Law office makes a winning case for following in Dad’s footsteps
Whatever it takes, volunteers find a way to feed local children
Today’s fur-cast: Sunny dispositions and pampered pets
Meet the new faces behind the air masks at Dixon’s fire departments
Hundreds play in it, a host of people help it, businesses get behind it, and a community supports it ... Dixon’s Al Morrison League has a lot of fans who love to root, root, root for their home teams | p. 4
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4 Bases loaded
Hundreds play in it, a host of people help it, businesses get behind it, and a community supports it — Dixon’s Al Morrison League has a lot of fans who are happy to root, root, root for their home teams.
12 Family law
A downtown Dixon attorneys’ office makes a winning case for following in Dad’s footsteps.
20 ‘Whatever it takes, we’ll find a way’
When it comes to hunger, no child should be left holding the bag — unless that bag contains a healthy meal packed by the dedicated volunteers in the Buddy Bags program.
26 Today’s fur-cast: Sunny dispositions and pampered pets
Personalized service is always in style at a Dixon pet grooming business, where the staff treats pets like one of their own.
32 Answering a fire calling
Meet the new faces under the air masks at Dixon’s fire departments.
by
Hundreds play in it, a host of people help it, businesses get behind it, and a community supports it ... Dixon’s Al Morrison League has a lot of fans who root, root, root for their home teams
CODY CUTTER Sauk Valley Media
s school winds down, pitchers begin winding up, along with the rest of the players who trade school bells for baseballs during the summer as part of a local league that draws several hundred kids to its ranks each year.
For 58 years, Dixon’s youth baseball league, Al Morrison Memorial Baseball, has been covering a lot of bases, helping children learn not only game skills but life skills: the importance of teamwork and hard work, dealing with pressure, learning how to win while knowing how to act if they lose — lessons that can go a long way in life.
And in the dugout, supporters who pitch in to make it possible each year: volunteer commissioners on the league’s board of directors, paid umpires and concession stand workers, and local businesses who support the program.
As much as the league does for players, the end goal is making sure the kids have fun.
“This is something to keep your kids occupied for hour upon hour upon hour,” said Al Morrison’s president Scott Johnson. “That’s what we’re most proud of. With all of the crazy stuff in the world, we want to be able to have them come and spend a couple of hours to just be kids.”
As the person who oversees the league’s operation, Johnson is where the buck stops when it comes to making sure everything goes as planned, from team management to facility maintenance to fundraising, and whatever else it takes.
MORRISON cont’d to page 6
CODY CUTTER/ CCUTTER@
Photo: Max Rosequist of the River City Ale House team runs out his hit during a Coach Pitch game on June 9, 2025, at the Al Morrison Baseball Complex in Dixon.
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“The community as a whole has always taken care of us, and it’s been a wonderful relationship.”
SCOTT JOHNSON President, Al Morrison Memorial Baseball
cont’d from page 5
Al Morrison provides baseball opportunities for children ages 4 to 14. In the T-ball league, kids hit from a tee. In Coach Pitch, coaches pitch to their own batters. The Future, Bronco and Koufax leagues offer more traditional games for older children. The Koufax League, named for Major League Baseball hall of fame pitcher Sandy Koufax, consists of teams of teenage players from throughout northern Illinois; Al Morrison currently fields four Dixon-based teams in the league, which is operated by the Byron Park District. This season had 570 children participate, which also includes players from Amboy, Ashton and Franklin Grove.
Around 300 regular season and postseason games are played from May to July at the league’s facilities in Page Park. It’s up to Johnson and his commissioners to prepare the diamonds, clean up afterward and maintain order during games. Not everything is perfect: a base might wiggle out of its affixed place, injuries may unfortunately happen and passionate fans may get a little too passionate. Prior to this season, there was one board member in charge (“BMIC’s” for short) of the facility on a given day. Two board members are now at each game, and it’s helped with everyday functions and keeping crowds in check, especially on days when each of the facility’s five diamonds are utilized.
MORRISON cont’d to page 8
Cam Hall, River City Ale House team
Sivic Kingry, Precision Automotive team
“When you have so many people here, you have some who can get out of control or have issues, problems or anything else,” Johnson said. “This is the first year we’ve went to two a night. The board members in charge help get the fields ready, clean up, and help cook, but the biggest thing is that we have to watch the games that have umpires. We have ‘experts’ in the stands who want to help umpires sometimes, and they can be a challenge.”
Typically, the league enlists more experienced umps, many of whom also do high school games during the spring, for Bronco and Koufax games. As the high school ranks have seen a decline in umpires in recent years, there have been a few more umpires at this year’s games than a year ago; one of whom wrote a letter to Johnson after his first umpiring gig with the League, grateful for the experience.
“Typically when you get feedback during the summer, usually someone is mad,” Johnson said. “When you get the positive feedback, it’s like, we’re doing something right here.”
The relationship between the Al Morrison league and high schools goes both ways. While the high school umps help out with the league games, some league players go on to help out in high school games. MORRISON cont’d from page 6
MORRISON cont’d to page 9
Max Bandy, Lee County Sheriff’s Department team
Otto Englund, Ace Hardware team
Ben Sondgeroth, Bonnell Industries coach
Drew Hines, Dixon Rural Fire Department team
Taeden Roach, 1st National Bank of Amboy team
Max Smith, Dixon Police Charitable Foundation team
MORRISON cont’d from page 8
After players hone their skills on the diamond through Al Morrison, high school baseball can be the next step, which has helped schools’ baseball programs — Dixon High School’s, for example: It’s experienced more success in the past seven years than it had throughout the rest of its history: The Dukes placed fourth in the 2019 Illinois High School Association 3A state tournament, and regional championships were won in 2019, 2021-22 and this past spring.
