Sauk Valley
Business Journal Vol. 19, No. 1
• ‘Braking’ Bad Habits Is Driving School’s Goal – Page 6
Sauk Valley Media
• Farmhouse Rustique Shows Signs Of Success - Page 8
Spring 2016
• Gambling Parlor A Quiet Place To Try Your Luck – Page 18
FACTORY WHIPPED INTO SHAPE AS THE NEW HOME FOR FITNESS CENTER ~ Page 10
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SAUK VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL
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Welcome ... to the Spring 2016 issue of Sauk Valley Business Journal INDEX OF STORIES Taco Stan’s ....................................................5
Treasure Chest ............................................14
Brake-Thru Driving School ..........................6
Grubsteakers ...............................................16
Farmhouse Rustique ....................................8
Yesterday’s Furniture .................................17
Warehouse Fitness .....................................10
Luck on First ...............................................18
Whiskey Barrel Saloon ...............................12
A Furry AffHair – Primp Your Pet ..............19
On the cover
Sterling’s former Franz Manufacturing building now houses Warehouse Fitness. Story, Pages 10-11. – Alex T. Paschal, Sauk Valley Business Journal
The staff of Sauk Valley Business Journal Publisher: Sam R Fisher Advertising Director: Jennifer Heintzelman
Advertising Sales: Jill Reyna Business Journal Editor: Jim Dunn
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BUSINESS PROFILE
New restaurant spices up downtown Unique to Taco Stan’s is the Taco Sandwich
Stop in at Stan’s Taco Stan’s, 408 E. Washington St., is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday and Monday, from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and from 10:30 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. Call 815-732-4500, go to tacostans.com, or find it on Facebook for a menu or more information.
BY SARAH ZUNIGA Special to Sauk Valley Business Journal
OREGON – If you haven’t been out to eat in Oregon lately, there’s a new resident in town who hopes you stop by for a visit: His name is Stan and he’s got a menu full of Mexican food. Taco Stan’s, 408 E. Washington St., opened in December. Owner Zack Stanley, 32, saw a need to bring some variety to the town’s menu. “I want to see Oregon be more diverse,” he said. Stanley, who has lived in the Oregon and Dixon area for about 20 years and is an
Sarah Zuniga/Special to Sauk Valley Business Journal
Taco Stan’s owner Zack Stanley (left) and General Manager Chris Garrett serve a variety of Mexican munchies at the new restaurant at 408 E. Washington St. in Oregon. Oregon High School graduate, was considering working in the music industry in Los Angeles. Instead, he and a friend, Chris Garrett, general manager of Taco Stan’s, decid-
ed to open the restaurant. “So far it’s been going good,” Garrett said. “We’re striving for excellence.” Taco Stan’s offers the customary burritos, fajitas, and
skillets, but unique to the restaurant is the Taco Stanwich, a pound of your choice of meat slathered between two slices of fried pita bread. Other customer favorites include the nachos supreme and chicken wings, with a selection of eight sauces, such as buffalo ranch and garlic Parmesan.
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SPRING 2016
BUSINESS PROFILE
‘Braking’ bad habits is school’s goal Brake-Thru drives home valuable lessons BY JERMAINE PIGEE Sauk Valley Business Journal
ROCK FALLS – The next time you take your eyes off the road for “just” a few seconds to glance at a text message, think about this: At 55 mph, that’s enough time to cover the length of a football field – and it’s like doing it blindfolded. “Anything can happen in that small amount of time,” said Chase Randall, owner of Brake-Thru Driving School in Rock Falls. DRIVING CONTINUED ON 7
Michael Krabbenhoeft/Sauk Valley Business Journal
Brake-Thru Driving School owner Chase Randall teaches a course for drivers who want to get out of the hot seat and back into the driver’s seat, as well as for drivers who just want to brush up on some behind-the-wheel basics.
