By Clark Kelly

Telegraph staff writer

(copy of a press clipping from the 07/02/96 issue of the Dixon Telegraph Newspaper)

Dixon Mayor Donald Sheets has asked his counterpart in Herzberg, Germany, to consider educational, cultural and friendship exchanges between Herzberg and Dixon.

In a letter sent to Burgermeister (mayor) Michael Oecknigk, Sheets noted Dixon is "seeking to acquire a consciousness of similar cities such as Herzberg, and to understand each other as individuals, citizens of their countries, sharing an exchange of cultures and heritage's as part of the family of nations." The mayor went on to say Dixonites "want to foster peace with each individual doing his or her part to promote friendlier relations and mutual understanding between the peoples of America and citizens of other countries."

He presented his request to Dani Boerner, who is a foreign exchange student and a resident of the Herzberg area, to deliver to Oecknigk in person when she returns to Germany next week.

Boerner was a guest of the Dixon Sister Cities program on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Sheets said Herzberg and Dixon are two small communities both connected to the world by a river. "We would welcome your views on whether we should form another connection by establishing a dialogue to promote educational, cultural and friendly cooperation. Eventually we could possibly become Sister Cities with each other," he added.

Boerner spent Monday visiting Sheets in his office, speaking to the Dixon Rotary Club, visiting the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home and touring the Charles Nusbaum farm near Sublette.

For Rotarians, she explained some of the problems experienced by former East Germans after unification. She noted many promises had been made by officials which were not kept. "I think if Dixon and Herzberg got together people would find hope," Boemer said. Asked if Herzberg had a Rotary Club, Boerner said no but "six years after (German) reunification anything is possible. Maybe we could start one."

She told the Dixon City Council on Monday evening that many Germans held the view the U.S. did not care about others, a view she now sees from a different perspective after spending a year in America.