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Love is in the air, DIXON TAKES CONTROL OF BNC RACE and the kitchen BOYS BASKETBALL, B1
FOOD, A9-10
dailyGAZETTE Wednesday, February 10, 2016
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
ROCK FALLS | FATAL FIRE
‘Accidental undetermined’ In stark brevity, 2 words bring an indefinite close to tragedy BY ANGEL SIERRA asierra@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5695 @_angelsierra
ROCK FALLS – The investigation is over, but the cause of the Jan. 13 fire that killed five members of a Rock Falls family likely never will be determined, although there are “strong” indications that it was electrical in nature,
local and state fire officials said Tuesday. Statements provided to investigators by the surviving daughter indicate that the fire could have started as a result of an overloaded power outlet or power strip with too many computers, cellphones, or electronics plugged into it, said Bill Milby, Twin City deputy fire chief. What was left of the two-story
home at 414 Second Ave. was razed Monday. Patrick Hopkins, 61, his wife, Mary (Adams) Hopkins, 49, their daughter Maggie, 26, son Donovan, 16, and daughter Katie Jo, 13, were in two bedrooms upstairs when the fire started in the living room downstairs. They perished, along the family’s three dogs. FIRE CONTINUED ON A4
Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
The investigation is over, but the cause of the Jan. 13 fire that killed five members of a Rock Falls family at 414 Second Ave. likely never will be determined.
MORRISON
DIXON
Together they stand to save money
Cheek, please Parents fortunate enough to find help for their daughter is asking others to help save a life
Town, townships team up for roadwork, police patrols BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Greer, 2, and big sister Harlow, 5, sit with parents Courtney and Kel Bond on Tuesday in their Dixon home. In honor of Greer, and thousands of other patients who need a transplant, the Bond family is sponsoring a donor registration drive Tuesday at KSB Hospital, where people can join the National Bone Marrow Registry with a simple – but potentially lifesaving – swab of the cheek. BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5525 @JPigee84
DIXON – Greer Bond is a sweet, cheerful 2-year-old. To look at her, you’d never know she has leukemia. “Last spring, around Easter, we started noticing little things, such as random fevers,” said Courtney Bond, 30, Greer’s
mother. “We also noticed bruising on her stomach and face.” On April 20, Greer was diagnosed with Philadelphia Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, or Ph+ ALL. After several rounds of chemotherapy, doctors concluded that her best chance to grow up with her family is a bone marrow transplant.
MORRISON – By joining forces, a town and its neighbors will not only save money, but help keep residents safer. The Morrison City Council approved two intergovernmental agreements Monday with nearby townships. A mutual assistance pact with Mount Pleasant Township was drawn up primarily for roadwork that will be done on Sawyer Road. An agreement with Union Grove Township for the road improvements was passed at the Jan. 25 council meeting. On Monday, that pact was amended to include Mount Pleasant. “We’re going to continue the improvements into the city limits a ways, so we’ll supply equipment and manpower to each other,” City Administrator Barry Dykhuizen said. Most of the work will be done in the townships, so the agreement also calls for the city to reimburse the townships for the work done in the city, which is estimated at $25,000. The townships are responsible for the bidding process and overseeing the construction process. The city said, that by working together, the governmental units will save money on the road resurfacing. “The townships said they could help us if we provided the materials for our portion of the roadwork,” Mayor Everett Pannier said. “It’s nice to work together and save some money.” The council also recently approved an intergovernmental agreement with Union Grove Township for police services. That pact gives city police jurisdiction over a 3-mile stretch on Prairie Center and Henry roads. The township has requested a more significant police presence.
CHEEK CONTINUED ON A7
TEAMING UP CONTINUED ON A4
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Morrison police will have a sergeant among its ranks again BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
MORRISON – Police Chief Brian Melton has been given the green light to hire a sergeant. After discussing the need to bring back
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the position for years, the Morrison City Council gave its approval at Monday’s meeting. The six-member city police force will not be gaining an additional position; one member of the force will be promoted. The process is largely determined by the union, but Melton said
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the salary bump for sergeant will cost the city about $12,000. The money had been in the budget last fiscal year, but Melton held off until the budget situations became clearer at the city and state levels. Morrison had a police sergeant several years ago, but Melton has not had one
CROSSWORD....B12 FOOD ..............A9-10 LIFESTYLE ........... A8
LOTTERY ............. A2 OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6
since he has been chief. He promoted someone about 3 years ago, but that officer wound up back in his former position and later resigned. “We had a sergeant for a number of years; it’s just been vacant for quite a while,” Mayor Everett Pannier said. POLICE CONTINUED ON A4
Today’s weather High 18. Low 7. More on A3.
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