Spring ArtScene brings colorful pop to venues across Rockford
More than 40 stops will become pop-up art galleries this weekend
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Artist Carly Rose approached the owners of Salt shortly after its opening in October 2023 with a pitch for their dining space: Replace all the store-bought art with work from local artists.
The loud colors Rose uses in her abstract art, and the other local artists she selected, turned out to be a fitting match to give pop to the black-and-white walls at the restaurant, 6860 Spring Creek Road.
"We're a blank canvas with a black, white, simple landscape for some really colorful pieces to bring the space to life," said Zizi Altamore, general manager and part of the ownership team at Salt. "We see a lot of people who come in and appreciate the fact that there's really great art, but also that it's local art."
That initial pitch from Rose also gave way to Salt serving as an official stop on ArtScene, the biannual Rockford Area Arts Council event that turns spaces across the city into mini art galleries.
Rose will curate an ArtScene stop at Salt for the third time this weekend when Spring ArtScene makes its two-day run Friday and Saturday at more than 40 places around Rockford.
The show includes art from Rose, Jenny Mathews, Laura Gomel, Rose Salinas Rubio, Nathan J. Taylor, Jeremy Klonicki and Rudy Galindo. There will also be music from Chris Lewis on Friday and Emilio Salinas on Saturday. There is also live painting on Saturday. There are nearly 100 pieces that will be on display.
"The restaurant was beautiful as is but a blank slate and just waiting to have local vibrant art," Rose said.
ArtScene, Rose said, is often thought of as an event in downtown, where the majority of the stops are located. She hopes her show at Salt will encourage people to visit other parts of the city during the gallery walk.
"This town has so many talented people and there are so many places you can check it all out at," Rose said. "It's a community thing to really bring folks together. Whether you're in to art or not, I feel like you can appreciate it when you make all these stops."
ArtScene has grown this year with more stops, including new spaces such as Inferno Clay Studio, which opened earlier this year at 125 S. Madison St., and an expanded Kith and Kin Art Collective space at 510 E. State St.
A unique show at the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, 946 N. Second St., will showcase the work of artists from The Arc of Winnebago, Boone and Ogle Counties. Roughly 80 pieces from 40 artists will be on display. Each of the artists have an intellectual or developmental disability.
"It's a really great opportunity for the artists to see their work outside of the art space in our building," said Tyler Yomantas, art and marketing coordinator at The Arc. "It gives them a really great sense of pride."
Mary McNamara Bernsten said ArtScene showcases the artistic talent in the city. But the goal isn't just to showcase art, she said, it's to provide an accessible way to purchase work from local artists.
A wide variety of art is available for purchase from paintings and prints to sculptures, jewelry, quilts, photography and other work.
"I would really encourage everyone who attends to go out on a mission and think to yourself, 'I want a small piece. I want a large piece above my sofa. I want something for my mom for Mother's Day,'" McNamara Bernsten said. "Go out with a mission as if you would to Target or to HomeGoods and say to yourself, what do I want in my home to enrich my life or enrich someone elses."
If you go | Spring ArtScene
When: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, April 25 and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, April 26
Where: There are 41 locations across Rockford, see them all HERE.
Influential 1960s-era rock band to play intimate show at The Norwegian in Rockford
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — One of the most influential bands of the 1960s is coming to the city for an intimate show at The Norwegian on Rockford's North End.
Love featuring Johnny Echols will perform at 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 27 at the locally owned restaurant, 1402 N. Main St. The group, which formed in Los Angeles in 1964, has been praised and covered by Rock & Roll Hall of Famers such as The Rolling Stones and The Doors.
It has also been an influential group for Emily Hurd, the musician and songwriter who owns The Norwegian.
"As a touring musician, I used to make road trip playlists to listen to in the car, and 'Everybody's Gotta Live' was on most of them," Hurd told the Rock River Current. "Their music is a big influence on my own. To have them play live in our little corner of the world — to get to meet the artists who soundtracked a lot of my life — is an absolute honor."
Love's sound incorporates an eclectic range of styles including folk rock, psychedelia and garage. Its third album “Forever Changes” is regarded by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the best albums of all time. Its hits include “Everybody’s Gotta Live,” “Alone Again Or,” and “Always See Your Face."
Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis. The restaurant will have an open bar and a small list of food items available from the kitchen. The show is all ages.
If you go | Love at The Norwegian
When: 6 p.m. Sunday, April 27
Where: The Norwegian, 1402 N. Main St., Rockford
Cost: $35 in advance; $40 at the door
Latest Loves Park car wash business opens next week with free washes
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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LOVES PARK — The newest car wash location in the city will celebrate its opening next week by offering nearly two weeks of free washes and other deals.
Tsunami Express Car Wash is slated to open Wednesday at 6245 N. Second St. The automated tunnel car wash was built on the former home of St. Chad's Episcopal Church, which disbanded in 2016 after 60 years of ministry.
The car wash company announced its opening date this week and said visitors can get a free car wash from Wednesday, April 23 through May 4.
The company also said that it will offer its unlimited monthly membership for $5 for the first month during the first two weeks in business. Proceeds from those sales will be donated to Special Spaces Illinois, a nonprofit that provides bedroom makeovers for children facing cancer.
“We are excited to expand into Illinois and bring our signature Tsunami Express experience to the Loves Park community,” Chris Schuldt, CEO of Tsunami Express Car Wash, said in a news release. “Partnerships with nonprofits like Special Spaces Illinois is just one way we aim to invest in the communities where we operate."
Related: Why are multiple car washes being built in the Loves Park area? Here's what's behind the trend
“We are incredibly grateful to Tsunami Car Wash for their support of Special Spaces Illinois through their grand opening. Their generosity — and the kindness of the entire Loves Park community — means we can create more dream bedrooms for children battling cancer,” Kelly Knox, Illinois director at Special Spaces, said in a news release. “These are not just rooms; they are healing spaces, filled with comfort, hope, and joy. Together, we are changing lives—one child, one room, one car wash at a time.”
Tsunami offers free vacuums, complimentary air for tires, mat cleaners, and do-it-yourself detailing tools including interior cleaning spray and microfiber towels.
Construction on the wash began last summer after a Lubbock-Texas-based development company purchased the land for $1.02 million, according to a deed filed with the Winnebago County Clerk & Recorder’s Office. The property was sold by G5 Farm Property Group, which had bought it from the church for $500,000 in July 2022.
Tsunami Express has 14 other locations in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Indiana.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
Church’s Texas Chicken to open Thursday in Machesney Park
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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MACHESNEY PARK — Tis the season for chicken chains to open in the Rockford region.
A day after Raising Cane's debuted in Rockford, Church's Texas Chicken has set the date for its debut in Machesney Park.
The restaurant plans to open at 10 a.m. Thursday at 1586 W. Lane Road, according to the village and managers on site.
Church's fills a space formerly occupied by KFC. The KFC in Machesney Park abruptly closed in August along with three others in the Rockford region tied to the franchise owner. Several others had closed the same day across the state.
Church's Texas Chicken was founded in 1952 by George W. Church Sr. in San Antonio, Texas. It was initially called Church's Chicken and officially rebranded as Church’s Texas Chicken in 2019. The company is now headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
Related: Why camp out at Raising Cane's? Here's what some of the first Rockford customers said about the experience
There are roughly 770 Church’s locations across the country, according to the company’s website.
Hours & location
Where: 1586 W. Lane Road, Machesney Park
Opening date: Thursday, April 17, 2025
Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
Mail-in ballots flip Harlem School Board race as election results are certified
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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MACHESNEY PARK — Mail-in ballots that filtered in after Election Day have flipped the results of an 11-way race for Harlem School Board.
Diana Johnson, who trailed for the fourth and final position on the board on election night, overtook Katie Littlefield by 27 votes when when all ballots were counted. Those official tallies were posted Tuesday after the Winnebago County Clerk and Rockford Board of Elections certified election results.
By law, mail-in ballots post-marked by April 1 are counted until the election is certified on April 15.
An additional 2,792 ballots were counted after election night, and Johnson's total grew from 1,620 to 1,831 while Littlefield made gains from 1,641 votes to 1,804.
