On a quest for vehicle parts and supplies? A new business can help
Dixon’s newest police officers are reporting for duty
A singer with local roots has found her happy place: Doin’ country
Golfers are more than just tournament champs, they’re friends
Seasoned performers are getting in on the act again, thanks to a new theater group that’s giving their talents an encore performance
CSB of Rock Falls opened for business in 1975 at 1801 First Avenue in Rock Falls, and today has grown to serve four additional communities: Sterling, Dixon, Morrison, and Fulton. It has been the dedication and hard work of countless team members, community partners, and customers that have made 50 years of service possible. Although this is a celebration of a significant milestone, it is also a time to reinforce its commitment to integrity, stability, and community as it continues to grow its legacy. The bank plans to celebrate its history over the next few months with special events at every branch location, giveaways, and community initiatives, to honor its history, engage customers, and reinforce its mission to remain an independent and highly successful community banking organization.
It has been our commitment to community that has allowed the bank to prosper and attain this 50 year milestone. Decisions are made locally alongside the employee that is your neighbor and with your well being as the priority. We are just a phone call away and always with a live voice at the other end that you recognize and trust. Our founding directors had a vision of what community banking should look like and the employees embody that vision each and every day, not only inside the walls of the bank , but outside in the community volunteering countless hours to support local needs. Working together is what makes the community a team that endures.
In the next few months, we will be transitioning to a new logo that embodies that mission. The two linked diamond shapes represent the strong bond between the bank and its staff in one link and the customers and communities in the other. The intertwining relationship between the bank and its customers and communities that it serves builds the team that endures.
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 Dixon Living? E-mail rschrader@saukvalley.com
Articles and advertisements are the property of Sauk Valley Media. No portion of Dixon 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.
Seasoned performers get in on the act, and their talents are getting an encore performance, in a new senior theater group.
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On a quest for vehicle parts and supplies? A new business can help.
Meet Dixon’s newest police officers, and their chief.
A singer with local roots has found her happy place: Doin’ country.
32
Golfers are more than just tournament champs; they’re friends.
Plus ... Community Focus: On Dixon Page 4-5
CORRECTION: In the Summer 2025 Dixon Living story about Dixon Buddy Bags (“Whatever it takes, we’ll find a way”), the name of the church where the organization packs its meals for in-need Dixon Public School students was misidentified. The meals are packed at St. Paul Lutheran Church. We regret the error.
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Dixon’s Morgan Hargrave works the net during a game against Rock Falls on Sept. 18.
Photos: Alex T. Paschal apaschal@ shawmedia. com
Vanessa Wessels and Lee Hume watch the band Desiree and the Wilde on Sept. 6 at the Dement Town Music Fest in Dixon.
Shop for unique handbuilt items at our new showroom in downtown Dixon
308 W. 1st St. • Dixon
Open noon-5pm Thursday-Saturday & during all downtown Dixon events
Handbuilt, One of a Kind Pieces Food, Microwave & Dishwasher Safe Custom orders available
Fire eater Michael Baker has a hot meal at the Fall and Fantasy Fest on Sept. 20, in Dixon.
AT LEFT: From left: Saylor, Atlas, and Apollo Hey, all of Dixon, learn about Bison at Nachusa Grassland’s Autumn on the Prairie on Sept. 20. AT
RIGHT: Sauk Valley Bank volunteers Sarah Cleary (left) and Kathy Medema dig into their work Sept. 13, at Open Sesame’s Lincoln School in Dixon during United Way of Lee County’s Day of Caring.
Seasoned performers are getting in on the act in Dixon, where seniors’ talents are getting an encore performance, thanks to a new theater group
Some of the featured players in “We Still Got It!”, the first performance of Dixon Stage Left’s senior theater group, from left: Mardi Huffstutler, Karen Kaufman, Alan Clemens, Christine Tremayne and Mary Carlson. The Oct. 26 show also featured Stephen Osbourne and Jill Marciniec. ALEX T. PASCHAL/ APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM
here’s something to be said for young performers just starting out, their raw talent and rough edges bringing a certain excitement to the stage.
But performers with some seniority bring a lot to the stage, too: Talent honed by time, an enthusiasm for entertaining and a passion for performing … and maybe even a desire to prove to people: We’ve still got it.
And got it they do, in a new theater group in Dixon, where its members hope talents that have aged like a fine wine will be the toast of town.
Dixon Stage Left recently put out a casting call for a new group that it started for performers 55 and older, and local performers answered the call. Stage Left’s co-interim executive director Jimmy Ferraro is in charge of the senior theater group, and he brings a long career on Broadway and regional theater with him, a resumé that’s been a good fit for the group’s goal of showcasing seniors’ talents.
“We have many, many years of talent here,” said Ferraro, who also is Stage Left’s creative director. “Everyone has different backgrounds, and the accumulation of talent is going to be amazing. If you took all of the years that we spent with our talent and showcasing it, together it’s quite a ‘Lollapalooza’ of talent.”
to
The troupe’s first performance – “We Still Got It!” – took place Oct. 26 at The Next Picture Show in downtown Dixon, with future performances being planned, Ferraro said. The afternoon of variety entertainment included singing, comedy skits, improvisation with audience participation, and other acts that proved, as the show’s slogan said: “Laughter never gets old.”
8
dixon stage left: senior theater group
Ferraro said he decided to make the group’s first act a variety show in order to utilize the troupe’s talents, as opposed to assigning them specific roles in established performances. This allowed the performers, some of whom hadn’t performed in years and some who were new to the stage, to feel more comfortable, while also giving Ferraro and his production crew an idea of where their talents could be best be utilized.
While “junior” versions of plays and musicals — condensed and kid-friendly adaptations — have become common in smaller performance venues like Dixon’s, “senior” versions are still relatively new. The senior theater model brings versions adapted for older generations by utilizing minimal logistics. Ferraro, who has spent 51 years in professional performing arts and joined Stage Left in 2024, learned about senior theater
through Music Theater International, a publishing company for plays.
“They had just come out with senior versions of musicals; they’re cut down and adapted strictly for seniors,” Ferraro said. “That really inspired me to think, ‘Why don’t we have a senior theater company?’ I thought it would be wonderful to have that as part of our programming at Stage Left, and here we are. It’s very exciting.”
