Along The Rock

Season 2, Episode 8In this episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris speaks with Blake Geuns, Blake Huizenga, and Alayna Young, students in the CEO program at Whiteside Area Career Center. The CEO program is a student-driven class that teaches life skills such as leadership, public speaking, and entrepreneurship. The students promote their class businesses, both of them dinners coming up at the...

Season 2, Episode 7In this episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris speaks with Sam Smith, CEO of Rock Falls Chamber of Commerce, Dallas Knack, executive director of Sauk Valley Chamber of Commerce, and Amanda Wike, executive director of Discover Dixon, about upcoming events in the area. To learn more, visit their website:https://www.rockfallschamber.com/https://www.saukvalleyareachamber.com/ht...

Season 2, Episode 6In this episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris speaks with Holly Woolard from Whiteside County Health Department (WCHD) about their new optometry department. After building a state-of-the-art addition on their building located at 1300 W. Second St., Rock Falls, IL, WCHD opened the Community Health Clinic, including optometry, in November 2024.“We’re excited to see the publi...

Season 2, Episode 5In this episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris speaks with Jill Calkins and Neddie Watts about the Tri-county Opportunities Council (TCOC).TCOC was founded in 1965 with the purpose of investigating, alleviating, and eliminating poverty in 3 counties – Lee, Ogle, and Whiteside. They have grown to cover 9 counties since then. To learn more, visit their website:https://tcochel...

Season 2, Episode 4In this episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris speaks with Jay Schueler, a graduate of Rock Falls Township High School, and Brendan Tunink, a graduate of Newman Central Catholic High School. Schueler and Tunink have both been drafted by Major League Baseball to play for the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers, respectively. Schueler received the news while playing in...

Season 2, Episode 3In this episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris speaks with Floyd Dunn, executive director of Valor Support Project (VSP).On January 17, VSP will be hosting Dan Miller at the Rock Falls American Legion. Miller will be speaking about his personal experience with overcoming PTSD and prioritizing his mental health. This free event will run from 6-7pm; donations are appreciated....

Season 2, Episode 2 In this episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris speaks with Detectives Clay Hadley and Tanner Wilhelm of the Sterling Police Department (SPD) about human trafficking. Much criminal activity, especially human trafficking, relies on isolating the victim. Friends and family can help by watching for signs of isolation in their loved ones, such as significant age gaps in relatio...

Season 2, Episode 1In this special edition of Along the Rock, Nathan Stahr, director of operations at The Radar Free Press, and Janel Stahr, owner and publisher, discuss the first season of Along the Rock and give a preview of what is to come.“We saw a need for an opportunity for free news for the community and also good news,” commented Janel about how The Radar Free Press came about. 🔔 Don’t fo...

Season 1, Episode 42In this episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris speaks with Sergio Vlahovich, TRIO Transfer Program coordinator and advisor at Sauk Valley Community College (SVCC).Through TRIO, Vlahovich advises and assists students at SVCC who are wanting to transfer to a four-year college or university. The TRIO program promotes success, well-being and goals of SVCC students. To qualify,...

Season 1, Episode 41In this episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris speaks with Pastor Dan Swihart, senior pastor of Open Door Community Church, and Charles Larry III, a church member, about the Recovery Alive program.“We’ve just been praying about what to do in the community, how to be a blessing to the community,” said Swihart, “specifically because we’re surrounded by all the schools.” Reco...

Season 1, Episode 40Along the Rock is a video podcast hosted by Mark Morris and produced by The Radar Free Press. In this episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris speaks with Maggie Wike, a representative from NAMI Sauk Area. Morris and Wike discuss what is colloquially known as the holiday blues. In technical terms, it’s known as major depressive disorder with seasonal pattern, formerly known...

Season 1, Episode 39Along the Rock is a video podcast hosted by Mark Morris and produced by The Radar Free Press. In this episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris speaks with Gerald Lott, executive director of Sauk Valley Voices of Recovery (SVVOR). SVVOC is hosting Midnight Masquerade: A Sober New Year’s Celebration on Friday, Dec. 27 from 6-11pm at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Dixon, Illinois....

