GAZ_02262015

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GET TO KNOW TRIPPIN MOLLY STATE TRIP A FRESH FEELING FOR ONE PROPHETSTOWN BASKETBALL, B1

dailyGAZETTE LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT, A9-11 & A15

Thursday, February 26, 2015

SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854

DIXON CRIME | ATTEMPTED MURDER CASE

Teacher pleads not guilty Defense’s request to review crime scene granted BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5521 @SeaWarren

DIXON – A Sterling teacher who was indicted on four counts of attempted first-degree murder pleaded not guilty Wednesday in the stabbing and beating of a Dixon man. Mario Garnica Jr., 26, of Sterling, who teaches bilingual education at Jefferson Elementary School, also was indicted Friday on two counts of armed violence, four counts of aggravated domestic battery, and two counts of battery. He is accused of stabbing his 29-year-old boyfriend in the

neck and beating him on the head, shoulders and arms with a metal pipe just before 10 p.m. Jan. 19 in the boyfriend’s home. Garnica, who is on paid leave, was arrested at the school Feb. 3. He was being held Wednesday in Lee County Jail on $300,000 bond. A handful of people were in court Wednesday morning to hear him enter his plea, including members of his family and Benjamin Brainerd, the man who, investigators say, he tried to kill. Garnica’s attorney, Jim Mertes, asked the court to allow him to review the scene at Brainerd’s Dixon apartment.

Brainerd also addressed Judge Jacquelyn Ackert. “I have no objection, as long as it’s just in the room where the crime happened,” he said. “I think it’s just a waste of time and a waste of money.” He suggested Mertes need only review photographs taken at the scene. Ackert granted Mertes’ request. Garnica, in shackles, sat quietly as Brainerd walked past him and approached the bench. The two didn’t appear to look at each other. The next hearing was set for March 12, although the judge said it likely will be rescheduled.

Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com

Ben Brainerd walks away from Judge Jacquelyn Ackert at a hearing Wednesday for Mario Garnica Jr., 26, who pleaded not guilty to attempted murder. Garnica is accused of beating his then-boyfriend Jan. 19 in Brainerd’s Dixon apartment.

BRUSHING UP FOR PERCUSSION-PALOOZA IN ROCK FALLS

STERLING | LINCOLN LEARNING CENTER

Decision made to start fresh Former C&E Glass building will be razed BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier

STERLING – The Sterling-Rock Falls Historical Society decided some things just can’t be preserved. In June 2013, the organization bought the former C&E Glass building at 611 E. Third St., next to the Lincoln-Manahan Home. The building was to be the site of the Lincoln Learning Center, a home base for the Junior Historian Program, historical society events, and traveling exhibits. FRESH CONTINUED ON A3

DIXON | 2015 ELECTION

Council hopefuls prep for conflicts County Board member, firefighter, Main Street rep among 11 running BY MATT MENCARINI mmencarini@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5529 @MattMencarini

Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com

Lexus Rivera, 16, a sophomore at Rock Falls High School, practices with the Rock Falls drumline Wednesday night at Tabor Gym at the high school for Percussion-Palooza, a solo and ensemble competition by middle school, high school, and post-secondary school percussionists. The event will begin at noon Sunday at Rock Falls High School, 102 12th Ave. Ready more about the second annual competition on A5.

DIXON – A few of the candidates for City Council could have potential conflicts of interest if elected, but all have made plans for how they would address that problem. On April 7, voters will elect four to council seats and, for the first time since 1999, a new mayor. Among the 11 council candidates is a city firefighter, the president of Dixon Main Street, a Lee County Board member, and a member of the city’s plan commission. CONFLICTS CONTINUED ON A2

$1.00

TODAY’S EDITION: 32 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 161 ISSUE 56

INDEX

ABBY ................... A6 BUSINESS ........... A7 COMICS ...............B8

CROSSWORD....B15 LIFESTYLE ........... A6 LOTTERY ............. A2

OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 POLICE ................ A2

Today’s weather High 12. Low -11. More on A3.

iPads OK’d

Challand students to log on in fall, A4.

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