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School secretary gets ready to organize one last big task: retirement

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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 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.

inside Mastering her job, from A to Z

After nearly 50 years, Reagan Middle School secretary Adona Zimmerman is getting ready to organize one more big task: retirement.

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PHOTO: ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM

Malaina Herrera gears up for the upcoming school year Aug. 6, at Tools for School in Dixon, an annual event that provides school supplies to local students as well as resources for families to find aid, such as the Lee County Health Department and United Way.

A new school year can arrive with the promise of sharpened pencils, clean notebooks and a backpack ready to be filled. For some families, though, those basics become another calculation: How do you afford the supplies your child needs when bills and groceries already compete for the same dollars? And the numbers can really add up for families who have several children. In Dixon, a community- and teacher-supported program helps ease that burden. Tools for School provides Dixon Public Schools students with backpacks and school supplies at no charge, primarily serving families who qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Its annual distribution event — this year’s took place Aug. 6 — also brings together a collection of community resources that give families an opportunity to find additional services in one place before the school year begins. The program does not turn anyone away. Behind the effort are three Dixon teachers who spend the year preparing for a single day: Mandy Dallas, a fifth-grade teacher at Madison School and the program’s director; Carie Ramirez, a kindergarten teacher at Washington Elementary; and Hele Rowley, a pre-kindergarten teacher at Washington. All three volunteer their time. Ramirez has spent 21 years teaching. The work has become personal, she said. “It’s just been so good to give back to the community,” Ramirez said. “It’s given so much to me. To see the faces of the kids that you see every year, and how thankful their families are, it makes me emotional. To see those kids come back year after year, watch them grow up, and seeing how thankful families are for what we are providing for them, it means a lot.” TOOLS cont’d to page 6

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TOOLS cont’d from page 5 Rowley remembers beginning on the other side of the operation, volunteering as a young teacher to help unpack supplies. Ramirez, her cousin, eventually invited her to become more involved. “I like to give back to the community,” Rowley said. “I like to tell other families that this was an easy thing for me to do in the beginning of the school year because it didn’t take a whole lot of time. That was before becoming one of the three of us who are in charge. The kids are thankful, their parents are thankful, their grandparents are thankful. Seeing them carry them and seeing their excitement on their faces is priceless.” Tools for School began in 2008 with distribution at Reagan Middle School. The trio took over the program in 2023 from former school board member Pam Tourtillott and district office secretary Roxie Mahan, who had operated it for nine years. Dallas said parking became difficult

as the event grew, prompting a move to the Elks Lodge in 2024, which donates its space for the event. At this year’s event, families attended during two windows, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. Two half-hour sensory-friendly periods, from 8 to 8:30 a.m. and 3 to 3:30 p.m., were available for families who needed a quieter experience. The Elks Lodge also provides a practical advantage: families enter through one area and leave through another, allowing the event to move people through in an orderly fashion. The event distributed 564 bags. Of those, 29 went to pre-kindergarten students, 188 to students in kindergarten through third grade, 108 to fourth- and fifth-graders, 143 to students in sixth through eighth grade, and 96 to high school students. Bags are assembled according to age and grade, and the supplies provide many of the basics that students

need to begin the year. A fourth-grade student, for example, might receive colored pencils, markers, notebooks, folders, pencils, glue sticks and scissors. High school students can select the supplies they need, while younger students receive backpacks prepared with grade-appropriate materials. Pre-kindergarten students receive backpacks, with grants used to help provide the supplies they need. A typical backpack itself can retail for $15 to $35, Dallas said. Once the supplies are added, the value can approach $100 per student. For a family sending four children to school, the equivalent expense could approach $400. Awareness of the program has grown along with its community support. “We feel like we’re becoming more well-known,” Ramirez said. “People are reaching out to us about having drives for next school year, so that’s real exciting.” TOOLS cont’d to page 8

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Tools for Schools coordinators Mandy Dallas (left), Carrie Ramirez and Hele Babin, are looking for sponsors to help grow the program that helps outfit Dixon students for the upcoming school year. ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@ SHAWMEDIA.COM

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TOOLS cont’d from page 6 The three teachers have also expanded the event beyond backpacks and supplies. When they took over the program, Dallas said, they wanted families to have a one-stop shop where several needs could be addressed during one visit. Students can move through the event and find 26 different community resources. Among them, the Lee County Health Department offers physicals and immunizations for a cost. Free haircuts and personal hygiene products were available. Sara Faley, a nurse at Jefferson School, organizes a shoe drive and distributes free shoes. United Way’s