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SAUK VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL
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Young and mature drivers both can benefit DRIVING
CONTINUED FROM 6
If you’re lucky, those few seconds won’t send you to the hospital, but they might send you to Randall’s school, where distracted driving is one of the many topics covered in a remedial driving course. The school at 1041⁄2 E. Third St. has been in business for just over a year, and Randall began offering the remedial course in August. The course is designed to help drivers develop safe and mature driving habits – whether they want to or not. Young drivers who receive two tickets in 24 months could be sent to the class by a judge, Randall said. The drivers range in age from 15 to 23, and they’ve been given tickets for infractions such as speeding, driving under the influence, and texting while
Michael Krabbenhoeft/Sauk Valley Business Journal
The classroom at Brake-Thru Driving School in downtown Rock Falls, where videos supplement the driving courses. driving. The 4-hour class is offered only 2 days a week, so customers are taken on a firstcome, first-serve basis. “I’m one of 21 schools in the state to have this class,” Randall said. “I’ve had kids from all over the state take this
class. It all depends on the court system and whatever the judges mandate.” During the course, Randall supplements his discussions with videos, which come with quizzes at the end of each lesson. Randall goes over the
answers of the quiz with the students. He also takes time to talk about the dangers of alcohol and drug use. “In the first part of the class, I review the rules of the road,” he said. “Later on, we talk about stuff people probably haven’t thought about, such as their emotions and their behavior while driving. When people are emotional, they don’t realize how that affects their driving, because driving probably is not one of their top priorities.” Though the school’s classes are taken mostly by people who’ve detoured off the straight and narrow path, Brake-Through also offers classes to drivers both young and old who want a refresher course on driving habits. The classes go over different traffic situations and give students rigorous safety instructions to prepare them for safe driving and vehicle operation.
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BUSINESS PROFILE
Signs point to successful business Farmhouse Rustique fills a unique niche BY KATHLEEN A. SCHULTZ Sauk Valley Business Journal
DIXON — The Rutherford gals are big fans of HGTV and Pinterest. So when the opportunity arose recently to start a family business, the Dixon women decided to indulge their creative sides. Farmhouse Rustique, the business Natalie Rutherford started with her mom and sister, Ann and Nicole Rutherford, sells homemade signs at Reubin’s Relics antique shop at 1112 S. Galena Ave., and on Facebook and Instagram.
The artsy trio also designs furniture and holiday décor – shabby chic, primitive, slightly industrial or country farmhouse, or any combination thereof. They’ll do free in-home decorating consultations rife with advice on how to spiff up your living space, and monthly DIY workshops are in the works. Their goal: inspiring others to take pride in their homes through the art of decorating, Natalie Rutherford said. “Our journey began with the simplest of beginnings. What began as a simple hand-painted sign for one of our own homes has turned into a beautiful and thriving endeavor,” she said. “We get a lot of inspiration from watching HGTV’s ‘Fixer Upper’ with Joanna and Chip Gaines. RUSTIQUE CONTINUED ON 9
Michael Krabbenhoeft/Sauk Valley Business Journal
Sisters Natalie (left) and Nicole Rutherford and their mom, Ann Rutherford, are the creators of and talent behind Farmhouse Rustique in Dixon. They offer handmade wood signs, holiday décor, growth charts, centerpiece and decorative storage boxes, and handmade and refinished furniture. They also do free consultations for home decorating.
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‘Always an adventure’ RUSTIQUE
CONTINUED FROM 8
“We really hear our customers, just like they do. We offer the same kind of décor they do. We also get inspiration from the Shanty2Chic sisters, Pinterest and Etsy. “If you see a sign you like elsewhere, we can probably recreate it.” The turnaround time for a custom sign is about 2 to 3 weeks; and for a custom furniture order, about 3 to 4 weeks, she said. “We want everyone to be able to decorate their homes at an affordable price, which is why ... our prices are, 99 percent of the time, much lower than any price you find online.” Still, the idea of starting a family business took root online. They tested the waters on Facebook and Instagram, and went public with the business
on Sept. 1, after a resoundingly positive response. Natalie, who has a bachelor’s degree in hospitality and tourism administration and event planning management from Southern Illinois University, hopes Farmhouse Rustique will be a success, giving her the green light to start an event-planning business, too. “It’s been fun to run all the marketing and business operations for Farmhouse Rustique and incorporate my degree in it,” she said. It’s also wonderful having the opportunity to give back to the community, and to encourage shoppers to buy local, she said. “It’s always an adventure for us,” Natalie said. “From getting the most unique custom orders to being called to go to help take down a 150-yearold barn – it’s never a dull moment, and we are extremely grateful for that.”
