Opinion: Columns

During the Civil War, Dixon boys were trained right here in Dixon along with recruits from throughout northern Illinois. This is the story of Dixon’s Civil War camp. 

I woke up Monday to a message from my niece that Pope Francis had died at the age of 88.

Maybe the next time you catch yourself trapped in routine, convinced that life is fixed and time is ticking in one direction, you pause and wonder: What else is possible?

By the time most of you read this week’s column, the somber remembrance of Good Friday will have given way to the mournful grief of Holy Saturday or the renewed hope of Easter Sunday.

Sign up for the June 14 Florissa Family 5K to support the pediatric developmental center, which provides developmental services for children.

Toby writes about how the road you’re on has always been waiting for you to realize – you’re the one who’s paving it

Opinion: At the heart of DeKalb County’s success has been a deep commitment to collaboration, writes Melissa Amedeo of the DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation.

The tree outside our window reminds me this morning of how the grounding aspects of the natural world have guided me through life.

From 1861 to 1865, Camp Dement at Dixon was a major training center, which then sent thousands of Dixon-trained soldiers to clash with Confederate soldiers in nearly every southern state, from Missouri to the Atlantic.

Shared goals, voiced early, dissolve resistance before it ever shows up. They create alignment, and alignment creates momentum.

What can combat a rash of stupidity? Fiction, Rick Holinger argues.

I was a student at Illinois Valley Community College when I first heard Kenny Loggins’ “Conviction of the Heart,” in 1991.

National Poetry Month, celebrated in April, turns a spotlight on the heartfelt art form.

Opinion: If you’re passionate about a healthy environment and sustainable future, then DeKalb County Earth Fest – a free and family-friendly event from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. this Saturday in DeKalb – is for you, writes Thomas Skuzinski.

Toby writes about how the mind responds to imagined experiences as if they were reality.

"Preventive health care is managing health with a goal of preventing disease processes before they occur," writes Mercyhealth nurse practitioner Elaine Lawrence.

Editor’s Note: This is the third of three installments about the history of The Dixon: Historic Theatre.

Back in the 1980s, my younger brothers and I religiously listened to Kasem’s America’s Top 40, every Sunday on the radio.

Opinion|Vaughn: Kishwaukee United Way is thrilled to announce the launch of its annual $1,000 scholarship for a first-generation graduating senior or current college student this spring.

Toby Moore writes about finishing what you started in life.

Opinion: The Sycamore Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to fostering a thriving local economy and a strong civic culture. One of the most impactful ways to influence the future of our community is by participating in local elections, writes Shelby Crackel.

On Thursday, the first official day of spring, I caught a “glimmer.”

Here’s a thought: Your internal world manifests your external world.

Column: A new program offered in DeKalb this summer will invite high schoolers to learn more about potential career choices, visit active job sites and training facilities, and gain firsthand insight into what it takes to succeed in skilled trades, writes Matt Duffy.

Opinion: In the 2023 Consolidated Election, only 6,175 of DeKalb County’s 61,435 registered voters cast a ballot – a turnout of just 10%. This level of voter participation is concerning when you consider how directly these elected leaders impact our lives, writes Clerk Tasha Sims

For most of my adult life, I have been on a quest for wisdom with a capital W.

When the glorious new Dixon Theater opened with great fanfare on March 15, 1922, Ronald Reagan could be found sitting in the balcony.

Toby Moore writes about the art of saying less is better than saying more.

Who here has not heard the old proverb “Every cloud has a silver lining?”

A conference for families and professionals who care for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities takes place Saturday in Woodstock.

In Illinois, about 3.6 million people rely on Medicaid, or nearly a third of the state’s population, writes Abbey Nicholas, director of NAMI McHenry County.

According to the CDC, every 40 seconds someone in the U.S. has a heart attack. That’s why it’s so important to know the signs of a heart attack and be prepared to act fast if it happens to you or someone you care about.

Toby Moore writes about the idea of keeping our heroes in the proper perspective.

Lent begins next week on Ash Wednesday.

With the March 2 grand opening of the newly renovated Dixon Historic Theatre, our historian, Tom Wadsworth, turns his attention to the rich history of this 100-year-old Dixon institution.

Opinion: Kishwaukee United Way is in its second year implementing a new initiative centered around helping individuals upgrade their lives from survival mode to a thriving future with the Digital Crossover program.

When someone says something cruel or mean, they aren’t aiming it at you. They’re aiming it at people from their past who left emotional scars. You happen to be standing in the crossfire.

Dementia isn’t a single disease. It’s more like an umbrella term for a group of symptoms caused by damage to brain cells, writes MercyHealth's Dr. Amarish Davé.

What are you most passionate about?

Toby Moore writes about how some in the medical field over the centuries were at first ridiculed for their innovations but were proven right years later.

Consuming dark leafy greens like spinach, kale, arugula and collard greens can make a difference in the look of our skin, hair and eyes.

Since the substance of the Origin of all things is Love, that means at your heart, you are love too.

Who managed Ronald Reagan's media campaign? Armed with 30 years of radio, television, and advertising experience, 58-year-old Moon Reagan became the media mastermind behind Ron’s 1966 campaign.  

"Illinois is heading into a fiscal storm in 2025, facing a trifecta of challenges that could have mammoth consequences for both the state and its municipalities," writes state Sen. Craig Wilcox.

Deep inside of us, no matter how old we are, we long for our mother.

Unfortunately, oversalting sidewalks, parking lots and roadways in an effort to reduce ice-related injuries is also causing chloride toxicity in our waterways and impacts aquatic life, soil and human health, writes Julie Jesmer of DeKalb's Citizens' Environmental Commission.

This past week was a reminder of those times and that awful place

It can be difficult to stay positive

There is nothing like making a good decision and being reminded how good it was

More than two decades ago, a popular show called “The Bachelor” debuted on television.