Summer Eats program provides food. Families can look through the resources and determine which ones apply to their circumstances. Dallas said that even though they’ve perfected the process, they’re “always looking for ways to make it better. We want to bring more resources, ask what can we provide for our families that is a need. We have quite a system down. We have gotten to that point where it runs very smoothly, even at times when it seems chaotic and hectic, with how we get families in and

getting them out the door.” Ramirez recently heard from a high school cheerleader who had used Tools for School as a younger student. The student remembered a program that once focused primarily on backpacks and supplies. “She talked about how when she was younger and her family had to utilize the program, it was just backpacks and school supplies,” Ramirez said. “She said now to see that you get haircuts, options to get your immunizations and physicals, and have all of the community resources, she said she’s shocked because she remembers when it was just backpacks and supplies.” Businesses, organizations and individuals contribute supplies or money. Some supporters organize their own collection drives, while others use containers provided by Tools for School. Every donor receives an individual acknowledgment on the program’s Facebook page. TOOLS cont’d to page 9

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TOOLS cont’d from page 8 Some of the support has come full circle. Families who once relied on Tools for School and no longer need assistance have begun donating to the program themselves, Rowley said. The volunteer effort has grown, too. High school sports teams regularly help prepare for the event, as does NAMI On Campus, the Dixon High School club. This year also marked the first time students from Sauk Valley Community College’s IMPACT program participated. “They help us get ready and it saves us so much time,” Ramirez said. “They’re well-organized, they go through and put supplies in the bags, and it’s made such a difference. We’ve always had high school kids come help, but the IMPACT Program has brought in even more kids.” The three teachers begin planning for the next event well before the calendar turns to summer. They typically begin reaching out to businesses and organizations early in the calendar year, although

Dallas said they plan to begin even earlier for the next school year. “One thing we really want the community to know is that we work on Tools for School all year long,” Dallas said. “If one of us has an idea, we’ll send texts in a group chat — ‘What about this?’ and ‘Can we reach out to this person?’ We plan all year long for the one-day event.” Ramirez said greater awareness has also brought more middle and high school students through the doors. “I feel like there’s not a stigma anymore,” Ramirez said. “Some of them still don’t want to come in, but more are more willing to come in. They know what it is. No one’s judging them or saying anything. We have the supplies for them as well.” The program reaches families beyond just the distribution event. Dallas receives messages throughout the school year about students who arrive

without backpacks, and schools can replenish their supplies when a need arises. Families who enroll in Dixon schools during the year may need assistance, too. A house fire or other unexpected event can leave a student suddenly without the things needed for school. The number of backpacks distributed has grown “substantially” in recent years, Dallas said. Other community programs serving students, including Summer Eats and Buddy Bags, have seen increased demand as well. Dallas’s involvement connects directly to why she became an educator. “Being in the education field, our goal is to make a difference,” Dallas said. “When I started volunteering for Tools for School, I wanted to make a difference and make it easier for the families in our community. I wanted kids to feel successful when they started, and feel good about it and like school.” TOOLS cont’d to page 11

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The write stuff for school ... Notebooks, pens and pencils, markers and more were just a few of the supplies offered at the high school table during the Aug. 6, 2026, Tools for School distribution event at the Elks Club.

Price cut on a trim ... Kegan Zacharias didn’t look all that excited about getting a haircut during the 2025 Tools for School distribution event, but the price — free — was something to smile about.

Above: In addition to school supplies, Tools for Schools also hooks kids up with personal hygiene products, shoes, and other necessities needed for school

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Right: Cayden (left) and Anthony Wallace check out what’s packed in their backpacks in 2025, including some fire helmets.

Above: Avianna Medina picks out a backpack at the 2025 Tools for School distribution event.

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TOOLS cont’d from page 10 that you’re investRowley’s own path ing in,” Ramirez to Tools for School said. “You want started with the these kids to same impulse to start their contribute. Her school year parents had off feeling taught her that confident giving back Find Tools for School Dixon on Facebook, and enjoydid not always email mdallas@dps170.org or call 630-881ing school. require money. 3995 for more information on the program, Sometimes “You want or how to donate. Monetary donations that begins to make an can be mailed to the district office with going into impact in your at 1335 Franklin Grove Road, the school year community,” Rowley Dixon, IL, 61021. with a new haircut, said. “Growing up, my or a nice book bag and parents said that even if supplies.” you don’t have a lot of money, you The teachers also hear what don’t have to donate your money but happens after the backpacks leave you can donate your time. This is my way the Elks Lodge. Students who use of donating my time and giving back to the program return to school with a the community.” little more confidence, and famThe impact can follow students into ilies sometimes tell the teachers the school year. “This is the future of our community

