Sauk Valley News - Shaw Local

Forreston’s Darin Greenfield had six RBIs in a 25-4 baseball win over Eastland, Spencer Nye had three RBIs for Milledgeville, Dixon softball fell in postseason action and more in Wednesday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Junior pitcher Zoey Silva struck out 17 and added four hits at the plate to lead Rock Falls to a 7-2 victory over Winnebago in their Class 2A Oregon Regional semifinal Wednesday night.

The Coloma Township Board will vote on a new budget June 17, which also will outline how it plans to spend the revenue generated by the 43% property tax hike that the board approved at the end of 2025.

An Expression Swing has been added to Dixon's EC Smith Park, which will see more upgrades in the fall. A recent grant will allow the Dixon Park District to dismantle the aging equipment and install a new playground with rubberized flooring.

Dixon’s pedestrian bridge that’s being constructed over the Rock River near Dixon High School has officially been named "Petunia Crossing" after city council members voted Monday to approve it.

Here's a list of Whiteside County property transfers for May 11-15, 2026.

The cost of all-sports passes for the Amboy School District is going up but tech and registration fees for students will remain the same for the 2026-27 school year.

It was fitting that members of the groups who inspired her would be the ones to bring the news. Among the group who told Joyce Schamberger that she had been selected as the 2026 Sauk Valley Community College Distinguished Alumna were members of her family and the community.

Andrea Voss of Lindenwood was recently elected to membership into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

The IHSA girls track and field state finals take place Thursday through Saturday at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. Here is the full list of state qualifiers from the Sauk Valley area.

he Dixon American Legion will have an open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 25. A free meal will be served at noon.

Eighth-seeded Erie-Prophetstown softball led top-seeded Riverdale 3-2 before falling just short in the regional semifinals. Milledgeville and Eastland softball advanced, Dixon and Oregon girls soccer advanced and more in Tuesday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Morrison scored six runs in the second inning and Ava Duncan pitched a six-inning complete-game in her postseason debut as the Fillies won 10-0. The Fillies will face Fulton in Friday's Class 1A Newman Regional final at 4:30 p.m.

Fulton freshman Kerby Germann had the walk-off hit, and Jessa Read pitched a complete game in a 4-3 regional semifinal win at Newman. The Steamers advance to face top-seeded Morrison in Friday's regional title game.

For visitors to Chaplin Creek Historic Settlement in rural Franklin Grove on Saturday and Sunday, World War II history came to life with a two-day reenactment of the Battle of Rome and the breakout from Anzio, two key battles that helped liberate Italy.

This summer, WQPT PBS invites families to join its “Summer of Adventure” tour, featuring guest appearances at library story times and community events throughout the region.

Central College in Pella hosted a Celebration of Undergraduate Inquiry to showcase the many research and creative projects by Central students during the 2025-26 academic year.

Dawn Rath of Mount Carroll achieved 40 years of continued service with the USDA-Farm Service Agency on March 15 in Mount Carroll.

Here is a look at the sectional meets that local boys track and field athletes are competing in on Wednesday and Friday. Dixon is looking for its first sectional title since 2002. Morrison and Forreston-Polo are defending sectional champions.

Dixon junior Owen LeSage is the Sauk Valley Athlete of the Week, presented by Loescher Heating and Air Conditioning. His top throw in the shot put this season is ranked third in Class 2A, and he has seven wins in the event this season. Here is his Q&A.

Sauk Valley Community College held its 2026 commencement Friday on the school campus in Dixon.

Sterling High School held its Class of 2026 graduation on the grounds of Roscoe Eades Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026.

Compton-West Brooklyn American Legion Post 657 will hold two Memorial Day services Monday, May 25.

Megan Hubbard had eight strikeouts and Avery Mangler had two RBIs as West Carroll softball beat Polo 5-3, advancing to face Morrison. Erie-Prophetstown and Amboy softball also advanced, Rock Falls baseball beat Mendota and more in Monday's Sauk Valley roundup.

To get more information about the important part that “smithing” played in the Sauk Valley area, come to the Lee County Historical and Genealogical Society at 7 p.m. Monday, May 25, to hear Greg Dutchoff, a local blacksmith, speak.