Jeff Helfrich
Shaw Local
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Past articles by Jeff:
A Frame Family Greenhouse now open near Oregon
A family near Oregon is putting their green thumbs to work. → Read More
Believe in the Children opens 310 Sibling Home in Forreston
While Patti Jennings was excited to see the new 310 Sibling Home filled with people during its grand opening, she’s still looking forward to filling it next month. With kids in need. → Read More
Oregon mother charged with son’s murder makes first court appearance
An Oregon woman accused of suffocating and killing her 7-year-old son made her first appearance in Ogle County Court Thursday after being arrested Wednesday. → Read More
Oregon mom accused of ‘brutal’ suffocation of her 7-year-old son
OREGON – Seven-year-old Nathaniel Burton was suffocated by his mother in a “particularly brutal” manner, investigators said at a news conference this afternoon. Sarah Lyn (Burton) Safranek, 34, was arrested at her home and charged today with five counts of first-degree murder and one count of aggravated battery of a child, Ogle County State’s Attorney Mike Rock said. → Read More
Mother of dead 7-year-old Oregon boy in jail on murder charge
Arrest information found through Ogle Safe app; news conference today at 4 p.m. → Read More
Blackhawk Hills Regional Council doing free ventilation testing
Free ventilation tests are available to all northwest Illinois businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies through Blackhawk Hills Regional Council (BHRC), the area’s regional planning organization based out of Rock Falls. → Read More
Ogle County continues to see COVID-19 increase
Months ago, the Ogle County Health Department was seeing five new COVID-19 cases per day. Now it’s seeing 20-40, Public Administrator Kyle Auman said. → Read More
K9 Haze joins Ogle County Sheriff’s Office
The Ogle County Sheriff’s Office has a new four-legged member. → Read More
Hydrant flushing in Forreston April 19-23
April 19-23 the Village of Forreston will be flushing and pressure testing hydrants. This could cause loss of water pressure and possible discoloration of water. If doing laundry, please do not wash the white load first. If you notice discoloration, simply running the water for a few minutes will clear the water. There is no contamination when flushing lines. → Read More
Knapp re-elected for third term as Polo mayor
Opponent Randy Schoon has 2 years left on his term as alderman → Read More
Labash wins race for Mt. Morris village president
Phil Labash is Mt. Morris’ new village president following his victory over Gary DeSmedt and Phillip Scheck in Tuesday’s consolidated election. → Read More
Serenity nurse wins Oregon chamber’s first Community Hero Award
OREGON – Years ago, Debra Johnson drove past Serenity Hospice & Home. “I was like, ‘Oh, hospice. My mom had hospice. I’d really like to work there someday,’” Johnson said. → Read More
Mt. Morris meets its village president, trustee candidates
Three running for village president, five for three trustee spots → Read More
Investigation into fatal November fire still ongoing
The investigation continues into the fire that took the lives of a 27-year-old Mt. Morris woman and her unborn son late last year. → Read More
Second alarm brush fire spread quickly in Stillman Valley
A Scott Township fire called about 10 area fire departments to Stillman Valley on Monday, Stillman Valley Fire Chief Chad Hoefle said. → Read More
Fire chief: Mt. Morris mobile home fire not suspicious
Mt. Morris Fire Chief Rob Hough said that a Mt. Morris mobile home fire last week “doesn’t seem suspicious in any way.” → Read More
$10.8 million in renovations planned for Polo school districts’ three buildings
POLO – The Polo School District plans up to $10.8 million in “significant” remodeling projects at all three buildings. The work will be financed through a bond and will not increase taxes, Superintendent Kelly Mandrell said in a letter to district families. → Read More
Better Place Forests officially announces entry to Ogle County
Better Place Forests recently officially announced its entry into Ogle County and 60 acres of forest land along eastern banks of the Rock River. → Read More
Memorial planned for Nathaniel Burton at elementary school
A memorial plaque for 7-year-old Nathaniel Burton is planned for the playground at Oregon Elementary School. → Read More
Byron station response committee updates progress on stopping plant’s closure
The Byron Station Response Committee has been working since last September to prevent the planned closure of the Byron Nuclear Plant, owned and operated by Exelon Generation. → Read More