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Happy Thanksgiving from the Flagg-Rochelle Public Library
Thanksgiving is a time when families and friends gather to share a meal together. It is a time of fellowship and reminds all of us to think about what we are grateful for.
On Dec. 5, we will be participating in the Outdoor Lighted Parade. After the parade is finished, we will be open for our “Charlie Brown Christmas Annual Open House” until 7:30 p.m. Come to the library for cookie decorating, hot cocoa and fun!
We will be having a hot cocoa and holiday movie day at 1 p.m. Dec. 23.
On Dec. 6 we will host Cathy (Bialas) Fraze. Cathy will be presenting her book, “The Moose in the Willows.” She grew up in rural Rochelle and attended Rochelle Middle School and Rochelle Township High School. Her four children graduated from Rochelle as well. She also worked at May Elementary School as the secretary for several years.
Her grandchildren lent their names to the moose calves in the story. She now lives in Montana and has the privilege of working in Yellowstone National Park every spring. While she was watching a moose and her calf, God gave her the title of her children’s book,
LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
Forreston Public Library hosts
Crafters Corner on Nov. 20
Crafters Corner
Thursday, Nov. 20, 10 a.m. Do you enjoy knitting, cross stitch, jewelry making or any other type of crafting? Join fellow crafters at the library on the third Thursday of each month to make new friends, visit, and share your ideas as you work on your individual projects.
Toddler/Preschool Storytime Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Please bring your favorite little person for a fun, relaxed time of stories, games, crafts and making new
COMMUNITY VIEWS
Sarah Flanagan
“The Moose in the Willows.” It is a beautifully illustrated, educational children’s book. She will have books available for purchase the day of the event.
Hammy, the Rockford Ice Hogs mascot, will be visiting the library that day as a special guest. Library board members will be reading stories. A special Polar Express-themed one-shot Dungeons and Dragons campaign will take place on Dec. 6 from 10 a.m. to noon. This program is geared toward middle and high school students. These are just a few of our holiday programs. Please check our Facebook page or our website for more information.
The Flagg-Rochelle Public Library and the Rochelle Chapter NSDAR is excited to announce a unique opportunity for students to view the American Revolutionary Experience Traveling Exhibit. This exhibit will be on display at the library from Nov. 20-Dec. 17.
This innovative pop-up exhibit
friends as we read through the alphabet!
Polo Drama Club’s ‘Moana Jr.’ to take stage Nov. 22 and 23
Polo Schools will present their fall musical, Disney’s “Moana Jr.” at 7 p.m. Nov. 22 and 23.
Show dates have changed because of the state football championship scheduled for Friday, Nov. 21.
The musical features all the songs from “Moana” you’ve come to love, presented in a breezy format that will leave you smiling. Join Moana as she sails off to a showdown
Stillman Bank roots for the Rochelle High School Hubs football team with its bale, with PVC piping attached to make it look like a helmet. The bale was part of the 2025 Hay Bale Trail in Rochelle throughout October. Cody Cutter ON THE COVER
includes display panels and interactive digital kiosks that use storytelling, illustration, technology and unique artifacts and primary accounts to connect modern audiences with people and places that shaped the birth of our nation.
This is a free program for our community members and is available to view during normal library hours. To schedule a time to visit the exhibit please email or call the library.
Boundless, one of our e-Book platforms, is going to be ending. All books and check-outs from this app will be finished. Our new e-book platform, Palace Project, will be coming by early December 2025. Watch our Facebook page and website for more information. We still have Hoopla available for your digital needs.
Thank you to all of our patrons for what you do to make our library great. Your continued support and generosity enable us to be a vibrant part of this community. See you soon. Happy Thanksgiving!
Sarah Flanagan is the library director of the Flagg-Rochelle Public Library District.
with Maui as she tries to save her island home of Motunui.
The show features actors from all three schools in the district.
The Drama Club-sponsored production will be presented at Polo Community High School’s “gymnatorium.”
Tickets prices are $5 for adults, and $3 for students, children, and senior citizens. All tickets are reserved and tickets will be available at the door.
Ticket reservations can be made by calling the high school office at 815-946-3314.
Shaw Local News Network
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Hey, look at all that Rochelle hay!
When the harvest ends in Rochelle, the creativity begins – and round bales of hay become pieces of art
By CODY CUTTER ccutter@shawmedia.com
ROCHELLE – Despite what they say, hay isn’t just for horses.
Creative people like it, too. Give ’em a few cans of paint and some props and they can turn a hay bale into Hei Hei (pronounced, “hay hay,” of course) the Rooster from Disney’s “Moana,” roosting on the side of the road.
The whimsically fowl fella was one of dozens of hay bale creations in Rochelle, where livestock’s lunch is transformed into an annual citywide show of community spirit each October, when the town becomes a hub of artistic activity.
Rochelle’s Haybale Trail featured hay bales designed by local businesses, schools, churches and community organizations. The trail runs mostly through town, with some bales just outside the city.
This year’s works featured animals, Halloween scenes, support for Rochelle High School Hubs sports teams, cartoon characters, food and other well-rounded creations.
The idea for the agricultural art show started in 2016 when a former Rochelle resident built a Statue of Liberty from straw, City of Rochelle Director of Community Engagement Jenny Thompson said. Since then, it’s just kept on growing.
“We thought it would be fun for the entire community to join in and decorate hay bales, and it really took off from there,” Thompson said. “In the first year we hoped to have around 20 businesses and organizations decorate, and this year we have almost 60. Each year’s creations are better than the year before and it is so much fun to see what everyone comes up with.”
Schoenholz Farms in Paw Paw has supplied the hay for the event for the past five years. The City of Rochelle purchases the bales and drops them off at places that wish to participate during the fall harvest. They are returned to Schoenholz at the end of the month. The people who participate have to come up with their own art supplies.
Hay, there’s a fire in there: The Rochelle Fire Department’s bale turned into a dumpster fire – creatively, that is. The haybales were part of this year’s Hay Bale Trail in Rochelle.
Right now, the art show is just for fun, but city officials are looking at adding a contest component in the future, Thompson said.
“Visitors to Rochelle love to travel around town to see the different creations,” Thompson said. “We have people who come to Rochelle every fall just to see the bales. While they are here, they visit our restaurants and shops and we’re so thankful for that.”
According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, in 2024, an estimated total of 445,000 acres were used for hay in Illinois (260,000 for alfalfa and 185,000 for other hay), producing approximately 1.475 million tons of hay (975,000 tons of alfalfa and 500,000 of other hay). Illinois’ average yield for alfalfa hay was 3.75 tons per acre. The average bale is between four and five feet round and weights between 600 and 1,500 pounds.
Think warm thoughts: As the weather got colder, hot cider became a craving. The Rochelle Area Community Foundation turned its bale flat and added padding that resembles a cup handle and steam. The bale was part of the 2025 Hay Bale Trail in Rochelle throughout October.
Shaw Media took a trip on the trail and took photos of some of the unique bales (more pictures, from this year’s show as well as past years, can be found
on the City of Rochelle’s Facebook page).
Who knows, maybe flipping through the photos below will inspire you to tell yourself, “Hay — I could do that!”
Photos by Cody Cutter
National Rural Health Day at Rochelle hospital:
‘We’re here for
‘The familiarity we have here is a comfort for the patients and their families’
By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
National Rural Health Day is Thursday, Nov. 20. Rochelle Community Hospital is the only facility of its kind in Ogle County and the only hospital in a 30-minute radius of Rochelle.
RCH will be celebrating NRHD, with its Wellness Committee handing out gifts and healthy snacks to employees, who will also take pictures and participate in a contest by providing responses on what rural health means to them.
“I think people that are in rural settings assume everyone knows about rural health care, and people not in rural settings don’t know the difference,” RCH marketing and public relations specialist Kirby Heward said. “It’s about bringing attention to the things that make rural health care important and the need for RCH’s services and how certain things affect us. Some of the comments from staff have been really meaningful. Some of them you can tell research went into them. We want people to start thinking of rural health.”
Since 2011, the annual observance –founded and coordinated by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health – has been held on the third Thursday of November to spotlight the unique health care challenges and strength of the nearly 61 million people living in rural America.
RCH chief human resources officer Denise Bauer said she believes rural health care is personable, caring and consistent.
