender and a brush truck in case it became something bigger.”
Camren Hastings
Defense attorney granted more evidence review time
By EARLEEN HINTON
Shaw Local News Network correspondent
The attorney for a Mt. Morris man accused of shooting and killing his stepson after an argument in their Mt. Morris apartment in April received another continuance Wednesday to examine information given to him by prosecutors.
“I am still going through the discovery process,” Ogle County Assistant Public Defender Eric Morrow told Judge Anthony Peska.
Morrow represents Derek Swanlund, 45, who is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the April 21 death of Cameron Pasley, 25, also of Mt. Morris, in what police described as a “domestic” incident.
“There is a lot of discovery. I have made arrangements to meet with Mr. Swanlund in jail,” Morrow told Peska during the afternoon hearing.
Discovery is the pre-trial process where attorneys share information and evidence that they plan on using in the defense, or prosecution, of the defendant.
Assistant State’s Attorney Melissa Voss did not object to the continuance.
Swanlund is facing three counts of first-degree murder and a misdemeanor charge of using a Smith & Wesson 9 mm handgun without having a Firearm Owner’s Identification card.
He has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.
During an April 30 preliminary hearing, prosecutors said the Mt. Morris Police Department responded first to the scene at an apartment complex at Ogle Avenue in Mt. Morris after receiving a 911 call at 4:59 p.m. from Pasley’s mother, in which she said her husband had shot her son.
When a Mt. Morris police officer arrived at the scene, she saw Swanlund walking away from the apartment
complex while carrying a black and silver handgun in his right hand, police said.
Voss said a verbal argument inside the apartment evolved to “shoulder bumping” with Pasley, after which Swanlund shot him.
When more officers arrived at the scene, they discovered Pasley inside the apartment, bleeding from multiple gunshot wounds, Voss said.
Pasley was pronounced dead at OSF Saint Katharine Medical Center in Dixon after being taken from the scene by Mt. Morris EMS.
Pasley’s mother told police she had entered a different room after arguing with Swanlund and after he “belly bumped” her into her son.
She then heard Pasley say ‘He shot me,’” Voss told the court.
In earlier hearings, Morrow argued
for his pretrial release, noting that Swanlund had no criminal history other than one misdemeanor charge for which he received and completed court supervision.
Morrow said Swanlund had bought the gun legally when he lived in North Carolina and had lived in Mt. Morris for 10 years.
He said Swanlund cooperated with police when they arrived at the scene.
During an April hearing, Ogle County Detective Chad Gallick testified that autopsy results showed Pasley suffered four gunshot wounds to his torso, one to his abdomen and one to his hand before his death.
Gallick said Pasley had come to his mother’s apartment that day to visit his dog.
Peska set Swanlund’s next court hearing for 1 p.m. Dec. 10, and remanded him to the Ogle County Jail, where he has been held since his arrest.
Pasley was a 2018 graduate of Oregon High School and a full-time custodian for the Oregon School District at the time of his death.
Derek Swanlund Cameron Pasley
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.
Welcoming fall and celebrating Rochelle
As the vibrant leaves change colors and the temperatures begin to drop, we are reminded that fall has officially arrived in Rochelle.
This past month has been bustling with activity, and I want to take this opportunity to share some exciting developments and upcoming events that make our community such a wonderful place to live.
First and foremost, I am thrilled to announce the hiring of our new finance director, Matt Hoffman.
Matt will join our entire finance team to continue to make our finance team the best. Matt comes to us from Lake in the Hills and will be stepping into the role previously held by Chris Cardott, who has been a steadfast pillar in the city of Rochelle’s financial landscape for more than 20 years.
Chris leaves behind a remarkable legacy, and as she embarks on her retirement, we all wish her the best. We hope she enjoys more time with her family and has the chance to travel; the community will truly miss her expertise and dedication.
I also want to share some highlights from our recent community events. During a recent blood drive and fly-in drive-in event, we held a drawing for donors, and I had the pleasure of presenting a $500 check to Brent Ohlinger, our lucky winner. Thank you, Brent, for your generosity in helping save lives through blood donation.
In addition to the blood donation efforts, the Williams family hosted another fantastic art fair at the Lincoln Arts Center.
This annual event featured performances by our talented grade school band and engaging dance exhibitions, culminating in a live auction of stunning artwork.
It was heartwarming to see so many community members come together to celebrate creativity and support local artists.
Through their generosity, funds were raised for their endowment fund for the arts.
Thank you, Stephanie and Danny Williams, for your continued support of our community, leaving an amazing legacy through the Rochelle Area Community Foundation.
COMMUNITY VIEWS
John Bearrows
On Monday, Oct. 20, I had the honor of attending the groundbreaking ceremony at the Rochelle Community Hospital.
Our community is fortunate to have a facility like this right in our backyard. My thanks go out to not only the management and staff but also the board of directors for their vision in preparing for the rapidly changing medical field. On behalf of the entire city, I say thank you. As we approach the end of 2025, our team has been diligently working on the upcoming 2026 budget. To ensure transparency and collaboration, the full City Council will hold a budget workshop at 6 p.m. Nov. 17.
In October, as part of our continued effort to foster open communication, the city manager and I held our inaugural “Coffee with the Mayor and City Manager” session. This Q&A event, hosted in collaboration with the Kiwanis Club at the Presbyterian Church, sparked great discussions. The topics that generated the most interest included the current status of the double diamond interchange on Illinois Route 38 and potential developments regarding a new data center in our area.