Michael Krabbenhoeft/Sauk Valley Business Journal
Farmhouse Rustique creates wooden signs with sayings on them, as well as other pieces.
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BUSINESS PROFILE
Owner whips old factory into shape Former Franz building adds members-only fitness center BY BREANNE HUNTER Sauk Valley Business Journal
STERLING – A Sterling business owner is ready to flex his muscles in the fitness business, and his timing couldn’t be better. After all, what better time to open a new fitness center than 3 days after the new year begins? Let’s face it, there’s nary a New Year’s resolution list out there that doesn’t include those perennial favorites, losing weight and getting into shape. WAREHOUSE CONTINUED ON 11
Alex T. Paschal/Sauk Valley Business Journal
Colby Snyder opened Warehouse Fitness, a members-only fitness center, at the old Franz Manufacturing building in downtown Sterling on Jan. 4.
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Equipped to serve wide range of fitness needs WAREHOUSE
CONTINUED FROM 10
So, if you say want a resolution to become a reality, the owner of Warehouse Fitness is ready to sign you up. The members-only club opened Jan. 4 in the former home of Franz Manufacturing in downtown Sterling. It’s just the latest tenant to take a spot in the sprawling building, and the latest step in the owner’s personal goal. A self-professed “workout geek,” owner Colby Snyder said he’s excited about the next step in the former factory’s evolution. “We lost manufacturing here,” he said, “And my goal with this building was to repurpose it and make it a viable contributor to the downtown community.” During the past few years, Snyder’s turned the nearly 500,000-square-foot build-
ing into the largest private warehouse facility in the Sauk Valley. He renovated the front offices and added new flooring, bathrooms, and security systems. Half the building is used for his Midwest Wholesale Auction business, and the remaining is leased for storage and other businesses, including Muddy Paws Pet Complex. And while, as a businessman, Snyder hopes his latest venture will help his fiscal fitness, it’s his customers’ physical fitness that’ll be his priority. The business will be equipped to serve everyone from beginners to the extreme power lifters, with 24-hour access to 2 dozen Life Fitness weight machines, approximately 10,000 pounds of weights and free weights, including benches, three squat racks, and dumbbells from 1 to 120 pounds. There will also be a reception area,
locker rooms, 400 square feet of space for stretching and yoga, and a cardio lab with 20 cardio machines, including ellipticals, treadmills, steppers and bikes. Two certified personal trainers will be on staff who can go over nutrition and body composition with clients and use that information to help them reach their fitness goals. Group classes will also be offered, based on demand. BEYOND THE UNIQUE building and location, what sets Warehouse Fitness apart is the membership policy. Members will be allowed 24-hour, 7-day-a-week key pass access. Snyder has set the initial maximum membership level at 75 clients, but that number could increase if there’s enough of a demand. This will allow for a more personal, one-on-one relationship between client and train-
er. Memberships will range from $35 to $50 a month, depending on what package the client selects. All packages will be flexible, and clients will have the option to commit on a month-to-month basis. Snyder said he wants clients to feel comfortable and not pay for more than they are using. The expansive building will also allow Snyder to grow Warehouse Fitness. There are already plans to add a 3,000-square-foot CrossFit area this spring, as well as a 1 ⁄8-mile indoor running track. Snyder also plans to add a members lounge, where clients can relax, hang out and buy protein shakes. Snyder said he hopes the facility will keep people engaged, and he thinks his members-only, one-on-one approach will help. “If people feel more attached to a facility or a trainer, it will help keep them invested in a healthy lifestyle year-round.”
