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Talk-Line: Brandon Clark on Sterling Riverfront development · WIXN AM 1460 - Shaw Local Radio

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  Speaker 1: Now we feature our good friends from Shall Local News
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  Speaker 1: reporting for us the happenings across our Sock Valley area
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  Speaker 1: every week. And here with us today is our good
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  Speaker 1: friend from Shall Local News, reporter Brandon Clark, joins us
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  Speaker 1: in this spotlight here at WIX.
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  Speaker 2: Good morning, it's good morning. Nice to have you with us.
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  Speaker 1: Thanks for always a pleasure. Well, it's always a pleasure
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  Speaker 1: having Brandon on board with this. Charlene Bielman not with
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  Speaker 1: us today. She's involved in.
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  Speaker 2: Courts YEP, covering covering court cases today. So Sharre is
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  Speaker 2: always heavily involved with courts, and so yeah, it's kind
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  Speaker 2: of no surprise.
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  Speaker 1: Well, and of course coverage continues in that aspect, and
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  Speaker 1: of course I will get updated when Charlene completes her
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  Speaker 1: coverage through Shallocle News right here on wi xent. But
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  Speaker 1: with Brandon today we're going to cover Sterling. First of all,
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  Speaker 1: yet your base and you got some news from the riverfront.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, so you know the city's yet to be named
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  Speaker 2: Riverfront Park, which is including a splash pad, ice ribbon
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  Speaker 2: rink and is part of the Riverfront reimagine, you know,
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  Speaker 2: three hundred million dollar project which is looking to get
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  Speaker 2: investors to redevelop into the National and Lawrence Brothers sites.
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  Speaker 2: So now the Riverfront Park and the splash Pad were
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  Speaker 2: originally projected to hopefully be finished kind of towards the
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  Speaker 2: end of June. So the last Riverfront Commission meeting I
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  Speaker 2: had or set in on that project's a slightly kind
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  Speaker 2: of you know, behind schedule. The delay was mostly due
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  Speaker 2: to masonry work which took a little bit longer than
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  Speaker 2: expected and required most of the site space at that time.
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  Speaker 2: Despite those delays, the contractors are continuing to make progress.
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  Speaker 2: If people drive down there, you're going to see the
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  Speaker 2: park shelter starting to take shape, and most of the
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  Speaker 2: underground work has been finished. Now the hope is that
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  Speaker 2: the site improvements to the park are going to be
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  Speaker 2: finished by early July, followed by the shelter in August
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  Speaker 2: or early September. So I know that's a little bit disappointing,
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  Speaker 2: but I think, you know, most anybody should kind of
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  Speaker 2: expect with construction that you do your best to kind
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  Speaker 2: of give those projected completion dates. But you know, with
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  Speaker 2: any kind of work, there's usually going to be some
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  Speaker 2: kind of delay, you know, whether it's weather or anything else.
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  Speaker 2: So the Phases two and three have been consolidated to
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  Speaker 2: include the completion of the Amphitheater Amphitheater and the ice
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  Speaker 2: skating ribbon and parking lots. So, barring any unexpected delays,
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  Speaker 2: the ice skating ribbon should likely be constructed first this fall.
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  Speaker 2: So they were considering kind of pulling that from Phase
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  Speaker 2: two and almost making it a Phase one point five
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  Speaker 2: so that they can allocate some of the funds that
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  Speaker 2: they already have to go ahead and get that completed,
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  Speaker 2: so that hopefully people will be out there ice skating
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  Speaker 2: this winter, so that would be a really nice thing,
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  Speaker 2: and then later on the parking lot would follow in
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  Speaker 2: the spring, with the amphitheater construction being planned for late
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  Speaker 2: spring or possibly into the summer fall.
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  Speaker 1: Let's stretch this out a little bit further, Brandon, and
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  Speaker 1: talk about the area that you are I mean, we
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  Speaker 1: are looking at in Sterling. A lot of people possibly
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  Speaker 1: don't know exactly what we're pinpointing here along the Sterling River.
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  Speaker 1: Obviously with those buildings that you mentioned, they're right there,
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  Speaker 1: they're right there hugging the Rock river. Those you know
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  Speaker 1: and you you mentioned those in your you know site
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  Speaker 1: report you know as being worked upon. So this is
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  Speaker 1: the area to the west. Are we talking to the
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  Speaker 1: west region? I mean, what do we you know, what
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  Speaker 1: are we actually looking at when we're talking about installate
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  Speaker 1: installing a you know, an ice skating rink in an amphitheater.
