Storm flooding
Posted: Wednesday, Jul 28th, 2010
The weekend storms caused havoc throughout Ogle County, closing roads in several locations. The rising Rock River caused flooding to homes along its banks, pictured at right. Above, the Village of Leaf River was flooded as shown in the picture of Main Street. The Red Cross set up an emergency shelter for residents in the village. (Photos by Don Eubanks ...more

News-Leader announces winners
Posted: Wednesday, Jul 28th, 2010
ROCHELLE -- After scratching off 10 lottery tickets Sunday and concluding that they "never win anything," Tara and Cole Thomas got a nice surprise Monday afternoon.
Their names were drawn in the News-Leader's second annual Florida Vacation Giveaway. The young Rochelle family recently purchased a subscription for the paper and at the same time dropped off their entry form ...more

Vintage flight becomes reality for area woman
Posted: Wednesday, Jul 28th, 2010
ROCHELLE -- Saturday afternoon wasn't just a regular afternoon for Rochelle native Alice Eakle Marks. The 89-year-old airplane enthusiast received the flight of a lifetime Saturday when she was taken on a short ride in a restored Boeing 40-C airplane, one of the company's first passenger airplanes.
Marks grew up in an aviation family near Waterman and eventually moved to Rochelle ...more

Storm damage
Posted: Wednesday, Jul 28th, 2010
Northern Illinois experienced heavy rainfalls this past weekend that caused water to over flow onto some roadways. Pictured above is Rochelle's welcome sign located at the north edge of town. Water from the Kyte River flooded over the bike path and up around the sign. At right, heavy winds picked up a trampoline and landed it in a tree ...more

Officer Rodabaugh enjoys interaction
Posted: Monday, Jul 26th, 2010
How often do you hear someone say "I love going to work?" Rochelle Police Department Officer Aaron Rodabaugh does.
"I love going to work and knowing that I might see something I have never seen before and probably wouldn't have ever seen it if I didn't do this job," he said.
Being a police officer allows Rodabaugh to experience just ...more

The band plays on
Posted: Monday, Jul 26th, 2010
Music. A five- letter word with multiple meanings that brings people of all backgrounds together because of their love for it.
And sometimes they honk their horns because they love it so much!
Every other Wednesday during the summer, you can hear amazing music coming from the west side of town. The Atwood ...more

Regatta returns! Lake Sule is the setting for two days of racing fun
Modified: Friday, Jul 23rd, 2010
ROCHELLE -- Lake Sule will hear and feel the scream of stock and modified racing engines when the Illinois championships return to Rochelle.
Friday will see outboard racing teams from across the Midwest arrive and prepare for a rigorous two days of racing on Saturday and Sunday.
Based on early feedback, a large turnout of boats is expected ...more

Prairie State Coal project half finished, cost estimates up
Posted: Friday, Jul 23rd, 2010
ROCHELLE -- The Prairie State Coal Campus, a multi-billion dollar clean coal plant that Rochelle and its partnering organization have a stake in, is nearly 50 percent complete and cost estimates have risen slightly.
But Rochelle city officials are confident the decision for the city and the Northern Illinois Municipal Power Agency to buy a total of 7.6 percent ...more

Firefighters deliver baby
Posted: Wednesday, Jul 21st, 2010
ROCHELLE -- It was an eventful night for the Rochelle Fire Department and a new mom who did not quite make it to the hospital.
According to Lt. Dave Sawlsville, they were called to a Rochelle residence at about 2 a.m. Tuesday morning for a mother in labor. They arrived shortly thereafter and the baby came within three minutes, ...more

Adult drug court unveiled in Ogle County
Posted: Wednesday, Jul 21st, 2010
OREGON -- New Horizons Adult Drug Court conducted a community information session Friday, July 16 which included an unveiling of the drug court banner.
Following a welcome by Judge Kathleen Kauffmann, Ogle County State's Attorney John B. "Ben" Roe gave a history of the formation of the court.
Roe highlighted his concerns as the county's chief law ...more

Local entities share green space vision
Posted: Wednesday, Jul 21st, 2010
ROCHELLE -- It's difficult to be visionary for an unknown future, some things work and others do not.
The high school, along with other public entities, is looking at a vision that is bigger than each of them separately, but will come together for the betterment of the community.
The board met in regular session to discuss various ...more

Hillcrest passes pet ordinance
Posted: Monday, Jul 19th, 2010
HILLCREST -- The village of Hillcrest took steps to protect its residents from vicious and dangerous animals Wednesday night by passing a new animal ordinance.
The new ordinance is 14 pages worth of definitions and new regulations pertaining to animals that could be ...more

Elementary board discusses new school
Posted: Monday, Jul 19th, 2010
ROCHELLE -- The Rochelle Elementary District school board is talking about replacing Lincoln School again.
At Thursday night's monthly meeting, District 231 Superintendent Todd Prusator revealed that Rochelle had received a grant entitlement letter from the Illinois State Board of Education approving its 2003 school construction application. District 231 is ranked 50th on Illinois' priority list of 82 projects and could ...more

Fashion show of a bygone era featured
Modified: Friday, Jul 16th, 2010
ROCHELLE -- A high-end fashion show is coming to Rochelle, but not fashions of this era.
The Flagg Township Historical Society will host its first fashion fundraiser that will feature men's and women's fashions from previous generations - and even previous centuries. The event will take place Saturday, July 31 at the Rochelle County Club beginning at noon and ...more

Local man receives 19-year prison sentence
Posted: Friday, Jul 16th, 2010
OREGON -- John B. Roe, Ogle County state's attorney, announced Wednesday that Chad Rand, 25, Rochelle, was sentenced to 19 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections following a case of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child.
On Feb. 26, Rand pleaded guilty in Ogle County Circuit Court to Count I -- the offense of predatory criminal sexual ...more

Run and swim
Posted: Friday, Jul 16th, 2010
Second Community Swim Meet will be held on Tuesday
ROCHELLE -- The Rochelle Rays swim team will be hosting its second Annual Community Swim Meet on Tuesday, July 20 at Spring Lake Pool.
Event will be held for swimmers of all skill levels and ages with awards being handed out for every participant.
"Our idea last year was to get ...more