Along The Rock

Season 2, Episode 38In this episode of Along the Rock, Mark Morris talks with theatre manager Tori Highley about the recent renovations done to The Dixon: Historic Theatre and some upcoming events. The Dixon: Historic Theatre recently underwent a $150 million renovation. Some of the changes include added waterproofing on the roof and walls, newly plastered and painted walls, a permanent concession...

Season 2, Episode 37In this episode of Along the Rock, Quinn Stahr sits down with retiring District 13 superintendent Dan Arickx and incoming superintendent Kelli Virgil to discuss the upcoming switch and planned changes. Arickx has been in the district since 1996 and has held the position of superintendent for the last 15 years. His last day will be June 30, and Virgil will be taking over the nex...

Season 2, Episode 36In this episode of Along the Rock, Mark Morris speaks with the Regional Spelling Bee Champion, Parker Zimmerly, and his mom, Joanie Zimmerly, about his win and upcoming trip to Washington D.C.With the word “illicitly”, Amboy student Parker Zimmerly recently won the Regional Spelling Bee, and in a few weeks, he will travel to Washington D.C. to compete in the National Spelling B...

Season 2, Episode 35 In this episode of Along the Rock, Mark Morris talks about the upcoming productions of “Willy Wonka Jr.” and “Into the Woods Jr.” at The Dixon: Historic Theatre with theatre manager Tori Highley and several actors: Kamri Velez, Lilli Highley, Nora Highley and Evelyn Arneson. The first show, “Willy Wonka Jr.”, features actors 10 and under and will be performed on May 9 at 7pm a...

Season 2, Episode 34In this episode of Along the Rock, Mark Morris talks with Sergent Harry Blomstrand of the Sterling Police Department to discuss their 3rd annual Run for the Badge 5K event. This year’s Run for The Badge 5K will take place at 505 W Lynn Blvd in Sterling on May 10 at 9am. The event aims to build a bond between the community and local police. This also helps people feel more comfo...

Season 2, Episode 33In this episode of Along the Rock, Mark Morris talks with director Carolyn Sutton and actors Jake Andrzejewski and Mike Ely about the upcoming Rock Falls High School Spring Production, Don’t Try to Wake Him, Hand Me the Shovel. The show is a comedy following two news reporters going to spend the night in a haunted mansion. During their stay, a wide range of characters also find...

Season 2, Episode 32 In this episode of Along the Rock, Mark Morris is joined by Brooke Dir, principal of Franklin Elementary School, and Heather Wittenauer, principal of Jefferson Elementary School, to discuss the use of new smartboard technology in Sterling Public School classrooms. Technology has evolved over time. As such, Sterling Public School teachers have gotten used to TVs, iPads and MacB...

Season 2, Episode 31In this episode of Along the Rock, Mark Morris sits down with Christy Zepezauer to discuss Woodlawn Arts Academy’s history and its’ upcoming 20th anniversary! Over the next year, Woodlawn Arts Academy will be celebrating 20 years in a variety of ways. First will be their Kentucky Derby themed fundraiser, “Off to the Races”. This fundraiser will feature a live desert and drink a...

Season 2, Episode 30 In this episode of Along the Rock, Mark Morris talks with Connor Self about the upcoming 2025 D8 Summit Charity Gaming Convention. The D8 Summit is having its 10th annual convention this year from April 25 thru April 27. The first two days will run from 8:00 am to 12:00 am while the third will run from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. During the event, attendees can enjoy the social atmosp...

Season 2, Episode 29 In this episode of Along the Rock, Mark Morris talks with board member Julie Jacobs and student Luke Hacker about the CEO program and their upcoming trade show. The trade show will take place at Northland Mall in Sterling on April 23rd from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm, and April 24th from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. At the event, attendees will have the opportunity to buy products or services...

Season 2, Episode 28In this episode of Along the Rock, Mark Morris talks with Mosaic Theatre Troupe’s Artistic Director, Sean Ports, about their upcoming spring show, “Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson - Apt. 2B.”The show will happen at the Northwest Territory Historic Center in Dixon on April 11, 12, and 13. The first two nights will be at 7:30 pm while the Sunday show will be at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $...

Season 2, Episode 27In this episode of Along the Rock, Mark Morris talks with Gary Camarano, executive director of the Northwest Illinois Film Office, about the fifth annual "Shorts-a-Palooza" film festival."Shorts-a-Palooza" will be April 9th at Morrison Technical Institute at 701 Portland Ave, Morrison, IL. Tickets are free, but reservations are requested via the website. Doo...

