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dailyGAZETTE Friday, November 1, 2013
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
EDUCATION | HOW SCHOOLS RATE
Economics affects school scores Prophetstown, Rock Falls are examples BY DAVID GIULIANI dgiuliani@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 525
At Merrill Elementary School in Rock Falls, fewer than half the students met federal standards, according to test results released Thursday.
From 2012 to 2013, the number of students proficient in both reading and math fell from 54 percent to 44 percent. That makes it the lowest among elementary schools in Whiteside and Lee counties. But there’s another number worth considering: The Rock Falls elementary school district had the highest number of students considered low-
income – 77 percent. That’s at least 10 percentage points more than in the Sterling and Dixon elementary schools, with the exception of Sterling’s Jefferson, which is at 69 percent. Rock Falls Elementary Superintendent Dan Arickx said the data show that more of his district’s children are low-income, but “we’re not using that as a crutch.”
“Our families have a lot more to think about than to make sure homework is done every night,” Arickx said. “Every family, regardless of income, probably has things going on, but low-income families have more intense issues to worry about.” The district, he said, tries to work with families the best it can. “We help students after-
hours,” Arickx said. “We help them get as much done at school as possible, so we can alleviate the stress at home.” Students are helped after school during what teachers are treating as study halls, Arickx said. Some students, he said, don’t have access to technology at home, so they need extra help. ECONOMICS CONTINUED ON A2
AGRICULTURE
FAMILY HALLOWEEN FUN IN THE TWIN CITIES
Harvest results positive High corn yields reported across state BY MATT MENCARINI mmencarini@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 529
Photos by Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
ABOVE: Parents Merissa and Steve Hernandez dress up with their children, Ohnaka, 11, and Mikah, 8, and pass out candy before they hit the streets trick-or-treating. BOTTOM LEFT: Teagan, 6, and Kaelin, 3, of Sterling walk up the decorated sidewalk at the Flynns’ home Thursday in Sterling. The Flynns have been decorating their home for Halloween for years. BOTTOM RIGHT: The girls leave the Flynns’ home. The family tries to add more decorations every year.
The majority of corn and soybean crops in the state and in the Sauk Valley have been harvested, and the results have been good. On Nov. 8, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agriculture Statistics Service will release a crop production report, which will include yield forecasts, but state and local experts say the harvest has been better than expected. Gunnar Ortgiesen, CFO and general manager of Tettens Grain LLC in Sterling, said farmers have been pleasantly surprised by their corn yields, which he estimated at 180 to 220 bushels an acre in this area. “For beans, [yields are] a little better than expected a few months back,” he said. “I’d still put it in the 50- to 60-an-acre [range], some hitting 65.” Many of the private, national corn yield estimates have been 162 bushels an acre, Ortgiesen said. HARVEST CONTINUED ON A2
TOP5 Your Weekend
1 Have a laugh at RFHS, by George! ROCK FALLS – Rock Falls High School will present “George Washington Slept Here,” a comedic play written by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman, at 7 p.m. today and Saturday at the school. The story follows Nelson Fuller, who buys a “little house in the country” without informing his family. Ticket prices are $5 for adults and $2 for kids 12 and under.
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2 Take a walk back in time in Tampico
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TAMPICO – The Ronald Reagan Boyhood Statue and Memorial Walkway will be dedicated at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in Reagan Park on Main Street. Eureka College President David J. Arnold will be the speaker. After the ceremony, refreshments will be served at the Tampico Historical Society Museum, 119 Main St.
DIXON – Dixon Lioness Club members will have a holiday craft show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Loveland Community House, 513 W. Second St. There is no admission price. A group of 70 to 90 crafters and vendors is expected. There also will be a bake sale and a white elephant sale. Lunch will be served at 11 a.m., with soup, barbecue and hot dogs, chips, and pie.
INDEX
BUSINESS ......... A14 CHURCH............ A12 COMICS ...............B7
Get crafty in Dixon
CROSSWORD....B13 DEAR ABBY ......... A8 LIFESTYLE ........... A7
4 Take the stage in Oregon
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OREGON – It’s the first Friday of the month, which means it’s time for the First Fridays Open Stage Music Show at the Oregon VFW. Each musician or band performs for 15 minutes. Instruments are all acoustic, and a professional sound system is provided. Admission is a donation.
STERLING – The popular Christian rock band Citizen Way performs during a show that starts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Centennial Auditorium, 1608 Fourth Ave. Also performing will be Matt Vollmar & The Great Romance. Go to www.wcicfm.org for more information or ticket information.
LOTTERY ............. A2 OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6
Have faith in music in Sterling
Today’s weather High 55. Low 36. More on A3.
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B8.
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