Having a place where seniors can bond and share their wealth of experience has been a confidence booster for the performers, helping them dust off some talents they may not have used in awhile and giving them a chance to shine.
Christine Tremayne has performed in professional murder mysteries, and once sang at The Breakers Resort in Palm Beach, Florida. A graduate of Barat College in Lake Forest, Tremayne also has performed monologues from the female version of “The Odd Couple,” and dug out one of them to use to audition for the senior theater. She heard about the group after attending a couple of Ferraro-directed murder mysteries at Dixon Stage Left.
Tremayne performed her “Odd Couple” monologue and also sang Henry Mancini’s “Moon River” for “We Still Got It!”
“I thought, ‘This looks like a fantastic idea,’” Tremayne said. “It’s not something that’s done regularly, and it involves a whole other part of the population that’s often forgotten about, and shouldn’t be. It’s something that I very much, as an older actress who hasn’t been on stage in a lot of years now, was very, very interested in. I came, prepared my songs, got my monologue — and boom! I’m very excited.”
SENIORS cont’d to page 9
and
if you ask anyone, they’ll tell you that is what my passion in life is. I love to get up on stage and do my thing. My mother swears I came out of the womb singing.”
“I love to sing,
Mardi Huffstutler
SENIORS cont’d from page 8
Mary Carlson’s voice once was familiar to radio listeners in the Sauk Valley, but not in the performing arts. For 25 years, Carlson reported and anchored news reports on WSDR, WSSQ and WZZT in Sterling and also was news director for the stations. Her daughter Holly is a frequent Stage Left performer, and she convinced her mother to take her talents to the stage, starting with a couple of Stage Left’s readers theater performances.
“I was interested in not only the opportunity for seniors to get involved, but also the resurgence of other elements of variety theater and community theater ... ”
Alan Clemens
“Last year, she encouraged me to audition for the readers theater that they did, and so I did that,” Carlson said. “Then when this came along, she was like, ‘You got to do this, too.’ I decided to try it, and having spent almost 25 years working at WSDR, I consider myself to be a pretty good storyteller and wrote my own monologue for auditions. Maybe I’ll do stand-up? A therapist said it would be good for me.”
“I thought, ‘This looks like a fantastic idea. It’s not something that’s done regularly, and it involves a whole other part of the population that’s often forgotten about, and shouldn’t be.”
Christine Tremayne
Mardi Huffstutler’s performance experience centers on singing, but she’s also performed in theater roles from time to time. In addition to performing on her own, Huffstutler has helped students fine-tune their voices for performances as a private coach for more than 40 years. Singing is her passion, having performed with the nationally renowned Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus as a child and recorded a contemporary Christian music album, “My Best Friend,” in 1998.
Huffstutler is currently a vocal music instructor and director at Woodlawn Arts Academy in Sterling, and for “We Still Got It,” she sang “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” from “The Sound of Music” and “Defying Gravity,” from “Wicked.”
“I got an email from Jimmy and I thought it was an intriguing idea,” Huffstutler said. “I love to sing, and if you ask anyone, they’ll tell you that is what my passion in life is. I have such a passion for it and I love to get up on stage and do my thing. My mother swears I came out of the womb singing.”
SENIORS cont’d to page 10
dixon stage left: senior theater group
Dixon Stage Left’s senior theater group made their premiere
Oct. 26 at The Next Picture Show in Dixon, where seniors showcased their talents, which included singing, comedy, improv and other acts. The cast and their acts (songs, unless otherwise noted) were ...
SENIORS cont’d from page 9
Left
Mary Carlson: “My Favorite Things” (verse), “Mater Tatter” (monologue)
Alan Clemens: “Oh What a Beautiful Morning,” “Edelweiss”
Mardi Huffstutler: “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,”
The creation of the senior theater also gave some of the older members of Stage Left’s staff and management a chance to take their talents to the stage.
Karen Kaufman is Dixon Stage Left’s volunteer coordinator, and has directed musical productions at Dixon High School for two decades. She also grew up performing in high school and college, and has taken part in various dinner theater plays as well. She performed a comedy skit and sang Patsy Cline’s “Walking After Midnight” during “We Still Got It!”
“Defying Gravity”
Karen Kaufman: “Walkin’ After Midnight,” Superman and bench skits
Jill Marcinec: “Wife of Bath” (monologue), “Crazy,” “It Had to Be You”
Stephen Osborne: Improv,
Superman and bench skits
Perry Paliga and Ed Paneque: “Sunrise, Sunset,” “Summertime”
Christine Tremayne: “The Odd Couple” (monologue), “When You’re Good to Mama,” “Moon River”
“I’m very excited about it,” Kaufman said. “Especially with it being something someone my age can do, and have fun.”
Alan Clemens is president of Dixon Stage Left’s board of directors. While he never had a professional background or training in theater, he studied it in college and has been in a couple of stage performances. He also pitched in with a couple of songs during “We Still Got It!” and sees the senior theater as being another way Dixon’s presence as a fine arts community can grow, he said.
“I was interested in not only the opportunity for seniors to get involved, but also the resurgence of other elements of variety theater and community theater here in town,” Clemens said. “The community’s really got a very rich agenda for traveling productions and some stage productions, but variety shows and homespun kind of showcases and things like that are few and far between.”
SENIORS cont’d to page 11
Rounding out the cast of “We Still Got It!” were Jill Marcinec, Stephen Osborne, Perry Paliga and Ed Paneque. Ben Lightner, Stage Left’s co-interim executive director, served as the show’s technical director and Ashlynn Whaley was its production stage manager.
Find Dixon Stage Left on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, go to dixonstageleft. org, email info@dixonstageleft.org or call 815-4402999 to learn more about its senior theater production and show information.
Even though some of the cast hadn’t tread the boards for a while, once they hit the stage again, it was just like old times.
“It was very much like riding a bicycle,” said Tremayne, who last performed on stage 22 years ago. “I know everyone here can relate, when you haven’t done a monologue in years and all of a sudden it starts to come out of some part of your brain, it all comes back.”
For members, the group has been an opportunity for them to let their talents take a starring role again, proving that age can expand, not limit, what a person can do.
