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Dukes fall short of regional championship

STERLING BANS H.S. COACH FROM PROGRAM LOCAL, A10

BOYS BASKETBALL, B1

DIXON | GRANNY ROSE ANIMAL SHELTER

This work and play is for the dogs New K-9 Enrichment Center set for open house

BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5525 @JPigee84

DIXON – The name says it all: The new Granny Rose K-9 Enrichment Center, which opens next month, will be a place for dogs and their owners to learn new and exciting ways to enrich each others’ lives.

The $1 million, 13,500-squarefoot center will be a place where dogs and puppies of all breeds, mixed or otherwise – and their owners – can be trained year-round in obedience, agility, pet therapy and

Online extra Click on this story on saukvalley.com to see a list of class offerings at the Granny Rose K-9 Enrichment Center. other fruitful human-canine endeavors, on equipment chosen with the highest in industry standards in mind. Eight trainers are on staff.

There also will be 9,000 square feet of space to work the dogs, on a state-of-the-art AstroTurf-like surface, for traction and comfort. The lighting is designed to eliminate shadows that would interfere with

any jumping or agility activities, and there’s a sound system available that will enable instructors to more easily communicate with students and for students to be able to hear their instructor.

The building offers free Wi-Fi and plenty of outlets for competitors and spectators, and there are bathrooms, and office and storage space.

There will be an open house March 12, followed by a 2-week period to register for classes.

Once classes are set, the center will open.

DOGS CONTINUED ON A2

Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

Deb Porter’s dog, Dempsey, sails over a jump at the Granny Rose K-9 Enrichment Center on Wednesday afternoon in Dixon. There will be an open house March 12 at the $1 million, 13,500-square foot center.

2016 ELECTION | LEE COUNTY STATE’S ATTORNEY

Time for a change, again

Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

(Clockwise from top left) Bill Brozovich, Michael Downey, and Matt Klahn are seeking the Republican Party nomination for Lee County state’s attorney in the March 15 primary election. The winner is likely to be the fifth state’s attorney in the past 16 years. There are no Democratic Party candidates on the ballot.

Brozovich aims Downey pledges Klahn brings to bring stability heavyweight trial to address back to office ‘languishing’ cases experience

STORIES BY ANGEL SIERRA • asierra@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5695 • @_angelsierra

Election Central 2016 online Go to saukvalley.com and click on Election Central 2016 to find information about all contested local races in the March 15 primary election.

More election coverage inside Two conservatives are vying for the opportunity to challenge Congresswoman Cheri Bustos in the Nov. 8 general election. Page A10

Partly cloudy

VOLUME 8 ISSUE 27 36 Pages

Today: 43/27 For the forecast, see Page A11

Business

Plastics maker places its future in kayaks, coolers and furniture.

See Page C1

DIXON – Bill Brozovich is the only career prosecutor among the three Republican Party candidates on the March 15 primary ballot vying to be the next Lee County state’s attorney.

“I saw how the system worked under [former State’s Attorney Dan Fish], and it was a very stable system,” said Brozovich, 51, who has called Dixon home for 25 years.

Also on the ballot are Michael Downey, 63, a Dixon attorney in private practice, and Matthew Klahn, 37, a Lee County assistant state’s attorney.

BROZOVICH CONTINUED ON A10

DIXON – Michael Downey was born in Dixon. His four children attended local schools.

His grandfather and great uncle both owned farmland in the southern part of Lee County.

His roots here run so deep that Downey Road in East Grove Township, southwest of Amboy, bears his family’s name.

Downey, 63, of Nachusa, plans to use his knowledge – that of the community and its people – to bring stability to a county office that will see its fifth state’s attorney in 16 years.

DOWNEY CONTINUED ON A4

Community They surely had the beat at Rock Falls High School’s third annual Percussion Palooza. A photo page captures the scene.

See Page C12

DIXON – Matthew Klahn hails from Camanche, Iowa, but he quickly dispells any doubt about his commitment to the Sauk Valley.

Klahn, 37, is one of three Republican attorneys vying for the Republican Party nomination in the March 15 primary election. Also on the ballot are Bill Brozovich, 51, a Lee County resident and Vermilion County prosecutor, and Michael Downey, 63, a Dixon attorney in private practice.

KLAHN CONTINUED ON A5

Index Births................ C5

Lottery .............. A2

Business........... C1

Markets .......... A11

Classified .......... B7

Obituaries ......... A4

Comics ............. A8

Opinion............. A6

Community ..... C12

Scoreboard ...... B5

Crossword Saturday ......... B11

Scrapbook ....... C3

Crossword Sunday ............. C8

Support groups .. C5

Dave Ramsey ... C1

Weather.......... A11

Dear Abby ........ C6

Wheels ........... B12

Sports .............. B1 Travel .............. C10

A2 • SV Weekend

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Saturday, March 5, 2016

COMMUNITY WATCH released with promise to comply.

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ERROR?

Rock Falls Police

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Please call mistakes to our attention at 815-284-2222 or 815625-3600, ext. 5501 or 5502.

Courtney Short, 23, of Sterling; 4:08 p.m. Thursday at First and Dixon avenues; unlawful use of electronic communication device; given notice to appear in court.

Morrison Police

POLICE Sterling Police

Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

Center Director Deb Porter runs her dog, Joey, through the course at the Granny Rose K-9 Enrichment Facility in Dixon. The facility was built to meet specifications to host American Kennel Club events.

‘This has grown into a community project’ DOGS

CONTINUED FROM A1

Most of the work is done. Some small projects, such as finishing the parking lot and landscaping, remain.

The project is an outgrowth of the nonprofit Granny Rose Animal Shelter.

“Our hope is to enrich the lives of all owners around the Sauk Valley area,” said Deb Proctor, center director. “This building was originally planned to be used to work with shelter dogs to make them suited to go back into homes. This has grown into a community project.”

Organizers also are working to obtain American Kennel Club certification, which will allow for AKC-sanctioned events and make the center a regional tourism draw. A representative is slated to review the facility.

The United States Dog Agility Association, which also sanctions agility events across the country, also has asked to visit.

“We are looking forward to the day when we can bring competitions into the area,” Proctor said. “We want to expose people to advanced dog

activities and bring some tourism to the area.

Thousands of people travel each week to compete in agility competitions.”

If the center wins certification, any sanctioned club within a 125-mile radius would be able to rent the center for sanctioned events.

The center has raised $215,000 over the past year to pay for the project; the rest of the money is coming from savings and from a loan, said Mark Knie, shelter board president.

Rental, class and shelter fees will play a part in paying off the loan for the center, as will donations to the nonprofit.

Becky Blevins is one of the center’s trainers; she’ll be teaching a conformation class, in which participants will learn how to show their dogs in competitions.

“This is great opportunity for this area,” said Blevins, a trainer for more than 20 years. “This area does not have anything like this in a 60-mile radius.”

Dogs need to know how to stand still when a judge examines their overall appearance and structure. “I’ll be teaching tiny puppies to seasoned vets

LOTTERY NUMBERS Pick Three-Midday: 6-8-3 Fireball: 3 Pick Three-Evening: 6-6-1 Fireball: 6 Pick Four-Midday: 3-7-7-3 Fireball: 4 Pick Four-Evening: 8-9-9-6 Fireball: 8 Lucky Day Lotto – Midday: 7-9-12-19-26 Lucky Day Lotto – Evening: 7-20-38-41-42

Estimated Lotto jackpot: $25.75 million Estimated Mega Millions jackpot: $144 million Estimated Powerball jackpot: $40 million

MEGA MILLIONS 21-26-33-48-73 Mega Ball: 14 Megaplier: 4

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Dog trainer Bill Scott of Dixon runs his dog, Scruffy, through a tire jump at the Granny Rose K-9 Enrichment Center in Dixon on Wednesday. Eight trainers are on staff to train dogs – and their owners – in obedience, agility, pet therapy, and more. who need to brush up in the conformation ring,” she said.

“To me, this is a blast.

Playing with dogs all day is the best thing you can get paid to do.”

Daniele Rossi, who has been training dogs for about 30 years, will teach an open obedience class.

“That is an advancedlevel obedience course where the dog learns how to retrieve workout dumbbells,” she said. “They also go over hurdles and they learn to heal off a leash. It’s an advanced level of dog training that is taught at

the competition level.”

“I like to see how far I can take each dog,” she said. “Dogs are versatile, like we are, and I like to see where their skills are.”

Proctor hopes area residents will take advantage of the various opportunities to better their relationships with their dogs.

“The more you train your dog, the more places you can take it with you,” she said. “If it’s well-trained, I can take that dog to the park with me or I can take it down the street without it barking or nipping at someone else.”

IN BRIEF Sanders speaks in Edwardsville EDWARDSVILLE (AP) – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ call for free higher education is resonating on an Illinois college campus facing deep cuts in state funding amid an 8-month budget impasse. The Democratic presidential candidate spoke Friday morning at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.

GATOR HEATING & COOLING LICENSED-BONDED-INSURED

Laura B. Hunsberer, 52, of Sterling; 10:07 a.m.

Thursday at County Market, 210 W. Third St.; Whiteside County warrant for failure to appear – operating vehicle with suspended registration; posted $300 cash bond.

Maria I. Ayala, 26, of Savanna; 2:21 p.m. Thursday in the 1100 block of East Fourth Street; speeding 41 mph in a 30-mph zone; released with promise to comply.

Denis G. Meiners, 18, of Sterling; 1:16 p.m.

Thursday in the 400 block of Second Avenue; White side County warrant for failure to appear on a charge of burglary to vehicle; taken to Whiteside County Jail.

Dana A. Geddes, 61, of Sterling; 3:01 p.m.

Thursday in the 1000 block of West Fifth Street; Whiteside County warrant for failure to appear on a charge of driving under the influence; posted $300 cash bond.

Blanca A. Lopez, 26, of Sterling; 12:57 p.m. Thursday at East Second Street and Fifth Avenue; no valid driver’s license; released with promise to comply.

Oscar A. Bosch, 34, of Sterling; 3:57 p.m. Thursday at Cornerstone Credit Union, 615 W. Third St; disorderly conduct; posted $120 cash bond.

Chase M. Hubbard, 16, of Sterling; 6:28 p.m.

Thursday at Avenue L and West 14th Street; graduated driver’s license under 18 – more than one passenger;

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Dakota A. Johnson, 24, of Marseilles; 9:25 p.m.

Thursday; driving while license suspended; posted bond and given notice to appear in court.

Vyron M. Evans, 40, of Dixon; 5:24 p.m. Thursday; warrant for contempt; posted bond and given notice to appear in court.

David J. Walker, 18, of Rockford; 4:48 p.m. Thursday; warrant for contempt; posted bond and given notice to appear in court.

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Charles C. West, 62, of Morrison; Feb. 27; speeding; given citation.

Boy, 13, of Morrison; Feb. 28; curfew; given citation.

Scott M. Snyder, 36, of Fulton; Monday; no parking; given citation.

Kenneth E. Rogers, 56, of Hanover; Tuesday; disobeying traffic control device; given citation.

Karen L. Vogel, 65, of Fulton; Tuesday; passing unloading school bus; given citation.

Chrysantara Jefferson, 24, of Morrison; Thursday; failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident; given citation.

Jeff Rogers Editor

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THE PEOPLE’S VOICE | ELISE ULFERTS-HUME, DIXON

‘I never want to put my wings down’ Dixon woman trying to keep family’s legacy alive

T

ypically, Elise Ulferts-Hume would jump at new ventures and adventures without hesitation. Joining the Marines was different.

Her brother, Harry Andrew, and father, Harry Desguine, both as adored in the Ulferts household as they were throughout the community, had died in 2010 and 2012, respectively.

“How could I do this to my mom?” she said.

“How do I sign up to potentially pay the ultimate sacrifice? But I thought about it every single day for years.”

So she went to her mother, Peg, in 2014 and bared her soul – not that she needed to, it turned out.

“I told her it’s not a want. It’s a need,” she said. “I can’t stop thinking about this. My heart beats faster when I think about this. I have to do this for myself.

“And she said, ‘Yes, you do.’”

Elise didn’t sign up because her father and brother were veterans.

She did so because she was 27, the cutoff age was 28, and she was getting dangerously close to doing something outside her character: passing on an opportunity.

At 29, with 4 years left in the Marine reserves, welcoming deployment should it come calling, married, and with a handful of jobs and even more community group memberships, life is like a box of chocolates for Elise.

“I still don’t know what I want to do,” she said.

“That’s why I do so much.

I don’t know if I can do one thing. I feel like I have a lot to share and to get out. I never want to put my wings down. You don’t have to. That’s why we live in America.”

Where it began The Harrys were tireless workers with vibrant souls, and they got their best virtues from “Peg” – not that Peg, though.

Elise’s grandmother, Magdalene, goes by “Peg.” She’s made many famous speeches at holidays about the tough, rewarding life she knew as a child on the family farm in Waverly, Iowa, before she moved to Dixon in 1950.

The latest in a lifetime of service projects, she

christopher HEIMERMAN Heimerman is the Enterprise Projects Editor at Sauk Valley Media. He can be reached at cheimerman@ saukvalley. com or 815-625-3600, ext. 5523.

is in charge of communion for shut-ins at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Dixon. If you don’t blink, you can see her zipping around town in her little red car.

“It’s out of the graciousness of her heart, but I’ve told her, ‘Grandma, you’ve got to slow down,’” Elise said, referring to her speeding, not her work ethic.

Peg is the reason her son was a pillar of the community for many years – a member of the Dixon Police Department for 30 years, an educator and a member of many groups both stateside and in European police agencies. In fact, after retiring in 2003, he trained Iraqi police officers in 2005 and 2006, because he didn’t want to be retired.

He loved traveling – “He worked to travel,” Elise said – and after Elise had tutored near Koln, Germany, for 2 months, he and Peg joined their daughter to tour Austria, Switzerland and Germany over 2 weeks.

Not sated, Harry stayed, while the rest of the family flew home.

On Sunday, June 16, 2012, Harry took his last picture, a crisp, clean photo of an enormous mug of kolsch, in Munich – his and his son’s favorite city in the world. Overnight, as the calendar flipped over to Father’s Day, Harry suffered heart failure.

“He went on Father’s Day in their favorite city in the world,” Elise said, smiling with pride and appreciation for the coincidence.

‘It was a great last day’ In mid-May 2010, Elise and her brother took a day trip to Janesville, Wisconsin, for a photo shoot he landed for her at Farm & Fleet, where he’d worked in loss prevention before becoming a police officer.

Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com

Elise Ulferts-Hume (left) shares a laugh with her grandmother, Magdalene “Peg,” and her mother, Peggy Ulferts, on Thursday night at Generations Tea Room in Dixon.

The photographer insisted he take a professional photo of them together. Then they devoured a bucketful of oysters at Hooters.

He had the greatest sense of humor. In between oysters, Andrew – as she called him – told “Za” – his nickname for her – to give him some privacy.

“He said, ‘Za, go to the bathroom, and when you come out, the women will be flocked to me,’” she said.

On the way home, she got the phone call she’d been waiting for: the confirmation that she’d passed her last test to get her teaching certificate from Western Illinois University. She, her brother and dad, on Andrew’s recommendation, celebrated with a shot of Wild Turkey when they got home.

The next morning, they had a big breakfast at Mom and Dad’s house.

“It was just such a great day,” she said. “If there can be a great last day, it was a great last day.”

That night, Andrew went for a ride on his motorcycle and, about 11 p.m., was in an accident.

He fought back death’s hand for a few days, but on the day the family would have to decide whether to take him off life support, he went quietly that morning, May 19, 2010.

“He was a fighter,” she said. “He always called me ‘Warrior,’ but I learned that from him.”

She remembered a par-

Submitted

Ulferts-Hume wears a flower made from an Old Style can on Oct. 15, 2011, the day she married Joey Hume. ticularly funny episode, when the family was vacationing in Europe, where he found the flat cap he’d been seeking.

“He was like, ‘Finally, I got my go-to-hell hat,’” she said, “and I asked him, why do you call it that?

“And he said ‘Because if you don’t like it,’” she said, pulling down on an imaginary brim for effect to imitate him, ‘you can go to hell.’”

He was buried in that hat.

Submitted

Elise gives a thumbs-up along with her late brother, Harry, who’s shown wearing the flat cap he was buried in.

2011, she and her bridesmaids wore flowers made of Old Style cans. It was Andrew’s beer of choice.

She also hyphenated her name, with full support from Joey, a touring musician.

“I just admire my family’s name so much, and the legacy needs to continue,” she said.

Hacker 60th Wedding nniversary An Mr. and d Mrs. Dick Hacckeer of rural Sterlling will celeebrrate th heir 60thh Weddin ng Anniveersaaryy March 18th, 2016. Dick and Pat (Raasm musssen) wre marrried d March h 18th, 1956 in Steerling,, IL. Th Theey have ten n children, twenty-two grandcchildren and tw wenty greeat grandchiildren.

Cardss mayy be sentt to 234330 Hicckorry Hills Rd d.,, Sterling, IL L 6100811

VOICE CONTINUED ON A9

Ireland

Keeping the legacy alive

When Elise married Joey Hume on Oct. 15,

She’s been called some unflattering names, despite the fact that she’s the last one who can keep the family name alive. She’s also been told by other women that she helped them feel empowered to follow suit.

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A4 • SV Weekend

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Saturday, March 5, 2016

OBITUARIES Camilla J. ‘Cammie’ Breed STERLING – Camilla Jo “Cammie” Breed, 59, of Sterling, died Wednesday, March 2, 2016, at her home.

Cammie was a breast cancer survivor of 8 years, and was in remission until recently.

She was employed

by Royal Steel Ball Products Inc., as the accounting supervisor.

Cammie was born March 23, 1956, in Sterling, the daughter of Royal L. and Beverly J. (Anderson) Breed. She was a graduate of Sterling High School. Later in life, she graduated from Sauk Valley Community College in Sterling with an Associate in Applied Science degree, and received certification as a registered nurse. She worked for CGH Medical Center and Sterling Rock Falls Clinic. Cammie donated to many charitable organizations throughout her life, and was a lifetime member of St. John Lutheran Church in Sterling.

Survivors include her mother, Beverly J. Breed; two sons, Matthew Hicks of Sterling and Terry (Anna) Hicks of Rock Falls; five grandsons, Jonas, Nolan, Keagan, Kameron, and Kathan; five brothers, David Breed of Bucha-

rest, Romania, Melton (Leann) Breed of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Gary Breed of Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, Daniel (Diana) Breed of Boulder, Colorado, and Martin (Tricia) Breed of Sterling; 11 nieces and nephews; her significant other, Glenn Thielen of Sterling; and many friends over her lifetime.

She was preceded in death by her father, Royal L. Breed.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at St. John Lutheran Church in Sterling. Visitation also will be from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, and the funeral at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church, with the Rev. Mark Oehlert, pastor, officiating. Cremation rites will be accorded. Burial will be next to her father at a later date at Oak Knoll Memorial Park in Sterling, next to her father.

Schilling Funeral Home & Cremation in Sterling is handling arrangements.

A memorial has been established to St. John Lutheran Church for special needs and projects.

Visit schillingfuneralhome.com to send condolences.

Freddie J. Weidenbach BETTENDORF, Iowa – Freddie Joe Weidenbach, 75, of Bettendorf, died Wednesday, March 2, 2016, at his home.

Fred was born Oct. 29, 1940, in Lake City, South Dakota, the son of Harold and Leona (Bruehahn) Weidenbach.

