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‘OPERATION ALLIANCE’ RESULTS ANNOUNCED LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, A3
SPORTS, B1
WHITESIDE COUNTY | THE JANET SIMS CASE
Hypothermia can’t be ‘ruled out’ Coroner: No signs it was cause of woman’s death; time of death ‘unknown’ BY KATHLEEN A. SCHULTZ kschultz@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5535
Janet Sims Found dead about 30 hours after jail release
MORRISON – Although a heart problem is the official cause of death for a Rock Falls woman whose body was found Nov. 25, a day after being released from White side County Jail during a snowstorm, hypothermia cannot
be ruled out, Whiteside County Coroner Joe McDonald said in an email sent early Friday. That information was not included in a two-sentence statement McDonald sent Thursday to announce the cause of death of 65-year-old Janet Fay Sims. Sauk Valley Media’s request for more information and a copy of
the autopsy report was emailed after 5 p.m. Thursday. McDonald responded in an email at 6:36 a.m. Friday. According to McDonald’s email, the autopsy report states: “Hypothermia as cause of death (or contributing to death) can neither be confirmed nor ruled out. The removal of her coat and gloves
STATE GOVERNMENT | GOVERNOR-ELECT VISITS
Rauner stops to say thanks
could represent paroxysmal undressing that is sometimes seen with hypothermia deaths. She does not have any of the signs that are usually seen in death caused by hypothermia: abrasions and red discoloration of the skin caused by cold injury.” CORONER CONTINUED ON A3
DIXON | AFTER THE CRUNDWELL THEFT
Minutes might get a quicker review BY MATT MENCARINI mmencarini@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5529
Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
After making a few remarks, Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner works his way around the Swedish Pancake House in Byron meeting and greeting people Friday morning. Rauner spent about 30 minutes at the restaurant as part of his 2-day Ready to Work Tour. Rauner, a Republican from Winnetka, will be sworn in as governor Monday in Springfield.
Governor-elect on ‘Ready to Work’ tour before Monday inauguration BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5525
BYRON – Days before he is set to take office, Republican Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner paid a visit to Byron on Friday to show some gratitude to the people who put him in office. “I’m ready to go to work for you, and we are here to say thank you,” Rauner said as he stood alongside Lt. Gov.elect Evelyn Sanguinetti. “We are here because we want this to be the greatest state and the greatest nation on earth. We want Illinois to
be the most passionate and most competitive state in America.” Rauner spent about 30 minutes Friday morning at the Swedish Pancake House in Byron as part of his 2-day Ready to Work Tour. In addition to Bryon, Rauner was also scheduled to visit Chillicothe, Casey, Grayville, Benton, Maryville, Quincy, Moline, and Moweaqua. Rauner didn’t plan to stop in any of the state’s major media markets, including Chicago and Springfield. RAUNER CONTINUED ON A2
MINUTES CONTINUED ON A5
ONLINE Don’t miss out on all the fun!
Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner introduces Lt. Gov.-elect Evelyn Sanguinetti on Friday morning at Swedish Pancake House in Byron. Rauner also was scheduled to visit Chillicothe, Casey, Grayville, Benton, Maryville, Quincy, Moline, and Moweaqua as part of his tour.
INSIDE: Committee has recommendations for how Rauner can “usher in a new era” in Illinois. Page A5
Mostly sunny
VOLUME 7 ISSUE 19 40 Pages
Today: 16/12 For the forecast, see Page A10
DIXON – The City Council is likely to make an earlier-thanexpected private review of the minutes from closed meetings held in the days and weeks after the arrest of former Comptroller Rita Crundwell. The decision to move up the review, which must happen at least twice a year, was done to avoid controversy over the records being kept closed during the campaign for the April 7 election. The last review occurred in October. The state’s Open Meetings Act requires the city to review its executive session minutes “no less than semi-annually” to determine whether the need for confidentiality still exists. Public bodies are permitted to conduct executive sessions, closed to the public, to discuss a variety of issues, including some legal and employment matters.
Business
Specialty barbers focus on beards as facial hair grows trendy. See Page C1
Community Photo finish SVM’s Philip Marruffo shares some of his favorite photographs taken during 2014 in the Sauk Valley. See Page C12
If you haven’t been to our Plan!t Sauk Valley website this week, you’ve missed: • The debut of “Bakin’ Bits” blog, which features a recipe for red velvet cupcakes. • Links to reviews for movies playing this weekend in the Sauk Valley. • A Grub Hub feature about The Dogwood Inn Restaurant in Polo. Go to planitsaukvalley.com
Index Births................ C7 Lottery .............. A2 Business........... C1 Markets ............ A9 Classified .......... D1 Obituaries ......... A4 Comics ............. B6 Opinion............. A6 Community ..... C12 Scoreboard .... B10 Scrapbook ....... C3 Crossword Saturday ........... D5 Sports .............. B1 Support groups .. C7 Crossword Sunday ............. C8 Travel .............. C10 Dave Ramsey ... C1 Weather.......... A10 Dear Abby ........ C2 Wheels ............. D8