SLM_Favorite Photos_091125

Thursday-Friday, September 11-12, 2025

Sandy Bressner for Shaw Local News Network

SLM

Members of the Benet Academy cheerleading team compete in the medium team division of the IHSA State Finals on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025 at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington.

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Shaw Media / shawlocal.com • September 2025

FAVORITE PHOTOS

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Our Favorites With over 100 years of cumulative experience capturing every important moment, Shaw Local News Network photographers are part of your communities.

We are there to tell YOUR stories and bring them to life in photos. Here is just a small collection of some of Shaw Local News Network’s favorite photographs from throughout Northern Illinois in the past year.

We hope you love them too!

Alex T. Paschal - apaschal@shawmedia.com

Kayla VanOosten says goodbye to Briar, 6, as he goes into school Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at Washington. Dixon students had their first day of the 2025-26 school year.

Gregory Shaver — gshaver@shawmedia.com

People enjoy the waters of Crystal Lake during the Crystal Lake Park District’s Concert in the Park on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at Main Beach in Crystal Lake. The concert was part of the park district’s weekly Tuesday night summer concert series.

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Alex T. Paschal - apaschal@shawmedia.com

Newman teammates wait to celebrate Daniel Kelly’s first inning home run against Chicago Hope Monday, June 2, 2025, during the Class 2A Supersectional at Northwestern Medicine Field in Geneva.

Mark Busch – mbusch@shawnedia.com

Sycamore’s Faith Heil heads to meet her teammates at the plate after homering Tuesday, April 22, 2025, during their game against Kaneland at Sycamore High School..

Gregory Shaver — gshaver@shawmedia.com

Harvard’s Jarithsie Mercado carries her teammate, Estefany Castro, as they celebrate Harvard’s 7-6 penalty kick shootout win in the Kishwaukee River Conference Girls Soccer Tournament Championship Match over Richmond-Burton on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at Richmond-Burton High School in Richmond.

FAVORITE PHOTOS Shaw Media / shawlocal.com • September 2025

Scott Anderson —sandersonr@shawmedia.com Mark Busch – mbusch@shawnedia.com A bald eagle flies through the air over Lock 19 on the Hennepin Canal on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 near Wyanet. About a 300 foot stretch of the canal remains unfrozen in that area allowing the Well-wishers congratulate Leroy Mitchell Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, following the grand opening celebration for the school that bears his name, Dr. Leroy A. Mitchell Elementary School in DeKalb. eagles to have a healthy habitat.

Shaw Media / shawlocal.com • September 2025

FAVORITE PHOTOS

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Alex T. Paschal - apaschal@shawmedia.com Sandy Bressner for Shaw Local News Network

Members of the Benet Academy cheerleading team compete in the medium team division of the IHSA State Finals on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025 at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington.

Children celebrate Thursday, July 3, 2025, to the music of Evergreen, during Rock Falls Tourism’s 4th of July celebration at RB&W Park. Music, food and of course fireworks kick off the weekend of American independence.

Gregory Shaver — gshaver@shawmedia.com

Theo Malai colors during the first day of school on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at District 300’s Westfield Community School in Algonquin.

Scott Anderson – sanderson@shawnedia.com

Princeton’s Noah LaPorte dunks the ball over Rock Falls’s Cole Mulnix late in the fourth quarter during the Class 2A Sectional final on Friday, March 7, 2025 at Marengo High School.

Scott Anderson —sandersonr@shawmedia.com

Theo Benckendork 2, of Marseilles, kicks a beach ball while having fun during Marseilles Fun Days on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at the Marseilles Community Boat Launch. The festival featured Jimmy Buffett themed music, kids games and a ducky derby. Marseilles Fun Days runs through Sunday with different themed-nights.

5 FAVORITE PHOTOS Shaw Media / shawlocal.com • September 2025

Laurie Fanelli for Shaw Local News Network

Joliet Slammers co-owner Bill Murray enjoys the Joliet Slammers game, which featured the Wiener Drop World Record Attempt, on July 22, 2025.