Regarding the data center, I want to clarify that discussions thus far have been with a developer (or what may be referred to as a “site selector”) rather than the actual data center owner.
Concerns have been voiced about the potential drawbacks of having a data center in our community. It’s important to differentiate between speculation and facts – especially since Rochelle is unique in that we own our own power company.
I urge everyone to attend future open Q&A sessions for accurate information before forming any judgments. Communication is key, and neither the city manager nor the city council would ever advocate for developments that might negatively impact Rochelle.
To stay updated with the latest
events and announcements, please follow my Facebook page, where I will share opportunities for further engagement with the community.
In addition to our council meetings, which are held on the second and fourth Mondays of each month, our local Chamber of Commerce has been actively hosting ribbon-cutting ceremonies for new businesses in the area. It’s exciting to witness so much entrepreneurial spirit in Rochelle, and I want to extend my gratitude to Tricia Herrera, her board, and her team for their steadfast support in helping local businesses not only survive but thrive.
As we prepare for the holiday season, I invite you to mark your calendars for Dec. 5 for our highly anticipated Lighted Christmas Parade. This festive event will include special promotions from downtown stores, the lighting of our Christmas tree, the presentation of the Rochelle Gratitude
Award, and the arrival of Santa Claus himself to officially usher in the 2025 Christmas season.
Let us come together as a community to celebrate our achievements and support one another. Rochelle is truly a special place filled with kindhearted individuals and thriving businesses, and together, we will continue to foster an environment of growth and positivity.
In closing, it’s only fitting to include a quote about fall, and it is: “Fall is a second spring, where every leaf transforms into a beautiful flower” – Nobel Prize winner Albert Camus.
Thank you for being an essential part of Rochelle.
My door is always open for questions, and I look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events!
• John Bearrows is the mayor of the city of Rochelle.
Homestyle Italian Food in a Family Atmosphere
Pasta, Pizza, Salads, Sandwiches & More
Banquets & Catering
Rochelle holds retirement celebration for longtime Finance Director Chris Cardott
Cardott retiring in December after 20 years:
‘The people are what I will miss most’
By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
Rochelle held a retirement celebration and open house Thursday, Oct. 23, for Finance Director Chris Cardott, who will retire at the end of the year after 20 years with the city.
After graduating from the University of Illinois with an accounting degree, Cardott worked at a bank in that area before moving back home and serving as president of the Northern Illinois University Credit Union for nine years.
Cardott then worked at Resource Bank in DeKalb as assistant controller from 2002-2005.
Cardott was hired by the city of Rochelle as an accountant in August 2005 and was later promoted to accounting supervisor before replacing Bob Withrow as finance director in 2008.
“I take pride in my work and anything I can make more efficient,” Cardott said.
“It’s taxpayer money, and I treat it as if it were my own. There are great people here. My job changed over the years. I was in charge of human resources and risk management in the past. I worked under different city managers and with people from all of the different departments. It’s nice to get to know new people and see what their strengths are and to be able to help them succeed,” Cardott said.
Under Cardott’s leadership, the city’s finance department has received the Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for 10 straight years and the GFOA Distinguished Budget Award for the past six years.
Cardott has been tasked with managing Rochelle’s budget for the past 20 years. The city’s most recent budget was $133 million.
“You really need to break it down by
department, or else it’s just too overwhelming,” Cardott said. “You have to dig into line items and what amounts were and look at what they should be in the future. You have to work with departments when they turn in their budgets and make sure everything is reasonable. We’re heavily involved in things like grants. When you work behind the scenes, you get to see a different side of all the improvements that get made around town. It’s definitely a different place than it was in 2005.”
Cardott said she’s enjoyed working with department heads, city managers
City departments range from police and fire to the Rochelle Municipal Utilities electric department to the airport to advanced communications.
The longtime city finance director’s plans for retirement include traveling and spending time with family.
and City Council members over the years to meet their finance needs and get projects done.
“I have full faith that the finance department will succeed going forward,” Cardott said. “It will definitely be strange not looking at my emails or answering calls or working on projects. I’ll continue to be excited for what the city has to come.
“The people are what I will miss most.”
Photos provided by Charles Van Horn
Rochelle held a retirement celebration and open house Thursday, Oct. 23, for Finance Director Chris Cardott, who will retire at the end of the year after 20 years with the city.
Mayor John Bearrows (left) speaks in honor of City of Rochelle Finance Director Chris Cardott.
Lowden Memorial dedicated at Oregon courthouse
‘There were a lot of things he did for the state, Ogle County and Oregon’
By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
A dedication ceremony was held Friday, Oct. 24, for a new memorial in honor of Illinois Gov. Frank O. Lowden on the lawn of the historic Ogle County Courthouse in Oregon.
Lowden was governor of Illinois from 1917-1921 and a resident of Oregon at Sinnissippi Farm.
In 1899, Lowden bought a 576-acre farm in Oregon on the Rock River. Over the years, Lowden bought thousands more acres, reaching about 4,400. Reforestation was started by Lowden around 1902 and continued until the country’s entry into World War I.
Lowden served in the U.S. Congress from 1906-1910. After being elected governor, he worked to make sure that the government was run honestly and fairly, and he wanted a new constitution that would centralize tax structure and permit an income tax. He gained wide notice as governor by his reorganization of state government and his handling of the Chicago race riots in 1919.
