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NEW CHURCH IN UNWELCOME SPOTLIGHT DIXON, A3
SPECIAL SECTION INSIDE
WEEKEND ENTERPRISE | MOTORCYCLE SAFETY
Are helmet laws needed? Four of five recent fatalities caused, at least in part, by head trauma The most recent death, that of 21-year-old Brandon Kiro, happened on Oct. 8 in Sterling. Police say that Kiro was riding east on East Lynn Boulevard shortly after 10:30 p.m. when he lost control of his motorcycle, which skidded across the road before coming to a rest in the westbound lanes. His preliminary cause of death, according to the Winnebago County coroner’s office, was multiple head trauma.
BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 521
STERLING – Since September, two people have died in motorcycle crashes in the Sauk Valley. For the year, according to preliminary numbers from the Illinois State Police, there have been five deaths. None of the victims were wearing helmets, and four of the five deaths were caused, at least in part, by head trauma.
In September, 21-year-old Bryan Schrimpf was killed when a car hit him on East Lincolnway in Sterling. Police say he was heading east on Lincolnway when a westbound Toyota Prius made a left turn in front of his motorcycle. He was taken by ambulance to CGH Medical Center, then flown to OSF St. Anthony in Rockford, where he later died. HELMET CONTINUED ON A4
Illustration by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Helmets can protect the heads of motorcyclists from the trauma of accidents and from other dangers they face on the road. But should they be required by law? That’s up for debate.
WEEKEND FEATURE| TWIN CITY FIRE COMMAND
A team approach
ECONOMICS | HOUSING MARKET
Region avoids the worst of slump BY DAVID GIULIANI dgiuliani@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 525
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
For a little longer than one month, Gary Cook has been chief of the new Twin City Joint Fire Command of departments in Sterling and Rock Falls. He had been the interim chief in Sterling for 3 years. “Most of the changes have been developing for many years,” Cook said.
Chief says administrative consolidation going smoothly BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 570
STERLING – Gary Cook started as a Rock Falls firefighter 34 years ago. But as chief of the new Twin City Joint Fire Command, he says now is the most interesting time of his career. A little over one month into the consolidation of the
administrative functions of fire departments in Sterling and Rock Falls, the chief says this historic time for the cities has brought some great challenges, but even greater rewards. “Maybe my biggest challenge personally is that if there are problems, there’s no one to point at but yourself,” the Milledgeville
native said. While there are more meetings and paperwork on the administrative side, he says, everything is flowing well and fire service is the best it has been since he started. Three stations serve the two communities, and each side covers the other when it’s busy. “Whoever is logistically
closer, that unit gets the call – it doesn’t matter which town it’s in,” Cook said. Cook’s first official day as joint chief was Sept. 28, a day that wasn’t really all that different from any other because much of the heavy lifting had already been done, he said. TEAM CONTINUED ON A9
The average Lee County house, which was assessed at more than $137,000 in 2009, dropped in Inside value to about $129,000 this A look at year, according local housing to the coun- values in Lee ty assessor’s and Whiteside office. counties in That home, recent years, which w a s A10 assessed at $100,000 in 2002, reached its peak in 2009, a year after the housing crash. Since then, the house has decreased in value every year, falling more than 6 percent in the past 4 years. While that is significant, it’s not as dramatic as in other areas of northern Illinois. In the boom years of 20052007, “We didn’t see the growth the Chicago area did,” Lee County Assessor Wendy Ryerson said. “We don’t experience the same highs or lows that they do. We are more stabilized here.” The rate of decrease in value has slowed, to less than 1 percent in the past year. What’s going to happen now with housing values? “I expect to see a slow increase,” she said, “very slow.” Whiteside County’s data on average housing values goes back only to 2010. SLUMP CONTINUED ON A10
Mostly sunny
VOLUME 6 ISSUE 11 40 Pages
Today: 57/30 For the forecast, see Page A8
The color of it all
A look at some Sauk Valley scenes from the fall. See Page C12
Honoring their service Six ways for every American to support troops, families Also inside USA Weekend: Rob Lowe on portraying JFK Sausage and mushroom stuffing
Index Births................ C5 Markets ............ A8 Business........... C1 Obituaries ......... A4 Classified .......... D1 Opinion............. A6 Comics ............. B6 Scoreboard ...... B8 Community ..... C12 Scrapbook ....... C3 Sports .............. B1 Crossword Saturday ........... D7 State .............. A10 Support groups .. C5 Crossword Sunday ............. C8 Travel .............. C10 Dear Abby ........ C6 Weather............ A8 Lottery .............. A2 Wheels ............. D8