Musician strikes a conversation deal with fellow artists
Body shop helps customers smooth things over
Shannon sisters help power Illini’s run to the Final Four
Carroll County bridges span generations
The pas sage o f time doe sn’ t have to be written in s tone — volunteer s and donor s are erasing decade s o f damage at a local c eme ter y
Save the Stones volunteer Mike Risko, and H. Smith’s 1800s tombstone that was restored at Oak HIll Cemetery in Mount Carroll .
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Publisher/Ad Director Jennifer Heintzelman Magazine editor & Page design Rusty Schrader For Advertising Contact Jill Reyna at 815-631-8774 or jreyna@saukvalley.com Published by Sauk Valley Media 113 S. Peoria Ave., Dixon, IL 61021 815-284-2222 Have a story idea for Carroll County Living? E-mail rschrader@saukvalley.com Articles and advertisements are the property of Sauk Valley Media. No portion of Carroll County Living may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Ad content is not the responsibility of Sauk Valley Media. The information in this magazine is believed to be accurate; however, Sauk Valley Media cannot and does not guarantee its accuracy. Sauk Valley Media cannot and will not be held liable for the quality or performance of goods and services provided by advertisers listed in any portion of this magazine.
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inside Backstory tellers
A musician with experience in the banking business is bringing both his talents to the table to strike a conversation deal with his fellow artists, getting them in front of the camera to go behind their music.
Paying their respects
22
A new identity: Shop owner
28
Behind the bench
36
Spanning generations
A fender bender turned out to be a happy accident for a former suburban Chicago who took over one of Lanark’s oldest businesses.
A pair of Shannon sisters helped power the Fighting Illini’s run to the Final Four from behind the scenes.
The passage of time isn’t written in stone; thanks to volunteers and donors, decades of damage is being erased at a local cemetery.
Drive around Carroll County and you may come across bridges that carry more than just traffic — they carry a family’s legacy.
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Not every music stage is lined with bright lights. Sometimes the most where meaningful performances happen someone simply chooses to listen. Every song begins much earlier than s, its first note; it’s shaped by experience ly rare es sacrifices and stories audienc have the chance to hear. Jason Mlakar is giving them that nce, chance — and giving musicians a cha ic. mus r thei too, to share their stories and mus From his Shannon studio, Mlakar’ up, is sic content platform, CDF Music Gro isn’t that ng ethi som giving musical artists
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and great entertainers. songwriters. They’re great musicians person behind that — the Not a lot of times do people meet the ally gets them going. human, their backstory, what emotion comes through on camera.” That’s what I like to tap into, and it help set the tone. One Two distinctly different studio spaces lighting that has become is a dark room accented with colorful ws the primary setting for most intervie es a mbl amrese r and performances. The othe a musical landscape flooded with stre always easy to find: an audience. In ge oura vintage living room designed to enc ia outlets, Mlakar hopes his content ing content, podcasts, and social med gs and musicians to settle in, play a few son stands out from the rest. . them ped and sha sets that live share the experiences to perform stripped-down The content? Mlakar invites artists kar Mla s, the cert Rather than recording con videos and podcasts designed to let sit for in-depth interviews, creating te sese. stag ter cen take produces what he considers “intima wall of sound — music — not flashy production or a songs sions.” Each artist performs original er 2025, Mlakar has welcomed Since launching the project in Novemb n that atio nty, vers Cou con a oll before sitting down for uding some with roots in Carr artists from across the Midwest, incl on the life , d iting explores influences, songwr conversations that have attracte producing intimate performances and career a n road and the challenges of building ne. Along the way, Mlakar, a musicia hundreds of thousands of views onli es to as an independent musician. test passion is introducing audienc himself, has discovered that his grea CDF cont’d to page 8 the people who create music. one at ition pos r thei in n bee ing hav “It’s all interesting to me, especially Some of these people are great ed. inat fasc just point,” Mlakar said. “I’m A Shaw Media Publication | Carroll County Living | Fall/Winter 2026 | 7
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CDF Music Group’s Jason Mlakar (right) hopes his conversations with musicians leave audiences with a deeper appreciation for the people who created the songs. Behind the scenes helping him go behind the music is sound engineer Scott Clements (below), himself a musician, as bass player for Freeport’s Sophie Coyote.
O SUBMITTED PHOT CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMED
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CDF cont’d from page 7
Photos on previous page: Some of the artists featured in CDF Music Group sessions, from left: Nathan Dean, Sophie Coyote, Blue Rose, Marques Morel, Rachel Neal, Craig Gerdes, Joie Wails and Eli Parker.
While performances are central to each episode, the conversations are equally important. Drawing on years of leading business meetings and client conversations as a wealth advisor for First State Bank in town, Mlakar approaches each interview less like a formal question-and-answer session and more like a genuine discussion. Rather than following a rigid script, he asks the questions that naturally come to mind, hoping viewers leave with a better understanding of the person behind the music as much as the songs themselves. “It’s a conversation deal,” Mlakar said. “I’m okay at that, and it works for me because of my business experience. I’ve been having interviews, meetings and conversations with people about business since I was in college. Your job is to ask questions, and that translates into interviews. In the end, I try to make sure it’s entertaining. It’s genuinely stuff that I want to know.” CDF cont’d to page 10
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Some people have an autograph book; CDF’s Jason Mlakar has an autograph guitar, with signatures of musicians who’ve visited his studio.
