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Been through Dixon many times including Ronal Reagans birthday in 1984. I am a photographer and I had access to the press stand across the street from where he gave a speech. I was surprised by the knowledge his security had as they went through my camera bag. They knew who I was as I approached them and welcomed me. I was living in Rockford at the time and to this day I still don't know how they knew my name. Another connection I have with President Reagan is that my uncle worked with him in radio back in the day. My uncle became a minister, and also had a beautiful tenor voice and was a very talented artist. One of his paintings resides in the Reagan Library!

In regards to that criminal you mentioned; her family actually bought much of the property that was auctioned off - wonder where they got the cash?

The Dixon Correction Center was formerly a state school for the mentally handicapped. My one brother spent most of his adult life there before the state made it into a prison. My parents and I would visit him on Sunday afternoon until my parents couldn’t go there anymore due to age. Dixon has some sad memories for me.

Never thought I would see Dixon on youtube… you driving through town is what I do for fun… almost the same path too😂

I am a 73 year old man. I am in my kitchen dancing to this crazy spiffy music. Yeah baby yeah

Yes I remember this woman quite well. Her love for horses. Certainly Out shines her love for the people of Dixon.

*FUN FACT* : Yeah, Reagan really did love his hometown. So much so, as he starred in the movie Hasty Heart, Reagan played a WW2 veteran. While talking to a Scottsman, the line called for Reagan to say "I just cant wait to get home to Boston". He asked the director if he could change that to "I cant wait to get back to the Rock River, in Dixon" and it was granted. The Rock River is where Reagan worked as a lifeguard in the 1920's, credited with saving 77 lives.

Great video man, thank you.

Your comments rock! Another great video - catching these moments in time of small town America are awesome! I appreciate the work!

I interviewed for a prosecutor position in Lee County once. There is indeed a "new" courthouse there, which I was able to find, even though nobody bothered to tell me the courthouse moved ahead of the interview.

I'm just glad Dixon is still such a nice town despite the embezzlement scandal. I've driven through there before and the route between Dixon and Oregon is one of my favorite drives.

Phenomenal job! Thanks so much for this video!

The care and pretrip hard work and research done before the video was made pay off in seeing and understandings why the community is as it is. The incredibly beautiful drone footage at the end is very artistic. Two extremely important topics that are destructive to communities are wisely explored that being corruption and drug abuse. The way money is handled is far more important than is generally realized which is captured here. The observations about drug abuse are spot on! I have never seen by any producer such ability to demonstrate, narrate, enlighten and entertain all at once.

Love your videos, Chris.

I graduated from that high school I remember going to white pines skating rink

Dixon grows petunias along the streets in downtown.

Man I love the taste of rural America

A pleasant cruise for an early Saturday morning when I am watching this, with some jazzy background music. Where would we be without criminals.

I was a victim of bullying when I was a kid but I don’t remember hurting anyone. Except myself due to feeling like I was trash.

Nice bookends of a great sunrise and sunset to start and end the video. I think your editing and style is always getting better.

Excellent!

Well, since I can’t go with my husband trucking anymore, because I don’t own class 1 driving license and the border being closed, I’ll watch your videos, and you got pretty decent music to listen to. Haha 😄

I remember that treasurer being in the news regarding her embezzlement. I really think that if you are going into politics, you should already be assumed to be guilty of corruption and you need to prove to the taxpayers that your are not...everyday.

I've never been to Dixon, But I have driven past it several times over the years. I have been to eureka So I need to watch that video too soon. Good video Unfortunate I do agree with your demon voice at times.

i live here! you drove past my aunts old house :)

Great video, as Jon stated, how does that much cash disappear for that long. A supposed victimless crime probably affected 10s of thousands for heartless greed. Keep that camera rolling.

What was the large industrial looking place at 37:55?

Haha, I love the poke at the comment trolls. LOL

I know Dixon has an abandoned swimming pool built in the 1950s that Reagan actually attended the grand opening,he was a lifeguard at a riverside swimming area back in the late 20's but back to that abandoned pool,it closed and was never rebuilt probably due to the lack of funding because of that embezzlement,sad for the kids there.

$53.7 million. Holy cow.

just before the old court house on right , the new court house is on your right

In small towns it's not hard for the police to spot junkies and arrest them.

The bank was in on it, but not prosecuted. How does someone deposit $54 million and not raise questions?

6:08 is that Family Video still open?

You can tell that there is still a lot of civic pride overall in this town. Beautiful old homes, cared for and yards kept neat and clean. I have lived in the deep South my entire life and while, there are many beautiful areas (parts of Mobile, AL and Athens, GA are breathtaking), there is a great deal of generational poverty which tends to bleed over into the communities at large and affect peoples vision for these areas and also whole towns. And as these cities/towns continue to lose population, complacency evolves and spills over into areas traditionally revered for their beauty and "tidiness". Interestingly, perhaps, is that the town which I reside (Prichard, AL), just came to grips with our own internal scandal, as the manager of the water and gas dept. was arrested (along with her husband I believe) for embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars of city monies. The couple used this money to purchase hundreds of pairs of "elite" sneakers and designer purses. This along with lavish vacations and the like. I believe they are "cooling their heels" in separate cells currently.

hey NT i think a movie was also made there not for sure and one of the episodes of Hoarders was filmed in i think piken not for sure but the show did do some in Illinois

Go to Shelbyville and sullivan Illinois

Savanna Illinois has a celebration in the summer called The Shadfly Festival. You talk about quirky? 🤨Savanna is nearby to Dixon along the Mississippi River.

Lewiston when?

The Walgreens Drug Store chain started with Mr Walgreens drug store in Dixon.

Poplar grove IL plzzzzz

I heard she got released out

18:25 just inside those doors was the Dixon School shooting 3 years ago..... 28:50 on the left is the NEW Court house you didn't get downtown or the hospital....

No doubt Crudwell was a big reason for the town shrinking.

There doesn’t seem to be much of a downtown in Dixon. Just like most other places around here. All the amenities are on The edges of the city.

She should have used some of the money to get rid of all of the wrinkles on her face. Look at her mugshot.

What's up with all the "peace" signs? I wonder what the story is with the abandoned railroad bridge. Heh....clowns ARE creepy. Lots of these little towns have Family Video stores...interesting.

I bet you Crundwell's family packed and left the state

Why is this "....Woman Treasurer...?" Why does the title advertise the perp's sex?

Did not enjoy this video and did not learn a damn thing!

Are you sure a slight negativity perhaps of another source other than Dixon. I’m calling foul ball on this one... sorry Nostalgia you’re burnt. I’m moving there!haha