A Whiteside County jury has awarded $31.5 million to the widow and two young daughters of a Sterling firefighter killed in the line of duty four years ago

The widow of Sterling Fire Lt. Garrett Ramos, who was killed in the line of duty, testified at the Whiteside County Courthouse on Wednesday, telling a 12-member jury how her husband’s death has affected her and their two young daughters

The Sterling Fire Department was dispatched Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, to a structure fire at C&K Undercar Specialists.

Memories of Sterling Fire Lt. Garrett Ramos’ life were displayed on a projection screen for a Whiteside County jury Monday during the sixth day of a civil trial to decide if Rock Falls fire officials are to blame for Ramos’ December 2021 line-of-duty death

Wadsworth: Dozens of early local villages had “grove” in their name. You’re probably familiar with Franklin Grove, Sugar Grove, Gap Grove, and Deer Grove. But there were many more.