The first semester of the 2021-22 school year in the Rochester School District was officially completed last Friday, but the winter break got started with a whole new set of challenges over the weekend. 

The Rochester village board handled a busy agenda at a 65-minute regular meeting Monday, including approval of an ordinance levying and assessing taxes for the village’s corporate purposes for the next fiscal year.

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission, the state’s college access and financial aid agency, is pleased to recognize the 2022-23 Illinois State Scholars.

Rochester Supt. of Schools Dan Cox released the following information to parents Tuesday after the administraton received a bomb threat at Rochester Intermediate School:

The Rochester Police Department is launching into its fourth annual ELFs (Everyday Law-enforcement Friends) Program. The program was designed to help families dealing with financial hardship receive a fantastic Christmas.

The Rochester village board approved the purchase of a new generator for the village’s primary lift station and the health insurance policy for village employees at Monday’s 45 minute regular meeting.

The Rochester 3A District Board of Education held its regular meeting for October last Tuesday night at the RHS Learning Center. All board members and Superintendent Dan W. Cox were in attendance, with Dennis File participating via video conference. 

The Rochester village board needed only 40 minutes to handle a routine agenda at its October 12 regular meeting.

A chicken dinner fundraiser will be held Wednesday, November 3 to support the Rochester Sparks in the Park Celebration.

The Rochester Public Library is hosting the second annual Fall Festival at Rochester Community Park Saturday, October 23 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday, October 24 from 12 to 3 p.m.

The Rochester CUSD 3A Board of Education held its regular meeting for September this past Monday night at the RHS Learning Commons. All board members and Supt. Dan W. Cox were in attendance. 

The Rochester village board approved an ordinance at Mon-day’s 40 minute regular meeting that will mean a major change in the way the village government operates.The board voted 4-1 (Zobrist no, Munroe absent) to approve Ordinance 21-22, which amend-ed the village code to create a Committee …

This year’s Rochester High School Homecoming Parade will be held Wednesday, September 22 at 5:30 p.m. using the traditional parade route.

The Village of Rochester has a population of 3,863 according to the figures recently released by the United States Census Bureau for the 2020 Census.

The annual “Boots vs Badges” community blood drive for ImpactLife will be held Saturday, September 11 in the Rochester United Methodist Church gymnasium from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Secretary of State Jesse White has awarded the Fiscal Year 2021 Illinois Public Library Per Capita and Equalization Aid Grants totaling $18.1 million to 638 public libraries in Illinois.

The 2021-2022 school year in the Rochester School District is underway, and school officials and principals shared some of their early observations at Monday’s regular Board of Education meeting, held at the RHS Learning Commons.

The 2021-22 school year in the Rochester School District begins this week, with the first day of student attendance on Friday, August 13. 

The Rochester village board approved the issuance of a liquor license for a proposed new business as part of a busy agenda at Monday’s 70 minute regular meeting.

Stacia Munroe accepts congratulations from village president Joe Suerdieck after being named the 2021 Rochester Citizen of the Year at Saturday evening’s Sparks in the Park Celebration.

Online registration for the 2021-2022 school year is now open for all students in Rochester CUSD 3A.

The ‘hot button’ issue of the moment for school districts across the state of Illinois, including Rochester, is what will the mask/face covering policy be for students and staff once the 2021-22 school year gets underway in August. 

Tim Sommer was approved as the new Rochester Chief of Police by the village board at a brief 32 minute regular meeting Monday.

After a two-year hiatus, the Rochester Sparks in the Park Celebration will return to Community Park July 29-31.

Rochester High School will have an official enrollment of 793 for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 sports seasons.

The Rochester 3A Board of Education held its regular meeting for June Monday night at the RHS Learning Commons, with the proceedings lasting one hour.

The Rochester village board met for just under one hour at its June 14 regular meeting.

The Village of Rochester and the Rochester Lions Club are again sponsoring the Citizen of the Year Contest to recognize a person making an outstanding contribution to improving the quality of life in Rochester.

The Rochester Public Library Farmers Market will officially re-open starting Sunday, June 6 and will continue every Sunday from 12 to 3 p.m. (rain or shine) through September 26.

Rochester High School graduated 177 seniors at commencement exercises held for the Class of 2021 Sunday evening at Rocket Booster Stadium.

The Village of Rochester has had to change the dates of the 2021 Sparks in the Park Celebration, due to a scheduling conflict with the carnival.

Graduation ceremonies for the Rochester High School Class of 2021 are set for Sunday, May 30, at 7 p.m. at Rocket Booster Stadium. Current indoor gathering restrictions from COVID-19 guidelines have forced a move from the usual site at UIS. 

A Memorial Day ceremony will be held at the Rochester Cemetery Monday, May 31 at 9 a.m. The ceremony will last approximately 30 minutes, and will be followed by a social gathering at the Community Park pavilion. 

The Rochester Board of Education held its regular meeting for May Monday night at the RHS Learning Commons. Superintendent Dan W. Cox and all board members except Kevin Gade were in attendance. 

The Rochester School District is partnering with the Sangamon County Department of Public Health to make COVID-19 vaccines available to the community. 

The “new” Rochester village board held its first meeting Monday, at which the board voted against the continued prohibition of cannabis business establishments in the village.

The Rochester Board of Education held its regular meeting for April last Tuesday night at the RHS Learning Commons, with newly-elected board members seated and outgoing members honored. 

Rochester High School had 23 seniors honored as Illinois State Scholars for 2021-22.

Rochester Superintendent of Public Works James Foster told the village board at its April 12 meeting that the North Walnut Street drainage project has nearly been completed.

The Rochester village board approved an ordinance revising the rates for service for water and sewer in the village at Monday’s 75 minute regular meeting.

Keely A. Williams of Rochester faces three counts of first degree murder and one count of aggravated domestic battery following a stabbing incident that resulted in the death of Joshua Pfeiler, 38, of Rochester.

Incumbents Stacia Munroe and Harry Hendrickson were re-elected to another four-year term on the Rochester village board in Tuesday’s Consolidated Election.

Seven candidates are in the running for five positions on the Rochester Board of Education in Tuesday’s Consolidated Election.

Alex Peddie, a senior at Rochester High School, has been accepted into the Honors College at St. Louis University as a Vice Presidential scholarship recipient. She will be attending SLU next fall studying to become a neuro psychologist.

The Rochester School District is poised for one last learning plan transition for the 2020-21 school year, and it will take place beginning with the week of March 29. 

The Rochester 3A Community Unit School District and the Rochester Education Association have announced a new four-year collective bargaining agreement set to begin July 1, 2021. 

The Rochester village board took action Monday to approve loans for six more local businesses through the village’s Small Business Relief Program.

The Rochester Education Association will host a “Meet the Candidates” forum for school board candidates in the April 6 Consolidated Election Tuesday, March 16 at 6 p.m. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the forum will be broadcast on Youtube and can be accessed at this link: https:// youtu.be/OC…

The Rochester CUSD 3A Board of Education held its regular meeting for February last Tuesday at the RHS Learning Commons.