“They bring a wealth of experience and knowledge,” Ferraro said. “They’ve lived life and are bringing new life to whatever they’re doing. What’s marvelous about a senior theater company, to me, is that we can have an 80-year-old singing [I am] ‘Sixteen Going on Seventeen.’ The expanse of material is endless for us.”
Dixon Stage Left was founded in 2014 by Timothy Boles as a semi-professional theater. The theater currently is renovating its new home at 105 S. Peoria Avenue, and it recently procured a Prairie Brome Solar grant to aid in renovation costs. With both the theater, and members of the senior theater group, experiencing a second act, the future of the fine arts in Dixon is full of possibilities.
“With the senior theater group, we’re the only ones in the Sauk Valley to start this, and it’s pretty exciting,” Ferraro said. “It’s a lot of diverse talents which will make for a wide variety of entertainment.” n Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.
A focus on service and community is a driving force at Carquest’s new store in Dixon, where the owner of the family business and his team are building on decades of experience by focusing on relationships and reliability
hen customers come into an auto parts store on a quest to find that certain item they need, it helps to deal with someone who knows what makes an engine tick — and what will stop that ticking.
Meet Marc Blanc and Becka Martin, a pair of parts people at Dixon’s newest auto parts store who bring decades of experience behind the counter to Carquest Auto Parts.
When Carquest’s Marc Blanc was looking to add another location to his growing chain of auto parts stores, he decided on Dixon.
“We looked at it as a great community,” he said.
Blanc, president of Schulz/Carquest of Monroe, Wisc., is a third-generation auto parts businessman, and Martin, the store manager, has nearly 30 years in auto parts under her belt.
Carquest opened in February 2023 on North Galena Avenue, bringing its brand of service and supplies to the local auto parts scene. What Blanc hopes will set his store apart is an emphasis on experience, a strong work ethic, a commitment to the community, and a focus on his family’s legacy.
CARQUEST cont’d to page 14
Marc Blanc operates Dixon’s newest auto parts store, Carquest, which opened in February 2023 on North Galena Avenue, and Becka Martin of Dixon is the store manager. Both bring decades of experience in the auto parts industry to the store.
Blanc said he saw Dixon as a good fit for the Carquest name, after already serving customers with his other locations in Illinois and Wisconsin.
“We looked at it as a great community,” Blanc said. “Our Carquest brand of parts wasn’t represented here. It seemed like a good opportunity to expand. It was definitely our own personal effort with no incentives or anything, and we just wanted to help the community and other customers — and the farmers are another big part of our customer base. We have the right building with the right location and put it together with the right people.”
Blanc “grew up behind the parts counter,” he said, of his grandfather’s business, Schulz Machine Shop in Monroe, which is still in business today.
Royce Schulz started the family business in 1953 when he relocated across state lines to Monroe after living in Lena, where he worked as a salesman and mechanic for the town’s Kaiser-Fraizer auto dealer. Marc’s mother, LaVonne Kilcoyne, took over the business in 1979 and expanded to Janesville. Blanc took over in 2011 and oversaw expansion of the business to include the Illinois stores: Freeport in 2017, and Dixon and Mendota both in 2023.
CARQUEST cont’d from page 14
PHOTOS: CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM
Carquest carries a large variety of auto parts, supplies, tools, fluids and more. “We can get items from a lot of different places and put in what we think can sell, rather than having it cookie-cutter,” store manager Becka Martin said — but while they avoid a cookie cutter inventory, a hose cutter inventory is a good fit. Carquest will go to any lengths to hook up customers with the hydraulic hose they need, using equipment that can produce made-to-order lengths (seen at left with owner Marc Blanc).
He said those early lessons from his grandfather extended beyond the shop floor, shaping both his approach to the business and his outlook on customer service.
“The history is definitely part of that success, having been around for a long time,” Blanc said. “My grandfather, he wanted to do the job right for someone, or not do it at all. We take that same attitude toward business, where we’re going to have a nice looking store, have good people, have a good inventory and have good service, or we’re not going to do it. I’ve always applied that same thing: Let’s do it right, or not do this.”
Martin, who was born and raised in Washington state, was hired in June and brings 28 years in the auto parts industry to the store. Like Blanc, she also had help and inspiration from her grandfather in fostering a love of automobiles and a strong work ethic. Fred Keller was a dealership mechanic for many years, and Martin recalls a day when she helped her grandfather when he couldn’t reach the spark plugs on a 1978 Chevrolet truck he was working on.
“After that, I knew what I wanted to do after college,” she said.
With her grandfather’s encouragement, she developed practical skills that shaped her interest in automotive work.
“That’s where I started working on cars,” Martin said. “He was of the opinion that women were treated very poorly at shops and were taken advantage of, and he did not want any of the girls in his family to be taken advantage of. He showed us how to fix our own stuff, and to look and verify whether stuff was being broken.”
Whether it’s a quart of oil, a can of wax, or an engine part, Blanc wants to have good people who can help them. The parts counter counts for a lot he said; it’s
where connections are made and customer relations formed.
“The difference really is the parts counter,” Blanc said.
“Every year there’s an explosion of more and more parts available for more years, makes and models of cars,” Blanc said.
“There’s a lot on the technical side that goes into getting the correct part, and we’re able to provide that service to the customer. It’s really being at the counter and the face-toface interaction, providing a level of expertise on providing the right part the first time.”
“We can get items from a lot of different places and put in what we think can sell, rather than having it cookie-cutter,” Martin said. “It’s tailored more toward the area than at most places. There’s a lot of work in knowing your neighbors, knowing what vehicles are in town. Some companies just kind of do a national average of what sells, and that’s what the stores get.”
CARQUEST cont’d to page 16
Dixon Carquest owner Marc Blanc is a firm believer in supporting the communities where he does business. Among the ways Carquest supports local: Acting as a can collection site for Cub Scout Troop 85.
CARQUEST cont’d from page 15
Not as many people work on their own cars anymore, so they’re looking for a good local person to help them do it. Blanc said that shift has only made the role of the parts counter even more important, since customers often rely on the store’s staff to guide them toward trusted repair options as well as the right parts.
The personal relationships built there echo the same principles of service his grandfather emphasized when starting the family business.
