Rochelle local news summary

Rochelle to Embrace Purple in New City-Wide Branding Initiative

Veteran Officer Elvis Baneski Promoted to Police Sergeant

City Sells Surplus Property for $6,000

New Online Hub Launched to Support Early Childhood Development

1. Rochelle to Embrace Purple in New City-Wide Branding Initiative

ROCHELLE - The Rochelle City Council unanimously adopted a new Strategic Communications Plan that includes a significant change to the city’s visual identity: shifting the primary branding color from red to purple. The move aims to foster a greater sense of community pride and follows years of public feedback, most notably during the recent repainting of the city’s water tower. While the change to purple will be implemented over the next couple of years to accommodate budget cycles for items like signage, the decision marks a major step in refreshing the city’s official image.

2. Veteran Officer Elvis Baneski Promoted to Police Sergeant

ROCHELLE - The Rochelle Police Department celebrated the promotion of Detective Elvis Baneski to the rank of Sergeant during a swearing-in ceremony at the city council meeting. Chief Pete Pavia highlighted Sgt. Baneski’s distinguished career, which began in 2008. During his time in the patrol division, Baneski earned numerous awards for DUI enforcement and is a certified juvenile officer and member of the Rochelle ERT team. Since moving to investigations in 2022, he has become a certified lead homicide investigator. Chief Pavia praised his relentless investigative work, stating, “if you’re going to commit a crime, this is not the guy you want to come after you”. The promotion fills a key leadership role within the department.

3. City Sells Surplus Property for $6,000

ROCHELLE - The council approved the sale of a 0.29-acre surplus property at 1414 Pickwick Drive for $6,000. The lone bid for the R1 single-family residential zoned lot came from Jason and Eryn Harper, who own the adjacent property and intend to use the space for their family. The city had previously obtained an appraisal valuing the property at approximately $25,000. However, because the city utilized a public Request for Proposals (RFP) process advertised online and in the local newspaper, it was not required to sell the lot for 80% of its appraised value. Proceeds from the sale will be directed to the city’s electric fund.

4. New Online Hub Launched to Support Early Childhood Development

ROCHELLE - A new initiative to support local families was presented to the council by the Birth to Five Illinois program. Abby Hoskins, the regional council manager, detailed the launch of the Ogle, Whiteside, and Lee (OWL) early childhood hub—a website designed as a one-stop resource for parents. The OWL hub provides easy access to information on childcare, preschool programs, developmental screenings, and home visiting services. The program also developed a childcare toolkit in partnership with local chambers of commerce to help employers and employees navigate and access childcare resources in the region.

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