Earleen Hinton

Rain caused a delayed start for the annual Let Freedom Ring parade in Mt. Morris on Saturday, July 4, 2026, but that didn't matter to the spectators who turned out for the colorful event. The festival's ringing of the official Illinois Freedom Bell was held precisely at 1 p.m. despite the rain.

Amy Anthenat (Photo provided by Ogle County Sheriff's Office) An Ogle County judge denied a Creston woman's efforts on Wednesday, July 7, to

A vocalist for Second Hand News, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band, encourages the crowd during the Jamboree concert on Friday, July 10, 2026 in downtown Mt. Morris. (Earleen Hinton)

A keyboardist and vocalist for Second Hand News, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band, performs during the Jamboree Concert Series on Friday, July 10, 2026, in downtown Mt.

Shane T. Hooper, 41, is charged with the Class 2 felonies of possession of a stolen vehicle and driving on a revoked driver’s license following a June incident in Rochelle

The Ogle County Judicial Center is located in the 100 block of South Fifth Street in Oregon, Illinois. ( Earleen Hinton )

Two-hundred and fifty vehicles took part in the 35th Hib Reber Memorial Car Show in Byron on Saturday, July 11, 2026.

Record set as 250 vehicles turn out July 11 for 35th Hib Reber Memorial Car Show in Byron.

Oregon Police Chief Matt Kalnins (right) shakes hands with Oregon Detective Sgt. Kevin Most before presenting him wth an Outstanding Service Pin on

An “Emergency Protest” organized by Indivisible of Ogle County, the local chapter of the Indivisible Project network, was held at 6 p.m. July 14 on the east side of the Ogle County Courthouse Square in Oregon as temperatures remained in the mid-90s with heat indexes near 100.