News and updates for the Freeport community from the week of March 7, 2024.

1. Freeport Community Public School Fund gives $75,000 to District 145 educators
2. Freeport Police Department Officers recognized
3. Highlights from Highland Board meeting
4. New VP sought at Highland
5. Aquin and Orangeville girls basketball co-op
6. Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs visits United Way
7. Foundation of NWIL announces scholarship and funding
8. Upcoming Freeport School District 145 events
9. Freeport’s celebrity stylist Kristen Shaw
10. Spencer Tracy Academy Awards
11. Looking ahead…more sports and theatre ahead
12. Northern waterfowl migration begins -- watch for White-fronted Geese and Tundra Swans!

EXTRA: Podcast Deep Dive

After our weekly podcast stories, stay tuned for 5 Questions in 5 Minutes where we ask Robin Rosenstiel and Wanona Wellspring Ceisel, two candidates in a contested Stephenson County Board race, the same questions so you can compare their responses apples-to-apples in just five minutes. Here are the questions:

• What skills would you bring to this office that would make you an effective Stephenson County Board member?
• If elected, what is the most important issue you would want the Board to address?
• Why is this issue important to County residents?
• What steps would you recommend the County Board take to resolve that issue?
• What is one thing that voters may not know about you that you'd like them to know?