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BUSINESS PROFILE
Whiskey Barrel now serving food Signature glaze makes burgers taste oh, so sweet BY JERMAINE PIGEE Sauk Valley Business Journal
ROCK FALLS – When I bit into The Bounty Hunter Burger at Whiskey Barrel Saloon, I was caught off guard by how sweet it was. Was it from the bacon? The bun, maybe? I looked at the description of the burger a second time, and I noticed it included Whiskey Barrel’s signature glaze. It was so tasty, that I wanted to know the secret behind the sweetness. That’s when I approached the owner, Raul Molina, and asked him point blank, “What’s in that glaze?”
Michael Krabbenhoeft/Sauk Valley Business Journal
Whiskey Barrel Saloon in downtown Rock Falls recently opened its kitchen, which serves a variety of burgers, chicken wings and appetizers. The bar has been open since 2014. All he could do was stare at me with a devilish grin. “I can’t tell you what is in it,” he said with a laugh. The contents of the glaze
remain a mystery to me, but I do know this: It put the burger over the top. The Bounty Hunter Burger is one of the many things on
the menu at Whiskey Barrel Saloon, which began serving food Jan. 3. Molina, who owns the business with his wife, Jackie, opened Whiskey Barrel in the summer of 2014, but decided to wait a little while before serving food. “I wanted to get our hands wrapped around the bar first,” Molina said. “I left the space open for a restaurant and kitchen, but I didn’t do it right away when we had the building built.” The kitchen is located between the bar and stage. You’ll want to know that, because that’s where you’ll order the food. Then you can have a seat, and a drink or two, while you’re waiting for your number to be called. WHISKEY CONTINUED ON 13
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Photos by Michael Krabbenhoeft/Sauk Valley Business Journal
LEFT: Buffalo chicken wings at Whiskey Barrel Saloon are served with ranch dressing and slices of carrots and celery. ABOVE: The Bounty Hunter Burger is a 1-pound burger served with cheese and Whiskey Barrel’s signature glaze.
Having food makes it more like a sports bar WHISKEY
CONTINUED FROM 12
The menu is filled with bar favorites, such as hot wings, and the popular hamburgers. The Bounty Hunter Burger has a pound of ground beef
topped with bacon, tons of cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion and that mysterious signature glaze on a brioche bun. “I hope you are hungry,” Molina said before he brought the burger to me. The burger was packed with flavor, and that glaze worked
really well with the bacon and the pepper jack cheese. The menu also includes Mexican favorites such as tacos and burritos, which are made from a recipe inspired by Molina’s mom, Josephine. A variety of appetizers are available, too, such as French fries, beer-battered onion
rings, jalapeno poppers and mozzarella cheese sticks. “Having food makes it more like a sports bar in here,” Molina said. “There is nothing like this downtown.” If you’re hunting for a good meal, then the Bounty Hunter Burger is definitely worth the trip.
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SAUK VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL
SPRING 2016
BUSINESS PROFILE
New resale store is open in Rock Falls Treasure Chest sells new and used, but ‘it all looks new’ BY JERMAINE PIGEE Sauk Valley Business Journal
ROCK FALLS – A new resale and consignment store has come to town. Treasure Chest LLC opened at 221 First Ave. in February. Donna Miller owns the business with her husband, Jim, 64, and their son-in-law, Steve Eilers, 44. Donna and Jim are from Harmon; Steve is from Rock Falls. Jim plans to retire at the end of the school year as a custodian from the Rock Falls Elementary School District,
where he’s worked for the past 20 years. Donna Miller said the business will keep her husband busy. “He is getting ready to retire, and this is the next step in his life,” she said. “We talked about doing this for many years.” Before opening the store, Donna was a homemaker. She also spent time working at County Market. The shop will sell new and used toys, novelty gifts, jewelry, electronics, furniture, and other home décor items, but not clothing. “It all looks new, but some of it is used,” Donna said. TREASURE CONTINUED ON 15
Michael Krabbenhoeft/Sauk Valley Business Journal
Steve Eilers (from left), Jim Miller and Donna Miller, owners of the Treasure Chest resale shop in downtown Rock Falls, offer a variety of furniture, toys, jewelry and other household items.