Johnson, the longtime executive director of the Parks Chamber of Commerce and wife of Machesney Park Mayor Steve Johnson, will join the board with incumbents Evelyn Meeks and Kurt William Thompson and newcomer Diane McKinney. Thompson serves as vice president on the board and Meeks as secretary.
Here's a look at the final tally:
| Votes | Percentage | |
|---|---|---|
| Patti Lawrence | 1,064 | 6.20% |
| Diana Johnson | 1,831 | 10.67% |
| Evelyn Meeks | 2,151 | 12.53% |
| Katie Littlefield | 1,804 | 10.51% |
| Karen Bell | 1,636 | 9.53% |
| Paul Hofmann | 1,699 | 9.90% |
| Diane McKinney | 2,050 | 11.94% |
| Kurt William Thompson | 1,880 | 10.95% |
| Larry Smith | 714 | 4.16% |
| Jeremy Hissong | 1,362 | 7.93% |
| Richard Jancek | 974 | 5.67% |
Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct information about the incumbent board members.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
City and village leaders call for Winnebago County Board to restore some of the chairman's authority
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A coalition of city and village leaders from around Winnebago County are calling for the County Board to restore some of the authority stripped from the chairman's role under the previous administration.
Key among those powers, which were removed by the County Board during a tumultuous period under then-chairman Frank Haney, is the oversight of daily operations and the ability to hire and fire key administrative positions. Without that, supporters of restoring the powers argue the county has fragmented leadership where it's unclear who is the boss. On the flip side is the argument that those powers set the stage for political hiring or firing.
Municipal leaders led by Loves Park Mayor Greg Jury and Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara held a news conference Tuesday at Loves Park City Hall to advocate for the chairman's powers to be restored. They argue doing so allows for streamlined decision-making, improved intergovernmental coordination and enhanced public accountability.
"We are calling for a modernized leadership structure that empowers the County Board chairman to lead with purpose," Jury said. "That means the authority to set agendas, supervise administrative leadership and be a true partner to local governments like ours here at the city of Loves Park."
The news conference had County Board supporters from both political parties: Republicans John F. Sweeney and Kevin McCarthy and Democrats Christina Valdez and Angela Fellars. Also in attendance were former County Board member Jean Crosby, Sheriff Gary Caruana, Angela Larson of the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce, representatives of trades unions, and village leaders including Machesney Park Mayor Steve Johnson and Winnebago Village President Frank Eubank Jr.
McNamara said other communities signed on in support are Cherry Valley, Roscoe, Rockton and South Beloit.
"We voted for a chairman to be the CEO, to hire the right people, to fire those who fail and to get deals done," McNamara said. "Instead, because of a few on the County Board, we've gotten a figurehead sidelined by a landlord lobbyist and his followers who would rather block progress than build upon it."
The "landlord lobbyist," which McNamara didn't name, is a reference to County Board member Paul Arena, who is the Republican caucus chairman. Arena defended the decision to remove hiring and firing powers from the chairman, and said administrative duties are best left with professional staff rather than an elected politicians.
The board had voted in 2019 to remove day-to-day operations such as overseeing the budget process and giving them to the county administrator.
"I think politicians should deal with policy, and day-to-day operations should be handled by people who are capable to do it," Arena said. "That's a huge difference of opinion that they're fighting for."
Arena said the current structure hasn't posed any issues for Chairman Joe Chiarelli.
"You know what's the irony here, everything is going just fine. There are no problems," Arena said. "Up until then having this whole thing, where's the chaos?"
"Whenever Joe Chiarelli has approached me while he's been the chairman and said he needed something changed, or there was a problem, we've changed the code to accommodate him. There's never been no way, or we're not doing that."
Chiarelli said that he hasn't lobbied for the powers to be restored. Rather, the issue has been brought forward by other County Board members and municipal leaders.
"This is all unsolicited by myself, so I'm honored that the village presidents and mayors are coming forward on my behalf and more importantly Winnebago County's behalf," Chiarelli said. "It is very important to be able to have all the tools in your tool chest to be able to have forward growth and momentum in Winnebago County."