CDF cont’d from page 8 The artists Mlakar has featured have ranged from acoustic singer-songwriters to hard-driving metal acts. Among those featured are Freeport musician Sophie Coyote, Mount Carroll’s Marques Morel and Pontiac country artist Aaron Newsome, whose family has ties to Lake Carroll. The first artist to appear on CDF Music Group when the project launched was central Illinois country musician Craig Gerdes. As the series has grown, so has its reach. During its first eight months, CDF Music Group featured 14 musical acts while building an audience of about 16,000 followers across its online platforms and generating roughly 700,000 streaming views. Mlakar hopes to surpass 1 million views before November and continues releasing new content from each recording session over several weeks, typically introducing a new artist every three weeks. The online response has exceeded anything he imagined, with musicians from across the United States and even overseas reaching out in hopes of making the trip to Shannon for a session. Over time, Mlakar has refined the operation, including booking artists farther in advance to better accommodate their touring schedules. The outlet has steadily grown through word of mouth and social media into a destination for independent artists seeking a wider audience. CDF cont’d to page 11
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CDF cont’d from page 10 “Just because of the videos online, I get texts from people every single and video quality, and genuine conversation, are day who want to come here, all over the country and people from other easier to achieve. countries, too,” Mlakar said. “When I started this, I thought I’d have maybe As his productions have expanded, Mlakar has 10 followers and it’s going to be fun. I didn’t care, I wanted to do something found help behind the scenes. After handling that was creative and with the creative energy that I’ve had all these years. Next the earliest recordings alone, he was joined by thing I know, a lot of these people are liking it.” sound engineer Scott Clements, who plays upMlakar wants to spotlight original musicians whose creativity often goes right bass for Sophie Coyote. Clements holds a unnoticed, believing writing and performing original songs requires a willingness master’s degree in jazz and commercial music to take risks, embrace individuality and share something deeply personal, he said. from the University of Denver and brings It’s originality, and the people courageous enough to pursue it, that he finds most years of experience as a multi-instrumentalworth celebrating. ist, arranger and music educator. Together, “The original goal was to highlight musicians that I feel like don’t get enough the two-man team continues refining every exposure,” Mlakar said. “It’s more of a music industry problem; if you’re not a session, with Mlakar saying his goal is to immegastar, it’s hard to get exposure. Aaron Newsome said it best on one of my prove something each time another artist walks podcasts: You have to be a social media influencer now to have success as a through the studio door. musician, which is true. Really, in every industry, that’s how you’re promotSponsors from the music and recording ing your core business.” industry help support the operation, with Mlakar The project is earning a growing reputation, and it has also opened reinvesting those dollars into improved production, doors beyond northwest Illinois. In July, Mlakar traveled to Kansas City additional recording sessions, wider distribution and to interview members of Jelly Roll’s backing band before one of the greater exposure for the independent artists featured country star’s concerts. on the platform rather than treating the project as simply a While he has occasionally conducted interviews remoteprofit-making venture. ly over webcam, he prefers meeting artists in CDF cont’d to page 12 person, where professional audio
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He’s on a roll ... Mlakar’s reputation as an interviewer has helped him land
acts like the backing band for singer Jelly Roll (above), in mid-July. The interview is available on CDF’s website and social media sites, and all streaming platforms. Each featured artist’s video is introduced with a summary of an interesting story of theirs — as is the case with Sophie Coyote of Freeport and Marques Morel of Mount Carroll (right).
CDF Music Group’s content can be found across social media and streaming platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Spotify. Go to cdfmusicgroup.com to learn more about it and to view recent interviews and performances. Are you a local musician looking for a spotlight? Fill out the website’s artist submission form.
CDF cont’d from page 11 Although the project has grown beyond anything he expected, the CDF name traces back to a lighthearted family moment. Years ago, while trying to come up with a name for one of his previous bands, Mlakar asked his then-7-year-old daughter for ideas. “She was like, ‘Cauliflower Dog Face,’” Mlakar said. “That’s so bizarre. We got a different name, but kept CDF as a pseudo record label. So when I got to doing this, I was wondering what I should call it. I thought of all of these different names, but said, ‘Why don’t I just stick with that?’ There’s no major meaning other than my silly daughter made it up, and it’s funny.” The playful name may make people smile, but the work behind it has deepened his appreciation for the dedication required to chase a musical career. Listening to artists describe the long drives, constant promotion and endless effort needed to build an audience has reminded him that success seldom comes from talent alone. “Stepping back from performing music to do this has made me realize that if you want to be an artist, and really pursue your career, it really is a 24/7 job,” Mlakar said. “It’s not easy, and it takes a lot of time and commitment. I have much respect for a lot of these people who do it. It’s way more intense these days than I initially thought.” n Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.
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Thank s to volunteer s and donor s , decade s o f damage is being erased at c eme terie s , where the monument al t ask the y ’ ve under t ak en is honoring the people and pioneer s who shaped local his tor y by giving their grave mark er s a mak eover Time has a way of softening the sharp edges of memory. It can also do the same thing to a headstone.
Across the rolling hills of Mount Carroll’s Oak Hill Cemetery, time and the elements have takent their toll on markers and memorials that have spent decades silently honoring the deceased. The weather, sprawling tree roots and slowly shifting ground have conspired to damage monuments in the cemetery. Some are tilted, some pushed over. Others are stained green with growth that obscures the names of the pioneers who helped build the community and the people who lived, and died, there. Left alone, those monument to passages and the perseverance of time would slowly disappear with age — but now the battle against time has gotten some reinforcements. The Save the Stones project at Oak HIll began in 2023, and since then its volunteers have cleaned and repaired more than 200 monuments, preserving them for future generations while inviting residents to help continue the work through donations and an adopt-a-stone program. RESPECTS cont’d to page 16
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Save the Stones volunteer Greg Bonar shows a group of stones of young children awaiting repair at Oak Hill Cemtery in Mount Carroll. Right: One of the more distinctive stones the group has restored: a memorial designed to look like a tree trunk.
