On Monday, February 16, the Delavan Schools’ cafeteria and choir room were buzzing with activity as preparations for Newsies, this year's spring musical production, reached a new milestone. The cafeteria transformed into a bustling costume and wardrobe fitting space, while the choir room became a full rehearsal hall. For the first time, the cast performed every musical number with live accompaniment from pianist Aleta Hoff, replacing the recorded tracks used in earlier rehearsals—an exciting step that brought new energy and momentum to the production.

Delavan High School is now gearing up to share that energy with the community as it presents Disney’s Newsies, inspired by the 1899 Newsboys Strike in New York City. Performances will take place in the Poppenga Gymnasium on Friday, March 13, and Saturday, March 14 at 7:00 p.m., with a 2:00 p.m. matinee on Sunday, March 15. Tickets are $10 at the door.

Directed by Alison Knapik, the production features music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman, and a book by Harvey Fierstein. This year’s staging showcases an exceptionally large cast spanning grades 4 through 12, supported by a robust technical crew and live musicians.

The musical follows Jack Kelly and his fellow newsboys as they rally against publisher Joseph Pulitzer, fighting for fair treatment. With humor, heart, and historical inspiration, the show highlights the power of young people united for a cause.

The show stars Cash Calsyn Grys as Jack Kelly and Jaylyn Diekhoff as Katherine, with Elisha Waggoner as Davey, Ryker Grys as Les, Nola Houston as Crutchie, and Seanik Gagliardi as Joseph Pulitzer. Featured roles include Gwen Tierney as Medda Larkin; Nick Glisson as Race; Lillian Borton as Finch; Hayden Koehler as Albert; Drake Neuendorf as Romeo; Peyton Nafziger as Mush; Willow Gomez as Henry; Karsyn Kramer as Elmer; Charlie Green as Specs; Isabella Houston as Buttons; Elyse Brinkmeyer as JoJo; Isaac Meeker as Mr. Wiesel; Aiden Sydney as Morris Delancey; Ben Williams as Oscar Delancey; Zoe Minton as Hannah/Nun/Bowery Beauty; Cammeron Connell as Bunsen/Stage Manager/Cop; Drake Ring as Seitz/Photographer; Carson Ibbotson as Mayor/Mr. Jacobi/Nunzio/Cop; Hailey Wade as Nun/Bowery Beauty/Cop; Embree McWhorter as Nun/Bowery Beauty/Goon; Lauren Saylor as Nun/Goon; Eugene Webb as Darcy/Cop; Alannah White as Bill/Goon; and Maria LiCalzi as Woman/Goon.

The high school ensemble includes Reagan Ziegler, Aubrey Fann, and Abbie Beal.

Twenty-six students from grades 4–8 will also appear in the production. Featured among them are Oliver Knapik as Spot Conlon; Kathryn Staker as Scab #1/Flushing Newsie; Everett Tierney as Scab #2/Brooklyn Newsie; and Elliot Knapik as Scab #3/Brooklyn Newsie. Additional Brooklyn Newsies include Karson Lowery, Stout Williams, and Sam Zimmer. Flushing Newsies include Charlie Gaines, Nora Harland, Ashley Moore, Addilyn Stockham, and Emilee Winter. Richmond Newsies include Jamie Fann, Lacey Fann, Gracelyn McDougle, Harper Pierson, Hannah Ross, and Madilynn Watts. Woodside Newsies include Alison Borton, Walker Gomez, Noah Koehler, Peyton Lyle, and Ethan Sydney. Bronx Newsies include Hayes Grys, Charleigh McWhorter, and Haines Nelson.

Behind the scenes, the technical crew features Remy Martin, Ella Green, Lizzie Mount, Kylin Brockhouse, Isaac Meeker, Izzy Brothwood, Maddy Albers, Addison Fisher, Khloe Stockham, and Mia Mammen. Nate Brooks serves as technical director, Kaliee Burkhalter as assistant director, and David Knapik as set builder. Other assistance provided by Aleta Hoff (accompanist) and Trudy Schaffner (choreographer). The pit ensemble includes Ben Haushalter on drums, Heather Maughan on trumpet, Tony Jones on bass, and Maura Shepherd on the reed book.