“We know each other as family, friends and neighbors and that’s how we treat the community that comes in,” Bauer said. “We’re here for people in the community. It’s about access and timing. People can get in for tests quicker here and into our providers and the ER quicker. We have state-of-the-art equipment in our lab and radiology departments. Just because we’re rural doesn’t mean we don’t have up to date services and equipment.”
people in the community’
RCH cardiac rehab RN Lisa Charboneau said rural health means people having access to quality health care regardless of where they live.
“I think we have a great hospital and we provide for the whole surrounding community,” Charboneau said. “There are a lot of people from other areas that drive here because we’re good at being personable. People are a name here, not a number.”
RCH is a critical access hospital, a designation given to eligible rural hospitals by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The designation is designed to reduce the financial vulnerability of rural hospitals and improve access to health care by keeping essential services in rural communities. To accomplish this goal, CAHs receive certain benefits, such as cost-based reimbursement for Medicare services.
Critical access hospitals have 25 or fewer acute care inpatient beds, are located fewer than 35 miles away from another hospital with exceptions, maintain an annual average length of stay of 96 hours or less for acute care patients, and provide 24/7 emergency care services
“In the suburbs, people may have a dozen health care facilities within an hour of them that they can choose from,” Heward said. “That isn’t the way
it is here. There’s a lot of importance there and we want people to understand that.”
RCH is an independent, nonprofit hospital. It employs 347 people. RCH human resources generalist Lorena Hueramo said it’s always easy to find a connection at the facility.
“It’s a happy feeling when someone in our community needs help and they come here,” Hueramo said. “Everyone here helps people find their way in the hallways. That’s always a good feeling.”
Many of RCH’s employees live in Rochelle and receive care for themselves and their family members there.
RCH Employee Health Nurse Kelly
Musselman said having the hospital in the community is a comfort for her.
“It’s knowing that your coworkers are taking care of your loved ones and friends and that they’ll get the care that they deserve here,” Musselman said.
“It’s peace of mind. We are small and you do have those relationships with everybody within the facility. If someone goes to the ER, you know who their nurse was and that they got good care.
“The familiarity we have here is a comfort for the patients and their families. Seeing a friendly face that you know from the community and having that person take care of you makes everyone more comfortable.”
Photos by Jeff Helfrich
National Rural Health Day is Thursday, Nov. 20. Rochelle Community Hospital is the only facility of its kind in Ogle County and the only hospital in a 30-minute radius of Rochelle. Pictured (from left) are RCH human resources generalist Lorena Hueramo, human resources assistant Brenndon Garcia, chief human resources officer Denise Bauer, marketing and PR specialist Kirby Heward and dietitian Janelle Stein.
The front lobby of Rochelle Community Hospital at 900 N. Second St. in Rochelle.
The Rochelle Christian Food Pantry sets all-time record for families served in October
‘It’s scary to know that there are that many people in town with that much need’
By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
The Rochelle Christian Food Pantry at 770 Lincoln Ave. saw an all-time record with 237 families served during the week of Nov. 2-8.
It also set a record in October 2025, averaging 84 families served per distribution day. It has served almost 7,000 families this year, RCFP Board President Cal Jacobs said.
The food pantry is open from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays. People can either pick up boxes or come in and do their own shopping.
On distribution days, cars are often lined up as early as 9 a.m. and occasionally distribution starts early to serve the large number of people in time.
RCFP has seen rising numbers for the better part of two years. Jacobs said he’s unsure of how much of the recent rise can be attributed to people losing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits
“We’ve heard some talk from clients about the loss of SNAP,” Jacobs said. “I don’t know for sure how many SNAP clients we have. I would assume it’s quite a few, but I don’t know that for sure. I’m sure it’s a factor. We have had people come in and say they’re here because they have less benefits.”
RCFP has been able to keep up with the additional demand so far with food supply, volunteers and donations, Jacobs said. Some days, he wonders how the food pantry is able to keep up with numbers that he said would be unbelievable two years ago.
Items that are in the most demand at RCFP are meat, produce and diapers, Jacobs said. On Nov. 14, the food pantry ran out of hamburger meat, which hasn’t happened “in ages,” Jacobs said. If community members want to donate items or money or volunteer, they can stop by the food pantry on its distribution days.
Sixteen volunteers each distribution day have helped RCFP to keep up
with demand. Those volunteers make what the food pantry does possible, Jacobs said.
With the current climate of food insecurity, RCFP has seen an uptick in donations recently, Jacobs said. But that may not be enough to keep up with rising costs, and Northern Illinois Food Bank supplies may not be either.
“Last Friday, we unloaded a truck from the Northern Illinois Food Bank with 14,000 pounds of food,” Jacobs said Nov. 14. “Our cupboards weren’t bare before that, but they were getting pretty close. That was about $7,000 worth of food. We get that twice a month. I’m not sure how we can sustain $14,000 worth of food a month.”
Jacobs called the food insecurity situation “scary,” and attributes it to increases in rent and grocery store prices and decreases in government benefits.
“I’m afraid this is sustainable,” Jacobs said. “I don’t see anything in the near future that is going to turn this situation around. As far as how sustainable it is for this place, we’ll
give until we can’t give anymore. That’s all I can tell you.”
Jacobs doesn’t think that the majority of the community understands what happens at RCFP on Tuesdays and Fridays and how dire the food situation is in Rochelle. He hopes more awareness will be seen, and bring with it donations of dollars and food.
“I wish I knew what the future holds for all this,” Jacobs said. “I wish I knew if we were going to hit a plateau and stay there or if we’re going to just keep on climbing like we have for the last 20 months. If this place wasn’t here, this would be a hurting town. If we weren’t here, there would be a lot of people going hungry. It’s a lot of weight to shoulder.”
Photos by Jeff Helfrich
Amid food insecurity in the community, the Rochelle Christian Food Pantry has broken records for families served in recent weeks, RCFP Board President Cal Jacobs said on Friday, Nov. 14.
The Rochelle Christian Food Pantry at 770 Lincoln Ave. set a record for families served in August 2025, RCFP Board Member Cal Jacobs said Sept. 25.
Hillcrest Village Board: Repairs to be done to Hemstock Road bridge, spring reopening likely
Village will pursue eventual $1 million, 3- to 4-year full replacement of bridge
By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
The Hillcrest Village Board of Trustees heard a report Wednesday, Nov. 12, from Village Engineer Kaitlin Wright of Baxter & Woodman on the recent closure of the Hemstock Road bridge and the work it will take to reopen it.
The bridge was closed by the Illinois Department of Transportation in mid-October. In July, Ogle County inspected the bridge and found that its load rating declined sharply, from a 7 to a 4.
After seeing those numbers, IDOT inspected the bridge in October and determined the steel piles that support it have deteriorated and that it should be closed. The bridge is owned by the Village of Hillcrest. Baxter & Woodman inspected the bridge Nov. 6 and found that all eight steel piles are corroded, with two severely corroded and no longer supporting the bridge.
Wright said Baxter & Woodman is in discussions with Ogle County and IDOT about funding and repair options. The bridge is 50 years old. Wright said the bridge needs to be replaced in its entirety, which would cost about $1 million and take three to four years for funding and construction.
“The bridge has reached the end of its useful life,” Wright said. “The repair that we do will be temporary and you will see other failures in the near future. The recommendation overall is to plan on the entire bridge being replaced.”
In the short term to reopen it, the village will be pursuing a repair of the bridge for $100,000 or less. Village President Rick Rhoads instructed Wright to begin conversations with contractors about a design and repair process. Corroded parts of the two failing steel piles would be removed and then encased in concrete. Wright said that could take around six months, due to concrete work needing to be done in the spring. Inspection and reopening would take place after that.
For the future needed full replacement of the bridge, the village will work with
IDOT long term. Eighty percent of the anticipated $1 million project would be covered by federal funds, Wright said. Hillcrest would cover the remaining amount. The multi-year process would begin soon, with potential funding in 2028 or later, Wright said.
Sewer
Trustees, along with Wright, held discussion on potentially applying for a grant to help pay for the installation of additional sewer service in portions of the village in the future.
Most of Hillcrest does not have sewer service and is served by septic. Trustees have looked at adding sewer service in the past but decided against it due to costs.