“I’ve found that people who have been in the industry for a long time, like Becka, stay in the industry because it’s a good, solid business,” Blanc said. “I love the relationships with our customers, and the relationships with the other independent business owners doing auto repair. We’re a good supplier to dealerships and bigger chain groups for their repair shops, too, but our best, close relationships are with the independent repair shops.”
Blanc is also someone who believe that if a community supports a business, the business should support the community. Carquest has national promotions that help those in need, and the store also has supported community organizations such as Al Morrison Baseball and the local Cub Scouts. In June state Rep. Bradley Fritts, presented the business with his monthly Local Business Highlight award for its contributions to the community.
CARQUEST cont’d to page 17
“They pride themselves on providing excellent service to uphold their family legacy and help the community,” Fritts said at the time. “At a time when many large corporations focus on profit over customer satisfaction, Carquest is a great example of how business should be done.”
When Blanc bought the building, he retained its longtime designation as the can collection spot for Pack 85 from the building’s previous owner.
Martin also is looking into having a Halloween-related event at the store, she said.
“When you have a smaller, family-owned business, you can do more for your communities because you can choose to do that,” Martin said. “It’s part of being human.”
Corporate promotions include October’s Brakes for Breasts, with proceeds from brake pads and rotors supporting breast cancer research; and June’s partnership with Hire Heroes USA, where sales total round-ups to the nearest dollar support the organization’s mission to help veterans better transition into jobs in civilian life.
Rooted in family values and a tradition of service, Blanc and Martin see their role as more than running a store – it’s supporting the customers who keep their store running like a finely tuned engine.
“I like the downtown area, the historic Ronald Reagan places are very touching to me, and the Post House is gorgeous,” Blanc said. “Our customer base is really great with some really good car dealerships and independent repair shops. It reminds me of Monroe somewhat. It’s a nice, friendly small town.” n
Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.
Grasshopper zero-turn mowers are built to last, but when service is needed, we can help. With a full line of repair and tune-up services, OEM parts and more, we’re standing by to help keep your mower in peak condition.
Carquest Auto Parts, 975 N. Galena Ave. in Dixon, is open 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Find it on Facebook, go to carquest.com/ locations/il/dixon/15948 or call 815-677-9667 for more information.
here’s a lot more behind a police badge than just a shirt and collaring criminals. There’s intense training and testing, months of playing out scenarios and practicing skills as if their life will depend on it, and knowing that it could. There’s the knowledge that officers have to be their best when they find themselves dealing with people who are at their worst. There’s an understanding that they can either be the first person someone calls or the last person they want to see.
It’s a job that straddles the line between tension and satisfaction, knowing the risks are real, but so are the rewards. In an instant their actions can change a life — or save one.
There are also stories behind each badge: A girl growing up to follow in her family’s footsteps, a young man answering a higher calling, a student’s interactions with a school resource officer, another’s desire to live up to the people he looked up to — they all tell a tale of people inspired to do their duty.
In Dixon, the department has welcomed three new officers this past year (from Sept. 1, 2024-Sept. 1, 2025), people who’ve decided to step up and stand behind their badge of honor, joining the more than two dozen sworn officers who patrol the streets, push through piles of paperwork, and protect the people they serve — with an emphasis on the word “serve.”
At the Dixon Police Department, “serve” is more than just the word that comes after “To protect and to …” It’s a guiding principle to police work that officers have committed themselves to: To be Selfless, Empathetic, Respectful, Vigilant and Empowering.
The man who’s currently the chief supporter of that philosophy is also someone who’s taken on a new role, joining the ranks of those who’ve served in the role as Dixon’s top cop through the department’s 100-plus year history. Ryan Bivins was promoted to Chief of Police on June 2.
In this issue of Dixon Living we’ll talk to the three officers, and their chief, and hear their stories behind the badge, in their own words (in this past summer’s issue of Dixon Living, we did the same with new firefighters; you can read the story at issuu.com/shawmedia/docs/dixon_living_-_summer_2025). So turn the page and meet some of the new faces at the Dixon Police Department …
Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@ shawmedia.com.
What inspired you to become a police officer?
My dad, Tim Bivins, was elected as the Lee County Sheriff in 1986, which is the year I was born. I grew up around law enforcement and always respected the profession. As I grew older I felt God calling me to become a police officer and serve the department and community. Have you always had aspirations to become Chief? Or was there a point when you thought that one day you’d like to become one?
I have always had the desire to serve those around me in whatever position I have been in. The thought never really occurred to me as a young patrol officer, but as my career progressed, becoming police chief did become a goal for me.
Are there any aspects of being Police Chief that you think the public misunderstands? Since it’s only been [a short time] as chief, that’s a tough one to answer. What I can say is that we want the public to know that police officers are normal people just like everyone else. We have feelings, we have life issues, and we care about the people we come into contact with. I’m no different as the police chief. I want the public to know that we are here to serve them beyond the badge. What do you like and appreciate the most about the Dixon community?
I love the Dixon community and the ability for our community to thrive and support all of the different things happening in Dixon. Dixon has always been supportive of our department and we feel that on a daily basis.
Have you had a mentor or senior officer who’s been particularly helpful as you get acquainted into your new position?
I have been contacted by many local police chiefs offering support in my new role. The law enforcement community is great about helping each other. The one person who has always been the example I try to follow and who has been instrumental in me being in the position I am today is my dad. My dad is a man of integrity and faith and has instilled that in me as well. He continues to this day to offer wisdom and guidance in my new role as chief. n
Dixon Police Department 220 S. Hennepin Ave. Non-emergency phone: 815-288-4411
Call 911 for all emergencies. Online: dixongov.com/ content/departments/ police-department; and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X,
What inspired you to become a police officer?
Growing up, I was close with my uncle who worked in corrections, and my grandpa who was a firefighter, always looking up to them and wanting to do something to help like them.
What was the police academy like for you, and what did you learn the most from your experience?
The academy was a different experience, having to go back to a strict schedule. It felt like going back to high school. I learned a lot of information, but the main thing that stuck was DUI week. The worst days were OC [pepper] spray day and taser day.
What has it been like working in the Dixon Police Department, and for your department heads? It has been great working for the Dixon Police Department; everyone has been great and funny. They have a very good culture. The chief, both deputy chiefs and the sergeants are very great people and fun to talk to.