After his work in politics, Lowden retired to Sinnissippi Farm. In 1938, he entered into an agreement with the University of Illinois Department of Forestry to supervise the management of his woodlands in return for permission to carry out research studies on the forest. In October 1955, Sinnissippi Forest became the first Illinois Tree Farm.
Lowden died in 1943. On Oct. 7, 1993, Phillip Lowden Miller and his wife, Bonnie, sold 1,039 acres of the Lowden-Miller estate, Sinnissippi Forest, to the State of Illinois. Sinnissippi Forest was formally dedicated as a state site in 1993.
Lowden State Park in Oregon is also named in the late governor’s honor and is home to The Eternal Indian, a statue by Lorado Taft. Lowden stepped in to ensure the completion of Black Hawk was financially possible.
The new memorial was made possible by the Governor Lowden Memorial Committee, made up of President Stacy Flanagan, Dan Janes, Tom Suits, Ashley Simms, Bonnie O’Connell, Dale Flanagan, Linda Janes, the late Dave Stenger, Marty Typer and Paul White.
In remarks on Oct. 24, Stacy Flanagan
Rep. Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, speaks Oct. 24
thanked major sponsors of the project, including the late Helen Spencer, Drake and Wendy Mertes, Dan and Linda Janes, Tom Suits, Brent and Nelda Johnson, and Bonnie O’Connell. She also thanked Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle, who manages county properties, and her family members for donating material and labor for the memorial’s concrete base.
“It’s been a long road, but we finally got it done,” Flanagan said. “What’s on this memorial is only a drop in the bucket compared to everything Gov. Lowden did for the state, Ogle County and the city of Oregon. When the Oregon Depot burned down for the second time, the Burlington and Quincy Railroad didn’t want to build the Depot again. Gov. Lowden and his father-in-law, George Pullman, influenced them to rebuild the Depot. They rebuilt it, and Oregon wouldn’t be what it is today without Lowden and Pullman doing that.”
State Rep. Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, spoke at the dedication as well and praised Lowden for his work on consolidating 125 departments into nine during his time as state governor.
“That’s pretty amazing, considering all of the effort to make the government
bigger today,” McCombie said. “What he did became a national model for others to use. He worked during a pretty amazing time to live and lead. He was always known for being a very principled, service-driven leader and that’s certainly something to aspire to. Thanks to everyone that made this happen.”
Stacy Flanagan detailed other accom-
plishments of Lowden’s, including being the first state governor to establish a fiscal budget and advocating for the state highway system, such as Illinois Route 64 and Illinois Route 2 that run through Oregon.
“There were a lot of things he did for the state, Ogle County and Oregon,” Flanagan said.
Photos by Jeff Helfrich
State
at The Frank Lowden Memorial dedication on the Ogle County Courthouse lawn in Oregon.
Governor Lowden Memorial Committee President Stacy Flanagan speaks Oct. 24 at the memorial’s dedication on the Ogle County Courthouse lawn.
Born: July 20, 1933
Died: October 16, 2025
Edward John Kary, 92 of Tucson, AZ, formerly of Rochelle, IL, passed away peacefully at the home of his daughter, Cecelia, on October 16, 2025. He was born on July 20, 1933 in Mandan, ND to Anton and Pauline (Doll) Kary. Edward proudly served his country in the Army National Guard in the Signal Corps, stationed in Africa.
Edward met Charity on a date set up by friends and the two fell quickly in love and were married on February 16, 1957 in Bismark,
ND. They made their home and raised their eight children in Rochelle, IL where they attended St Patrick Catholic Church. Edward worked his whole life as a union painter at NIU in DeKalb, IL. He also worked part-time bartending at Chucks Tavern to help support his growing family.
Ed was super outgoing, likeable and made friends easily. After retiring, he and Charity moved to AZ. With sunny, warmer days, you could find him biking to daily mass, singing with his barbershop quartet, and floating in the pool; he always sported the best tan. Ed loved life, loved music, (#1 Jazz), loved his Catholic faith, and loved his family deeply.
just maybe this will be the “Year.” God’s will be done!
He was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Parish in Green Valley, AZ before moving to Tucson in 2015.
ers of Rochelle, IL.
If you knew Ed, you knew he was a lifelong Minnesota Vikings fan. From their first season in 1961 until present, every year he would hope and pray this was going to be “The Year” his team would finally win a Superbowl. Maybe,
Armory World War II Museum will be open to the public
of Veterans Day on Sunday, Nov. 9.
Roberts Armory WWII Museum in Rochelle will be open Nov. 9
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK
contact@shawmedia.com
Roberts Armory World War II Museum will be open to the public in honor of Veterans Day from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 9, in Rochelle.
The Higgins Boat will be open for viewing, weather permitting.
The next opening will be Memorial Day 2026.
To get to the museum, follow the
signs on the Army truck at Illinois Route 251 and Intermodal Drive (about three miles).
Many World War II artifacts are on display, including tanks, trucks, cannons and Rochelle News-Leader newspapers from 1945 presenting photographs of Rochelle residents who served during World War II.
More information is available at www.robertsarmory.com. There is no admission charge.