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  Speaker 1: Where are we putting these?
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  Speaker 2: Sure? You know, I'm always terrible when it comes to directions,
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  Speaker 2: So I'm much better. I'm much better at giving a location.
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  Speaker 2: I was always that guy where they were like, oh,
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  Speaker 2: you're taking a left on third in here, and I'm like, nah, man,
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  Speaker 2: is there McDonald's nearby? And is there an old man
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  Speaker 2: with a yard that looks slightly overgrown? Tell me to
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  Speaker 2: take a right there, right. So to make this easier
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  Speaker 2: for anybody from the area, if you're in the County
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  Speaker 2: Market parking lot and you're looking across the street at
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  Speaker 2: the mercantile, so back behind the mercantile and those businesses
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  Speaker 2: back back there, Yes, you're going to see a huge
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  Speaker 2: sign that shows the phases for construction. You're going to
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  Speaker 2: see that shelter taking place, and you're going to see
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  Speaker 2: that nice circular area of construction that should be that
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  Speaker 2: ice skating ribbon.
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  Speaker 1: And you know in the park, this is just to
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  Speaker 1: the east then of those structures is what we're talking about.
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  Speaker 1: Next stories to the west, the west side of those structures,
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  Speaker 1: the Lawrence Building all that, it's to the west side,
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  Speaker 1: to the west side of iye, what is it, Illinois?
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  Speaker 1: I'm sorry the highway through the midsection? Is it twenty nine?
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  Speaker 2: No, it's I'm sorry, it's okay, I told you, And
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  Speaker 2: I'm like the worst to answer that. I'm thinking, I'm like,
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  Speaker 2: first Avenue Bridge Steed, That's where That's what I think about.
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  Speaker 1: That's right there you go, and the area to the
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  Speaker 1: west is going to be developed, and this is you
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  Speaker 1: know where the you know, the markets are held, right,
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  Speaker 1: I mean.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, the well the farmers markets. Yeah. So if
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  Speaker 2: you're at the farmer market looking right behind it, you're
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  Speaker 2: going to see all that construction going on there you go,
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  Speaker 2: and you know, hopefully as more investors become interested. They've
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  Speaker 2: been talking with hoteliers and other people. The city just
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  Speaker 2: recently had gotten that River's Edge designation that is part
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  Speaker 2: of the state's omnibus package, So that's you know, going
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  Speaker 2: to be approved there. So that's going to provide up
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  Speaker 2: to fifty million dollars in tax incentives for developers to
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  Speaker 2: come and invest in on the riverfront.
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  Speaker 1: Yes, it's it's a it's a goodly developed area right
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  Speaker 1: now with the train, with the rail you know, running
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  Speaker 1: through that area. Still it's still a good, goodly developed area,
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  Speaker 1: you know, with some of those canopies and things like
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  Speaker 1: that back there, you know you're talking about near the
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  Speaker 1: clinic and things like that, you know, along that riverfront area.
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  Speaker 1: But this is again further development. This is what's you know,
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  Speaker 1: this is the pinpoint of the Riverfront project. Is that
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  Speaker 1: area to the west side of those structures that sit
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  Speaker 1: along the Rock River. So if you're wondering where we're
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  Speaker 1: talking about, you know, when we talk about the riverfront,
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  Speaker 1: those the sites that are being developed and those you know,
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  Speaker 1: all the sites that are going to be you know,
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  Speaker 1: worked upon, with parking lots with again as you mentioned,
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  Speaker 1: the ice skating rink, the ampathy at the theater, you know, the.
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  Speaker 2: Park with the splash pad. Yeah, great, you know that's great.
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  Speaker 1: It's all going to be developed in that area of Sterlings.
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  Speaker 1: To again, Brandon brings us the project update right here
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  Speaker 1: on wi accent. I wanted to devote the last portion
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  Speaker 1: of our chat with Brandon today two activities across our
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  Speaker 1: northern Altto.
