Citizen’s Police Academy
Posted: Tuesday, Mar 9th, 2010
Left, Dixon Police Department officer Jeff Ragan and K-9 Bobby visited the Rochelle Police Department Citizen's Police Academy class Thursday night. Bobby, a Vizsla, joined the Dixon P.D. in November 2005 and serves as one of two K-9 units. Officer Ragan talked to the class about the duties he and Bobby perform, including drug searches and even missing person searches ...more

RTHS students find joy in volunteering
Posted: Tuesday, Mar 9th, 2010
ASK a Rochelle Township High School student how he or she spent the day at school-- the answer might surprise you. Last Wednesday, students packed and shipped 24,192 meals to Haiti.
About 24 students involved in that effort are still riding what advisor Linda Wegner refers to as, "the helper high; that exhilaration gained from doing good work."
Feed My ...more

School board looks to lessen blow
Posted: Tuesday, Mar 9th, 2010
ROCHELLE -- The Rochelle Elementary School Board reached a general consensus to keep budget cuts slightly lower than the ones laid out in "Option Three" during a special meeting Wednesday night at Rochelle Middle School.
Option Three, which was unveiled during February's board meeting, entailed cuts in the $1 million range. It now appears the district will target a reduction ...more

An introduction to the 2010 Census
Posted: Friday, Mar 5th, 2010
ROCHELLE -- The foundation of our American democracy is dependent on fair and equitable representation in Congress. In order to achieve an accurate assessment of the number and location of the people living within the nation's borders, the U.S. Constitution mandates a census of the population every 10 years.
The census population totals determine which states gain or lose ...more

Local seniors get fit with new program
Posted: Friday, Mar 5th, 2010
o Fitness class offered through
Kishwaukee College, Hub City Senior Center

ROCHELLE -- Kishwaukee Community College, in cooperation with the Hub City Senior Center, offers a health and fitness program for seniors at the taught by Lynn Bastuk.
The program, held at the center, helps seniors maintain their current level of physical function, including flexibility, strength, and ...more

VCCT to take stage in “Little Shop of Horrors” production
Posted: Friday, Mar 5th, 2010
ROCHELLE -- Thespians in the Vince Carney Community Theater are getting ready to hit the stage next week in the production of "Little Shop of Horrors."
The musical comedy is about a blood-seeking plant that takes over a Skid Row flower shop. The plant, named Audrey II, grows into an ill-tempered, singing carnivore and eventually reveals itself as an alien ...more

Three counties involved in chase
Posted: Wednesday, Mar 3rd, 2010
DEKALB -- A DeKalb County Sheriff detective was injured Monday while conducting a traffic stop in the Evergreen Trailer Park in rural Sycamore. The suspect vehicle had earlier been pursued by Winnebago, Ogle and DeKalb County Sheriff deputies, however, the pursuits had been terminated for safety precautions.
Later, the DeKalb detective observed the occupied vehicle in the Sycamore trailer ...more

Man pleads guilty to sexual assault
Posted: Wednesday, Mar 3rd, 2010
OREGON -- A Rochelle man pleaded guilty to sexual assault and sexual abuse charges Friday in Ogle County court.
On Friday afternoon, Chad Rand, 23, of Chicago, formerly of Rochelle, pleaded guilty to one count predatory criminal sexual assault of a child less than 13 years old, a Class X felony, and one count of aggravated criminal sexual ...more

Look Good ... Feel Good” program dates set for area cancer patients
Posted: Wednesday, Mar 3rd, 2010
ROCHELLE -- Dates have been set for the "Look Good ... Feel Good" program to help local cancer patients cope with the effects of chemotherapy and gain self confidence. Area women battling the disease are encouraged to attend.
The program is offered through a partnership of Xpressions Salon, the American Cancer Society and Rochelle Community Hospital. "Look Good ... ...more

Three Angels Children’s Relief donations head to Haiti
Posted: Monday, Mar 1st, 2010
ROCHELLE -- A semi-trailer truck loaded with relief supplies for the people of Haiti arrived in Florida this week -- the result of generous donations from the community to a fund set up through the Monfils family for the Haiti-based Three Angels Children's Relief.
The truck, loaded with medical supplies, blankets, sheets, clothes, shoes, food, water, diapers, baby items, ...more

Craven joins Ogle County Juvenile Justice Council Board
Posted: Friday, Feb 26th, 2010
OREGON -- Rochelle Township High School Superintendent Richard J. Craven was recently appointed to the Ogle County Juvenile Justice Council's Executive Board.
The Juvenile Justice Council is a group of concerned individuals, county officials and community-based agency representatives that deal with issues concerning juvenile delinquency. Its purpose is to promote cooperation and coordination between juvenile court and agencies to ...more

K-9 Don on scene, reporting for duty
Posted: Friday, Feb 26th, 2010
Rochelle Police Department recently named its new K-9 handler officer Emily Anderson as the department welcomed its newest member of the force last week, K-9 Don.
Anderson, who has been with the department since 2006, said she is thrilled about her new role as handler.
"Being a K-9 handler has always been a dream and goal of mine, and ...more

County board approves purchase of equipment
Posted: Wednesday, Feb 24th, 2010
OREGON -- Ogle County Board members voted 18-2 in favor of a resolution concerning audio/visual equipment to be used for the county board room in the old county courthouse.
The resolution - 2010-0208, will allow the purchase of audio/visual equipment to be put in the county board room at a cost of $63,601. The resolution was one of two that ...more

City staff hope for citizen participation in upcoming census
Posted: Wednesday, Feb 24th, 2010
ROCHELLE -- The Rochelle City Council heard an update about the progress of the city's goal to get full participation from residents in the upcoming 2010 census during their Monday night meeting.
Community Development Director Chris Limas explained to the council that the 2010 census uses the short 10-question form to collect only basic information such as age, gender, ...more

Hub Theatre reopens with new look
Posted: Wednesday, Feb 24th, 2010
ROCHELLE -- A fresh coat of paint, some new furnishings and new management can go a long way for a business. That's what the new manager of the Hub Theatre, Skip Freitag is betting on.
Freitag, who's been working for the downtown theater for about six months, said he's hoping to turn the theater around and continue to make ...more