The grant, which has not opened yet, could provide up to $5 million in funding if Hillcrest is selected for it, and the amount would depend on the size of the project the village wants to take on.
The village has discussed the idea of running sewer to Hillcrest’s business district on Powers Road in the past, along with running sewer to homes in the southern portion of the village, which is where its oldest homes with the smallest yards are. If sewer were to be run to residential homes, hookup would not be mandatory for residents until the time that their septic failed.
Rhoads instructed Wright to continue pursuing the potential grant on Wednesday, and expressed the desire to be pre-
pared in the future for when residents’ septic tanks fail. Wright said Wednesday that grant funds could cover septic abandonment and hookup costs for residents.
Insurance
The board unanimously approved its yearly insurance policy for a total of $29,586. The village’s total insurance cost saw a 1.6% increase from last year. Its workers compensation insurance decreased from $8,377 to $8,097 and its general liability insurance increased from $16,985 to $17,739.
“I wish I could tell all my insurers that they had a 1.6 percent increase in the past year,” Adam Heal of CrumHalsted Insurance said. “It’s very rare. I thought it was a pretty good renewal.”
Trees
Rhoads said during the meeting that trees along Illinois Route 251 are being removed by IDOT, which owns the trees. Rhoads said Hillcrest had no involvement in the removal of the six dead trees, and the stumps will be removed by IDOT.
Levy
The board unanimously approved its fiscal 2026 tax levy in the amount of $73,063. The increase is less than 5% from last year, which did not require the village to hold a truth in taxation hearing.
Donations
The village will be collecting donations for an “Adopt a Grandparent” campaign to benefit Liberty Village residents for the holidays. Monetary donations and unwrapped gifts can be dropped off at Village Hall at 204 Hillcrest Ave. by Dec. 20. Gift ideas include lap blankets, slip-proof socks, sweaters M-2XL, large print word search books, coloring books with colored pencils, 300piece or less puzzles, wooden puzzles, mini cans of soda, shatter-proof plastic or acrylic tumblers, squishmallows, new release DVDs, and plastic shower caddies.
Photos by Jeff Helfrich
Hillcrest Village Trustees Eileen Braski (left) and Tim Ball (right) participate in a Wednesday, Nov. 12, meeting.
Hillcrest Village President Rick Rhoads participates in last Wednesday’s meeting.
Local Ag in the Classroom program accepts donation from CHS Rochelle
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
The University of Illinois Extension serving Ogle and Carroll counties has received a $1,000 donation from CHS Rochelle to support the Ag in the Classroom program.
The contribution will help expand agricultural education opportunities for local students and educators.
Melinda Colbert, AITC program coordinator, accepted the donation during a check presentation ceremony. The program provides free lessons, activities and resources to schools and teachers, connecting agriculture to their school curriculum.
Ag in the Classroom is a statewide initiative that offers engaging, curriculum-aligned lessons to students from kindergarten through eighth grade. The program aims to deepen understanding of agriculture’s vital role in society and the economy.
Locally, AITC is delivered through the University of Illinois Extension Ogle County in collaboration with the Ogle County Farm Bureau and Carroll County Farm Bureau.
“Supporting agricultural education and investing in our youth is one of the many ways we live out our commitment to stewardship in the communities where we live and work,” said Samantha Zaccaria of CHS Rochelle.
The donation will help ensure that teachers and schools in Ogle and Carroll counties continue to have access to free educational materials, hands-on activities and classroom visits that bring agriculture to life.
Photo provided by Ogle Extension
Ag in the Classroom program coordinator Melinda Colbert accepts CHS Rochelle’s donation check. Pictured are (from left) Mark Zaccaria, CHS; Colbert; Samantha Zaccaria, CHS; and Josh Brandau, CHS.
Newlun named September Rotary Student of the Month at Rochelle Township High School
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
Rochelle Township High School’s Hailey Newlun was recently named the September Rochelle Rotary Club Student of the Month.
Newlun, an RTHS senior, has dedicated 449 hours of Silver Service volunteer work throughout her time at school, earning her the distinguished honor of wearing the silver cord at graduation.
Her efforts span a wide range of activities, including assisting with various tasks at the Creston Library and supporting events such as Art in the Park, the Creston Fire Department Pancake Breakfast, and Creston Booster Days, where she sold tickets, served food and helped children create bracelets.
She has also volunteered at Rochelle Middle School and Creston concession stands, assisted with cleaning the Creston Opera House, helped at the RTHS Art Camp, and provided childcare at the Creston Methodist Church.
“Hailey is known for her willingness to help others – baby sitting, assisting neighbors and friends with chores, and supporting teachers in their classrooms,” an RTHS news release said. “She has also served as a library monitor during her study halls at RTHS.”
Newlun plans to pursue a career in speech pathology and is currently gaining experience by working alongside the speech pathologist at Lincoln School as part of her work-based learning. She is also an active member of the RTHS chapter of Educators Rising, an organization that prepares future educators.
Photo provided by RTHS
Rochelle Township High School’s Hailey Newlun (holding certificateº) was recently named the September Rochelle Rotary Club Student of the Month.
Ribbon cutting celebrates The Fit Hub’s new site
‘Our mission here is to help people with their goals’
By JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com
A ribbon cutting was held Friday, Nov. 14, for The Fit Hub’s new location at 126 state Route 38.
The business serves health-centered drinks including coffee, shakes, tea and more.
The Fit Hub, owned by Josh and Becky Schacht, has been open for nine years and relocated from its previous downtown location.
The expanded new space has been
under construction for the past year and allows for more space to serve customers.
“We have a lot of parking and our systems behind the bar are great,” Josh Schacht said. “It should be really fast for everyone to get their stuff. Our mission since 2016 has always been to help Rochelle become a more healthy and active community. It’s tough to know what food is good for you and what to believe. Here, you can know that everything here is low in calories and high in nutrition, and it’s all going to make you feel great.”
Josh Schacht said The Fit Hub wants its customers to feel welcomed when they walk in and energized after consuming its products.
“We’re excited to be a place like that for Rochelle,” Josh Schacht said. “This is a place people can take advantage of to hit their goals and feel healthy and great. Rochelle has been a wonderful place to do business.”
The ribbon cutting was hosted by the Rochelle Chamber of Commerce and the city of Rochelle. Speakers at the event included Josh Schacht, Chamber Executive Director Tricia Herrera and Mayor John Bearrows.
Herrera said she’s excited about the new space and that a Rochelle business is expanding and adding services.
“This is a great story with Josh and Becky both being local people,” Herrera said. “That’s close to our heart, local people wanting to invest in our commu-
nity where they’re raising their families. Thank you for continuing to be within our community and for being a part of the chamber. We know you guys are very innovative and creative and we will see great things from you at this location.”
Bearrows said The Fit Hub acts as a resource for people in the community looking to improve their health.
“They focus on health and wellness,” Bearrows said. “Our community will be better off because of a business like this. We thank you for not only being in this new location, but staying in Rochelle. You have two partners in the chamber and the city that are here to help you thrive. We look forward to helping you in any way we can.”
Jeff Helfrich
A ribbon cutting was held Friday, Nov. 14, for The Fit Hub’s new location at 126 state Route 38 in Rochelle.
LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
Ogle County 4-H members support community with projects
This season, Ogle County 4-H is leading a community service initiative and inviting residents to be part of it.
Local 4-H members are collecting donations for three causes: supporting local food pantries, bringing comfort to pediatric patients at Serenity Hospice, and creating warmth for patients at OSF St. Katharine Medical Center.
Support local food pantries by helping families enjoy a warm holiday meal by donating canned vegetables, boxed potatoes, stuffing mix, gravy, cranberries, turkeys, hams and other holiday staples. Donation deadlines for Thanksgiving are Nov. 17, Dec. 15 for Christmas, and for post-holiday needs, donations must be dropped off by Jan. 20.
Ogle County 4-H is assembling care packages for children in hospice care. The following items are needed: stuffed animals, coloring books, crayons, colored pencils, markers, pencil boxes, books and cozy blankets. The donation deadline is Jan. 30.
Handmade items bring comfort to patients. Your donations will create warmth for OSF St. Katharine Medical Center. Members are collecting blankets (no larger than 48 inches by 48 inches), quilts, hats and stuffed animals. Templates to make these items and instructions are available from the office. The donation deadline is Jan. 30.