Dukes head coach Jason Burgess grew up playing in Al Morrison in the late 1970s and the 1980s, and his father Troy was one of its board members during that time. He recalls seeing how his father and other board members over the years — such as Ike Mercer, Speed Saunders, JB Long, Al Wikoff and John Jacobs — built a foundation that’s helped hundreds of young baseball players through the years.
“It’s amazing to see the many people who have stepped in for so many years. Without the adult volunteers this program would not be successful,” Burgess said. “This has to be one of the longest tenured local programs that provides our kids in the area a safe place to go have fun and try and learn the game of baseball. It’s great to see our town having such a program that helps support our children in our community. Throughout the years baseball has changed significantly, with travel ball, and Al Morrison leagues have provided a chance for younger generations to play baseball and have fun.”
The league’s operating costs come from player registration (from $50 for T-ball to $120 for Koufax; rates that have changed little in the past 15 years, Johnson said), sponsorships for teams and signs, and fundraisers such as an annual Trivia Night each February or March at the Elks Club.
The community’s commitment makes a big difference in what Al Morrison can provide its players, Johnson said.
“If we didn’t have that, we’d have to charge quintuple of what we charge.” Johnson said. “The community as a whole has always taken care of us, and it’s been a wonderful relationship.”
MORRISON cont’d to page 11 Fischer
Bonnell, Dixon Rural Fire Department team
Enhancing players’ experiences is a yearly goal for the league. In recent years, improvements have been made to scorekeeping areas, dugouts, access areas among the diamonds, and its onsite batting cages. “One thing I wish we would have done is take a time lapse picture of this place,” Johnson said. One of the long-term goals is to attain 501 (c) 3 nonprofit status to further enhance the youth baseball experience.
“It helps with getting more donations and things like that,” Johnson said. “Then you can get into the grant area and things like that.”
Fostering young baseball players has been a joy for Johnson since he became involved with Al Morrison in 2009. He also is a former board member for Dixon Public Schools, and his kids have come up through the youth baseball program over the years.
He hopes the momentum from recent improvements will continue, and encourage even more improvements in the future.
“This group of people has been the best I’ve had as an entire cumulative group since I’ve been doing this,” Johnson said. “It’s truly caring that you provide an environment for a kid to come and play baseball without the hassles of the world.” n
Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.
More about Morrison
Al Morrison was a longtime umpire in Dixon’s Jaycees youth baseball league from the 1940s to the 1960s, and also umpired in other baseball leagues in town. His story in Dixon began as a bellhop at the former Dixon Hotel in 1942 and he umpired during the initial years of the league that would soon bear his name shortly before his death in 1968. Dixon Living featured a short biography of Morrison in its Winter 2020 edition. Read it at issuu.com/ shawmedia/docs/dixonliv_ rev_102620/4 .
Get in the game
Find Al Morrison Baseball on Facebook, email almorrisonbaseball@gmail.com or go to almorrisonbaseball. org for more information on Dixon’s youth baseball program. Home games are played at the Al Morrison Baseball Complex at Page Park, 1100 Page Drive.
Stay. Play. Explore.
Firm family values ... Father and son Paul (right) and Thomas Whitcombe are seen here outside the family law firm in downtown Dixon, at the corner of Peoria Avenue and First Street.
ALEX T. PASCHAL/ APASCHAL@ SHAWMEDIA.COM
hen a child follows in a parent’s footsteps, it can be an enormous point of pride for both. Case in point: Paul and Thomas Whitcombe. The father and son come from two different generations, but when it comes to a passion for their profession, they’re both on the same page — in a law book. The Dixon partners in law have not only made a name for themselves in courthouses and case records, they’ve formed a bond that’s both professional and personal.
A case in point indeed — and a winning case at that.
Paul is the senior partner of The Law Offices of Paul T. Whitcombe in downtown Dixon, where Thomas has been a presence in the office for most of his life, from the pitter patter of his feet as a toddler to the rustling of papers as a clerk learning the ropes in high school and college, to ultimately becoming a full partner in the family law firm.
Paul’s nearly 30 years as a Dixon attorney has put him in front of the bench in many criminal law, family law and civil litigation cases, as well as time spent as Lee County Public Defender and Lee County State’s Attorney. As impressive as that resumé is though, it’s his accomplishment outside of court that he’s most proud of: Watching Thomas come into his own as a lawyer himself, knowing that they’ve both helped each other become better lawyers
The downtown Dixon law office is like a second home for the Whitcombes, where it’s not just Paul and Thomas behind the desks: Paul’s son and Thomas’ brother David is business manager and Paul’s wife Maureen is office manager. While Thomas could have set his sights on big cities and larger firms, staying home and close to Dad is important to him, he said.
WHITCOMBE cont’d to page 14
“He set a great example going forward, not only for working hard in helping the individuals he represented and the community as a prosecutor, but also having a nice balance between work and home life,” Thomas said. “He had a very good work-life balance, which I know, stereotypically isn’t something lawyers very often have. Small-town law was very appealing. Not only did I always plan on going into law, I never considered going into the city or getting a federal clerkship — as fun as that would have been, it wasn’t the kind of lifestyle I was looking for.”