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Photos by Michael Krabbenhoeft/Sauk Valley Business Journal
ABOVE: The Treasure Chest resale shop in downtown Rock Falls has a variety of furniture, toys, jewelry and other household items. RIGHT: The Treasure Chest has a little something to spice up your ensemble.
Not a thrift store, but a for-profit business TREASURE
CONTINUED FROM 14
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SPRING 2016
BUSINESS UPDATE
From rubble, restaurant rebounds Grubsteakers springs back to life after twister BY VINDE WELLS Sauk Valley Business Journal
ROCHELLE – A well-known Ogle County restaurant is rising from the rubble after the most devastating tornado to hit the area in recent memory. Grubsteakers, on the northeast corner of state Routes 64 and 251, was in the direct path of the tornado that tore through Lee, Ogle, and DeKalb counties on April 9, 2015. After months of planning and getting the necessary permits, owner Ava Mirtoska has started rebuilding on the same site; she hopes to reopen in May.
Earleen Hinton/Sauk Valley Business Journal
Construction work on the new Grubsteakers restaurant is continuing. The popular establishment, located at state Routes 64 and 251, east of Oregon, was destroyed by a tornado April 9. Customers and staff took refuge in the restaurant’s cellar. Since this photo was taken, more progress has been made. “I can’t wait,” she said. “I miss my customers. I can’t wait to see everybody again.” Thanks to the mild December weather, the site was excavated, the foundation poured, and the framework erected. The roof work was progress-
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ing, along with some of the outside brick work. Snow and cold temperatures slowed the work, but Mirtoska hoped to have the exterior finished so “then they can work on the inside,” she said. Thanks to several fundrais-
ers, almost $20,000 was raised to help rebuild, and Mirtoska said she appreciates the support she has received from her customers and the community. The tornado touched down in Lee County west of Ashton around supper time, then cut a northeasterly path through Ogle County to the small DeKalb County village of Fairdale, where two women were killed and most of the homes were devastated. Mirtoska was recognized by the Ogle County Board 2 weeks later for her actions that night. She saw the storm approaching and, with just minutes to spare, ushered her customers and employees into a cellar, where about a dozen people safely rode out the tornado, which destroyed the restaurant above them.
SAUK VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL
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BUSINESS PROFILE
Yesterday’s Furniture rises from ashes Focus shifts to refinishing BY AVALYNDA CASEY Special to Sauk Valley Business Journal
DIXON – Chris Apple was only 10 when he refinished his first piece of furniture, an oak mirror. His dad, Louis Apple, opened Yesterday’s Furniture, a used furniture store, at 316 S. Lincoln Ave., in 1990. Retail was big then, and refinishing was a side business. Then Louis got sick. His son, Chris, the youngest of 10 siblings and only about 21 at the time, bought it a year later, and has been running it ever since. “Antiques sold well in the ’90s, but kids want new furniture now,” Apple said. “The economy hurt us, and used/retail businesses in Dixon just hav-
Avalynda Casey/Special to Sauk Valley Business Journal
Chris Apple owns Yesterday’s Furniture, which his dad, Louis Apple, opened as a used furniture store at 316 S. Lincoln Ave. in Dixon, in 1990. en’t made it. Not too many get into refinishing because it’s a lot of work; it’s a dirty business.” The fire at his business on April 1 put him at a crossroads, with a decision to make.
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“Whatever we were going to do, we had to get going. All my used furniture was gone. So, I made the decision to get out of the retail business, and just focus on the refinishing.”
He set up shop in his garage, and in 2 days, Yesterday’s Furniture was back in business. The front building was razed. “God was looking out for me, because during the fire, we were working on the largest floor-refinishing job we have ever done – Franklin Grove Lincoln Way Inn,” Apple said. “ This job provided the resources we needed to make repairs, [put up] vinyl siding, and quadruple the workshop. “We were done in 2 weeks. We have new equipment, and we can do better work.” He also plans to add a building to hold customers’ furniture. Yesterday’s Furniture will celebrate its 25th year in April. Apple is grateful. “It was a struggle – a fight – it cost a lot of money, but we are still here.”
