Know Your Neighbors: Ryan Goode, 
Firefighter

Ryan Goode, 21, of Caledonia, is a new Dixon City Fire Department firefighter; he starts Sept. 13. He is the son of Randy and Cheryl Goode of Caledonia.

On-the-job lesson: Don’t take life for granted. Make the most of every day, but don’t work too hard.

Alma mater: I graduated in 2006 from Belvidere High School and earned an associate degree in fire science from Rock Valley College.

Philosophy: Sometimes it’s necessary to go a longer distance out of the way to come back a shorter distance directly.

Oughta be a law: Seat belts should be optional.

Hearts: Playing baseball, basketball and hockey, going camping, hunting, fishing and four-wheeling, watching “Family Guy,” “Rescue Me” and “Psych.”

Darts: Math.

Haunts: Parks.

Heroes: All the emergency personnel who took part in 9/11.

First job: I worked at a grocery store, Woodman’s Food Market, in Rockford, when I was 16. I was a bagger and brought in carts. I didn’t like it.

First car: A Pontiac Grand Prix when I was 16.

Read this: “Blue Like Jazz,” by Donald Miller.

People say I look like: Actor Mark Wahlberg.

Phobia: Spiders.

In the dictionary next to: Hard-working.

Trading spaces: I’d like to visit Rome to go sightseeing.

Do you know someone who ought to be featured in Know Your Neighbors? Write to Phil Hartman at phartman@svnmail.com or call 800-798-4085, ext. 524.