Heath A. Knipple, 46, was charged July 2, 2025, with six counts of Class X felony dissemination of images of child sex abuse, with each count listing the victim as younger than 13. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison if he is convicted.

Here's a list of Lee, Whiteside and Ogle County property transfers for April 13-17, 2026.

E-P's Ava Grawe hit two home runs, Fulton girls track took second at Oregon's Landers-Loomis Invitational, Sterling softball beat Eastland, E-P track won at home, Fulton baseball beat Rock Falls and more in Friday's Sauk Valley roundup.

The event will be from 4:30-6 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, at the city of Sterling’s Council Chambers.

A Lee County sheriff’s deputy was honored Thursday for controlling the bleeding of an Amboy man’s partially amputated leg at the scene of a Feb. 12 single-vehicle crash near the Green River.

Sterling residents will be paying more for garbage and sewer as of May 1 and the city will see a major downtown street project later this year.

Cledy’s House of Hope, a women’s sober living home, is holding a community update meeting from 6-7 p.m. May 13 at the Rock Falls Community Building.

Millie, the Sterling Police Department’s comfort dog, and her handler, Community Service Officer Mary Toth, were recognized by the Sterling City Council on Monday for the work they do and the comfort they provide.

Newman’s Brenleigh Cook had a two-run walkoff hit in a 9-8 win over Hall. Dixon and Sterling softball won, Rock Falls and Newman baseball won, Dixon girls soccer won and more in Thursday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Dixon took advantage of 12 walks, six errors and Layne Vannoy pitched a gem in relief as the Dukes won 16-6 at Oregon in Big Northern Conference action. Eli Kirchoff led Dixon with four RBIs.