Thomas has taken his father’s workload of transactional law and made it his strength at the firm, dealing with estate planning, probate, real estate, business law and contracts. Both also work with civil and criminal litigation.
Thomas’ journey from school books to law books came as little surprise to people who knew the family — judges, bailiffs and others at the Lee County Courthouse could see it coming: When a young Thomas tagged along with Dad to his job, he was dressed to impress.
“Not a lot of people have a 3-year-old who has a coat and tie when they go with you, and it softens everybody,” Paul said. “There have been lots of fun stories. It’s difficult to be angry with someone who has a 3-year-old dressed like that” — though Thomas could make it a little easier at times.
WHITCOMBE cont’d to page 15
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Paul (left) and Thomas each bring something to the table at the family law firm, with their individual approaches to their profession.
WHITCOMBE cont’d from page 14
The courthouse became a fascinating place for Thomas to explore, and like other kids his age, a childlike curiosity was always close at hand — along with a panic button, and that meant a he could get the answer to that favorite of kid questions: “What happens if I push this button?”
“When I was public defender, we had a panic button; once we got into any trouble, we had the panic button to call in the bailiffs,” Paul said. “Tom discovered that and thought it was great to go press that button, and then guards would come running in with their guns drawn, and then go ‘It’s Tommy again.’ He’d just be laughing, but they all loved him.”
Having a child in court could just as easily ease tensions, too.
One of Paul’s favorite stories of his son being in the courtroom came during a hotly contested divorce case where tensions were on the rise — until Thomas got tired. Seems he dozed off and was snoring. When the judge noticed the nap time, he called a halt to the action, remarking about “how sweet” it was to see the tired little trooper, Paul said, and broke the tension.
WHITCOMBE cont’d to page 16
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Young Thomas endeared himself to a lot of people at the courthouse.
“When I was 3, I started going to work with him all of the time at the Courthouse or in private practice,” Thomas said. “I made friends with all of the bailiffs and all of the clerks. Even when I started [as a lawyer], some of them would still call me ‘Little Tommy.’
“Come on, they got to stop doing that,” he continued with a laugh. “I still let the ladies at church do it, but I’m in court.”
Paul grew up in Dixon, and was friends with the son of 15th Judicial Circuit Judge Tomas Magdich, who became an early mentor in Paul’s career. He began in private practice in 1996 after spending a couple of years at the law firm of Jenner and Block in Chicago. Though the Windy City job came with its share of prestige, it also came with its share of stress. Returning to Dixon was a move Paul felt would benefit his family more — and himself, leaving a more taxing job behind, he said.
Both Paul and Thomas attended Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, and
Thomas’ time there became noteworthy when he was the first student to complete the university’s advanced law program — doing so as a presidential scholar and finishing it in five years instead of the typical seven.
Thomas began his career as an intern for longtime Sterling lawyer John Miller, which lasted only a few months before Miller retired. He then joined his father as an associate in 2019.
“As I was going through law school, I started really appreciating the civil side of litigation and the transactional work,” Thomas said. “He [Miller] showed me the ins and out of real estate and estate planning, probate, business formation, and I’ve been able to incorporate that in the practice here.”
David took a different route. After graduating with a business degree from the University of Iowa, he worked in the corporate world until it became too much to bear for him, he said. The solution: Return home and work for the family.
“[The corporate job] had its perks, but you had to sacrifice quite a bit, and it comes down to whether it’s worth it,” David said. “It just became not worth it, especially when I got married and had my kid, you miss out in a lot. For me to go any farther, I would have had to move an hour-plus away and be working more. Yeah, technically it would be more successful, but it’s not how I deem my own success. It was a matter of: Am I going to see my kid, and am I going to have to give another excuse for why I couldn’t go to this thing or that thing, or being late to Christmas? I was tired of it, it wasn’t that fun to me anymore.”
As business manager, David “keeps the books all nice and clean,” Paul said. The change of pace from a corporate job has made David not only proud of the course he decided to chart, but happy with where it took him.
“I’ve always been people oriented,” David said. “Family’s been very important to me and coming back here has been nice. It’s a healthier life for me, and getting focused in the numbers and helping people is what matters.”
WHITCOMBE cont’d to page 17
One of the benefits of having different generations in the same office is being able to build on the wisdom of experience while integrating new methods and technology.
While Paul worked with pen and paper and typewriters and floppy discs during his college days, Thomas had a different world at his fingertips, and todat he uses an iPad whenever he’s at court. Elsewhere in the office, David put his tech skills to good use by simplifying processes at the office with template documents.
Matters that would have taken Paul days to do years ago can sometimes be done in a matter of minutes with the tools and tech the younger generation has brought to the table.
“Not too long ago I said that it was time for me to get a new laptop, and I asked him, ‘What do you think?’” Paul said. “He knows exactly what’s going on. If I have a tech issue, one of these guys are my solutions. It’s nice to have that IT all wrapped into one, but I still like pen and paper a little bit, but I’m being dragged and kicking and screaming into the 21st century.”
Unlike his brother Thomas, David didn’t follow Dad into law, but he did follow him into the law office, as the firm’s business manager.
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The Law Offices of Paul T. Whitcombe, 223 W. First St., is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and weekends by appointment. Find it on Facebook, go to paulwhitcombelaw. com, email office@paulwhitcombe.com, or call 815-2887209 for more information.