He said, however, that voters in Winnebago County need to know who is in charge, "with checks and balances with the County Board and the citizens of Winnebago County."
The board had stripped Haney of hiring and firing powers after the county administrator left her job about eight months in and received a $30,000 severance payment that some board members said they were kept in the dark about. The next county administrator later accused Haney of bullying and harassment.
Haney had attempted to sue the county board over its decision to limit his authority in 2019, saying it changed the nature of his job in the middle of his first term and defied the will of voters. An attempted injunction to restore his powers was denied, and Haney later decided not to seek reelection in 2020.
Chiarelli was elected in 2020 and reelected without opposition in December.
"I don't believe there's any reason that anyone wouldn't believe the trust isn't present," Chiarelli said. "I'm going to still do the job I was elected to do within whatever boundaries I have to work within."
Sweeney, a former Republican caucus chairman who was reappointed to the board in 2022, said reinstating the chairman's powers are particularly important on matters of economic development, where he said the chairman should be empowered to lead negotiations.
"Winning the countywide election is a mandate to be an executive-style leader as it relates to the administrative of countywide affairs and working with a duly-elected boards," Sweeney said. "It's a good healthy system of checks and balances but also gives the county a point person on a day-to-day basis to do the people's business."
Valdez said the current structure creates a fractured organizational leadership chart. She also said the current system for setting the County Board agenda creates a lopsided means of bringing ideas forward.
Right now, county code states that the agenda is established by the chairman, "except each agenda shall include a report from all standing committees and the items within the committee reports shall be established by the committee chairs."
"If one party, which is the majority party in this case, is not in alignment with a particular idea, we don't even get floor time to discuss it," Valdez said. "For more governmental transparency, for more ideas to be presented and for more people to be heard it's so important that he gets these powers back."
Arena argued that the rule doesn't hinder anyone from getting an item up for a vote.
"Our government is set up so no one person can block anything or prevent something from being brought forward," Arena said. "If (Chiarelli) brings forward a resolution and it goes to the Public Works Committee chairman says I'm not putting that on my agenda, then one of his people who are in support of his idea would make that motion on the floor to circumvent that committee and just bring it directly to the floor. So that committee structure is not an obstacle to anything."
Arena said he stands firmly against reinstating hiring and firing powers, which he says create opportunity to abuse based on political leanings. However, he said he has discussed with County Board member Keith McDonald restarting an ad hoc committee to examine the chairman's role and administrative powers, which have been tweaked on numerous occasions over the years.
Supporters of the move to reinstate the chairman's powers may bring a resolution forward before that, but there is no set timetable for a resolution to be introduced or a vote to take place.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
Why camp out for Raising Cane's? Here's what some of the first Rockford customers said about the experience
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Dozens of Caniacs bundled in blankets and waited in line for hours to be the first customers Tuesday at the city's first Raising Cane's.
The reason was simple for some: They wanted the chance to be one of 20 people to win free Raising Cane's for a year.
The fandom for Raising Cane's, which describes its most loyal followers as Caniacs, is centered on the signature sauce for some, the hot and fresh Texas toast for others, the sweet tea or the classic chicken fingers that the menu is built around.
April Mendoza, a 17-year-old Guilford High School student who was the first customer at the new Rockford location, said you have to try it to understand why the chicken finger chain has such a fervent following.
"You have to experience it first-hand," she said. "Once they try it, they'll know why."
Raising Cane's officially opened its doors at 10 a.m. Tuesday at 6445 E. State St., which is at the corner of State and Trainer Road on the former plot of Stone Eagle Tavern.
A line of more than a hundred people huddled in front of the restaurant as strong gusts of winds brought a chill through the spring air. Once the drive-thru opened at 10 a.m., a long line of cars formed stretching through the adjacent parking lot toward Office Max and Sierra.
"I didn't expect it was going to be this packed" said Jeanette Ortiz, 20, of Rockford, who lined up with friend Lupita Mendoza, 23.
Ortiz said Lupita Mendoza alerted her early Tuesday morning that a line was already forming, so she rushed out of bed and joined in as soon as possible.