PHOTOS: CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM
RESPECTS cont’d from page 15 Former alderman Mike Risko , who served for 14 years on the city council and as chairman of the city’s cemetery committee, leads the effort. He’s assisted with several restoration projects in Mount Carroll, including the 1841 Emmert Stone House on the north side of town, which is now the centerpiece of a park. Risko said the restoration efforts resonate with people for a number of reasons, some that are deeply personal. “If you’re interested in history, and the history of your community, if you’re planning to get buried here and you’re a local resident, you want to have a place to go,” Risko said. “If you have a family buried here, you want to help us maintain their plot and not let it get all weed-grown. If you take pride in your community, you want to support the historical items in the city — like with the Stone House and all of the other older things that we have. Those are reasons that resonate with people.”
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In 2015, Risko saw maintenance costs continuing to rise while many historic monuments were becoming unstable. Working with the Mount Carroll Community Foundation, he established an endowment fund to help provide long-term support for cemetery maintenance. The Save the Stones project became an offshoot of that effort. Initial donations of about $5,000 funded the first season of monument cleaning in 2023, and additional donations have kept the project moving since then. “Taking care of the cemetery, I saw that there were so many stones that were in trouble because they were leaning so much,” Risko said, and fixing them was as much about safety as it was about sentiment. “With a 5,000-pound stone, if you’re walking there and it happens to fall, you’re getting hurt.” RESPECTS cont’d to page 17
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RESPECTS cont’d from page 16 The first monument restored dated to 1844, marking the earliest burial at Oak Hill Cemetery. Established after community members recognized the need for a cemetery, Oak Hill has served Mount Carroll for nearly 180 years and contains the graves of many of the town’s earliest residents — including Daniel Christian’s, Carroll County’s only Revolutionary War veteran. The first step in the project was the one Risko took, walking Oak Hill to identify the monuments most in need of attention. Small white flags are placed by stones awaiting restoration. About 20 are currently available through the project’s adopt-a-stone program, an idea that emerged after conversations with Mount Carroll City Treasurer Amy Schneider as traditional fundraising began to slow. Those who adopt a monument receive a photo of the stone before it was damaged, for reference, and a more current photo, along with information about the person buried there. For many who provide support, the project has become a way for them to help preserve local history, while other donations come from families who want to have relatives’ monuments restored. RESPECTS cont’d to page 19
After years exposed to the elements, stones like this one, from the mid1800s, can be covered in mold and algae, making them practically unreadable.
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CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM
Save the Stones volunteer Mike Risko shows what H. Smith’s stone at Oak HIll Cemetery in Mount Carroll looked like before it was cleaned. At right is the restored stone. RESPECTS cont’d from page 17 “They have family buried there, and they want to preserve the history,” Risko said. “Maybe their family stones aren’t in bad shape, but they want to help preserve the history of the cemetery. They just care about the community and the history of the cemetery.” But regardless of their reasons, continued support remains essential. “We’ll need enough money to keep the program going through the year, and we just got enough to make it this year,” Risko said. “If the donations stop, the project stops.” The work requires patience as much as muscle.
Many monuments lean because decades of erosion gradually shift the ground beneath them, particularly on hillsides. Large tree roots can lift or crack heavy markers, while older, thinner stones were often broken after years of being struck by lawn mowers. “When you put a stone near a tree, it’s not only the roots that impact the stone, but it’s also the pollen — that’s why you see the green fungus on them,” Risko said. “Most of that is from the trees surrounding it.” Cleaning is done with D/2 Biological Solution, an organic cleaner designed specifically for historic stone, along with soft brushes that won’t damage the surface. Sandblasting and wire brushes are avoided because they permanently scar the monuments. RESPECTS cont’d to page 20
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RESPECTS cont’d from page 19 “The D2 is organic and works over time,” Risko said. “It gets into all of the pores and it kills all of the mold in there over time. It gets cleaner the more it rains on it, so the more water that gets on it, the more whiter it gets because it’s eating all of those organisms deep into the pores. The rain slowly washes the deteriorated mold out.” The heaviest monuments often require machinery to lift, reset and rebuild their bases before they can safely stand again. Volunteer Greg Bonar, who also restores monuments in Hanover, helped launch the project after Risko and his wife, Beverly Kilpatrick, connected with him. Together they organized a restoration class in spring 2023 to teach volunteers proper preservation techniques. “It takes a lot of water and D2 biological solution,” Bonar said. “There’s a lot of elbow grease, too. It’s satisfying, but it’s hard. It’s gratifying when you can bring them back. I hope they notice that they’re clean, so they can read it Among the stones reand are happy.” stored by volunteers is this Bonar also researches many of the people buried beneath the stones one, belonging to Maj. Leander he restores, often using the Find a Grave website to learn more about B. Fisk, a Mount Carroll native who their lives. Visitors frequently stop to ask about the monuments, and commanded a Union steamer during the conversations become opportunities to share Mount Carroll’s histhe Vicksburg campaign before being tory. Years ago, Oak Hill Cemetery also hosted Halloween history walks killed while leading troops in the Siege where volunteers dressed as prominent local residents buried there, of Vicksburg on June 25, 1863. The city and it gave visitors another way to connect with the community’s past. returned his body home for burial. It took Greg Bonar 3 hours to clean the nearly 10-foot stone.
