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LET’S PLAY TWO OTs IN ROCK FALLS

Cash in on experts’ pointers

Being in minority no problem at all

GIRLS HOOPS, B1

MAIN SCOOP COLUMN, A3

SPECIAL SECTION, INSIDE

dailyGAZETTE Wednesday, January 21, 2015

SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854

ROCK FALLS | RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT

City gets OK to transfer funds OSLAD money will be used to pay back development costs BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier

ROCK FALLS – The council approved a temporary transfer of money from the city’s general fund to the downtown TIF fund to pay some engineering and

architect’s bills incurred with the riverfront development. The resolution, which passed unanimously, allows for a maximum of $100,000 to be transferred from the general fund to handle the costs until money arrives from the $400,000 Open Space Lands Acquisition and

Development grant the city was awarded by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. City Administrator Robbin Blackert said the city stands by its promise made to citizens about funding riverfront projects. “Moving forward with the riverfront development, we have

stressed that no general funds will be used,” Blackert said. “We get 50 percent of the grant money up front, and as soon as we get it, we will pay back any money used from the general fund.” TRANSFER CONTINUED ON A7

NEW BOXING CLUB ON THE BLOCK IN DIXON

Next meeting The Rock Falls City Council next meets at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 3, at City Hall, 603 W. 10th St. The agendas will be posted at www.rockfalls61071.com and at City Hall. Call 815-6221100 for more information. The City Council meeting also can be viewed live on Channel 5.

OGLE COUNTY

Board member resigns Petrizzo points to ethical differences BY VINDE WELLS Shaw Media vwells@shawmedia.com

Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

ABOVE: Alex Mazzarisi, 13, spars with Tereyl Bostic on Tuesday afternoon in the basement of C&N Suppy in Dixon. The club is run by Mazzarisi’s father, Steve (left), who has trained his son in the sweet science. Mazzarisi has a bout this weekend and needed to get in some work. RIGHT: Mazzarisi (center), leads Johnny Palmer, 9, and Bostic in warm-ups. The young prodigy Mazzarisi has enjoyed success in boxing across the state. The club, located in the basement of C&N Supply, 105 S. Peoria Ave., is open at 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and welcomes anyone who wants to learn the sport.

OREGON – An Ogle County Board member is stepping down halfway through his term, citing differences with Chairman Kim Gouker. The board accepted the resignation Tuesday of Richard Petrizzo, 77, of Davis Junction, who was elected in November 2012 to a 4-year term. Richard The board also Petrizzo recognized him for his years of Board member fleshed out reaservice. sons for resignIn his resigna- ing in statement tion letter, Petriz- released Tueszo said, “After a day afternoon. critical review of my service to the county, it is my personal belief that I have achieved all that I can without compromising my standards and my own ethical values.” In a longer statement released Tuesday afternoon, Petrizzo filled in more of the reasons for his departure. RESIGNS CONTINUED ON A3

FREE FROM ‘SHADOW OF CRISIS’?

STERLING | PARK DISTRICT

Beavers’ damage done? Board tweaks language in personnel policies BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier

STERLING – Some pesky inhabitants of Sinnissippi Park seem to have moved along to wreak havoc elsewhere. The Sterling Park District Board of Commissioners received an update Monday on the beavers that had been damaging trees at the park. After noticing some of the destruction, park officials discovered that the

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beavers had built some dams at the creek, near the bike path. “There were taking down some good-sized trees,” Sterling Park District Executive Director Larry Schuldt said. “We thought there were probably five or six of them working on 40 to 50 trees.” The park district didn’t want to harm the animals, so officials instead opted for giving them incentive to move. DAMAGE CONTINUED ON A7

INDEX

ABBY ................... A8 BUSINESS ......... A13 COMICS ...............B4

CROSSWORD....B12 LIFESTYLE ........... A8 LOTTERY ............. A2

AP

OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 SPORTS ...............B1

Today’s weather High 36. Low 23. More on A3.

Read about President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday night on Capital Hill in Washington, and find out what Illinois lawmakers had to say about the annual speech on A5.

Benefits

Two coming up this weekend, A5.

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