Are there any aspects of the job that you think the public misunderstands? Some people think the police are only here to bully and intimidate, but the Dixon Police Department is very involved with community policing and is very good at putting together community events.
What is your favorite part about your job?
Being able to explore Dixon and to getting to know the community.
How has being on the force helped you to understand life a little better?
Realizing that not everyone is the same and that everyone’s life is very different. You meet a lot of people who are struggling or who have been through very difficult times. It makes you think of ways to help people and give them options, even if it’s not something you have to do. What do you like and appreciate the most about the Dixon community?
The community is very great and they love to join us for events. Dixon plans a bunch of community events, and the community shows up. It’s nice to see a community respect and encourage the police department.
Have you had a mentor or senior officer who’s been particularly helpful?
Officer Head has been my training officer, and he has helped me with everything so far, from learning the streets, what to look for, procedures and what the department wants us to do. He is a great guy and is very fun to drive around with. n
What inspired you to become a police officer? I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a police officer. Growing up, both my parents were in law enforcement and I was able to participate in events in my community such as National Night Out and throwing out candy in parades by a police squad car. Knowing how much of a positive and safe impact my parents have made in others’ lives, I wanted to do the same. I had positive role models growing up and I wanted the chance to be a positive role model for the community that I serve.
What was the police academy like for you, and what did you learn the most from your experience?
I was very lucky to have fantastic leadership and instructors at the police academy who taught me so many important skills, the biggest being how much hard work it takes to be a police officer and how important it is to continuously put yourself into trainings and constantly broaden your knowledge to better serve your community.
What has it been like working in the Dixon Police Department, and for your department heads?
Dixon Police Department’s efforts with community policing and their relationship with their citizens makes it a great place to work. I appreciate the positive image the department heads have set for the agency.
Are there any aspects of the job that you think the public misunderstands? I believe that some of the public sees the job of a police officer as only writing tickets or arresting people, however, that is a smaller part of the job. The larger part, I believe, some of the public does not understand — how much law enforcement does to help members of the community, and a lot of our efforts that make the city a safer place for all.
What is your favorite part about your job?
My favorite part of the job is the feeling of truly getting to help someone and the feeling of knowing that you have made a positive impact in someone’s life. I have also enjoyed being a newer officer, and getting to build a rapport with the citizens I have met.
DEHAAN cont’d to page 23
What inspired you to become a police officer?
I was inspired to become a police officer in multiple ways. When I was in elementary school, we had officers come into the schools and give presentations about their jobs, let us see the square car and answer all of the crazy questions we had. I fell in love with how cool the job looked. I was also inspired by my brother, Evan, who is also a Dixon Police officer. He has been a huge role model for me in the early stages of my career.
What was the police academy like, and what did you learn the most from your experience? The police academy certainly laid the foundation for my knowledge of laws, procedures and other general information needed to get started upon graduation and begin field training. The biggest thing I learned from my experience is that the classroom can teach someone a lot, but applying it in the real world is where true learning takes place.
How has being on the force helped you to understand life a little better?
That I always have a positive environment surrounding me, whether it is my family at home or my family at the police department. That I can rely on them when the job gets stressful, and to always be there for them as well, when they need me.
What do you like and appreciate the most about the Dixon community? I like how many community events there are in Dixon, where everyone can get together and enjoy what the city has to offer. I
appreciate how supportive the community is toward the police. I’m very appreciative to see the community go to the events the police put on, and to witness community policing in action. Have you had a mentor or senior officer who’s been particularly helpful?
A huge thank you to my police training officers I had throughout my training process, which helped me develop a strong foundation while I am learning how to be a police officer. I am thankful for all of their guidance and advice. n
What has it been like working in the Dixon Police Department, and for your department heads?
It has been great working within the department so far. All of the department heads make it very easy to come to them with questions. Everyone at the department is very team focused and extremely knowledgeable, so if someone needs help, there is always someone with an answer.
Are there any aspects of the job that you think the public misunderstands?
As a whole, the public does a great job of understanding our job and what goes into our day-to-day lives. The only thing the public may misunderstand, as I did before I began this job, is the time it takes to complete a thorough case. We have a large workload and we assigned the same level of importance to every case, so sometimes it takes longer to come to a resolution, depending on the call volume we work with.
What is your favorite part about your job?
My favorite part of the job is the camaraderie. The shift I am on (Sgt. Thomas, officer B. Dempsey, officer Henson and officer Penick) are some of the funniest individuals I know. I look forward to going to work every day because I get to do the job I love with great people who are always willing to help and are always down for a laugh.
How has being on the force helped you to understand life a
little better?
This job has taught me a lot about having patience. There are so many cases and situations that cannot be resolved quickly, so I have learned to accept the processes life has to offer and understand taking one’s time instead of rushing through things always yields a better result.
What do you like and appreciate the most about the Dixon community?
I appreciate the support we get from them. The community respects the work we do and is always willing to assist us in a time of need. Also, since I grew up in this community, I love that the people I knew before beginning this job never hesitate to talk when they see me at work. Interacting with the community is a key part of being a successful police officer.
Have you had a mentor or senior officer who’s been particularly helpful?
Since I am new to solo patrol, I would have to say that all of the field training officers that I had: officer Head, officer Garrison, and officer B. Dempsey. They all taught me their way of doing things and encouraged me to take what they did and adapt it to how I would like to do things once on solo patrol. Sgt. Thomas, officer Henson and officer Penick have also been extremely helpful in the early days of my career, as they are always there to answer any questions or bring levity to a conversation when needed. n
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alancing grit and heart can be tough sometimes, especially growing up, but a Dixon-born teen has found a way to do it, by tilting the musical scales in her favor, not only helping her on her own journey but inspiring others as well.
At 17, McKenna Faith Winters has already found a place on the country music stage, defining her young career with songs of independence and strength and empathy, singing not only from one girl to another, but to anyone who may be dealing with a tough time in their life.
Winters’ music has painted pictures of heartbreak, betrayal and loss that speak to a generation learning to stand on its own, no matter the challenges — and a lot of people have been listening to what her songs are saying. Seven of her 14 singles have reached No. 1 on various independent country music charts, not only in the United States but Canada, Australia and New Zealand as well.