RESPECTS cont’d to page 21
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cleaning or straightening monuments; it’s about RESPECTS cont’d from page 20 preserving the stories of the people they honor and One of Oak Hill Cemetery’s the generations who shaped Mount Carroll and most notable monuments local history. honors Maj. Leander B. “My perspective is pride,” Risko said. “If Fisk, a Mount Carroll you don’t take care of your older possessions native who commanded that have some sentimental value to many a Union steamer during families — and if you have folks buried there, the Vicksburg campaign it has to be of sentimental value unless you before being killed while didn’t like them — you would lose the ability leading troops in the to stay connected with the family, because Siege of Vicksburg on you just see it going away. When you pay reJune 25, 1863. The city spects to a family member, you feel good about returned his body home for being there. It shows that the city respects the Email Mike Risko at mriskojr@ burial. It took Bonar 3 hours families that grew up and made this town what gmail.com or call 815-244-1767 to to clean the nearly 10-foot it is. If you have pride in your town, you’re going learn more about to donate to the tall stone. to take pride in preserving its history. If you Save the Stones project at Oak Some veterans whose don’t, you’re going to lose that.” Hill Cemetery in Mount Carroll. stones were damaged face As volunteers continue marking the next fading into obscurity, but the monuments with white flags and searching for program brings them back into view. the funding to restore them, Risko says the mission is a simple one. “There was a Civil War veteran named “I just want to preserve history,” he said. “That’s my goal with doing Schilling,” Bonar said about another stone. all of this.” n “You couldn’t tell his name until now. The Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at Civil War veterans are important.” 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com. For Risko, the work goes beyond just
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ometimes life’s biggest turns begin with the smallest detours, such as a missed exit or a chance meeting. Sometimes they happen when misfortune and opportunity collide. For Micheal Gasca, an accident behind the wheel helped steer him toward a different career ahead of him — and like an accident, he didn’t see it coming. Nearly a decade ago, Gasca’s truck was damaged in a collision, which led him to not only reshaping his ride, but ultimately, his future, taking him from Chicago to Lanark and from employee to owner of one of the town’s longest-running businesses. 22 | A Shaw Media Publication | Carroll County Living | Fall 2026
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Gasca owns Lanark Body Shop, taking over March 1 after working alongside long-time owner Shawn Smith since 2017. It’s an adventure in body work that began with something temporary, but became something permanent, a profession that blended craftsmanship, creativity and problem-solving in ways he never expected. After the accident, Gasca turned to his Aunt Marilyn for help in finding a place to repair it. She referred him to Smith, her husband, to help him. “I had to fix my truck, so I called up Shawn and asked him for a oneweek internship,” Gasca said. “At the end of the week, he said, ‘Do you want to stay another week? I’ll pay you this time.’ The rest is history.” Originally from the Chicago suburbs, Gasca never planned on making collision repair his career — and judging by what he was doing before dealing with dings and dents, it might have been hard to imagine the path he was on would lead him to a body shop. He studied music production and engineering in college, and even worked as a French pastry chef specializing in cake art, but after spending a few weeks working in Smith’s shop, he traded frosting for Bondo and hasn’t looked back. BODY SHOP cont’d to page 24
Micheal Gasca, owner of Lanark Body Shop.
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BODY SHOP cont’d from page 23 Though he’s switched from cakes to cars, there’s still an art involved in what he does, and Gasca’s creative mindset still drives his work today. Whether repairing rust, rebuilding collision damage, refinishing classic cars or creating custom motorcycle paint jobs with flames and skulls, Gasca sees every project as its own puzzle. Repairing, rebuilding or refinishing, Gasca sees his projects as a chance to give his creative muscles a workout — every car is a canvas, every bike a blank slate, every truck a test of his talent. “Every repair may have the same procedures, but the way you go about it is always different,” Gasca said. “You have to be creative with pretty much every one of them. It’s never the same. That’s what I like about it, and it’s a lot of problem solving all of the time. It doesn’t get monotonous or boring. When you have a really hard one, that feeling when you finally overcome it — it’s a very sweet victory every time.” One of those victories came early in his career after a massive tree fell onto a Chevrolet Tahoe, caving in much of the vehicle and leaving it looking beyond repair. The project required weeks of painstaking disassembly, rebuilding and reassembly before the SUV was ready to return to its owner. BODY SHOP cont’d to page 25
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CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM
“This thing was really messed up,” Gasca said. “We had to take the whole thing apart, basically. It was so messed up and pushed in, but by the time we got done with it, it looked like nothing ever happened. It took a long time — several weeks and lots of parts. That was definitely one of my favorites because it was so in-depth, and you wouldn’t think you would fix something like that.” The shop handles collision repair, rust repair, custom paint work and restorations, typically bringing in two to five jobs each week while employing two part-time workers. Collision repairs aren’t the only projects Gasca has done. He once refinished a decommissioned World War II bomb, and restored Lanark Fire Department’s historic bell, which now hangs in the city’s new fire station. Among some of his favorite paint jobs: A 1947 Willys-Overland Jeep and a refinished 1959 El Camino that won Best of Show honors and appeared in Lanark’s Old Settlers Days parade. He also enjoys doing custom paint jobs for motorcycles, such as fire and skull motifs. As the shop’s new owner, he’s also introduced new methods. Traditionally, technicians repaired dents by grinding away paint, welding small metal studs to the damaged panel and pulling the dent back into shape. But modern vehicles use thinner metals and contain more electronics, plastics and advanced driver-assistance systems, making those repairs more invasive. BODY SHOP cont’d to page 26
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When people think of body shops and deer, they think of the kind that they might run into on the road, but Gasca’s done other deer work, too, like the job he did on a John Deere tractor. He’s also done paint jobs for motorcycles, like this Harley Davidson gas tank, jobs that are among his favorite projects.