Raising Cane’s was founded in 1996 in Baton Rouge, Louisana, by Todd Graves. It now has nearly 900 restaurants in more than 40 states. The nearest Raising Cane's to Rockford until now was in DeKalb. There are also locations in Chicagoland.
"I hated going far for Cane's, so I'm glad they have it here now," Lupita Mendoza said.
The opening event was filled with pomp and celebration. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held with chants and cheers from Cane's staff and a few welcoming speeches from Aldermen Mark Bonne and Chad Tuneberg, County Board member Kevin McCarthy and Winnebago County Board Chairman Joe Chiarelli. Victor E. Huskie the Northern Illinois University mascot was on hand to help in the festivities.
Everyone in line by 8:30 a.m. was entered into a random drawing for 20 people to receive free Cane's for a year.
"I was ecstatic and shocked at the same time because there were a lot of people out there and I didn't think I would be one of the winners," said Shawndell White of Rockford, who lined up with his wife Graciela Jimenez Montes at 4:30 a.m.
"When they said they had a Cane's coming down here it was one of the best things I heard, so I had to come down here and try it out," he said.
April Mendoza, who arrived at 10:30 p.m. Monday night in order to be the first in line, was welcomed through a cheerleader-style tunnel as the first customer. Cane's team members waved pom poms as she trotted through the tunnel with Cane's video and photography teams capturing the experience. She was also given a gift basket filled with Cane's merchandise and posed for photos at the counter for the first order.
"The experience is amazing," she said. "Seeing all these people here for Cane's."
Mendoza parked a chair in front of the door Monday night, but she didn't stay outside through the overnight cold.
"We left our chair outside the door and then we sat in the car for awhile because it was really cold and windy last night," she said.
Mother and daughter Crystal and Trinity Noble of Durand, who were second in line arriving about a half hour after Mendoza, had a similar strategy to avoid the cold.
"I've never done anything like this before," Crystal Noble said. "I wish the weather was a little warmer."
Trinity Noble said she's been a fan of the restaurant for years and wanted to line up to be one of the first customers and get a shot at winning the free Cane's.
"The sauce is the best," she said.
Tamsy Leverton, a Rockford University student who lined up at 4:30 a.m. with her boyfriend, Preston Neblock, said she discovered Raising Cane's while traveling with her volleyball team. She's been a fan ever since.
"It really is that special sauce," she said. "It's chicken like no other. Every single time it's good."
April Mendoza had a similar story, first trying Raising Cane's after a soccer game in DeKalb.
"I really like everything: The toast, the sauce, the chicken tenders," she said. "I like that it's always fresh and warm."
Ortiz, whose early morning arrival put her in the middle of the pack, said the signature sauce and the bread are what keep her coming back. But the early arrival on Tuesday was more about the experience than the food.
"It's an experience. It's a one-time thing," she said. "You only live once, so you might as well get chicken fingers and that signature sauce."
Hours and location
Where: 6445 E. State St., Rockford
Hours: 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday-Thursday; 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday (closed Easter Sunday)
Online: Order HERE
More photos
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
Rockford to borrow $13.7M from bond sale to pay off 2 wrongful conviction settlements
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The city plans to borrow $13.7 million to pay off two wrongful conviction lawsuits filed by men who each spent more than two decades in prison before being exonerated of the crimes.
The city plans to issue bonds to be repaid over 20 years. The bond sale doesn't require voter approval because it doesn't increase property taxes. Instead, the debt is paid from general sales tax revenue.
"We're doing what we believe is in the best interest of the city and the taxpayers in the long run to pay these obligations without immediately impacting services today while being financially conservative considering today's economic climate," said Carrie Hagerty, the city's finance director.
The pair of federal lawsuits come from Patrick Pursley and John Horton, who were each arrested and convicted of separate fatal shootings in 1993 before being declared innocent years later. Both men spent 23 years in prison.
It's a difficult time for the city to enter the bond market because of recent financial volatility. The annual payment will depend on the final interest rate after the bond sale this summer. It's estimated to be less than $1 million per year.
The city was self-insured for any liability, including legal claims like these, until 2012 when it acquired its general liability insurance, Hagerty said. However, because the actions stemming from the lawsuit predate that, insurance didn't cover these claims, she said.
