Top Story

Local news
SUBLETTE – Albert Borell isn’t going to be at the Sublette Farm Toy & Antique Tractor Show in its entirety on Saturday and Sunday.
Read more.

AHS March Student of the Month: Brennan Blaine

AMBOY — Brennan Blaine, son of Brian and Amanda Blaine, has been named The First National Bank in Amboy Student of the Month for March.

OSF HealthCare to build new inpatient hospital in Ottawa

OTTAWA – As part of an ongoing commitment to transform, preserve and sustain evolving health care along the entire I-80 corridor, OSF HealthCare plans to build a new inpatient hospital in Ottawa, Ill. 

Amboy Police Officers promoted to full-time

AMBOY – The City of Amboy was in a promoting mood during its Monday, Feb. 19 meeting.

Lee County Farm Bureau works to advance legislative priorities at GALC

SPRINGFIELD – More than 400 Illinois Farm Bureau members gathered in Springfield for IFB’s Governmental Affairs Leadership Conference (GALC) on Feb. 20. Local, state, and national political leaders and legislators met with Farm Bureau leaders from across the state, including six members of Lee County Farm Bureau to discuss IFB’s 2024 legislative priorities.
Obituaries
OBITUARIES
Colleen A. Koch
SHOREWOOD — Colleen A. Koch, 83, of Shorewood, passed away on Sunday, March 17, 2024, at the home of her daughter.
Hazel Lorraine Reuter
EAST GROVE — Hazel Lorraine Reuter, 97, formerly of East Grove, passed away on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at Heritage Square, in Dixon, where she resided the last 12 years. She worked for the Lee County Soil & Water District, retiring in 1994.
Sharon L. Yocum
FRANKLIN GROVE — Sharon L. Yocum, 76, of Franklin Grove, passed away suddenly on Monday, March 11, 2024 at her home.
Ruth Ann Payne
SUGAR HILL, Ga. — Ruth Ann Payne, of Sugar Hill, Ga., and formerly a resident of Schaumburg, IL for many years, passed away Feb. 27, 2024, after a long illness.
David S. Erbes
MENDOTA – David Scott Erbes, 60, of Mendota, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, after a brief illness.
Mary Alice Hardy
AMBOY — Mary Alice Hardy, 79, of Amboy, passed away on Feb. 13, 2024, after facing complications from post-polio syndrome, alongside other health issues. She was born on May 23, 1944, in Dixon, the beloved daughter of Alvin Donald and Margaret (Cooper) Ortgiesen.
Sponsor 1
Community
local news/COMMUNITY
Rep. Fritts honors Candlelight Inn Restaurant for December Local Business Highlight
DIXON – For his December 2023 local business highlight, State Representative Bradley Fritts (R-Dixon) chose to highlight Candlelight Inn Restaurant in Rock Falls.
School events clicking on all cylinders; Electric school buses on the road
AMBOY – The Amboy School Board met in regular session on Thursday, December 14 and opened the meeting with a public hearing on the 2023 tax levy.
Lee County Sheriff’s Office K9 Henry to get donation of body armor
DIXON – Lee County Sheriff’s Office K9 Henry will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.
Gingerbread realty best at FFSB
The First Federal Savings Bank in Amboy won the FFSB Gingerbread House Contest as all branches battled each other for prime Christmas treat real estate. Photo contributed
The Pratt family is known for its volunteering. Katie Pratt (far right) learned from her parents and now shares the love of community involvement with, left to right, husband Andy, daughter Natalie, and son Ethan. George Howe/Amboy News
Meet Your Neighbor: Katie Pratt
AMBOY – It takes a special kind of person to dedicate a good part of their life to help serve others.
Sports
Opinion
Special Sections
Web Extras

When 'k' is not 'okay': Behind the many generational differences in texting

Visible partnered with Stacker and dove into studies to explore what gets lost in texting translation and how generations can understand each other better.

April’s eclipse will mean interruptions in solar power generation, which could strain electrical grids

During the most recent total solar eclipse visible in the U.S., on Aug. 21, 2017, the skies darkened as the Moon crossed in front of the Sun. It blocked out all sunlight – except for that from a golden ring …

How the Academy Awards became ‘the biggest international fashion show free-for-all’

The Oscars are no longer just a celebration of movies. They’ve also become a fashion show, with fans, designers and the media celebrating and critiquing Hollywood celebrities as they stroll, pause and pose on the red carpet of the annual awards ceremony. …

A simple 5-step checklist to install an EV charger at home

Edmunds has a 5-step checklist for homeowners ready to install an electric vehicle charger.