Please drop off any items at the Ogle County Extension Office, 421 W. Pines Road, No. 10, Oregon, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Monday through Friday. For more information or to request templates for handmade items, call 815-732-2191.
Byron Museum to host Festival of Trees, holiday events
The Byron Museum invites businesses, civic organizations, churches and other groups to register for the Festival of Trees. This is an opportunity to share information about your organization, advertise an upcoming event or promote your business. Admission is free; anyone can visit and enjoy the holiday trees on display. This year’s
festival begins Friday, Dec. 5, with the Miracle On 2nd Street, an annual family-friendly event that takes place in downtown Byron. This year the Indoor Market vendors will be set up in the Theater from 5-8 p.m.
Registration and set-up deadline is Wednesday, Dec. 3. For more information on Festival of Trees, call the museum at 815-234-5031 or visit the museum’s website at www.byronmuseum.org to print a registration form.
The display of trees continues through December. Visitors are invited to view the trees during regular museum hours, Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The decorated trees will not be judged but are voted on by the visitors that attend opening night. Stop in to cast your vote for the People’s Choice awards and be a part of the Byron Chamber’s Miracle on 2nd Street.
Indoor market: Enjoy this local shopping opportunity on Friday, Dec. 5, from 5-8 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Vendor booth space is sold out. Market vendors are invited to set up in the
theater before the Festival of Trees begins. Visitors can vote for their favorite trees in the museum and then exit through the market beginning at 5 p.m.
Vendors are offering a wide variety of gifts, baked goods, pickled foods, crafts, vintage quilts, vinyl records, collectibles and coins.
Self-serve gift wrapping: The Byron Women’s Club will sponsor a free self-serve gift wrapping station during the regular indoor market on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Don’t expect mom to wrap her own gift! Stop by Saturday morning for stocking stuffers and leave with your surprises under wraps.
The Byron Museum of History is located at 110 N. Union St. in Byron. It is dedicated to preserving the Byron area’s rich history through exhibits, programs and artifact preservation. The museum complex consists of a large exhibit hall with varied displays and encompasses the historic Read House, which is a listed Underground Railroad site on the National Park Service’s Network to Freedom.
Shaw Local News Network
AFC Community Matters
Revving up what’s idle in Mount Morris
The owners of a Mount Morris bar and grill have put their own touch on a longtime establishment
By CODY CUTTER ccutter@shawmedia.com
A Mount Morris bar may be called The Idle Hour, but it’s been anything but idle for its owners.
Britton and Megan Brooks have been busy during the past year-and-a-half putting their own touch on the longtime establishment, working to turn a community watering hole into an area destination.
The couple bought the business in March 2024, and since then have redesigned its back patio, updated the music stage and sound system and are bringing in more entertainment options from the region – but that doesn’t mean it’s just out with the old and in with the new. They want the changes to complement longstanding events at the bar such as Bingo for Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day, and other events such as Adult Bingo and Adult Prom.
They’re also making sure The Idle Hour still lives up to is name, by giving people a place where they can take a detour from the daily grind and shift out of high gear long enough to park themselves at their bar and enjoy a few idle hours with friends while having a drink and grabbing a bite to eat. The Brookses want customers to feel a sense of connection when they stop by, and hope to draw people not only from Mount Morris but surrounding communities, whether they’re longtime regulars or first-time visitors.
“We’re making it more of a place where more things are going on,” Megan said. “Mount Morris is kind of off the beaten path for most, so you got to give them a reason to come out here.”
The location has been a bar for many decades, and prior to the Brookses owning it, it was owned by local restaurateurs Matt and Jamie Pendergrass, who have several restaurants in north central Illinois, and Maggie and Dave Johnson before that, who named it Maggie’s Idle Hour. While bringing their own touch to the bar, they also kept some of the place’s longstanding features, such
ABOVE: Megan and Britton Brooks have owned The Idle Hour bar and grill in downtown Mount Morris since March 2024. Megan had worked for its previous owners, Matt and Jamie Pendergrass, as bar manager for six years. BELOW: The Idle Hour keeps Mount Morris lively with food, drinks and fun.
as vintage signs from local businesses.
Megan had worked for the Pendergrasses for six years and was bar manager before she and Britton bought The Idle Hour. They had been offered it a couple of times in the past, including during a time right after the coronavirus pandemic when the economy proved to be a challenge in the food and drink industry. Instead, they waited until the time was right for them.
“At first I was interested, but then not really because it was right after COVID since it was such a gamble,” Megan said.
“After life kind of went back to normal, then we discussed it and were like, ‘Should we do it?’ Then we talked with Matt and went through what all we would have to do, and it got the ball rolling.”
Britton, who also has a full-time job, helps out with the kitchen and maintenance, while Megan’s roles at the front of the house haven’t changed much, tending bar four nights a week on top of keeping the books.
The bar features a selection of beer, vodkas, whiskeys, bourbons, and more. Among some of the customer favorites
are rum buckets and the apple pie shot, an apple vodka and cinnamon drink that customers have said tastes like the whole apple pie, crust and all. Megan said she and Britton are looking at coming up with other drinks, such as seasonal ones for fall and winter.
“I’d rather have us know how to
make the basic drinks good and then the one drink on special,” Megan said. “Being here for six years, I’ve got it down to what people want, but we also like to keep ourselves on the trending side.”
Photos by Cody Cutter
And the bar’s hours aren’t just idle; they’re happy, too, with Happy Hour running from 4-5 p.m., with half-price food and drinks
Burgers, wings and wraps are popular items on the menu, which has largely remained unchanged since they took over, having stuck with what’s kept customers coming back to the bar for years. “Most of them are staples from previous owners, and if we got rid of them, I think it’d put us out of business,” Britton said. The chicken tenders are hand-battered and one of its appetizers, the cheese logs, are 6-inch hand-rolled mozzarella string cheese sticks served with sweet chili sauce.
“We’re in the process of trying to make ourselves known for something or another,” Britton said. “Everyone wants to be known for something food-wise for sure. We definitely have the consistency and have worked on improving it with having weekly specials as one of the things that we now do.”
Another fun event that brought engagement to the place was its Downtown Throw Down throughout the summer of 2024. Three of its cooks came up with a culinary creation, and customers voted on which one to add to the permanent menu, which the Brookses plan to redo it in the near future. The winner was the Nacho Mounder Burger – a halfpound beef patty with nacho cheese, bacon and grilled onions on a toasted brioche bun – named as a nod to the former Mount Morris High School “Mounder” mascot. The other selections were a Nashville hot chicken sandwich and a Mac Daddy burger wrap.
The couple hopes being creative and
having fun will keep customers hungry for more.
“We would like to keep doing stuff like this in the future,” Britton said. “It keeps us engaged with the community and our customers more, and we like that.”
Winning money has been another fun way to engage customers, Megan said.
While some bars have a Queen of Hearts playing card raffle, in which winners of each draw select a face-down card to see whether it reveals the queen, The Idle Hour does things its own way, with the King of Spades as its featured card. Unlike other versions of the game, it’s free to play, and the money comes from both the business and the gaming company that owns the place’s six gambling machines.
“I wanted it to be a little bit different,” Megan said. “We’ll have some regulars who’ll get mad if someone who just came in that night and their name gets drawn, and they’re like, ‘But we’re here 14 times a week ...’ You got to have some fun with it.”
Owning a business and making it their own isn’t the only big change for the Brookses. The couple got married in October, and the bar was the perfect place for people to stop by and wish them well and have a celebratory round.
“Everyone’s having a good time here, and that’s what we aim for,” said Megan (née Gassaway). “We’re very happy with our decision to take over.”
The Idle Hour, 115 S. Wesley Ave. in Mount Morris, is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
The kitchen closes at 9 p.m. daily. Find it on Facebook, go to idlehourfood. com or call 815-734-4110 for more information.
Cody Cutter
The Idle Hour in Mount Morris’ chicken strips are hand battered.
Ogle County 4-H honors 98 youths with 2025 Experience Awards
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
Ninety-eight Ogle County 4-H members were honored for their achievements during the 2025 4-H year at club programs this fall.