Scott Anderson —sandersonr@shawmedia.com

Parker Twait hops in a bucket of cold water during the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics on Friday, March 21, 2025 at Serena High School.

Mark Busch – mbusch@shawnedia.com

Rachel Lawson, executive director of Heritage Woods of DeKalb, presents resident Claire Hubele a birthday card signed by other residents Wednesday, July 9, 2025, during a party celebrating her 100th birthday.

Scott Anderson —sandersonr@shawmedia.com Sandy Bressner for Shaw Local News Network

Wheaton Warrenville South graduates throw their caps in the air during the school’s commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 24, 2025 at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn.

Firefighters work the scene of a structure fire in the 100 block of West Cleveland Street on Thursday, May 15, 2025 in Spring Valley. The fire broke out shortly before 8:30p.m. Fire departments from La Salle Bureau and Putnam Counties responded to the scene. A mutual aid box alarm system (MABAS) call was issued prompting the response.

Shaw Media / shawlocal.com • September 2025

FAVORITE PHOTOS

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Mark Busch – mbusch@shawnedia.com

Lemont’s Andrew Guzy (left) and Prairie Ridge’s Nicolas Flaugher go up for a header Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, during their Class 2A state third place game at Hoffman Estates High School.

Scott Anderson —sandersonr@shawmedia.com

Firefighters lift a patient out of French Canyon who fell 20-30 feet on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at Starved Rock State Park. A Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) prompted rope and rescuers as far as Marseilles and Princeton.

Scott Anderson —sandersonr@shawmedia.com

An aerial vew of the crowd that attended the 2025 season opening concert featureing Mae Estes during the “Down on Main Street” concert on Friday, June 20, 2025 downtown Princeton. The free public music series continues July 18 with the Dave Matthews Band. On Aug. 8, the party turns classic with Face 2 Face, a tribute to Elton John and Billy Joel. Sept. 4 brings the groove with Electric Avenue, a dynamic band known for their funk, soul and classic rock covers that get everyone dancing and singing along. The series closes with a festive Oktoberfest celebration on Oct, 18, featuring the lively Heidelberg German Band.

Mark Busch – mbusch@shawnedia.com

The casket of former DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott is brought out of the church by a detail of law enforcement officers Friday, March 7, 2025, following his memorial service at Bethany Road Bible Church in DeKalb. Scott, who was the county sheriff for 36 years, died on February 23 at the age of 78.

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Gregory Shaver – gshaver@shawmedia.com

Rick Hudon controls the puck while skating and and pass a hockey puck with his son, River, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, on Crystal Lake near West Park.

Gregory Shaver – gshaver@shawmedia.com

Keegan Schultz, of Marengo Community Middle School, reacts to misspelling a word as he battles Tyler Kochanski, of Saints Peter and Paul School, for the McHenry County Regional Office of Education’s 2025 Spelling Bee Championship, on Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at Bernotas Middle School in Crystal Lake.

Alex T. Paschal - apaschal@shawmedia.com

Ottawa Marquette’s #22 Griffin Dobberstein celebrates with his team after hitting a solo homer against Father McGivney Saturday, June 7, 2025, during the Class 1A state baseball final at Illinois Field in Champaign.

Scott Anderson —sandersonr@shawmedia.com

LEFT: Eli Gabrys a sixth-grader at Logan Jr. High School, dresses as Dr. Seuss during a live Wax Museum on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025 at Logan Jr. High School in Princeton. Students made poster boards and dressed like their featured character at the event.

FAVORITE PHOTOS Shaw Media / shawlocal.com • September 2025

Sandy Bressner for Shaw Local News Network

Rosary swimmers celebrate their first place win in the IHSA Girls State Championships on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 by jumping into the pool at FMC Natatorium in Westmont.the IHSA Girls State Championships on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 at FMC Natatorium in Westmont.

JHN/DDC/SLM/KCC/MDH/KCR/BCR/TELDG/OST

Shaw Media / shawlocal.com • September 2025

FAVORITE PHOTOS

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