BODY SHOP cont’d from page 25 Instead, the shop now uses glue pull repair. Special plastic tabs are temporarily attached to the painted surface with high-strength hot glue, allowing technicians to pull dents with hydraulic equipment without grinding off paint or applying heat. That helps preserve the factory finish while reducing the risk of damaging coatings, wiring and other components behind the panel. Like any craft, mastering collision repair came through trial and error. Gasca recalls an early challenge with a difficult white tri-coat paint match that became a lesson in perseverance. “I messed that up quite a few times,” Gasca said. “The punishment’s always the same: there’s always more sanding. One thing that Shawn told me when I was first starting was that you’re going to mess things up, but the best thing about it is that it can all be fixed. With this white tri-coat bumper cover, I just could not get it to match. I was here until 9 o’clock, two or three days in a row sanding and trying to get it — and then finally I got it.” BODY SHOP cont’d to page 27
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BODY SHOP cont’d from page 26 The business itself has served the community for more than eight decades, tracing its roots to 1939, when Morrel “Mope” Plager and George Lindt began repairing vehicles at the Smith gas station on South Broad Street. Ownership later passed through Joe Hutmacher, B.A. Kahly, Dick Rose and Floyd Stiele before Jerry James purchased the business in 1961. James sold it to Smith in 1996, and some of the shop’s earliest logos remain visible on the concrete floors of the work bays. Gasca said preserving that legacy mattered to Smith, who in recent years had been looking for someone to continue the business, but had wanted to make sure and pass it to someone who would appreciate what the shop meant to both him and James. “I’ve always wanted to be my own boss and own my own business,” Gasca said. “The day I knew I wanted to take over, I had been
Lanark Body Shop, 101 Tower St. in Lanark, is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Find it on Facebook or call 815493-6550 to arrange for a repair or for more information.
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working here a year or two. I wanted to be my own boss because I like getting out what I put in, and having a life where I can live comfortably.” One piece of Gasca’s earlier career — music — has followed him into the body shop. He found what he considers the shop’s most acoustically balanced spot for a single, small speaker that keeps music flowing through the workday. Buddy Guy is among his favorite artists to play when the day begins winding down. “Music is one of the most important tools to have in the shop,” Gasca said. “In a primal sense, it helps keep a pace. It fills that silent void. There’s certain welding music that gets you in that welding mood, or even a painting mood.” Although his path eventually led from recording studios and pastry kitchens to collision repair, Gasca said moving to Lanark ultimately changed his life, and understanding of other people, in many ways. “I think I was kind of a lost soul up until I moved out here from the city,” Gasca said. “I also fell in love with the area, too, because I live out on a farm now. It’s quiet there. The air is different. People are different here. People out here, when they ask how you’re doing, they’re actually asking how you’re doing. This community is pretty awesome.” n Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.
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M
MA CY
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MALLORY
ICZ IEW S I
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PHOTO PROVIDED BY MACY MISIEWICZ
hampionships in basketball are remembered for buzzer-beaters, roaring crowds and confetti falling from the rafters. Long before any of that happens, someone is labeling video clips, coordinating travel itineraries, editing photos, washing practice gear or making sure a recruit’s family knows where to be. Those jobs rarely make a highlight reel, but for a pair of Shannon sisters, they became front-row seats to one of the biggest moments in University of Illinois basketball history.
Macy and Mallory Misiewicz spent this past season working behind the scenes for the Fighting Illini men’s basketball program as student assistants, helping support Illinois during its run to the NCAA Final Four and a 28-9 season. Reaching college basketball’s biggest stage gave the sisters a perspective few fans ever experience — watching months of preparation culminate in one unforgettable tournament ride. “It’s cool for us, but we’re there to win basketball games,” Macy said. “Seeing our coaching staff put in so much work, and seeing our players, too, just how proud they were of themselves and how excited they were to be on that stage. That’s what’s pretty special to me. They put in so much work to get there.” SISTERS cont’d to page 30 A Shaw Media Publication | Carroll County Living | Fall 2026 | 29
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SISTERS cont’d from page 29 For Macy, 24, reaching that stage represented years of persistence. After graduating from Eastland High School in 2020, she enrolled at Illinois, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees while waiting for an opportunity to join the basketball program. The coronavirus pandemic delayed hiring, and by the time positions opened, interviews had already closed. She waited another year, and eventually became a student assistant during her junior and senior years before serving two years as a graduate assistant while completing a second master’s degree. She holds degrees in sports and business management. “I got my first masters done, and I was just planning on being a graduate assistant for one year,” Macy said. “It was never the plan for me to do two years. The opportunity presented itself a year ago last summer, and they asked me to come back for another year. I was like, ‘Okay, I’ll do it.’ For me, this year has meant a lot. On top of it, going to the Final Four for the first
time since 2005, it just made it that much more special. And having Mal to share this experience with again is awesome.” Mallory, 21, followed a different path to the same destination. A four-year basketball player at Eastland who graduated in 2023, today she’s studying advertising and public relations at UI — though she hadn’t necessarily planned on attending Illinois. “In an ideal world, I probably wouldn’t have gone to U of I,” she said, but “the financial aid it offered was substantial in comparison to other schools, and you can’t really turn that down from a school like that.” With her sister already part of the men’s basketball program, she joined it during her sophomore year. Having Macy already established within the program helped ease the transition. “It’s super nice being in an environment in which you’re not really accustomed to,” Mallory said. “It’s always changing, and it’s nice to have someone like Macy to go to, especially if you’re
unsure on something.” The arrangement worked both ways, Macy said. “I leaned on Mallory pretty heavily for all of the little recruiting things that I needed done,” she said. “I know the benefit of working with your sister. I knew she wouldn’t say no and she would get it done.” Working together wasn’t anything new. The sisters had already spent five summers working side by side at Lake Carroll’s West Marina, helping operate the concession stand and fuel pumps. Their familiarity with one another made working together in Champaign feel natural. Mallory said she often looked to Macy’s example, seeing firsthand the work ethic that had earned the trust of coaches and staff. As the younger sister settled into her role, she found herself following many of the same habits — showing up prepared, volunteering for whatever needed to be done and building relationships along the way. SISTERS cont’d to page 31