He married Margaret “Peggy” Ohda Brown on Nov. 22, 1975, in Rock Island. He worked in insurance sales. Fred enjoyed boating, fishing, and golfing. He especially enjoyed following presidential debates and dabbling in publishing. Fred was a huge conspiracy theorist. He had a calling to preach and to educate others on his beliefs.

Survivors include his loving wife, Margaret “Peggy” Weidenbach; children, Jason (Teresa) Weidenbach of Marquette, Iowa, Troy (Daniel) Weidenbach of Milwaukee, Parris (Karen) Weidenbach of Davenport, Iowa, and Athena (Jim) Lance of Solon, Iowa; stepchildren, Jim (Helen) Brown of Rock Falls, Iowa, Barb (Steve) Wegrzyn of Justice, Mike

(Pam) Brown of Sterling, Patrick Brown of Roscoe, and Peggie (Kurt) Kennedy of Silvis; his mother; 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; brother, David (Patricia) Weidenbach of Salsbury, North Carolina; and sister-inlaw, Marianne Weidenbach of Viroqua, Wisconsin.

He was preceded in death by his father; brother, Danny Weidenbach; and grandchildren, Kelly Kennedy, Ashley Weidenbach, and Zebulon Weidenbach.

Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, 6601 38th Ave., Moline. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Moline Memorial Park.

Memorials may be directed to the University of Iowa Foundation Department of Cardiology, Levitt Center for University Advancement, 1 W. Park Road, Iowa City, IA 52246.

Visit esterdahl.com to share memories.

Bernard G. ‘Bernie’ Hartman LANARK – Bernard G. “Bernie” Hartman, 84, of Lanark, died Thursday, March 3, 2016, at FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport.

Law-Jones Funeral Home in Mount Carroll handled arrangements.

Rick A. Hebeler THOMSON – Rick A. Hebeler, 58, of Emporia, Kansas, formerly of Thomson, died Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, at his home. Law-Jones Funeral Home in Thomson handled arrangements.

Clarence Workman FULTON – Clarence Workman, 92, of Fulton, died Thursday, March 3, 2016, at Harbor Crest Home in Fulton. Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home in Fulton handled arrangements.

OREGON Ogle GIS group to celebrate milestone STAFF REPORT news@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5501

OREGON – The Ogle County GIS Partnership will observe its 15th anniversary with open houses Tuesday and March 16 in Memorial Hall, on the third floor of the Historical Ogle County Courthouse, 105 S. Fifth St. The celebrations will be from 2 to 5:30 p.m.

each day. Attendees can learn more about geographic information systems and sign up for raffle prizes.

Geographic information systems manage, store, and present spatial and geographic data.

For more information, call the GIS office between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 815732-1153.

Robert Hemminger STERLING – Robert Hemminger, 70, of Sterling, passed away Thursday, March 3, 2016, at his home, surrounded by his family.

Robert was born Jan. 1, 1946, in Sterling, the son of Wallace and Ellen (Thompson) Hemminger. He married Joni Marshall on April 17, 1995, in Elizabeth. Robert was a lifelong mechanic, having most recently owned and operated Hemminger Repair in Rock Falls. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who enjoyed spending time with his family. Robert was an avid fisherman and enjoyed working in his garden.

Survivors include his wife, Joni Hemminger; four daughters, Erika Lecaj of Chicago, Bobbie (Rick) Olauson of Aberdeen, South Dakota, Laura Petty of Longview, Texas, and Tammy Hemminger of VanBuren, Arkansas; two sons, Marvin Hemminger and Robert (Michelle Tyne) Hemminger Jr., both of Rock Falls; three sisters, Betty (Dennis) Waldron and Mary (Barry) Dickhut, both of Sterling,

and Sharon (Bob Sipes) Cheshier of DeKalb; four brothers, Larry (Marilyn) Hemminger of Rock Falls, Wallace (Sharon) Hemminger of Oxnard, California, James Hemminger of Rock Falls, and David (Fran) Hemminger of Sterling; two sisters-in-law, Julie Marshall and Dawn (John Bamborough) Marshall, both of Sterling; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one niece, Kim Hemminger; and one son-in-law, Ray Petty.

Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at McDonald Funeral Home in Rock Falls. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home, with Rita Wolf, chaplain, officiating. Private family burial will be at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial been established to Hospice of the Rock River Valley and Home of Hope Cancer Wellness Center.

Visit mcdonaldfuneralhomes.com to send condolences.

Stanley M. ‘Stan’ Adams PEORIA – Stanley M. “Stan” Adams, 81, of Peoria, passed away at 5:45 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016, at Richard L. Owens Hospice Home in Peoria.

Stan was born Aug. 19, 1934, in Sterling, to Stanley L. and Helen (Henderson) Adams, along with his surviving twin sister, Ann (Leland) Leak of New Mexico. Stan married Joyce Romine in 1958, in Canton.

After serving in the Army, Stan graduated from Bradley University and went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts degree from Illinois State University. He was an accomplished commercial artist, and art instructor at Illinois Central College, retiring in 2000 after 32 years of teaching.

He was well-known in the Peoria area for his work in watercolor. He led workshops in Colorado and New Mexico, and his art was displayed in galleries around the area and

throughout the country.

He also is survived

by Joyce; their two children, Lora (Andrew) McCormick and Dane (Jennifer) Adams, both of Fayetteville, Georgia; seven grandchildren, George, Katie, Michael, and Erin McCormick, and Uly, Naomi, and Kelly Adams; and Betty Wildman, with whom he shared his life for the past 14 years.

Visitation will be from noon to 1 p.m. March 12, and a celebration of Stan’s life at 1 p.m.

March 12 at Union Church in Brimfield.

Burial will be at 3 p.m.

March 12 at Riverside Cemetery in Prophetstown. Cremation rites have been accorded.

Davison-Fulton Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home in Peoria is handling arrangements.

Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society.

Visit woolsey-wilton. com to view Stan’s obituary.

Nancy J. Fanning ROCK FALLS – Nancy J. Fanning, 81, of Rock Falls, peacefully went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016.

She was born June 4, 1934, to John and Vera Von Bergen, in the same house in which she grew up, in Rock Falls.

After graduating from Rock Falls High School, and the nursing program at SwedishAmerican Hospital in Rockford, she began her lifelong career as a registered nurse. She shared her caring ways, working at various area locations, with her longest and last being Parkway Center in Sterling.

Her life held many interests, but her love for nursing, carefully tending to her garden, or catching “a mess of catfish” from the Rock River, paled in comparison to the love she felt for her grandsons and daughter. She was a gift who touched many

lives and hearts, be it with her soft, tender hands, sense of humor, strength, and determination, or encouraging words. All will continue long after her last breath.

Forever in their hearts and loving memories are her grandsons, Spencer and Christopher; daughter, Carole; and son-in-law, James.

Greeting her in heaven are her parents; sisters, Evelyn Konst and Mary Dodd; nephew, Steven Dodd; and the man she loved throughout it all, Bud Fanning.

Respecting her wishes, cremation rites have been accorded, and there will be no services. The family asks for privacy at this time. McDonald Funeral Home in Rock Falls handled arrangements.

In memory of Nancy, please take a moment to continue her gift with someone else, as she did.

Carol J. Fisk PROPHETSTOWN – Carol Jo Fisk, 80, of Liberty Court in Dixon, formerly of Prophetstown, died Thursday, March 3, 2016, at Liberty Court.

She was a homemaker.

Carol was born Feb. 14, 1936, in Morrison, the daughter of John and Phern (Newendyke) Tenboer.

She married George William “Bill” Fisk on Aug. 3, 1957, in Morrison. He died Sept. 28, 1991. Carol was a member of Prophetstown United Methodist Church.

Survivors include one daughter, Tammarra (Dan) Hinrichs of Sterling; two sons, Timothy R. Fisk of Prophetstown and Thomas B. Fisk of Rockford; four grandchildren; one great-grandson; one

sister, Charlotte (Arlyn) Ackerman of Prophetstown; one sister-in-law, Mary (Wayne) Hook of Morrison; and one brother-in-law, David (Anita) Fisk of Prophetstown.

She also was preceded in death by one brother, Vernon Tenboer.

Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Monday, and the funeral at 11 a.m. Monday at Prophetstown United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Oscar N. Carrasco, pastor, officiating. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery in Prophetstown. BosmaGibson Funeral Home in Prophetstown is handling arrangements.

A memorial has been established.

Visit bosmagibson.com to send condolences.

Kathryn L. Hufford STERLING – Kathryn L. Hufford, 81, of Sterling, died Thursday, March 3, 2016, at CGH Medical Center in Sterling. She was a cashier for many years at the former Eagle’s Supermarket in Rock Falls.

Kathryn was born Sept.

27, 1934, in Salem, Arkansas, the daughter of Shalor and Jannie Barnett.

She married Donald Pollock on Jan. 28, 1952. He preceded her in death on Jan. 3, 1979. She married Charles Hufford on July 18, 1981, in Rochelle.

Survivors include one daughter, Donna Norman of Rock Falls; one son, Leonard Allen Pollock of Rock Falls; one

brother, Gaston Barnett; two sisters, Zelda Owens and Levita Gibson, both of Kansas City, Missouri; three grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

She also was preceded in death by her parents, and one brother, Otis Barnett.

Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, and the funeral at 11 a.m. Monday at Schilling Funeral Home & Cremation in Sterling. Burial will be at Coloma Township Cemetery in Rock Falls.

A memorial has been established.

Visit schillingfuneralhome.com to send condolences.

Strong family advocate in juvenile court, domestic violence crimes DOWNEY

CONTINUED FROM A1

He is one of three attorneys vying for the Republican Party nomination for Lee County state’s attorney in the March 15 primary. Also on the ballot are Bill Brozovich, 51, a Lee County resident and Vermilion County prosecutor, and Matthew Klahn, 37, a Lee County assistant state’s attorney.

There are no Democrats on the ballot. Firstterm State’s Attorney Anna Sacco-Miller is not seeking re-election.

The general election is Nov. 8.

Downey grew up wanting to be a police officer, and, admitting he “started late” at age 21, went on to serve nearly 8 years on Sterling’s police force. In fact, he and retired Chief Ron Potthoff were hired

about the same time, he recalled during an interview Friday. “[Potthoff] stayed there, and I went off to law school,” Downey said, adding that “seeing the other side of the coin” pushed him into law, and it became something he profoundly enjoys.

Downey completed his undergraduate work at Sauk Valley Community College, then graduated from Bradley University in Peoria. While he studied, he worked as a police officer.

Downey graduated from the University of Dayton (Ohio) Law School in 1984, and his first job was as a Lee County assistant state’s attorney.

He opened his private practice in 1988, and 4 years later was appointed guardian ad litem for the county, representing children who are victims of abuse or neglect, or

charged with a crime.

“It’s very rewarding,” Downey said, who is the longest tenured attorney working for the county.

Part of the reason he is running for state’s attorey, he said, is to address “languishing” cases. He is quick to point out that “it seems that cases are not being resolved.”

“Every case has its own problems, but it just seems that over the past number of years, there has been a lack of completion of cases,” he said. “Some have been hanging around for years, ... and that’s frustrating.

“Cases just have to be worked. The job of the prosecutor is exactly that. ... I don’t know if that’s not being done, or what the problem is.”

If elected, Downey pledges a fair but firm approach, and to handle cases in a timely manner.

“I’ve been in Lee

County basically since I’ve been an attorney. I haven’t gone county to county or anything of that nature,” he said.

He understands victims’ needs in the criminal justice system, he said, and will emphasize the unlawful use of alcohol, domestic violence, and illegal drugs, among other things, which “create a multitude of problems.”

“We have a massive problem [with heroin], and we have the Safe Harbor program which seems to be working,” Downey said. “I think [the illegal use of alcohol] goes without saying, given the situation with the state’s attorney.”

Sacco-Miller was sentenced on Jan. 15 to 24 months court supervision and ordered to pay a $2,417 fine for hitting a parked car while driving under the influence of alcohol Nov. 15 in Dixon.

Saturday, March 5, 2016

www.saukvalley.com

SV Weekend • A5

WEEKEND FEATURE | FROM DIXON TO NIGERIA

Near-victory over polio ‘can all be undone’ Dixon Rotarian reflects on 2011 trip to Nigeria, club’s long-fought battle

BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 @CHeimerman_SVM

DIXON – A lot can happen in half a decade.

Since Dixon attorney Linda Giesen’s mission trip to Nigeria in October 2011, tremendous headway has been made on eliminating polio, thanks to efforts by her and fellow Rotarians worldwide.

One memory, however, remains unchanged: what it felt like to return home, after more than 3 weeks of physically and emotionally exhausting work.

“The flight on the way there, I was very excited and looking forward to it,” Giesen said. “The flight on the way home, I couldn’t wait to get on U.S. soil. I could’ve bent down and kissed the ground when I got off the plane. I was so grateful to be home, safely, in our country. I was exhausted, relieved, and impacted by the experience.”

When Rotary International got involved in the fight against polio, 1,000 new cases were cropping up daily in 25 endemic countries. Last year, Giesen said, there were three new cases diagnosed. Her district’s governor, Jim Nelson, said there were only 80 cases in the world last year.

What’s more, Rotary’s immunization methods were emulated in 2014, during the global Ebola outbreak.

“By association, the methods Rotary used helped stop Ebola,” said Nelson, who joined Rotary in 1983 in Dixon.

Coming through in the clutch Giesen learned of her opportunity to help about 2 weeks before the wheels went up on the airplane that took her and five other Rotarians to Nigeria. With her husband’s

support, and after a series of immunizations, she paid her way – visa, airfare and all.

The trip’s Linda primary Giesen mission was to every day visit multiple schools that were either using funds from American Rotary clubs, were seeking more funds, or had made an initial request for help. Because of severe government corruption, boots were needed on the ground to get a close look at the programs in action.

Imagine vetting a school with “kids in sharp white uniforms, sitting on dirt floors, with no books,” as Giesen described it.

“The assignments were in great detail on blackboards – blackboards in such a state that we would throw them away – yet the kids were so focused and so involved, yet their conditions were just awful,” she said.

What Giesen remembers most vividly, though, is going door to door with Nigerian Rotarians and volunteers, trying to persuade families to let them put two droplets of life-saving vaccine, developed by the legendary Jonas Salk, into their infant or toddler’s mouth.

Once those two drops were in, the children never would be at risk to suffer from the disease that would reduce them to “crawlers,” as those with polio often are called. Giesen met many people who lost their ability to walk to polio. She met men selling modified bicycles, saw many using low-tothe-ground crutches to get around.

She not only met polio sufferers overseas, but also said several Dixonites suffered from

Photos submitted

A polio victim gestures to the adapted bicycles he sells, during Linda Giesen’s trip to Nigeria in October 2011.

More online • Go to endpolionow.org to donate.

• Go to rotary6420.org, or search for Dixon, Illinois Rotary Club on Facebook, to learn more about the club. the disease during their youth – colleagues, even.

So it was heart-wrenching trying to persuade families they weren’t trying to sterilize their children, a mistrust warlords put in dirt-poor residents’ minds.

“They were asking why we would do this free of charge, when they don’t have water,” Giesen said.

Two years ago, Nelson was in Nigeria on a similar mission. He remembers children running up to him to see whether the “white” would rub off of him, and learning that the greatest threat to “crawlers” was snakebites – not exactly something we Midwesterners might think about.

“It was very rewarding, though,” he said.

“They’re long, dirty-hat days, and you don’t eat the way you’re used to, but they’re beautiful kids with big smiles.”

Solving an energy crisis The trip went through four cities, the second Kaduna, the state capital of Kaduna state in northwestern Nigeria.

Giesen and a fellow

Rotarian stayed in two rooms at the convent at St. Gerard Hospital, where they had free rein, in the absence of privacy rules. When the ambulance arrived, they could observe what took place in the emergency room.

“They had power … occasionally,” Giesen said.

Her fellow Rotarian gave a headlamp to the head doctor.

“He was like a kid at Christmas,” Giesen said.

“He was able to operate with that on, rather than people holding flashlights so he could operate. He was thrilled to have that gift. I’ll never forget his expression.”

They also stayed in a devout Muslim’s home in Kano, and learned a lot from the Rotarian and her children, who, too, only had power – and hot water – occasionally. In the last town, Jos, security risks forced them to stay in a fenced-off hotel, a far cry from the affluent Rotarian’s home where

Dixon attorney Linda Giesen prepares to immunize a 1-day-old Nigerian infant from polio during her mission trip in October 2011. Giesen said the infant’s mother walked her baby to the church – “which is kind of in the middle of nowhere” – the day after giving birth. they stayed during the said local Rotarians will first leg of their trip, in show them around, hopAbuja. ing that Pakistan could “It was very diverse, and be polio-free as soon as a learning experience,” next year. Technically, Giesen said. a nation must go 3 years without a case to be offiSo close, yet so far cially polio-free.

After all, it takes only Trumping the security risks in Jos at that time one infection in an othis the current state of erwise polio-free nation the only two nations that to trigger another epiaren’t polio-free: Afghan- demic – a concept Giesen did her best to conistan and Pakistan.

“Could you find two vey when giving presentougher countries to go tations after returning that last inch?” Giesen from Nigeria. said. “It’s costing more, “You might see ads, ads and that’s why our Rotary during the Super Bowl, donations are so impor- with celebrities, that say tant.”

‘We’re this close to endA g a i n s t t h e S t a t e ing polio,’” she said. “We Department’s advice, may have come this far, Nelson is leaving in 2 but if we don’t go this last weeks for Pakistan, where inch, it can all be undone. a National Immuniza- It’s only an airplane flight tion Day is planned. He away.”

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Youngest of 3 candidates will be involved every day KLAHN

CONTINUED FROM A1

No Democrats are on the ballot.

Klahn, of Sterling, earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa in 2001.

He graduated with a law degree from Creighton University (Nebraska) in 2007, then took the Illinois bar exam at a time when most companies froze their hirings.

“There was an economic downturn for the legal field,” he said. “I started looking at areas close to where I grew up, but not too close, ... and was given a great opportunity to work for Pignatelli and Mertes in Rock Falls.”

Klahn made the move with Jim Mertes when he opened his office in Sterling, and it was a good fit.

“I really love the Sauk Valley area,” he said.

Klahn met his wife, Elizabeth, a Dixon native and an attorney at Ward, Murray, Pace & Johnson, the day he was sworn in.

“She’s also a former Petunia Festival queen,” Klahn said with a chuckle. “I don’t know how you get more Dixon or Lee County than that.”

Klahn was engaged and married at St. Patrick Church in Dixon. Both daughters, Gabriella, 5, and Gianna, 2, were born

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at KSB Hospital.

“We want to live in Lee County,” he said, adding he and his wife are actively looking for a house in the county, and their Sterling home is for sale.

“Residency is not a requirement for the state’s attorney’s position, and I think someone like me is the reason for that; to provide the voters with the best candidate,” Klahn said. “[But] we have strong roots here in Lee County.”

He became an attorney because he enjoyed the role of being an advocate, he said.

Klahn has served as first assistant state’s attorney for more than 3 years, and previously spent more than 5 years in private practice that spanned a variety of areas of expertise, including criminal defense, litigation, family law, and general practice.

He has experience as co-counsel on high-profile cases locally, including the 2012 Whiteside County first-degree murder trial of Patti J. Mock. A jury returned a not-guilty verdict in just 22 minutes after nearly 3 weeks of trial.

Ultimately, it was Klahn’s goal to become a prosecutor, and it was not easy to leave the defense side, he said.

“I wanted to work toward the opportunity that I’m

seeking right now, which is to one day lead the office,” Klahn said.

