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dailyGAZETTE Monday, March 3, 2014
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
ROCK FALLS | TEEN DIES IN ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING
Boy, 15, killed by ‘close friend’ Anderson was Rock Falls High student; grief counselors to be on hand today BY KATHLEEN A. SCHULTZ kschultz@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 535
Matt Anderson
STERLING – It was a sweet, and now poignant tweet, from a boy dozens of residents are calling a good kid on social media sites: “When someone says I love you, appreciate it ... Don’t take it for granted because one day they might not be around anymore to say it ...”
Matt Anderson sent that message Jan. 26. Saturday, Matt died, shot by “a close friend” in the home of a District 1 State Police trooper. Matt was a freshman at Rock Falls High School, where counselors and others will be on hand today to help students and staff grieve. “Rock Falls Township High School is saddened by the accidental death of one of our students on
On Facebook Go to www.facebook.com/ pages/Matthew-MadsenAnderson-Ball-In-Peace-Buddy/663609193680208 to view the tribute page. Saturday, March 1,” RFHS Superintendent Ron McCord said in an emailed statement Sunday. “A freshman student was acci-
TAMPICO| REAGAN COMMUNITY CENTER
dentally shot and killed while at the home of a close friend. “A crisis team has been mobilized and additional counseling and support services will be available to both students and staff members before, during and after school hours on Monday, March 3, 2014, and beyond if necessary. KILLED CONTINUED ON A2
SAUK VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Board OKs hike in tuition
Center of attention in Tampico
Cost will rise $4, to $107 per credit hour BY KATHLEEN A. SCHULTZ kschultz@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 535
Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
TUITION CONTINUED ON A2
ABOVE: David and Betsy Hoover of Tampico speak with Michele Miller, executive director of NICIL (Northern Illinois Center of Independent Living), during an open house and health fair Saturday at Tampico’s new Reagan Community Center. The native residents are not “very excited about the center,” which used to be an elementary school in the Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico district. TOP: Tampico Mayor Kristine Hill (center) greets visitors Saturday afternoon to the village’s new community center. The city bought the old elementary school and moved its offices and police department into the building. RIGHT: The gym in the new Reagan Community Center can be used for parties and other indoor activities, including a sports conditioning and instruction clinic run by Tampico native Tim Hatten.
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TODAY’S EDITION: 24 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 160 ISSUE 60
INDEX
ABBY ................... A7 COMICS ............... A9 CROSSWORD....B10
DIXON – Following a statewide trend – and in keeping with a roughly decade-long tradition – Sauk Valley Community College is raising its indistrict tuition. The increase will be $4 per credit hour, to $107, for the 2014-15 school year. The raise is needed to help offset a projected $400,000 budget shortfall caused in large part by ongoing cutbacks in state aid, President George Mihel said. That means the cost for a fulltime load of 15 credit hours for 2 years will rise from $6,180 to $6,420, an increase of $250. Sauk has raised tuition for all but one of the past 11 years, according to Sauk Valley Media archives. The college froze tuition at $99 in 2011-12, then raised it to $101 for 2012-13 before it increased it to $103 for 2013-14. Next year’s $4 hike is less than the average 2014-15 tuition bump, which is about $6 per credit hour statewide, and keeps Sauk in the lower end of the state’s 39 community college districts.
INSIDE
The Oscar goes to ... “12 Years a Slave” wins Best Picture Oscar. Read about it and other winners on PAGE A10. LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2 NATION/WORLD A10
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 SCOREBOARD ....B5
Today’s weather High 7. Low -3. More on A3.
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B6.
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