Season 1, Episode 38Along the Rock is a video podcast hosted by Mark Morris and produced by The Radar Free Press. In this episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris speaks with Sean Ports, artistic director of the Mosaic Theatre Troupe. Mosaic Theatre Troupe is a new theater start-up located in Dixon that will be producing the holiday classic “A Christmas Carol.” This adaptation features a cast o...

Season 1, Episode 37Along the Rock is a video podcast hosted by Mark Morris and produced by The Radar Free Press. In this episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris speaks with Sauk Valley Community College president, Dr. David Hellmich about attending a summit at the White House, in Washington, D.C., focused on workforce development efforts within community colleges. To learn more, visit their w...

Season 1, Episode 36Along the Rock is a video podcast hosted by Mark Morris and produced by The Radar Free Press. In this episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris speaks with Rock Falls High School Principal Mike Berentes about the most recent State Report Card assessment successes and areas that could use improvements. To learn more, visit their website:https://rfhs301.org/ 🔔 Don’t forget to...

Episode 35Along the Rock is a video podcast hosted by Mark Morris and produced by The Radar Free Press. In this episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris speaks with Kris Trusk of the Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois. Established in 1912, the Girl Scout program has taught entrepreneurial, interpersonal, communication and many other life skills. Kris shares that the Girl Scouts are more than just...

Episode 34Along the Rock is a video podcast hosted by Mark Morris and produced by The Radar Free Press. In this episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris speaks with Chris Tennyson, Regional Superintendent of Schools at the Regional Office of Education 47, and Brett Willey, dean of students at the Regional Center for Change. To learn more, visit their websites:https://www.roe47.org/https://www.r...

Episode 33Along the Rock is a video podcast hosted by Mark Morris and produced by The Radar Free Press. In this episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris speaks with the director of Discover Dixon (Dixon Chamber of Commerce & Main Street) about this holiday's Shop Small Saturday. To learn more, visit their website:https://www.discoverdixon.com/ 🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subsc...

Episode 32Along the Rock is a video podcast hosted by Mark Morris and produced by The Radar Free Press. In this episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris speaks with Major Chuck Yockey of The Salvation Army of Whiteside & Lee County. To learn more, visit their website:https://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/sterling/🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more local stories from the...

Episode 31Along the Rock is a video podcast hosted by Mark Morris and produced by The Radar Free Press. In this episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris speaks with Pam Martinez executive director of the Sauk Valley Food Bank. To learn more, visit their website:https://saukvalleyfoodbank.org/ 🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more local stories from the Sauk Valley! Check out...

Episode 30Along the Rock is a video podcast hosted by Mark Morris and produced by The Radar Free Press. In this episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris speaks with Woodlawn Arts Academy Executive Director Christy Zepezauer about this year's production of "The Nutcracker Ballet." Two of the performers, Sammi Oyen and Annie McGrail, each perform a dance from the ballet. To learn mo...

Episode 29Along the Rock is a video podcast hosted by Mark Morris and produced by The Radar Free Press. In this episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris speaks with Darren Mangler of The Dixon: Historic Theatre about restoration efforts, and current and upcoming shows. To learn more, visit their websites:https://dixontheatre.com/ 🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more local st...

Episode 28Along the Rock is a video podcast hosted by Mark Morris and produced by The Radar Free Press. In this episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris speaks with Keri Olson (Whiteside County) and Ashley Richter (Lee and Ogle County) as they start campaign season for the United Way and how the organization helps the community. To learn more, visit their websites:https://uwwhiteside.org/https:...

Episode 26Along the Rock is a video podcast hosted by Mark Morris and produced by The Radar Free Press. In this episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris speaks with Pam Fluck, executive director of Self Help Enterprises, and clients Betty Terry and Jimmy Booth. The organization recently celebrated its 60th anniversary. To learn more, visit their website:https://self-help.agency/ 🔔 Don’t forget...

Episode 26Along the Rock is a video podcast hosted by Mark Morris and produced by The Radar Free Press. In this episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris speaks with Director Dawn Arndt, actor Jaiden Lawton & mentor Lilli Highley about the Penguin Project of the Sauk Valley's theater production of Roald Dahl’s "Willy Wonka Jr." To learn more, visit their website:https://penguin...