Edward is survived by his children: Mary “Kitty” Buesteton, Cecelia “Cissy” Jones, Andrew Kary, Kathleen (Sam) Berkes, Colleen (Tony) Barker, Daniel Kary, and Benjamin Kary; grandchildren: Brian Buesteton, Emily Kelley, Brandon Jones, Kevin (Mary) Jones, Julia (fiance, Orelando Collier) and Ryan Jones; Adam (Emily) Kary, Megan (Ben) Valdevieso, Melanie (Jake) Fransen; Bridget Berkes (fiance, Kyle Higham) and Amanda Berkes; Rebekah (Josh) Meyer, and Charity (Blake) Ragon; and Cody (Mikenzie) Kary; 25 great-grandchildren, with another one on the way; two great-great grandchildren and two sisters: Bertha “Bertie” Bertrams of Chico, CA, and Janet (Mark) Bow-
He was preceded in death by his wife, Charity in 2014; eldest son, Christopher Kary; son-in-law, John Buesteton; great- grandson, Caleb Tewksbury; and three sisters: Onie Kary, Angeline May, and Annette Kary.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Monday, November 3, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 236 Kelley Dr., Rochelle, IL with Father Jeremy Trowbridge officiating.
Immediately following the funeral, burial will take place at St. Patrick Cemetery in Rochelle with fully military honors provided by the Eastern Lee-Ogle Honor Guard.
The visitation will take place on Sunday, November 2, 2025, from 3:00-5:00 at the Unger-Horner Funeral Home, 400 N. 6th St., Rochelle. Visit www.ungerhorner.com to sign the online guest book. EDWARD JOHN KARY
Photo provided by Roberts Armory
Roberts
in honor
Ogle County’s Larry B. Miller posthumously inducted into Illinois Aviation Hall of Fame
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
Larry B. Miller, a retired pharmacist, was inducted posthumously into the Illinois Aviation Hall of Fame on Oct. 16.
His daughter, Anne, accepted the award with his daughter, Beth, and wife, Ellen, as well as other relatives and friends in attendance.
Larry was one of six area pilots who conceived the idea of a local airport. The current Ogle County Airport opened in 1978. The airport is privately owned and supported, but it is available to the public. The airport was named State of Illinois Private Airport of the Year in 2007.
It is estimated that Larry participated in close to 100 Fly In/Drive In breakfasts since the late 1970s. He donated countless hours working at Pork and Pie dinners, mowing, organizing and playing his trombone at hangar dances. He was one of the original stockholders and an original member of the Ogle County Pilots Association.
Larry helped organize and was a founding member of several flying clubs, including the Cessna Flyers Club at the now-defunct Chicagoland Airport and the local Rock River Flyers. He served as an officer of the club as long as he was able and was its president for over 20 years. Larry was an active member of the Waukegan Airport Stick and Rudder Club in the late 1960s. He earned his private pilot license in 1963 flying a Cessna 140 with the Indianola (Iowa) Flying Club. He had a taildragger endorsement and later earned his IFR rating.
Many people enjoyed a plane ride with Larry. He flew Young Eagles, Let Freedom Ring Queens, parachute teams for airshows, friends and family. He influenced future flight instructors, commercial pilots, one of whom currently is flying a B747, as well as many general aviation pilots. He attended EAA Conventions almost annually since 1966 when it was originally located in Rockford and later moved to Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
The Illinois Aviation Hall of Fame honored Larry for his efforts to provide
the award with his daughter, Beth, and wife, Ellen, as well as other relatives and friends in attendance.
affordable access to aviation in Ogle County. He is the second Ogle County Airport pilot to be so honored. The first
was Nick Lung, who was honored in 2011 and was also one of the six co-founding pilots of C55, the Ogle County Airport.
Rochelle names Hoffmann new finance director
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
Rochelle recently announced the appointment of Matt Hoffman as its new finance director.
Hoffman brings a strong background in municipal finance and accounting leadership, most recently serving as assistant finance director for the Village of Lake in the Hills.
In his previous role, Hoffman maintained and directed all accounting functions for the village, including general ledger, accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll and fixed assets.
He organized and oversaw the annual audit process, assisted in developing the annual budget, and served as a subject matter expert and administrator for the village’s financial system.
City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh said Hoffman’s experience and leadership style align well with Rochelle’s commitment to sound fiscal management and transparency.
“Matt’s strong technical expertise, combined with his collaborative approach, makes him a perfect fit for our organization,” Fiegenschuh said.
“He understands the importance of clear communication and accountability in public finance, and I’m confident he will continue to strengthen our city’s financial foundation,” Fiegenschuh said.
As finance director, Hoffman will oversee all aspects of the city’s financial operations, including budgeting, auditing, financial reporting and long-term fiscal planning.
“I’m excited to join the Rochelle team and contribute to a community that values both innovation and accountability,” Hoffman said.
“The city’s focus on transparency, growth, and collaboration is something I deeply respect, and I look forward to being part of that ongoing progress,” Hoffman said.
Hoffman’s first day in the office is Nov. 3.
He will immediately begin collaborating with city leadership on upcoming budget development and year-end audit preparation.
Photo provided by Ellen Miller
Larry B. Miller, a retired pharmacist, was inducted posthumously into the Illinois Aviation Hall of Fame on Oct. 16. His daughter, Anne, accepted
Larry B. Miller
CHURCH DIRECTORY
Ashton Bible Church, corner of Main and Paddock in Ashton. Pastor Farrel Stauffer, church phone is (815)453-2190, church website www.ashtonbible.org0. Sunday School for all ages 9:00-10:00am, Morning Worship 10:15am, Wednesday Prayer Meeting/Bible Study 6:30-8:00pm.
