We don't write papers, we build scrapbooks
We don't write papers, we build scrapbooks
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The Senior Resource Center is proud to announce the tremendous success of its Medicare Open Enrollment Assistance Program. During this year’s enrollment period, October 15 – December 7, the SRC provided personalized assistance to 408 older adults, helping them navigate the complexities of Medicare and select the plans best suited to their needs or make changes to their coverage for the following year. Thanks to this vital program, local seniors achieved total savings of nearly $193,000 on their healthcare costs. That averages to $473 savings pe...
Join a thriving team of compassionate people who make a difference in the lives of others. Hospice focuses on living fully to the end of life by providing care and support to patients experiencing a life-limiting illness. SSM Health at Home hospice volunteers are an important part of the hospice team as they assist in providing companionship for patients and respite for families as well as support in the office. Volunteers are placed in areas where they are most comfortable and can use their gifts and talents to help others. SSM Health at Home...
The notification was sent to us by Freeport City Council member, James Monroe. And … well, we’ll let you read it for yourself first. On December 23, 2025, a coalition of concerned Freeport residents delivered 40 pages of petition signatures to the Stephenson County Circuit Court, seeking to place a referendum on the April 1, 2025, consolidated election ballot. The petition calls for the city of Freeport to adopt a Mayor-Council form of government, replacing the current City Manager system. Sou...
8 is behind us, and we look forward to the many things 2025 might bring to our local coverage. But our first issue of 2025 also means it is time to take one last look back at the previous year to determine – what were the biggest stories in 2024 that we covered? 10 Broshous Trial Delays Stephanie Broshous of Stockton was supposed to go to trial in Stephenson County for allegedly stealing money from the Lena Park District a long time ago, but the nature of our legal system has left a lot to b...
Monroe area families welcomed 433 bundles of joy into the world at SSM Health Monroe Hospital in 2024. When looking at the most common names given to these sweet new family members, parents most chose Lainey, Eleanor and Lydia for girls. For boys, the most top names were Mavrick, Oliver, Michael, Jordan, Elias and Caleb. Emma and Colt topped the hospital’s list of popular baby names in 2023. While SSM Health Monroe Hospital’s Family Birth team is busy caring for families year-round, December saw the highest number of birthdays, with 44 lit...
The Daily Drawing is a drawing for 365 daily cash prizes from October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025 to those donating for a ticket. Over $22,500 is paid out to ticket holders during the drawing year. Cash prizes vary between $50 and $500. A ticket may win multiple times as each ticket remains in the drawing each day for the entire year, no matter how often it may be drawn. Sponsoring organizations from Jo Daviess, Carroll & Stephenson County include: Caring Community of Elizabeth, East Dubuque Music Boosters, Eastland Music Boosters, E...
Final Step for Minimum Wage Increase Starting January 1, the final step in the phased-in minimum wage increase that began in 2019 under Senate Bill 1 (P.A. 101-0001) will take effect. The new $15 per hour rate applies to workers aged 18 and older, ensuring higher wages for many Illinois residents. Expanded Consumer Protections Senate Bill 3342 (P.A. 103-0976) mandates that state and local governments provide public notice at least 24 hours before applying pesticides in public rights-of-way...
Stephenson County Sheriff, Steve Stovall, pushed for his special Crime Suppression Unit when he first took office. And while money was limited, he was still able to persuade the County Board to approve enough money to get the program started with two deputies hired specifically to handle the special assignments. "The plan was to stop being reactionary to crime, and try to be proactive," Stovall explained. "This unit went through special training to help address the major increase in crime we...
The Foundation for Northwest Illinois is proud to announce its partnership with Compeer Financial in the Rural Collaboration Project, an initiative designed to bolster rural vitality across the Midwest. The Foundation is a recipient of a $50,000 grant from Compeer Financial, and combined with The Foundation's commitment to a dollar-for-dollar match, $100,000 will be used for rural vitality efforts throughout the region. $25,000 to the Greater Freeport Partnership for BASE Camp which serves Stephenson County $25,000 to Northwest Illinois...
On Saturday, December 14, Senator Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport) is partnering with the Friends Forever Humane Society in Freeport for a Pet Adoption Fair. Visitors at the event will be able to interact with pets available for adoption and enjoy half-price adoptions for cats. “People searching for the perfect pet do not need to look any further than their local animal shelter,” said Chesney. “Rescued pets are so grateful when they are adopted, and they make wonderful companions.” Senator Chesney’s Pet Adoption Fair Saturday, December 14 12:00 Noo...
It kind of goes without saying, but a comparison of the Stephenson County Board and the Freeport City Council is an example of just how extremely different our local government can be. Both held a meeting last Monday night, but the differences between the two are in a word ... staggering. The County Board needed to elect a new County Board Chairman, Vice Chairman, and assign members to their respective committees – all of them a standard process that takes place after each election. Drama was e...
The Stephenson County Fair, scheduled for July 22–26, 2025, is introducing exciting changes to bring big entertainment for everyone while delivering significant value. Gate Admission Now Includes General Admission Grandstand Access For 2025, fair admission will be $10 per person. While this is a small increase from previous years, it includes a major new benefit: general admission to the grandstand is now included in the gate price! This change marks the return of a tradition not seen in over 3...
