News

Rockton-Roscoe News: Wednesday, Apr. 30, 2025

Chemtool at last, The Little Mermaid, Ray's in Rockton

Michael McGinnis

Apr 30, 2025 — 4 min read

The smoke is long gone but the payments could start arriving this week. Chemtool smoke plume, June 2021

Wednesday's news and events from Roscoe, Rockton, and South Beloit - collected by Rockton-Roscoe News. Scroll down for the latest stories.

In the news

Chemtool payments could start tomorrow for residents and property owners affected by the 2021 disaster in Rockton. The judge is expecting a status update on the payments at Friday's hearing.
Sixty students at Shirland School are performing Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr. on Thursday, May 1 and Friday, May 2 at 7 p.m. The musical, designed for middle-school aged performers, is based on the 2008 Broadway production and the 1989 animated feature film. Admission is free, but donations to help offset the production are accepted. Shirland School is located at 8020 North Street in Shirland, six miles west of Rockton. Ms. Dawn Heavilin, the district’s music teacher and musical director, says, “I am very excited and honored to be directing this musical again at Shirland School. Our students and staff really put their heart and souls into our small theatre productions.”
Larry and Nancy, owners of Ray's Restaurant in downtown Rockton, announced yesterday on Facebook, "After 26 beautiful years of serving our wonderful community, we have decided to end this amazing journey and wanted to say good bye. Thank you to everyone who has supported us throughout the years, the memories and friendships will last forever!! We are beyond grateful to everyone for the support over the years, you all have become family to us and we will never forget you!" New owners will be taking over the restaurant.

Subscribe to Rockton-Roscoe News for free

Fast home delivery to your inbox, with more news about Rockton, South Beloit, and Roscoe. We're the first daily local news outlet for farthest northern Illinois in about 190 years.

Today's events

Wednesday weather

Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 63. Southeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
Wednesday Night: Showers likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 10pm. Low around 48. East southeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. (Forecasts courtesy of the National Weather Service).