Calvary Lighthouse Church, Assemblies of God, Senior Pastor, Dr. James Horvath. 14409 Hemstock Rd., Rochelle. Sunday Morning: Sunday Worship & Children’s Church 10:00 A.M., Wednesday Evening 7:00 P.M. – Adult Teaching, Missionettes & Royal Rangers Childrens Classes, Nursery available for all services. HE-Brews Cafe is open before and after services. For further information, please call the CLC office at 815-5627701, or email us at staff@calvarylighthouse.com
Church of Christ, Keeping Christ at the center in the Hub City. We meet Sundays at 9:00am for Bible Study and 10:00am for worship. We also have a Wednesday Bible Study at 7:00pm. 206 Erickson Rd, Rochelle, IL 61068. You can call us at (815) 562-6572 or visit us on the web at rochellechurch.com. We also have a radio program Sundays just after 8am on WRHL 1060AM. Minister Dominic Venuso.
Creston United Methodist Church - Rev. Ilhan You, Creston: 126 West South Street, P.O. Box 209, Creston, Illinois 60113. Sunday morning worship 9:00am. Coffee fellowship at 10:15am. Steward: 507 Main Street, P.O. Box 80, Steward, IL 60553. Adult Sunday School, 10:00am. Sunday morning worship and Children’s Sunday School 11:00am. Contact the church office at 847-730-4370 for more information. facebook. comcrestonumcil faccebook.com/stewardilumc
Elim Reformed Church, 140 S. Church Road, Kings, IL 61068. Phone: 815-562-6811. Email goelimchurch@gmail.com Website www.goelimchurch.org Sunday Morning Worship 10:00 Rev. Marv Jacobs
Faith Lutheran Church – (14206 E. Flagg Rd.) – “Making Christ Known Through Lives of Faith.” In-person worship is available each Sunday at 9:00 a.m. or online at “Faith Lutheran Social” on YouTube. Worship resources are also available on our Facebook page - ‘Faith Lutheran Church ELCA.’ You may also e-mail Pastor Joy Alsop at Pastor@ faithlcrochelle.org for more information. All are welcome to join us!
First General Baptist Church, 500 S. 12th St, Rochelle. Phone: 815-562-5221. Email: fgbcrochelle@gmail.com.Website: www.fgbcrochelle.org. Facebook: www.facebook. com/fgbcrochelle.Pastor: Rev. Angelo Bonacquisti. Sunday worship services: 8:30 am, 11:15 am and 6:00 pm. Sunday school: 10:00 am. We’d be honored to have you join us as we worship JESUS and continue to grow in truth and love for God and each other. A nursery, children’s church, youth group and small groups are available. If you need a ride please contact our church bus driver, John, at (815) 262-4275 by 8:30 am on Sunday. “For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
First Presbyterian Church – An Amazing Place for Amazing Grace - 1100 Calvin Road, Rochelle. Email: info@placeforgrace.com. Sunday morning worship 9:00am. In person or streamed online. On our Website and Facebook Live. www.placeforgrace.com/ www. facebook.com/placeforgrace
Harvest Baptist Church 241 Scott Ave. (Hillcrest). Rev. Duane Boehm, pastor. Email duane712@hotmail.com, cell 815-757-3427. Visit us on Facebook! Service times: Sunday morning worship with Children’s Church at 10 am. Wednesday night worship at 7 pm.
Immanuel Lutheran Church Missouri Synod 16060 E. Lindenwood Road, Lindenwood, IL 61049. Rev. Dr. Matthew Rosebrock. Church Phone 393-4500. Church Worship 9:00 a.m. Sunday School Christian Education Hour at 10:30 a.m.
Living Water Community Church 405 N. Main St, Downtown Rochelle. Phone 815561-6249, Website: www.lwccr.com, Like us on Facebook. We are Non-Denominational, Christ Centered, Casual dress, Christ Centered Live Band Worship. Mike Vogeler - Outreach and Seven C’s Pastor, Chris Bender- Teaching Pastor and Doug BungerMissions and Children’s Pastor. Sunday Worship Service- 10:00am. Nursery/Toddlers
Ages 0-5 available during the service in the Splash building. Swim- Grades 1st-5th worship with the adults then break out for age appropriate teaching. Youth groups, Small groups, Life Groups and Workshops meet throughout the year for Bible teaching. 7C’s Mission- serves the community physically & spiritually each month from 1135 Lincoln Hwy, providing lightly used clothing, Hygiene items, a light lunch and Elder Prayer open the second Saturday from 10am-2pm and the 4th Thursday from 4pm to 7:00pm and by appointment.
New Hope Fellowship (Church of God - Anderson, IN), 1501 10th Ave., Rochelle, IL 61068. Service: Sunday at 9 a.m. 10:30 a.m., (815)561-8400, www.NHFchurch.net Pastor: Dan Sergeant and Pastor Nick Tornabene. (Classes for children through age fifth grade during service.)