Klahn cites as an edge among the candidates that he is one of just a few prosecutors in the Sauk Valley with trial experience in cases involving deaths.

He said he is aware that the county has had problems providing continuity and stability in the office for more than a decade.

He is the only remaining assistant state’s attorney in Anna SaccoMiller’s original administration. Sacco-Miller is not seeking re-election.

To fix that lack of continuity, he plans to address retention issues and turnover by providing salaries that are more competitive compared to surrounding counties.

He also plans to see through the installation of a new case management system to make the staff more accountable.

“I try cases now, ... and that wouldn’t stop when I’m state’s attorney,” Klahn said. “I’m certainly going to be involved in every part of the operation of the office. There is a certain dedication to the job. In a county our size, it’s not just an administrative position.

“You have to be involved on a day-to-day basis.”

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Opinion A6 • SV Weekend

www.saukvalley.com

EDITORIAL

Saturday, March 5, 2016

THE CARTOONIST’S VOICE

Jim Morin, MorinToons Syndicate

Distracted driving not worth the risk What we think Through police compliance patrols, more area motorists are learning the hard way about the penalties of distracted driving. Let it be a lesson to everyone: Distracted driving isn’t worth the risk.

D

istracted driving kills.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving was blamed for nearly 6,000 deaths in 2013.

Distracted driving maims.

According to the same agency, distracted driving caused 500,000 injuries in 2013.

That’s why the state of Illinois made it illegal to use handheld cellphones while behind the wheel of a moving motor vehicle.

Cellphones being used by motorists take away too much attention from the task at hand: safely driving their motor vehicles to their various destinations.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Department conducted a 2-hour distracted driving enforcement period this week along state Route 2 between Dixon and Sterling.

This was the second such enhanced enforcement patrol on the four-lane highway in 4 months.

The first, on Oct. 29, resulted in five drivers being pulled over and issued citations for distracted driving. The tickets were for failing to use a hands-free device while making a cellphone call, or for texting while driving.

This week’s 2-hour patrol resulted in seven

drivers receiving tickets for similar offenses.

Teams of officers in unmarked squad cars carried out the observations and apprehensions.

And, according to Sheriff John Simonton, they’ll be back sometime this month to conduct a third compliance check.

We applaud the Lee County Sheriff’s Department for their efforts to discourage distracted driving and to make the roadways safer for everyone.

We’ve editorialized previously about the dangers of distracted driving.

And we’ll repeat key statistics from the Illinois State Police: If you use a cellphone while driving, you are 400 percent more likely to get into a crash.

If you text while driving, you are 23 times more likely to get into a crash.

Automotive engineers are hard at work trying to perfect the self-driving car. People who ride in one of those vehicles won’t have to worry about cellphone laws, we suppose.

But until then, cars require alert, attentive motorists to safely drive them.

We encourage all motorists to obey the law, avoid $75 tickets plus court costs, and greatly increase the chances of arriving at their destinations safe and sound.

THE READER’S VOICE

Outdated jail topic of public event Tuesday TOM KITSON Dixon

There have been a lot of comments and questions regarding the condition of the Lee County detention facility. Let’s look at the concerns that require a change.

The present jail does not meet the state of Illinois jail standards: the cell doors are too narrow and not ADA compliant, current emergency medical carts will not fit through the doors and must be brought in through the garage, there is not enough space in the cells to be compliant with the 50-square-feet-perinmate regulation.

Today we are required to separate inmates by classification; however, adequate space is not available.

The jail, as is, cannot meet the new standards for fresh air movement in the facility, and parts for the automatic inmate doors are no longer available and must be custom made at a high cost.

Requirements have

EDITORIAL BOARD Jim Dunn Sam R Fisher Sheryl Gulbranson Jennifer Heintzelman Jeff Rogers Kathleen Schultz Tom Shaw

What do you think?

Let us know. Write your own letter to the editor and send it to: letters@saukvalley. com

SPRINGFIELD SCOOP

Suing inmates ‘just plain mean’ Legislature should repeal 1980s law that permits suits SPRINGFIELD – Sometimes it seems state lawmakers are determined to keep punishing people even after their debts to society have been paid.

A good case in point is a law that was put on the books back in the 1980s that allows the state to sue inmates and force them to pay for the cost of their incarcerations.

I remember when that law was debated more than a quarter of a century ago.

I thought the measure was mean-spirited and of little value then. And I still do.

In case our lawmakers haven’t noticed, our prisons are full of people who were reared in poverty and whose potential for rising out of it is limited by their

changed greatly since the present facility was built in 1970. There is not a cost-effective way to correct the majority of these issues that is fiscally responsible to the taxpayers of Lee County.

We can continue to debate this issue, or all work together to solve the problem. You are being asked to vote for a method to finance this project.

Several options to correct this problem are under consideration.

I would encourage you to attend the public meeting scheduled at the Dixon High School Auditorium on Tuesday, immediately after the state’s attorney debate [which begins at 7 p.m.].

Please contact a County Board member or the sheriff’s department for more information or to schedule a tour to see for yourself.

Note to readers: Tom Kitson is a Lee County Board member who represents District 3.

THE FIRST AMENDMENT

scottREEDER Scott Reeder is a reporter in residence for the Illinois Policy Institute.

Contact him at sreeder@ illinoispolicy. org.

felony records.

Suing someone for the cost of their incarceration reminds me of the Chinese practice under Mao Zedong of billing family members of executed prisoners for the cost of the bullet.

It’s just plain mean.

Instead of trying to heap more punishment on the newly released, Illinois should do everything it can to help them get back on their feet.

But Illinois doesn’t.

For example, under state licensing laws, felons can be barred from more than a hundred vocations.

We should be doing everything we can to

CARTOONIST’S VOICE

help folks get jobs. That’s why we should eliminate such barriers.

And that’s how I feel about this nonsense of suing folks for the cost of their incarcerations.

And apparently I’m not the only one who feels that way.

NEW LEGISLATION would repeal the practice of suing prisoners and parolees for the cost of their incarceration.

State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, and state Sen. Daniel Biss, D-Evanston, have introduced bills in the Legislature that would prohibit the Illinois Department of Corrections from suing inmates for the cost of their room and board.

“The odds are stacked against the men and women coming out of our prison system and attempting to put their lives back together,” Cassidy said.

“Any barrier to re-entry is a path to recidivism.

‘‘

Suing someone for the cost of their incarceration reminds me of the Chinese practice under Mao Zedong of billing family members of executed prisoners for the cost of the bullet.

It’s just plain mean.

’’

Scott Reeder

We need to be doing everything in our power to remove those barriers, not add more,” she said.

She couldn’t be more right.

Note to readers: Scott Reeder’s column is sponsored by the Illinois Policy Institute. He can be reached at sreeder@illinoispolicy.org.

Dave Granlund, GateHouse News Service

Election letters reminder The maximum length for letters to the editor endorsing candidates or discussing issues regarding the March 15 primary is 200 words.

Letter writers may not endorse the same candidate or issue more than once.

The submission deadline is noon March 8.

The deadline to submit election-related letters to the editor is noon Tuesday, March 8.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

“Journalists usually avoid predicting; they just get experts or others who have their own interest in helping shape the future do the talking.”

Editorials represent the opinions of the Sauk Valley Media Editorial Board.

Timothy J. McNulty, public editor, Chicago Tribune, 2008

Quotes brought to you courtesy of

Share your opinions Mail: The Reader’s Voice Sauk Valley Media 3200 E. Lincolnway, P.O. Box 498 Sterling, IL 61081 Email: letters@saukvalley.com Fax: 815-625-9390 Website: Visit www.saukvalley.com Policy: Letters are to be no more than 300 words and must include the writer’s name, town and daytime telephone number, which we call to verify authorship. Individuals may write up to 12 letters a year.

Opinions expressed in letters and columns are those of the writers.

Saturday, March 5, 2016

www.saukvalley.com

SV Weekend • A7

UNDERSTANDING ILLINOIS | PRIMARY ELECTION

March 15 last stand for GOP establishment?

A Trump win here may sew up nomination

T

he March 15 Illinois primary election will serve as a desperate last stand effort by the GOP Establishment to slow the Trump bandwagon, which appears headed to the party’s nomination.

Just a few short months ago, Republican operatives would have given Donald Duck as much chance as Donald Trump, a one-time Manhattan liberal, of winning the GOP nomination.

What has happened?

This past Tuesday, Trump won all Southern states but Ted Cruz’s Texas decisively. His juggernaut can now be slowed only by wins for Gov. John Kasich and Sen. Marco Rubio in their home states of Ohio and Florida on March 15 (where both trail Trump in recent polls), combined with something less than Trump domination in Illinois.

Little has been written of the Illinois primary thus far for the understandable reason that the media focus has been on the rollout of primaries up to this point. A Feb. 24 We Ask America poll did find Trump leading both Rubio and Cruz in Illinois by nearly 2-to-1 margins, with Kasich trailing in single digits.

Illinois offers two con-

jimNOWLAN Jim Nowlan of Toulon served two terms in the Illinois House and worked under three governors.

He co-wrote “Fixing Illinois.”

current contests for the presidential candidates.

At the top of the ballot is the “beauty contest” preferential vote. Whoever wins a plurality here picks up 10 delegates.

DOWN THE BALLOT is the more important contest for three delegates in each of the state’s 18 congressional districts.

Voters will find names of people they have never heard of running for delegate, followed by the names of their preferred presidential candidates in parentheses.

To win, delegate candidates must garner more votes than anyone else, so if delegate candidates who prefer Trump best the others with, say, 33 percent of the vote, the Trump delegates win.

Barring dramatic changes in voter attitudes in the next few days, it looks as if Trump may run the table March 15 across Ohio, Florida, Illinois and Missouri, which would make Trump’s nomination almost unstoppable.

In an incisive piece in the Feb. 27 Wall Street Journal, former Reagan

speechwriter and now columnist Peggy Noonan decried a “protected” class that has become insulated in their gated communities, insensitive to the struggles of the unwashed and “unprotected” outside.

Noonan sees immigration as “the issue.” The unprotected have suffered from low-wage job competition while the protected benefit from having more low-wage workers available.

Maybe even worse, the protected, coming from both parties, are insensitive to the vulnerability and anxiety that immigration imposes on the unprotected.

I would add the issue of the corporate outmigration of jobs to other shores. This may make all the sense in the world to business leaders seeking to compete globally, but it appears callous, indeed cruel, to those whose job futures are bleak.

Trump reminds me a bit of the Gracchi brothers in the late Roman Republic, who went around the Roman Senate and directly to the masses with programs of land for the landless.

Great tumult ensued, and the brothers ultimately were assassinated by the senatorial class, which owned most of the land, yet the days were numbered for the Republic and the Senate.

The 2016 election realities also hammer additional nails into the

Dave Granlund, GateHouse News Service

coffins of political party organizations.

Flawed though they surely have been, political party organizations have served the useful purposes throughout our history of recruiting and supporting candidates who were generally safe, that is, who would return favor to their party and not rock the boat unnecessarily on the social and economic fronts.

TODAY, THE OLD “labor model” of political parties, in which precinct captains and local party leaders would carry the campaigns for their candidates, has been pushed aside by a “capital model.”

The latter model relies on big money to recruit

candidates and conduct their campaigns from centralized offices, relying on television and digital media in place of people.

I am talking about shifts, not absolutes.

There are still people rallying to campaign work, though mostly to candidates rather than to party organizations, and money has always been important, though much less so in the past than today.

A pedestrian illustration.

In my three contested campaigns for the state Legislature, I remember never spending more than $4,000 ($26,000 in today’s dollars). I had to raise the money myself and run my own campaigns, with the help of

local party folks.

This year in Illinois, there are state legislative candidates who have already received more than $1 million for their contested campaigns!

The candidate is but a pawn in this game, with the money contributed and then spent centrally by big money political elites or by remnants of old political machines.

Tumultuous, troubling times in American politics.

Note to readers: Jim Nowlan of Toulon served two terms in the Illinois House and worked under three governors. He cowrote “Fixing Illinois: Politics and Policy in the Prairie State.” Contact Nowlan at jnowlan3@ gmail.com.

COMMENTS ON CONGRESS

To find hope, just look at the citizens all around you Ordinary people solve problems better than pols

BY LEE H. HAMILTON Bloomington, Indiana

These are very unhappy times in Washington.

Relations between the executive and legislative branches are not just sour, but corrosive.

The Republican-led Senate has declared it will simply ignore a presidential nomination to the Supreme Court. Both houses have announced that they will flout a tradition going back to the 1970s, and refuse to hold a hearing for the president’s budget director to present the White House’s federal budget proposal.

Partisan paralysis and game-playing on Capitol Hill have become a hallmark of these times, as has the evident distaste our nation’s leaders feel for one another.

It would be understandable to give in to despair,

and a lot of Americans have done so. I have not, and for a simple reason: in our system, there is always hope. Why? Because our representative democracy rests finally not on what politicians in Washington or in our state capitals do, but on what our citizens do.

The bedrock assumption of representative government is that Americans will make discriminating judgments about politicians and policies, and shoulder their responsibility as citizens to improve their corner of the world.

THE REMARKABLE thing is, they often do.

Over a long career in politics, I’ve seen it happen more times than I can count.

At some gathering, people will complain about the schools or the roads or the behavior of a public official or an act of government that galls them.

Then, after talking it over, they decide to act. They

do something about it.

Even better, the lessthan-admirable stumbling blocks that we’ve come to identify with politics – confrontation, obstructionism, divisiveness Lee H. – are rarely Hamilton present.

Public dialogues may get heated, but they don’t often descend to the level of bitterness and obstinacy we see these days in Washington.

More than anything else, what you see when ordinary Americans decide to get involved in a public issue is their common sense and good judgment, their fundamental decency, and their remarkable sense of fairness.

Over and over, as I watch citizens at work trying to fix their communities in ways big and small, I’ve found myself wishing that members of

Congress and other officials could take a ringside seat. The people involved almost always want to see that even people they don’t agree with have a chance to say their piece.

They recognize there are differences of opinion and that they have to be sorted through.

If you ask them to describe what result they want, they will always use the word, “Fair.” They make decisions by and large based on hope, not fear or despair.

The sense that comes through when you watch Americans at work on public issues is their overwhelming desire to improve their community. Often this is reflected in concrete projects – a new bridge, a better school, a badly needed sewer system.

But you can also see it in many people’s cry for candidates who will set narrow interests

and excessive partisanship aside, and work to improve the quality of life for all Americans.

WHILE ORDINARY citizens may not know all there is to know about a given public policy issue, I was constantly impressed while in office at how much I learned from my constituents. We often think of representative government as a process in which the elected official educates constituents, but the reverse is usually even more the case.

Americans may think that politics is filled with messiness and noise, but at the end of the day they understand the need for deal-making, compromise, and negotiation – and that to achieve change, they have to work through the system we have, which means educating and pushing political leaders. As a constitu-

ent put it to me, “What’s the alternative?”

This is why I have an underlying confidence in representative government. Americans are pragmatic. They recognize the complexity of the challenges we face, understand there are no simple answers to complex problems, and do not expect to get everything they want.

They see that what unites us – a common desire to improve our communities and create better opportunities for families and individuals – is stronger than what divides us.

My confidence in the system is built on citizens exercising their right to make this a stronger, fairer country.

Note to readers: Lee Hamilton is a professor at Indiana University. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years.

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Zits® by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

Arlo & Janis by Jimmy Johnson Garfield by Jim Davis

Luann by Greg Evans Get Fuzzy by Darby Conley

Blondie by Dean Young & John Marshall

Wizard of Id by Brant Parker and Johnny Hart

Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis Rose is Rose by Pat Brady and Don Wimmer

Pickles by Brian Crane Big Nate by Lincoln Peirce

Born Loser by Art and Chip Sansom

Baby Blues by Jerry Scott & Rick Kirkman

Soup To Nutz by Rick Stromoski

Family Circus by Bil Keane

The Argyle Sweater by Scott Hilburn

Alley Oop by Dave Graue and Jack Bender

Bridge Frank & Ernest by Bob Thaves

Lead can give the answer

Grizzwells by Bill Schorr

Alexis Carrel, a French surgeon and biologist who was awarded a Nobel Prize in 1912, said, “All great men are gifted with intuition. They know without reasoning or analysis, what they need to know.”

Inter alia, that applies to bridge players.

There are days when the top players are “in the zone,” just knowing where all of the cards lie.

But they still analyze – draw deductions from what has happened. In this deal, the original South, who thought he was an expert, lost two club tricks after reaching an incorrect conclusion.

In six spades, South started with 11 top tricks: five spades, five hearts and one

diamond. He was faced with guessing the club suit for the 12th winner.

He won the heart lead with dummy’s queen, drew trumps in three rounds, and ran the hearts, discarding

three clubs from the dummy.

Then, after a diamond to the ace and a diamond ruff, the evil moment had arrived.

When he led a low club toward the dummy, what should declarer have done, or was it a guess?

At the time, South claimed that it was a guess; that West would always play low smoothly. The latter comment was right, but it was not a guess.

West’s lead was known to have been a singleton. He would not have chosen that card looking at an ace, because he would have known that his partner could not have a speedy entry to deliver a heart ruff.

So South should have played dummy’s club jack, which would have pulled out the ace and let the slam make. © 2016 UFS

Saturday, March 5, 2016

www.saukvalley.com

Ulferts-Hume has full plate of activities CONTINUED FROM A3

Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com

Elise Ulferts-Hume laughs with co-workers as she puts away artwork made by her students in her Head Start classroom at Wallace Educational Center in Sterling.

Dixon, tends bar a couple of days every week at Stables, and she runs her own spray-tanning business.

“It’s not extremely profitable,” she said, “but I get texts hours after I spray-tan someone, saying ‘I’ve never

felt so good about myself. I’m going to meet a guy tonight.’

That’s what it’s all about.

I just want people to be happy.

“It’s just something fun I do on the side to help women feel better about themselves.”

WASHINGTON (AP) – Researchers say they’ve come up with a way to predict the likelihood of tornadoes 2 or 3 weeks in advance – a step toward better warnings of storms that kill an average of 80 Americans each year.

Victor Gensini, a meteo-

Personally, she might not know what she’s going to be when she grows up, but the destination is sort of immaterial.

“I just want to be the best person I can be – the best Marine, the best wife.”

E xpressi ons

IN BRIEF Earlier tornado warnings possible

rology professor at the College of DuPage outside Chicago, found a link between tornado activity in the United States and complicated atmospheric wave patterns that shift every 40 to 60 days. The pattern is dependable enough that last year he used it to predict overall tornado activity in the nation – and was right 10 out of 15 times.

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The day has finally come. Sauk Valley’s first complete dog training and sports center is ready to open its doors. An Open House will be held on March 12, 2016, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. You will meet our trainers; learn about upcoming classes and register to win a free dog class registration!

Tours and demonstrations will be held for all those interested. The new K-9 Enrichment Center is adjacent to the present Animal Shelter at 613 River Lane, Dixon, Illinois. According to Mark Knie, President of Granny Rose Animal Shelter, “We embarked (pun fully intended) on this project as the next phase of our continuing desire to enrich and strengthen the bond between dogs and their owners”. “This helps to keep all dogs in their home.” “The facility’s main emphasis will be on the everyday dog owner’s enriched experience with their own dog – be it obedience, agility or pet therapy (a service that helps to enrich the lives of those individuals in need of support)”. According to Knie, “Classes for those wishing to show their dog competitively will also be offered”.

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“Whatever you feel is good for your soul, you do,” she said.