Paul recently had to revisit a divorce case from a couple of decades ago in which someone was ordered to transfer half-interest in five pieces of property, which has since been sold, resold and subdivided. That’s where Thomas comes in: Within a few minutes, he had everything Paul needed laid out for him, and it saved Paul days of research that it would have once taken to figure out.
But on the other hand, Paul makes a pretty good case for the benefits of experience. Thomas often finds Dad helpful in intricate criminal cases and the like.
“The nice thing about having different backgrounds is that, doing the transactional side of things, if he gets a case that has something to do with real estate, he comes to me and I’ll walk him through that,” Thomas said. “If I get a criminal case that has a weird issue that I haven’t dealt with, I can go to him; between his public defender time and state’s attorney time, he can be helpful with that. The hardest part of legal research is finding out where to start, once you get that little bread crumb then you can follow the trail. It’s been real helpful being able to bounce ideas off of each other like that.”
The Whitcombes also use artificial intelligence to help improve efficiency in their processes — but, Thomas is quick to point out: AI is useful only if you know how to implement it.
“Technology is efficiency,” he said. “It’s helped us a lot to be more efficient, and as expensive as lawyers are, the less time we can spend on things, the less expensive it is for our clients. Especially with the transactional side of things, there’s no need to type a document from scratch because a lot of the time 95 percent of the documents are the same, and the
key is just knowing what to change and when to change it.”
The generation gap does reveal itself sometimes, however, and it’s not hard to miss: Paul’s office is full of TV, film and pop culture collectibles, while Thomas’ office has a more traditional look.
It’s all part of the family dynamic that’s made the law office like a second home for the Whitcombes — literally and figuratively, and whether it’s a client looking for help to tip the scales of justice in their favor or someone looking for help to navigate a long and a winding paper trail, the firm brings a lot of experience to the table, and the bench.
“I guess I can play the father trump card, but I don’t have to,” Paul said. “We discuss everything, and we don’t always agree on everything, but between the three of us and Maureen, we get it done. It’s a great environment. It’s like picking home up and bringing it to work. It’s just great.” n
Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@ shawmedia.com On the case ...
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The struggle to have access to a healthy meal shouldn’t be one that any child should have to face.
But for some, it is — and that struggle has hit home for a growing number of public school children in Dixon.
That’s where a local nonprofit organization steps in to lend a hand, finding ways to help make sure no child has to go hungry or face food insecurities — and they’ve found an answer in a paper sack.
The volunteers of Buddy Bags of Dixon help pack the sacks with weekend meals and distribute them to local students, pitching in with purpose and pride and asking for nothing in return — except the community’s help.
Turning empty sacks into healthy meals takes time and effort, and donations. At the end of this past school year, around 250 bags were distributed each week at a cost of $1,700 per week. It’s a number that’s only grown since Buddy Bags started serving the community 2013.
Another thing that’s grown since then is people’s awareness of the issue, but there are still some who don’t truly understand the extent of the problem. Buddy Bags president Kathy Lane and her board of directors are working to change that by raising awareness in the community of the issue of food insecurity among children.
““We would like to reach out to the whole Dixon community,” Lane said. “With kids coming in and out of school, not everybody knows because either their kids are no longer involved or their kids are older. All of the businesses in Dixon know about it because we send information to them requesting donations, and the churches all know. More people than not in Dixon know, but I think knowing about it and understanding it are two different things.”
BAGS cont’d to page 22
CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM
BuddyBags of Dixon is a volunteer organization that helps in-need students at Dixon Public Schools get nutritious meals on weekends during the school year. Pictured are (from left) vice president Barb Fane, president Kathy Lane, volunteer Carrie Simonton and secretary Marylee Dogwiler.
BAGS cont’d from page 21
One of the first things people need to know is that the problem is getting worse. This year alone, the weekly bag tally was 50 more than in the 2023-24 school year, a reflection of the increase in the percentage of low-income students in Dixon Public Schools since 2018, despite an overall decrease in enrollment.
Low-income students, as defined by the Illinois State Board of Education, are those who are eligible to receive free or reduced-price lunches, live in substitute care or whose families receive public aid.
According to the Board, of the 2,386 Dixon students enrolled during the 2024-25 school year, 54.4% — or just under 1,290 — were classified as low-income; that’s up from the 47.5% — just under 1,280 — that were low income during the 2018-19 school year, when enrollment was at 2,716 students. The number is also higher than the state average, which remained around 48 to 49 percent during that same time span. The numbers also tell another story, and it’s one that Buddy Bags secretary Marylee Dogwiler fears might not have a happy ending.
BAGS cont’d to page 23
Among the factors contributing to the enrollment decline is the closure and downsizing of larger businesses, which creates a problem that’s twofold: Not only does it make raising money for programs like Buddy Bags more of a challenge, fewer businesses means fewer people in town, and that’s a problem that affects the entire community.
“My biggest concern is getting businesses in Dixon more involved with the children in town,” Dogwiler said. “Without the children in our town, we’re not going to succeed and we’re not going to grow. That’s what’s most important; economic development can’t happen without people remaining here, and our school systems are a part of that.”
Each Buddy Bag contains food that feeds a child for a weekend: two breakfasts, two lunches, two snacks and two drinks. They consist of a combination of nutritional foods in single servings, donated by individuals and local businesses (a list of needed items appears on page 25)
At the beginning of the school year, Buddy Bags leadership goes to each of Dixon’s public schools — Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Reagan, Dixon High and Thomas Dempsey Day School — to share new information about the program and distribute forms to each student, whose parents fill out the form with the number of bags requested and any allergy concerns. Completed forms are turned into the school, which tells Buddy Bags the number of bags their school needs.