From the self-reliance of “I Plant My Own” to the fiery takedown in “Pinocchio” to the tender reflection of “Can’t Hug a Memory,” comes a voice steeped in honesty and a heart full of stories far beyond her years. She often travels with her family to Nashville to record her songs and network with fellow country musicians who she looks up to, both personally and professionally.
“I’ve always done it because it’s always made me happy,” Winters said. “I’ve struggled with anxiety growing up, and music’s been something that’s always helped me to cope and relax. I think a lot of these songs of mine have spoken to a lot of other girls, or just anyone, maybe parents going through something or anyone going through a breakup.”
WINTERS cont’d to page 28
A Dixon-born singer has found her happy place, in country music, and she’s striking a chord with her fans, too, with songs of independence and inspiration that have found a home in charts and hearts
Winters’ journey in music began a few years ago when she started sharing her covers of modern country music songs on social media: “I was doing a lot of songs by Kelsea Ballerini, Carrie Underwood and Lady A,” Winters said. “Any country artist I grew up on, I did cover songs and started posting them on social media, and that’s how that started growing.”
Her covers caught the ear of people in the industry and that led to networking in Nashville and learning more about the music industry. She’s made connections with writers, producers and support staff who have worked with popular artists such as Taylor Swift, Alan Jackson and Gretchen Wilson.
All that prep work paid off: Her first single — “I’m Doin’ Country Tonight,” in 2023 — hit No. 1, and she’s gone from cover songs to a budding career in country music.
Though her time in Dixon was short — she was born here but the family moved to Rockford when she was 2 — her parents’ roots in the area run deeper. Her mother, Nicole, taught art at Lincoln School in Dixon before Dixon Public Schools cut its elementary art programs in 2010; and her father, Mike, taught and coached boys basketball at Rock Falls High School. Winters said she doesn’t remember much about her time in Dixon, other than seeing her dad’s basketball games.
Another memory of growing up, and one that started her down her own country road, was listening to country music during trips with her parents. Her parents also cultivated her interest by helping her post videos of her songs on social media during the coronavirus pandemic.
“I grew up on it, and so it became my thing, too,” she said. “It’s been a great experience from there.”
In 2023, she attended an event at the Full Circle Music recording studio and music academy in Nashville that set that stage for her to connect with people who would play major roles in her career, such as her producer, Cedric Israel, and songwriters Kelly McKay, Nancy Deckant, Maddie Wilson, Christen Cooper and Karen Kiley.
cont’d to page 29
Her Nashville experiences have paid off in many ways, including an opportunity to perform some of her songs on July 8 on a radio show at WSM, Nashville’s AM country music station and founders of the Grand Ole Opry. In addition to “I’m Doin’ Country Tonight,” Winters also has hit No. 1 with “Heart Strings Attached,” “Forgot Your Name,” “Someone You Don’t Deserve,” “Kelce,” “Backbiting,” “One Girl to Another” and “I Plant My Own.”
“Pinocchio” is Winters’ latest song, released Sept. 19 and written by Cooper and Kiley.
“Pinocchio is about a guy who’s a liar,” Winters said. “You know with Pinocchio, his nose always grows when he lies. It’s about a liar, cheater and a guy who did you wrong, and it can just speak to you because you shouldn’t let a guy make you feel that way.”
“I Plant My Own” is one of her favorite songs, she said. Written by McKay, Deckant and Wilson, the song is about finding strength and self-reliance after a breakup, when the hurt still lingers even after that anger has faded.
“‘I Plant My Own’ is about a relationship that ended, but you’re not mad, you’re more upset about it,” Winters said. “You’re just looking back on the memories and everything that happened. My favorite line is, ‘You used to be the one to bring me flowers, but now I plant my own.’ That’s kind of the hook of it. A lot of girls my age go through things like that with breakups and relationships that don’t end the way they want them to.”
Winters’ own experiences have also inspired her music. Growing up, she had a strong bond with her grandfather, Don Martinetti, who died when McKenna was in grade school. It took her a few years, but those memories eventually produced “Can’t Hug a Memory,” released in 2023 and co-written by Cory Barker, who has also penned tunes for artists such as Vince Gill, Tracy Lawrence and Darryl Worley. The song gave her a chance to turn grief into a lasting tribute, blending heartfelt lyrics with a universal message of remembrance.
“It’s about memories you made with them, and the hook is ‘I can’t hug a memory,’ so you’re just looking back on those memories and wishing that they were here with you,” she said.
WINTERS cont’d to page 30
Robb Rydzynski, DO
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Mathew Mathew, MD
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David Yeager, DPM
• Podiatric Surgeon
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Vasan Purighalla, MD
• Neurosurgeon
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• Specializing in Neck and Back Surgery
Ricky Maddox, MD
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Abdul Foad, MD
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D. Thane Cody, MD
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• Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist
Winters has a few more songs ready to record later this fall in Nashville, and is working on an album with Rick Barker, who was one of Taylor Swift’s first managers. It’s all balanced with her senior year studies at Harlem High School in Machesney Park, where she also plays on the Huskies’ softball team in the spring, and plays travel softball in the off-season.
With both parents being teachers — Mike now at Harlem High and Nicole now at Washington Elementary in Rockford — it’s helped keep McKenna’s mind on her studies even as her country music career has taken off.
“With school and music, my family’s made time for it, and they’ve been amazing with being able to take me everywhere,” Winters said. “I make room for music, and make sure I have time for my friends and sports, too.”
Finding that balance hasn’t always been easy. McKenna was shy growing up and struggled with anxiety and moments of self-doubt, but she found inspiration from a fellow artist, Avery Anna, who she’s known since her first trips to Nashville. One day, Anna hosted a chat on Instagram Live and Winters opened up to her about her thoughts.
Anna’s advice resulted in advice that has carried her throughout her career.
“If you love it, you’ve just got to keep doing it,” Winters recalled. “Don’t let anyone stop you, or let anyone’s hurtful words online stop you. People are going to say what they want to say, and they’re going to hate if they want, but if you love it, you just got to keep doing it.”
Which is just what she did.