For the average visitor, a five-minute drive through the Village of Lena will establish its identity as a football community. But the folks who live there know it's about so much more. Sure, the handmade Panther Football signs lining the streets serve as a love letter to a team that has brought home six Illinois 1A championships since 2010, punched consecutive tickets to state since 2019 and enter each season fielding questions about their chances of adding to the trophy case. Nobody...
The Slurp & Burp in Loran had to appear before the Stephenson County Liquor Commission last week for a hearing regarding possible violations. From the outset, it was apparent that the establishment was in trouble as their attorney, Anthony Coon, opened up his argument by saying, "The licensee comes before you today with open arms. We know there will be consequences, but we're looking to cooperate and prevent any future violations." The hearing was in the form of a court trial. With the three...
The Senior Resource Center is pleased to announce its upcoming monthly outreach events in Jo Daviess County. The events will take place: · December 5 – Warren Community Building – 110 W. Main St., Warren. · December 12 – Hanover Township Park District – 500 Fillmore Street, Hanover. · December 19 – Stockton Township Library – 140 W. Benton Ave., Stockton. · December 26 – West Galena Township Building – 607 Gear Street, Galena. The outreach is designed to provide personalized assistance to senio...
The Daily Drawing is a drawing for 365 daily cash prizes from October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025 to those donating for a ticket. Over $22,500 is paid out to ticket holders during the drawing year. Cash prizes vary between $50 and $500. A ticket may win multiple times as each ticket remains in the drawing each day for the entire year, no matter how often it may be drawn. Sponsoring organizations from Jo Daviess, Carroll & Stephenson County include: Caring Community of Elizabeth, East Dubuque Music Boosters, Eastland Music Boosters, Elizabeth C...
Following an incredibly successful IPASS on Demand event in Rockton earlier this month, State Senator Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport) is bringing a mobile team from the Illinois Tollway to Freeport for an IPASS event on December 2. "The Tollway is transitioning away from plastic transponders and are replacing them with new sticker technology," said Chesney. "Rather than having my constituents complete this transaction at the DMV or elsewhere where there may be a fee, I am bringing a mobile team...
Residents of the Gladewood subdivision along the Yellow Creek were seeing their main road continue to deteriorate, but when they went to the City of Freeport to see when the road was going to be redone as part of the expansive Freeport Road projects schedule that is expected to last for several years, the answer they got was one that nobody expected. “It’s not a Freeport City Street,” said City Manager Rob Boyer. “It’s a private street, so any and all repairs and maintenance are the responsib...
They’re trying. The Freeport City Council is making an honest attempt to make their meetings more productive, even though that attempt is being twisted by the mental minority as an attempt to “shut up” the voices they don’t want to hear, and stop members from, “asking questions”. The situation had gotten well beyond being out of control. The last two finance meetings were never held because Council members simply decided not to show up – even though the meetings are mandatory – leaving no quor...
Fatal Traffic Crash On 11/10/24 at approximately 11:40 pm, Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office personnel responded to the area of Illinois Route 26 North and Winneshiek Road in rural Freeport for a cellphone crash detection alert. Upon arrival, responding deputies discovered a scene involving a head-on collision between a semi-truck tractor/trailer and a 2005 Dodge Neon. The results of the preliminary investigation indicate that the 2005 Dodge Neon, driven by a 35 year old Freeport man, was traveling southbound on Illinois Route 26 in the n...
Four FFA Chapters from Jo Daviess County worked together to pack 15,000 meals on November 7th in conjunction with "Meals from the Heartland." FFA members from Galena, River Ridge, Stockton and Warren worked together to pack the non-perishable meals which will be donated to food centers, schools and refugee camps where they are needed the most. Meals From the Heartland began in 2007 as a way to help those who are food insecure meet their basic human needs. They packaged and donated over 21...
While the major networks were following the national elections, we had some local races of interest many people were interested in. Results from contested races in the Village Voices circulation area were: Stephenson County County Board District C R-Todd McKenna 912 D-Casey Jacobs Anthony 907 County Board District D R-Dale Diddens 1696 D-Jim Hart 1427 County Board District E D-Lynette E. Williams 1449 R-Curt Coplien 1338 County Board District F R-Larry Jogerst 2170 D-Robin Rosenstiel 737 Jo...
It would be hard to find anyone in the region who didn't know how big the Queen of Hearts raffle has gotten at the Little John's Tap in Pearl City. With jackpots over $200,000 it has often seen very large crowds just trying to get in to buy a ticket, let alone the massive size of the crowd when it comes time to do the drawing on Thursdays. But over the past week or so, the popular raffle has sparked a ton of anger and questions that led to a flood of phone calls for us to "look into" it, and at...
When I first heard about the proposal to put field turf on the Lena-Winslow football field, I thought it was a bit over-the-top. Then when I heard the 1.2 million dollar price tag – I was honestly getting ready to write all kinds of things blasting the idea. I mean, yes, Lena has the premier football program in all of 1A football, but does that merit a huge amount of tax dollars to put field turf on the field? I mean, should Lena-Winslow have a turf field when the Bears don't? But then I did m...
To the credit of Mayor Jodi Miller and the legal counsel for the City of Freeport, they tried to reign in the idiots. Attorney Roxanne Sosnowski opened the meeting by pointing out that according to their own ordinances, council members could only speak twice on a subject, and could only speak the second time after everyone who wanted to, had the opportunity to speak the first time. It was a rule that was already on the books, but had been overlooked … until now. And while the effort to reign i...
