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TEAMS BATTLE AT THE NET AT STERLING INVITATIONAL
A salute to area fire departments
PREP VOLLEYBALL, B1
LOCAL, A11-14
dailyGAZETTE Monday, October 7, 2013
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
ROCK FALLS | ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Power plant ‘still on hold’ Company website offers no leads while under construction BY MATT MENCARINI mmencarini@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 529
ROCK FALLS – Nearly 4 years after BioPro Power announced its intention to build a power plant in Rock Falls, the company is still looking for a customer. Sandy Henrekin, the executive director of the Rock Falls Development
Corporation, which has worked with BioPro, said nothing has changed with the project. “There hasn’t been any change,” she said. “The project is still on hold – still waiting to see if they can purchase a power purchase agreement.” Henrekin has been the point person for the city in dealing with BioPro, City Administrator Robbin Blackert said. In 2011, W.F. “Duke” Fuehrer, the company’s president, said BioPro
planned to hire 30 fulltime employees, a dozen or so part-timers, and 80 seasonal employees, but didn’t want to speculate about when the project would start. A request for comment from Fuehrer wasn’t immediately returned. Joe McConville, who works in real estate in the Mendota area, had agreed to help BioPro expand into Mendota after it set up in Rock Falls. He said he hasn’t heard from Fuehrer in a while and thinks there
were delays in working with the Illinois Department of Commerce. “I really have heard nothing,” McConville said when asked about BioPro’s status. “So I would guess it’s dead.” On Wednesday, the BioPro website, www.BioProPower.com, had a message that said, “There are exciting developments going SVM file photo on at BioPro Power and we are updating our website to W.F. “Duke” Fuehrer, BioPro president, talks about the company’s proposed plant in Rock Falls during a reflect those changes.” May 2011 breakfast meeting at the Rock Falls ChamPLANT CONTINUED ON A2 ber of Commerce.
WHITESIDE COUNTY | DRUG INVESTIGATION
RUNNING AND PUMPKIN PICKING AT THE PUMPKIN DASH RIGHT: Adam Steinert gives a pumpkin to his 2-year-old daughter, Olivia, Saturday afternoon at the Sterling Park District’s 22nd annual Pumpkin Dash at Hoover Park.
3 suspects plead guilty, 11 have trials
BELOW LEFT: Parents follow their little ones as they race in the Sterling Park District’s 22nd annual Pumpkin Dash Saturday afternoon.
Authorities kept arrest records secret at first BY DAVID GIULIANI dgiuliani@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 525
BELOW RIGHT: Girls in the 4and 5-year-old division of the Pumpkin Dash take off from the starting line Saturday afternoon. Photos by Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
MORRISON – Authorities often issue news releases when they charge a group of people with drug crimes. That wasn’t the case earlier in the summer. Fourteen were charged with drug crimes as a result of an investigation by the Blackhawk Area Task Force, a group of area police agencies that cooperate in drug inquiries. Three of the suspects have pleaded guilty so far. Two of them received short jail sentences, while another was sent to prison. Ten others have trials set for November, while one will get his day in court in December. The Illinois attorney general’s office is handling the cases. No announcements were made about their arrests. SUSPECTS CONTINUED ON A2
THE WEEK AHEAD
Friday-Saturday Week 7 football Conference races will be heating up, and there will not be a bigger game in the area than when Three Rivers North front-runners Newman and Erie-Prophetstown clash in Erie at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Check out where your favorite team plays this week: Friday Oregon at Winnebago, 7 Milledgeville at Aquin, 7 Mendota at Rock Falls, 7:15
Ottawa at Dixon, 7:30 Sterling at Geneseo, 7:30 Amboy at Bureau Valley, 7:30 Newman at Erie-Prophetstown, 7:30 Riverdale at Fulton, 7:30 Rockridge at Morrison, 7:30 Durand at EPC, 7:30 AFC at East Dubuque, 7:30 Orangeville at Polo, 7:30 Saturday West Carroll at Lexington, 1
Saturday 4-H Fall Fest scheduled at community college DIXON – Children will have plenty to do at the 4-H Fall Fest from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Sauk Valley Community College’s West Mall. Activities will include a petting zoo, bounce house, visual arts, cookie-decorating bar, aerospace, carnival games, and giveaways. A free lunch of hot dogs and nachos with cheese will be provided. The first 100 kids get a free T-shirt.
HARVEST MOON FESTIVAL OFFERS ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS AND ADULTS. DETAILS ON PAGE A7. $1.00
TODAY’S EDITION: 28 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 159 ISSUE 211
INDEX
ABBY ................... A8 NATION ................ A9 COMICS ...............B4
CROSSWORD....B14 LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 SPORTS ...............B1
Today’s weather High 63. Low 41. More on A3.
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B7.
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