Along The Rock

On this episode of Along the Rock , host Kierstyn Long welcomes Jessica Spohn, Casework and Advocacy Manager, and Jill Sanders McFalls, Director of Crisis Services, from the YWCA of the Sauk Valley to discuss Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the resources available to survivors throughout Lee and Whiteside counties. Learn how the YWCA provides emergency shelter, legal advocacy, counseling, ca...

Join host Kierstyn Long on Along the Rock , brought to you by the Radar Free Press, as she welcomes Gwen Strum from OSF Saint Katharine Medical Center to discuss the Nourish the Journey 5K Walk! This special community event celebrates the unique journeys of families who breastfeed or provide breast milk for their children while recognizing the friends, family members, and caregivers who offer supp...

🎃 Along the Rock: Pumpkins, Halloween Traditions & the Surprising History of Jack-o’-Lanterns! Why did people originally carve turnips instead of pumpkins for Halloween? And what does it take to grow the perfect pumpkin? 🌱 On this episode of Along the Rock, host Kierstyn Long welcomes Bruce J. Black from the University of Illinois Extension for a fall-themed conversation about pumpkin growin...

Get ready to do the Time Warp again! 🎃 On this episode of Along the Rock, host Kierstyn Long is joined by Holly Vrhel and Kaitlin Haley from Mosaic Theater Troupe and Tori Highley from The Dixon: Historic Theatre to talk about the return of the Rocky Horror Picture Show live shadow cast! Learn what makes a shadow cast such a unique experience, how audiences can join in the fun, and what newcomers...

Online banking has changed the way we manage our money! ☕💳 On this episode of Cash and Coffee , hosts Quinn Stahr and Emily Zimmerman celebrate World Online Banking Day by discussing the convenience of digital banking and how it has transformed personal finances. From checking account balances and tracking pending transactions to depositing checks with a few pictures, online banking makes it eas...

🎃 Light Up Rock Falls for the Halloween Spooktacular Parade! 🎃 On this episode of Along the Rock , host Nathan Stahr is joined by Melinda Jones from Rock Falls Tourism to talk about the third annual Lighted UTV and Golf Cart Halloween Spooktacular Parade . The parade brings decorated UTVs and golf carts to the streets of Rock Falls for a night filled with Halloween creativity, lights, music, cos...

On this episode of Along the Rock , host Kierstyn Long sits down with Ana Smith, director of the Ruth Edwards Nature Center at the Dixon Park District, to explore Rambling Days and the many ways the community can enjoy Dixon’s parks and natural spaces. Rambling Days Sunday, October 18 1 to 4 p.m. Dixon Park District Meadows Rambling Days gives visitors a unique opportunity to drive through the bac...

On this episode of Along the Rock , host Kierstyn Long welcomes Krystal Spencer of PawPack Pride , along with Bruce, to talk about the new nonprofit and its mission to help animals and families throughout the Sauk Valley and surrounding communities. PawPack Pride is starting from the ground up with plans to help families struggling to provide food for their pets, assist with spaying and neutering...

On this episode of Along the Rock , host Kierstyn Long sits down with Janna Groharing, executive director of Sterling Main Street, to talk about the annual Hops on the Rock craft beer festival. The event returns Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Sterling Marketplace outdoor farmers market pavilion, featuring 90 to 100 different beers , six home brewing groups, downtown businesses, food vendors, live music...

☕ Cash and Coffee: The Value of Volunteerism and Giving Back On this episode of Cash and Coffee , hosts Quinn Stahr and Emily Zimmerman step outside the usual financial conversation to talk about something that can have a lasting impact without a financial reward: volunteerism . Quinn and Emily discuss the value of giving back to the community, especially for young people. They explore Quinn’s ex...

🎨 Woodlawn Arts Academy has something for everyone! On this episode of Along the Rock , host Kierstyn Long sits down with Becky Rich and Sydney Segretto from Woodlawn Arts Academy to explore a variety of upcoming programs designed for adults, children, preschoolers, homeschoolers, and families. Sydney shares details about Social Seniors , Artsy Tots , preschool and homeschool programs, Full Steam...

On this episode of Along the Rock, host Kierstyn Long sits down with Dr. Tad Everett, Superintendent of Sterling Public Schools, to discuss Illinois’ new bell-to-bell cellphone law and why Sterling Public Schools chose to implement the policy one year ahead of the statewide deadline. The law, which takes effect statewide on July 1, 2027, restricts students from having personal wireless devices on...