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SISTERS cont’d from page 30 Their bond occasionally produced lighter moments, too. Before one pregame shoot around this season, the team gathered at half court as it routinely does before practice, but this time teammates and staff began chanting Mallory’s name, she found herself taking an unexpected half-court shot. “It hit the front of the rim,” she said with a laugh. “I’m happy with that.” Basketball had also long been part of their lives. Macy served as a student assistant for Eastland’s girls basketball program while the Cougars made consecutive trips to the IHSA Class 1A state tournament, finishing second in 2019 before winning the state championship in 2020. Mallory played four years for the Cougars before heading to Champaign. At Illinois, though, the scale became something entirely different. Macy’s responsibilities this season centered largely on recruiting and basketball operations. When prospective student-athletes visited campus, she coordinated travel logistics, prepared itineraries, worked with families, completed NCAA paperwork and communicated with coaches throughout the process. On road trips away from the Illini’s usual confines of the State Farm Center, she also live-edited game photographs so Illinois’ creative and social media staff could publish images almost immediately. SISTERS cont’d to page 32
Mallory (left) and Macy Misiewicz pose with the Braggin’ Rights traveling trophy, awarded annually to the winner of the Illinois-Missouri rivalry, on Dec. 22, 2025. PHOTO PROVIDED BY MACY MISIEWICZ
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Mallory’s work with the UI team focused primarily on video. She’s seen below, at left, with Macy, in a camcorder monitor) PHOTO PROVIDED BY MACY MISIEWICZ
SISTERS cont’d from page 31 Mallory’s work focused primarily on video. She broke down game film, labeling clips so coaches could quickly find specific plays during practices and scouting sessions. As the postseason arrived, those responsibilities multiplied. While fans spent March filling out NCAA Tournament brackets, Illinois’ support staff prepared scouting reports for multiple possible opponents at the same time. If Illinois won, coaches needed information immediately. If another team pulled an upset, countless hours of preparation might never be used. For the tournament’s second round, after the Illini opened with a win over Penn, the staff prepared six games’ worth of video for both North Carolina and VCU before either opponent had even been determined. “No one expected VCU to win,” Mallory said. Everything prepared for the Tar Heels instantly became unnecessary. “All of the work that went into the team that lost just goes in the trash,” Mallory said. “But it was worth it because it preps us and makes the transitions way easier.” The attention to detail only intensified as Illinois advanced deeper into March. Illinois reeled off wins over Houston and Iowa to advance to the Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis — also home to the Colts of the NFL. UConn, who would go on to finish as runner-up to Michigan, ended their season. “The video prep that we do for postseason is insane,” Macy said. “We’re very meticulous and very detail-oriented, like being down to the minute of every opponent’s game when we’re prepping that for our coaching staff.” All of that work eventually led to college basketball’s biggest stage. Growing up, Mallory had watched the Final Four on television. Standing there in person proved almost impossible to comprehend. SISTERS cont’d to page 34
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SISTERS cont’d from page 32 “As you get older and watch more sports, you see how big it really is,” she said. “Seeing the coaching staff and the players and how they reacted to being there was really special. They make you feel like you’re part of it, too.” The moment for Macy represented validation for everyone whose names never appear in a box score. “When you’re constantly grinding and getting all of this work done, being on that stage is pretty surreal,” she said. “That’s the biggest venue that a college basketball game is played at. Being Macy Misiewicz holds a piece of the basketball in that arena and looking around net on March 28, after Illinois defeated Iowa and seeing all of the people is in the Elite 8 to advance to the Final Four. awesome.” COURTNEY BAY/ILLINOIS ATHLETICS Even during games, though, there was still work to do. ing Illinois’ victory over VCU. Macy points Still, any brief moment of entertainment to Senior Night against Oregon, when often became unforgettable. Mallory still reserve guard AJ Redd knocked down a remembers 7-foot-2 center Zvonimir Ivisic 3-pointer that sent the entire bench into blocking a shot before sprinting the floor celebration. and finishing with a thunderous dunk dur“Our entire bench goes crazy, all of the managers go crazy, and the coaching staff,”
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Macy said. “The entire arena is excited for this kid. Seeing those moments ... you absolutely still get to enjoy the games.” The work itself, however, had a degree of humility. Sometimes that meant editing thousands of photos. Sometimes it meant organizing recruiting paperwork. Sometimes it simply meant doing laundry. “It’s obviously not a glamorous task, and people don’t see you doing that stuff,” Macy said. “It needs to get done, and someone has to do it.” Having a positive attitude, both sisters said, is what separates good student assistants from great ones. “What you put in is what you get out,” Mallory said. “It varies from person to person. Macy put a lot of her time into it, and I kind of learned that you build relationships through that, so I kind of mimicked that in a sense. It’s definitely a big time commitment as well, and you have to be willing to sacrifice some of that social time to commit to bettering the program.” SISTERS cont’d to page 35
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SISTERS cont’d from page 34 “I was doing everything under the sun,” Macy said. “No job is too small. Even if it’s someone saying, ‘I need a coffee,’ I’ll go grab it. That’s how you build those relationships.” Long after the confetti has been swept away and the highlights fade, both sisters say they’ll remember something different: the people who noticed the work no one else ever saw. Mallory will return to the program next year, while Macy’s tenure concluded with the Final Four. For all the unforgettable moments, championships and Final Four memories, Macy said the greatest lesson was discovering that success can also be built by making sure the people behind the curtain know their work matters.. “What is so special about this program and this coaching staff is that they let you know just how important you are. There’s a lot of things changing every single day; you have to be on your feet and ready — things can go wrong, and it’s easy to point out the things that can go wrong, but what stood out to me with this program was that they have been really, really good about recognizing the work that you put in, being acknowledged, and making sure you feel appreciated for the work you do.” n Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.
