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BUREAU VALLEY GETS OFF TO SLOW START
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Wednesday, March 4, 2015
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
LEE COUNTY
Groups discuss heroin problem Leaders meet on what can be done BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5521 @SeaWarren
DIXON – A Dixon woman died of a heroin overdose Tuesday morning. She was 34 years old, white, and the third person in as many weeks to die of a heroin overdose in Lee County. Tuesday afternoon, on the
second floor of the Lee County Health Department, a group of officials met to discuss the drug’s grip on the county, and how to stop it. Representatives from the health department, Dixon Police Department, Lee County Sheriff’s Department, Lee County State’s Attorney’s Office, Sinnissippi Centers, KSB Hospital, Dixon Park District, and Lutheran Social Services were all there. The meeting began with a conversation about the scope of the problem, and the type of
Anna Sacco-Miller
Danny Langloss
people it affects. State’s Attorney Anna SaccoMiller said she sees addicts as young as 15 or 16, and some in their late 20s.
“Once they’re addicted, it’s harder to kick, so they’re still using at 27, 28, 29, 30,” she said. “They may start with something else and then graduate, or start with heroin and become an addict right away.” Dixon Police Chief Danny Langloss echoed that. “It’s a difficult issue to address locally from the supply [standpoint] because most of the supply is out of Rockford,” Langloss said. “From talking to the drug users ... it’s cheap, it’s fairly easy to get, and they’re
running in packs. You don’t see people purely selling heroin in town. ... It’s a different problem to address than cocaine and marijuana.” The idea for the meeting, and the ones that will follow, was sparked when a member of the public approached Cath Ferguson, the administrator for the Lee County Health Department, and asked her if she could put out a public service announcement about the problem. HEROIN CONTINUED ON A5
AFC SCHOOLS
ST. MARY’S SCHOOL SET TO HOST OPEN HOUSE IN STERLING
Parents have mixed feelings on budget cuts Zick declines to say which teachers would face losing their jobs BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5525 @JPigee84
Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
ABOVE: Jackson Graham, 6, is helped by older brother Chase, 14, make a card Tuesday morning at St. Mary’s School in Sterling. Eighth-graders teamed up with kindergarteners and pre-schoolers to design and make the cards as a way to welcome new students to the school’s open house. The open house and registration for pre-K3, pre-K4 and kindergarten classes will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. March 10. RIGHT: Flanked by kindergarteners Averielle Molina (left), 5, and Evayiah Johnson, 6, St. Mary’s School eighth-grader Meagan Moore helps the two design cards for new students who will attend the open house.
ROCK FALLS
Council approves water, sewer hikes Rate increases again spread over 3 years BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
ROCK FALLS – City residents will see higher water and sewer bills in the next 3 years.
$1.00
TODAY’S EDITION: 28 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 161 ISSUE 60
The council on Tuesday approved rate increases for both departments that will be instituted over 3 years. Incremental water and sewer rate hikes, similar to this plan, were passed for the previous 3-year period. The water hikes for 2016 through 2018 will be 15 cents in the basic rate, and 10 cents in the user rate in the first year; 10 cents in the
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basic rate, and 15 cents in the second year; and 15 cents in the basic rate, and 10 cents in the user rate in the final year of the plan. Based on a bill with minimum usage, the increase would amount to about $3.20 a year, Water Department Superintendent Ted Padilla said.
ABBY ................... A8 BUSINESS ......... A14 COMICS ............. A11
HIKES CONTINUED ON A2
CROSSWORD....B12 LIFESTYLE ........... A8 LOTTERY ............. A2
Next meeting The Rock Falls City Council next meets at 6:30 p.m. March 17, at City Hall, 603 W. 10th St. The agendas will be posted at www.rockfalls61071.com and at City Hall. Call 815-6221100 for more information. The City Council meeting can also be viewed live on Channel 5.
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 POLICE ................ A2
ASHTON – Cutting staff in the Ashton-Franklin Center School District may not be a popular solution, but Andrew Kida says the school board has to make tough decisions. “Financially, they need to do what they need to do,” said Kida, who has an eighth-grader in the school district. “There is a budget deficit in the education fund.” Kida was one of about 50 people who packed the AFC High School library John Tuesday night Zick to hear Superintendent John Zick share the financial struggles the district is facing due to a decline in student enrollment and a reduction of state funding. Those struggles could result in seven teachers losing their jobs. Zick declined to say who was being cut. “We have spoken to the people whose jobs would be affected and we are trying to give them as much advance notice as we can,” Zick said. “There have been conversations and we will leave it at that.” The school board will take official action on the cuts March 16. Although he hates to see teachers lose their jobs, Kida realizes school officials have to do what it takes to balance the budget. MIXED CONTINUED ON A5
What’s next? The Ashton-Franklin School Board will vote on the budget cuts at 7 p.m. March 16 in the High School Library, 611 Western Ave. in Ashton.
Today’s weather High 17. Low -7. More on A3.
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