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A community engagement initiative of Byron CUSD 226.
The Stories of Us.
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Yes Is a Complete Sentence
Turning Wrenches, Turning Pages
The Woman Who Made It All Work
The Second Life of Bob Boyer
The Navy’s French Horn
The Long Haul: Ron Svartoien’s Life of Loyalty, Labor, and Laughter
The Courage to Unbuild
The Coach Who Showed Up
Rooted and Ready: The Lasting Hands of Reed Spaulding
In the Arena: Kathleen Rock’s Mission-Driven Life
From Byron to Business: How Mark Cotter Built a Brand with Spirit
All the Way Home
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LATEST ISSUE
Summer | 2025
“I wasn’t always the smartest or the fastest. But I showed up. I raised my hand. I got in the room.”
“I was trades before trades were cool.”
“You made them feel at home when they were away from home.”
“My first life was here in Byron. My second life began at fifty—on the other side of the world.”
“You can’t be perfect. But in music—and in service—you try.”
“I’ve had the same job and the same wife for 54 years. That’s gotta count for something.”
“We’re not just tearing things down—we’re salvaging what still has value. In homes. In people. In the planet.”
“I didn’t apply. I just needed the money—and I worked my tail off.”
“The best kind of legacy is one you help build—and then quietly hand off to the next generation.”
“Get caught in the arena trying to make your little sliver of the world better than you found it.”
“Every door you walk through is built on a relationship. You just have to be ready to bring the goods once you’re inside.”
“It wasn’t about being the hero. It was about being the one who showed up.”
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