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  Speaker 2: Area during the summertime. You're going to lay today and
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  Speaker 2: talk about you absolutely and you know, put a smile
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  Speaker 2: on my face to be able to do that. You know,
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  Speaker 2: with the things heating up, people are getting outside water activity,
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  Speaker 2: so I kind of want to just give a list
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  Speaker 2: down of what people can can do in the area. Absolutely,
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  Speaker 2: so starting right here while we're in the month of June,
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  Speaker 2: the fourth annual Dixon Pride event is returning to Page
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  Speaker 2: Park on Saturday, June fourteenth. That'll be from two to
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  Speaker 2: ten pm. The event's going to feature live music, lip sync,
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  Speaker 2: drag battles, and a main track show headlined by Anti
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  Speaker 2: Heroin and other performers. So it's a great way to
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  Speaker 2: come on out support the LBGTQ community, you know, and
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  Speaker 2: just have a little bit of fun. Good all right.
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  Speaker 1: That's in the Page Park area, And we talked about
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  Speaker 1: this with Dwayne Long. You know, the safety of the
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  Speaker 1: you know, the area around that. You know, Project Rock
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  Speaker 1: has to be taken into consideration. So it's gonna be
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  Speaker 1: a little bit of a tight.
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  Speaker 2: Little bit of a tight squeeze, slow down, plan ahead,
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  Speaker 2: leave a little bit early, give some consideration for those
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  Speaker 2: workers and you'll get there. You'll get there fine. This weekend,
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  Speaker 2: so moving on the eighth annual Encore Porch Fest in
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  Speaker 2: Mount Morris, which is something that is really cool. That's
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  Speaker 2: happening Saturday, June fourteenth. And so what that features is
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  Speaker 2: their their free music sets on community porches and lawns
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  Speaker 2: throughout Mount Morris. Yeah. So you know, you imagine you're
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  Speaker 2: driving through and see a dude strumming on his banjo
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  Speaker 2: and singing on the porch there you go. Yeah, so
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  Speaker 2: I'm like, that's just super cool. You know, we're used
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  Speaker 2: to going to our shelters and everywhere, but this is
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  Speaker 2: just going through the streets and they're built in stages
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  Speaker 2: right there, you know.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, put on the portrait strum you're you know, that's
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  Speaker 1: what you know, that's what you think about. Great, So
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  Speaker 1: that's this weekend too, yes, yeah, so yep, that'll be
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  Speaker 1: the fourteenth.
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  Speaker 2: Moving on to the next weekend. A story that I'm
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  Speaker 2: finishing up today is going to be rock Falls one
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  Speaker 2: Day Summer Splash event and all Athottle. It's one day.
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  Speaker 2: It is packed full of activities that'll be happening from
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  Speaker 2: eleven am to seven pm on Saturday, June twenty first
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  Speaker 2: at the RBNW District Park along the riverfront. And I
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  Speaker 2: mean there's food, trucks, games, prizes, competitions, the annual Chalk
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  Speaker 2: the Walk event, petting zoos, vendors, just just so much.
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  Speaker 2: There's too much to list. Check out the story when
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  Speaker 2: it comes. But it's a great free event, something you
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  Speaker 2: don't want to miss. Coming on over here in to Dixon.
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  Speaker 2: The third annual Herbal Roots Can Infest, you know marijuana
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  Speaker 2: and Music Festival is going to be taking place at
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  Speaker 2: a new location who else land in Nelson this this year.
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  Speaker 2: So that's going to happen on Saturday, June twenty eighth
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  Speaker 2: from eleven am to nine pm. You're going to see
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  Speaker 2: the usual you know, glass blowers with some new ones.
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  Speaker 2: There's going to be live music. They've got a reggae
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  Speaker 2: band coming from Iowa. Food trucks, event merchandise. At four
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  Speaker 2: twenty they're going to gather everybody at the stage for
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  Speaker 2: a lighted up photo where they're going to be tossing
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  Speaker 2: out some free merch. So no alcohol is permitted at
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  Speaker 2: the event. It's twenty one and up, and so yeah,
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  Speaker 2: you know there's going to be vendors, interactive games, horseshoes,
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  Speaker 2: inkstorm rebels. They're going to be there providing tattoos and piercings.
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  Speaker 2: So it's promises to be a a one of a
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  Speaker 2: kind event.
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  Speaker 1: There you go, and that's new location, new location.
