TEL-11-16-2013

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W eekend SV

Saukvalley.com

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Previewing the Comets, Golden Warriors

WOMAN FUNDS INDIAN ORPHANAGE LOCAL, A9-10

GIRLS BASKETBALL, B1

DIXON | RITA CRUNDWELL IN PRISON

Court panel: Sentence stands Former comptroller still has appeal options BY MATT MENCARINI mmencarini@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 529

Online extra Go to saukvalley.com to read the complete opinion written by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

DIXON – Calling her sentence of 19 years, 7 months in federal prison “substantively reasonable,” an appeals court Friday rejected an attempt by former Dixon Comptroller Rita Crundwell to serve a shorter term. A three-judge panel of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago unanimously affirmed the sentence. Next, Crundwell may ask that her appeal be heard by the entire 7th U.S. Circuit Court, which includes

about 11 judges, or appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, which doesn’t have to accept the case, said Randall Samborn, public information officer for the circuit court. Dixon Mayor Jim Burke, who described himself as “happy as a lark” with the court’s decision, said he would have been “very, very disappointed” if the sentence

had been reduced. He was confident the court wouldn’t reduce the sentence, he said, but didn’t think it was a guarantee. “You never know,” Burke said. “Sometimes you read about some of these court decisions that are made, and you wonder where they came from. I think it’s pretty slim that she gets the Supreme Court to [reduce the sentence].” Oral arguments in the appeal were heard Nov. 4, and a decision was announced Friday morning. SENTENCE CONTINUED ON A2

Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

Former Dixon Comptroller Rita Crundwell is seen outside of the federal courthouse in Rockford on Nov. 14, 2012, after pleading guilty to a single count of federal wire fraud. Her appeal of a federal prison sentence of 19 years, 7 months was upheld Friday morning by an appeals court panel in Chicago.

DIXON

WEEKEND FEATURE | STERLING

Preschool with a twist

Warrant issued for VIVA! employee Boles being charged with failure to report abuse or neglect BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 521

Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

Gavin, 4, smells his orange gelatin before taking a bite during an Oct. 29 session of Woodlawn Preschool Academy of the Arts in Sterling. He and other preschoolers enjoy the culinary arts at Woodlawn Arts Academy. It’s no ordinary preschool. Sessions also include theater, dance, visual arts, and music to fuel learning and development.

Youngsters dabble in the arts at Woodlawn Arts Academy BY JENNY YOUNG jyoung@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 565

STERLING – Eyes wide with anticipation, playful preschoolers gaze upon the big bowl of orange gelatin on their tiny table. It wiggles as much as they do. The young culinary artists added marshmallows, man-

darin oranges, and whipped cream, and then swallowed their masterpieces Oct. 29 at the Sauk Valley’s new artsbased preschool. Woodlawn Preschool Academy of the Arts is no ordinary preschool. Sessions also include theater, dance, visual arts, and music to fuel learning and development.

Rain likely

VOLUME 6 ISSUE 12 40 Pages

Today: 59/55 For the forecast, see Page A8

Under the leadership of 33-year-old Becky Rich of Sterling, program director, different specialists from Woodlawn Arts Academy visit classrooms on a rotating basis to share their talents. “It’s something that, unfortunately, so many of our schools can’t afford – a lot of arts programming – these days,” Rich said. “It’s the

WACC perseveres

Hands-on learning institution weathers educational budgetary storms. See Page C1

first thing to get cut. But it is found that it is one of the best realistic ways of learning, and it gets their creative side going.” The lead instructor agrees. Petra Paufve, a 2002 graduate of Sterling High School, said arts promote literacy and fine motor skills. PRESCHOOL CONTINUED ON A3

Easy as pie Expert bakers offer holiday piemaking tips Also inside USA Weekend: Coping with Alzheimer’s Health benefits of marriage Larry King turns 80

DIXON – An arrest warrant was issued Friday for Tim Boles, director of drama at VIVA! Performing Arts School, on a charge of failure to report a sexual abuse at the school. Dixon Police say that Boles told investigators that this past spring, a now-17-year-old male student told him of the alleged abuse involving VIVA!’s vocal instructor, Robert Campbell, but Boles failed to report it – as mandated reporters are legally required to do. Boles is being charged with failure to report abuse or neglect, a class A misdemeanor that could result in a fine of $2,500. WARRANT CONTINUED ON A4

COMMUNITY

Salute to veterans Some scenes from the past week as the Sauk Valley observed Veterans Day. PAGE C12

Index Births................ C5 Markets ............ A8 Business........... C1 Obituaries ......... A4 Classified .......... D1 Opinion............. A6 Comics ............. B6 Scoreboard ...... B7 Community ..... C12 Scrapbook ....... C3 Sports .............. B1 Crossword Saturday ........... D7 State ................ A4 Support groups .. C5 Crossword Sunday ............. C8 Travel .............. C10 Dear Abby ........ C6 Weather............ A8 Lottery .............. A2 Wheels ............. D8


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