Dixon rolls out the red carpet Sunday for the start of a 10-day Sister Cities visit by 11 residents of Herzberg, Germany.

The delegation will be led by Burgermeister Michael Oecknigk and Kornelia Grassman, the parliamentary chairman of the Social Democrats in the Herzberg assembly.

The group is expected to arrive in Dixon about 5:30 p.m. after being picked up in Chicago by a Sauk Trails bus driven by Arnold Butterbaugh.

A public welcome for the visitors will be held Monday at 6 p.m. at Lowell Park. Over 400 Dixon area residents are expected to attend the pork chop barbecue event.

The visit is the second part of an exchange with Dixonites from last year when four Dixonites were guests of Oecknigk in Herzberg.

In addition to Oecknigk and Grassman, the group includes Frank Claus and Martin Shutt, newspaper editors; Marco Schoenrock, a band leader; Corneilia Boeck, a farm manager; Georg Lubrich, a plumber; Horst Duemichen, who deals with agricultural matters, his wife Brigitte, staff manager of the Herzberg City Hall, and their daughter, Katherine, a student.

Oecknigk's daughter, Katja, is the 11th delegation member.

Welcome set for Monday

Dixon Mayor Donald Sheets will welcome the group with a city hall news conference at 8:30 a.m. Monday. After welcoming remarks, the delegation will tour various governmental offices, be guests of Dixon Main Street for a downtown tour, and the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home Monday before the public welcome.

Tuesday the group will be guests of the Dixon Noon Lions Club and enjoy an afternoon cruise on the Rock River.

Delegation members will attend a meeting of the Kiwanis Club Wednesday, visit Dixon High School and Ronald Reagan Middle School, tour KSB Hospital and visit the Chuck Nusbaum farm.

On Thursday, the group tours the John Deere combine plant in the Quad Cities.

Friday, delegation members will attend the Dixon Men's Garden Club pancake breakfast before more tours and festival events.

The Herzberg residents will ride in the Dixon Petunia Festival Parade on Sunday and participate in other events.

Monday, July 6, the delegation will be guests at the Dixon City Council session.

On July 7, the delegation will tour three more industries before having a private dinner for the visitors and host families.

The delegation will tour Chicago before flying home July 8.