about the difference those small pieces of support have made in their children’s outlook. Dallas said the gratitude she hears from families continues to reinforce why they keep doing it. “We see these kids every day and make connections with their families,” Dallas said, and them asking how they can help “has really been the driving force for me: What can I do to make an already-hard job as a parent, with possible financial strain, better, and how can we alleviate some of that? We’re letting people know that we’re here for you.” The response from families has helped shape what the volunteers continue to build. “It motivates us and drives us,” Dallas said. “We know that what we’re doing is a really good thing, and that we’re helping people. That’s important to us.” n Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.

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MATTHEW MAGNAFICI Reagan Middle School principal ... But Magnafici will need to get used to Reagan without Adona Zimmerman (left). After decades behind the desk, the school secretary is retiring after 47 years with Dixon schools. ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@

here was a time when the work of a school secretary came with its own soundtrack. It was the clickety-clack of typewriter keys, a ding, and the carriage sliding back into place as carbon copies multiplied purchase orders. The keys beneath Adona Zimmerman’s fingers make a different sound today. Computers have replaced typewriters, and schedules that once took a night to process can be completed in minutes. Walk into Reagan Middle School, though, and one sound remains familiar: the playful laughter of students having fun. Zimmerman has spent 47 years listening to both. She began with Dixon Public Schools in 1980 and eventually became principal’s secretary at Reagan. Now, after nearly five decades serving students, staff and administrators, Zimmerman will retire at the end of the current school year.

When she does, she’ll leave behind nearly 50 years of dedication to a job that’s been not only a part of her life, but countless others’ through the years — students, staff, parents, and anyone else looking for a familiar face or a helping hand at the school. She’s seen a lot of faces and taken on a lot of tasks during that time, but one thing that’s remained constant: Her flexibility. The person behind the desk has to be able to stay in front of a lot of things. Duties change, days start out one way and then go another, and like a juggler, secretaries have to keep a lot of things in the air and not drop the ball. “You have to have a pleasing personality and be willing to help,” Zimmerman said. “You also have to be on top of things all of the time. Not every day is what you plan. I like the change every day. You have to be able to be flexible, for sure.” ZIMMERMAN cont’d to page 14

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ZIMMERMAN cont’d from page 13 No two school days are quite alike, something Zimmerman has come to appreciate. She has found plenty to enjoy amid all of it, watching students move through Reagan and, in some cases, return years later as teachers. The lines between generations have become increasingly familiar over the years. “I enjoy the kids,” Zimmerman said. “We have a fabulous staff here, but it’s the kids that I enjoy seeing.” Zimmerman’s role at Reagan has grown beyond the duties of a secretary, something Matthew Magnafici has seen during more than two decades working alongside her, first as Reagan’s assistant principal and now as its principal. He first met Zimmerman when he began substitute teaching in Dixon.

“To call Adona my secretary really doesn’t tell the story,” Magnafici said. “She has been my teammate, someone I trust completely, and someone who has made me a better administrator every single day.

There are very few people who know Reagan Middle School, Dixon Public Schools, and this community the way she does.” Zimmerman began working for the district at Jefferson School in 1980, returning to the area after spending 10 years in Chicago, where she had worked as

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a secretary for life insurance companies and attended community college night classes. A secretary opening at Jefferson caught her attention through an advertisement in the Telegraph. Forty-eight people had applied. “The principal came out and looked at all of us, sitting on the chairs up and down a hallway at Jefferson, and said, ‘Now, if any of you can stay, I’ll interview you,’” Zimmerman said. “I had Grandma watching my boys at home, so I was going to stay. On Tuesday, he called and offered me the job, and asked if I could start on Wednesday. That happened to be on our anniversary, so that’s why I can always remember what day I started. Did I expect it? No. He would tease me a couple of months later and go, ‘I wonder if I made the right choice?’ I’m like, ‘What do you mean?’”

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ZIMMERMAN cont’d from page 14 Four years into her job, Zimmerman moved to Madison Junior High when the school became a seventh- and eighthgrade attendance center. Jefferson was experiencing growth from new subdivisions north of Dixon, which prompted a shuffle in grades at schools. Doug Shippert, the same principal who hired her, was involved in the change, which Zimmerman remembers as a significant shift for the district. Madison Junior High was expanded was renamed Reagan Middle School in 1996. She can still remember the name of the plan, thanks the limitations of technology at the time. No copy and paste, just typing it on the typewriter — again and again and again. “He started the Curriculum Site Committee,” Zimmerman said. “That’s how I can remember what the name of this committee was — the Curriculum Site Committee — because I typed that over and over, no memory built in to even repeat it. Sometimes I had to redo it.”

