Stillman Valley High School graduate Dariusz Warzocha has overcome a Chronic Leukemia diagnosis to fulfill his dreams of serving as an EMT and firefighter and establishing his automotive videography company, ZOKA Media.

Byron Middle School saw a brief lockdown on Wednesday morning after a report of a person carrying an item resembling a gun case was made by a student, Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle said.

The 16th annual From the Heart Gala & Auction was held Saturday, Feb. 3 at the hangar at Flight Deck Bar & Grill in Rochelle. The event saw 311 people attend and raised a record $90,000, breaking its previous mark of $80,000 in 2023.

On Friday, Feb. 2, a groundbreaking ceremony was held by the City of Rochelle and New Directions Housing Corporation at 405 Lake Lida Lane in Rochelle for The Grove, a new family housing complex. 

Rochelle Community Hospital Fitness Center Assistant Katherine Slattengren has been working her way back from a recent triple bypass heart surgery at a familiar place: In the RCH Cardiac Rehab program in the hospital’s fitness center, where she works.

Gov. JB Pritzker announced Jan. 30 that two Ogle County entities received grant funding through the Open Space and Land Acquisition Development grant program. Nearly $55 million in state grants were awarded for 111 local park projects throughout Illinois to help communities acquire land and develop recreational opportunities.

Ogle County now has its own dedicated United Way branch, after a merger took place about a year and a half ago, United Way of Ogle County Executive Director Ashley Richter said. 

Kennay Farms Distilling in Rochelle has collaborated with The DeLong Company and its Grown Climate Smart program to showcase the use of sustainable grain in its spirits. 

In August 2021, Nolan Turner of Rochelle suffered a C5/C6 incomplete spinal cord injury in a car accident. Turner has spent the past year practicing and competing in wheelchair rugby.

At the most recent Oregon City Council meeting held on Tuesday, Jan. 23, it was more about discussion items than the city’s business at hand.

Following a jury trial on Jan. 18 at the Ogle County Courthouse, a Hillcrest man was found not guilty of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, Eric Arnquist of law firm Tess, Crull & Arnquist, said.

Area fire departments responded to a report of smoke at a greenhouse facility in Hillcrest on Friday evening, Rochelle Fire Department Lt. Jason Underwood said Saturday. 

At its monthly meeting Tuesday, the Ogle County Board heard a presentation made by the Ogle County Economic Development Corporation and unanimously approved the commitment of $100,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act Funds to the newly-formed organization.

January is National Blood Donor Month, and Rochelle Community Hospital and the Rock River Valley Blood Center are working to raise awareness to increase donations amid a nationwide and regional blood shortage. 

Ogle County livestock farmer Brian Duncan of Polo was elected the new president of the Illinois Farm Bureau during the organization’s annual meeting in Chicago, Dec. 2-4.