Reward Offered for Missing Memorial Items

ROCHELLE – The family of Nathan Vaupel is offering a $300 reward for the return of a memorial reported missing earlier this month near Holcomb Bank in Rochelle. The memorial included a white cross with Nathan’s name, a fishing rod, and a tackle box. Rochelle police said nearby businesses and city agencies did not remove the items. His mother Megan said the loss has been heartbreaking and they hope the items can be returned, no questions asked, so they can restore the memorial. Friends and community members have offered to help, including a friend who volunteered to build a new cross. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Rochelle Police Department at 815-562-2131. Nathan Vaupel was 21 when he was struck while riding a bicycle near the site in 2023.