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Adona Zimmerman (third from left) poses for a photo along with fellow Dixon Public Schools staff in 1991 who were awarded with the Illinois State Board of Education’s Those Who Excel Award. Her years coordinating substitutes also gave Zimmerman a connection to nearly every corner of the district. Magnafici said many of the people she worked with in those years eventually became teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators or parents of Dixon students, expanding the network of people who

knew her well. Dixon Superintendent Melydi Huyett, now in her first year leading the district, was a Reagan Middle School student in the late 1990s. She remembers Zimmerman’s kindness then, and still sees it now, 30 years later. ZIMMERMAN cont’d to page 16

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ZIMMERMAN cont’d from page 15 “What I remember most about Adona is her willingness to lend a helping hand,” Huyett said. “That was true when I was a student, and it certainly remains true today. I know that if I ever need assistance, Adona is always willing to help, and she does so with a smile on her face. Her kindness and dedication have made a lasting impact on countless students, staff members, and families over the years.” While her helpfulness has remained a constant, things around her have changed, like the tools of the trade. For years, Zimmerman also called substitute teachers for the entire district, a job that required her to get up at 4 a.m. each school day. These days, she no longer needs to set the alarm so early, thanks to the tools of the trade that have changed through the years. “The big thing that’s changed is the technology,” Zimmerman said. “When Woody Wasson was the principal, he and I used to do the schedules together in the summer. Our program used to take overnight. Now it’s like 20 minutes. The technology has made a

The current site of Reagan Middle School originally was the first incarnation of Madison School, opened in 1958. Madison became a junior high in 1984, which was the year when Adona Zimmerman came over from Jefferson School to serve as its secretary. Madison was renamed Reagan Middle School in 1996 after the building expanded. The second incarnation of Madison School opened on the south end of the Reagan Middle School building in 2014, the same year Lincoln School on the southwest side closed. When Zimmerman retires in 2027, she’ll have spent all but 4 of her 47 years with Dixon Public Schools at the same location.

whole difference in this generation.” Speaking of generations, Zimmerman has seen a few of her own pass through the halls of Dixon schools. Reagan has become more than a workplace for her, partly because her own family have come through its doors. She and her husband Larry, who is originally from Dixon, have been married for 59 years and have three sons and 11 grandchildren. Seven of those grandchildren have attended Reagan, with the youngest two still in high school, where sons Ryan and Eric teach. Her daughter-in-law, Barbara, teaches at Reagan, and she has grandchildren who teach or are paraprofessionals at Dixon and Mattoon schools. Even at work, she surrounds herself with family, in the photos on the wall beside her desk — though they’ve started to come down as her retirement draws closer. “Some days when you’re just feeling a little gloomy or something, you just look at that and it just makes your day,” Zimmerman said. ZIMMERMAN cont’d to page 17

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ZIMMERMAN cont’d from page 16 And she’s no stranger to making other people’s day either. Magnafici said, Zimmerman has become a familiar presence through the district’s decades of changes. As the person often stationed at the front office, Zimmerman has become one of the first faces students, parents and staff encounter when they enter Reagan. Magnafici said she has a knack for knowing how to respond to people in different situations, whether a student needs help, a parent has a question or a staff member simply needs someone to listen. “When you think about Reagan Middle School, there have been countless students, hundreds of staff members, and several administrators who have come and gone,” Magnafici said. “Through all of those changes, Adona has been the constant. She has been the glue that has helped hold this place together. She has been the familiar face that people have counted on year after year, and I honestly can’t imagine Reagan without her.” After 47 years, Zimmerman has decided

REAGAN MIDDLE SCHOOL FACEBOOK PAGE

immerman poses with her “Spirit Stick” and certificate of recognition, awarded to her in August 2025 as part of Reagan Middle School’s ongoing effort to honor its staff for jobs well done. the time has come to leave the office she has called home for so long. “It’s bittersweet, and I’m sure I’m going to miss it,” Zimmerman said. Recognition has never been what Zim-

merman was after, something Magnafici has seen repeatedly during their years working together, he said. When Reagan assistant principal Ashley Henegar put together social media mini-profiles on select staff members for the school’s Facebook page, Zimmerman wasn’t interested, but one was put together and posted, and remains online today. However, she has been more willing to share her memories with the people around her as her final school year draws to a close. Staff members have been curious about what she has seen during 47 years in Dixon schools, and she has obliged with stories from the past. One question has come up more than once: Will she still wake up at 4 a.m. every school day? She doesn’t think she can get past that, she said. “I like to tell stories, but I don’t like to be acknowledged in any way,” Zimmerman said. “I’ve enjoyed it.” n Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.

