GAZ_11062013

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Getting the (turkey) juices flowing

5 AREA TEAMS LOOK TO ADVANCE IN SECTIONALS

FOOD, A9

PREP VOLLEYBALL, B1

dailyGAZETTE Wednesday, November 6, 2013

SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854

DIXON | MEET & GREET WITH ADMINISTRATOR FINALIST

Nord begins sharing vision Says he sees potential for economic growth BY MATT MENCARINI mmencarini@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 529

DIXON – David Nord made his first public appearance in Dixon on Tuesday night. Nord, the city’s finalist for the city administrator position, met with residents at The Next Picture Show, 113 W. First St., just a day after his contract was placed on file by the Dixon City Council. Nord, the former village administrator in Cherry Valley, could be hired by the city during a special City Council meeting Nov. 12 and start work the following day.

“I’m going to be talking with the mayor and the commissioners about what they want done first,” he said. “I mean, I’m going to give them my list and say, ‘Here’s what I see that would be quick to get off the plate and would have some return for the community. But what is it you folks want done first?’” Nord said the downtown TIF district is an asset the city needs to market more aggressively, adding that in his experience in Cherry Valley, not having one often closed doors to some economic development. Police Chief Danny Langloss led a 10-person hiring commit-

tee that reviewed the résumés of 40 applicants before reaching a consensus on Nord, who will become Dixon’s first city administrator. “We assessed a few areas,” Langloss said. “We wanted to see his leadership and his leadership style – communication. Did he have good presence? We wanted to see his experience in economic development. We wanted to see his experience and background in human resources. And we wanted to see his experience and background in finance.” NORD CONTINUED ON A4

Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

David Nord (center), the finalist to be the first city administrator for Dixon, meets with Dixon Mayor Jim Burke (left) and residents during a meet-and-greet Tuesday night at The Next Picture Show.

DIXON

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AT SAUK

Sex abuse charges for vocal instructor Police say former student was victim BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 521

Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

Liam VanDeraa, 17, a student at Bureau Valley High School, and her mom, Suzanne, speak with Robert Herling of the Art Institutes. The two were visiting schools Tuesday evening as part of Sauk Valley Community College’s annual College Night. Story on Page A5

GAS PRICES

Pumped up about dip below $3? Not so fast: Price might be ‘too low’; stations constantly monitor others in the area BY MATT MENCARINI mmencarini@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 529

DIXON – For now, filling up your car in Dixon may be a little cheaper than it has been the past few years. At least five Dixon gas stations on Tuesday were selling a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline for less than $3 – some $2.99 and some $2.97. According to Sauk Valley Media records, it’s the cheapest price for a gallon of gas in Dixon since Jan. 31, 2011.

$1.00

TODAY’S EDITION: 28 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 159 ISSUE 233

Also on Tuesday, the average price of a gallon of gas in Illinois was $3.301, according to GasBuddy.com, and the average price in the U.S. was $3.244. The highest price for a gallon of gas in the state is $4.09 a gallon, at two Chicago gas stations, and the lowest price is $2.89, at a gas station in Pana, which is about 45 miles southeast of Springfield, according to the website. RJ Rymas, director of fuels for Road Ranger, said gas stations react to others in the area. “Everybody is looking at everyone else pretty much all of the time,” he said, adding that the Murphy USA gas station on Galena Avenue influenced the decision by the Road Ranger corporate office to

INDEX

BUSINESS ......... A13 COMICS ............. A12 CROSSWORD....B12

lower the price to $2.99 at its Galena Avenue location. “We don’t survey the entire market,” Rymas said. “We survey those that are close to us. I can say that Murphy, who is right up the street from us, they went to $3.04 over the weekend.” While Road Ranger sets its prices at the corporate level, Casey’s General Store Vice President of Finance Brian Johnson said local managers are responsible for monitoring the competition and setting the price. “Absolutely we check the competition,” he said of its strategy. “We check the competition several times a day. We say that we won’t be undersold.”

DEAR ABBY ......... A8 LIFESTYLE ........... A8 LOTTERY ............. A2

PUMPED CONTINUED ON A2

OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 SPORTS ...............B1

DIXON – A local vocal instructor and Sterling High School graduate is being charged with three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse against one of his former students. Police say Robert K. Campbell, 31, of DeKalb, abused Robert K. a 1 6 - y e a r - o l d Campbell male student from Dixon’s VIVA! Performing Arts School, 113 E. First St., during the summer of 2012. Campbell is employed there as the vocal instructor, and, according to police, that’s where the student says the abuse happened. Authorities say the student on Sunday sent an email about the abuse to Dixon Public Schools Superintendent Michael Juenger, as well as to other district administrators. Juenger then contacted Dixon Police Chief Danny Langloss, and the investigation began. Campbell was arrested Monday, just after 5 p.m. He bonded out of jail Tuesday afternoon. According to Campbell’s biography on VIVA!’s website, he holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Northern Illinois University and recently directed the Reagan Middle School musical, “Aladdin Jr.” A call to VIVA! Performing Arts School on Tuesday afternoon went unanswered. Campbell will appear in court on Nov. 13.

Today’s weather High 52. Low 26. More on A3.

Need work? Check out your classifieds, B7.

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