The 4-H Experience Award allows 4-H members to be recognized for their work in project learning, participation, community service, and leadership. Three levels can be earned: Bronze 4-H Clover Award, Silver 4-H Clover Award, and Gold 4-H Clover Award. All awards will be distributed at the members’ 4-H Club awards banquet.
Bronze 4-H Clover Award winners: These 4-Hers completed at least one experience in each of the four dimensions. These include project learning, participation, community service and leadership: Hayden Capes, Hub Hickory Nuts. Landyn Day, Blackhawk Crossing. Olivia Grobe, Mighty Clovers. Tylar Groth, Summerhill Huskies. Brooke Hammond, Grand Detour Greens. Josie Hammond, Grand Detour Greens. Emily Harbaugh, Hub Hickory Nuts. Misha Jimenez, Blackhawk Crossing. Kaylee King, Mighty Clovers. Nicolette Koziol, Ogle County Clovers. Eli Lotz, Blackhawk Crossing. Haven Marks, Summerhill Huskies. Caleb Newkirk, Mighty Clovers. Zack Newkirk, Mighty Clovers. Sophia Palmer, Mighty Clovers. Gianni Racanelli, Leaf River Soaring Eagles. Luke Rasmussen, Ogle Jolly. Noah Richardson, Ogle County Clovers. James Runte, Pine Creek Valley. Akayla Snyder, Mighty Clovers.
Silver 4-H Clover Award winners: These 4-Hers completed at least two experiences in each of the four dimensions. These include project learning, participation, community service and leadership. Additionally, at least two of those experiences took place at the county, regional, state or national level: Nolan Adams, Ogle Jolly. Bethany Akins, Blackhawk Crossing. Kayden Barndt, Pine Creek Valley. Ella Beran, Grand Detour Greens. Alex Booker, By-Y-Badgers. Isaiah Braffett, Ogle Jolly. Delaney Byers, Summerhill Huskies. Harmony Coy, Blackhawk Crossing. Declan Franks, By-Y-Badgers. Luke
Gehrke, By-Y-Badgers. Jacob Hickman, By-Y-Badgers. Lauren Hickman, By-Y-Badgers. Regan Jimenez, Blackhawk Crossing. Mallory King, Mighty Clovers. Annaliese Koziol, Ogle County Clovers. Edward Koziol, Ogle County Clovers. Leo Koziol, Ogle County Clovers. Hunter Kremske, Blackhawk Crossing. Savannah Marks, Summerhill Huskies. Kolton Motszko, Leaf River Soaring Eagles. Kinsley Ryia, Summerhill Huskies. Owen Smardo, Ogle County Clovers. Hewyt Westfall, Blackhawk Crossing. Adelaide Zimmerman, Blackhawk Crossing. Orion Zimmerman, Blackhawk Crossing. Raiden Zimmerman, Blackhawk Crossing. Gold 4-H Clover Award winners: These 4-Hers completed at least four experiences in each of the four dimensions. These include project learning, participation, community service and leadership. Additionally, at least two of those experiences took place at the state or national level: Kaitlyn Adams, Ogle Jolly. Immanual Arellano, Blackhawk Crossing. Ali Danekas, Pine Creek Val-
ley. Alayna Doane, Mighty Clovers. Bruce Gehrke, By-Y-Badgers. Colton Gehrke, By-Y-Badgers. Shelby Harbaugh, Carefree. Jenna Heller, Grand Detour Greens. Andrew Hickman, By-Y-Badgers. Kodi Hubbard, Carefree. Stellina Lombardozzi, Carefree. Allissa Martin, Carefree. Alyse Rogers, Ogle Jolly. Madisyn Ruthe, Mighty Clovers. Lydia Sherburne, Leaf River Soaring Eagles. Joshua Snow, Blackhawk Crossing. Kathryn Snow, Blackhawk Crossing. David Wehler, Leaf River Soaring Eagles. Heidi Westfall, Blackhawk Crossing. Addison Yordy, Leaf River Busy Beavers.
Cloverbuds are 4-Hers between the ages of 5 and 7. The following Cloverbud members were recognized by their clubs: Camila Bonne, Ogle Jolly. Hannah Braffett, Ogle Jolly. Jude Bruns, Carefree. Bailey Clark, Ogle Jolly. Jordi Collins, Ogle Jolly. Brayden Deuth, Pine Creek Valley. Ellis Deuth, Pine Creek Valley. Rowen Eckerstrom, Ogle Jolly. Andrew Ferris, Carefree. Enoch Groenhagen, Ogle Jolly. Laurel Guinn,
Carefree. Kaiser Hauch, Ogle Jolly. Cora Hosseini, Ogle Jolly. Layla Hosseini, Ogle Jolly. Macklin Hubbard, Carefree. Emilia Janoski, Ogle Jolly. Auden Logan, Carefree. Aniella Lombardozzi, Carefree. William Marks, Summerhill Huskies. Charlotte Meiter, Pine Creek Valley. Benson Miller, Carefree. Lillian Miller, Carefree. Julia Newkirk, Mighty Clovers. Emma Rasmussen, Ogle Jolly. Liam Rittmeyer, Summerhill Huskies. Logan Rittmeyer, Summerhill Huskies. June Robertson, Pine Creek Valley. Harper Rockwood, Pine Creek Valley. Natalya Ruthe, Mighty Clovers. Isaac Ryia, Summerhill Huskies. Finnegan Slattery, Leaf River Soaring Eagles. Allan Smith, Summerhill Huskies.
4-H is an informal youth education program conducted by University of Illinois Extension. University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in its programs and employment. If you need reasonable accommodations to participate in 4-H, contact the Ogle County Extension staff at 815-732-2191.
Photo provided by Ogle Extension
Members of the Pine Creek Valley 4-H Club (Polo) hold up the awards their club received: 4-H Honor Club, Illinois State 4-H Club Award, and Second Place Window Display Contest Award. From left are June Robertson, Aylivia Danekas and Kerrigan Becker.
CYNTHIA J. FRUIT
Born: June 13, 1950 in Fort Hood, TX
Died: November 12, 2025 in Oregon, IL
Cynthia Joyce Fruit, 75, passed away on Wednesday, November 12, 2025 at Serenity Hospice and Home in Oregon, Illinois. Cindy (as she like to be called) was born in Fort Hood, Texas on June 13, 1950 and in 1954 when her mother, Phyllis(Starr), married Howard Schumacher, he legally changed her name to Schumacher. Cindy graduated from Belvidere High School in 1968, having experienced the tornado of 67.
Upon graduation, Cindy worked for the Greater Belvidere Area Chamber of Commerce from 1968 to 1972. She married Curtis Fruit, son of Neilan and Mildred (Johanningsmeier) Fruit, on April 3, 1971 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Belvidere, IL. Cindy and Curt moved to the small town of Lindenwood, IL where they made their home for the remainder of their days. From 1972 until her retirement in
RICHARD MOSIMANN
Born: February 1, 1936 in Rochelle
Died: November 14, 2025 in Rochelle
Richard Mosimann, age 89 passed away on Friday, November 14, 2025. He was born on February 1, 1936 in Rochelle, IL, the son of Walter and Mildred (Justis) Mosimann.
Richard served in the United States Army. He is preceded in death by his parents, two sisters: Velda Mosimann and Delores Wellman; niece, Susan C. Leffler, nephew, David M.
2010, Cindy worked for several companies. They included DeKalb-Ogle/Contel/GTE/ Verizon telephone companies in the Rochelle, DeKalb and Sycamore areas, Kysor of Byron, Auto-Meter in Sycamore, Parkside Warehouse in Rockford, and Manpower. Cindy retired in 2010 from Verizon where she had accumulated 24+ years with the telephone companies.
Cindy was very much community and church-minded. Community wise - she was Lynnville Township Clerk for eight years, served as secretary for the Lindenwood Cemetery Association for almost 20 years, served several years as treasurer of the Ogle Country View Homeowners Association, and was the secretary-treasurer of the Lindenwood Memorial Day Committee for over10 years.
Church wise - Cindy and Curt became members of the Esmond United Methodist Church around 1984 and she was involved in many of the church committees and positions. Cindy served as the church treasurer from 1996 until 2025. Cindy started the Church’s Fall Bazaar in 2012. Cindy and Curt were also the church’s representatives on the Hub Cluster Board, where she served as treasurer for over 10+ years. After her retirement, Cindy also
Wellman, and two nephew in laws: G. Timothy Stiens, and Franklin Leffler.