At first, McKenna found it hard to break into the business due to her age, but perseverance paid off and she got more gigs, started recording, and even found that her own story was helping others turn the page on trying times in their own lives. The journey was already starting to come full circle for the young performer who had found her own strength in music.
WINTERS cont’d to page 31
“Meeting people after shows and them telling me their stories, and how much they appreciate me is what I appreciate most,” Winters said. “I posted ‘Can’t Hug a Memory’ on my social media and someone was telling me how they lost their husband, and how a song like this can really help you grieve and get through all of those hard times.”
Mike helps McKenna with her social media and booking, keeping fans updated with developments in her music and letting them know where she’ll be playing next. She performs with a backup band, and her touring schedule is centered on the area close to the Illinois-Wisconsin border, though she has played a few gigs in Nashville.
Dad’s support system with her publicity has been vital as McKenna continues to grow her presence in the country scene. Watching her transformation from a shy student to a confident performer has been especially rewarding.
“She was a pretty quiet kid in high school and terrified about getting up and giving a speech and everything, so for her to do what she’s doing with radio interviews and performing live shows is pretty impressive,” Mike said. “It’s pretty incredible to see it.”
As Winters looks ahead, she’s mindful of how far she’s already come, growing from a quiet kid with small-town roots into an artist finding her place in the music world, with performances and interviews helping her gain momentum far beyond her hometown, building a fan base both at home and around the world.
“It’s a great experience to get on these radio stations and become No. 1, from independent radio stations in the U.S., Canada, Australia and even New Zealand,” Winters said. “It’s amazing how you can start your journey like that, and these radio plays have helped me so much throughout my career. It’s really been an amazing experience.” n
Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.
Find McKenna Faith Winters on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, or go to mckennafaithwinters.com to learn more about the Dixon native's country music career. UPCOMING SHOWS
Nov. 7 — Louie’s Taphouse, Roscoe (with Jason Rolence and Todd Huenecke), 8 p.m.
Nov. 8 —Screw City Tavern Acoustic Fest, Rockford, 7 p.m.
Nov. 14 — Creekside Jacks, Genoa City, Wisc. (With Leinalla and Dave), 6 p.m.
Nov. 15 — Mains Street Music, Brooklyn, Wisc., 7 p.m.
Nov. 22 — Screw City Tavern, Rockford, 8 p.m.
Dec. 6 — The Mill Saloon, Machesney Park, 8 p.m.
any sports legacies are based on winning and success, but those aren’t the only things that drive players.
For a group of local golfers who enjoy playing the rounds at Timber Creek Golf Course, numbers on a scorecard tell the hole story, but not the whole story. For them, the legacy of the game they love to play can also be found in the friends they make and the memories they share with like-minded linksters.
Fortunately, the Timber Creek team has been successful at doing both: winning games and winning friends.
At the 102nd annual Women’s Lincoln Highway golf tournament on July 1112 at Timber Creek, the team of Mimi Boysen, Barb Curia, Reese Dambman, Katie Drew, Patty Head, Nikki Masini, Kristie Pultorak and Mindy Wallin won the championship for the third straight year. Drew was the overall winner, and Boysen, Curia, Head, Masini and Pultorak each won among their flight groups. Janet Friel and Patty Oliver were the team’s alternates.
LINCOLN cont’d to page 34
The Timber Creek Golf Course of team won the 102nd annual Women’s Lincoln Highway tournament July 12 in Dixon. Members include (front row, from left) Patty Head, Mimi Boysen, Katie Drew, Mindy Wallin, Reese Dambman, Janet Freel; and (bacl row) Kristie Plutorak and Barb Curia. Not pictured are Patty Oliver and Nikki Masini. CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@ SHAWMEDIA.COM
Some of the women have played with each other before, while some played with one another for the first time, but they all came together as a group to reign at the top of northern Illinois’ premier amateur, best-against-bogey tournament.
“The tournament itself is a fun format,” Drew said. “It’s with ladies of all ages, and it has a competitive feel to it, but you can still come out and have fun. There’s a pressure to it in the sense of competitive golf, but at the end of the day we’re out here to have fun.”
Scoring is different than the national mainstream professional tournaments. Instead of the widely known stroke-play concept, the tournament uses a bestagainst-bogey format to help erase some
of the moments where certain holes may take their toll on golfers — in other words, the scoring isn’t as bad if it takes a large number of strokes to finish.
Drew, a sophomore at Sauk Valley Community College and last year’s individual runner-up, helped the Timber Creek women win this year’s team title with a +87 two-day total. Kishwaukee Country Club of DeKalb, which has won the event 48 times, was second at +50. Drew’s score of +32 was better than the +25 of runner-up Alayna Bryant of PrairieView.
Dambman had the second-best score of Timber Creek’s golfers with +16, finishing runner-up in the second flight. Head (+16) won the third flight, Pultorak (+11), won the fourth, Masini (+4) the fifth, Boysen (+2) the sixth and Curia (+8) in the seventh. The win is the 11th in course history, and ranks third all-time behind Kishwaukee and the former Clinton Country Club (12).
Boysen’s score also was best among participants 65 years and older. For her, the tournament is about more than scores; it encompasses the unique spirit of competition and community.
“I think it’s the greatest tournament in the world,” Boysen said. “I’ve played a lot of competitive golf, but this is by far my favorite tournament. Being a bogey golfer, I love that I can do well and can compete against the long ball hitters. What sport can you play that you can have such a wide age group? That’s a cool thing, too.”
Most Lincoln Highway golfers join their team through a qualifier event on their course; other courses either select participants or have a sign-up sheet at their clubhouse. It’s been both ways at various stages at Timber Creek, but its recent successes have led to more of its golfers wanting to compete to get in the eight spots and two alternate positions.
Funding
Head has played in about 30 tournaments, including each one in the past two decades after taking a long break from golf. Not much has changed from her first tournament, she said: The event is competitive and fun.
“There’s a lot of camaraderie, there’s a lot of people who come back and you meet again every year,” Head said. “People just really have fun. I’ve always thought it’s kind of a family, and there’s still that same kind of level of competition. I played during the Ruth Heal [Kishwaukee] and Gloria Jenkins [Rochelle Country Club] era, and couldn’t have played with nicer people who really exemplified what golf is all about.”