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aisle. an idea, The difference often begins with that turn an then grows through the details ing memoraeth som ordinary gathering into thrives on ss ble. That’s what a Dixon busine unique event when it helps its clients create a their own, and experience that they can call all share with others. nt rentals, UnderCover Rentals provides eve ing eas ly staffing and planning, while incr weddings, creating custom experiences for tions — all bra cele er parties, festivals and oth ry event eve ke with a simple but fun goal: ma in ned 2025, feel personal. The business ope necessities building itself around the familiar chairs, bounce of events such as tents, tables, cessions. con houses, inflatable games and

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By CODY CUTTER Sauk Valley Media

ctor of Season Jeveret, UnderCover’s dire a starting operations, sees those staples as ics into point, wanting to tailor those bas que. uni ing something more — someth actor’ at w-f “We want to focus on the ‘wo ts, we do parties,” Jeveret said. “We do ten nce houses, tables, we do chairs, we do bou personal but we want to provide a more more cusand fun experience, and be into that. I’m a tom stuff. We want to be above we want to very do-it-yourself person, and whenevnce erie give you that fairy tale exp er you rent with us.” Estarry Jeveret goA recent example of the business (left) and Season itory ing into increasingly creative terr Jeveret are the team l tiva Fes was at the Fall and Fantasy behind the operations at at Centennial Park in Rock Falls, UnderCover Rentals in Dixon. where it debuted what is calls an Season is the director of foot interactive inflatable: a 20-by-30operations, and Estarry feel enclosed room with a nightclub is the administrative erent that can be customized with diff assistant. or air colors and equipped with heating structure conditioning. For the festival, the est. For became an Enchanted UNDERCOVER cont’d to page 20

CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM

“We want to focus on the ‘wow-factor’ at parties ... We want to provide a more personal and fun experience ...

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UNDERCOVER cont’d from page 19 The concept has other possibilities, too. Jeveret envisions the inflatables being set up a festivals and weddings, too. The company has already created fairy gardens, a medieval Game of Thronesthemed setup, children’s birthday parties and bachelorette and bachelor parties. Mobile haunted houses are another possibility, and Jeveret is exploring ways to bring the interactive setup to local Christmas festivals. Jeveret enjoys going into custom setups. Sometimes the requests are more unusual, and in those instances, if she doesn’t have something on hand, she knows someone who does.

“We did a wedding once where it was Halloween themed, and they wanted to be carried down the aisle in a casket,” Jeveret said. “We did that. The whole wedding was done haunted style. It was a lot of fun. I had never been asked if we had a coffin to rent before. I work with a lot of different people, and I know a guy who runs haunted houses.” Tent sizes range from 10-by-10 feet to 40-by-160 feet, with several sizes in between. The 20-by-20-foot and 40-by-40-foot tents are among the most frequently rented, with peak heights reaching about 20 feet. Planning can uncover the smaller pieces that are easy to overlook. At wedding expos, where she regularly appears, Jeveret said couples often focus on the big things while sometimes forgetting the little

details: napkins, tablecloths, placemats and similar items that are small in size, but not in importance. Customers can also rent coolers, cornhole sets, heaters, air-conditioning units, dunk tanks, fans, garbage cans, popcorn poppers and snow-cone makers, among other items. It’s a variety has turned some customers into repeat renters who initially came for one item and discovered that UnderCover could handle a number of other needs, too. All rental items are licensed and insured. Bundling equipment can also simplify an event by reducing the number of vendors involved. It can provide a backup when another vendor falls through, too. “We take pride in our ability to think on the fly,” Jeveret said. “I’m showing up at sites and they are missing something an hour before it starts. I can tell them, ‘Give me 30 minutes and I’ll go back to my warehouse because I probably got it.’” UNDERCOVER cont’d to page 24

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UNDERCOVER cont’d from page 20 Private parties, corporate and work events, celebrations of life, school functions and weddings make up a large part its business. During the summer, a typical weekend can bring 15 to 20 events from Friday through Sunday. Spring weekends can bring 10 to 20 school events. Most customers come from within about two hours of Dixon, although they occasionally travel farther. After the rental deal is done, their work is just beginning: Staff members set up rental equipment at the site and, for weddings, can handle tablecloths, dishes and tents. The company also provides event staffing, something that many customers overlook, Jeveret said. “A lot of people don’t think about if you’re having a backyard birthday party or wedding,” Jeveret said. “You don’t want to serve your guests or anything like that, so we use our event staffing to go in and serve the guests, clean everything up, set everything up, babysit kids and handle any event security.”