The City Council's Finance and Personnel Committee gave initial approval to the bond sale on Monday. It goes for a City Council vote next week.
The bond sale comes after both settlements were previously approved by City Council in the past four months.
In December, the city agreed to pay $5 million to settle a wrongful conviction lawsuit with Pursley. About a month later, City Council agreed to a $9.5 million settlement with John Horton.
Pursley spent 23 years in prison for the 1993 murder of Andrew Ascher on Silent Road in Rockford before being exonerated in a new trial 2019.
He had petitioned from prison for years before a 2007 change in Illinois law allowed defendants to seek a comparison of ballistics with digital images contained in a national database. His was the first case in the country to allow post-conviction ballistic testing, and those tests led to his exoneration, according to the National Registry of Exonerations.
Related: Town of Normal approved $5.4M settlement with Rockford man Alan Beaman
Horton had been convicted of the 1993 murder of Arthur Castaneda at a McDonald's in Rockford. His cousin, Clifton “Buddy” English, had repeatedly confessed to the crime and provided details not released publicly. Horton's ex-girlfriend also later recanted statements used in his initial trial. She later admitted she falsely claimed during the trial that he had bragged about committing the crime, according to the National Registry of Exonerations.
Horton's conviction was overturned in 2016 and a new trial was granted before a special prosecutor dismissed the charges about a year later. He was granted a certificate of innocence in December 2018.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
Hard Rock Casino Rockford's first live boxing event includes clash between heavyweight 'monsters'
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The last time Deontae Pettigrew fought in Rockford, it was his last bout in the amateur circuit on his step toward turning pro.
For his next fight, he hopes it's a step toward a world title.
Pettigrew, a Chicago-based heavyweight fighter nicknamed Tank, will face Richard Lartey on Saturday at Hard Rock Casino Rockford for the vacant World Boxing Association Continental Championship. It's the first-ever World Boxing Association-sanctioned event held in the city, and it has big implications for Pettigrew and the other fighters on the card.
"He's ready to embark on a quest for the world title and this is the first step in that quest," said Bobby Hitz, a retired boxer who runs Hitz Boxing, which is putting on the event with Hard Rock. "The implications for the victor of this fight, there's world rankings involved, there's going to be members of the WBA here. This is a big deal. This is that next step."
Hitz Boxing Presents: A Night of Championship Boxing kicks off with the first bell at 6 p.m. Saturday at Hard Rock Live, 7801 E. State St., Rockford. The multifaceted entertainment venue will be configured for roughly 1,600 fans with the ring in the center of the floor and special VIP seating in the traditional stage area.
Several of the fighters, including Pettigrew, and promoters held a news conference on Monday at the casino in the lead-up to fight night.
"This is a Vegas-esque type atmosphere," said Rick Ramos, who manages 4-0 super welterweight Everett Olivares and 8-0 super lightweight Lukas Moldenhauer. "This is electrifying ... Hopefully we can build a relationship here that will bring us here four, five times a year."
Geno Iafrate, president of Hard Rock Casino Rockford, said the first WBA fight night here has the potential to grow into a series.
"We do not anticipate this to be a single event," Iafrate said. "We anticipate this to be the start of an ongoing relationship and multiple events a year."
Hitz said he hopes the event builds on Rockford's great boxing tradition, from Olympic bronze medalist Kenny Gould to Pat "The Cat" Coleman, and kickboxer 'Bad' Brad Hefton.
"It's a great history here and we want to bring that back," Hitz said. "To be part of this at the Hard Rock Casino is a dream come true for us."
This fight doesn't have odds-makers who put the matches on the books, so there won't be betting on these fights. It is on pace to be a sellout crowd, Hitz said.
"I love seeing the crowd when I come out. It fuels me," said Olivares, a Chicago fighter who is 4-0 at the pro level. "I can't wait to see my people in the crowd. I'll spot them right away."
The card also includes the professional debut of Rockfordian Jonathan Cruz, a Chicago Golden Gloves Champion who trains out of Aurora. Cruz wasn't at Monday's press event.
Pettigrew's last fight as an amateur was a win at the Lombardi Club in Rockford. He's now 14-0 at the pro level and preparing to fight a "monster" in Lartey, as Hitz described him.