Richard is survived by his two nieces, Diane Stiens and Jan Wellman, seven great niece and nephews: Jennifer (D.) Schallert, Jamie (Mike) Taylor, Caryn (Coman) Streid, Ashley (Dennis) Wellman-Morris, Kevin (Rose) Stiens, Damian (Greer) Stiens, Charles Stiens, and 7 great great-nieces and nephews: Oliver, Wilhelm, Garren, Aryanna, Logan, Raven, and Andreas. Visitation will be from 10:00 A.M.- 11:00 A.M. on Friday, November 21, 2025 at the Unger Horner Funeral Home, 400 N 6th St., Rochelle. Funeral Service will follow at 11:00 A.M. on Friday. Burial at Trinity Memory Gardens in Rochelle. Please visit www.ungerhorner.com to sign the online guest book.
volunteered her time at Serenity Hospice and Home in Oregon.
Besides working a 40 hour week - Cindy accompanied Curt and the kids when Curt did his tractor pulling “thing”, attending many NITA and ITPA tractor pulls. Cindy and Curt (and their kids), along with Curt’s brother and his family started “Pulls by C Pullers”. This was a pedal pull operation that put on kids and adult pedal pulls at county fairs and local town festivals for 20 years. It started out as just a hand full and before long more pulls were added each summer, ending up with over 40 pulls during the summer months. During these events, we met many great people who followed us with their children.
Cindy is survived by her husband, Curt, of 54+ years; her son, Chad (Jessica) grandchildren: Gavin and Addison Fruit, two step grandchildren: Alaina and Logan Kuligowski and daughter, Crystal Fruit with two granddogs -Tucker and Taffy. She is also survived by her brother, William (Debbi Weber) Schumacher and sister, Cheryl (Brad Richmond) Crabtree, along with her two sons: Kristopher (Ashley) and Ryan (Liz); brother-in-law, Wayne Fruit and his two sons: Ronald (Nicole) and Dean (Joyce). She is
predeceased by her parents. Special thank you to all who have been involved with this journey over the last year, especially Cindy’s dear friend and neighbor Cathy Pearson, who offered to help never realizing how long this would last. She was our God send! Thank you to the doctors, PA’s and nurses at UM Madison Urology and Infectious Disease Departments for the exceptional care, along with the exceptional people who have worked through OSF Home Health and Serenity Hospice and Home.
Visitation will be held from 2:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. on Sunday, November 16, 2025 at the Unger-Horner Funeral Home, 400 N 6th St., Rochelle. Funeral service will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Monday at the Esmond United Methodist Church with Pastor Dave Rogula officiating. Burial will follow at the Lindenwood Cemetery. There will be a luncheon after the burial at the Lindenwood Fire Department. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Serenity Hospice and Home, the Lindenwood Cemetery Association Operating Fund or Esmond United Methodist Church (Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes). Guest book at www.UngerHorner.com
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
ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION School Business Services 217-785-8779
ANNUAL STATEMENT OF AFFAIRS FISCAL YEAR ENDING June 30, 2025
SCHOOL DISTRICT/JOINT
AGREEMENT NAME: Kings Cons SD 144 DISTRICT TYPE
RCDT NUMBER: 47-071-1440-03 Elementary X
ADDRESS: 100 FIRST STREET KINGS, IL 61068 High School
COUNTY: OGLE Unit
NAME OF NEWSPAPER WHERE PUBLISHED: Rochelle News Leader Joint Agreement
ASSURANCE
The Annual Statement of Affairs has been posted on the district's website and published in accordance with Section 10-17 of the School Code no later than December 1. (Put “X” in blue box if yes.) Yes X
SIZE OF DISTRICT IN SQUARE MILES 44
NUMBER OF ATTENDANCE CENTERS 1
NUMBER OF CERTIFICATED EMPLOYEES
12 PART-TIME 0
NUMBER OF NON-CERTIFICATED EMPLOYEES FULL-TIME 6 PART-TIME 5 TAX RATE BY FUND
OTHER OTHER
The ASA must be posted on the school district’s website and published in a newspaper of general circulation no later than December 1, 2025. Refer to Section 10-17 and Section 10-20.44 of the School Code.
Data previously included in the Annual Statement of Affairs can be found at:
Payments to certified personnel Posted on district website per 105 ILCS 5/10-20.47 Student Counts Included in district’s report card Illinois Report Card
Financial Data Included in district’s Annual Financial Report posted on ISBE’s Cerberus Server
SALARY SCHEDULE OF GROSS PAYMENTS FOR CERTIFICATED PERSONNEL AND NON-CERTIFICATED PERSONNEL
Salary Range: Less Than $39.999; Crumley, Patricia; Eldred, Amy; Hall, Kerri; Henry, Emily; Hintzsche, Janette; Kacvinsky, Chad; Moreno, Patricia; Nason, Tracy; Pearson, Mary; Wood, Douglas Salary Range: $55,000 - $74,999; Horn, Jodi; Pelka, Richard; PAYMENTS TO PERSON, FIRM, OR CORPORATION OVER $2,500 EXCLUDING WAGES AND SALARIES
Blue Cross Blue Sheild 137,918; BMO Harris Bank 49,626; C&C Plumbing 2,816; Comed 27,983; Common Goal Systems 4,754; Conserv FS 9,277; Constellation NewEnergy 4,846; Delta Dental 13,397; EMS Linq 5,335; Frontier 6,023; GFC Leasing 12,004; Tammy
Greene 3,750; Helm 9,154; IL Municipal Retirement Fund 28,228; IL School District Agency 29,946; Kohl Wholesale 15,988; Matt Lamb 3,308; Maylissa Nalley 3,750; Melissa Ost 4,072; Muller-Pinehurst 5,044; Newkirk and Associates 8,750; Northern Illinois Disposal
2,564; Ogle County Education COOP 135,997; Rochelle Township High School 8,528; Specialty Floors 20,930; Stratus Networks 7,149; TRS 67,781; THIS 10,889; Veterans Construction IL LLC 2,920; Workers Compensation 7,361;
PAYMENTS TO PERSON, FIRM, OR CORPORATION OF $1,000 TO $2,500 EXCLUDING WAGES AND SALARIES
Central States Bus Sales 1,141; Countryside Professional Land Service 2,146; Erate Elite 1,350; Gordon Flesch 1,021; IL Association of School Admin 1,008; IL Association of School Boards 2,062; L-K Electronics 1,031; MGD Water Solutions 1,400; Mobymax Education 1,662; Rochelle Elementary District 231 2,500; Rochelle Janitorial Supply 2,055; Rochelle News Leader 1,171; ROE 47 1,163; Staples 1,308; Timberman Tree Service 1,100; Xello 1,700;
REPORT ON CONTRACTS EXCEEDING $25,000
AWARDED DURING FY2025
In conformity with sub-section (c) of Section 10-20.44 of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/10-20.44], the following information is required to be submitted in conjunction with publication of the Annual Statement of Affairs [105 ILCS 5/10-17].
1. Total number of all contracts awarded by the school district: 0
2. Total value of all contracts awarded:
3. Total number of contracts awarded to minority owned businesses, female owned businesses, businesses owned by persons with disabilities, and locally owned businesses:
*If there are no contracts of this nature, please enter “0” in box to the right.
4. Total value of contracts awarded to minority owned businesses, female owned businesses, businesses owned by person with disabilities, and locally owned businesses:
*If there are no contracts of this nature, please enter “0” in box to the right. $0.00
Byron’s Dawson Criddle fights off IC Catholic’s Grant Bowen during 3A quarterfinals at Byron High School on Saturday, Nov. 15. The Tigers won the game 28-6 to advance to the state semifinals.
• TIGERS
Continued from page A22
A 26-yard pass from Lang to Bowen in the final minute of the half put IC in the red zone again. A holding penalty and three incompletions stalled the drive.
“We should have been up 17-0,” IC coach Bill Krefft said.
Byron’s only error of the first half was a fumbled pitch attempt by quarterback Andrew Talbert that stopped a drive at IC’s 20. That didn’t faze the shifty signal-caller, who baffled the Knights defense with his running ability.