The company also can help plan events. A customer can arrive with an idea and work with Jeveret to develop it. “I’ll tell them, ‘Tell me what you’re envisioning,’” Jeveret said. “I’ll go through my lists and my photos and ask them if any of it will work with them. Then we build off of that.” Jeveret’s teen daughter, Estarry, works as the company’s administrative assistant. She handles phone calls, bookings, customer communication and staff scheduling while also helping develop ideas for events. The planning is part of what keeps the work interesting for both of them. “It’s always something different,” Season said. “People may think we just drop stuff off and leave, but we don’t. We interact with people, and there’s always different things that can happen that can go wrong. It’s really fun. You get to be around people who are having great days.” n Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.

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People are rarely as easy to categorize as they appear. The assumptions we make about them often tell us more about ourselves than they do about the people standing in front of us. Some places can reveal that quickly, bringing together people who might otherwise have little reason to cross paths. Take marijuana users. Stereotypes and marijuana use has zig-zagged all over the place through the years. During the 1930s, it was “reefer madness.” In the ‘50s, people pointed to Bohemians and beatniks. By the 1960s, hippies and high times went hand in hand with stereotypes and stigmas. Today? Things are a lot different — just walk into a cannabis dispensary, like Terrabis in Dixon, and you’ll see. As more cannabis stores have cropped up, stereotypes have had to step aside. The person consuming cannabis could be the neighbor down the street or the office worker in the building next door, and their reasons for using it are as varied as the users themselves. A customer could be a senior citizen using it for medical reasons. Maybe it’s a veteran dealing with anxiety. Or it could be someone who

simply wants to relax. Some come in knowing exactly what they want, while others may be first-timers who come in with questions about dosages and what to expect. And helping them sort things out is Steven Peters of Dixon, the general manager of the local Terrabis store. It’s not the first stop in his career in cannabis, but it’s one that’s carried him from the West Coast to Arizona, through more than a decade in the industry, and eventually to a new life here with his fiancée and their two young sons. Terrabis, a privately held, multistate cannabis operator with a corporate office in Chicago and a manufacturing facility in Kansas City, Missouri, has five Illinois locations: Dixon, Grayville, Mundelein, Plainfield and Woodstock. The Dixon store became its third Illinois location when it opened in December 2024, bringing 35 jobs with it. The store is one of nearly 300 cannabis dispensaries in Illinois (286, according to the most recent state records) that have been serving customers since the state decriminalized recreational marijuana use in 2019, and the only one in the Sauk Valley. TERRABIS cont’d to page 28

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TERRABIS cont’d from page 27 Peters joined the Dixon dispensary in December 2025, bringing years of experience in the industry and a personal history that had shaped his interest in cannabis. Terrabis initially sold recreational-use cannabis, but added medical cannabis sales on Sept. 21, after Gov. JB Pritzker’s signature on Senate Bill 3222 on July 12 made several changes to Illinois cannabis law. The Dixon City Council also amended its local ordinance to align with the state changes, clearing the way for Terrabis to pursue drive-thru service in Dixon. What started as a personal interest, for a serious reason, gradually gave Peters a reason to learn more about an industry that was still relatively unfamiliar to him. “Honestly, I’ve been partaking for a while, and it was something that I was super interested in,” Peters said. “When I first started, it was medical.” His mother

suffered from kidney failure and he introduced her to cannabis to help her deal with the effects of the disease. As the years passed, Peters’ curiosity became experience. Working in the industry gave him opportunities to encounter different products, different customers and different questions, building a base of knowledge he could carry from one interaction to the next. “I really wanted to learn more about how it can help other people in a natural, more organic way,” Peters said. “I’ve been able to, throughout the years, gain that knowledge and suggest different things to people, and help them out with different things.” Customers must be 21, and a photo ID is required for all visitors, who check in at the store’s front vestibule. For customers entering the dispensary for the first time, its staff begins with questions about their experience, what kind of experience they want and which products they feel comfortable trying.