🍂 Fall is in full swing in Dixon, and Discover Dixon has a packed October planned! On this episode of Along the Rock , host Kierstyn Long talks with Jennifer Lang and Lucas Pauley from Discover Dixon about the community events bringing people downtown throughout the month. 🎃 Coming up in Dixon: 🌶️ Ultimate Tailgate 📅 Sunday, Oct. 11 ⏰ 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 📍 Bean Blossom parking lot, downtown Dix...

On this episode of Along the Rock, host Kierstyn Long welcomes Mary Oros and Tim Kunkel from the Dixon Rotary Club to talk about the upcoming World’s Largest Polio Walk and the local effort taking place right here in the Sauk Valley. Rotary International has been working to eradicate polio for 35 years, bringing the world within reach of eliminating the disease. While progress has reached nearly 9...

On this episode of Along the Rock, host Kierstyn Long sits down with Ben Sondgeroth, lead regional edtech coordinator for the Learning Technology Center of Illinois, for a conversation about one of the biggest questions facing schools today: What role should artificial intelligence play in the classroom? Ben explains why AI should be viewed as a partner in learning rather than a replacement for le...

On this episode of Along the Rock, host Kierstyn Long sits down with Lysa Hegland from Junior Achievement of the Heartland to explore how the organization is helping students prepare for life beyond the classroom. Junior Achievement of the Heartland is celebrating 70 years of serving communities across Iowa and Illinois. Today, the organization reaches approximately 63,000 students across 24 count...

What should you do when your budget actually leaves you with money left over? On this episode of Cash and Coffee, Quinn Stahr and Emily Zimmerman continue the conversation about cash-envelope budgeting and explore what happens when you do not spend everything you budgeted. Should you roll the money over to the next week? Move it to another category? Put it into savings or retirement? Or use it as...

Get ready for a day of lumberjacks, fall fun, and family activities at Selmi’s Greenhouse and Family Farm! On this episode of Along the Rock, host Nathan Stahr talks with Melinda Jones from Rock Falls Tourism and Ranae Smith from Selmi’s Greenhouse and Family Farm about the sixth annual Lumberjack Show and everything happening at Selmi’s this fall. The Lumberjack Show takes place Saturday, October...

On this episode of Along the Rock, host Kierstyn Long is joined by Dale Hayen and Anna Garcia from Sauk Valley Friends of NRA to talk about the organization’s 32nd annual banquet and how the event supports youth shooting sports and local organizations. The annual banquet is set for October 10 at the Dixon Elks Club. Doors open at 4 p.m., with dinner beginning around 5 to 5:30 p.m. The evening will...

On this episode of Along the Rock, host Kierstyn Long sits down with Nick and Brennen Neblung from Bobby’s Crash Foundation to share the story behind the foundation and the life-changing crash that inspired its mission. On September 28, 2025, Brennen was seriously injured in a crash caused by excessive speed. He spent approximately a month and a half receiving treatment between the University of I...

Step into a world of castles, costumes, Renaissance-inspired entertainment, and family fun on this episode of Along the Rock! Host Kierstyn Long sits down with Dr. Danny Pierce, executive director of Stronghold Camp and Retreat Center, to learn more about the history of Stronghold, its mission as a summer camp and retreat center, and the annual Old English Fair. Located along the Rock River just o...

On this episode of Along the Rock, host Nathan Stahr sits down with Nick Pepper from 7:24 Fitness on the Rock and Andrew Jackson from Sinnissippi Centers to talk about the Sauk Valley Apple Cider Run. Now in its sixth year, the event brings together a 5K, half marathon, fall fun, and an important cause. The race is a fundraiser for the Sinnissippi Centers CARES Fund, which provides short-term assi...

On this episode of Along the Rock, host Kierstyn Long sits down with Camryn Johnson, the new director of the Rock Falls Chamber, and Marissa Razo, the Chamber’s program coordinator. Learn more about Camryn’s journey with the Chamber, her goals for growing membership, and how the Rock Falls Chamber supports local businesses and brings the community together through events. The conversation also hig...

On this episode of Along the Rock , host Nathan Stahr welcomes Ben Lightner from Dixon Stage Left for a look at everything the theater company has coming up this fall and winter. Dixon Stage Left is bringing The Hound of the Baskervilles to the Jerry Mathysse Theater at Sauk Valley Community College as a unique live radio theater experience. The production features two performers portraying every...

💵 Is cash making a comeback? On this episode of Cash and Coffee , hosts Quinn Stahr and Emily Zimmerman explore the surprising return of cash stuffing , an old-school budgeting method that is gaining new attention among younger consumers on social media. From budgeting binders and labeled envelopes to savings challenges and spending limits, cash stuffing is changing the way some people think abou...