Rochelle United Methodist Church welcomes everyone to their worship service, and practices openness for all activities including communion. Worship is at 9:00 am. Sunday school for children begins around 9:15, following the Children’s Time in worship. A fellowship time with food and space for conversation occurs in Hicks Hall every week following the worship service. We celebrate communion with an open table on the first Sunday of every month, and on other appropriate occasions. Youth group is on Sunday evenings from 5:30-7:30. Our youth program includes service projects, discussion topics, Bible Study, and lots of fun and fellowship together. Some of our activities include packing meals at Feed My Starving Children, helping at Rochelle Christian Food Pantry and 7C’s, working with animals at Barn on Baseline, Mystery trips (Destination Unknown!), and Interactive experiences on Dating boundaries, refugees, and homelessness. Youth group is for grades 6-12 and friends are always welcome. Recorded services are available on our YouTube channel and our website at www.rochelleumc.com. Our services are on the radio (93.5 FM) on Sunday mornings at 9:00 am. Our Facebook page is www.facebook.com/rochelleumc. Our pastor is the Rev. Dr. Katherine Thomas Paisley. Our address is 709 Fourth Ave. (815) 562-2164. Email is admin@rochelleumc. com. At Rochelle United Methodist Church, everyone is welcome and loved!
Steward United Methodist Church - Rev. Ilhan You, Creston: 126 West South Street, P.O. Box 209, Creston, Illinois 60113. Sunday morning worship 9:00am. Coffee fellowship at 10:15am. Steward: 507 Main Street, P.O. Box 80, Steward, IL 60553. Adult Sunday School, 10:00am. Sunday morning worship and Children’s Sunday School 11:00am. Contact the church office at 847-730-4370 for more information. facebook. comcrestonumcil faccebook.com/stewardilumc
St. John’s Lutheran Church, 126 E. South Street, Creston. Phone 815-384-3720, Email: StJohnsLutheran@aol.com, members of NALC/LCMC. Worship is led by Pastor Terese Whitten 231-878-4150. St. John’s Lutheran Church is a part of God’s Family, planting hope, nurturing faith and harvesting love. Coffee or Fellowship at 10:00 a.m. Worship begins at 10:45 a.m. Sunday school is conducted during worship service except during the summer.
St. Patrick Catholic Church Rev. Jesus Dominguez; Deacon Prosper Agbetrobu; Deacon Fermin Garcia; Deacon George Schramm; 244 Kelley Dr. (Corner of Kelley & Caron Rd.) PO Box 329, Rochelle, IL, 61068. Office Hours: 9:00 AM - 4 PM Monday-Thursday, Phone: 815-562-2370. Mass Times: 8:00 AM Monday-Thursday, Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:00 PM English, 7 PM Spanish, Sunday Mass 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM in English and 11:00 AM in Spanish. Confessions: Monday 8:30-9:00 AM & 6:00-6:45 PM, Tuesday 8:30-9:00 AM, Thursday 6:00-6:30 PM, Saturday 4:00-4:45 PM Or by appointment. Religious Education: Erin Robles, Director of Religious Education, 903 Caron Road, Rochelle, IL 61068, 815-561-0079 or 815-562-2370. Website: stpatricksrochelle.com. Email: stpatrick-rochelle@rockforddiocese.org. Facebook.com/StPatrickRochelle.
St. Paul Lutheran Church “Building Relationships in Christ, Now and Forever!” Steven Hall, Principal, Parish Nurse-Marcia Schnorr. 1415 Tenth Ave., Rochelle. Church Office-562-2744. Worship times: 6:00 p.m. Saturday, 9:00 a.m. Sunday. Our service is broadcast over WRHL 1060AM at 10:00 a.m. Sunday. Sunday School 10:15-11:15 a.m. Call 562-6323 for more information about the school.
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
CLASSIFIED
NOTICE A Mini Storage, LLC, a storage facility located at 117 Quarry Road, Rochelle, IL hereby announces that the possessions of the following lessees will be disposed of by means of auction on November 12th, 2025.
diameter, no chips or cracks
$850
If interested leave a message at 815- 994-0700
NOTICE
A Mini Storage, LLC, a storage facility located at 117 Quarry Road, Rochelle, IL hereby announces that the possessions of the following lessees will be disposed of by means of auction on November 12th, 2025. Disposal of personal property shall conform to the terms of the certified notice previously mailed to the lessee. The contents of the units can be previewed immediately prior to the sale. The preview and sale will take place at each individual unit listed below, in the order they appear Unit #84
Eric Moore Boxes, bags, tots, dre sser, chairs Unit #181
Amanda Nuckles Black refrigerat or, black mini fridge, tots, mattress, toaster oven Oct. 26, Nov. 2, 2025
Disposal of personal property shall conform to the terms of the certified notice previously mailed to the lessee. The contents of the units can be previewed immediately prior to the sale. The preview and sale will take place at each individual unit listed below, in the order they appear Unit #84
Eric Moore Boxes, bags, tots, dre sser, chairs Unit #181
Amanda Nuckles Black refrigerat or, black mini fridge, tots, mattress, toaster oven Oct. 26, Nov. 2, 2025
Ri tchi e to C enterpoi nt 34.5kV Line Steel Pole Pr ocuremen t until 2:00 p.m. local time on November 6, 2025, at the City of Rochelle, 420 N 6th Street, Rochelle, IL 61068.The plans and specifications are on file with the said City of Rochelle for viewing purposes only.
Copies of the documents may be acquired from BHMG Engineers, Inc., 9735 Landmark Parkway Suite 110A, St. Louis, Missouri 63127, Consulting Engineers for the said Board. Please email Amy Wooldridge, AWooldridge@bhmg.com with request. Bids shall be received for the aforementioned items.
