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🌱 Rock Falls holiday decorating contests open, with business deadline Friday
Rock Falls, Illinois Patch AM: a 4 min readGreetings Rock Falls! We’re your go-to source for what’s happening in town. Read on to get plugged in! ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- Rock Falls holiday decorating contests open, with business deadline Friday
- A closer look at Rock Falls' firefighter pension finances
- What changed hands in Rock Falls' latest property transfers
Today's riddle: What are the two sides of a circle? 🤔 (Answer below!)
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- Wednesday: A couple of showers; cooler, with a high of 56 and low of 38 degrees.
- Thursday: Mostly cloudy; windy, cooler, temps: high: 45, low: 30.
- Friday: Breezy in the morning, with a high of 43 and low of 25 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Rock Falls Tourism Announces Winter Wonderland Decorating Contests (theradar.online) — Rock Falls businesses have until November 13 to register for the city's holiday decorating contest, while residents can enter their outdoor displays through December 8. Home entries need a completed form and nighttime photo emailed to travel@visitrockfalls.com, with awards recognizing themes, lighting and extravagant displays. 
2. Rock Falls firefighters retirees paid $730,906 into their pension fund and have collected an estimated $4.0 million (rockislandtoday.com) — Rock Falls' firefighters pension fund is 73.1 percent funded, with $3.4 million in promised benefits not covered by assets, according to a state valuation cited in the report. A separate analysis estimates eight retirees collected nearly $4 million through April 2025, while noting its calculation can overstate payments for those who retired before 55.
3. Whiteside County Property Transfers: Nov. 2 to 6 (shawlocal.com) — A $305,000 transfer on Melvin Drive leads five transactions with Rock Falls addresses in Whiteside County's November 2–6 property listings. Other recorded transfers include properties on East and West Rock Falls Road, Prophet Road and Hoover Road, with prices ranging from $67,000 to $150,000.
4. Along the Rock: S3 Ep 230-Sterling Township Thanksgiving Vouchers Help 400 Local Families Celebrate the Holiday (theradar.online) — Sterling Township is accepting applications for $45 Thanksgiving grocery vouchers, serving about 400 families annually. Applicants must live in the township, receive SNAP benefits and provide identification and residency proof. Rock Falls residents seeking similar help are directed to Coloma Township, though the report does not provide that program's eligibility rules or registration details.
5. Obituary-Margarte V. Jones (theradar.online) — Margarte V. Jones, who worked for the U.S. Postal Service for more than 20 years, leaves a large family, including daughter LouAnne Olson and son Barry Jones of Rock Falls. Her survivors span five generations, and a celebration of her life is tentatively planned for May 29, 2027.
📸 Around Rock Falls
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🗓
Upcoming Events in
Rock Falls
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
-
Hometown Holidays in Rock Falls →
Downtown Rock Falls, Rock Falls
5:00 pm
Friday November 20
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
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6th Boys Basketball vs Sauk Valley
Rock Falls Middle School, 1701 12th Ave, Rock Falls
4:00 pm -
7/8 Boys Basketball vs Montmorency
Rock Falls Middle School, 1701 12th Ave, Rock Falls
4:00 pm -
7/8 Boys Basketball vs Morrison
Rock Falls Middle School, 1701 12th Ave, Rock Falls
4:00 pm -
6th Boys Basketball @ Montmorency
Rock Falls Middle School, 9415 Hoover Rd, Rock Falls
5:00 pm -
6th Boys Basketball vs Montmorency
Rock Falls Middle School, 1701 12th Ave, Rock Falls
4:00 pm -
7/8 Boys Basketball vs River Bend
Rock Falls Middle School, 415 12th St, Fulton
4:00 pm
Thursday November 12
Monday November 16
Tuesday November 17
Wednesday November 18
Thursday November 19
📣 Rock Falls Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
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6th Boys Basketball vs Morrison
Rock Falls Middle School, 1701 12th Ave, Rock Falls
4:00 pm -
WCSC Food Pantry →
Whiteside County Senior Center, 1207 W 9th St, Sterling -
Writer’s Group →
Sterling IL
10:00 am -
6th Boys Basketball vs Sauk Valley
Rock Falls Middle School, 1701 12th Ave, Rock Falls
4:00 pm -
Friday Book Club →
Sterling IL
10:00 am
Wednesday November 11
Thursday November 12
Friday November 13
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Republic Services, Inc. posted a job opening for Welder in Rock Falls. Apply here.
- Aramark posted a job opening for Food Service Worker - Rock Falls Elementary School District in Rock Falls. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Rock Falls here.
Ok Rock Falls! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: "What are the two sides of a circle?" — The inside and the outside ! (Thank you James M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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