The Ulferts’ legacy continues as she teaches toddlers in the Head Start preschool program at Wallace Educational Center in Sterling, and as she attends meetings for Kiwanis, Elks Club, Dixon Lioness, Dixon Sister Cities, and Dixon Marine Corps League, and fulfills philanthropies through each group.

This past Sunday, she was volunteering at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Dixon, for the prom dress resale, along with her mom.

“Seeing the girls come out and seeing the look on their faces with them being able to find a dress, and then looking at their mom, knowing they got it for a lot cheaper than they may have? That just makes it all worth it,” she said.

She coaches kids in Gymnastics Divine in

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The K-9 Enrichment Center, a 13,500 square foot facility that offers 9,000 square feet of Astroturf style working area. It is both heated and cooled for year-round training for every discipline that area dog owners wish to participate in.

Deb Proctor, a local realtor and co-founder of the Amos Fund, “As its (Granny Rose K-9 Enrichment Center’s) new Director, I look forward to working with our area’s Training Specialists”. “We will be able to offering a wide variety of disciplines year-round; such as basic obedience and Canine Good Citizen training, rally, agility, nose-work, pet therapy and puppy classes”.

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Saturday, March 5, 2016

2016 ELECTION | 17TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Two conservatives vie for run against Bustos Newcomers face off in GOP primary

BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier

One of two Republican newcomers will emerge from the March 15 primary to face U.S. Congresswoman Cheri Bustos in the 17th District.

Both are staunch conservatives, and are not shy about their pro-life leanings, support of the Second Amendment, and disdain for federal bureaucracy.

Patrick Harlan, 36, president of the Knox County Tea Party, and Jack Boccarossa, 69, a Rock Island Arsenal retiree, are battling to run against Bustos in the Nov. 8 general election.

Bustos is unopposed in the Democratic primary, as she seeks her third term.

Harlan, of Galesburg, is a fuel truck driver for Casey’s General Stores. Part of his motivation to run was his concern that the incumbent would have a clear path back to Washington.

“In July, I asked some party people if we had a candidate in the 17th District, and I was told we did,” Harlan said. “But when no one came forward, I didn’t want Cheri running unopposed.”

He said a foreign policy issue was the last straw as he was mulling a run.

“When we lifted the sanctions on Iran, it really pushed me to run,” Harlan said. “We were helping give terrorists access to nuclear weapons, funding Planned Parenthood, and I felt that the morals and values of our nation were disappearing.”

Harlan, a former Maytag employee, said job creation is at the top of his agenda. He

Jack Boccarossa

Patrick Harlan

Age: 69 Residence: Milan Candidacy: 17th U.S. Congressional District Political party: Republican Educational background: Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology; master’s degree in management from Florida Institute of Technology.

Professional: Retired from Rock Island Arsenal, 42 years; owner of Jack Frost Pines tree farm said less government regulation is the key to economic growth. He wants to see more control revert to the states.

“Obamacare has killed jobs, and the federal government has overrun everything,” Harlan said. “We need to be more business-friendly in Illinois and give companies tax breaks.”

Harlan advocates a move to a flat-tax system, and abolishing several federal agencies including the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Education, and the Environmental Protection Agency. He said those functions are best handled at the state level, sans federal bureaucracy.

In regard to immigration, Harlan wants U.S. borders secured, and close examination of immigrants who are already in this country.

Harlan said the 17th District representative in Washington needs to be more focused on its constituents.

“Cheri has been a rubberstamper for the Democratic Party, and she hasn’t gotten anything done for the people of the district,” Harlan said.

Boccarossa, of Milan, was an engineer at the arsenal for 17 years, and then was an arsenal liaison to the Small Business Administration. Retired from government work, he owns a Christmas tree farm. He is still a member of the arsenal’s credit union board.

Age: 36 Residence: Galesburg Candidacy: 17th U.S. Congressional District Political party: Republican Educational background: Abingdon High School Professional: Fuel truck driver for Casey’s General Store

He said he wants to use his experience to save the arsenal from more job cuts. The federal government will be back in 2017 to look at potential base realignments.

“When Cheri Bustos came into office, there were 9,000 employees at the arsenal, and now we are down to 6,000,” Boccarossa said. “We used to have a training center here, and that’s gone, too.”

Boccarossa also believes Bustos is out of touch with her constituents.

“I would be more responsive to people,” he said. “We especially need to work with businesses and make sure we know what they need.”

Like Harlan, Boccarossa believes government has a chokehold on economic growth. He also wants to see lower corporate taxes, the rescinding of the Affordable Care Act, and an overhaul of some federal agencies.

“I don’t want to abolish the IRS, but I do want to make it less intrusive,” Boccarossa said. “I also want to cut back the reach of the EPA because it is adding to the cost of energy and other business operations.”

The retired civilian arsenal worker believes the key to foreign policy is a strong military.

“We can’t let people walk all over us,” he said. “We need to build a better military, and make other countries stand

up and control their neighbors instead of us.”

Boccarossa is calling for a moratorium on immigration until the U.S. can sort out its policy.

Like his opponent, he has strong views against abortion and for the right to bear arms.

He said the failure of Congress to defund Planned Parenthood was one of the reasons he decided to run.

Boccarossa thinks the guns debate is actually a people issue.

“The person with the gun is the problem – it’s time we shift the conversation from guns to mental health,” he said. “If just a few cities were removed from the statistics, our nation would have a low homicide rate.”

Boccarossa’s only previous experience with elected office was a term on the Sherrard School Board from 1991 to 1995. He said that wasn’t because he didn’t have political inclinations.

“During service with the federal government, you aren’t allowed to run for any type of partisan political seat,” he said.

“Now it’s time I give back to the government, and as a new grandfather, I want to do it for my children and grandchildren.”

Boccarossa said he is “running as a Christian,” and he vows that if he wins, 10 percent of his $174,000-a-year salary

Candidate won party nomination in 2000 BROZOVICH

CONTINUED FROM A1

Brozovich grew up in Marseilles, southeast of Ottawa, and completed his undergraduate work and legal degree at Loyola University of Chicago.

In 2000, he squared off with current opponent Mike Downey in the primary, and won his party’s nomination, but was defeated that November “by a few hundred votes”

by Dixon attorney Linda Giesen, who became state’s attorney.

Brozovich has more than 20 years’ experience as an assistant state’s attorney for Lee, Ogle, Whiteside, and Vermilion counties.

In addition, he is legal counsel for the Dixon Park District; former assistant city attorney for the cities of Dixon, Franklin Grove, and Paw Paw; and a former adjunct criminal justice instructor at Sauk Valley

Forum on Tuesday The three Republican Party candidates for Lee County state’s attorney will participate in a forum at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Dixon High School auditorium.

Following the forum, Lee County Sheriff John Simonton will give a presentation on the sales tax referendum for a new county jail.

The public is welcome.

Community College.

Lee County is “blessed,” he said, despite the county’s flood of heroinrelated cases.

For the past 4 years, he has commuted to work in Danville, Vemilion County’s government seat just east of Champaign.

“About a month ago, I was talking to some officers [in Lee County] about a small methamphetamine bust, [and] I’m dealing with 2 to 3

meth cases a day; it’s the meth capital of Illinois,” he said.

Lee County is fortunate because law enforcement does a good job of keeping a lid on it, Brozovich said, “but am I going to sit here and tell you we don’t have drugs in this community?”

“No, that’s false,” he said.

Rehabilitation is a critical part of criminal justice, he said.

He pledges to continue the work the current administration has started, especially the alternative courts system, but only “as long as we can afford them.”

“A lot of these specialty courts exist because we have grants. Unfortunately, things are being cut all over,” he said, emphasizing that he is a proponent of keeping them afloat.

While some people might doubletake at his long list of previous employers, Brozovich is confident about being

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the right candidate, at the right time.

“It’s important to have a state’s attorney that has a lot of knowledge and background,” he said.

“Our crimes are becoming more complicated; our crimes are becoming more dangerous.

“This is not the place to have an inexperienced person at the helm,” he added.

A person with the variety of experience that he has, he said, has the respect and the credibility to do the job, and that is the reason why he wants to work in Dixon and Lee County.

“I’ve probably tried more jury trials than probably [my two opponents] put together, and I’ve dedicated my career to keeping communities safe,” Brozovich said.

“By working at different agencies, I’ve seen the good, the positives, the bad, and the negatives.

“I’m not cocooned into one system, [and] I’ve got new ideas,” he said.

would be donated to churches and various charities.

Neither Harlan nor Boccarossa has reported campaign contributions to the State Board of Elections. Harlan said his financial support, about $5,000, has come from individual donors looking for change.

“I have campaign literature and a message, and God will take care of the rest,” Harlan said.

Harlan, a Ted Cruz presidential delegate, has some backing from the National Rifle Association, Right to Life groups, and the tea party, but Boccarossa recently received an endorsement from the Dispatch and Rock Island Argus, the Chicago Tribune, and Rock Island County Republicans.

Boccarossa said he has kept spending to a minimum, using about $1,700 of his own money.

“I haven’t taken money from anyone, and I’m not beholden to anyone,” he said. “Party money could come into play after the primary, but I don’t believe a run has to cost so much – if we’re talking about being fiscally responsible, let’s do it.”

Bustos filed a fourth quarter report disclosing that her campaign raised more than $458,000, and as of Dec. 31 had about $1.46 million in the fund.

The Bustos camp said 97 percent of the contributions were under $200, and the average donation was $27.15.

STERLING HIGH SCHOOL

District bans assistant from wrestling program

BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 @CHeimerman_SVM

STERLING – An assistant wrestling coach at Sterling High School has been banned from the program, and his termination will be recommended to the school board, Superintendent Tad Everett confirmed Friday afternoon.

Sauk Valley Media received a tip from a parent that Joe Fisher had sent inappropriate text messages to multiple Sterling High students.

The dozens of messages, some of them explicit in nature, were brought to head coach Jeff Gale before the first hour of classes Friday morning.

“I applaud our activities director, Greg King, and principal, Jason Austin, for their truly expeditious handling of this matter,” Everett said. “They took the

n e c e s sary steps to make sure that action was taken.”

The board Joe Fisher of education makes hiring and firing decisions for district personnel. Its next meeting is March 16 in the high school library.

Fisher does not teach in the district.

The tipster told SVM that students had received inappropriate messages from Fisher during the 201415 school year. Until Friday, Everett said, administration had no reason to suspect any inappropriate communications between Fisher and students.

“Adamantly no,” Everett said. “But as of today, Joe Fisher is no longer part of the SHS wrestling program, and will not be again in the future.”

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SV Weekend • A11

MONEY & MARKETS The following stock quotations, as of 5 p.m., are provided as a community service by Chad Weigle of Edward Jones, Dixon and Raymond James and Associates, Sterling.

Abbott .......................... 39.18 ADM............................. 37.65 AGL .............................. 64.76 Alcoa .............................. 9.56 AltriaCorp .................... 62.97 American Express ....... 58.28 Arris-Group ................. 24.07 Apple.......................... 103.01 AT&T ............................ 37.92 Autonation .................. 52.72 Bank of America.......... 13.53 Boeing........................ 121.00 BorgWarner ................. 35.00 BP ................................. 31.14 Casey’s ....................... 105.81 Caterpillar ................... 72.82 CenturyLink ................ 31.60 Chevron ....................... 87.94 Cisco ............................ 26.80 Citigroup ..................... 42.83 CocaCola ..................... 44.10 ConAgra....................... 43.32 Dean ............................ 19.31 Deere & Co .................. 84.84 Disney .......................... 98.45 Donaldson................... 31.70 DuPont ........................ 63.18 Exelon .......................... 33.36 Exxon ........................... 82.27 FifthThird .................... 17.13 Ford ............................. 13.59 GE ................................ 30.45 HawaiianElectric ........ 30.65

Hewlett Packard ......... 11.17 HomeDepot .............. 125.56 IBM ............................ 137.80 Intel Corp. ................... 30.63 IntlPaper...................... 38.72 JCPenney ..................... 11.22 JohnsonControls......... 37.98 Johnson&Johnson .... 106.48 JPMorgan Chase ......... 60.05 Kraft-Heinz ................. 77.20 Kroger .......................... 36.85 Leggett&Platt .............. 47.07 Manpower ................... 80.30 McDonald’s ............... 117.16 Merck&Co ................... 52.06 Microsoft ..................... 52.03 3M .............................. 160.04 Monsanto .................... 85.92 Newell .......................... 40.97 Nike.............................. 61.25 Parker-Han................ 106.33 Pfizer ............................ 29.70 Pepsico ........................ 99.88 Proctor&Gamble ......... 83.46 RaymondJames........... 46.24 Republic ...................... 47.09 Sears Hldg ................... 18.05 SensientTech .............. 58.76 Sprint ............................. 3.82 Staples ........................... 9.60 TheTravelers ............. 110.40 UnitedContinental ..... 57.99 UnitedTech ................. 96.97 USBancorp .................. 41.02 USSteel ........................ 12.98 Verizon ........................ 51.81 Walgreen ..................... 79.45 WalMartMexico .......... 24.57 WalMartStores ............ 66.76 WasteMgt .................... 57.15 Wendy’s ......................... 9.59

Commodities The following quotations are provided as a community service by Sterling Futures: Corn: March 3.54 1 ⁄ 2 ; May 3.581⁄4; July 3.631⁄2 Soybeans: March 8.701⁄2; May 8.781⁄2; Nov. 8.91 Soybean oil: March 30.73; Dec. 31.56 Soybean meal: March 267.70; Dec. 277.90 Wheat: March 4.543⁄4; July 4.663⁄4 Oats: March 1.70 1 ⁄ 4 ; July 1.921⁄4

Live cattle: April 136.35; June 126.47; Oct. 121.92 Feeder cattle: March 158.50; April 158.22 Lean hogs: April 70.80; June 81.22; Oct. 68.47 Sugar: May 14.83 Cotton: March 58.93 T-Bonds: June 16210⁄32 Silver: March 15.49 Gold: April 1260.00 Copper: March 2.2625 Crude: April 35.85 Dollar Index: March 97.35 Ethanol: March 1.357

IN BRIEF Trump’s rivals attack ‘flexibility’ WARREN, Mich. (AP) – With an eye on the general election – and suddenly “flexible” on immigration – Donald Trump has backed off from some of the hard-

line rhetoric that has fueled his presidential campaign, at least for the moment.

“Believe it or not, I’m a unifier,” Trump offered during a raucous rally Friday in suburban Detroit. “We are going to unify our country.”

Republican adversary Ted Cruz wasn’t having it.

“Donald is telling us he will betray us on everything he’s campaigned on,” he said as he campaigned in Maine, one of five states voting in weekend primaries and caucuses.

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Knife discovery latest O.J. twist LOS ANGELES (AP) – More than 20 years after O.J. Simpson’s ex-wife and a friend were stabbed to death, police revealed Friday they are examining

a knife that was reportedly found at the home where the former football star was living at the time.

The announcement marked yet another twist in a case that’s had more unexpected turns than television’s best crime

Warm-Weather Brunch Special This Sunday, March 6th 10am -2pm

shows. The knife was believed to have been recovered by a construction worker tearing down the house. The worker then gave it to an off-duty police officer who was working as a security guard at a filming location, police said.

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Tom Padilla

Will be playing acoustic music from the 60s to today at Bogey’s Bar & Grill Friday, March 11th • 6-9 pm Arrive early to get a good seat!

Call today for reservations to Timber Creek’s popular St. Patrick’s Day Buffet! Thursday, March 17th, 5-8 pm.

ProShop - 815-625-2322 Banquets - 815-625-2387

Be Reconciled Come to Confession March 16

729 Timber Creek Rd. Dixon, IL 815-288-5110

SPRING FEVER?

Come to the Sauk Valley Spring Spruce Up Event of the Season!

Saturday, March 12 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, March 13

‘His mercy endures forever.’

11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Northland Mall Sterling, IL

Psalm 118

Visit a Catholic Church near you.

For confession times and locations call 815/399-4300 or go to http://bereconciled.rockforddiocese.org.

One Sauk Valley Home & Garden Show attendee will win $500 to spend at a vendor of their choice!

Questions? Call Sauk Valley Media Marketing at 815-625-3600 ext. 5630 or jheintzelman@saukvalley.com

A12 • SV Weekend

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Saturday, March 5, 2016

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Sports v weekend

Section B

BUTLER BACK? Bulls all-star could return Saturday, B2.

e-mail: sports@saukvalley.com ‘Like’ us!

Sauk Valley Sports

Trade bait?

According to an ESPN report, the Bears are working with Martellus Bennett’s agent on a trade that would satisfy both parties. He has 1 year left on his deal, with no guaranteed money.

Saturday, March 5, 2016

21

Numbers game The Cubs agreed to terms with all 21 of their remaining unsigned players, including inking 2015 Rookie of the Year Kris Bryant to a 1-year, $652,000 contract – a $145,000 raise.

Sports for the Sauk Valley fan!

BOYS BASKETBALL | 3A DIXON REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP LaSALLE-PERU 49, DIXON 39

Déjà vu for Dukes Different ways to look at Dukes

A

Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com

Dixon coach Jason Mead consoles his players as the time expires in a 49-39 loss to LaSalle-Peru on Friday night in the 3A Dixon Regional championship at Lancaster Gym.

Dixon goes cold in loss to L-P

BY PATRICK MASON pmason@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5550 @pm222

DIXON – Riley Mehrens was backpedaling, watching one of his three 3-pointers sail through the bottom of the net. Isaiah Roby was blocking shots and attacking the rim. Kyle LeBlanc put on a post-move clinic under the basket.

The Dixon boys basketball team had the Lancaster Gymnasium home crowd in a state of euphoria in the first half.

That was, until LaSalle-Peru gave it right back, and kept giving it back until the Cavaliers took home the Class 3A Dixon Regional championship with a

Star of the game: Ryan Atilano, LaSalle-Peru, 19 points, 3 rebounds Key performers: Isaiah Roby, Dixon, 14 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists; Kyle LeBlanc, Dixon, 12 points, 4 rebounds; Riley Mehrens, Dixon, 12 points 49-39 win on Friday.

“When we got to the locker room at halftime, we told ourselves we had to buckle down on defense,” said L-P forward Ryan Atilano, who had a gamehigh 19 points. “We had to step up and play better, because we knew Dixon would send us home if we didn’t.”

Dixon shot 8-for-16 from the floor en route to a 22-16 halftime lead. Mehrens was 3-for-3 behind the 3-point arc, while Roby and LeBlanc combined for 13 points. The Cavs found themselves stuck defensively, not quite sure how to defend the perimeter effectively without giving up points inside.

Out of the break, however, L-P figured it had the answer.

It chose to lock in on Mehrens, and stuck the 6-foot, 3-inch Atilano on the Dixon point guard.

“That was a great move by them,” Dixon coach Jason Mead said.

COLD CONTINUED ON B4

re you a glass half-full or a glass half-empty kind of person?

Whichever side you fall on may impact how you look at the Dixon boys basketball team’s season, which ended with a 49-39 loss to LaSalle-Peru on Friday night in the finals of the Class 3A Dixon Regional.

For you half-fullers, there is much to shout about. On the heels of a 28-win season in 201415, the Dukes came back this winter and won 25 games, as well as their second consecutive Big Northern West Conference title. Before last year, it had been since 1967 when Dixon last won a league title.

Wins and losses only tell a little piece of the story, however. The

brianWEIDMAN Sports reporter.

Reach him at bweidman@ saukvalley. com or 815625-3600, ext. 5551.

Dukes were the talk of the town, whether they were playing or not.