Go to fightinEvery championship run has a team gillini.com/sports/ behind the team. Macy and Mallory mens-basketball/ Misiewicz (bottom right) celebrate with schedule for a breakfellow Illinois support staff after the down of the University Illini captured the NCAA South Regional of Illinois Fighting Illini title and advanced to the Final Four. men’’s basketball team’s PHOTO PROVIDED BY MACY MISIEWICZ Final Four run.
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PHOTO: CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM
Drive around Carroll County and you may come across bridges that carry more than just traffic — they carry family legacies, connecting today ’s travelers with the people whose roots shaped the count y ’s landscape and its history
s automobile traffic increased across Carroll County in the early 1900s, sturdier bridges were needed to carry the growing loads — but those bridges also served another purpose. At the time, most rural roads still had no official names, so bridges often became one of the few landmarks that could easily identify a location — and that meant they needed a name, which not only helped drivers, but county officials, too. Bridges required regular inspection and maintenance, so local highway departments needed an easy way to identify each structure when repairs became necessary. Not wanting to over-complicate the process, officials would often just name bridges for local residents or nearby farm families, their names memorialized in plaques affixed to the bridges they were named for. It’s easy to miss them driving by today; you’d have to get out of your car to see them, but they’re still there — relics tarnished with time that serve as reminders of the people whose Model T’s may have rumbled across those bridges long ago. In some cases, the plaques were lost to time as bridges fell into disrepair and were rebuilt or replaced when they could no longer handle the traffic of farm machinery and bigger cars, and the old names were lost, too, not carrying over to the new bridges. Then there are those that still survive the tests of time. Quiet old bridges on country roads that don’t carry much traffic, but still serve as tributes, more than a century later, to the families who
played a role in Carroll County’s booming agriculture. Some of the families the bridges were named for no longer live nearby, but their names are remembered through this bridge naming concept of the early 20th century. Locally, the naming convention is unique to Carroll County, as none of the other six counties around it have similar bridges named for farm families. Many of the county’s earliest concrete bridges were built under the auspices of contractor Ole H. Kleven, a Norwegian immigrant who came to Elk Grove, Wisc., in 1904. There, having learned the masonry skill in his native Norway, he established the Elk Mound Concrete Co. with two partners. In 1918, he went into business on his own and was contracted to work on several concrete bridges in Carroll County and other places between here and his home in Wisconsin. His name, along with those of highway commissioners, can be found on the nameplates of most bridges built from the late 1910s to the early 1930s. On the following pages is a list of bridges named, or formerly named, for local residents and families. Though it doesn’t have details about the people behind the names, owing to the scarcity of available information, the list still serves as an interesting snapshot of a time when people in Carroll County could have a chance at some small measure of immortality in the form of a bridge name. While the bridges would often outlive the families they were named for, the legacy of the people behind those names still lives on in the local landscape.
Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com. A Shaw Media Publication | Carroll County Living | Fall 2026 | 37
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Corbett Bridge — If it wasn’t for a redesigned and more streamlined way for motorists leaving Mount Carroll and heading toward Elizabeth, the 1927 Corbett Bridge, which crosses a branch of Carroll Creek on Corbett Road, would have had far more use and likely been replaced by now. However, the completion of the current alignment of the Elizabeth Blacktop on Elizabeth Road in the 1930s rerouted the highway about a mile north, sparing the bridge and leaving its concrete parapets in place, tucked behind the grass and greenery of the countryside, a picturesque portrait of a simpler time. Dambman Bridge — This bridge with concrete parapets is on Watch Dog Road between Otter Creek Road and Shannon Route, between Milledgeville and Lanark. It crosses Otter Creek, and was built between 1931-32. Elliott Bridge — Similar to the history of the aforementioned Corbett Bridge, this bridge, also with concrete parapets, on Davis Road between Mount Carroll and Elizabeth, crosses a branch of the Plum River, and was built in 1927 on the former alignment of the Elizabeth Blacktop. Hollowell Bridge — This bridge is on Otter Creek Road between Telegraph and Elm roads, between Milledgeville and Lanark. It crosses Otter Creek, and was built in 1959.