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SPRING 2016
BUSINESS PROFILE
A quiet place to try your luck Gambling parlor opens downtown BY JERMAINE PIGEE Sauk Valley Business Journal
DIXON – When most owners open a business, the last thing they want to do is keep things quiet. But the owners of a new gambling lounge in Dixon are hoping to do just that. Now that doesn’t mean they don’t want to get the word out about their business. They just want that word to be “quiet” or “casual,” and they’re betting that the idea of a more relaxed place to gamble will pay off. Eric Bushman and his wife, Dina, and Eric’s brother-in-law, David Dempsey Jr., opened Luck on First Gaming Lounge at 420 W. First St. in September.
Alex T. Paschal/Sauk Valley Business Journal
Eric and Dina Bushman have opened Luck on First, a gambling parlor in downtown Dixon. “This is basically just a gaming parlor where people can come in and relax – a convenient, discrete and comfortable place,” Eric said. There’s an ATM and payout
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machine on site, and Luck on First customers can munch on free snacks and refreshments. There’s also a mini-bar that serves beer only. Bushman said he doesn’t
want Luck on First’s focus to be the brew, but the bets. He said there’s a demand for gambling lounges that have less of a bar atmosphere. “A lot of bars have these gaming machines, but we wanted to do something where people don’t have to go in the bars to play the machines,” Bushman said. “People can go somewhere that is quiet, relaxed and not loud.” Bushman said he doesn’t want the business to be a place where people get rowdy. That’s why it’s open only until 11 p.m. on weekends. The business has five gambling machines, the maximum number allowed by state law. Eric said the largest payout at the business so far is $1,600. There also have been several $600 and $700 winners.
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SAUK VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL
SPRING 2016
PAGE 19
BUSINESS PROFILE
Get your pet a new do in Oregon the groomer at Polo Animal Hospital, 3077 state Route 26, Monday through Wednesday. “I love working with dogs, and I love what I do.” A Furry AffHair offers a variety of services, including nail trimming, massage, and pad therapy. She also grooms cats and will trim rabbits’ nails.
Sarah Zuniga/Special to Sauk Valley Business Journal
Pet groomer Arlette Howerton works on a client at her new shop, A Furry AffHair – Primp Your Pet Grooming Salon, at 217 Washington St. in Oregon. BY SARAH ZUNIGA Special to Sauk Valley Business Journal
OREGON – A former Sterling pet groomer has moved her business to Oregon. A Furry AffHair – Primp Your Pet Grooming Salon is owned by Arlette Howerton, who
formerly ran Primp Your Pet Grooming at 1813 Locust St. She opened Dec. 1 in her new spot at 217 Washington St. Howerton has been a groomer about 15 years. The past 2 years, she also has been
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It’s open Thursday through Saturday, from 10:30 a.m. until the last dog has left, but hours are flexible. Drop-offs are preferred, and owners should allow about 3 hours for a session. Call 815-677-3356 or find A Furry AffHair on Facebook for more information.
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Generations of experience and dedicated attention to your success. Shannon
Dixon, Sterling andd Rock Falls
1 S. Linn St. • (815) 864-2111
815/626-2511 • 8155/288-7211 Email: servicemasterclean@comcast.net
www.gogreenwithclean.com
Polo
211 S. Division Ave. • (815) 946-2777
www.fsbshannon-polo.com
Lake Carroll
24494 E. Payne Rd. • (815) 864-2125
S enior living with an emphasis on living. Rehabilitation/Skilled Care | Outpatient Therapy | Senior Housing
To learn more about our community in Prophetstown, call (815) 537-5175.
The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society provides housing and services to qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, disability, familial status, national origin or other protected statuses according to applicable federal, state or local laws. All faiths or beliefs are welcome. Copyright Š 2013 The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society. All rights reserved.