With its expansive cast, energetic score, and strong community involvement, Newsies promises an exciting weekend of local talent on display.

The City of Delavan is facing a sudden shake-up in its top administrative and legal offices following the resignations of both City Attorney William Connor and Interim City Administrator Eric Diekhoff—departures that come on the heels of back-to-back executive sessions that shielded council deliberations from public view.

The first closed session occurred at the February 3 meeting, when Ward 2 Alderman Joe Watts requested discussion on “the future” of both the city attorney and city administrator position. The request prompted the council to invoke executive session, barring the public from hearing the reasoning, concerns, or debate surrounding the matter.

When contacted afterward and asked why he sought the discussion, Watts offered only a brief explanation. “I’m here to represent the citizens, and that is where my actions come from,” he said.

Two weeks later, at the February 17 meeting, Mayor Adam White announced that City Attorney William Connor had resigned. No explanation was provided, and no council member offered comment before the meeting again moved into executive session—this time for an agenda item listed as “Discussion and Action on the City Administrator Position.”

Once more, the public was excluded from the discussion, and the item was tabled without explanation.

The Dispatch has confirmed that Interim City Administrator Eric Diekhoff tendered his resignation on Wednesday, February 18. Diekhoff indicated he was willing to remain in his role until the council’s next meeting to ensure continuity.

The dual resignations leave the city without two of its most critical administrative officers and raise questions about the direction of Delavan’s government at a time when the council is already grappling with infrastructure needs, staffing challenges, and ongoing debates about transparency.

As of press time, no city official has publicly explained the circumstances leading to either resignation, nor has the council announced a plan for filling the vacancies.

Delavan Police Chief Michael Evans has been selected to attend one of the nation’s most exclusive leadership programs for law enforcement executives. Evans was nominated by Ruben A. Marchand Morales, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Springfield Field Office, and later chosen by FBI headquarters to participate in the National Command Course (NCC), a program offered to only 50 police chiefs from across the United States.

The NCC, held at the FBI Training Academy in Quantico, Virginia, is designed for chiefs and command-level leaders from small to mid-sized agencies. Participants are selected through a competitive process that evaluates leadership experience, agency needs, and the candidate’s potential to strengthen public safety practices in their home communities. The course brings together leaders from diverse jurisdictions to study emerging threats, crisis management, intelligence integration, and community-focused policing strategies.

Chief Evans, who has led the Delavan Police Department since 2023, has emphasized officer development, modernization of departmental practices, and strengthening community relationships as central priorities of his tenure. His selection for the NCC aligns with those goals, offering an opportunity to bring nationally recognized strategies and training back to Delavan.

The Optimist Club of Delavan has announced Drew Robison as the winner of its annual Optimist International Essay Contest. Robison is pictured with club member Debbie Woiwode after receiving a $100 award for her essay, “How My Acts of Service Help Me Understand What My Community Means to Me.”

In her essay, Robison reflects on the role community service has played in shaping her understanding of purpose and connection. She notes that Delavan High School’s graduation requirement for service hours encouraged her to seek out opportunities to give back, ultimately leading to experiences that left a lasting impact.

Robison highlights several of those efforts, including volunteering at a food pantry, assisting with Vacation Bible School, and participating in multiple mission trips. The mission work ranged from painting and building maintenance to constructing beds, landscaping, and helping with children’s programs. Through these experiences, she writes that she discovered a deeper sense of meaning in serving others — even those she had never met before — and found that acts of service helped her better understand the strength and value of community.

