The city’s German counterpart will roll out the welcome mat to about a dozen Dixonites next year.

A delegation of 13 people from Herzberg, Germany, came to the Petunia Capital in summer 2015. Come September, the roles will be reversed.

The Dixon Sister Cities Association is looking to take a group of 12 to 15 people to the Fatherland for a week’s stay at homes in Germany.

The trip, planned for sometime in the second half of September, is a continuation of the 17-year relationship the cities have shared in – trading delegations every 2 years.

Association President David Nelson, who approached the City Council about the trip Monday, said they are hoping to send a diverse age group to the city located between Berlin and Dresden, more than 4,000 miles away.

“We are eager to have visitors to Herzberg from all ages, but we are especially eager to include young people,” Nelson said. “It is our sincere hope to establish a modest international youth exchange between Dixon and Herzberg.”

Nelson makes a good point that young eyes will do well to see a worldly perspective.

“In this day and age, both our cities would benefit from exposure to international contacts and experiences,” he added.

Travelers will be responsible for paying their own airfare but will have few other costs because they will be housed with German families.

Herzberg is one of Dixon’s four sister cities, the others being Dikson – on the Arctic Sea in northern Siberia in the hinterlands of Russia – Castlebar, Ireland, and Thika, Kenya.

Those who’d like to be a part of next year’s trip can call Nelson at 815-440-4571.

Truck out of water

Emergency responders did a bit of ice fishing last week, but instead of pulling out any aquatic game, their catch of the day was a 2008 Chevrolet Colorado.

Dixon police responded to a call at about 6 p.m. Dec. 13 that a truck being driven by two teenagers had gone off the road along Page Drive and plunged into the Rock River.

Driver Tucker Cole, 16, and passenger Tyler Lowry, 17, were able to escape the vehicle and swim the freezing water to shore without injury.

Cole was cited for driving too fast for conditions.

Dixon Fire and Dixon Rural Fire departments sent out boats and searched for the submerged Chevy, and divers from the Byron Fire Department were called in to hook the truck up and help fish it out.

The incident, although rare in the area, serves as an important reminder to use caution during the winter and be mindful of snow and ice.

OFFICE HOURS

Dixon reporter Rachel Rodgers has "office hours" from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesdays at Books On First, 202 W. First St.

Feel free to pitch her a story, leave a news tip, or just say hi.

You also can email her at rrodgers@saukvalley.com or give her a call at 815-625-3600, ext. 5529.