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Printed in Lena Village Voices on November 20, 2024
by Dan Stevens
So, be honest, what does National Newspaper Week mean to you?
If you are like most people, the answer is simple, "Not a damn thing."
And I won't lie, when I got all of the emails and downloadable columns, cartoons and ads from the Illinois Press Association, I ignored them for more than a few days.
Part of the reason was that it's a lot easier telling other people's stories than your own. And along that same line of thinking — you, the person reading this column right now — are a subscriber to Village Voices, or at least picked it up at one of our rack boxes. So, you appreciate what we try to do and "support" us.
And, if all of that is true, then why am I bringing the topic up now?
Part of it is to vent (and I'm sure you'll be able to tell when that takes place). But part of it is also to let you in on something few people know.
If you had the chance to make roughly $25,000 or more by pursuing legal action, at no cost to yourself... would you do it?
What if it was $100,000?
And what if it would also include a prestigious award at the annual convention held each summer in front of your peers?
To the vast majority of people in our region, I am just Dan. You'll find me at sporting events and theater productions with a camera strung around my neck as I shoot the event in question and then write up a story about it for the upcoming newspaper.
"Heck, if we're lucky, our kid will be the spotlight!"
While newspapers across the country have declined as they battle against the internet and social medias, Village Voices has plugged right along within our own little niche ? a niche we openly admit ...
"We build scrapbooks.
" It is in that "scrapbook" role that I am welcomed. Parents and athletes alike often take one of three different roles when addressing me. Either they suck up, hoping to inspire coverage for their son or daughter; or they will completely avoid me so nobody ever accuses them of sucking up to me in order to get their son or daughter into print; or — the ones I enjoy the most ? they will be open, ask questions to pick my brain about teams I've seen, and take the time to become a friend.
I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate the last group.
But no matter what scenario they take, one thing is always the same — I am the "scrapbook guy."
The problems arise when I am forced to put on another hat.
A different hat.
A hat that carries a ton of weight behind it, and can also be incredibly intimidating to those in positions of power.
There is a line in the movie "National Treasure" that always hit home with me, "Those who have the 'ability' to do something about a wrong, have the 'responsibility' to take action against it."
What the vast majority of people throughout the region either forget, or never realized, is that when push comes to shove — I am not the scrapbook guy. I am a member of the media, a newspaper reporter, and an active member of the Illinois Press Association.
I am a member of the fourth estate — the free press — with protections written into the first amendment of our Constitution. Part of my job description is to be a watchdog over local government — whether that be a village board, county board, or school board — it doesn't matter.
As many of you know — that role has been thrust upon me several times. And it is when that hat is placed upon my head, that the ridicule I always receive is personal — never professional.
"That's just Stevens, he's an idiot, and everybody knows it."
After all, how can the 'scrapbook guy' have the authority to tell us how to run our town, park district or school system?
The story I end up writing is never refuted. They can't attack what is in print because I do know what I'm doing, and the stories I write are true. So, instead, all of the attacks are directed at the writer — me.
Now, many of those stories you know about because they made it into print — with my all-time favorite being the series we did on the Stupid County Board, but it is now being edged out by the moronic stupidity of the Freeport City Council.
But there were several others — that never got into print.
Three different School Districts and one Village Board were to the point where I could have made some serious money off of them. In one case, the letter from the team of attorneys from the Illinois Press Association basically said, "How much money do you want to get from them for doing this?"
But I never took that route.
In each case, the letter was used to remind those in "power" that the "scrapbook guy" actually had the law on his side. It was used to "convince" them to make changes, without ever having to go to court.
Those stories never made it into print, and won't — so don't ask.
Why didn't I try and burn those who were ripping me, and make a financial windfall at the same time? (At times I've wondered that myself)
The truth is because I live here. My kids grew up here. My wife teaches here. And while I know that each Village and School in our area has its' own personal baggage, this is home — and I love it.
All of it.
(Yes, even Freeport)
The point being — I don't want to see it get hurt just so I could make a financial gain. I want to see it run right. If people knew just how many times I stayed behind the scenes and brought about a change without any fanfare ... they'd be stunned.
The depressing part is that to this day ... there has never been a thank you. In fact, many of the people who I spared — still curse me the most — although admittedly some don't realize I spared them.
What I will — on occasion, daydream about is - what might have taken place if I never stepped in? Would there have been people openly carrying machine guns on the streets of Freeport? Would the wind farm have sued all of the Schools and Communities who thought they could back out on an agreement the County had committed them to? Were the resignations and retirements we've seen over the years really all on their own schedule? And how much money would have been wasted at various School Districts if nobody had asked about the cuts they were — or were not - making?
Right now, ever since I began suffering through Freeport City Council meetings, I've been asked to wear my "newspaper man Dan" hat far more than I want to.
But that's not the point.
What is the point is that now, after my profession recently celebrated National Newspaper Week ... looking back on what I do has given me pause.
Papers — real newspapers — are dying out as more and more people don't want to see both sides of a story. Board members get misguided into thinking that they — individually — are important, when the truth is that only the board they sit on has any real authority. And, even then, no matter what Council or Board it might be, my profession still holds authority over it.
But what will happen when I hang up my hat and retire? Who will step up to fill the shoes of the fourth estate in our region? I mean, it has been pointed out to me that I'm the only one left ... and I'm getting tired.
Bottom line, the days of my profession are numbered.