The Optimist International Essay Contest is one of the organization’s longest running youth programs, designed to encourage students to develop strong writing skills while reflecting on positive values. Each year, local clubs invite students to respond to a themed prompt, with top essays advancing to district and international competition. The Delavan Optimist Club participates annually as part of its mission to support and recognize young people who demonstrate leadership, character, and a commitment to service.

The club recognized Robison for both her thoughtful reflection and her dedication to helping others — qualities the organization strives to uplift in local youth.

The American Legion Post 382 wrapped up its winter raffle on Sunday, February 15, with local resident Aaron Sundell taking home the grand prize—a 28" Blackstone Propane Grill complete with accessories.

The winning ticket was drawn at the conclusion of the Legion’s well-attended Sunday Breakfast. In a moment that delighted the crowd, the honor of drawing the ticket went to Oliver Anderson, the youngest patron in attendance that morning. His small hand pulled the lucky number that sent the room into cheers and congratulations for Sundell.

Legion members noted that the raffle was more than just a chance to win a popular backyard staple. All proceeds from the fundraiser support the Legion’s annual Memorial Day Kid's Fishing Derby, a long-standing community tradition that brings families together at Lake Park each spring.

Organizers expressed appreciation for the strong community participation, both from those who purchased tickets and those who continue to support the Legion’s programs throughout the year.

With another successful raffle behind them, Post 382 now turns its attention to preparing for the upcoming Fishing Derby—an event made possible, in part, by the generosity of local residents and the enthusiasm of Sunday Breakfast regulars.

A simple postcard, mailed from the Delavan Post Office on April 27, 1940, has opened an unexpected historical mystery — one that now has the Delavan Dispatch calling on local history detectives to help decipher a message written more than 80 years ago.

The postcard, recently spotted on eBay, features a familiar local landmark: the Meeker Building at the northwest corner of Locust and 3rd Streets. Today, the building houses Delavan City Hall, but in 1940, it was home to Superior Scales, a company known for manufacturing commercial weighing equipment. The image itself is a classic linen era postcard, the kind many Delavan families once sent to relatives across the Midwest.

But it wasn’t the picture that caught our attention — it was the message on the back.

The front of the card was first shared by Bill Watson on the Delavan Info and News Facebook group, where it quickly drew interest from longtime residents and history buffs. Curious about the rest of the story, the Dispatch tracked down the original eBay listing. There, in the seller’s photos, the mystery deepened: the handwritten message was not in English, but in German.

Even more intriguing, the message specifically mentions the Delavan Armory — a reference that immediately raises questions about who wrote it, why they were in Delavan, and what connection they had to Chicago, where the postcard was addressed.

Recognizing the historical significance — and the potential for a fascinating community investigation — the Delavan Dispatch purchased the postcard to study it more closely.

Now we’re turning to you.

What We Know So Far

Postmark: April 27, 1940, Delavan, Illinois

Recipient: A Chicago address (details forthcoming as we verify the handwriting)

Language: German

Content: A brief message referencing the Delavan Armory

Image: The Meeker Building during its Superior Scales era

The year 1940 places this postcard in a tense moment in world history — just months before the United States entered World War II. German language correspondence, even innocent, can’t help but raise eyebrows in that context. But we’re not jumping to conclusions. Instead, we’re inviting the community to help us translate, contextualize, and understand the message.

Calling All Local History Detectives

Do you read German?

Do you have family stories about the Armory, Superior Scales, or German-speaking residents in Delavan during the 1930s and ’40s?

Do you recognize the handwriting style or know someone who might?

Over the next week, the Dispatch will publish high-resolution images of both sides of the postcard and share updates as we learn more. Our goal is to piece together the story behind this unexpected artifact — who wrote it, why they were in Delavan, and what role the Armory played in their visit.

This is the kind of mystery that reminds us why local history matters. Sometimes the past doesn’t reveal itself in grand monuments or official records, but in small, personal traces.

If you’d like to assist with translation or historical context, please contact the Dispatch or message us on Facebook.