Buddy Bags volunteers meet each Wednesday evening during the school year from September to May at St. John Lutheran Church to pack bags, which are delivered to schools on Thursdays, which then distributes them on Fridays.
BY THE NUMBERS
Low-income students: Dixon Public Schools
Although the overall enrollment at Dixon Public Schools has decreased since 2018, the percentage of low-income students has risen during that same span and has exceeded statewide averages in most of those years. Low-income students, as defined by the Illinois State Board of Education, are those who are eligible to receive free or reduced-price lunches, live in substitute care or whose families receive public aid.
— Source: Illinois State Board of Education Report Card
BAGS cont’d to page 25
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So as to avoid any possible feelings of embarrassment, discretion is part of the program. Schools don’t share student names with Buddy Bags, and when the bags are distributed, the school does it privately, by placing the bags in students’ lockers.
The three-day process begins on Tuesday if there is no school on Friday, and bags aren’t distributed when school is on week-long breaks. The program also does not deliver during the summer, which is when the Lee County United Way’s Summer Eats program serves the community.
When the food runs out, it’s up to the volunteers to procure more, and they try to support the community as much as they can, shopping in Dixon whenever possible, Lane said.
Barb Fane, vice president and volunteer coordinator, has been with Buddy Bags since its inception. She’s seen activity grow eight-fold in the past 12 years, which has meant rounding up more volunteers to help with their mission.
Volunteers are assisted on occasion from local organizations such as the American Legion, AFSMCE, 4-H clubs and Sauk Valley Community College’s Impact program. Clients from Kreider Services also have pitched in.
“It started with 30 kids, and it’s now grown to 250,” Fane said. “We said in the past that we didn’t think we could handle more than 250, but none of us can turn a kid away. Whatever it takes, we’ll find a way to feed these kids.”
While the work that volunteers do can be uplifting, sometimes the gravity of what they’re doing can be overwhelming.
Volunteer Carrie Simonton recalled a situation where one helper had trouble keeping her emotions in check while filling bags one day.
“There was one lady who was packing and she started crying,” Simonton said. “I turned to her and asked what’s wrong, and she said, ‘I had no idea we had this going on in our town.’ She came to help, but she didn’t know that the numbers were where they were at. That’s what I think we’re trying to impress upon people is that there’s such a huge need, and hunger should not be an issue.”
The program has applied for federal grants to help fund its mission, but money has been drying up in recent years. Corporate grants have helped, like the donations they’ve gotten from Casey’s and Pilot gas stations, and they’re also reaching out to places such as Walmart, Aldi and County Market for help, Lane said.
Fundraisers are held throughout the year and include cookouts at Oliver’s Corner Market, Quartermania, Bingo, guest bartending, raffle ticket sales, chili suppers and fundraising nights at fast food establishments, to name just a few. Buddy Bags also set ups a table at the Dixon City Market each summer to spread the word about the program and the issue of children’s food insecurities.
For volunteers, it’s about more than just packing a meal — it’s about knowing that they’re helping the children and the community. As they work side by side to ensure children get the nutrition they need, strong bonds are formed and a sense of purpose emerges.
“Not only do we have fun, but we’ve built friendships within this program,” Dogwiler said. “We all have one goal, and that’s to make sure that kids are provided with what they need.”
Donated items can be dropped off at St. John at 5 p.m. on Wednesdays during the school year, or arrangements can be made by contacting Lane at 815-677-3699. Monetary donations also are needed, and can be arranged online (buddybagsofdixon.org) or during packing day. Thank You cards are sent to all who donate.
“We appreciate anything anyone can do for us,” Lane said. “I don’t think people understand the amount of kids that we serve, and are in need. The most vulnerable are the ones who we serve, whether it’s socioeconomic or whatever reason it may be. As we all know: Economically, it’s a much harder time now than it was in the past.”n
Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.
Want to help? Be a buddy
Donations to help Dixon Buddy Bags can be made at gofundme. com/f/help-us-end-child-hungerin-dixon or via mail to Dixon Buddy Bags, 421 S. Peoria Ave., Dixon IL, 61021. Email buddybagsofdixonil@ mail.com or call 815-6773699 for general inquiries or for more information about the program, or call 815-677-3719 to learn how to become a volunteer.
Shopping list
Buddy Bags of Dixon welcome food donations. Below is a list of suggested items. Please note: All items must be single servings in small pop top or easy-to-open containers, and must be individually wrapped, shelf stable and within expiration dates.
Chicken or beef noodle soup
Hormel Compleats
Macaroni and cheese cups
Chef Boyardee pasta cups
Cereal boxes
Oatmeal pouches
Breakfast bars
Pop Tarts
Small 100% fruit or vegetable cups
Small pudding cups
Applesauce cups
Jello cups
Juice boxes (100%)
Small fruit snack packs
Animal crackers
Graham crackers
Cheese crackers
Pretzels
Granola bars
s far as Danielle Richardson is concerned, pets are people too.
They like to be fawned over and pampered, treated to a little TLC, and given some one-on-one time with someone who knows what they want — and just like people, no two are the same.
So when a customer comes into her grooming business, she and her staff like to make sure that every dog, and cat, has its day.