How many times, after Isaiah Roby injured his heel against Oregon on Feb. 16, did you ask somebody or somebody ask you about the health of the 6-foot-8 Nebraska commit? Me, it was just about every day, and I’m guessing there are a lot of people in that same boat.

WEIDMAN CONTINUED ON B4

Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com

Dixon’s Riley Mehrens (12) reaches out to Isaiah Roby after Roby fouled out of Friday’s 3A Dixon Regional championship game against LaSalle-Peru.

MEN’S BASKETBALL | NJCAA DISTRICT IV CHAMPIONSHIP | SPOTLIGHT ON SAUK’S DEVIN JOHNSON

Johnson just happy to be back in basketball Sterling grad returns to court with Skyhawks

BY ERIC INGLES eingles@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5555 @Eric_Ingles

Devin Johnson took a roundabout path to get to where he is today.

The Sterling graduate went into the Air Force for 2 years after high school before leaving the service and going to work.

But after 6 years away from basketball, he wanted to get back on the court, and this seaMichael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com son found himself not only on Sauk Valley’s Devin Johnson (5), seen here playing against Carl a college roster, but playing for Sandburg on February 16, is back on the court after 6 years away a Region IV title-winning Sauk from organized basketball.

Valley team.

Sports inside

Sauk Valley at Moberly (Mo.) When: 7 p.m. Saturday Where: Moberly Area Gymnasium, Moberly, Missouri Advancement: Winner goes to NJCAA National Championships, March 14-19, at Hutchinson, Kansas “I wanted to play basketball again,” he said. “I was dying for it.”

His path back to basketball got an assist from his uncle, Jed Johnson, the women’s coach at

Sauk Valley. At a family reunion this past summer, Devin mentioned wanting to get back to playing, and his uncle suggested the Skyhawks.

His first year at Sauk Valley saw Johnson play 32 games, starting 19, and averaging 4.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.

He said coming back to the game this year after being away from it for so long has been tough at times. Since he had not played in 6 years, his conditioning wasn’t where it needed to be for the first month or two.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

OUTDOORS

Saladino hopes to secure spot at shortstop, B6.

Time to hunt turkey draws near, B3.

HAPPY CONTINUED ON B5

Suggestion box Comment or story tip?

Contact the Sports Department at sports@saukvalley.com or call 815-625-3600, ext. 5555

Raven arrested Terrell Suggs Ravens LB arrested Friday on a suspended license after a car accident, telling officers he may have been asleep at the wheel.

TOP OF 2

Not signing Jacob deGrom Mets unilaterally renewed pitcher’s contract after he declined to sign; entering his third season, he has no choice but to accept.

Your guide to what’s going on in sports

B2 • SV Weekend

www.saukvalley.com

Saturday, March 5, 2016

NBA | BULLS

Bulls hope to get healthy On the tube TV listings

Saturday Auto racing 10:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.

• NASCAR Sprint Cup, Kobalt 400, practice, at Las Vegas, FS1 3 p.m.

• NASCAR Xfinity, Boyd Gaming 300, at Las Vegas, FS1 Men’s basketball 11 a.m.

• NC State at Notre Dame, CBS • Ohio St. at Michigan St., ESPN • Vanderbilt at Texas A&M, ESPN2 • Georgetown at Villanova, FOX • Seton Hall at DePaul, FSN • Mississippi at Tennessee, SEC 11:30 a.m.

• Providence at St. John’s, FS1 Noon

• Minnesota at Rutgers, BTN • Oklahoma at TCU, ESPNEWS 1 p.m.

• LSU at Kentucky, CBS • West Virginia at Baylor, ESPN • Syracuse at Florida St., ESPN2 1:30 p.m.

• Creighton at Xavier, FOX • Marquette at Butler, FSN • Auburn at Mississippi St., SEC 2 p.m.

• Kansas St. at Texas Tech, ESPNEWS 2:30 p.m.

• Missouri Valley Tournament, first semifinal, at St. Louis, CBSSN • George Washington at Davidson, NBCSN 3 p.m.

Butler working his way back, others may follow soon

BY TEDDY GREENSTEIN Chicago Tribune

Jimmy Butler played it coy.

Asked if he’ll suit up Saturday night against the Rockets, the Bulls All-Star guard replied: “I do not know. It’s a good question.”

But he seemed to answer the question in another way.

“My only concern right now,” he said, “is to go get a haircut. I really want to look good for tomorrow night.”

Translation: Unless Butler’s left knee does not respond well to Friday’s vigorous practice or Saturday’s pregame activity, he will return to the lineup. Butler has not played since injuring his left knee Feb. 5, and the Bulls have gone 3-9 since.

Said coach Fred Hoiberg: “We won’t rule [Saturday] out, but he’s still got to come in and get through shootaround. Then hopefully he’ll be ready to go.”

The news on Taj Gibson’s strained right hamstring was a bit less promising. Hoiberg said he did not practice Friday, and that there’s still soreness in the area.

“He’s day-to-day – like we all are,” Hoiberg said.

Nikola Mirotic, out since Jan. 27 for an appendectomy and follow-up surgery to

Battered Bulls Jimmy Butler: 48 games, 22.4 ppg Nikola Mirotic: 44 games, 106 ppg Taj Gibson: 59 games, 8.2 ppg

Tribune News Service

Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) scores against the Suns’ T.J. Warren (12) during their game on December 7, 2015. Butler has been out since February 5 with a knee injury, but may return Saturday. address complications, did participate in Friday’s practice and took some contact.

“The biggest thing with Niko is getting his wind back, getting in shape,” Hoiberg said.

“He and Jimmy both have a ways to go on that because they’ve been sitting out.”

Mirotic’s return won’t improve an atrocious defense that has yielded 100 or more points in 15 straight games.

Hoiberg is counting on

Butler for that.

“He’s unbelievable,” Hoiberg said regarding Butler’s importance to the team. “Just look at everything he does.

He always defends the other team’s best perimeter player, and we have had, obviously, issues on that side of the floor.

“When you can stay in front of the ball and guard the other team’s best player like Jimmy can, it helps. You look at the paint – it’s just a

10 a.m.

• Atlantic 10 Tournament, first semifinal, at Richmond, Va., CBSSN 11 a.m.

matter of his toughness and physicality. He can rebound. He can push the ball down the floor.

Just the overall energy was up in practice today because of Jimmy’s presence on the floor.”

Asked about his fitness level, Butler replied: “I don’t think anyone here with a microphone cares if I’m in shape or not. I think that y’all just want us to win games, and our fans just want us to win games – out of shape, in shape. If I get out there, I better help us win.”

The Bulls have fallen to 30-30, a half-game out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Many have given up on this team.

Butler is not one of them.

“Embarrassed? No. I love this team. I’ll fight for this team,” he said.

“I just think it’s disappointing for myself, for the organization and for the fans that we have not brought the fight every night. It’s OK to lose, but it’s not OK to lose the way that we have been.”

NASCAR | TONY STEWART

Stewart still unsure of return date

• South Florida at Tulsa, ESPNEWS • S. Carolina at Arkansas, SEC

LAS VEGAS – Tony Stewart still doesn’t know when he’ll be back in his car to begin his final NASCAR season.

And yes, the three-time Sprint Cup series champion says he’s still done after this year.

Stewart is hoping to return to his car quickly, but he’ll know more about his recovery from back surgery when he has X-rays next week. He defied his doctors’ wishes with a cross-country flight to Nevada this week, although he spent most of it flat on his back.

“I’m definitely breaking the rules,” Stewart said Friday. “But I can’t lay in bed any longer. It’s about to kill me. We did everything short of bubble-wrap me to ride out here on the plane.”

Rest is necessary to ensure a full recovery for his broken vertebra, but Stewart wanted to support his Stewart-Haas Racing teammates and employees at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend when NASCAR opens its threerace Southwest swing. Brian Vickers is driving Stewart’s No. 14 Mobil 1 Chevrolet in Las Vegas, and Ty Dillon also will drive the car in other races.

Although he isn’t following the letter of his doctors’ instructions, Stewart also won’t return to his car until his body is ready.

“This is a different injury than the leg injury,” Stewart said, referring to his broken leg in 2013.

“The leg injury was a much more severe injury, but this is a much more sensitive injury. If this doesn’t heal right, if we do something that messes it up, it could affect me the rest of my life. It’s more important to let this thing heal right. We’re not rushing to get back in the car.”

Stewart was injured in a lowspeed dirt buggy accident near the California-Arizona border on Jan. 31. He had surgery to stabilize his back, but his doctors haven’t examined his progress or allowed him to begin rehabilitation.

• Missouri Valley Tournament, second semifinal, at St. Louis, CBSSN • Ohio Valley Tournament, championship, at Nashville, Tenn., ESPN2 5:30 p.m.

• North Carolina at Duke, ESPN 6:30 p.m.

• Florida at Missouri, SEC 7 p.m.

• Iowa at Michigan, BTN • VCU at Dayton, CBSSN • California at Arizona St., ESPN2 • St. Bonaventure at St. Louis, FSM 7:30 p.m.

• Louisville at Virginia, ESPN 8:30 p.m.

• Colorado at Utah, ESPNU 9 p.m.

• UNLV at San Diego St., CBSSN • West Coast Tournament, third quarterfinal, at Las Vegas, ESPN2 11 p.m.

• West Coast Tournament, fourth quarterfinal, at Las Vegas, ESPN2

Girls basketball Noon

• IHSA Class 3A thirdplace game, CSN 2 p.m.

• IHSA Class 3A championship game, CSN 6:30 p.m.

• IHSA Class 4A thirdplace game, CSN 8:30 p.m.

• IHSA Class 4A championship game, CSN

• ACC Tournament, first semifinal, at Greensboro, N.C., ESPNU 12:30 p.m.

• Atlantic 10 Tournament, second semifinal, at Richmond, Va., CBSSN 1 p.m.

• ACC Tournament, second semifinal, at Greensboro, N.C., ESPNU 2 p.m.

• Big Ten Tournament, first semifinal, at Indianapolis, BTN 4 p.m.

• SEC Tournament, first semifinal, at Jacksonville, Fla., ESPNU 4:15 p.m.

• Big Ten Tournament, second semifinal, at Indianapolis, BTN 6 p.m.

• SEC Tournament, second semifinal, at Jacksonville, Fla., ESPNU

Golf 11 a.m.

• PGA Tour, WGC-Cadillac Championship, third round, at Miami, GOLF 2 p.m.

• PGA Tour, WGC-Cadillac Championship, third round, at Miami, NBC 11 p.m.

Says he’ll stick to original plan to retire at year’s end

5 p.m.

TV listings Women’s basketball

• Stanford at Arizona, CBS • Iowa St. at Kansas, ESPN • Alabama at Georgia, ESPN2 4 p.m.

On the tube

GREG BEACHAM, AP Sports Writer

• LPGA Tour, HSBC Champions, final round, at Singapore, GOLF

MLB Noon

• Preseason, Cardinals vs.

Marlins, FSM

NBA 7:30 p.m.

• Rockets at Bulls, ABC

Rugby 7 p.m.

• World Rugby Sevens Series, NBCSN

Soccer 6:45 a.m.

• Premier League, Arsenal at Tottenham, NBCSN 8:30 a.m.

• Bundesliga, Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Augsburg, FS1 • Bundesliga, Borussia Mönchengladbach at VfL Wolfsburg, FS2 8:55 a.m.

AP

NASCAR driver Tony Stewart speaks during a news conference Friday in Las Vegas. Brian Vickers is driving the No. 14 while Stewart recovers from back surgery.

Stewart’s injury and his truncated season led to speculation that the notoriously competitive driver wouldn’t want to go out like that. Some wondered whether he would run a limited schedule next year, perhaps competing in the Daytona 500, which he has never won.

Stewart quashed that speculation in Las Vegas, shaking his head at the suggestion of a future Sprint Cup career beyond this season – and he lamented the circumstances of his injury, which happened in a 25-foot drop off a sand dune.

“I’m not going to change the plan because I got hurt,” Stewart said. “These are the cards we were dealt. It was a weird accident that nobody ever thought would happen. ... The story about how I got hurt, I can’t even make it sound cool. I got hurt driving 5 miles an hour. I wish I could tell the story of – I was jumping a 50-foot gap, running 60 miles an hour, it flipped over, caught on fire and I broke my

back. That’s not what happened.”

Stewart sat at a podium to answer a few questions Friday, even though he knew sitting wasn’t good for him. He needs to be flat on his back, or he has to keep moving around.

Although he’s getting off to a late start, Stewart hopes to get a medical waiver from NASCAR that would allow him to compete for a spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup if he wins a race and manages a top-30 finish in the standings. Kyle Busch got into the Chase last year despite missing the first 11 races with a broken leg, and he ended up winning the championship.

But Busch was injured during a NASCAR event, while Stewart was on his own time.

“I’ll do the best I can,” Stewart said. “Whatever they decide, they decide, and I would like to think it’s going to be similar to what they did last year with Kyle. The biggest thing I’m worried about is just getting this to heal properly.”

• Premier League, Aston Villa at Manchester City, NBCSN 11:25 a.m.

• Premier League, Leicester City at Watford, NBCSN

Let us hear it • Game results, story tips, athlete of the week nominations, team and individual stats can be faxed to 815-625-9390, called into 815-625-3600, ext. 5555, or e-mailed to sports@saukvalley.com.

Contact us at 815-625-3600 Sports Editor Ty Reynolds, ext. 5554 treynolds@saukvalley.com Assistant Sports Editor Eric Ingles, ext. 5555 eingles@saukvalley.com Sports Reporters Cody Cutter, ext. 5552 ccutter@saukvalley.com Patrick Mason, ext. 5550 pmason@saukvalley.com Brian Weidman, ext. 5551 bweidman@saukvalley.com

Saturday, March 5, 2016

www.saukvalley.com

SV Weekend • B3

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

On the tube TV listings

Sunday Auto racing

On the calendar

2:30 p.m.

• NASCAR Sprint Cup, Kobalt 400, at Las Vegas, FOX

Local events

Saturday

Men’s basketball

Men’s basketball

11 a.m.

7 p.m.

• Illinois at Penn St., BTN SMU at Cincinnati, CBS • Patriot League Tournament, semifinal, CBSSN

• NJCAA District IV championship, Sauk Valley at Moberly (Mo.)

Noon

• Colonial Athletic Tournament, semifinal, NBCSN

sportShorts

1 p.m.

• Nebraska at Northwestern, BTN • Missouri Valley Tournament, championship, CBS • Patriot League Tournament, semifinal, CBSSN • UCF at UConn, ESPNU

SVM staff, wire services PREP WRESTLING

Dukes, Rockets have 5 all-BNC wrestlers

1:30 p.m.

• Big South Tournament, championship, ESPN 2:30 p.m.

• Colonial Athletic Tournament, semifinal, NBCSN

Submitted photo

Spring turkey hunting season is close, beginning in April and lasting through the middle of May.

Turkey season around the corner

3 p.m.

• Memphis at East Carolina, CBSSN 3:30 p.m.

• Maryland at Indiana, CBS 6 p.m.

• Atlantic Sun Tournament, championship, ESPN2 6:30 p.m.

• Wisconsin at Purdue, BTN

Women’s basketball 11 a.m.

• Atlantic 10 Tournament, championship, ESPNU 11:30 a.m.

• ACC Tournament, championship, ESPN Noon

• Big East Tournament, quarterfinal, FS2 1:30 p.m.

• SEC Tournament, championship, ESPN • Big 12 Tournament, semifinal, FS1 2:30 p.m.

• Big East Tournament, quarterfinal, FS2 3:30 p.m.

• AAC Tournament, semifinal, ESPNU 4 p.m.

• Big 12 Tournament, semifinal, FS1 5:30 p.m.

• AAC Tournament, semifinal, ESPNU 6 p.m.

• Big Ten Tournament, championship, ESPN • Big East Tournament, quarterfinal, FS2 8 p.m.

• Pac-12 Tournament, championship, ESPN 8:30 p.m.

• Big East Tournament, quarterfinal, FS2

Golf 1 p.m.

• PGA Tour, WGC-Cadillac Championship, final round, at Miami, NBC

MLB Noon

• Preseason, Nationals vs.

Cardinals, FSM

NBA 2:30 p.m.

• Warriors at Lakers, ABC 5 p.m.

• Trailblazers at Pistons, NBA

NHL 4 p.m.

• Red Wings at Blackhawks, CSN 7 p.m.

• Blues at Wild, NBCSN

Soccer 7:25 a.m.

• Premier League, Liverpool at Crystal Palace, NBCSN 8:30 a.m.

• Bundesliga, SV Darmstadt 98 at F.S.V. Mainz, FS1 9:55 a.m.

• Premier League, Manchester United at West Bromwich Albion, NBCSN 10:30 a.m.

• Bundesliga, Hertha BSC Berlin at Hamburg SV, FS1 1 p.m.

• MLS, New York City at Chicago, CSN 3:30 p.m.

• MLS, Columbus at Portland, ESPN 6 p.m.

• MLS, Sporting Kansas City at Seattle, FS1

W

ell hello there, March. It’s good to see you again.

I thought that extra dang day in February was gonna kill, but make it through I did.

Now, it didn’t help too much that it decided to snow on us right when the new month came in, but it’s March and we know them 2 ugly months are gone and spring truly is no longer a pipe dream or some far-off land.

It really is just right around the corner. The extended forecast in fact shows quite a few days on the 40s, 50s and even a chance of rubbin’ out a couple a 60s, and that my friends is more like it.

Other than the big Monsters kick off in a couple weeks, things for me are pretty calm and quiet right now.

So I thought this week I’d pass along some

are very plentiful and very, very good table fare as well.

Fishing Remember now, all guide from 1st season Prophetyou fishermen out there April 11 - April 15 stown. He that your 2015 fishing can be 2nd season license is only good for reached at April 16 - April 21 3 more weeks. Don’t be flathead 3rd season mechanic40 like me and remember @gmail.com April 22 - April 27 this the night of the 4th season 30th like I’m famous April 28 - May 4 for doing, even though I remember to remind 5th season information on spring everyone else. Get her May 5 - May 10 turkey season. Thunder bought up now, and chickens, timber chick- April 28th to May 4th, then forget about it. Just ens, long beards or gob- and the final season will don’t go and get yourblers, whatever it is you run from May 5 to May self caught without one. call ’em, they’ve really That wouldn’t be a very 10th. caught on as a fun anigood situation at all.

I’d say hunters ought mal to pursue.

In closing this week, to be able to sneak in This spring in the I want to once again a season or two someNorthern Zone, which remind you all to get out where, yeah? I don’t we are indeed squarely hunt these birds, but see of your house this week. located in, has five sea- and hear many of them Grab your gun or your sons to offer hunters. bow, or a rod and reel. during my mushroom The first season will run forays. Sure is cool to Go shoot some targets April 11th through April hear a loud gobble at or cast a line or look for 15th. The second seaa shed antler. Whatever first light in the woods. son will run April 16th you do, just get up and Grab up your bow or through April 21st. Sea- your gun, and maybe a get out, breathe some son No. 3 will run from fresh air and enjoy yourcouple real good calls, April 22nd through April and get out after these self some nature. Until 27th. Season 4 will be cool-looking birds. They next time, Go Catfish!

mattJONES

Spring turkey hunting season

NHL | BLACKHAWKS

Blackhawks could have full roster Returning Kruger, Hossa will add options at forward

BY CHRIS KUC Chicago Tribune

It has been quite some time since coach Joel Quenneville has had a full Blackhawks roster from which to choose his lineups.

Barring further injuries or setbacks, it may happen before the regular season ends, as Quenneville said Thursday that center Marcus Kruger could return sooner than expected from the dislocated left wrist the center suffered Dec. 17.

