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Longtime Polo coach remembered
THE SICKEST BASS PLAYER ONTHENEW YEAR’S EVE PEOPLE’S VOICE, A5
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WEEKEND ENTERPRISE | COUNTY GOVERNMENT SPENDING
COMMUNITY
Off the books, on the card Local counties differ on off-budget funds, credit card policies BY MATT MENCARINI mmencarini@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 529
Both Ogle and Whiteside counties have funds that don’t appear in their budgets, but are reviewed by auditors, county officials said. Additionally, while Lee County and Ogle County have countywide credit card policies, according to officials, Whiteside County doesn’t. In a story last month, Sauk
Valley Media reported on the Ogle County Sheriff’s Department’s administrative tow fund, which isn’t listed in the county budget and could be used at Sheriff Michael Harn’s discretion for various department needs. Sauk Valley Media also reported on the Ogle County Sheriff’s Department’s credit card use, which included “training” meals at local restaurants several times a week, alterations to
credit card bills, and personal purchases on county cards reimbursed directly to the credit card company. In Whiteside County, some of the county funds are listed off the budget because of state law or because that’s how they had been established, County Administrator Joel Horn said. Some of those funds, like the prisoner trust account, don’t directly involve the County Board, he said.
Those funds still are public record, Horn explained, so the county isn’t avoiding being transparent. “I think they’re working out fine the way they are,” he said. “They are audited. It’s not as if there isn’t any oversight. They’re not at risk for abuse. … It’s not as if there isn’t any oversight. There just isn’t the County Board [oversight].” COUNTIES CONTINUED ON A5
Memorable images SVM photographer Mike Krabbenhoeft shares some of his favorite shots from 2013. PAGE C12
WINTER WEATHER | DANGEROUSLY COLD TEMPS AHEAD
Far less than zero Minus 14 a high on Monday? Not cool! BY DAVID GIULIANI dgiuliani@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 525
Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
Teen sisters Melody (left) and Faith Hemmer brave the cold temperatures Friday afternoon as they walk down Hennepin Avenue in Dixon after visiting the Dixon Public Library.
Schools have ‘already started the conversation’ about taking day off BY DAVID GIULIANI dgiuliani@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 525
Students might get another day of vacation. Students in the Sauk Valley are scheduled to return to school Monday after a 2-week vacation for the holidays. But with temperatures forecast to be well below zero all day, officials are considering whether they should cancel school. For Monday, the National Weather Service predicts a high of minus 12 in Sterling and minus 14 in Dixon. Suellen Girard, superintendent of the Morrison schools, said her dis-
Snow possible
VOLUME 6 ISSUE 19 40 Pages
Today: 28/3 For the forecast, see Page A9
trict considers the wind chill as well as the air temperature. Winds of 20 mph are expected Monday. “We have closed school in the past if it’s dangerously cold,” she said. “I’ve emailed superintendents in the surrounding districts. We have already started the conversation.” Tad Everett, superintendent of the Sterling schools, said his district is closely monitoring the weather. The schools plan to announce any cancellation or delay in opening as early as Sunday evening; Everett encourages people to check the district’s website.
The big chill Today’s forecast 50 percent chance of snow, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 28. Southwest winds 10-15 mph, becoming northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible. Tonight 40 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 2. Wind chill values as low as minus 10. New snow accumulation of less than 1 inch possible. Sunday 30 percent chance of snow, mainly before noon. Partly sunny and cold, with a high near 3. Sunday night Mostly cloudy, with a low around minus 18. Monday Partly sunny and cold, with a high near minus 12. Monday night Mostly cloudy, with a low around minus 19.
MONDAY CONTINUED ON A5
SCHOOLS CONTINUED ON A5
Time for tea
Day care program students took a day trip Friday in Dixon. See Page A3
On Monday, even the high temperatures will seem devastatingly cold. In Dixon and Sterling, the low will be minus 18, according to the National Weather Service. The high? Minus 14 in Dixon, and minus 12 in Sterling. By comparison, today should seem like a heat wave, with temperatures expected to reach the high 20s. On Sunday, the mercury will plunge to the single digits, with a chance of snow throughout the weekend. Monday’s cold will likely mean school closures on the first day back from the holidays. Some won’t let the cold interfere with their routines. Bob Deets, a 76-year-old who lives near Sterling, said he plans to go to McDonald’s at 6 a.m. and then walk at the mall for exercise, as he always does. He works part time for a farmer, so he is used to dealing with bad weather. “My doctor says walking is good exercise,” he said as he walked the mall Friday morning. Lynette Masini and Gail Sigel, both 66-year-old Rock Falls residents, said they’ll probably cancel their Monday walking session at the mall.
Balancing act Kate Winslet juggles acting and motherhood Also inside USA Weekend: Peek at TV, movies, music Whole-grain breakfast Best bargains for January
Index Births................ C5 Markets ............ A9 Business........... C1 Nation .............. A9 Classified .......... D1 Obituaries ......... A4 Comics ............. B6 Opinion............. A6 Community ..... C12 Scoreboard ...... B9 Scrapbook ....... C3 Crossword Saturday ........... D7 Sports .............. B1 Support groups .. C5 Crossword Sunday ............. C8 Travel .............. C10 Dear Abby ........ C6 Weather............ A9 Lottery .............. A2 Wheels ............. D8