Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Where and when to drop donations at Rockford’s Saturday collection drive

Make time for Chapter 6 Conference on the Rockford Patch calendar

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Hey hey Rockford! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Where and when to drop donations at Rockford's Saturday collection drive
  • Who are the four contenders to become Rockford's next mayor?
  • How Rockford's new wastewater tech is cleaning more and costing less

Also on today's calendar: Stillman Valley at Lutheran and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What do you get when you cross an angry cow with an angry sheep? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: Less humid with some sun, with a high of 80 and low of 54 degrees.
  • Friday: Plenty of sunshine, temps: high: 80, low: 61.
  • Saturday: A t-storm around in the p.m., with a high of 81 and low of 59 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Rockford area donation drive set for September (rrstar.com) — Rockford-area residents have a chance this Saturday, Sept. 12, to clear out closets while helping local reuse efforts at a regional donation drive. From 9 a.m. to noon, four sites in Rockford, Loves Park, and Roscoe will accept clean clothing, textiles, shoes, and stuffed toys, with volunteers unloading items directly from vehicles.
   

2. Who's running in the 2027 Rockford mayoral special election? (mystateline.com) — Rockford voters will choose a new mayor in a 2027 special election, with four candidates already in the race to replace former Mayor Tom McNamara. Two Democrats, a Republican and an independent are outlining competing visions on taxes, crime, development and government transparency ahead of the February primary and April general election.
   

3. New wastewater treatment technology developed in Rockford (wifr.com) — A major upgrade at Rockford's Four Rivers Sanitation Authority is now treating up to 10 million gallons of wastewater a day more efficiently, with fewer chemicals and less energy. Developed and manufactured in Rockford with Aqua-Aerobic Systems, the AquaNereda technology is drawing international attention while improving Rock River water quality and supporting local jobs and economic growth.
   

4. Rockford Tourism Spending Hits Record 549 Million In 2025 (q985online.com) — Rockford and Winnebago County just logged a record $549.6 million in visitor spending for 2025, outpacing statewide tourism growth and other large Illinois counties. Big draws like IRONMAN 70.3 Rockford, Hard Rock Casino Rockford, and sports tourism boosted hotel stays, jobs, and local tax revenue, signaling a steadily strengthening local economy.
   

5. The Thread: Raymond Lee Stewart's six-day killing spree (mystateline.com) — Rockford's history is revisited through the story of Raymond Lee Stewart, whose six-day killing spree in 1981 left six people dead in Rockford and Beloit. The piece traces his earlier robberies, the local gas station and grocery murders, his dramatic escape from the Winnebago County Courthouse, and his eventual execution, while exploring his shifting explanations for the violence.
   

📸 Around Rockford

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Great news for the city of Rockford, Living Well Center of Northern Illinois has been approved 12-2!
    https://www.rockrivercurrent.com/2026/09/city-council-approves-funding-for-new-senior-center-in-rockford/ (Nextdoor Country Creek)
  • Yesterday's re-homing of the feral family we take care of did not go as planned.
    Little Freiza escaped and ran away around the N Meridian and Steward Road area in Rockford. If you or anyone you know is located in this area and see… (Nextdoor Belle Meade Watch)
  • Dunkin' posted a job opening for Restaurant Manager in Rockford. Apply here.
  • OSF HealthCare posted a job opening for Security Officer in Rockford. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Rockford here.

Ok Rockford! 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: An animal that's in a baaaaad mooood! (Thank you Lisa A. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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