Kruger originally was thought out until the postseason, but before the Hawks’ 4-2 loss to the Bruins at TD Garden, Quenneville said, “We think we could get [Kruger] back before the end of the year.”

GOING ON VACATION?

Up next: Red Wings at Blackhawks, 4 p.m. Sunday TV: CSN Kruger has been skating during the recovery process and, coupled with the impending return of Marian Hossa as soon as Sunday against the Red Wings at the United Center from a left leg injury, Quenneville soon could have more options for his forward lines.

“There is more opportunity to make different lines [and] more opportunity to have some balance in our ice time, as well,” Quenneville said. “When we get a good four-line rotation, we’re deeper and effective.”

In other roster news, winger Dale Weise made his Hawks debut Thursday after obtaining his work visa, and started the game on the fourth line with Brandon Mashinter and center Dennis Rasmussen. Weise was acquired from the Canadiens on Feb. 26, but wasn’t able to join the Hawks until the paperwork cleared. “[Weise] gives you energy,” Quenneville said. “He can play with top guys, he can play on an energy line, he’s a north-south player.”

Weise finished with one shot on goal in 12 minutes, 51 seconds of ice time.

Quenneville said Weise’s debut “was OK.”

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Five wrestlers from Dixon and five from Rock Falls were named All-Big Northern Conference wrestlers.

Dixon senior Connor Sperling, juniors Ryan Troutman and Andrew Wolber, and freshmen Colten Bishop and Tyler Lowry were named allconference, with senior Brandon Hey taking an honorable mention spot.

Rock Falls seniors Konner Smith and Francisco Arellano and juniors Rollie Elder, Tyler Meyers and Niles Ager were named all-conference. Senior Breu Knox received an honorable mention nod.

Oregon seniors John Gibellini and Matthew Stevens were all-conference picks. Freshman Chase Clark was an honorable mention selection.

PREP BOWLING

Dukes, Duchesses hand out awards The Dixon boys and girls bowling teams had their award ceremony recently.

For the Dukes, Brandon Hamburg was named team MVP. The team captain also had the high average of 202.59, and tied for high series with Daniel Pottorff with a 689.

Pottorff was most improved, raising his average by 21.49 pins.

Pottorff and co-captain Jarod White joined Hamburg as top-16 finishers in conference.

Tyler VanQuathem was named Rookie of the Year.

For the Duchesses, captain Katlyn Bay had the high average of 194 and the high game of 278. She shared MVP honors with Maggie Thomas.

Alyssa Bonnette and Allison Bay shared Rookie of the Year honors.

Mackenzie Kavanaugh had the high series with a 693, while Jadyn Erb took the Team Spirit award, and Melissa Bates was Queen of the Hill.

GOLF

Scott takes lead after 8 birdies Adam Scott shot a 6-under 66 Friday, moving to 10 under for the tournament and giving him a two-shot lead over Rory McIlroy and defending champion Dustin Johnson at the midway point of the Cadillac Championship.

Johnson shot 64, the best round of the day.

McIlroy shot a 65 for a share of second place, and Danny Willett was alone in fourth at 7 under.

NFL

Browns’ Bryant suspended 4 games Browns outside linebacker Armonty Bryant has been suspended without pay for the first four regular-season games of 2016 for violating the NFL’s policy on performanceenhancing drugs.

Bryant pleaded not guilty to felony drug charges Feb. 24 in Cuyahoga County (Ohio) Common Pleas Court. He was indicted 2 weeks earlier on two counts of felony drug possession stemming from a Christmas morning traffic stop.

B4 • SV Weekend

LOCAL SPORTS

Cavs have answers after halftime

FRIDAY’S SCOREBOARD Men’s basketball NJCAA District IV Championship at Moberly, Mo. Saturday’s game • Sauk Valley vs. Moberly, 7 p.m.

COLD

CONTINUED FROM B1

Mehrens didn’t record a shot attempt in the third quarter, and was 1-for5 in the fourth for two points. Without Mehrens able to stretch the floor, the energetic Cavs used their length to cause problems inside and aggressively pressured the ball and forced six second-half turnovers. “[Atilano] played a step closer than what they did in the first half,” Mehrens said. “They’re a strong, tough team. They know where the weight room is.”

L-P (23-4) has now beaten Dixon (25-4) three times this season. The Cavs needed overtime in the first meeting in the finals at the L-P Thanksgiving tournament, then needed three OTs in the championship of the Plano Christmas Classic.

“They just don’t stop,” Mehrens said when asked how L-P has been so successful against the Dukes this season. “Whatever we did, they just didn’t stop.”

Even when facing its biggest deficit of 11 points, L-P kept plugging away. A small change on defense, and abandoning the 3-point shot helped the Cavs take over in the second half.

“We just attacked the basket as much as we could,” L-P guard Brady Huebbe said. “We had success there, so we kept at it.”

Dixon, meanwhile, stopped making shots.

After shooting 50 percent in the opening half, Dixon shot 6-for-21 the rest of the way. The Dukes were outscored 15-3 in the third quarter, and 18-14 in the fourth. The wheels fell off of what had been a Ferrari most of the season, during a 13-2 L-P run in the third quarter.

Huebbe went to the free-throw line for an and-1 try, and lined up

Saturday, March 5, 2016

Boys basketball AP polls Class 4A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Simeon (9) 24-3 90 1 2. Kenwood 19-4 79 2 3. Curie 22-4 74 3 4. Lisle Benet 25-3 61 4 5. Edwardsville 23-4 51 5 6. Chicago Heights Marian 22-5 46 7 7. Harvey Thornton 21-3 26 9 8. Riverside-Brookfield 21-5 25 8 9. Evanston Township 21-5 12 6 10. Quincy 21-5 10 NR Others receiving votes: HomewoodFlossmoor 9. Deerfield 6. East Moline United 3. Stevenson 2. Rock Island 1.

Class 3A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Belleville Althoff (8) 25-2 98 1 2. Morgan Park (2) 22-3 92 2 3. Fenwick 26-2 79 3 4. Rockford Boylan 27-2 61 5 5. Centralia 24-3 42 8 6. Peoria Manual 21-4 39 4 7. Bloomington 22-6 38 NR 8. Galesburg 28-3 29 6 9. Metamora 24-1 27 10 10. Bogan 17-7 23 7 Others receiving votes: North Lawndale 10. Dixon 6. Springfield Southeast 2.

Washington 1. Normal University 1. Springfield Lanphier 1. LaSalle-Peru 1.

NIB-12 West Conf.

9-4 9-4 9-4 3-10 0-13

LaSalle-Peru Sterling Ottawa Geneseo Rochelle

All 23-4 19-8 18-10 9-18 5-23

Monday’s result 3A Freeport Regional • Rochelle 76, Stillman Valley 50 Tuesday’s results 3A Dixon Regional • LaSalle-Peru 55, Rock Falls 47 3A Freeport Regional • Boylan 75, Rochelle 55

LaSalle-Peru’s Isaiah Tubbs (back) gets called for an intentional foul after grabbing Dixon’s Isaiah Roby during Friday night’s 3A Dixon Regional title game at Lancaster Gym. for what should have been one free throw at the 2:32 mark. The baseline referee held up two fingers, indicating two shots, and after Huebbe’s attempt bounced off the rim, no one except one L-P player moved to grab the rebound as everyone else was awaiting a second shot.

After a discussion, the ball was awarded to the Cavs, who inbounded the ball and Atilano drained a jumper at the 2:20 mark.

“Looking back,” Mead

said, “I should have called a timeout there to regroup.”

Roby, who led the Dukes with 14 points, however, let his coach off the hook.

“We let that stuff get to us when we shouldn’t have,” the senior Nebraska recruit said. “We’re emotional guys, but at the same time, we had four seniors on the floor and we should have handled that better.

“You have to tip your hat to them, too. It’s hard to beat a team three

times in a season, and that’s what they did. It’s hard when you work all year, but they put in the work too.”

This loss marked the second time in as many seasons Dixon has lost in the regional final game.

L-P advances to the Bradley University Sectional in Peoria, where it will face Bloomington – a 75-68 winner over the host Silver Streaks in the 3A Galesburg Regional final – in a semifinal game Tuesday night.

Dukes amass 76-13 record last 3 years WEIDMAN

CONTINUED FROM B1

Lancaster Gym became the place to be. When I arrived at the back entrance 45 minutes before the regional semifinal game against Geneseo on Wednesday, the ticket line extended beyond the old gym.

One person groused to me about waiting in line for so long. I asked if he preferred it be like 5 years ago, when maybe 50 people would show up for games, or fewer than that if the opposing team’s fans didn’t travel well.

I used to be able to show up 15 minutes before game time and get a prime parking spot on the north side of the building. On Friday, the parking spot was several hundred yards west of DHS, along the Rock River.

I also heard tales about players visiting grade schools to deliver a positive message and be a good role model for youngsters. I heard about food tabs being picked up by fans at restaurants.

It’s an example of how a winning high school basketball team can galvanize a community.

On the flip side, for you halfemptiers out there, 2015-16 marked the second time in as many seasons the Dukes were eliminated in a regional final. A year ago, a powerful squad led by seniors Cal Jarrett and Laron Carr, and Roby as a junior, played its poorest game of the season and was upset by Geneseo in the Sterling Regional final.

This year, the hurdle Dixon couldn’t clear resided about 40 miles south in LaSalle. The Cavaliers handed the Dukes three of their four losses, and the latest one was the hardest to take.

L-P edged Dixon in overtime to win its own Thanksgiving tournament, then needed three OTs to win again in the finals of the Plano Christmas tournament.

The latest meeting, however, was in Lancaster Gymnasium, in front of a full house of rabid fans.

The situation would surely turn in the Dukes’ favor with some home cookin’, wouldn’t it?

Friday’s results 4A Ottawa Regional • Championship, Rock Island 49, Ottawa 48 3A Dixon Regional • Championship, LaSalle-Peru 49, Dixon 39

BNC West Dixon Winnebago Oregon Rockford Lutheran Byron Mendota Rock Falls Stillman Valley

Conf.

13-1 10-4 10-4 10-4 4-8 3-9 3-11 1-13

All 25-4 23-7 21-9 17-11 14-15 10-18 6-22 9-18

Tuesday’s result 3A Dixon Regional • LaSalle-Peru 55, Rock Falls 47 Wednesday’s results 4A Harlem Regional • Hononegah 67, Lutheran 52 3A Dixon Regional • Dixon 58, Geneseo 49 2A Princeton Sectional • Winnebago 53, Kewanee 36 Friday’s results 3A Dixon Regional • Championship, LaSalle-Peru 49, Dixon 39 2A Princeton Sectional • Championship, Rockridge 45, Winnebago 38

Three Rivers Conf.

12-2 12-2 11-3 10-4 10-4 9-5 8-6 7-7 7-7 6-8 6-8 3-11 2-12 1-13 1-13

All 26-4 26-5 19-10 19-9 14-12 18-11 16-13 15-14 11-14 15-13 13-18 11-18 9-20 4-24 4-24

Tuesday’s result 2A Princeton Sectional • Rockridge 57, Newman 53 Wednesday’s result 2A Princeton Sectional • Winnebago 53, Kewanee 36 Friday’s result 2A Princeton Sectional • Championship, Rockridge 45, Winnebago 38

NUIC East AFC Aquin Polo South Beloit Dakota Milledgeville Forreston Pecatonica Orangeville Durand

Conf.

11-2 9-2 9-4 5-3 7-6 6-6 4-8 4-9 1-8 0-10

All 21-10 16-8 20-10 9-13 10-15 13-14 7-19 10-17 2-18 0-17

Season concluded

Postseason pairings CLASS 3A Dixon Regional Monday’s result • No. 9 Rock Falls 65, No. 10 Mendota 44 Tuesday’s result • LaSalle-Peru 55, Rock Falls 47 Wednesday’s result • No. 3 Dixon 58, No. 8 Geneseo 49 Friday’s game • Championship, LaSalle-Peru 49, Dixon 39 LaSalle-Peru advances to Bradley University Sectional vs. Bloomington, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, March 8

Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com

Dixon’s Kyle LeBlanc shoots against LaSalle-Peru’s Kobey Fusinetti during Friday night’s 3A Dixon Regional championship.

Alas, no. A disastrous third quarter in which Dixon was outscored 15-3 put it behind 31-25 entering the final quarter, and the Dukes didn’t get closer than five points the rest of the game.

When Roby committed his fifth foul, preventing a breakaway layup with just under a minute to go, he received a warm ovation from fans of both teams, and that was that.

Before the game, I noticed a couple of former Amboy basketball players chatting on the south end of the gym, and it got me thinking about my old days as a Clipper.

When I was a sophomore, Amboy had a very good boys basketball team. It absorbed some earlyseason losses, as the core of the team were also members of a state runner-up football squad, and it took a while for them to round

into proper hoops form.

One of the early losses was to Putnam County, which also had a very good basketball team. As fate would have it, the teams met up in the Hall Sectional semifinal, and the Clippers had payback on their minds.

Amboy led the bulk of that sectional game, only to have Putnam County win it at the end. It’s 35 years later, and I still remember the sting of that defeat.

I would guess players on that Amboy team couldn’t tell you much about the 1980-81 regular season, but they remember the postseason, and a bitter loss to Putnam County.

It may be fair or unfair, but for this season’s Dukes, I would guess they’ll look back someday and feel the same way.

2A Princeton Sectional Championship at Prouty Gym

ROCKRIDGE 45, WINNEBAGO 38 ROCKRIDGE (26-4) Brett Hilligoss 1 0-4 2, Carson Frakes 4 5-5 14, Gentry Whiteman 4 4-5 13, Peyton Bizarri 0 0-0 0, Tyler Ulfig 1 0-0 2, TJ Martens 4 0-4 8, Dakota McManus 1 4-4 6.

Totals: 15 13-14 45.

WINNEBAGO (23-7) Daniel Rosenstiel 4 0-0 12, Justin Spickler 0 0-0 0, Jess Smith 0 0-0 0, Brandon Suggs 4 0-1 8, Kenzell Jones 0 0-3 0, Isaiah Whitehead 0 0-0 0, Ty Waller 2 3-6 7, Andrew Morrissey 4 2-4 11. Totals: 14 5-11 38.

Rockridge 11 12 12 10 — 45 Winnebago 6 7 16 9 — 38 3s – Rockridge 2 (Frakes, Whiteman), Winnebago 5 (Rosenstiel 4, Morrissey).

NIB-12 West Conf.

LaSalle-Peru 9-4 Sterling 8-5 Geneseo 4-7 Rochelle 2-12 Ottawa 0-12 Season concluded

Dunlap Regional Monday’s results • No. 6 Peoria Notre Dame 52, No. 7 Dunlap 36 • No. 5 Richwoods 54, No. 11 IVC 44 Tuesday’s result • No. 1 Metamora 53, Notre Dame 40 Wednesday’s result • Richwoods 65, No. 4 Sterling 61 Friday’s game • Championship, Metamora 50, Richwoods 46 Metamora advances to Bradley University Sectional vs. Peoria Manual, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, March 9 CLASS 2A Princeton Sectional Tuesday’s result • Rockridge 57, Newman 53 Wednesday’s result • Winnebago 53, Kewanee 36 Friday’s game • Championship, Rockridge 45, Winnebago 38 Rockridge advances to NIU Supersectional vs. Aurora Christian, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 8 CLASS 1A River Ridge Sectional Tuesday’s result • Brimfield 72, Aquin 48 Wednesday’s result • Annawan 55, Lena-Winslow 50 Friday’s game • Championship, Brimfield 60, Annawan 47 Brimfield advances to NIU Supersectional vs. Chicago Leo, 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 8

All 16-12 14-17 12-17 4-25 3-22

BNC West Conf.

Rockford Lutheran 14-0 Byron 12-2 Stillman Valley 9-4 Dixon 6-6 Winnebago 7-8 Rock Falls 5-9 Oregon 2-12 Mendota 0-13 Season concluded

All 28-3 30-3 20-9 16-13 18-13 15-14 7-22 2-21

Three Rivers Conf.

Sherrard 13-1 Kewanee 13-1 Hall 11-3 Amboy 11-3 Erie 9-5 St. Bede 9-5 Bureau Valley 8-6 Morrison 7-7 Rockridge 5-9 Fulton 4-9 Prophetstown 4-10 Princeton 3-10 Newman 3-10 Orion 3-11 Riverdale 1-12 Season concluded

Monday’s results 4A Harlem Regional • Lutheran 84, Guilford 81 3A Dixon Regional • Rock Falls 65, Mendota 44 3A Freeport Regional • Rochelle 76, Stillman Valley 50

Rockridge Newman Kewanee St. Bede Morrison Princeton Hall Erie Sherrard Orion Fulton Riverdale Prophetstown Amboy Bureau Valley

LaSALLE-PERU 49, DIXON 39 DIXON (25-4) Riley Mehrens 4-8 0-0 11, Nyrel Sullivan 1-4 0-0 2, Isaiah Roby 4-14 5-9 14, Noah Wilcox 0-0 0-0 0, Oscar Van Sickle 0-0 0-0 0, Kyle LeBlanc 5-8 2-2 12, Beau Bailey 0-3 0-0 0, Nate Gascoigne 0-0 0-0 0.

Totals: 14-37 7-11 39.

LaSALLE-PERU (23-4) Austin Prybylinski 0-2 1-2 1, Brady Huebbe 3-8 1-4 7, Kobey Fusinetti 1-8 0-0 2, Jake Doyle 0-1 2-2 2, Christian Soderholm 3-10 3-4 9, Peyton Sampson 0-1 2-2 2, Isaiah Tubbs 2-5 2-2 7, Ryan Atilano 7-12 5-5 19.

Totals: 16-47 16-21 49.

Dixon 13 9 3 14 — 39 LaSalle-Peru 6 10 15 18 — 49 3s – Dixon 4 (Mehrens 3, Roby), LaSallePeru 1 (Tubbs). Rebounds – Dixon 23 (Roby 10, Sullivan 4, LeBlanc 4), LaSallePeru 23 (Soderholm 10, Sampson 3).

Assists – Dixon 4 (Roby 4), LaSalle-Peru 2 (Fusinetti, Huebbe). Steals – Dixon 1 (Roby), LaSalle-Peru 4 (Sampson 2). Turnovers – Dixon 8, LaSalle-Peru 3. Fouls – Dixon 21, LaSalle-Peru 14.

Girls basketball

Wednesday’s results 4A Ottawa Regional • Ottawa 66, Bradley-Bourbonnais 59 3A Dixon Regional • Dixon 58, Geneseo 49 3A Dunlap Regional • Richwoods 65, Sterling 61

Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com

Friday’s box scores 3A Dixon Regional Championship at Lancaster Gym

All 24-6 21-9 21-5 22-7 24-7 19-12 15-13 13-13 9-18 10-14 7-19 11-15 10-19 4-21 3-21

NUIC East Conf.

AFC 13-0 Durand 11-2 Pecatonica 8-5 Forreston 8-5 Aquin 7-6 Milledgeville 7-6 Dakota 7-6 Polo 2-11 Orangeville 2-11 South Beloit 0-13 Season concluded

All 25-2 21-7 16-11 15-14 18-13 12-13 12-18 4-21 2-20 2-17

NUIC West Conf.

