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NEWMAN, ROCK FALLS TIP OFF SEASON
Gianna’s House shares some news
GIRLS BASKETBALL, B1
LOCAL, A5
dailyGAZETTE
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
WHITESIDE COUNTY
ILLINOIS TORNADOES | LOCAL SURVIVORS
Schools might ask again for sales tax
‘I thought it was the end for us’
Measure has failed three previous times BY DAVID GIULIANI dgiuliani@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 525
Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
Alyssa Valdez and Beau Ebenezer talk Monday in Alyssa’s parents’ home in Rock Falls. On Sunday, the couple took shelter with their dog, Valentine, in the bathtub of their apartment in Washington, Ill., each suffering minor injuries but a major scare in a tornado that roared through the town. The ceiling of Alyssa and Beau’s apartment was gone after the twister left, and they were covered in boards and bricks
Rock Falls grads survive twister in Washington BY DAVID GIULIANI dgiuliani@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 525
How to help
ROCK FALLS – Alyssa Valdez and Beau Ebenezer saw a funnel cloud from the balcony of their Inside second-floor Forecasts apartment in and warnings Washington, saved lives in Ill., late Suncentral Illinois, day mornA8 ing. They had only seconds to prepare. The Rock Falls High graduates took shelter in their bathtub. They held each other’s hands. Their energetic 9-month-old dog, Valentine, cowered between them. Then the tornado arrived. The tub shook. Tumbling boards and bricks covered them. A cinderblock struck the back of Beau’s head, causing bleeding. SURVIVE CONTINUED ON A2
Watch Online
Go to saukvalley.com to watch video of our interview with Alyssa and Beau.
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TODAY’S EDITION: 20 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 159 ISSUE 242
Photo submitted by Alyssa Valdez
Alyssa Valdez’s car (right) was thrown by Sunday’s tornado and destroyed at the apartment complex in Washington, Ill., where she and fellow Rock Falls High School graduate Beau Ebenezer live.
INDEX
BUSINESS ......... A10 COMICS ............... A9 CROSSWORD....B10
DEAR ABBY ......... A7 LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2
You can donate to Washington, Ill., tornado victims by visiting www. redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS, mailing it to the Central Illinois chapter at 311 W. John H. Gwynn Jr. Ave., Peoria, IL 61605, or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Kreider Services in Dixon is starting a collection for people who want to donate items to help Washington residents. Items needed include blankets, gloves, coats, personal hygiene items, storage tubs, storage bags, garbage bags, diapers, baby formula, baby food, cleaning supplies, batteries, cameras, cellphone cards, pet food, cat litter, pet crates, gas cards, baby spoons, sippy cups, instant mashed potatoes, instant macaroni and cheese, towels and washcloths. Collection hours this week will be from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Kreider, 500 Anchor Road in Dixon. Call Becky Reilly at Kreider Services at 815-2886691.
ROCK FALLS – Whiteside County is within striking distance of approving a 1 percent sales tax to fund public school facilities. Or at least that’s the way officials see it. The question has gone before voters three times, gaining support each time – 42 percent in November 2008, 45 percent in April 2009, and 46 percent this past April. The tax has fared much worse elsewhere. In April, only a quarter of Lee County voters and a third of Ogle County voters backed it. Now, Whiteside County’s school boards are considering whether to put the measure on the March 18 ballot. On Wednesday, the boards for at least four districts – Sterling, Rock Falls High School, Montmorency and East Coloma-Nelson – are expected to vote on a new referendum. Alex Moore, principal of Montmorency School, said his district’s officials are recommending the 1 percent tax for the March ballot. Its passage, he said, would allow the district to reduce property taxes. SALES TAX CONTINUED ON A4
STERLING
Pension costs likely to lead to tax hike BY DAVID GIULIANI dgiuliani@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 525
STERLING – The city is expecting big increases in its contributions to the fire and police pension funds, Inside which likely means higher Home set taxes. to be demolLast year’s ished by city, tax levy was A4 $3.3 million, which the city expects to increase to $3.5 million. It amounts to a 5.5 percent increase. The levy for the general fund, which pays for things such as police and fire, is expected to drop by $30,000. But the fire pension contribution is estimated to jump by 18 percent to $562,046. The city still is awaiting projections for the police pension fund, but the calculation is now estimated at 10 percent over last year’s amount. HIKE CONTINUED ON A4
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 SPORTS ...............B1
Today’s weather High 45. Low 34. More on A3.
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