Dixon High School - Dixonian Yearbook (Dixon, IL)

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DIXON TASTES LIFE ABROAD Foreign Consultants Kirchner, Hiramatsu, Parayre, and Ai-Un have taught American students about their different cultures. Fumio Hiramatsu Japan Fumio Hiramatsu of Sasebo, Kyushu, Japan, a city just fifty miles north of Nagasaki City, is a certified teacher of Math and Science. He majored in ma- rine engineering and economics. He lat- er worked for a bus company for thirty years. He is also involved in insurance, real estate, accounting, and auditing. His interests in the language and cul- ture differences between Japan and oth- er countries has brought him to the United States. He enjoys life in a foreign culture and hopes to introduce Japanese culture to other countries. In his free time he takes pictures and swims. Manfred Kirchner Germany Manfred Kirchner of Germany per- formed Civil Service work at a hospital in Springe prior to being a student of English, Physical Education, and Social Sciences at the University of Bremen. After several interviews and exami- nations he was chosen by the German Marshal Fund and the Fulbright-Stiftung to work as a German Consultant Teach- er in the Dixon Public School System. Before coming to Dixon, he took part in a Preacademic Summer Program at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. He enjoyed teaching in Dixon be- cause he believed the American stu- dents were very interested in learning more about foreign culture such as Ger- man. He hopes to pass all the expe- rience he's gained onto the German stu- dents he will have in the future. Li Ai-Jun China Li Ai-Jun of the People's Republic of China was a high school English teacher before coming to the United States. He was given this opportunity by the Amer- ican Field Service, an exchange program for foreign English teachers. He's pleased to have been allowed to in- troduce China to the United States. He's learning more about America and he hopes to take what he's learned back to China. He's found teaching the Dixon Public Schools fun. He views Dixon as a friend- ly, little town and he's made friends with teachers as well as with students. He believes the two countries should form a friendly bridge.

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Hopkins, Reed, Wegner Elected Greg Wegner, Merrie Lou Hopkins, and Larry Reed were recently elected to serve as members of the Dixon Board of Education. The new members have expressed their gratitude and appreciation for the guidance and votes they've received. They plan to run the board as effectively as possible. Keeping the deficit down and serving the community properly were major concerns. The outcome looks very promising. Merrie Lou Hopkins, David Gusse, Larry Reed, and Greg Wegner talk at a “Meet the Candidates Night put on by the area PTO. Citizenship Class Writes to Telegraph I believe the utility tax for Dixon is a good idea. It should be a good source of revenue and make Dixon a stronger magnet for business, two things our city needs badly. No matter how those against the tax rant and rave, it is a good idea. Maybe the present officials should let them run the city's business so they can find who is already right. — Bill Hacnitch I disagree highly with the city's proposal be- cause they should get younger people involved. Like get more kids even if under 16 jobs, more buildings for kids because we're the ones who are going to be the future Dixon. They should get the kids more involved. — Jenny Floto I agree to the city's proposal and we do need to modernize this city. It's worth the trouble to help this city and not sit and watch our city go down the drain. I'm sick of driving to other towns to shop. I know others feel the same. We need jobs around here! — Tracy Tovar I guess you could say I'm kind of split on my decision. I'm sort of for the proposal and half against it. I'm for it because it will help us grow. But there's always the people who are really gonna be hurt from this, such as elderly, fixed and low income families. — Cari Cutler I think that all people who voice out against the Downtown Development project haven't taken the time to stop and look how much this could help Dixon. The plan could bring in new stores and new companies for jobs. The taxes Dixon would receive from the new business could make up most of the money and then some. Even though I am not old enough to pay taxes yet, I would be glad to pay to help this town. If this project goes through I think many Dixonites would be happy with the results. — Clayton Whelan I feel that the utility tax is a minor loss, because I would rather see progress than to see none at all. It makes me feel good inside to know people aren't giving up on Dixon and I would like to see more jobs since pretty soon I will be needing one. If this utility tax was not to be put through this city would in fact die out. People would move, businesses would move, and I truly do not want to see the city go down the tubes. I have lived here 16 years and I am not about to give up without a fight. — David Katner I'm against the city's proposal for these reasons. What is a new building going to do? Yes, it will attract some people. But it's not going to change or solve all of the problems. Plus, paying all this money is foolish. Because what if the buildings aren't as successful as you think they're going to be. Not everyone in this town is rich. Yes, I think that Dixon does need improvements. But spend- ing more money isn't going to solve everything. If I had to decide what to do. I'd have the companies stop buying all these expensive machines and take the money and hire more people. That way, wait until you raise it by other people working. Then more people will have money. Then raise the property values, because more people will want to buy property. I think that people in Dixon need to learn how to have patience. — Angie Madden The city's proposal to raise revenue and help fund development by a utility tax is a good one since the city is in a no-win situation. If something isn't done to attract industry to our fair city by the year 2000, Dixon will be a ghost town. — Todd Martin

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Jocelyn Parayre France Jocelyn Parayre of Evreaux, France comes from a fairly large family con- sisting of three sisters and one brother. Her father works as an inspector in the French Ministry of Work. While attending Montpellier High School, she learned English, Latin, and some Spanish. After graduating from the Montpellier Arts School (Ecole des Beaux Arts), she studied in Montpellier University for five years. There, she ob- tained three Bachelor Degrees in the following subjects: English Literature and Civilization; German Literature and Civilization; and French as a foreign lan- guage. She also obtained a Master's De- gree in English. She traveled throughout Europe to discover different cultures and peoples of England, Germany, Austria, Spain, It- aly, and Switzerland. She taught French as a foreign language in Austria, England, and Germany to pupils from ages 11 to 18 and to adults in a Further Education School. She was sent to the United States to teach French and the French culture by the French Ministry of Education in Par- is, hoping to learn more about the Amer- ican culture and people. Luis Hails From Aragatuba, Luis Otavio DaSilva was one of this year's exchange students. Luis is from Brazil and he arrived here January 25, 1987. Luis is 18 years old and was a Senior here at Dixon High School. He enjoyed many things here in the United States despite the fact that he spoke very little English when he arrived. One of his fa- vorite things was the snow because they don't have snow in Brazil except in the mountains. To Luis Christmas has a very special meaning because he is Catholic. During Christmas in Brazil he went to Mass three or four times in one day. Luis likes American Christmases because of the beautiful trees and the many wonderful presents. Even though Luis liked Dixon, he missed his family very much. Luis re- turned to Brazil and his family on De- cember 29, 1987. Hasta luego Luis! Mami, a Pleasant Addition A new face was seen roaming the halls of Dixon High School and it belonged to foreign exchange student Mami Chiyokubo. She arrived in the United States in August of 1987 from her home in Tokyo, Japan. The family of Mr. William Storey host- ed Mami for the school year. Her senior year was spent enjoying high school life the American way.