Stockton 11-1 Galena 10-2 Eastland 9-3 East Dubuque 7-5 Pearl City 6-6 River Ridge-Scales Mound 6-6 Warren 3-9 Lena-Winslow 2-10 West Carroll 0-12 Season concluded

All 23-7 26-2 20-11 15-12 14-14 10-18 14-16 12-17 0-24

IHSA State Tournament at Redbird Arena, Normal CLASS 3A Today’s semifinals • Chicago North Lawndale 59, Highland 57, 2OT • Morton 54, Chicago Morgan Park 39 Saturday’s games Third place • Highland vs. Morgan Park, 12:15 pm.

Championship • North Lawndale vs. Morton, 2 p.m.

CLASS 4A Today’s semifinals • Palatine Fremd 47, Chicago Whitney Young 40, OT • Lisle Benet 68, River Forest Trinity 51 Saturday’s games Third place • Whitney Young vs. Trinity, 6:30 pm.

Championship • Fremd vs. Benet, 8:15 p.m.

Wrestling Big Northern West All-Conference First Team Niles Ager, Rock Falls jr.; Francisco Arellano, Rock Falls sr.; Tony Aughenbaugh, Mendots so.; Nolan Baker, Byron jr.; Colten Bishop, Dixon fr.; Sam Durfey, Stillman Valley so.; Rollie Elder, Rock Falls jr.; Brandon Elsbury, Byron jr.; Jacob Elsbury, Byron sr.; Logan Eppard, Mendota fr.; John Ghibellini, Oregon sr.; Devan Heslop, Winnebago sr.; Drake Jennings, Stillman Valley so.; Blake Kittleson, Stillman Valley sr.; Tyler Lowry, Dixon fr.; Tyler Meyers, Rock Falls jr.; Anthony Olivares, Winnebago sr.; Kord Oltmanns, Byron sr.; Josh Schrank, Rockford Lutheran so.; Konner Smith, Rock Falls sr.; Connor Sperling, Dixon sr.; Matthew Stevens, Oregon sr.; Ryan Troutman, Dixon jr.; Jared Van Vleet, Stillman Valley so.; Luke Wallace, Rockford Lutheran sr.; Brady Wilsie, Byron sr.; Andrew Wolber, Dixon jr.; McCoy Ziel, Byron sr.

Honorable Mention Chase Clark, Oregon fr.; Dylan DeVries, Stillman Valley sr.; Brandon Hey, Dixon sr.; Breu Knox, Rock Falls sr.; Tyler McKay, Byron sr.; Payton Parrotte. Rockford Lutheran jr.; Austin Robinson, Mendota fr.; Thomas Sanner, Winnebago jr.

saukvalley.com saukvalley.com saukvalley.com saukvalley.com saukvalley.com saukvalley.com

Saturday, March 5, 2016

www.saukvalley.com

FRIDAY’S SCOREBOARD Men’s basketball Big Ten Conference Overall W-L Pct. W-L Pct. Indiana 14-3 .823 24-6 .800 Michigan St. 12-5 .705 25-5 .833 Maryland 12-5 .705 24-6 .800 Wisconsin 12-5 .705 20-10 .667 Iowa 11-6 .647 20-9 .689 Ohio St. 11-6 .647 19-11 .633 Purdue 11-6 .647 23-7 .767 Michigan 10-7 .588 20-10 .667 Northwestern 7-10 .412 19-11 .633 Penn St. 6-11 .353 15-15 .500 Nebraska 6-11 .353 14-16 .467 Illinois 5-12 .294 13-17 .433 Minnesota 2-15 .118 8-21 .276 Rutgers 0-17 .000 6-24 .200 Tuesday’s results Purdue 81, Nebraska 62 Indiana 81, Iowa 78 Wednesday’s results Michigan St. 97, Rutgers 66 Wisconsin 62, Minnesota 49 Thursday’s results Maryland 81, Illinois 55 Northwestern 71, Penn St. 61 Saturday’s games Ohio St. at Michigan St., 11 a.m. (ESPN) Minnesota at Rutgers, noon (BTN) Iowa at Michigan, 7 p.m. (BTN) Sunday’s games Illinois at Penn St., 11 a.m. (BTN) Nebraska at Northwestern, 1 p.m. (BTN) Maryland at Indiana, 3:30 p.m. (CBS) Wisconsin at Purdue, 6:30 p.m. (BTN) State schedule Tuesday’s results Villanova 83, DePaul 62 E. Michigan 75, N. Illinois 71 Wednesday’s result Murray St. 78, E. Illinois 62 Thursday’s result Loyola 74, Bradley 66 Friday’s results Wichita St. 66, Loyola 58 N. Iowa 66, S. Illinois 60 N. Illinois 80, Ball St. 69 Indiana St. 65, Illinois St. 57 Saturday’s games Seton Hall at DePaul, 11 a.m.

UMKC at Chicago St., 2:05 p.m.

Ill.-Chicago vs. Wright St., at Detroit, 4 p.m.

Top 25 schedule Monday’s results No. 8 North Carolina 75, Syracuse 70 No. 21 Iowa State 58, Oklahoma State 50 No. 1 Kansas 86, No. 23 Texas 56 Tuesday’s results No. 3 Villanova 83, DePaul 62 No. 4 Virginia 64, Clemson 57 No. 6 Oklahoma 73, No. 19 Baylor 71 No. 11 Louisville 56, Georgia Tech 53 No. 12 Indiana 81, No. 16 Iowa 78 No. 15 Purdue 81, Nebraska 62 No. 17 Duke 79, Wake Forest 71 No. 20 Texas A&M 81, Auburn 63 No. 22 Kentucky 88, Florida 79 Wednesday’s results No. 2 Michigan State 97, Rutgers 66 No. 7 Miami 68, Notre Dame 50 No. 9 Oregon 76, UCLA 68 No. 10 West Virginia 90, Texas Tech 68 Thursday’s results No. 14 Maryland 81, Illinois 55 No. 18 Arizona 64, No. 25 California 61 No. 24 SMU 80, UConn 54 Friday’s result No. 23 Texas 62, Oklahoma State 50 Saturday’s games No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 21 Iowa State, 3 p.m.

No. 2 Michigan State vs. Ohio State, 11 a.m.

No. 3 Villanova vs. Georgetown, 11 a.m.

No. 4 Virginia vs. No. 11 Louisville, 8 p.m.

No. 5 Xavier vs. Creighton, 1:30 p.m.

No. 6 Oklahoma at TCU, noon No. 7 Miami at Virginia Tech, 3 p.m.

No. 8 North Carolina at No. 17 Duke, 5:30 p.m.

No. 9 Oregon at Southern Cal, 3 p.m.

No. 10 West Virginia at No. 19 Baylor, 1 p.m.

No. 13 Utah vs. Colorado, 8:30 p.m.

No. 16 Iowa at Michigan, 7 p.m.

No. 18 Arizona vs. Stanford, 3 p.m.

No. 20 Texas A&M vs. Vanderbilt, 11 a.m.

No. 22 Kentucky vs. LSU, 1 p.m.

No. 25 California at Arizona State, 7 p.m.

Associated Press Top 25 Record Pts Prv 1. Kansas (63) 25-4 1,623 2 2. Michigan St. (2) 24-5 1,510 6 3. Villanova 25-4 1,479 1 4. Virginia 22-6 1,405 3 5. Xavier 25-4 1,356 5 6. Oklahoma 22-6 1,297 3 7. Miami 23-5 1,211 12 8. North Carolina 23-6 1,205 7 9. Oregon 23-6 1,065 13 10. West Virginia 22-7 1,056 14 11. Louisville 22-7 822 11 12. Indiana 23-6 819 18 13. Utah 23-7 751 22 14. Maryland 23-6 733 10 15. Purdue 22-7 613 20 16. Iowa 20-8 572 8 17. Duke 21-8 495 15 18. Arizona 22-7 450 9 19. Baylor 21-8 447 19 20. Texas A&M 22-7 419 21 21. Iowa St. 20-9 413 17 22. Kentucky 21-8 405 16 23. Texas 19-10 338 25 24. SMU 24-4 196 24 25. California 21-8 178 — Others receiving votes: Wisconsin 93, Seton Hall 60, Wichita St. 43, Saint Joseph’s 29, Notre Dame 14, Texas Tech 12, Cincinnati 4, Saint Mary’s (Cal) 3, Vanderbilt 3, UALR 2, Valparaiso 2, Dayton 1, Stephen F. Austin 1.

USA Today Coaches Poll Record Pts Pvs 1. Kansas (31) 25-4 799 2 2. Villanova 25-4 734 1 3. Michigan State (1) 24-5 733 7 4. Virginia 22-6 673 3 5. Xavier 25-4 637 5 6. Oklahoma 22-6 623 4 7. Miami 23-5 607 11 8. North Carolina 23-6 584 6 9. West Virginia 22-7 518 12 10. Oregon 23-6 510 13 11. Indiana 23-6 434 15 12. Maryland 23-6 405 9 13. Utah 23-7 330 23 13. Purdue 22-7 330 19 15. Iowa 20-8 321 8 16. Arizona 22-7 307 10 17. Baylor 21-8 288 16 18. Texas A&M 22-7 261 21 19. Kentucky 21-8 226 14 20. Iowa State 20-9 221 17 21. Duke 21-8 211 18 22. Texas 19-10 187 25 23. Wichita State 23-7 68 — 24. Saint Mary’s 24-4 61 — 25. California 21-8 58 — Others receiving votes: Wisconsin 52, Notre Dame 42, Seton Hall 39, Texas Tech 36, Providence 28, Pittsburgh 17, Saint Joseph’s 17, South Carolina 16, Dayton 14, Valparaiso 6, St. Bonaventure 4, Colorado 2.

Conference Tournaments Horizon League at Detroit First Round Saturday Green Bay vs. Cleveland State, 11 a.m.

Milwaukee vs. Northern Kentucky, 1:30 p.m.

Wright State vs. Illinois-Chicago, 4 p.m.

Detroit vs. Youngstown State, 6:30 p.m.

Second Round Sunday Green Bay-Cleveland State winner vs. Milwaukee-Northern Kentucky winner, Noon Wright State-Illinois-Chicago winner vs.

Detroit-Youngstown State winner, 2:30 p.m.

Semifinals Monday Valparaiso vs. Green Bay-Cleveland State_ Milwaukee-Northern Kentucky winner, 6 p.m.

Oakland vs. Wright State-Illinois-Chicago_ Detroit-Youngstown State winner, 8:30 p.m.

Championship Tuesday Semifinal winners, 6 p.m.

Missouri Valley Conference at St. Louis First Round Thursday Loyola of Chicago 74, Bradley 66 Missouri State 69, Drake 67 Quarterfinals Friday Wichita State 66, Loyola of Chicago 58 Northern Iowa 66, Southern Illinois 60 Evansville 66, Missouri State 56 Indiana State 65, Illinois State 57

SV Weekend • B5

MEN’S BASKETBALL | BIG TEN

Semifinals Saturday Wichita State vs. Northern Iowa, 2:35 p.m.

Evansville vs. Indiana State, 5:05 p.m.

Championship Sunday, March 6 Semifinal winners, 1:05 p.m.

Ohio Valley Conference AtNashville, Tenn.

First Round Wednesday Austin Peay 92, Tennessee Tech 72 Murray State 78, Eastern Illinois 62 Second Round Thursday Austin Peay 74, Tennessee State 73 Morehead State 75, Murray State 66 Semifinals Friday Austin Peay 97, Belmont 96, OT UT Martin vs. Morehead State, late Championship Saturday Austin Peay vs. UT Martin-Morehead St. winner, 5 p.m.

NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlantic Division W L Pct GB Toronto 41 19 .683 — Boston 38 25 .603 4½ New York 25 38 .397 17½ Brooklyn 18 44 .290 24 Philadelphia 8 54 .129 34 Southeast Division W L Pct GB Miami 36 26 .581 — Atlanta 33 28 .541 2½ Charlotte 33 28 .541 2½ Washington 30 31 .492 5½ Orlando 27 34 .443 8½ Central Division W L Pct GB Cleveland 43 17 .717 — Indiana 32 30 .516 12 Detroit 31 30 .508 12½ Chicago 30 30 .500 13 Milwaukee 26 36 .419 18

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Southwest Division W L Pct GB x-San Antonio 52 9 .852 — Memphis 37 24 .607 15 Dallas 33 29 .532 19½ Houston 30 31 .492 22 New Orleans 23 37 .383 28½ Northwest Division W L Pct GB Oklahoma City 42 20 .677 — Portland 33 30 .524 9½ Utah 28 33 .459 13½ Denver 24 38 .387 18 Minnesota 19 43 .306 23 Pacific Division W L Pct GB x-Golden State 55 5 .917 — L.A. Clippers 40 20 .667 15 Sacramento 25 35 .417 30 Phoenix 16 46 .258 40 L.A. Lakers 12 50 .194 44 x-clinched playoff spot Friday’s results Miami 112, Philadelphia 102 Phoenix 102, Orlando 84 Charlotte 108, Indiana 101 Toronto 117, Portland 115 Boston 105, New York 104 Milwaukee 116, Minnesota 101 Memphis 94, Utah 88 Cleveland 108, Washington 83 Brooklyn 121, Denver 120, OT Atlanta at L.A. Lakers, late Saturday’s games Utah at New Orleans, 6 p.m.

Boston at Cleveland, 6 p.m.

Indiana at Washington, 6 p.m.

Detroit at New York, 6 p.m.

Brooklyn at Minnesota, 7 p.m.

Houston at Chicago, 7:30 p.m.

Sacramento at San Antonio, 7:30 p.m.

Atlanta at L.A. Clippers, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday’s games Oklahoma City at Milwaukee, 2:30 p.m.

Golden State at L.A. Lakers, 2:30 p.m.

Phoenix at Memphis, 3 p.m.

Dallas at Denver, 4 p.m.

Portland at Detroit, 5 p.m.

Philadelphia at Miami, 5 p.m.

Houston at Toronto, 5:30 p.m.

NHL EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlantic Division GP W L OT Pts GF Tampa Bay 64 38 22 4 80 179 Florida 64 36 20 8 80 176 Boston 65 36 23 6 78 201 Detroit 64 32 21 11 75 163 Ottawa 65 30 28 7 67 189 Montreal 65 30 29 6 66 177 Buffalo 65 26 31 8 60 154 Toronto 63 21 32 10 52 150 Metropolitan Division GP W L OT Pts GF Washington 64 47 13 4 98 210 N.Y. Rangers 65 38 21 6 82 184 N.Y. Islanders 62 35 20 7 77 178 Pittsburgh 63 33 22 8 74 171 Philadelphia 63 29 23 11 69 157 New Jersey 66 31 28 7 69 147 Carolina 65 29 26 10 68 158 Columbus 65 27 30 8 62 173

GA 152 151 178 168 204 181 175 187 GA 149 165 154 161 172 164 174 199

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Central Division GP W L OT Pts GF 66 40 21 5 85 187 66 39 20 7 85 213 66 37 20 9 83 166 65 32 21 12 76 176 65 30 25 10 70 172 66 33 29 4 70 178 63 26 32 5 57 164 Pacific Division GP W L OT Pts GF Los Angeles 63 38 21 4 80 168 Anaheim 63 36 19 8 80 161 San Jose 63 35 22 6 76 191 Vancouver 63 24 27 12 60 152 Arizona 64 27 31 6 60 169 Edmonton 67 25 35 7 57 165 Calgary 64 26 34 4 56 173 Note: Two points for a win, one point overtime loss.

Friday’s results N.Y. Rangers 3, Washington 2 Columbus 6, Edmonton 3 Dallas 4, New Jersey 2 Saturday’s games Minnesota at Buffalo, noon Calgary at Pittsburgh, 2 p.m.

Nashville at Colorado, 2 p.m.

Anaheim at Los Angeles, 3 p.m.

Washington at Boston, 6 p.m.

Ottawa at Toronto, 6 p.m.

Carolina at Tampa Bay, 6 p.m.

Columbus at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.

Montreal at Winnipeg, 6 p.m.

Florida at Arizona, 8 p.m.

Vancouver at San Jose, 9 p.m.

Sunday’s games Dallas at Ottawa, 4 p.m.

Pittsburgh at New Jersey, 4 p.m.

N.Y. Islanders at N.Y. Rangers, 4 p.m.

Detroit at Chicago, 4 p.m.

Edmonton at Winnipeg, 6 p.m.

St. Louis at Minnesota, 7 p.m.

Chicago Dallas St. Louis Nashville Minnesota Colorado Winnipeg

GA 159 191 162 166 163 189 190 GA 145 147 169 181 203 200 203 for

Auto racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Points Leaders Through Feb. 28 Points Behind 1. Kyle Busch 78 — 2. Martin Truex Jr. 75 -3 3. Kevin Harvick 74 -4 4. Carl Edwards 73 -5 5. Denny Hamlin 70 -8 (tie) Jimmie Johnson 70 -8 7. Kurt Busch 69 -9 8. Joey Logano 64 -14 9. Austin Dillon 63 -15 10. Aric Almirola 55 -23 11. Brad Keselowski 54 -24 12. Matt Kenseth 51 -27 13. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 50 -28 14. Kyle Larson 49 -29 15. Ryan Newman 48 -30 16. Kasey Kahne 46 -32 (tie) Paul Menard 46 -32 18. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 45 -33 19. Jamie McMurray 44 -34 20. Regan Smith 40 -38 2016 Schedule Feb. 13 – x-Sprint Unlimited, Daytona Beach, Fla. (Denny Hamlin) Feb. 18 – x-Can-Am Duel I, Daytona Beach, Fla. (Dale Earnhardt Jr.) Feb. 18 – x-Can-Am Duel II, Daytona Beach, Fla. (Kyle Busch) Feb. 21 – Daytona 500, Daytona Beach, Fla. (Denny Hamlin) Feb. 28 – Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, Hampton, Ga. (Jimmie Johnson)

March 6 – Kobalt 400, Las Vegas March 13 – Good Sam 500, Avondale, Ariz.

March 20 – Auto Club 400, Fontana, Calif.

April 3 – STP 500, Ridgeway, Va. April 9 – Duck Commander 500, Fort Worth, Texas April 17 – Food City 500, Bristol, Tenn.

April 24 – Toyota Owners 400, Richmond, Va. May 1 – GEICO 500, Talladega, Ala. May 7 – GOBOWLING.COM 400, Kansas City, Kan. May 15 – AAA 400 Drive for Autism, Dover, Del. May 21 – x-Sprint Showdown, Concord, N.C. May 22 – x-All-Star Race, Concord, N.C. May 29 – Coca-Cola 600, Concord, N.C. June 5 – Axalta ‘We Paint Winners’ 400, Long Pond, Pa. June 12 – FireKeepers Casino 400, Brooklyn, Mich.

June 26 – Toyota/Save Mart 350, Sonoma, Calif.

July 2 – Coke Zero 400, Daytona Beach, Fla. July 9 – Quaker State 400, Sparta, Ky. July 17 – New Hampshire 301, Loudon, N.H. July 24 – ‘Your Hero’s Name Here’ 400, Indianapolis July 31 – Pennsylvania 400, Long Pond, Pa. Aug. 7 – Cheez-It 355 at The Glen, Watkins Glen, N.Y. Aug. 20 – Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race, Bristol, Tenn.

Aug. 28 – Pure Michigan 400, Brooklyn, Mich.

Sept. 4 – Bojangles’ Southern 500, Darlington, S.C. Sept. 10 – Federated Auto Parts 400, Richmond, Va. Sept. 18 – Chicagoland 400, Joliet, Ill. Sept. 25 – New England 300, Loudon, N.H. Oct. 2 – Dover 400, Dover, Del. Oct. 8 – Bank of America 500, Concord, N.C. Oct. 16 – Hollywood Casino 400, Kansas City, Kan. Oct. 23 – Alabama 500, Talladega, Ala. Oct. 30 – Goody’s Fast Relief 500, Ridgeway, Va. Nov. 6 – AAA Texas 500, Fort Worth, Texas Nov. 13 – Can-Am 500, Avondale, Ariz.

