Recently, I met Rhonda Pierce, the Marketing Director for Schmetz needles in Dixon Illinois so we could have a business meeting. Rhonda lives in Chicago, and I live in Iowa -- so Dixon was half way for each of us.
Rhonda is great about doing internet research -- and she found a quiet place for us to meet -- and a great restaurant for lunch. PERFECT. She gave me the address for the Dixon, Illinois Historical Society, and we both arrived at 9:00. Here is my report on our MOST FASCINATING DAY...
We set up for our meeting in a large (50' x 50'?) room with 10 foot ceilings...it had a raised stage at one end, a dozen floor to ceiling windows, and a gorgeous shiny maple floor.
The man who runs the place -- Bill Jones -- used to be an engineer with the Illinois Department of Transportation. Our first question to Bill was about how Dixon is dealing with a city clerk who embezzled $53 million. It's been such a big story here in the midwest -- we couldn't help but be curious. And it was so interesting to get the story from a longtime Dixon resident.
Surprisingly -- there's been almost no impact on the city itself or the people who live there. (So far, anyway.) Of course every cafe and church basement for miles around is buzzing with this story. People wonder if she was alone in her embezzlement -- and it's possible she'll take down a lot of people before it's over -- if only by association. This woman had the job for over 20 years -- and the $53 million figure only goes back to 2006.(I think) Holy Begezzus.
Bill told us how the actual arrest took place. The FBI had been investigating for months -- and they had identified her assets. On a single day -- they seized all of it. Her horse ranch in Dixon, another one in Beloit, Wisconsin, bank accounts in various cities, and over 400 purebred quarter horses. Then -- the Feds had to hire a company to keep the horses alive. She had horses in Texas, Maryland, California, Kentucky -- she collects huge fees for stud services. And -- here's where the story gets really interesting. This woman was a HUGE PLAYER in the quarter horse association...Her horses were national champions like six out of the last 8 years (??).... And because hundreds of her horses will be auctioned off at a distress sale just as soon as she's found guilty of the embezzlement -- she may single-handedly destroy an association that has been in existence for over 100 years....
Just when we thought Bill was the most interesting guy in the world -- he kicked into the REAL STORY in Dixon, Illinois...
Which was the building we were sitting in... So make a cup of tea -- because this is gonna take awhile....
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