The company offers products ranging from flower and pre-rolls to edibles, beverages, topicals, tinctures, vapes and concentrates. Individual kiosks also aid customers in finding what they’re looking for. Inside big city dispensaries, a customer interaction can be brief: a few questions, some discussion and a product selected before the person heads out the door. For Peters, however, he’s seen most of the interactions with customers in Dixon last much longer than what he experienced before working there, and some of those interactions have a second chapter when customers return to the store. “A lot of people come in here and want some sort of pain relief, want help with sleep, and we have stuff like that,” Peters said. “Then they come back and tell us that it worked; they’re getting a better night’s sleep, or are not in that much pain. There’s a lot of natural benefits.” TERRABIS cont’d to page 30

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From a budding industry, cannabis has grown into a multi-billion dollar business since many states started decriminalizing it, generating $3.5 billion in tax revenue across the U.S. in FY2026 (according to the U.S. Census Bureau). Today, hundreds of different products are available, catering to a wide range of customers, whether they’re looking for help sleeping, pain relief, a way to deal with anxiety, or just want to relax. It’s also grown far beyond just rolling your own, with various different ways to consume your cannabis.

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Steven Peters, general manager of Terrabis in Dixon, draws on more than a decade of cannabis industry experience while helping customers navigate products and find options suited to their needs. Customers who prefer self-service can also use kiosks (right) at the store to find information on its products. COD Y

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TERRABIS cont’d from page 29 The move to Dixon marked another chapter in his long professional journey. Peters, who is originally from Los Angeles, had spent 11 years working in Phoenix’s cannabis industry, most of the time as a general manager. By late 2025, a combination of career opportunity and family circumstances was pointing him toward northern Illinois. “I moved out here because I have two young boys, 7 and 3, and my fiancee’s from Amboy,” Peters said. “She has a lot of family out here that helps support the boys. That was a big part of it, and it’s been an awesome time.” The store’s reach goes beyond Dixon, with customers coming from communities throughout the Sauk Valley. The mix has given Peters a chance to encounter people with different levels of familiarity with cannabis and different reasons for visiting. “I like how friendly everybody is, especially coming from a bigger city like

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Phoenix,” he said. “People are so polite. So nice. They’re willing to listen and willing to learn.” Some of those conversations involve customers who are still figuring out what they want from the experience, including older customers who may have little previous familiarity with cannabis. “Especially with an older demographic, I enjoy giving back to why I got into this industry to begin with — and that’s been to help people,” he said. “That’s the really awesome part for me.” TERRABIS cont’d to page 31

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TERRABIS cont’d from page 30 The store also has become part of the local business community, having supported local events and initiatives, including the Dixon City Market, Scarecrow Festival, Timber Creek Golf Outing and other events. This year, it also sponsored downtown light pole banners as part of Dixon’s 250-year celebration. As he oversees the dispensary, Peters’ work brings together his professional experience and the reason he first became interested in the industry: learning enough to help others navigate something he once wanted to understand better himself. “I thought, what’s a kind of alternative medicine that can help, and I could spread the word on how it can help and so that people don’t have to deal with that,” he said. n Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.

Terrabis, 1679 S. Galena Ave. in Dixon, is open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Find it on Facebook, Instagram and X, go to terrabis.com or call 815-8466366 for more information.

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Debbie and Chris Robertson bring the bargains to you so you don’t have to hunt them down yourself, picking through pallets and unboxing boxes of inventory from liquidators, auctions and distributors, and selling them at a discount. ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM

’s

etting a good deal is about more than just spending less. For many, it’s all about the hunt. The shopper’s high of tracking down the lowest price. The fun of finding something you didn’t even know you were looking for. The satisfaction of getting something you didn’t think you’d be able to afford. Debbie and Chris Robertson know how they feel. They’re bargain hunters too, and they’re also the owners of a Dixon business where shoppers can share in the good deals they’ve bagged. The Robertsons opened Better Bargains on Feb. 13, and since then they’ve been offering up merchandise for people who like to stretch a dollar without snapping their budget. And it all starts when they get a load of this, that and the other. The couple buys inventory from liquidators, auctions and distributors, then brings those items to Dixon for cash-and-carry sales at prices that live up to the store’s name. Debbie describes the business as a sort of “Rubik’s cube of all sorts of different retailers.” “We buy it and bring it here so that people don’t have to go out of town for big box store items,” Debbie said. “They can have them here in Dixon for bargain prices. We have items from $2,000 to 10 cents. You’re going to get a bargain on whatever you buy.” BARGAINS cont’d to page 34

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BARGAINS cont’d from page 33

