High school class kicks off petunia planting

DIXON -- Petunias are not the only things that need sunlight to grow. As part of a life skills learning course, students from Sue Buckley's special education class at Dixon High School walked downtown Tuesday to get an early start on the yearly petunia planting. Cool winds off the Rock River made the air a bit chilly on an otherwise pleasant afternoon. Still, Buckley said she was glad the weather allowed the students to help beautify the downtown in preparation for this summer's Petunia Festival. "It's just nice to have them work on planting this year, because it helps them become part of the community and helps them get involved." In years past, Buckley's class planted along Palmyra Road near the high school. This year, she decided to plan