Just weeks ago, the Dixon Family YMCA faced the threat of closing both its facilities. But thanks to nearly $200,000 raised in emergency funding and swift action by community leaders, the YMCA has stabilized operations and is laying the groundwork for a long-term comeback.

Here's a look at news and sports happenings in the Sauk Valley for the week of Oct. 17-23, 2025.

The Lee County Board on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, approved an ordinance regulating open burning in the county’s unincorporated areas.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and OSF HealthCare Saint Katharine Medical Center is reminding women that early detection is key to saving lives.

Dixon Stage Left announces an improv workshop with Stephen Osborne. It's a 6-week course that will meet from 6-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays from Nov. 4 through Dec. 16 at 105 S. Peoria Ave. in Dixon.

The contest, led by Madison Elementary, accepts writing and cover art submissions from kindergarten to eighth graders to publish in a student book that will be on the shelves at all district school libraries.

Imagine Dixon with no buildings, no roads, no people … just trees and native grass. The river has no dam and no bridges … just a free-flowing wide stream with many little islands.

The TALK-LINE interview for Oct. 23 featured Sinnissippi Centers of Dixon Marketing Manager Andy Jackson discussing National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month and Depression Awareness Month in October.

Tommie Wallace opened Deebo’s three years ago after leaving his job of eight years cooking at the former Corner Spot Bar & Grill in Dixon.

Dixon Stage Left is bringing its sold-out Chicago dinner show production of “Cake, Candles, & Murder!” to the Dixon Elks Club.

Dixon Stage Left’s first Senior Theatre showcase performance, “We Still Got It!”, will be Sunday, Oct. 26 at The Next Picture Show.

A number of local runners had success at the IESA state cross country finals Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Normal. The Dixon Reagan girls were fourth as a team in Class 3A and Rock Falls East Coloma's Bentlee Lawrenz was the overall winner.

The Dixon American Legion will be serving beef and noodles, vegetable, roll, salad and dessert from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.

The TALK-LINE interview for Oct. 21 featured Dixon Mayor Glen Hughes with an update on city issues, including increasing the Dixon Police Department staff from 30 to 31 employees.

The Dixon Knights of Columbus Council 690 will host its monthly breakfast from 7:30-10:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, at KayCee Hall, 506 W. Third St.

November will mark one year since St. Paul and Immanuel Lutheran churches in Dixon formed an experimental partnership led by a married couple, Anthony Windau and Riley Reed-Windau, as co-pastors. The churches are having a one-year anniversary celebration and installation service.

Reagan Middle School's music program counts 225 students currently enrolled in either choir, band or both, which is about 50 more than the last school year.

For the team at a Dixon attorneys’ office, there’s no place like home – except their workplace, where they make a winning case for following in dad’s footsteps.

Daniela Lovett plans to attend a 4-year university to major in biology and minor in business in hopes to become a dermatologist.

The TALK-LINE interview for Oct. 16 featured Dixon City Manager Dan Langloss discussing the latest city activity, including the conclusion of street and sidewalk work in 2025, along with highway work on Galena Avenue through the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Young writers and artists at Madison School in Dixon write stories and create art to be included in the annual Young Authors Book.

Dixon and Rock Falls junior cross country runners took home medals from the IESA state cross country finals on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.

Dixon Mayor Glen Hughes has declared Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, to be Steve Marco Day.

The Dixon School Board approved three personnel action items Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, at its board meeting.

Many Illinois communities are adding back a 1% grocery tax that will otherwise expire on Jan. 1. Is your town among them?

Sauk Valley Community College’s Student Government Association invites the public to give the gift of life during their fall blood drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27, 2025.

New band and choir software at Reagan Middle School in Dixon continues to boost interest in the musical arts.

Hands-on activities and career chats gave local middle schoolers a glimpse into their futures Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, during the annual Pathways Playground career exploration event at Sauk Valley Community College, Dixon.

The Hammond-Henry Hospital Board of Directors and Administration has announced Dr. David Cook is joining the staff at its Colona Clinic on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, in Colona.

If you have any questions or comments on the changes since the Dixon Police Department was first founded, join the Lee County Historical and Genealogical Society at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27, at 113 S. Hennepin Ave., in Dixon.

The TALK-LINE interview for Oct. 17 featured Illinois 74th District State Rep. Brad Fritts of Dixon discussing the current fall veto session in Springfield and subjects of concern, including the state’s energy crisis, the Chicago transit problems and rising property tax.

Dixon's Halloween tradition continued Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, with the annual Scarecrow Fest.

Catch up on the week’s top Sauk Valley news for Oct. 12-18 in minutes. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

The Cedarville University chapter of Lambda Pi Eta, the national honor society for communication, has inducted 26 communication students for outstanding academic performance.

Led by a number of local standouts, the Sauk Valley Community College women's tennis team qualified for nationals this past weekend.

With Halloween creeping closer, here is a list of trick-or-treat hours and other holiday and fall-themed events you can visit with your little ghosts and ghouls.

The Dixon Public School Board is looking into contracting with a solar vendor to potentially decrease its energy costs over the long term.

The TALK-LINE interview for Oct. 15 featured Shaw Local News representatives Charlene Bielema and Brandon Clark discussing local news stories, including a bakery taking over a Sterling location.

Dixon's Scarecrow Fest is Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.

The event is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in downtown Dixon.

The Do it Best Foundation has distributed more than $115,000 in grants this quarter to local organizations, including the Dixon Family YMCA and Hope Cancer Wellness Center in Dixon, supporting children and families in communities where Do it Best team members live and work.

Join the Lee County Sheriff’s Office for its annual Stuff the Squad event from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 15, in Dixon.

Downtown Dixon rolled out the black carpet Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, and invited shoppers, diners and hunters to check out all the area has to offer for Discover Dixon's Witches Night Out.

The Dixon Park District, the city and Discover Dixon have been awarded a $22,000 federal grant, one of 250 awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities through its Celebrate America! program.

A Lee County judge is allowing a Dixon man facing several weapons charges to be temporarily moved to a sober living home.

Munroe is currently the executive director of the Oregon Area Chamber of Commerce. Lee County Board's District 3 covers nearly all of Dixon on the Walmart side of the river, or precincts 1 through 9.

The Plein Air Exhibition and Stories in Portrait Exhibition, sponsored by the Rock River Valley Painters Guild, will open Oct. 22 and run through Nov. 15 at The Next Picture Show in Dixon.

Lake Carroll's annual Mr. and Mrs. Club Championship brings out the best in teamwork to come out on top, and there's a strong bond among the teammates – they're spouses.

The TALK-LINE interview for Oct. 10 featured Illinois 37th District State Senator Li Arellano of Dixon discussing the upcoming fall veto session for the state legislature set to get underway later this month, with issues on a pending energy crisis facing the state.

Gwen Strum, a lactation consultant with the Women’s Health team at OSF HealthCare Saint Katharine Medical Center, Dixon, has received the “I am an OSF Nurse” award in the category of Exemplary Professional Practice.