“Thanks fur the attention!” Furology groomer Kristina Batten gets some love from Bruno on June 13 at the Dixon pet spa. Happy pets mean happy clients, and owner Denise Richardson likes to see both: “I hope that when people leave here, they’ll feel like their dog wasn’t just a number.”
“We like to look at dogs as individuals,” Richardson said. “Depending on the hair cut they like to do, and the breed of the dog, there’s a lot of details and no black-and-white. What we like to pride ourselves in is that every dog gets their own, whatever they need.”
Even if it’s a makeover with a Mohawk.
At Furology Pet Spa in downtown Dixon, Richardson leads a staff of four groomers who specialize in making dogs look and feel their best: with a cut and style, nail trim, bath, flea treatment, ear cleaning — they can even add a splash of color to their fur or a little zing with some bling. The spa also has a groomer who works exclusively on cats, offering grooming, baths and nail trims on select days, particularly those when there are no dogs around.
FUROLOGY cont’d to page 28
ALEX T.
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T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM
Treating each client’s pet like it’s one of their own comes naturally for Furology owner Danielle Richardson. Here, she grooms her dog, Bruno, on June 13 at her pet spa. “I want them to come in here and be like, ‘My groomer knows my dog and cares about my dog,’” she said.
FUROLOGY cont’d from page 27
In an age where pets are pampered like family, Richardson has built more than a grooming service, she’s created a spa experience — and who doesn’t like a day at the spa?
Richardson’s philosophy of custom care for her customers is a philosophy she applies to her groomers, too: They each have their own set schedules and their needs are taken care of as well to make them heard and happy.
Richardson has worked in pet-related jobs since she was 16, and grew to appreciate the grooming aspect over the years, learning and studying what it takes to do it well and safely. She eventually decided she wanted to get into the grooming business, establishing a place of her own where she could have more flexibility as opposed to working for someone else.
FUROLOGY cont’d to page 29
After years of saving money and weighing the options of having either a mobile service or a brick-and-mortar location, Furology opened in April 2024.
“When I first became a groomer, I always knew that from day one I would want to have my own place,” Richardson said. “It was more-so that I just wanted to be able to have the freedom to explore different grooming methods, versus when you work in more of a corporate setting where you have to do things a certain way.”
As Richardson assembled her staff from friends and former co-workers, she knew the idea of having another pet grooming business in town was welcomed in the community. How? Because she was booking appointments before she had even officially announced Furology’s opening.
“We have been very, very busy since day one,” Richardson said. “I remember panicking when we opened because I was taking the plunge and was so scared. I was in tears thinking, ‘What if nobody calls and books?’ From before we were even open, before
we even announced it, we were booked out weeks ahead of time. It hasn’t slowed down since.”
Appointments often are booked around a month out, which is important to consider when pet owners schedule follow-ups; cancelling an appointment or going too long without a grooming creates a risk of fur getting matted or overgrown, Richardson said.
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Ali Rex gives Buddy a brushing June 13 at Furology in Dixon. Rex said she enjoys her job’s flexible schedule, which helps her take the time to make connections with clients and their pets: “We have great relationships with ... our regulars,” she said.
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For the pampered pet, grooming is more than just a quick clip and comb. Pets’ personalities are taken into account, and there are different products to be considered. Furology uses a large selection of shampoos and conditioners to find the right fit for the fur, promote healthy skin, and deal with any potential allergies or other issues.
For those who want a little extra flair with their fur, creative grooming also is offered — services including fur coloring (camouflage canine or leopard print pooch anyone?), fun styles such as Mohawks and pony manes, and even small jewelry with nontoxic gems affixed with pet-safe glue.
For safety reasons, creative grooming is available only to established customers, which allows groomers to get comfortable with clients’ dogs and the dog to get comfortable with grooming.
“We get very excited when somebody new comes in who wants to do something,” Richardson said, but it’s best to make sure the dog is up for a creative grooming. “It is for dogs that like the extra attention, and we don’t do it for a dog that doesn’t like grooming because you’re just forcing that dog to go through extra for the sake of people who want to look at it.”
If a dog does feel a little skittish about getting groomed — an antsy pet, one who urinates, or other issues — the staff will let the pet owners know what’s going on and even offer advice to help deal with similar situations at home.
One of the ways the staff keeps pets calm is to offer them a “Pup Cup,” a treat with whipped cream and ground beef liver, topped with a natural dog treat. They’re also available for purchase.
Many pet owners don’t see the professional grooming process in action, and may not know what it’s like from a groomer’s perspective, Richardson said.
“I think a lot of people think that you’re just playing with puppies all day, giving them a bath, and that it’s super cute, but we get peed on, pooped on, bit, scratched, head-butted or kicked,” Richardson said. “Grooming can be very hard on the bodies, most groomers wind up having back issues and carpel tunnel. Most dogs do not want to be groomed, so you are trying to do it safely for the dog and still get it done. With smaller dogs, their mouths are closer to their bodies and it’s hard to avoid them biting you.”
Furology also participates in community outreach programs such as Tools for Schools for Dixon Public Schools, with discounts for those who donate school supplies; a Christmas fund-drive for Shining Star to support abused children, and hosting a dog parade during Petunia Fest. It also provides free grooming services for local pet shelters to help with adoption.
groomed
Ali Rex not only handles dog grooming, but also provides much of the spa’s social media content on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, highlighting the services Furology offers, posting photos, schedule openings and more. Like Richardson, she’s got a background in grooming, and she’s seen dogs grow from pups on up.