Johnson Bridge — When the original 1928 Johnson Bridge was replaced in 1987, the original nameplate was placed above the new one, with both plates embedded in the southeast abutment. The Johnson Bridge is on Sunshine Road, between Barclay Road and the Whiteside County line, east of Milledgeville. When the original bridge was built, it carried a former alignment of state Route 40 between Pilgrim Road and Milledgeville. Lamb Bridge — The oldest bridge on this list still extant, the Lamb Bridge was built in 1915 on Oil Valley School Road in the center of Argo Fay. It crosses a small branch of Johnson Creek. The nameplate has been wholly oxidized, but the wording is still legible. Linker Bridge — This bridge is on School Road south of Chadwick. It crosses a branch of the Rock Creek, and was built in 1957. Misek Bridge — This bridge on Meyers Road between Indian Trail and Skunk Hollow roads, north of Mount Carroll. The bridge, built in 1965, crosses Plum River. The former community of Plum River was located here; it had a Post Office from 1839 to 1846 before mail was sent to nearby Pleasant Valley in Jo Daviess County, another town gone from existence. FEATURED cont’d to page 39
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FEATURED cont’d from page 38 Rahn Bridge — This bridge is on Otter Creek Road between Brookville and Watch Dog roads, between Milledgeville and Lanark. It crosses Otter Creek, and it was built in 1962 Rister Bridge — This bridge is on Brookville Road at Otter Creek Road, between Milledgeville and Lanark. It crosses Otter Creek, and it was built in 1970. The Rahn and Rister bridges, along with the aforementioned Dambman Bridge, are named for land owners whose properties were next to one another. Sisler Bridge — This bridge carries traffic over a branch of the Plum River on Old Galena Trail Road, about 200 feet from state Route 78 north of Mount Carroll. It was built in 1925. The Old Galena Trail, one of the earliest major roads in the county, ran from Peoria to the lead mines in Galena. While Old Galena Trail Road, and the bridge, remain open, modern highways designed for heavier traffic have largely replaced it as a primary route. Smidt Bridge — This bridge is on Cyclone Ridge Road east of Dimon Road, south of Lanark. It crosses Rock Creek, and was built in 1954. This bridge only has short guard rails, with its
nameplate attached to one of them. Snyder Bridge — This bridge is on Brookville Road between Benson and Dimon roads, south of Lanark. It crosses Rock Creek, and was built in 1967. Tolbert Bridge — The second-oldest bridge on this list, the Tolbert Bridge is on Schell Road between Sunshine and Lovers Lane roads, west of Milledgeville. It crosses a small branch of Elkhorn Creek, and was built in 1920. Like the aforementioned Johnson Bridge, it once carried a former alignment of state Route 40 between Pilgrim Road and Milledgeville. Weber Bridge — This bridge is on Messmer Road north of Scenic Palisades Road, between Savanna and Mount Carroll. It crosses Plum River, and was built in 1962. William Hartman Bridge — Unlike the other bridges in this list, this one features the first and last name of a person — in this case, William Hartman, who farmed nearby. This bridge is on Thomson Road between Black Oak and Hartman roads, west of Fairhaven. It crosses Little Rock Creek, and was built in 1932. FEATURED cont’d to page 40
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The following bridge with names stand, but their names do not appear on the nameplate: Adams — Oakton Road south of Messmer Road, north of Savanna; crosses Camp Creek; built 1986 Bashaw — Scenic Palisades Road at Jacobstown Road, between Mount Carroll and Savanna; crosses Carroll Creek; built 1974 Bundy — Wacker Road west of Oil Valley School Road, southwest of Mount Carroll; crosses Johnson Creek; built 1982 Chambers — Ideal Road west of Wagner Road, west of Milledgeville; crosses Rock Creek; built 1974 Cook — Center Road north of Cook Road, between Milledgeville and Lanark; crosses Otter Creek; built 1962 Craig — Oil Valley School Road north of Wacker Road, southwest of Mount Carroll; crosses Johnson Creek; built 1986 Holesinger — King Road west of Argo Fay Route, east of Thomson; crosses Johnson Creek; built 1953 Fremont — Fremont Road between Sunshine and Maple roads, north of Milledgeville; crosses Elkhorn Creek; built 1966, currently closed and scheduled for rehabilitation Weidenhammer — Sunshine Road between Falcon and Elkhorn roads, east of Milledgeville; crosses Eagle Creek; built 1953, rehabbed 1985; wood approaches remain Zillhardt — Blue Mountain Road west of state Route 78, north of Mount Carroll; crosses tributary of East Fork of Plum River; built 1958 The list of bridges below reflects their former names. These bridges have since been replaced by newer bridges, which no longer bear these names: Bussell — Eagle Point Road next to Ogle County Line, between Milledgeville and Brookville; crosses Eagle
Creek; built 1915, replaced 2003 Caroline Mark — Loran Road, between Mount Carroll and Loran; crosses the East Fork of Plum River; built 1953, replaced 2001 Dimon — Willow Road, east of Dimon Road, south of Lanark; crosses Rock Creek; built 1915, replaced 1998 Hitt — Eagle Point Road west of Eagle Road, between Milledgeville and Brookville (within the small, former community of Hitt); crosses Elkhorn Creek, built 1923, replaced 1996 Kittridge — Straddle Creek Road at Canadian Pacific railroad crossing, northeast of Lanark (near the former railroad junction with the same name); crosses Straddle Creek; built 1938, replaced 2003 McKean — Otter Creek Road north of state Route 64, east of Lanark; crosses a branch of Straddle Creek; built 1957, replaced 2021 Plock — Thomson Road between Dambman and Wagner roads, west of Milledgeville; crosses Rock Creek; built 1947, replaced 2006 Potterbaugh — Telegraph Road west of Otter Creek Road, north of Milledgeville; crosses Rock Creek; built 1920, replaced 1993 Shafer — Middle Creek Road east of Shannon Route, between Shannon and Milledgeville; crosses Middle Creek; built 1917, replaced 1990 Schreiner — Elm Road west of Grange Road, between Milledgeville and Brookville; crosses Middle Creek; built 1917, replaced 2014 Schryver — Barclay Road at Ogle County Line, east of Milledgeville; crosses Goose Creek; built 1920, replaced 1988 Turnbaugh — Thomson Road between Demmon and Black Hawk roads, north of Fairhaven; crosses an unnamed stream; built 1963, replaced 2014 — Source: Carroll County Highway Department
Last, but not least ...
There’s one more bridge on our list — and it’s Carroll County’s largest. Country roads aren’t the only place you’ll find bridges named after someone. In fact, the county’s largest bridge — where state Route 64 and U.S. Route 52 cross the Mississippi River in Savanna — also is named after someone: former Savanna resident and NASA Astronaut Dale Gardner. Gardner served as flight engineer on the Challenger STS-8 research mission in 1983 and mission specialist on the Discovery STS-51-A satellite deployment-and-retrieval mission in 1984. Though his stay in Savanna was brief — he was born in Minnesota and his family moved to Savanna in 1961, before moving to Clinton, Iowa, shortly after Dale graduated high school in 1966 as valedictorian — his name lives on in the town that was his home for a time. The Dale Gardner Veterans Memorial Bridge opened in 2017, having replaced the 86-year-old Savanna-Sabula Bridge.
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