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Retrace Cash family’s roots AMERICAN PROFILE, INSIDE
CAN WARRIORS FEND OFF CAVS AT HOME? GIRLS BASKETBALL, B1
dailyGAZETTE Friday, January 17, 2014
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
THOMSON
Money ‘robust enough’ to open prison Funding easily clears key hurdle in Congress and Senate this week has given new cause for optimism. It includes $90 million for prison buildings and facilities, money that could pay for the opening of new lockups. The U.S. Bureau of Prisons must report back to Congress with a spending plan 30 days after the bill is signed into
BY DAVID GIULIANI dgiuliani@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 525
THOMSON – Hopes in this village have been raised before with promises that officials would open a never-used prison. But a huge appropriations bill passed by both the U.S. House
law, officials say. As recently as late 2012, Charles Samuels, director of the Bureau of Prisons, repeated his intention to make the Thomson prison fully operational, citing overcrowding at high-security facilities. The village is ready for the opening. Its homepage links to usajobs.gov, noting that new
More on A4 Read about the $1.1 trillion bill – which will fund all agencies of government – that Congress easily sent to President Obama. employees of the Bureau of Prisons must be 37 or younger. Thomson Village President Vicky Trager described herself Thursday as excited about the latest development. “This definitely makes it seem a lot more real now,” she said.
2014 ELECTION | 71ST HOUSE DISTRICT
“The first question out of everyone’s mouths: ‘When? When? When?’ You never really know. We have had our hopes up before. This time, it does seem like we can start moving again.” PRISON CONTINUED ON A4
DIXON
Still no cause found in fatal fire Damage to home too extensive to make determination BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 521
DIXON – No official cause has yet been determined for a November fire that killed a woman in her rural Dixon home. An incident report obtained from the office of the state fire marshal says that, while the investigation still is open, damage to the home is too extensive to rule on an exact cause of the fire that killed Louise LopezLandherr, 58. The report describes in detail the path that the fire took as it enveloped the house that the victim shared with her husband, John, who was not home at the time of the fire. The investigator was, however, able to identify an enclosed porch on the building’s south side as the area with the heaviest concentration of heat and fire damage. In the report, two possible ignition sources are suggested. On the night of the fire, before it began, Lopez-Landherr was playing pool at the First Street Pub in Dixon.
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Mike Smiddy, Illinois state representative for the 71st district, speaks with constituents during a town hall meeting Thursday evening at the Rock Falls Public Library. The Democrat from Hillsdale wants to get the fair tax amendment on the election ballot and believes a graduated income tax could help solve the state’s financial crisis.
Graduation speech Smiddy endorses graduated income tax at town hall Q&A BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 570
ROCK FALLS – State Rep. Mike Smiddy believes that a better tax base could help solve several problems in Illinois. With that in mind, he supports a petition movement to get a proposed constitutional amendment on the November bal-
TOP5 Your Weekend
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See the Ramblin’ band
STERLING – Country gentlemen Lyle Grobe and the Rhythm Ramblers will play from 8 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday at Wagon Wheel, 1711 W. Fourth St. Go to www.rhythmramblers.com to learn more about the band.
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lot to allow the switch to a graduated income tax. The 71st district Democrat from Hillsdale was featured at a town hall meeting sponsored by Rock River Open Forum on Thursday night at the Rock Falls Public Library. The fair tax movement is spearheaded by A Better Illinois, a diverse coalition that believes the flat-tax sys-
tem hurts the middle class and small businesses. “I support getting the fair tax amendment on the ballot,” Smiddy told a group of 17 at the meeting. “I want to let the people decide first, and then have legislators come up with the parameters.” SMIDDY CONTINUED ON A2
FIRE CONTINUED ON A2
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Woodlawn’s Winter Recitals
STERLING – Woodlawn Arts Academy music students will take the stage for Winter Music Recitals at 1 and 3:30 p.m. Saturday at St. John Lutheran Church, 703 Third Ave. The recitals will feature vocal and instrumental students of all ages. Admission is free.
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Blues it up in Franklin Grove
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FRANKLIN GROVE – Friday is the monthly Blues and Bluegrass night at the H.I. Lincoln Building, 136 N. Elm St. Open stage acoustic gospel, folk, country, blues and bluegrass will be performed, starting at 7 p.m. Admission is free, with donations being accepted to help with the upkeep of the historic building.
BUSINESS ......... A12 CHURCH.............. A9 COMICS ............. A10
CROSSWORD......B8 DEAR ABBY ......... A8 LIFESTYLE ........... A7
Go see a band
From our weekly Plan!t listings: s 4HE COUNTRY BAND "RUSH ville will play Saturday at Champs, 216 Locust St. in Sterling. s !MBUSHED WILL PLAY 3ATUR day at Cragel’s, 345 Washington St. in Prophetstown. s ND 7IND WILL PLAY 3ATUR day at Long Shot Sports Bar & Grill, 3312 W. Rock Falls Road in Rock Falls.
LOTTERY ............. A2 OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6
5 Celebrate MLK STERLING – The Big Red Church First Congregational is celebrating the life of Martin Luther King Jr. during a Community Celebration of Peace and Justice on Sunday at the church, 311 Second Ave. There will be a Peace Art Show and Service Fair at 5 p.m., followed by the Inspirational Program at 6. Refreshments will be served.
Today’s weather High 17. Low 4. More on A3.
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B6.
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