Talbert intercepted Lang late in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
“I was in deep coverage and read the guy’s slant,” Talbert said. “We are so prepared because we have the best coaches in the state.”
On Byron’s opening possession of the second half, it was Talbert getting outside for a 30-yard run to key a 13-play, 78-yard
scoring drive. Aken scored from 5 yards out to make it 14-0, with David Cunningham making his second of four straight PAT kicks in the windy conditions.
Gracious in defeat, Krefft did not use the wind as an excuse for his team’s struggle to pass.
“All the credit goes to Byron,” Krefft said. “They executed better than we did. We’ll learn from this and get better.”
With 7:40 left and the wind at his back, Lang scrambled and passed his way to a 80-yard scoring drive for the Knights. It was Bowen catching an 11-yard pass for the TD. Byron lineman Kade Politsch blocked the extra-point attempt to keep the score at 14-6.
After losing the bulk of a big and powerful line, it was the 6-foot-2, 230-pound Politsch leading the Tigers newcomers.
“We knew coming in they were bigger than us, but we’ve made a big jump this year,” Politsch said. “Small town 3A football isn’t a joke. The Catholic League has to respect us. An advantage for us is hav-
ing the best community and coaches in the state. That creates a built-in bond.”
With the overflow crowd at Everett Stine Stadium on edge after IC’s score, it was Criddle calming everyone’s nerves on the very first play after the kickoff by breaking loose for his long touchdown and a 21-6 Tigers lead.
“That was a great team we beat,” Criddle said.
Criddle led all players with 120 yards on 13 carries. Kekstadt hit 100 yards on 15 attempts.
After Talbert’s interception, Aken ripped off his long gainer, almost identical to the outside counter of Criddle’s.
“Coming in, I felt we could run the ball,” Boyer said. “I really like the physicality we showed and am proud of the team as a whole.”
Byron will hit the road Saturday for a 2 p.m. game with former Big Northern Conference foe Richmond-Burton in the state semifinals. R-B owns a 2-0 edge in the playoff series.
Continued from page A22
2000, it always was 4A, winning state titles in each classification.
Don’t expect Richmond-Burton to make the same mistakes as IC did against Byron, which included six penalties for 55 yards, three dropped passes, one interception, a missed field-goal attempt and a shanked punt.
In a testament to smart ball, the Tigers were not flagged once.
Although IC had several critical penalties, credit to coach Bill Krefft for complimenting the officials in a postgame interview.
Though private schools often get criticized for alleged advantages over the publics, I have found their head coaches to be super good guys over the decades of my dealings with them.
Byron and Richmond-Burton isn’t the only big game in our area. The atmosphere at the Lena-Winslow and Stockton 1A semifinal promises to be as electric as anything in the state.
My favorite football fields usually are at 1A schools, unlike the larger more sanitized stadium venues. Give me a place in a small rural town with a cornfield next to it and an unfenced area to stand alongside the sideline or end zone.
After having seen Lena-Winslow play in person this year, I don’t know how anyone in 1A can beat it.
Yes, I know Stockton took it to them already, but doing it again is a different story.
• Andy Colbert is a sports writer for Shaw Local covering high school sports in Ogle County.
Continued from page A23
goal to win the game, he’d make it.
Santos just snuck the kick inside to the left to secure his team another improbable win.
“It was just guys always coming back and stepping in to make big plays for us,” Santos said. “The offense driving down and trusting me to be in that position again. I just had full confidence that I was gonna put that ball through and then find a way to bounce back from a previous miss.”
That confidence is something the Bears have had for most of this season. Chicago used it to beat both the Las Vegas Raiders and Washington Com -
manders after late-game heroics. It continued during their current three-game winning streak.
The winning started in Week 9 when Chicago came back in the final minute to beat the Cincinnati Bengals. It continued last week when the Bears did it again, this time against the New York Giants.
So when McCarthy threw that go-ahead touchdown in the final minute Sunday, the Bears didn’t waver and think about last season’s heartbreaking losses or even go back to Week 1. Instead, they had the confidence that someone would make a play that led to a win.
“I think we’ve proven a number of times this year that one of these phases are going to come through for us,” Johnson said. “Cincinnati game, offense was
kind of carrying the banner that game. I thought defense did a really good job today. They’ve done that through the course of the season for the most part. Special teams comes through for us when we really need it today, so we cycled around on who’s stepping up to the plate and bringing us the win. I think that’s what good teams do.”
Despite the win, there was a sense of a missed opportunity. Johnson had wanted his team to develop a killer instinct and put teams away when they had the chance. Instead Sunday, Chicago let another team come back to force a dramatic win.
Developing that will be an important step. With a 7-3 record, Chicago is right in the middle of the playoff mix with seven games left in the season. Accord-
ing to Tankathon, the Bears have the toughest strength of schedule the rest of the way.
Bears players have the belief that someone will step up when the time comes, no matter how dire the situation seems, even against better teams. They’d just rather not let it come down to the unlikely.
“I don’t want to find out,” safety Kevin Byard said. “But at the end of day, I know as a team and who we are as team, we’re going to take you to battle and play all 60 minutes. Last year we were losing a lot of those games. This year is flipped. That’s the difference between being a good team and being a bad team is, those one or two plays here and there to be able to finish the game off.”
Earleen Hinton for Shaw Local News Network
Roman Villalobos, Rochelle Hubs ready to defend Interstate 8 title
Returning state qualifier aims for first state medal as RTHS seeks fourth straight conference championship
By RUSS HODGES rhodges@shawmedia.com
The Interstate 8 Conference wrestling title runs through Rochelle. The Hubs have won each of the last three conference championships and seniors like Roman Villalobos, a returning IHSA state qualifier, intend to keep it that way.
“This group is almost like our football team,” said Villalobos, who led the Hubs to a 6-4 record and a trip to the Class 4A state playoffs this season. “A lot of younger guys are going to step up in their first varsity atmosphere. We have a lot of guys coming in fresh and we have to get them ready. This season, we’re working on getting better every day and being disciplined.”
Rochelle opened the 2025-26 wrestling season with its first practice on Nov. 10. The Hubs, who went 21-7 and 5-0 in the Interstate 8 last year, are replacing three state medalists including two-time state runner-up Xavier Villalobos, Roman’s older cousin. Grant Gensler and Kaiden Morris, who each won a school-record 49 matches last year, have also graduated from the roster.
“I was talking with some of our seniors and I told them that it’s really important for them to make their mark,” Rochelle coach Alphonso Vruno said. “This team’s identity is to be a better dual team than it was last year, which is saying something, but I’m interested to see what the team looks like in a tournament setting. My focus with them was: Can you bring home a fourth consecutve conference title and can you get it done at a regional?”
The Hubs bring back an experienced senior class headlined by Villalobos, a three-time sectional qualifier who broke through to the state tournament last year.
Freddie Hernandez, Brenden Voight, Keagan Albers and Deegan Schabacker, all seniors and previous sectional qualifiers, are back in action as well. Rochelle will host Dixon and Burlington Central on Tuesday, Nov. 25.
“Our goal is to win a regional and possibly get to a sectional and team state,” said Villalobos, who won two matches at the state meet last year. “For me, a lot of things I worked on that helped me get to where I was were being
patient and staying calm. Earlier on, when I was an underclassman, I would panic and get exhausted. Staying calm is one of the biggest things in wrestling.”
Juniors Josh Lassiter and Hadley Losoya, along with sophomore Aidan Lopez, are three more names to watch for as the Hubs progress through the 2025-26 season. Takedowns and bonus points have been keys to success for the Hubs, who are 139-51 since Vruno took over the program from Rich Harvey in
2018. Improvement from the bottom position will be a focus this winter.
“We’re going to look to score points on our feet, get first takedowns and capitalize on our opponent’s mistakes,” Vruno said. “We’re going to be tough on top and try to pin people... If we’re going to make it to the next level, we have to improve on bottom. That’s a huge area we can improve on. If we’re going to be the best in the state, then we have to learn to get away.”
Brian Hurley for Shaw Local News Network
Rochelle’s Freddie Hernandez (left), who is in the 113-pound championship bout against Dixon’s Jack Ragan at the Class 2A Dixon Regional on Feb. 8 at Lancaster Gym in Dixon, is one the returning seniors for the Hubs’ squad.