A certified check or bank draft on a responsible, solvent bank, or a satisfactory bid bond executed by the bidder and an acceptable surety company, payable to the City of Rochelle, John Bearrows, Mayor or Government Bonds or cash in the amount of not less than five percent (5%) of bid, shall be submitted with each bid
The bid shall be marked to identify bid package contents, reference specification 2200 K001.
The successful bidder will be required to:
• Register as a bidder for this project
• Furnish in duplicate the following executed documents:
• Non-Collusion Affidavit
• Bid Form
• Bid Bond, Certified Check or Money Order
• And any other documents as required by the specifications
No bid shall be withdrawn after the opening of bids without the consent of the Utility for a period of sixty (60) days after the scheduled time of closing bids.
No bid shall be withdrawn after the opening of bids without the consent of the Utility for a period of sixty (60) days after the scheduled time of closing bids.The said City of Rochelle reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive any informalities in bidding, and to determine and accept the bid most advantageous to the Utility.
Date: October 17, 2025
City of Rochelle, Illinois John Bea rrows, Mayor
October 19, 26, November 2, 2025
Better Shelves. Custom Solutions.
G Engineers, Parkway Suite Missouri 63127, for the said y Wooldridge, m with request. for the afore-
Rochelle wraps up volleyball season
Photos by Mark Busch
TOP LEFT: Rochelle’s Jaydin Dickey bumps the ball against Sycamore Tuesday, Oct. 28, during the Class 3A regional semifinal match at Rochelle Township High School. TOP RIGHT: Sycamore’s Lillian Jones tries to tip the ball between Rochelle’s Jillian Bruns (left) and Reese Kissack on Oct. 28. ABOVE: Rochelle’s Jaydin Dickey (left) and Audyn Kemp try to block the spike of Sycamore’s Sophia Lichthardt on Oct. 28. LEFT: Sycamore’s Sophia Lichthardt bumps the ball as Rochelle’s Meredith Bruns looks on Oct. 28.
Rochelle volleyball drops regional match
By EDDIE CARIFIO ecarifio@shawmedia.com
Sycamore spent all of the second set playing catch-up against Rochelle on Tuesday in a Class 3A Rochelle Regional semifinal.
Even when the Spartans were a point away from a win, the Hubs got a point to extend the match.
But kills by Laney Block and Isabella Culotta closed out the set, and the Spartans advanced to the regional final with a 25-20, 26-24 win.
“That was really nerve-wracking on the bench. It was really nerve-wracking on the court,” said Ava WenteArgo, who finished with six kills and five blocks. “But I think we all knew what we came here to do and what we needed to do, and we just did it together.”
The Hubs (16-19) led 11-4 in the second. Sycamore (19-15) took its first lead at 16-15 when Elizabeth Goff faked a set and dumped it over the net.
The lead was short-lived, as the Hubs went back up 23-20 on a block by Audyn Kemp, but a service error gave the ball back to the Spartans, who scored the next four points.
The Spartans advance to the final at 6 p.m. Thursday against Dixon.
“It wasn’t about going out and siding out and getting kills,” Wente-Argo said. “It was about playing together and playing positively. When we play together, we don’t lose.”
Lillian Jones led the Spartans with 10 kills, and Kiara Thomas added five. Laney Block had three blocks.
The Spartans and Hubs split a pair of Interstate 8 matches during the regular season. Sycamore coach Jennifer Charles said in the loss earlier this month that blocks cost the Spartans. That was a focal point heading into Tuesday, and Block and Wente-Argo delivered.
“We really made sure that we concentrated on sealing the net and that we were penetrating our blocks,” Charles said. “That was our biggest key for today. ... Her and Laney Block did exactly what I needed as far as blocking, but also drawing the blocks.”
The Hubs also led most of the first set. The lead peaked at five more than once, including at 16-11 after a kill by Reese Kissack.
Sycamore scored the next seven
points, tying it up on a kill by Jones, taking the lead on an ace by Lana Walker, and pushing the lead to 18-16 on a kill by Thomas.
“Our M.O. is to kind of start slow, but tonight we were ahead in both sets at the beginning,” Rochelle coach Molly Sly said.
Kemp led the Hubs with six kills and four blocks. Jillian Burns had four kills and 11 digs. Emori Mickley had 17 assists.
Sly said the Hubs’ slumps happened when Kemp and Burns rotated out of the front row and into the back or were subbed out.
“Audyn puts up a fantastic block and gets great positive touches,” Sly said. “She’s a senior leader who boosts confidence. Whenever she comes out of the game, I think momentum tends to shift into their hands.”
The Hubs won 10 games last year. Sly said she was happy with the way the year went for the Hubs.
“These girls came to the gym every
day and wanted to improve,” Sly said. “They were fun to be around and they worked hard.”
Rochelle 2, Ottawa 1 (19-25, 25-18, 25-19):
At Rochelle on Oct. 23, the Hubs came through with a come-from-behind victory on senior night behind eight kills
Sycamore’s Khiara Thomas spikes the ball by Rochelle’s Meredith Bruns Tuesday during their Class 3A regional semifinal match at Rochelle Township High School.
and a strong second-set service run from Jillian Bruns.