And, to me, that's a very scary thought.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 16, 2026 Media Contact Information: Carrie Skogsberg carrie.skogsberg@countryfinancial.com
COUNTRY Financial and the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) are providing an opportunity for local high schools to win $5,000 to benefit their athletic department and student athletes through the “Sport Your School Giveaway.” Individuals can enter their school to win through May 30, 2026. This is the second time COUNTRY has held the Sport Your School Giveaway. Staunton High School was the winner of the first giveaway, which ran during the first half of the 2025-2026 school year. COUNTRY has been a sponsor of the IHSA for more than 50 years and is the presenting sponsor for 40 IHSA state championships for various high school sports throughout the 2025-2026 school year. “COUNTRY has a highly valued, longstanding relationship with the IHSA,” said Nikki Johnson, vice president of marketing at COUNTRY. “Schools are the lifeblood of our communities, and we are proud to be part of bringing championship opportunities to students and communities throughout the state.” Learn more and enter your school to win. Learn more about the partnership between COUNTRY and the IHSA.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 12, 2026 Media Contact Information: Bob Hubberts (847) 508-4995 bhubberts@firstillinoisrobotics.org
Chicago, Illinois – Creativity and science will come together this Saturday at the FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge Illinois State Championship at Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, Illinois, where 56 teams of 9- to 14-year-old students and coaches will demonstrate their problem-solving skills, creative thinking, teamwork, competitive play, sportsmanship, and sense of community. The tournament is open to the public. The robot table competition portion of the event starts at Noon on Saturday, February 14th. More than 650,000 students in over 75 countries will participate in the FIRST® UNEARTHED season. Teams will have to program robots, using LEGO Education technology, to solve a set of missions on an obstacle course set on a thematic playing surface. For the UNEARTHED challenge students will unearth hidden treasures and piece together the past as they embark on this thrilling journey of discovery. Students will identify and research a problem related to the season theme and then design and create a possible solution. They will also identify a mission strategy and design, create, and code a robot to complete missions during a 2.5-minute Robot Game. The competition is judged in three areas: innovation project; robot design, and core values, which embody aspects of teamwork and good sportsmanship. Top robot game scores are also honored. FIRST LEGO League is an international program for 9- to 14-year-olds (ages vary by country) created in a partnership between FIRST and the LEGO Group in 1998 to get students excited about science and technology – and teach them valuable career and life skills. Using LEGO® Education technologies and materials, students work alongside adult mentors to design, build, and program autonomous robots and create an innovative solution to a problem as part of their research project. After several intense weeks, the competition season culminates at high-energy, sports-like tournaments. Like any other organized “sport,” teams also fundraise, create a team identity, and go on field trips. The tournament is being run by FIRST Illinois Robotics, a 501 c3 organization focused on delivering FIRST programs in Illinois. Contact us for a list of the area schools and youth organizations with teams participating in the competition. About FIRST® FIRST® is a robotics community that prepares young people for the future through a suite of inclusive, team-based robotics programs for ages 4-18 (PreK-12) that can be facilitated in school, in structured after-school programs or by other organizations or groups of parents. Boosted by a global support system of volunteers, educators, and sponsors that include over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies, teams operate under a signature set of FIRST Core Values to conduct research, fundraise, design, build, and showcase their achievements during annual challenges. An international not-for-profit organization founded in 1989, FIRST has a proven impact on STEM learning, interest, and skill-building well beyond high school. Participants and alumni of FIRST programs gain access to education and career discovery opportunities, connections to exclusive scholarships and employers, and a place in the FIRST community for life. Learn more at firstinspires.org.
### To learn more about FIRST programs in Illinois, go to www.firstillinoisrobotics.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 7, 2026 Media Contact Information: Christopher Weishaar Digital Public relations Specialist (515) 273-7140 cweishaar@studentloan.org
WEST DES MOINES, IOWA (January 7, 2026) — Six high school seniors will each earn a scholarship valued at $1,500 through the 2026 ISL Midwest Senior Scholarship program. This program is sponsored by ISL Education Lending and is designed to make higher education more accessible while equipping students with essential financial literacy skills. Who Can Apply? All high school seniors attending school in Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin are eligible to enter. No essay is required—making it simple and stress-free to apply. Parents Can Register Their Student Parents now have the option to register their student for the scholarship program, ensuring every eligible senior has the opportunity to participate. What Makes This Program Unique? Every participant will learn valuable financial literacy tips during the process, helping them prepare for life after high school. How to Apply Applications open on January 5, 2026, and close on April 30, 2026. Students and parents can apply online at www.iowastudentloan.org/Midwest. Winners will be announced in June 2026. Scholarship Details
Why It Matters “Student loan debt is a huge concern for new college students,” said Steve McCullough, president and CEO of ISL Education Lending. “As a nonprofit, we provide tools and resources to help high school seniors plan so they can reduce the amount of debt they need to take on while achieving their education goals. Students sign up for a chance at a $1,500 scholarship, and we take that opportunity to share information with them about our free resources.” Additional Resources Available In addition to offering student loans, ISL Education Lending has other resources for families planning for college and for students who intend to pursue advanced degrees. The Parent Handbook consists of valuable tips to help families of students in sixth through 12th grades prepare for success in college and other postsecondary options. Parents of students in eighth through 12th grades can also sign up to receive twice-monthly emailed tips on academic, college and career planning through the Student Planning Pointers for Parents program. The College Funding Forecaster helps families understand the total cost of four years of college based on a freshman-year financial aid offer. Information about these resources is available at www.IowaStudentLoan.org/SmartBorrowing.
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