“It’s easy for us to connect with a lot of animals and a lot of people,” Rex said. “We have great relationships with the owners of our regulars, but to build those relationships and groom them from being a puppy to old age, it builds such a strong connection with the pet itself and you can see the dog open up and relax during the grooming process versus being a ball of nerves and being hard to calm down.”
Furology Pet Spa, 204 W. First St., is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Find it on Facebook, Instagram (@furologypetspa) and TikTok (@furology.pet.spa), go to furologypetspail.com or call 815590-3160 to schedule appointments or for more information.
Rex also enjoys working for a place that allows her the flexibility she needs to raise a family.
“I love the freedom with my schedule,” Rex said. “Previously working at a corporation store, I loved the people I worked with, but there was a certain schedule you had to work with. It’s nice that I can get to my kids’ activities.”
Working in an environment that makes both pet and groomer feel good when they come through the door has kept Furology busy since its first day, and it’s success that Richardson wants to see continue.
“I hope that when people leave here, they’ll feel like their dog wasn’t just a number,” Richardson said. “I don’t want people to think that it’s just an assembly line for pets. I want them to come in here and be like, ‘My groomer knows my dog and cares about my dog, and is going to help me take care of my dog in the best way.’ We have clients that have known us for years who have had dogs that have passed. It’s not our dog, but it’s a dog that we’ve known for a long time, and it’s hard on us. I just want everyone knowing that we’re treating their dog as if it was our dog.” n
Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.
PHOTOS: FUROLOGY FACEBOOK PAGE
irefighters work in a profession where every second counts, courage is a valuable commodity, and trust is non-negotiable.
When the call goes out they rush in. Whether it’s a medical emergency or a house fire, they have to do their job like someone’s life depends on it, because often it does.
And when they enter burning building, they have to support each other like their own life depends on it — they need to know someone has their back. It’s a bond of trust born from months of training and serving with fellow firefighters who become like a second family, and recently Dixon’s fire departments have welcomed some new members to the family.
From July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025, four new firefighters joined the ranks of those helping to protect Dixon and its rural areas: one at the Dixon City Fire Department and three at the Dixon Rural Fire Protection District, serving under chiefs Ryan Buskohl and Dustin Dahlstrom, respectively.
They’ve trained in smoke-filled chambers, rappelled from rooftops and dragged lifeless dummies through infernos — all to prepare for a job where a moment’s hesitation can mean the difference between life and death. As the quartet of new recruits to the ranks stands ready for respond, they’re doing so with focus and anticipation, knowing that the people they encounter are often at their most vulnerable, facing fear and uncertainty. They’re also filling positions that have been a challenge to fill. Recruitment of new firefighters continues to be an issue nationwide. Like many fire departments across the nation, one of the chief issues is the ongoing efforts to recruit and retain staff. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, an average of about 25,700 openings for firefighters are projected each year over the next decade, as firefighters move on to a different job, retire, or exit the labor force.
One of the ways that local departments are combating the issue is by forming candidate pools among nearby departments. Both Dixon City and Dixon Rural are part of a candidate cooperative with departments in Byron, Oregon, New Milford and Rock Falls where prospective firefighters and EMTs can take one written test to be eligible for hire at any of the six departments. For those who want to know more about becoming a firefighter, contact either Dixon City Fire (815-288-3323) or Dixon Rural (815284-6897); or email saukvalleyfdtesting@gmail.com for more information.
Regardless of how someone becomes a firefighter, the spark starts somewhere. Maybe it was when they saw big red trucks roar to life on TV as child. Maybe a firefighter helped them at some point in their own life. Maybe they’re following in a family member’s footsteps. Or maybe they were just one of those kids who said, “I wanna be a firefighter when I grow up” — and they become one.
In this issue of Dixon Living we’ll tell some of those stories behind the badge, in the firefighters’ own words (and in the next issue of Dixon Living, coming out this fall, we’ll do the same with the newest Dixon police officers, as well as catch up with Ryan Bivins, Dixon’s new police chief).
Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.
What inspired you to become a first responder?
My inspiration for be a first responder definitely comes from my dad, Brad. Seeing as he was a Dixon Police officer for about 30 years, I grew up in that life. I knew I always wanted to help people. So, knowing now the sacrifices he made to provide for our family has really been put in a different perspective now that I’m in a similar situation.
What did you learn the most from your training experiences, and what was that experience like for you?
I learned a lot about myself and how far someone can push themselves when it seems like there’s nothing left to give. We often train to exhaustion and you learn a lot about yourself in those hard times. Not only that, but I’ve also realized that I will never know everything in this job — there is always more to learn. Lastly, the amount of training required is probably more than people think. We train so much because people expect perfection every time they call us, so that’s what we strive for.
What has it been like working at Dixon City, and for your department heads?
Other than raising my 1-year old daughter, Vivian, working at the Dixon Fire Department has been the most challenging and rewarding experience of my life. As for my department heads, I can’t speak for them. I just hope they’re glad they gave me the call, because I definitely am.
SIBLEY cont’d to page 36
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Are there any aspects of the job that you think the public misunderstands?
I think if there’s one thing the public doesn’t understand, it’s the pressure of the job. It could be a slow day with little to no calls, but when that tone drops at 3 a.m. and someone is calling you to fix the worst day of their life, you have to do everything you can to do that.