Season 2, Episode 26In this episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris sits down with Monica Telschow, education coordinator, to chat about the opportunities provided by Junior Achievement of the Heartland. Junior Achievement of the Heartland (JA) is a non-profit organization which empowers students with financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship skills through hands-on learning and...

Season 2, Episode 25In this episode of Along the Rock, Mark Morris joins Jeff Kimpel at the Sterling Fire Department to talk about and demonstrate installing car seats for children. Shortly after having his first-born, Kimpel was concerned that he might be installing his car seat wrong, so he decided to get his child passenger safety technician certification, and now it is one of his favorite thin...

Season 2, Episode 24In this episode of Along The Rock, host Mark Morris is joined by Stephanie McLean, certified CPR and first-aid instructor who is the owner of Sauk Valley CPR.McLean started Sauk Valley CPR out of her home a year and a half ago, but now has an office in Dixon and travels around the Sauk Valley area to provide her services. Her classes help people learn to perform CPR on all age...

Season 2, Episode 23In this episode of Along the Rock, Mark Morris is joined by Beth Sterk, Tina Miller and Amanda Blaine to talk about the CGH Respite Program, which helps people who have loved ones struggling with cognitive impairment. The CGH Respite Program took a year to get off the ground, but it successfully launched Jan. 29 of this year. Beth, CGH’s dementia navigator, has worked with more...

Season 2, Episode 22In this episode of Along The Rock, Mark Morris speaks with Jackie Donaldson, Kathy Bubbers and Karen Lofgren. Jackie is the executive director at Rock River Hospice & Home, while Kathy and Karen are both part of the quilting team at New Life Lutheran Church. The quilters at New Life Lutheran Church have been producing quilts since 2010. In 2017, one of the group’s members w...

Season 2, Episode 21In this episode of Along The Rock, host Mark Morris sits down with Tony Walters and Chris Schueler, owners of the Sterling restaurant Brother Daryl’s and organizers of the YSJ Classic Golf Tournament. The tournament will be July 13th, starting at 9:00 am at Lost Nation in Dixon at 6931 S. Lost Nation Road. To learn more, visit the website:https://yousuckjackass.com/ 🔔 Don’t fo...

Season 2, Episode 20In this episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris sits down with cast members Owen Winters, Olivia Payne, and Layli Thornton and director Ashley Almquist and assistant director Ryan Hoffman to discuss Dixon High School’s upcoming spring musical “Grease: School Edition.”DHS will be performing “Grease: School Edition” March 14 and 15 at 7pm and March 16 at 2pm in the James A. W...

Season 2, Episode 19In this episode of Along The Rock, Mark Morris talks with returning guests Dan and Sandy Burke, event coordinators of the Rock River Valley Shamrock Club (RRVSC), to discuss their upcoming events to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Dixon this year. The RRVSC started in 2000. On a previous episode of “Along the Rock,” Dan and Sandy revealed that the club was on the brink of shutdo...

Season 2, Episode 18In this episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris sits down with Dallas Knack, executive director of Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce, Cael Sanders, and Allie Johnston to chat about the chamber’s Keystone Group. The Keystone Group is a network of young professionals under 40 in the Sauk Valley region. Founded in 2018, the group has contributed to various community project...

Season 2, Episode 17 In this episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris sits down with Garth Reynolds, executive director of the Illinois Pharmacists Association (IPhA), and Rupesh Manek, chairman of the IPhA board and local pharmacy owner, to discuss how pharmacies are affected by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). “Pharmacy benefit managers are entities of insurance companies that help process y...

Season 2, Episode 16 In this episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris sits down with Janna Groharing and Lori VanOosten to chat about Sterling Main Street’s 2025 exciting events and new happenings at the year-round Twin City Farmers Market. To learn more, visit their websites: https://sterlingmainstreet.org/ https://twincityfarmersmarket.com/ 🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for...

Season 2, Episode 15In this episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris speaks with Brinley Francis, Owen Gaffey, Ashton Stange and Cole Stumpenhorst from Sterling High School about their upcoming musical “Catch Me If You Can.”Directed by Weston Henry, SHS will be performing “Catch Me If You Can” February 28 and March 1 at 7:30pm and March 2 at 2pm at Centennial Auditorium. Tickets can purchased a...

Season 2, Episode 14In this episode of Along the Rock: Arts Stream, host Mark Morris speaks with Patrick Anderson, Ramiro Martinez, Colin Swartz, and Camden Buchholz about the 11th annual Percussion Palooza. The event began 11 years ago when Martinez sought venues for the Rock Falls High School drumline. After an unsuccessful attempt to bring a Chicago percussion circuit to the school, Ramiro and...