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FULL-COURT COVERAGE OF REGIONALS IN FORRESTON AND MORRISON BOYS BASKETBALL, B1
LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT, A9-11
dailyGAZETTE
Thursday, February 27, 2014
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
LEE COUNTY | LAWSUIT AGAINST SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES
Judge throws out most claims But says excessive force ‘must be determined by a jury’ BY DAVID GIULIANI dgiuliani@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 525
Lee County Sheriff John Varga Said he was “happy” with the judge’s decision
DIXON – A federal judge has thrown out all but one of the claims against Lee County sheriff’s deputies in a clash with an Amboy man in 2009. On Tuesday, District Judge Frederick Kapala dismissed the claims that the deputies violated the Fourth Amendment rights of Wilson Burnell,
now 56. The judge let stand the claim that the deputies used excessive force. The claim of excessive force, Kapala said, was a “genuine issue of material fact which must be determined by a jury. ...” Sheriff John Varga said Wednesday he was “happy” with the judge’s decision, but declined to comment further because it was pending liti-
gation. He referred questions to the county’s attorney, Patrick Moore of Rockford, who didn’t return a call for comment. Burnell’s attorney, Rene Hernandez of Rockford, said the excessive force claim was the main part of the lawsuit. “Everything else was collateral,” he said.
About the case
Wilson Burnell contends two Lee County sheriff’s deputies broke into his Amboy house in 2009, using pepper spray, deploying a Taser, and knocking him unconscious with a flashlight. In its response to the lawsuit, the Sheriff’s Department says its deputies tried to restrain Burnell and used a Taser and aerosol irritant. Burnell was not charged with any crime as a result. The lawsuit, filed in April, names Lee County and deputies Andrew Tarr and William A. Roberts as defendants. Burnell asks for $200,000 in damages and the return of property he says was taken.
JUDGE CONTINUED ON A2
ROCK FALLS
ENVIRONMENT | WILDLIFE IN THE SAUK VALLEY
Landlords share their objections
Our winter’s a hoot to them
Rock Falls, Sterling are crafting rental inspections rules BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 570
Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
A snowy owl perched on a utility poll surveys the landscape along Benson Road near Lanark Tuesday afternoon.
More snowy owls in area this year, seeking ‘suitable habitat’ BY DAVID GIULIANI dgiuliani@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 525
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any people want to flee the seemingly endless winter, but the region is becoming popular for one type of visitor – the snowy owl. Readers have been submitting their photos of the bird to Sauk Valley Media. On Tuesday afternoon, a photographer for SVM took a picture of a snowy owl perched on a utility pole near Lanark.
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The permanent habitat for snowy owls is in the Arctic regions. But like most birds, they go south. This year, though, they’re coming down in much greater numbers, experts say. Why? Last year was an especially good reproductive year for snowy owls, resulting in many offspring, said TJ Benson, a research scientist at the University of Illinois’ Prairie Research Institute. The young “get kicked out and have nowhere to go,”
Benson said. “They’re looking for a suitable habitat. They need to make a living. It’s not uncommon to find a few of them around, but then you have exceptional years where you have tons of them.” Last year was a good year reproductively because the owls were well-fed, thanks to an especially abundant population of lemmings, which are small rodents typically found in the Arctic, Benson said. The snowy owls, though,
may not survive a journey back north, he said. “They’re younger birds. Typically when we get owls this far down, they are in poor condition,” he said. “Their chances of making it aren’t all that great.” Deb Carey, the Dixon Park District’s executive director, said she hasn’t seen a snowy owl yet this year. “A part-time employee for the district saw 11 near Seward. I haven’t been so fortunate,” Carey said. “I’m on the lookout all the time.”
They’re younger birds. Typically when we get owls this far down, they are in poor condition. TJ Benson, research scientist at the University of Illinois’ Prairie Research Institute
TODAY’S EDITION: 28 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 160 ISSUE 58
INDEX
BUSINESS ......... A14 COMICS ............. A12 CROSSWORD....B12
DEAR ABBY ......... A8 LOTTERY ............. A2 OBITUARIES ........ A4
OPINION .............. A6 PLAN!T ................. A9 SPORTS ...............B1
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ROCK FALLS – Only a small percentage of landlords in Rock Falls and Sterling attended a presentation and discussion about a proposed rental inspection ordinance in both cities Wednesday night at the Community Building. But the 60 or so who were there made sure their voices were heard. There are about 790 owners of rental properties in Rock Falls, and just less than 400 in Sterling. The graded inspection system would be similar to the one used for Section 8 housing. Rock Falls Building Inspector Mark Searing and Sterling Building and Zoning Superintendent Amanda Schmidt had copies of a draft of the proposed ordinance available that would amend Chapter 5, Article VII of the Rock Falls municipal code. Rock Falls and Sterling are working together to make sure the cities’ ordinances would not have inconsistencies. Many landlords have properties in both cities. In 2009, Sterling failed in an attempt to institute an inspection program for rental properties. The Sauk Valley Landlord Association had voiced its opposition then, and many of the property owners in attendance Wednesday made it known they had not warmed up to the idea. LANDLORDS CONTINUED ON A2
What’s next? There are no next steps or meetings planned, as both cities want to complete their budgeting processes before finalizing a rental inspections ordinance. The Rock Falls committee will consider comments made Wednesday as it continues to shape inspections rules.
Today’s weather High 0. Low -9. More on A3.
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B7.
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