Dambman, a senior at Dixon High School, is the youngest member of the team. She was encouraged by DHS golf coach Lee Eastman to play this year, and it gave her the opportunity to play on the same team again as Drew, who graduated from DHS two years prior. She also had help from her father, Jared, who served as her caddy.
“It’s an honor to be a part of this and to be able to contribute to it in any way I could,” Dambman said. “I’ve never played the format, so I thought it was really cool experience, and I had a lot of fun.”
That spirit of fun and friendship if what defines the tournament for many of the players.
“When I first started playing, I didn’t know anybody,” Pultorak said. “Then I saw all of these women hugging each other from other teams, or ones who haven’t seen each other for over a year. Now that’s me. I’m seeing people who I haven’t seen or competed against or with who had some memorable shots or embarrassing moments with.”
That kind of connection is what keeps so many golfers coming back, year after year. Curia lights up when she talks about the women she plays alongside.
“I just enjoy being around all of the ladies,” Curia said. “It’s a great group of ladies from all of the different courses around here, and a lot of them have been playing in the tournament for a lot of years. Some are new, some are old, and it’s fun.”
Reese Dambman of the Timber Creek team chips onto the green on No. 5 during the Lincoln Highway golf tournament at Timber Creek Golf Course. Heavy rain delayed the start and turned sand traps into ponds, but the tournament went on.
Drew of the
drives off the tee on hole No. 6 during the Lincoln Highway golf tournament.
That warmth extends well beyond Timber Creek’s team, and friendships continue to grow. Wallin found that out playing in the tournament for the first time this year.
“Everybody’s super welcoming, and even during the tournament the ladies I played with were super nice, and there were some that I exchanged phone numbers with to golf with later,” Wallin said. “The camaraderie of not only your team, but all of the teams just wanting to go out and have a good time and play well is great.”
While camaraderie is at the heart of it all, there’s also a pride that comes with representing Timber Creek; for Friel, it shines through when she steps onto the course.
“I feel Timber Creek has a lot of good ladies golfers who just love the game,” Friel said. “It’s a real honor to get out and do the best we can, and come out on top.”
Like Head, Friel also has played in the tournament on other teams. She played in her first Lincoln Highway for Deer Valley Country Club of Deer Grove three years ago when they were struggling to round out their roster. Since she took that first shot at it, her golf game has improved, she said. LINCOLN cont’d from page 36
cont’d to page 38
(best-against-bogey scoring)
TEAM STANDINGS
1. Timber Creek (Dixon .................... +87
2. Kishwaukee (DeKalb) .................. +50
3. Deer Valley (Deer Grove) .............. +37
4. PrairieView (Byron)...................... +23
5. Lake Carroll (Lanark) .................... -12
6. Shady Oaks (Amboy) .................... -21
7. Indian Oaks (Shabbona) ............... -22
8. Prophet Hills (Prophetstown) ......... -4
9. Sunset (Mount Morris) .................. -45 WINNER
Katie Drew (TC) ............................... +32 RUNNER-UP
Alayna Bryant (P) ............................ +25
65-AND-OLDER WINNER:
Mimi Boysen (TC) .............................. +2 FLIGHT WINNERS, RUNNERS-UP AND TIMBER CREEK RESULTS
1. Kim Kester (K) ............................. +23
Ava Hackman (S) +15
2. Jan Nissen (K) ............................. +19
Reese Dambman (TC) .................. +16
3. Patty Head (TC) ........................... +16
Donna Martin (K) ......................... +12
4. Kristie Plutorak (TC) .................... +11
Madison Thatcher (DV) .................. +5
5. Nikki Masini (TC) ........................... +4
Trina Kotulek (SO) .......................... -1
6. Boysen (TC)................................... +2
Debbie Brue (K) ............................. +3
7. Barb Curia (TC) .............................. +8
Karen Anderson (DV) ..................... +6
8. Denise Oberle (DV) ........................ +2
Donna Pfleeger (K) .......................... 0
Mindy Wallin (TC) ........................... -7
“Three years ago they were short a player at Deer Valley, and I had never played it before,” Friel said. “They said, ‘Would you do it?’ Absolutely. The five days before, I didn’t sleep. I was a nervous wreck. I didn’t have a clue what I was doing, I didn’t know the scoring or anything. I had one of my golf friends caddy for me and help me out because she had played in it. Now I love it. It’s just a joy to be with a group of friends.”
Friendship isn’t the only winning combination on the course. Family have created moments that have become special memories, too. The wide range of ages in the tournament make it possible for mothers and daughters to play with each other. When Curia played her daughter Mandy for the first time a few years ago (when the tournament was at Deer Valley), it became a precious memory of hers.
“My memory is when we played at Deer Valley and I was on the team,” Curia said. “I played, and my daughter played, and it was fun playing with all of these girls, and really nice playing on the same team with my daughter.”
As much fun as the tournaments is, winning still stands out as a highlight of the game.
“The first two years I played, we got smoked by Kishwaukee by about 75 points, and then we went to Lake Carroll two years ago and we beat them,” Drew said. That win was the first of Timber Creek’s current run of three straight titles. “It was kind of like, wow! We hadn’t been anywhere close. After the first day, we had a little bit of a lead, and then we wound up winning it. It was really cool.”
Boysen won the event in 2017 at Prophet Hills in Prophetstown, fending off runner-up Heal, who has won it 21 times in her career.
“I had beaten Ruth Heal, who has won this forever,” Boysen said. “I came out of the fifth flight to win the whole thing. I had my second-best score ever. It was a great course for me and it was fun to win the whole thing.”
For Dambman and Wallin, being in their first Lincoln Highway is a special memory. Wallin said she’ll always look back at one moment when she got a little too excited about sinking a big putt of about 35 yards on No. 9.
“I screamed, and then I realized that Katie and her crew were putting on No. 3,” Wallin said. “I did a little dance, and then I saw these people being very serious, and I’m like, ‘Whoops!’”
Though teams and times may change, and highs and lows come and go, the Timber Creek women know the friendships they’ve built will last beyond the final putts. More than just champs, they’ve become ambassadors of what the event represents: promoting the game they love to play through camaraderie and competition on the course.
“It shows that people are wanting to be a part of it,” Drew said. “It draws more people into it who enjoy golf.” n Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.
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