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STERLING JUMPS Toss the sweets and TO AN EARLY LEAD toss a salad instead HOOPS ROUNDUP, B4
FOOD, A9-10
dailyGAZETTE Wednesday, January 13, 2016
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
STATE OF THE UNION | ROUNDUP & REACTION
Obama: Embrace future, not fear President’s State of the Union swan song urges left and right wings to work together WASHINGTON (AP) – Eyeing the end of his presidency, Barack Obama urged Americans Tuesday night to rekindle their belief in the promise of change that first carried him to the White House, declaring that the country must not allow election-year fear and division to take hold. “The future we want,” he insisted, “is within our reach.” But opportunity and security for American families “will only happen if we work together ... if we fix our politics,” he added.
LOCAL LAWMAKERS
Reps react with praise and criticism BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5525 @JPigee84
President Obama
STATE CONTINUED ON A5
STERLING – While local legislators found some common ground in President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address – the call for more cooperation in government – they stood divided on other
parts of the speech. Democrat Rep. Cheri Bustos praised Obama’s speech, while Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger poked holes in it. “The president was not dwelling on negativity and talking about what is wrong with the country,” Bustos said Tuesday. LOCAL CONTINUED ON A5
Cheri Bustos
Adam Kinzinger
NELSON
DIXON
Village voices thoughts on school
The Next Picture Show director With 30-plus years of experience, Mike Glenn has nonprofits down to a fine art
Saving playground among top concerns BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 @CHeimerman_SVM
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Amboy High School graduate Mike Glenn will step into the role that Bonnie Kime has filled for the last 10 years: Executive director at The Next Picture Show in Dixon. BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5525 @JPigee84
DIXON – New Next Picture Show Executive Director Mike Glenn has been so busy introducing himself to the community, he hasn’t had much of a chance to take in all the artwork around him – but he will. “I haven’t seen the artwork like I should, and I want to,” Glenn said. “There is a lot here and I want to better appreciate what we have and articulate that to the community.” Glenn, 60, is taking over for Bonnie Kime, who is
retiring as executive director at the end of January after spending a decade in the position. Although he was at The Next Picture Show on Tuesday during an open house introducing himself to the staff and community members, his first official day on the job will be Jan. 19. “He has a lot of experience in fundraising and special events planning,” said Sandy Schuler, president of the nonprofit fine art center’s board. “We were looking for someone to help in that part of the operations. He is qualified, outgoing and he will be a terrific asset to the gallery.”
Bonnie Kime
DIRECTOR CONTINUED ON A7
MORRISON
Final piece falls into place for city sewer project BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
MORRISON – The city completed the final easement agreement needed to build its new wastewater treatment plant.
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TODAY’S EDITION: 24 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 162 ISSUE 24
The Morrison City Council on Monday approved a resolution with local farmer Hugh Nelson, the last of 10 easements needed to install the necessary sanitary sewer and force main piping system upgrades. Some of the agreements have been with
INDEX
ABBY ................... A8 BUSINESS ......... A12 COMICS ............. A11
private landowners, while others have been with organizations that include the Morrison school district and the Whiteside County Fair Board. The fairgrounds, at 201 W. Winfield St., are near the sewer project site.
CROSSWORD....B12 FOOD ..............A9-10 LIFESTYLE ........... A8
NELSON – About three dozen residents – nearly a quarter of the village population – braved sub-zero wind chills Tuesday night to defend the village’s beloved playground. The East Coloma-Nelson school board held a public hearing to provide the public with details on options a guidance committee came up with for the future of Nelson Elementary School. David Chavira One option is to level the original 1922 portion of the building and bring the newer addition, including the gymnasium in which the hearing was held, up to code and make it available for district use. It would cost $341,062.50 to simply bring it up to code. The district’s architectural firm, Richard L. Johnson of Rockford, recommended additional improvements to the tune of $138,125. There are more improvements, such as HVAC, that could be tacked on, too. Another option is to raze the original structure and put the building up for auction. The only option that includes keeping the original 1922 portion of the building is selling the entire property as is, but the general consensus was that the dilapidated structure needs to go. Superintendent David Chavira said it would cost between $50,000 and $65,000 to remove hazardous materials and raze the building.
PROJECT CONTINUED ON A7
LOTTERY ............. A2 OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6
SCHOOL CONTINUED ON A5
Today’s weather High 24. Low 21. More on A3.
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