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New roster for ‘Puppy Bowl’
HAWKS SEEK BIG WIN IN BYRON
AMERICAN PROFILE, INSIDE
GIRLS HOOPS, B1
dailyGAZETTE Friday, January 24, 2014
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY | WIND FARMS
Firm confident, despite lawsuit Construction in Lee, Whiteside counties could start late this year BY DAVID GIULIANI dgiuliani@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 525
DIXON – A Minnesota company could start construction on the proposed Green River wind farm in Whiteside and Lee counties late this year or
in 2015, a company executive said Thursday. A similar timeline exists for the Walnut Ridge farm in northern Bureau County, which Geronimo bought last year, said Tim Polz, the company’s vice president.
“The goal is to have the project contracted out in the first part of 2014,� he said. Last month, the company bought the Green River project from Ireland-based Mainstream Renewable Power, announcing the transaction
Wednesday. The price was not disclosed. The purchase works well with Geronimo’s plan, because the wind farm is near Walnut Ridge, company officials said.
‘‘
We were founded by a farmer. We are conscious of the farming community. We take a very farmer-centric approach.
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Geronimo Vice President Tim Polz
CONFIDENT CONTINUED ON A3
ROCK FALLS
DIXON RURAL FIRE DEPARTMENT
Faster grain bin rescues now possible Mixed use zoning proposal in works
Purpose is to fix inconsistencies, open doors for riverfront BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 570
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Dixon Rural firefighters Josh Tucker (left), Dustin Dahlstrom, Nate McCoy and George Markel tear down the rescue tube that is used to free victims trapped in grain.
Equipment would help with incidents from anywhere in Lee, Ogle counties BY MATT MENCARINI mmencarini@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 529
DIXON – The Dixon Rural Fire Department can now do grain bin rescues about 40 minutes faster than previously possible. About 2 years ago, firefighter Isaac Dimmig started looking
TOP5 Your Weekend
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Fourth Fridays in Sterling
STERLING – Fourth Fridays: Where People and Art Collide brings art and music to a variety of downtown venues. Most events are from 6 to 8 p.m., although many places have musicians performing into the night. Walking maps with a complete list of venues and events, and more information, are available at www. fourthfridayspac.com, at any participating venue, by calling Sterling Main Street at 815-626-8610, emailing fourthFridaysPAC@gmail. com, or by finding it on Facebook.
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into the department getting a grain bin rescue tube. The closest one the department could use, thanks to mutual aid agreements, was in Byron – about 40 minutes away. “I couldn’t imagine standing there for 40 minutes watching someone sinking into corn, [telling them] ‘Help is com-
ing,’� he said. “I am the help.� Dimmig started calling around to elevators to see what they used. Some already had the tubes, he said, but others didn’t. Then one day he got a call from Scott Stoller, of Ag Perspective, who wanted to help the department get the rescue
equipment, Dimmig said. The fire department got the equipment – two tubes made up of five panels – over the summer, Dimmig said, and “fortunately� haven’t had to use it yet. The equipment cost about $2,000, he said. RESCUES CONTINUED ON A10
ROCK FALLS – City officials are working on a map for a new mixed use area being proposed to bring more zoning uniformity and prepare for future riverfront development. The zoning changes have been discussed in recent Planning and Zoning Commission meetings, and officials say they are a couple of months away from bringing an ordinance to the council for a vote. The empty riverfront properties have already been designated MU-1 – a first for the city. “This is the first time we had zoned something mixed use,� City Administrator Robbin Blackert said. “Now we are adding parcels on West Second Street and the downtown.� ZONING CONTINUED ON A9
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Ladies night out at Sauk
DIXON – Plus Size Boutique will present a “You Are So Beautiful� ladies night out Saturday in the east mall and theater of Sauk Valley Community College, 173 state Route 2. There will be a fashion show, vendors, appetizers, and a gift raffle. Proceeds go to SVCC scholarships for the college’s certified nursing assistant program, and the YMCA of the Sauk Valley’s domestic violence program and career center. Doors open at 5 p.m., with a program starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the boutique, 303 First Ave., Rock Falls.
3 From Nashville to Sterling
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Dixon VFW celebrates
STERLING – Country guitar rock will be brought to Champs Sports Bar and Grill on Saturday by the Ashley Buchart Band, featuring Guy Ash. The band is led by Nashville recording artist Ashley Buchart. The band has been touring nationally since 2009, playing at country honky tonks, festivals, fairs, casinos and theaters. The band takes the stage at 9 p.m. at the bar, 216 Locust St.
DIXON – Dixon Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 540 will celebrate its 90th anniversary with an event Sunday at the post, 1560 state Route 38. There will be a pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Then, starting at 2 p.m., there will be a presentation about the post’s history and work it does in the community. There also will be cake.
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The Ashley Buchart Band, featuring Guy Ash
INDEX
BUSINESS ......... A14 CHURCH............ A11 COMICS ...............B4
CROSSWORD....B12 DEAR ABBY ......... A8 LIFESTYLE ........... A7
LOTTERY ............. A2 OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6
Listen to live music
Here are some opportunities to listen to live music this weekend in the Sauk Valley: s 2ICHARD $EAN *OHNSON WILL play from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Books on First, 202 W. First St., in Dixon. s $ROP $EAD $OLLY WILL PLAY Saturday at Long Shot Bar and Grill, 3312 W. Rock Falls Road, in Rock Falls. s ,YLE 'ROBE AND THE Rhythm Ramblers play from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday at Sterling Moose Lodge, 2601 E. Lincolnway. s 0IE &ILLER PLAYS FROM P M TO A M 3ATURDAY AT *EFF S Refs, 113 W. Mason, in Polo. s "UCK .ECK %D WITH :AC Matthews, plays at 8 p.m. today at Poopy’s, 1030 Viaduct Road, Savanna. Menace will play there at 8 p.m. Saturday.
Today’s weather High 26. Low 15. More on A3.
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B7.
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