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The inventory often includes home-improvement supplies, household essentials, gardening items, grilling supplies, bathroom products, light bulbs, garden hoses, mop buckets and packs of diapers. The selection changes constantly, with merchandise arriving on pallets and moving through the store. The unpredictability is part of the fun. Some pallets arrive with detailed manifests, while others leave the Robertsons discovering what they have as they break them down. “It changes all of the time,” Debbie said. “It’s like Christmas every day. Just ask me and I’ll tell you if we have it. It’s fun to break down a pallet.” BARGAINS cont’d to page 35

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BARGAINS cont’d from page 34 Bikes have provided some of the more memorable examples of what those unexpected finds can mean to customers. One young boy wanted a dirt bike, but his mother initially told him they needed to go home and talk to his father. They returned that afternoon with Dad, and the boy brought half of his own money toward the purchase. “He lit up like a Christmas tree,” Debbie said. “It was something he wanted. Dad worked with him on it, and it was a budget decision.” Another family came looking for a pair of wheels too, but not the kind you sit down on — the kind you stand up on instead. A mother whose daughters already had bikes was looking for a way to keep up with them and found it in a Segway at the store. “We like to be budget friendly,” Debbie said. “We have a motto in our marriage — ‘We don’t like to pay full price for anything’ — and we don’t expect other people to do that either.” BARGAINS cont’d to page 36

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BARGAINS cont’d from p. 35 Debbie had considered a business like this for about 15 years. The couple had seen a resale store connected to a school their children attended and liked the idea, but they wanted to approach it differently. Dixon already had the Leydig Center serving the community with its thrift store, so the Robertsons decided their focus would be new merchandise. The couple also wanted to create a store that could serve a wide range of customers. Chris brings construction experience to the operation, which has made him a resource for contractors and homeowners looking for tools, materials and other project-related items. “Personally, I like talking with customers to see what projects they got, and if I can give them some of my wisdom, too,” Chris said. “I once built houses after high school, so I have some experience in that. I like talking to people if they’re

remodeling stuff, or have an opinion on a tool.” The building itself, at 532 E. River Road, has had several lives, having previously been used as a food processing facility, photography storage business, and gymnastics studio. Behind the sales floor, a back room holds merchandise waiting for its place out front. By early September, Christmas merchandise had already arrived. The Robertsons inspect items as thoroughly as possible because they want customers to trust what they are buying and give the business a chance to become a lasting part of the community. BARGAINS cont’d to page 37

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BARGAINS cont’d from page 36 Furniture has become another example of how quickly the right bargain can move. Debbie said pieces Chris assembles are often sold within a week, while larger contractors sometimes purchase in enough volume to receive additional discounts. Gardening and home-decor items are among Debbie’s favorites, but the

broader appeal comes from never quite knowing what might appear. The Robertsons have worked with Justin Bergman of the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Sauk Valley Community College to think about what kinds of merchandise could fill gaps for Dixon customers without requiring them to travel to a larger city. BARGAINS cont’d to page 38

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BARGAINS cont’d from page 37 Their goal is to bring some of the variety associated with a big-box store while maintaining a more personal connection with the people walking through the door. They want the store to become part of Dixon’s broader business community, drawing customers who may visit other local businesses while they are in town. Continuing to chase the next pallet comes back to the same basic idea that inspired the busiBetter Bargains, 532 E. River Road in Dixon, is ness in the first place: people still open 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, need things, even when house9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and noon to hold budgets are tight. 4 p.m. Sunday. Find it on Facebook, “Especially now with the econemail betterbargains815@gmail. omy and the cost of everything right com or call 815-440-2712 for now, people still need stuff,” Debbie more information. said. “For people who like to shop the liquidating and thrift places, this is it.” n Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.

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Wally's is the PLAYce to be! Try our signature drink “The Filthy Marilyn”

10 MATCH

PLAY

Must be 21 or older to game. No purchase necessary. One coupon per person. Management reserves all rights. Redeem this coupon to receive $10 Match Play at Wally’s Playce. Match Play must be played in video gaming terminals and is offered and provided exclusively by Wally’s Playce. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) or text “GAMB” to 833234. Expires 3/31/27.

6 S. WASHINGTON ST. MILLEDGEVILLE, IL • (815) 631-0558 HOURS: MON - THURS: 2PM - 12AM • FRI - SAT: 12PM - 1AM • SUNDAY: 12PM - 10PM

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Skip the shovel. Keep the cozy. WINTER RESPITE AT LIBERTY COURT

Make winter easier. Warm meals, friendly faces,

and support when you need it. Ask about a short-term stay.

Call 815-285-2000 to explore a winter stay ASSISTED LIVING | BETTER DAYS MEMORY CARE 124 Liberty Court, Dixon, IL 61021

betterlivingsl.com Illustrative photography

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