Charlene Bielema, Sauk Valley Media Journalist Profile

Articles

Local news and sports for northern Illinois, since 1851

1 week ago | shawlocal.com | Susan Sarkauskas |Katlyn Smith |Charlene Bielema |Michelle Meyer

April 17, 2025 NewsHigh School SportsBearseNewspaperEvent CalendarWeekend PlansShaw Local Radio The exposure marks the eighth incident of staff hospitalization from drug exposure at the Thomson facility in the past 15 months Northwest Herald The Herald-News Illinois Valley Friday Night Drive Sauk Valley News - Kane County Daily Chronicle Bears Kendall County Now Suburban News The Herald-News Daily Journal word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word...
Sterling home declared a total loss after Thursday night fire

1 week ago | shawlocal.com | Charlene Bielema

STERLING – A fire at a Sterling home Thursday night destroyed the house and led to the death of the family’s dog. Sterling and Rock Falls firefighters, CGH EMS and Sterling police were dispatched at 9:38 p.m. Thursday to 1305 Griswold Ave., Sterling, for a reported structure fire. Milledgeville and Dixon Rural firefighters also were dispatched. According to a news release, the firefighters who arrived first on scene found heavy fire coming from the front of a single-story residential home.
Barlow is April student of the month at Amboy High School

2 weeks ago | shawlocal.com | Charlene Bielema

AMBOY — Carson Barlow, a senior, has been selected April student of the month at Amboy High School. He is the son of Ann and Derrek Barlow and has three siblings: Brandon Barlow, Carley Hagemann, and Brittany Barlow. What class do you find really engaging and why?: The class that I find most engaging is calculus. Dinger, who has been my teacher for the past three years of math, has taught me a lot of not just math, but also life advice.
Barlow is April student of the month at Amboy High School

2 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Charlene Bielema

Apr. 9—AMBOY — Carson Barlow, a senior, has been selected April student of the month at Amboy High School. He is the son of Ann and Derrek Barlow and has three siblings: Brandon Barlow, Carley Hagemann, and Brittany Barlow. What class do you find really engaging and why?: The class that I find most engaging is calculus. Dinger, who has been my teacher for the past three years of math, has taught me a lot of not just math, but also life advice.
Dixon man sentenced to 10 years in prison for selling meth

2 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Charlene Bielema

Apr. 8—DIXON — A Dixon man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to delivering methamphetamine. James L. Ballard, 47, pleaded guilty April 3 in Lee County Circuit Court to delivery of methamphetamine, between 15 and 100 grams, a Class X felony, and was sentenced to 10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Ballard was charged July 1, 2024, after a search warrant served one day earlier at 320 S.
Dixon man sentenced to 10 years in prison for selling meth

2 weeks ago | shawlocal.com | Charlene Bielema

DIXON – A Dixon man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to delivering methamphetamine. James L. Ballard, 47, pleaded guilty April 3 in Lee County Circuit Court to delivery of methamphetamine, between 15 and 100 grams, a Class X felony, and was sentenced to 10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Ballard was charged July 1, 2024, after a search warrant served one day earlier at 320 S.
Judge: State police must video record consumptive DNA, blood testing in Rock Falls stabbing case

2 weeks ago | shawlocal.com | Charlene Bielema

MORRISON — A Whiteside County judge has issued an order directing the Illinois State Police to video record blood and DNA testing carried out at the state crime lab in Rockford in connection with a Rock Falls fatal stabbing case. Whiteside County Circuit Court Judge James Heuerman made that decision Friday, April 4, in response to a motion from defense attorney Jim Mertes, who is representing Kyle C. Cooper of Rock Falls.
Rock Falls house fire sends two to hospital, state fire marshal investigating

2 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Charlene Bielema

Apr. 7—ROCK FALLS — Two people were taken to the hospital after a fire broke out Sunday night at their Rock Falls home. Rock Falls and Sterling firefighters and CGH EMS were called at 9:37 p.m. to 222 Ave. D in Rock Falls for a reported structure fire with a possible explosion. According to a news release, the first crew arrived at 9:43 p.m. to find fire coming out of several windows of the one-story, single-family structure.
Rock Falls house fire sends two to hospital, state fire marshal investigating

2 weeks ago | shawlocal.com | Charlene Bielema

ROCK FALLS — Two people were sent to the hospital after a fire broke out Sunday night at their Rock Falls home. Rock Falls and Sterling firefighters and CGH EMS were called at 9:37 p.m. to 222 Ave. D in Rock Falls for a reported structure fire with a possible explosion. According to a news release, the first crew arrived at 9:43 p.m. to find fire coming out of several windows of the one-story, single-family structure.
Sterling High School selects Heckman as a student of the month

2 weeks ago | bnd.com | Charlene Bielema

STERLING - DaVonte Heckman, a senior, is a student of the month at Sterling High School. He is the son of Jenna Heckman. What class do you find really engaging and why?: AP Biology science classes have been my favorite classes throughout all my school years and I get along with my science teachers the best. What we learn in it is useful for what I plan to study in college. What are your career and post-graduation plans?