What is your favorite part about your job?
My favorite part about my job is probably being the person that the kids look up to. Knowing I was once one of those kids thinking how cool it would be to ride in a fire truck or put on that cool gear. Now to be that person who they run up and give a hug or a high-five to, because they look up to you. It’s a great feeling.
How has being on the department helped you to understand life a little better?
Being on the department has taught me the importance of respect and being kind. In the fire service, respect is strictly earned and it can be taken away at any moment. It teaches you a lot about how others should be treated. It never hurts to be
kind to someone who’s having a bad day, and basic manners go a long way.
What do you like and appreciate the most about the Dixon community?
What I appreciate about this community is most people wanting to help one another, and they should. It’s something you don’t see too often these days.
Have you had a mentor or senior officer who’s been particularly helpful?
Without a doubt it’s Capt. Aaron Brown. Everyone on the department has been helpful, but I think I speak for all the guys when I say he is a great teacher and leader. Ever since day one, I’ve respected him, and it doesn’t take long to realize how he got where he is today. I have learned very valuable lessons from him and he is always prepared to share his years of knowledge and experience. He leads by example and would never ask someone to do something he hasn’t done, or is willing to do, himself. A great leader who always tries to do what’s right, no matter what. I think everyone could learn a thing or two from him. n
Brown
What inspired you to become a first responder?
Being a first responder was never something I knew I wanted to do until I started doing it and training for it.
What did you learn the most from your training experiences, and what was that experience like for you?
I’ve learned from training experiences that progress is made outside of your comfort zone and that you have to be uncomfortable to get comfortable.
What has it been for you like working at Dixon Rural, and for your department heads?
I’m grateful to be a part of the family at Dixon Rural and to be a part of a highly skilled team of individuals under some of the most knowledgeable leaders to ever be a part of the fire service.
Are there any aspects of the job that you think the public misunderstands?
I think the public misunderstands that the
training is non-stop for your whole career, along with the amount of things we do as a department. Besides fire and EMS, we also do water rescue, tactical rescue and mutual aid for the surrounding areas.
What is your favorite part about your job?
My favorite part of the job is having the power to make somebody’s worst day a little better, and being a part of a team that is always improving and excelling at what we do.
How has being on the department helped you to understand life a little better?
It has helped me understand that everyone has a purpose whether they know it or not.
What do you like and appreciate the most about the Dixon community?
I appreciate the family and friends that I have here, and that this is the place where I grew up, and I get to see the community in a different light and be a part of helping the community.
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LONG cont’d from page 37
What inspired you to become a first responder?
To help the community and make a difference for the better in someone’s life.
What did you learn the most from your training experiences, and what was that experience like for you? Train until you can’t get something wrong.
What has it been for you like working at Dixon Rural, and for your department heads?
It has been phenomenal. It has been a smooth transition from POC [paid-oncall] to full time. The administration is very family oriented and supportive. Are there any aspects of the job that you think the public misunderstands?
Have you had a mentor or senior officer who’s been particularly helpful?
There have been a lot of people who have been helpful with their knowledge. Chief Dahlstrom was the one who gave me the bug to start firefighting and got me into it.
We don’t sit and just wait for fires. We provide a wide range of services from EMS to technical rescues and water rescues.
What is your favorite part about your job?
Every shift is different. There isn’t a lot of mundaneness.
How has being on the department helped you to understand life a little better?
Sometimes people have bad days, the goal should always be to make their day a little better.
What do you like and appreciate the most about the Dixon community?
The support from the community, such as when people drive by and honk and wave when we’re working in the bay. n
Assistant Chief “Sparky” [Derek Storey] has been a great mentor and helped me through times where it was needed and has trained me hard and tough to be able to have the right tools and knowledge to improve and exceed expectation on and off the job. Firefighter Cody Schau has also been very helpful with working with me and handing down his knowledge and experience so that I can be better. n Dahlstrom
What inspired you to be come a first responder? It was always a thought in the back of my mind growing up, but my time helping people in the Coast Guard really solidified that this is what I wanted to do.
What did you learn the most from your training experiences, and what was that experience like for you? It’s difficult to pick just one thing, I learn something new every time I work. Because I’m new, my first couple of years will be packed full with training.
ship is great and I’m glad that I have so many experienced people to learn from.
Are there any aspects of the job that you think the public misunderstands?
It seems that the biggest misconception is the amount of medical versus fire calls that we run. I guess some people hear “fire department” and don’t think about the EMS side of it.
What is your favorite part about your job?
What has it been for you like working at Dixon Rural, and for your department heads? It has been a fantastic experience; I couldn’t think of a better job. The leader-
I really love that it’s my job to make a positive difference in people’s lives. I’ve always found joy in helping people.
Working as a firefighter gives you a window into many people’s worst days; that can really help you take a step back and understand what’s worth getting worked up about and what’s not.
What do you like and appreciate the most about the Dixon community?
I grew up in Dixon and have always loved it here. What I appreciate most is the bond that I feel I have with Dixon and its people. I’m stoked to be back here serving this community.
Hey
How has being on the department helped you to understand life a little better?
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Have you had a mentor or senior officer who’s been particularly helpful?
Cap. Matt Hey, firefighter Jason Hemmer and firefighter Tanner Cole have all taken a lot of time to teach me, which I’m extremely grateful for, and I’m sure will continue to do so. That’s every guy on my shift. Basically there’s a great culture for learning and teaching around here. n
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