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  Speaker 2: Who else? Land in Nelson got it very good? All right?
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  Speaker 2: What else? So moving into fourth of July and back
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  Speaker 2: into the Sterling rock Fall side, the Sterling Rock Falls
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  Speaker 2: JC Fireworks display is going to ignite at dusk. That's
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  Speaker 2: usually around nine to thirty On July third. The Rock
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  Speaker 2: Falls Tourism Group is kicking off the day with their
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  Speaker 2: e and Beats at the District Event from four to
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  Speaker 2: ten thirty pm at RBNW District Park again and along
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  Speaker 2: the riverfront that events including vendors, true food, trucks, live
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  Speaker 2: musical performances, and a lot more. Coming back over here
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  Speaker 2: to Dixon, everybody knows the sixty first annual Platoonia Fest.
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  Speaker 2: Can't wait for that. I've been taking my kids to
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  Speaker 2: that for years. They're all older now, so they don't
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  Speaker 2: want to go with me. There you go, But that's
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  Speaker 2: taken place July third through Sunday, July and July sixth
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  Speaker 2: and downtown Dixon, everybody you know expects the carnival at
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  Speaker 2: the Dixon High School again, food vendors, raffles, live music performances.
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  Speaker 2: We've got Blind Melon, the two Hype Crew, coming car shows,
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  Speaker 2: and so much more more to list there. The fireworks
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  Speaker 2: are going to start nine to thirty pm on July
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  Speaker 2: sixth along the riverfront, so you know, get there early,
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  Speaker 2: get a seat. It's always a great show. Moving back
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  Speaker 2: into Mount Forest there let the Freedom Ring Festival runs
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  Speaker 2: from July second to July fifth, and downtown Music. That's
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  Speaker 2: going to feature a parade, silent auction, bounce houses, live music,
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  Speaker 2: the Little Miss and Mister fire Cracker competition, in a
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  Speaker 2: whole lot more so. The city is also hosting a
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  Speaker 2: range of events for July fourth, including their Street Scapes, painting,
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  Speaker 2: event races, and more live music. So the or excuse me,
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  Speaker 2: this is in Prophestown. Details on their three on three
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  Speaker 2: basketball tournament, which everybody loves, is still being finalized, so
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  Speaker 2: kind of you know, pay attention to the city side
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  Speaker 2: or their Facebook page for more details. Is that's going
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  Speaker 2: to roll out? Okay? Moving into Byron, their annual Byron
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  Speaker 2: Fest is taking place from July thirteenth, or July eleventh
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  Speaker 2: to the thirteenth and downtime Byron that festival, live musical performances,
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  Speaker 2: carnival parade, a five k run. So that's you know,
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  Speaker 2: that's always a good time. Rochelle's holding its annual Independence
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  Speaker 2: Day celebration on July fifth at Wood and Cooper's Parks. There,
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  Speaker 2: you know, food trucks, performances for their municipal band, and
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  Speaker 2: the fireworks to play display at dusk. Some of the
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  Speaker 2: events details are still being finalized, so again look for them.
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  Speaker 2: And always a really cool event. Still staying in Rochelle's
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  Speaker 2: the Chicago Lands Skydiving Centers twelfth Annual Independence Legends Boogie
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  Speaker 2: from July third to sixth. So they've got all day
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  Speaker 2: you know, if you're a thoroughsicker, you want your adrenaline rush, baby,
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  Speaker 2: that's where you're gonna get it. All day jumps. They've
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  Speaker 2: got live music, the beer Olympics, pool party, and overnight
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  Speaker 2: camping and more. So just very very cool event. Ok.
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  Speaker 1: All right, Well, and again Brandon takes us through the
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  Speaker 1: Wow June through July calendar of events special activities across.
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  Speaker 2: Our Northern Illinois area extensive. You can't say there's nothing
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  Speaker 2: to do in the Sock Valley this.
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  Speaker 1: Summer, and we'll keep up to date weekly with Brandon
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  Speaker 1: with sharp right here on w accent. Out of time today,
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  Speaker 1: we'd like to thank you for joining us, appreciate your
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  Speaker 1: visit was a pleasure to having on board. Always glad
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  Speaker 1: to be here, Randon Clark from Shaw Local News our
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  Speaker 1: cast on WI Excent Sports Versus. Next here comes Sam Ramiers.