"Last time (Lartey) fought on our show he came in our town and knocked out the hometown favorite," Hitz said. "It's a very scary fight for Tank. This is not a layup whatsoever."
Hitz said there is also bad blood between the two fighters stemming from the last event they were on together, where they each beat their opponents.
"After the fight, he literally went and challenged Tank in the ring and got in his face. That's why I didn't bring him here today because I don't want any fisticuffs before we pay them," Hitz said. "It's a very, very serious fight because the implications for the victor are just tremendous."
Pettigrew, who is the WBC Fecarbox champion and ranked No. 14 in the WBA heavyweight division, describes himself as an adaptive fighter who can mix up between pressing the action and counter-pounching. He said Lartey is a "very, very, very dangerous opponent."
"He's a massive man, like myself," Pettigrew said.
Still, Pettigrew said he's confident he'll win the 10-round fight "in exciting fashion."
"The fight is 10, but don't blink," he said.
Hitz Boxing Presents: Deontae Pettigrew vs. Richard Lartey
What: A night of championship boxing comes to Rockford with a World Boxing Association-sanctioned event headlined by Deontae Pettigrew vs. Richard Lartey for the vacant WBA Continental Championship.
When: 5 p.m. Saturday, April 19
Where: Hard Rock Casino Rockford, 7801 E. State St., Rockford
Tickets: Go HERE
Scheduled matches
Marlon Harrington (10-2-0) vs. Cameron Krael (21-35-3) | super welterweight
Rani Jalomo (6-0-0) vs. William Davis (8-21-1) | super lightweight
Lukas Moldenhauer (8-0-0) vs. Manuel Guzman (8-10-1) | super lightweight
Everett Olivares (4-0-0) vs. Daniel Hilton (3-0-0) | super welterweight
Kewin Gibas (4-1-0) vs. Lamar Bolden (2-11-2) | super welterweight
Talia Halvorsen (debut) vs. Jina Bynum (0-3-0) | super middleweight
Jonathan Cruz (debut) vs. Cameron Vallier | featherweight
Deontae Pettigrew (14-0-0) takes on Richard Lartey (16-8-0) | heavyweight
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
Rockford's Fourth of July fireworks will launch from a new location this year
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The annual Fourth of July fireworks will blast off from a new location this year, and the festivities surrounding the spectacle in the sky will also have a new home.
The Rockford 4th of July Civic Committee plans to shoot fireworks off this year from the Jefferson Street bridge, a launch site that hasn't been used in more than two decades.
"This new show will bring a touch of nostalgia to Rockfordians who remember the old school spectacle in the sky when we shot of Jefferson Street bridge over 25 years ago," the committee said in a news release. "It will also give a refreshing new feel to the show."
The bridge replaces the previous launch point along the east bank of the Rock River, south of the UW Health Sports Factory.
Fireworks will still be televised live and the soundtrack to the show will be provided by B103 Rockford, at 103.1 on your radio.
The festivities, including food and live music, will also move from their longtime home of Davis Park and Ingersoll Park. This year, entertainment and food trucks will be located along Water Street, inside Joe Marino Park at Water and State streets, and under the Rockford City Market pavilion.
The city plans to move forward this summer with the long-planned construction to revamp Davis Park, which spans about 7 acres along the riverfront at 320 S. Wyman St. The more than $12 million plan includes a concert stage, a new playground, skatepark, recreation path, concession stands, restrooms and pieces of public art.
This year's fireworks show is the 61st put on by civic committee. This display and festivities are funded by donations and sponsorships without the use of tax dollars. This year's budget is $80,000, with about $60,000 of that on the pyrotechnics. That will pay for a 30-minute soundtrack-synched fireworks show. The civic committee hires Pyrotecnico, the largest pyro company in North America, to handle the display.
You can donate to help fund the annual show by going HERE.
Ted O'Donnell, co-chairman of the committee, said this year's blast off location should provide great viewing all across downtown and beyond.
"The change is going to be good for us, I think it's going to be good for our community and I think it's going to bring back some good old school feels to the city," he said.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas