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HAWKS SOAR PAST ROCKETS
BOYS BASKETBALL, B1
You say potatoes, we say ... yum! FOOD, A9-10
dailyGAZETTE Wednesday, January 27, 2016
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
EDUCATION | SAUK VALLEY
Their assignment: School safety Task force members: Local schools get good grades for working well with others BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 @CHeimerman_SVM
DIXON – The table Lee County Sheriff John Simonton and state Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, are seated at is big enough and heavy enough to block the door. If thrown at an intruder, the plant
or telephone could throw off their assailant, giving them the best possible chance to counter. They’re in a conference room at the Dixon Telegraph on a perfectly innocent Tuesday afternoon, but this is the sort of plan and reaction the sheriff wants school staff to be well-versed in, should an emergency situation unfold.
Both officials are members of the School Security and Standards Task Force formed more than a year ago, and which provided the General Assembly the preliminary recommendations to help make Illinois schools as safe as possible. A final version must go to the Illinois State Board of Education by July 1.
The formation of the group, featuring parents, psychologists, legislators and school administrators, was spurred by the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre. Other school shootings have only further pointed out the need to review standard practices. SCHOOL SAFETY CONTINUED ON A5
Online extra Click on this story at saukvalley. com to watch an impromptu active-shooter reaction by Lee County Sheriff John Simonton.
BEST AND WORST CITIES
WORKING IN THEIR DIXON BRANCH OFFICE
Sterling ranks among the best City in top half of family-friend list BY ANGEL SIERRA asierra@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5695 @_angelsierra
STERLING – Sterling can count itself among the state’s top half of towns in which to raise a family, according to a new online ranking, and although the mayor is pleased, he says there’s still room for improvement. Personal finance company WalletHub’s “2016 Best & Worst Cities for Illinois Families” list ranked Sterling 69 of 162 evaluated cities. It examined four criteria: Family life and fun (Sterling ranked 33 of 162); education, health, and safety (69); affordability (79); and socioeconomic environment (115). Sterling Mayor Skip Lee said he’s not surprised by the praise for being a family-friendly town because that’s one of Sterling’s strongest traits. RANKING CONTINUED ON A2
KSB HOSPITAL
Pastor: Keep the faith full time BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5525 @JPigee84
Photos by Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com
A crew from Davey Tree Service gives John Dixon Park some TLC on Tuesday afternoon – Trimming, Lopping and Cutting. Workers were trimming trees at the park, which is closed for maintenance – and they’ll have some nicer weather to do it in as the week goes on. Temperatures are forecast to slowly rise to 40 by Friday, and warm up to the mid40s by the weekend. But then, seasonal temperatures will return, with the mercury diving back into the 20s by next week.
DIXON – The chaplain position at KSB Hospital has been reduced to a part-time role, but a local pastor who’s been called into service there says faith should be a full-time job. David Spaulding, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Dixon, said the move will have a negative impact on the services provided at the hospital. “Many people find hospitalization a time of spiritual need, even of spiritual crisis,” said Spaulding, who’s also a member of the Dixon Area Christian Ministerial Association. “The chaplain serves a vital role offering spiritual care to all who use it, regardless of their faith, tradition or affiliation.” FAITH CONTINUED ON A4
KSB Hospital in Dixon has cut its full-time paid chaplain to a part-time position, and that has at least one local pastor concerned about the impact that decision will have.
Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
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TODAY’S EDITION: 24 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 162 ISSUE 34
INDEX
ABBY ................... A8 BUSINESS ......... A12 COMICS ...............B6
CROSSWORD....B11 FOOD ..............A9-10 LIFESTYLE ........... A8
LOTTERY ............. A2 OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6
Today’s weather High 32. Low 29. More on A3.
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