Emori Mickley had 12 digs, Meridith Bruns added 13 assists, eight digs and three blocks and Jaydin Dickey turned in seven kills, 11 assists and 11 digs in the win.
Photos by Mark Busch
Rochelle’s Reese Kissack bumps the ball against Sycamore Tuesday during their Class 3A regional semifinal match at Rochelle Township High School.
How Bears’ ‘O’ had another inconsistent showing
By MICHAL DWOJAK mdwojak@shawmedia.com
The Chicago Bears’ loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 26 felt like a regression to the mean.
The Bears had found ways to win four straight games before Sunday despite not putting together perfect performances. Some of the issues that didn’t stop Chicago from losing before got in the way this time around.
None was more evident than the offensive inconsistency. The Bears only scored one touchdown despite putting up more total yards (372) than the Ravens (355). A deeper look into the numbers offers some insight into what has stopped the offense from reaching its full potential.
Here’s a look at why things didn’t work offensively Sunday.
Caleb Williams’ midgame dips
The Bears’ offensive production cooled off midway through the game Sunday after two scoring drives in the first quarter. Baltimore held Chicago scoreless in the second and third quarters, and the Bears put up 97 of their 372 total yards in the two middle quarters.
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams’ numbers also took a dip after he effectively moved the ball down the field early. Williams completed eight of his 10 pass attempts in the second and third, but threw for 55 yards. He finished the game with a 65.8% completion rate and 285 passing yards with no touchdowns and an interception.
Those numbers mirror what Williams has done seven games into his time with head coach and play-caller Ben Johnson this season. According to Pro Football Reference, the second quarter is when Williams has his lowest completion rate (55.9%), while he’s thrown for the fewest yards (312) in the third quarter. He’s passed for 372 yards in the second quarter and has a 57.8% completion rate in the third.
It’s a different story in the first and fourth quarters. Williams has both his highest passing yardage (509) and completion rate (70.8%) in the first quarter. His second-highest comes in the fourth, where he’s thrown for 443 yards and a 61.1% completion rate.
The numbers show that Williams, like most quarterbacks, is most comfortable at the start of games when the offense runs scripted plays. Williams also has a knack for high-pressure situations late
in games. Figuring out how to fix the middle portion will help him elevate his play as the season progresses.
Keeping it close to home
Another trend proved to be true Sunday: Williams didn’t air it out much.
A majority of his passing yards (118) came between 10 and 20 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. Williams threw for 81 yards on throws up to 10 yards and completed two of his four attempts beyond 20 yards for 47 yards. He completed all five of his passes behind the line for 39 yards.
Williams finished with a minus-2.5 average yards differential, according to Next Gen Stats, which was the seventh-lowest in Week 8. A negative number suggests Williams completed passes at a shorter average depth than he intended to throw.
A few of those shorter throws came on third down. The Bears did a better job on third down compared to previous games, going 6 for 13 for 46%. But five of those conversions came in the first and fourth quarters.
Red zone issues reappear
Chicago had a chance to steal the
game’s momentum in the first quarter when it put together two nice drives that went down the field. Instead of grabbing a 14-0 lead heading into the second quarter, the Bears led 6-0.
The Bears’ 1-for-3 showing in the red zone Sunday didn’t boost their overall numbers this season. Chicago has scored touchdowns on 47.8% of its trips to the red zone this season, which ranks 26th.
Sunday continued a recent trend over the past four games since the Bears went 2 for 3 against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3. Chicago has gone 5 for 16, which is a 31.3% success rate during that period. The Bears have gone 3-1 during that span despite the low numbers.
Well-distributed penalties
A common refrain after Sunday’s game? The Bears need to fix their penalty problems for more offensive consistency. But the Bears’ 11 penalties for 79 yards weren’t just an offensive problem.
All three phases of the game had a hand in a double-digit penalty performance. Both the offense and defense committed four penalties, while special teams players were called for three penalties.
Williams was called for two intentional grounding calls, while the offense had two false starts. Special teams earned two illegal formation penalties.
Chicago has been called for 64 penalties for 533 yards this season. The Bears are averaging 9.1 penalties per game in Johnson’s first season in charge.
Rome Odzune, DJ Moore shine
Let’s end on a positive note. Although the offense struggled at times, there were some bright spots.
Wide receiver Rome Odunze continued to take major steps in his second season. The former top-10 pick finished with seven catches for 114 receiving yards. Odunze earned the most targets (10) Sunday, and it was Odunze’s second 100-yard game of his season and the fourth in his career.
Veteran wide receiver DJ Moore also had his season-best showing. He finished with a season-high 73 receiving yards on four catches. His longest reception came late in the fourth quarter when he made a one-handed grab and took it 42 yards.
Sunday was the most yards Moore’s had in a game since Week 18 against the Green Bay Packers to end last season.
AP file photo
Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore (2) makes a one-handed catch against Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (14) during the second half of the Oct. 26 game in Baltimore.
SPORTS
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
1974: The Braves traded Hank Aaron to the Milwaukee Brewers.
1977: Walter Payton broke the NFL record for rushing yards (275) in a single game.
Sunday, November 2, 2025
SEASON ENDING
Rochelle’s volleyball season came to a close on Tuesday with a 25-20, 26-24 loss in the Rochelle Class 3A regional semifinals to Sycamore / 20, 22
Rochelle players celebrate a point against Sycamore Tuesday during the Class 3A regional semifinal match at Rochelle High School.