Byron handles IC Catholic to advance to semifinals
Richmond-Burton is next up at 2 p.m. Nov. 22
By ANDY COLBERT for Shaw Local News Media
In a 28-6 win over IC Catholic Prep in the Class 3A state quarterfinals, undefeated Byron did something teams all season failed to do – shut down the vaunted Knights’ passing attack.
Byron defensive coordinator Sean Considine said it was months in the making.
“We knew we’d be playing IC as far back as the summer. That’s when we started planning our pass defense against them,” the former NFL player said. “We used a zone pattern match, and the kids really executed. And when the quarterback scrambled, we were still in position.”
IC quarterback Nate Lang, with more than 2,000 yards passing this year, never
a 4-yard Considine score.
“I couldn’t be more proud,” Sean Considine said. “I’m fine with small gains (16 rushes for 72 yards), especially with the way Dawson and Kole ran.”
Both teams were effective in moving the ball in the first half, but the only score was a 1-yard TD by Caden Considine in the second quarter to end a 16-play drive. It was made possible by a roughing the punter penalty.
“That was huge,” Byron coach Jeff Boyer said. “This game was closer than the final score.”
got into a rhythm and was plagued by dropped passes. The Knights (8-4) did not score until four minutes were left in the game.
“We didn’t execute and made too many mistakes,” Lang said. “The difference in the game was they didn’t make mistakes.”
Another difference was someone other than all-state running back Caden Considine making big plays on offense for Byron. In the second half, Dawson Criddle had a 66-yard touchdown run, and Kole Aken had a 60-yarder to set up
The Knights had plenty of chances in the first half, but were decimated by mistakes, starting with a dropped potential TD pass on the first drive. The next possession (14 plays) saw running back KC Kekstadt gaining the bulk of the yardage and Grant Bowen keeping things alive with a sideline grab on fourth-and-14, but a 28-yard field-goal attempt was no good.
See TIgERS on page 19
Byron’s quarterfinal win is testament to ‘smart football’
As I was surveying the scene on the football field after Byron defeated Immaculate Conception Catholic Prep in the Class 3A quarterfinals, it was more reminiscent of a state title celebration.
Players, coaches, parents, fans and students shared in the joy of the monumental win over the Chicago Catholic League nemesis.
For others, like myself, the final result answered what had been a mystery. Just who was the better team –Byron or IC?
The scoreboard read 28-6, a result only the most optimistic of optimistic Tiger fans would have predicted. That is a wider margin of victory than what three football semifinalists had against IC in the regular season.
Still alive in 5A, Wheaton St. Francis lost to IC 35-28. Nazareth Academy in 6A beat IC 24-21, while 7A semifinalist Chicago St. Rita beat IC 38-21.
Let that sink in for a while. Small rural 3A Byron with a larger point differential than those larger Chicago area powerhouses. Is that a mystery in itself?
The lowest point total in a game that IC had all year was 21. And that was against schools two, three and four times larger than it. How was it that IC could only muster a single TD against Byron?
Not just IC but the rest of the Catholic League may be wondering that themselves. This wasn’t a fluke either as the Tigers previously have demonstrated the ability to rise to the occasion against private schools.
I’ve always been a connoisseur of smart football, with little patience for dumb penalties, missed assignments and mental errors. The Chicago Bears are one of the most egregious offenders over the decades.
In watching Byron, it was readily apparent that it avoided these pitfalls
while IC fell prey to them. I especially was impressed with the pass defense employed by Sean Considine, whom head coach Jeff Boyer calls the best defensive coordinator in the state.
Considine had his players in the right spot to either prevent receivers from being open or limit QB scrambling. Compared with other defensive schemes against IC in regular-season games I watched online, Byron’s was a masterpiece.
The Knights were able to pick up yards on the ground, but their strength lies in an aerial attack and that is where they were stymied. As Considine told me, they had been preparing for IC since this summer.
I love that attitude more than standard “coachspeak” of taking opponents one week at a time. If Byron would have waited until the week of the game to concentrate on IC, its chances of winning would have been drastically hindered.
Besides, the Tigers were assured of blowing every team out other than Dixon or maybe Du-Pec. Wise thinking
focuses on the bigger picture and for Byron that is taking every step possible to win a state title.
After the game, former coach Kevin O’Neil told me that Byron may have established itself over Rochester as the premier public school team in the state. I can’t argue that, though Wilmington might.
When you are an elite program, your goals are different than nearly everyone else who is content to win conference or make the playoffs. For Byron, the master plan for winning state is months in the making.
Mission accomplished. Byron, you deserve to party like it was a state title victory, because it sure felt like it.
However, unlike the past two years when Byron-Montini was the de facto championship, there is another roadblock in the way. Richmond-Burton has an outstanding team, having destroyed everything in its path, other than Coal City, whom they beat 24-20. It may have been by a narrow margin, but it was a
See COLBERT on page 19
Earleen Hinton for Shaw Local News Network
Byron linemen Dalton Norris (53) and Braiden Hammes (54) celebrate after the Tiger’s 28-6 win over Elmhurst IC Catholic in 3A quarterfinal game on Saturday, Nov. 15, at Byron High School.
Andy Colbert SPORTS VIEWS
Bears’ trust leads way to third straight late-game win over Vikings
By MICHAL DWOJAK mdwojak@shawmedia.com
For some reason, Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams felt he needed to say something before Sunday afternoon’s game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Specifically, to Devin Duvernay.
It kind of seemed off at the moment. The two had sometimes exchanged encouraging words when they’d see each other before a game. But they didn’t have a ritual of sharing words of encouragement beforehand to prepare for a game.
Yet for some reason, Sunday, just before kickoff, Williams felt he needed to tell Duvernay something. Williams wanted to let Duvernay know that he’d make a big play for the team that day.
Sometimes life has a funny way of working out.
Duvernay changed the Bears’ fortune when it seemed like their luck had run out Sunday. He made a pivotal play in the final minute that helped Chicago win 19-17 on a last-second field goal.
“Today just felt like the day and I told [Duvernay] before the game,” Williams said after the game inside U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. “[It] ended up kind of working out that way.”
It came close to not working out at all. Chicago seemed to have a stranglehold on Sunday’s game heading into the fourth quarter when it led 16-3 heading into the fourth quarter. But like their Week 1 season-opener, where the Bears blew a fourth-quarter lead against the Vikings, that grip quickly loosened.
Minnesota scored a touchdown to make it a one-score game with just over 12 minutes left in the game. After Chicago’s offense couldn’t put the game away, Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy seemed poised to complete another fourth-quarter comeback against his hometown when he threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to Jordan Addison with 50 seconds left in the game.
Then Williams’ prophecy came true.
When Duvernay saw green space on the following kickoff, he didn’t over -
think it. He sprinted from his left to his right and followed his blocks until he was pushed out of bounds at the Minnesota 40-yard line.
“Let the game come to you,” Duvernay said of the moment. “Because I feel like I’ve been in positions earlier in my career when I was trying to force things to happen. That doesn’t always work out. So just let the game come to you. Sometimes you’ll get played, sometimes you won’t. So just let it come to you and the rest will fall into place.”
The rest did fall into place. Chicago picked up two yards on two runs before running back D’Andre Swift ran it to the Vikings 31 to force fourth-and-1. Bears coach Ben Johnson decided to let the game clock run down to four seconds to set up the game-winning 48-yard field goal attempt.
Bears kicker Cairo Santos had prayed for the moment. Santos had missed from 45 yards earlier in the fourth quarter, which put his team in a
hole. But Santos felt confident that if he got an opportunity to attempt a field
Photos by Matt Krohn
ABOVE: Chicago Bears place kicker Cairo Santos (8) celebrates after kicking the game-winning field goal against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday in Minneapolis. BELOW: Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) passes during the first half against the Vikings.
SPORTS
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
1961: Houston Oilers QB George Blanda passes for 7 TDs in 49-13 win over N.Y. Titans.
2019: LeBron James is first player to get a triple double against all 30 NBA franchises. Wednesday, November 19, 2025
WRESTLING PREVIEW
The Hubs have won the last three I-8 Conference titles and senior Roman Villalobos, a returning IHSA state qualifier, intends to keep it that way / 20
Rochelle’s Roman Villalobos is a returning IHSA state qualifier.