Nov. 20 – Ford EcoBoost 400, Homestead, Fla. x-non-points race NASCAR Sprint Cup Kobalt 400 Lineup After Friday qualifying; race Sunday At Las Vegas Motor Speedway Las Vegas, Nev. Lap length: 1.5 miles (Car number in parentheses) 1. (41) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, 196.328 mph.

2. (22) Joey Logano, Ford, 195.851.

3. (20) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 195.78.

4. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 195.666.

5. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 195.624.

6. (4) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 195.454.

7. (43) Aric Almirola, Ford, 195.291.

8. (5) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 195.284.

9. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 195.08.

10. (78) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 194.974.

11. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 193.986.

12. (47) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 193.126.

13. (24) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 194.665.

14. (21) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 194.658.

15. (27) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 194.356.

16. (17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, 194.301.

17. (42) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 193.889.

18. (10) Danica Patrick, Chevrolet, 193.625.

19. (14) Brian Vickers, Chevrolet, 193.597.

20. (88) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 193.444.

21. (31) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 193.334.

22. (13) Casey Mears, Chevrolet, 192.933.

23. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 192.795.

24. (19) Carl Edwards, Toyota, 195.101.

25. (34) Chris Buescher, Ford, 193.05.

26. (16) Greg Biffle, Ford, 192.933.

27. (38) Landon Cassill, Ford, 192.754.

28. (6) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 192.726.

29. (1) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 192.342.

30. (95) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 192.02.

31. (23) David Ragan, Toyota, 191.87.

32. (44) Brian Scott, Ford, 191.144.

33. (7) Regan Smith, Chevrolet, 190.873.

34. (83) Matt DiBenedetto, Toyota, 190.154.

35. (15) Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet, 189.036.

36. (98) Cole Whitt, Chevrolet, 188.422.

37. (46) Michael Annett, Chevrolet, 188.409.

38. (32) Jeffrey Earnhardt, Ford, 187.846.

39. (30) Josh Wise, Chevrolet, 185.81.

Golf World Golf Championships Cadillac Championship Friday At Trump National Doral (Blue Monster) Doral, Fla. Purse: $9.5 million Yardage: 7,543; Par: 72 Second Round Adam Scott 68-66 — 134 -10 Rory McIlroy 71-65 — 136 -8 Dustin Johnson 72-64 — 136 -8 Danny Willett 68-69 — 137 -7 Charley Hoffman 68-70 — 138 -6 Bubba Watson 69-69 — 138 -6 Paul Casey 71-68 — 139 -5 Phil Mickelson 67-72 — 139 -5 Charl Schwartzel 73-67 — 140 -4 Anirban Lahiri 70-70 — 140 -4 Jason Dufner 68-72 — 140 -4 Harris English 71-70 — 141 -3 Chris Wood 72-69 — 141 -3 Jimmy Walker 69-72 — 141 -3 Smylie Kaufman 71-70 — 141 -3 Rickie Fowler 70-71 — 141 -3 Andy Sullivan 71-70 — 141 -3 Bernd Wiesberger 72-69 — 141 -3 Jordan Spieth 69-72 — 141 -3 Justin Thomas 75-66 — 141 -3 Brooks Koepka 71-71 — 142 -2 Henrik Stenson 71-71 — 142 -2 Russell Knox 71-71 — 142 -2 Jamie Donaldson 70-72 — 142 -2 Danny Lee 71-71 — 142 -2 Billy Horschel 72-71 — 143 -1 Marcus Fraser 66-77 — 143 -1 Scott Piercy 66-77 — 143 -1 Shane Lowry 71-73 — 144 E Kevin Na 72-72 — 144 E Zach Johnson 71-73 — 144 E Louis Oosthuizen 74-70 — 144 E Sergio Garcia 73-71 — 144 E Soren Kjeldsen 72-72 — 144 E Rafa Cabrera Bello 73-71 — 144 E Kevin Kisner 75-69 — 144 E Graeme McDowell 74-71 — 145 +1 K.T. Kim 71-74 — 145 +1 Robert Streb 72-73 — 145 +1 Victor Dubuisson 73-72 — 145 +1 Daniel Berger 75-71 — 146 +2 Ross Fisher 76-70 — 146 +2 Kiradech Aphibarnrat 75-71 — 146 +2 David Lingmerth 74-72 — 146 +2 Branden Grace 73-73 — 146 +2 Marc Leishman 73-73 — 146 +2 Jason Day 72-74 — 146 +2 Martin Kaymer 76-71 — 147 +3 Matthew Fitzpatrick 76-71 — 147 +3 Byeong-Hun An 74-73 — 147 +3 Fabian Gomez 75-72 — 147 +3 Bill Haas 74-74 — 148 +4 Emiliano Grillo 76-72 — 148 +4 Matt Kuchar 70-78 — 148 +4 Justin Rose 75-73 — 148 +4 George Coetzee 72-76 — 148 +4 Yusaku Miyazato 76-73 — 149 +5 Jordan Zunic 75-74 — 149 +5 J.B. Holmes 77-72 — 149 +5 Patrick Reed 77-74 — 151 +7 Scott Hend 75-76 — 151 +7 Hideki Matsuyama 70-81 — 151 +7 Nathan Holman 82-70 — 152 +8 Kristoffer Broberg 83-73 — 156 +12 Steven Bowditch 81-80 — 161 +17 Brandt Snedeker 76-WD

Transactions BASEBALL Major League Baseball OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF BASEBALL — Suspended free agent minor league LHP Tyler Alexander 100 games after a third positive test for a Drug of Abuse and St. Louis Cardinals minor league INF Luke Doyle (Johnson CityAppalachian) 50 games following a positive test for amphetamine, both violations of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

National League CHICAGO CUBS — Agreed to terms with RHPs Dallas Beeler, Aaron Brooks, Carl Edwards Jr., Kyle Hendricks, Pierce Johnson, Spencer Patton and Neil Ramirez; LHPs Eric Jokisch, C.J. Riefenhauser and Zac Rosscup; Cs Willson Contreras and Kyle Schwarber; INFs Arismendy Alcantara, Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, Jeimer Candelario, Tommy La Stella, Addison Russell, Christian Villanueva and Dan Vogelbach; and OF Matt Szczur to one-year contracts.

Spartan star rising Valentine draws comparisons to greats

BY LARRY LAGE AP Sports Writer

EAST LANSING, Mich.

– Magic Johnson, Draymond Green and Denzel Valentine.

Just a couple of years ago, putting Valentine in the same sentence with the former Michigan State greats would not have made sense.

Several years ago, it would’ve been really farfetched.

The do-it-all senior guard, though, has earned the right to be mentioned in the same breath with one of the greatest basketball players in the history of the game and a current NBA All-Star.

“Of course he’s not Magic Johnson, but he’s got some qualities, meaning, he’s a winner, worker, high basketball IQ,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said.

“The [Green] comparison comes in because he’s not good enough at this, this and this, and all he does is win for you.”

The 6-foot-7 Green was passed over by a lot of teams in the 2012 NBA draft before the Golden State Warriors took him 35th overall. The forward slipped to the second round because he seemed too small and slow.

Green has proven a lot of people wrong, playing a key role for the defending champion Warriors and leading the league in triple-doubles this season. Green said that should “absolutely” help Valentine when the league is scouting him.

“If not, teams haven’t been paying attention,” Green said in a telephone interview earlier this week. “He’s a basketball player. He’s going to get it done if you just put him on the floor.”

The 6-5 Valentine plans to kiss the green Spartan head in the middle of the Breslin Center floor on Saturday when he plays his last home game for the second-ranked Spartans against Ohio State.

“It’s going to be very emotional,” he predicted.

Valentine – named after his father’s favorite actor, Denzel Washington – was born not far from campus. He was trained by his dad, former Michigan State standout Carlton Valentine, and coached by him as Lansing Sexton High School won consecutive state titles.

AP

Michigan State’s Denzel Valentine (45) is a candidate for national player of the year because of his vastly improved all-around game.

When the youngest Valentine was going into his junior year in high school, it was Michigan, not Michigan State, that offered him a scholarship first.

Back then, Izzo told Valentine he needed to work on his shot.

And he did.

Valentine immediately spent “a few hours,” according to his dad, hoisting up shot after shot that same day.

After an impressive outing that summer in Las Vegas, with Izzo sitting next to Wolverines coach John Beilein, then-Michigan State assistant coach Mark Montgomery called Carlton Valentine to ask if Michigan had offered a scholarship. After finding out the rivals did, a meeting was set up.

“We weren’t going to let him go to U of M,” Montgomery recalled earlier this week after leading Northern Illinois against Eastern Michigan.

Valentine didn’t accept the scholarship on the spot, but did soon after.

Following a relatively slow start in his career, Valentine is closing his college career by averaging a combination of points, assists and rebounds no one has in college basketball in at

least three decades. That has boosted his chances of being the national player of the year.

Valentine is averaging a Big Ten-best 19.3 points and 7.3 assists, and ranks among conference leaders with 7.6 rebounds a game. He will probably become the first college basketball player to average at least 19 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists in a year since at least the 1983-84 season, when the NCAA began recognizing assists as an official statistic. He is the only player in Michigan State’s storied history to rank among the top 10 in career assists and rebounds.

After his first 2 years in college, he was averaging 6 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists while showing occasional flashes of possible greatness.

“If anybody said they saw him as a national player of the year, they’re lying to you, because I didn’t see that,” his dad said.

And while Izzo said he sees “bits and pieces” of Johnson and Green when he watches Valentine play, he doesn’t want him to strive to be either one.

“I’d like him to just be Denzel, because Denzel is good enough for me,” Izzo said.

Maturity key for Johnson HAPPY

CONTINUED FROM B1

“It was a little different, but it’s been a great experience,” he said. “I had a heck of a year, can’t ask for a better group of guys to be around. I’ve had a great time.”

On a team full of 18and 19-year-olds, the 25-year-old Johnson said he does not feel like the older, wiser player.

“Around them, I act like they do sometimes,” he said.

In the end, he said he is happy he came to Sauk Valley when he did, instead of trying to jump straight to college ball when he was 18.

“I do not think I would have been ready at that age,” he said. “I think if I would have come out here, grade-wise I would not have been able to keep my grades up, because I was pretty immature back then.

I’m glad I am where I am now at this age, because I think it worked out better for me.”

His first year back isn’t over yet. With the

Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com

Sauk Valley’s Devin Johnson (5), seen here shooting against Highland during Monday’s Region IV title game, has enjoyed his first season playing basketball in 6 years.

Skyhawks winning the regional title, Johnson could find himself going from 6 years away from the game to a spot in the NJCAA National Tournament with a win in the District IV championship game Saturday at Moberly, Missouri. But

win or lose at Moberly, Johnson is just glad he got a chance to be part of the game again.

“That’s the reason I came back, for the team chemistry, to be around a group of guys that love the sport as much as I do,” he said.

B6 • SV Weekend

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

Saturday, March 5, 2016

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

Wong much more confident in 2016 Cardinals’ perfectionist infielder ready to cut himself some slack

BY CHUCK KING Associated Press

JUPITER, Fla. – St. Louis second baseman Kolten Wong reached an important realization during the offseason.

Known for being his own harshest critic – a trait that often prolonged slumps – Wong said he spent some time doing some serious introspection.

“If I keep doing this, I’m not going to be playing this game much longer because I’m going to hate it,” Wong said. “And I love playing this game. I love everything about this game. I want to have fun.

I’m tired of being that guy that wants to be perfect. I just want to go out there and play the game.”

All of this led to a newly confident Wong, which prompted him to tell reporters before spring training that he would like to hit leadoff for the Cardinals.

Manager Mike Matheny said he appreciated Wong’s confidence, while online chatrooms lit up with questions about how a player with Wong’s noted inconsistency could possibly set the table for a team looking to score more runs.

As the Cardinals approached their first spring training games, Wong made it clear that he didn’t intend to pressure the Cardinals into changing their batting order.

“When I kind of went out there saying that I would love to be the leadoff hitter, I think everyone kind of took it the wrong way,” Wong said. “It made me seem like I was trying to tell Mike how to do his job. I didn’t ever want it to come off that way. It was just me being confident in myself, knowing that I’ve made the right strides to become the player that I want to be, and I think me being leadoff hitter would be awesome for me and my confidence.”

Incumbent leadoff hitter Matt Carpenter is not the prototypical table-setter.

The left-handed hitting third baseman isn’t fast, and his 28 home runs and 84 RBIs last season led the Cardinals. His value at the top of the lineup lies in his knack for getting on base (.365 OBP last season) and his ability to work deep into the count, giving hitters behind him a chance to recognize what they’ll be facing.

Wong, who signed a 5-year, $25.5 million deal with St. Louis on Wedneday, has never hit leadoff for an extended period.

Hitting mostly near the bottom of the batting order, Wong reached base at a .321 clip last season, up from .292 in his first full year in the majors. Though

By the Numbers Kolten Wong 2015 • .262 BA, .321 OBP, .386 SLG, 146 hits, 28 2Bs, 4 3Bs, 11 HRs, 61 RBIs, 71 runs, 15 SBs, 95 SO, 35 BB, 557 ABs in 150 games Career • .250 BA, .303 OBP, .374 SLG, 255 hits, 43 2Bs, 7 3Bs, 23 HRs, 103 RBIs, 129 runs, 38 SBs, 178 SO, 60 BB, 1,018 ABs in 295 games over 3 years FYI: Finished 3rd in Rookie of the Year voting in 2014. ... Drafted in the 1st round (22nd overall) in 2011 MLB amateur draft. his 15 stolen bases last season were five fewer than the previous year, he does have good speed.

“I know he’s got a desire to lead off,” Matheny said. “Most of that is his desire to help the team.

We’ll take a look at it, but we’re not necessarily saying we’re going to give him this many games there, we’re going to have to move Carp there; we’re going to have to just flop guys around until it really becomes obvious – hopefully it becomes obvious – or not. We’ll just keep going at it different until it looks right.”

Unlike previous years, Wong entered camp with his opening day roster spot secure. The Cardinals traded for Jedd Gyorko during the off-season, but they intend to use him mostly as a utility player, with the potential to take some right-handed at-bats should Wong continue to struggle against lefties.

Left-handed hitting Greg Garcia can also play multiple infield positions for the Cardinals, but the 25-year-old Wong is the leader among the group of Cardinals’ second basemen – a role Matheny said the Cardinals are actively encouraging.

That’s allowed Wong to spend the first few weeks in Florida working on specific facets of his game he needs to improve, rather than trying to impress Matheny and the front office during every drill.

Wong intends to use the remainder of spring training games to become more of a threat on the bases.

“After what I went through last year, I finally realized that every time I go through a tough time, I always take it too hard and I extend slumps that shouldn’t be extended if I had just relaxed, don’t worry about it and have fun,” Wong said. “This year, I’m just going to try to have fun the whole time and see what happens.”

AP

Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong (top) throws to first base to complete a double play Friday in a spring training game against the Astros in Kissimmee, Fla.

AP

White Sox shortstop Tyler Saladino scoops up a grounder during a spring training workout on February 24 in Glendale, Ariz. Always known as a slick fielder, Saladino is looking to become a better hitter this season.

Saladino needs better stick Sox’s new SS slick with glove, but must do more with bat

BY COLLEEN KANE Chicago Tribune

In spring training last year, Tyler Saladino was a White Sox prospect just thankful to be on the field after having elbow surgery in 2014.

Now, Saladino has major-league experience under his belt and a regular’s job in his sights. Saladino started at shortstop Thursday in the Sox’s Cactus League opener, a role he will have to fight to keep heading into the season.

“Nothing’s easy, but the comfort level is a little different,” Saladino said. “You just know the guys a little more, what to expect and how things work.”

Saladino’s defense is a big reason Sox manager Robin Ventura and general manager Rick Hahn have expressed confidence that he can fill the hole at shortstop in the wake of Alexei Ramirez’s departure. He looked smooth playing seven innings at his natural position Thursday, turning a double play to end the first inning.

But his offense is a concern after he tailed off late to finish 2015 with a .225 batting average, four homers and 20 RBIs, with a .267 on-base percentage over 68

By the Numbers Tyler Saladino 2015 (also career) • .225 BA, .267 OBP, .335 SLG, 53 hits, 6 2Bs, 4 3Bs, 4 HRs, 20 RBIs, 33 runs, 8 SBs, 12 BB, 51 SO, 236 ABs in 68 games games. He was 0-for-3 Thursday.

“It’s just overall swinging at good pitches – that always helps – but competing,” Saladino, 26, said.

“We have the group to do it with – feed off of them and play hard.

“My goal is to get the spot, win the division, play good baseball with the guys.”

Saladino could have been thrown off a little when the Sox brought in veteran Jimmy Rollins, 37, to compete with him for the job. Instead, he said he is enjoying Rollins’ presence, which he said has livened up his work.

“He definitely keeps it loose,” Saladino said “It’s just fun working with him. You have a guy with so much experience and knowledge.

Taking ground balls with a guy like that, that’s something you’ll look back on and really appreciate.”

Fellow infielder Carlos Sanchez is also back in competition for a spot, 1 year after he battled Micah Johnson to play second base for the Sox. Sanchez, 23, struggled offensively initially after Johnson’s demotion last May, hitting .184 with a .221 on-base percentage in 52 games. But he improved in the second half, hitting .252 with 15 doubles, five home runs, 20 RBIs and a .302 on-base percentage.

He said he doesn’t know what the Sox have in store for him this year. He substituted at second for Brett Lawrie midway through Thursday’s game.

If Saladino and Rollins both make the roster, the Sox also could keep Sanchez as a backup infielder. Or they could opt for a power option off the bench or a fifth outfielder for the 25th roster spot, in which case Sanchez likely would return to Triple-A Charlotte.

“I know I didn’t have the best year last year for me on the offensive side, but I work hard every day,” Sanchez said. I don’t know what’s going to happen for me, but any time they need me, I’m going to be there.”

CHICAGO CUBS

Cubs happy to be back on field Spring training opener a welcome respite from offseason talk

BY PAUL SULLIVAN Chicago Tribune

On a sweltering day that featured a little bit of everything, the Cubs opened their Cactus League schedule with a 2-1 loss to the Brewers before a crowd of 4,279 at Maryvale Baseball Park on Thursday.

No one will remember what happened by the time the 2016 regular season rolls around, which is good news for Javier Baez, whose debut in center field was somewhat less than auspicious.

But Baez was able to shake off a bad day, and the Cubs were just happy to get things started after 2 weeks of the media telling them they’re the team to beat.

In the actual game, Dan Vogelbach drove in the only Cubs’ run, Kyle Hendricks struck out four in two innings, and Jacob Hannemann struck out with the tying run on in the ninth to end it.

The mood in Maryvale was relatively subdued, possibly because it was so hot, or perhaps because of a controversy surrounding one of the most beloved dogs in Milwaukee annals.

A fan blogger had theorized the Brewers’ canine mascot, Hank the Dog, had died, with another Hank taking his place.

The mascot truther would have been ignored if the same had happened to Clark the Cub, but this passed for big news in Milwaukee. The

AP

The Cubs’ Javier Baez can’t handle a ball Thursday during the team’s spring training opener against the Brewers in Phoenix. Baez played center field, a position which he has worked hard to learn.

Brewers, trying to market a dog team on the field, opted to respond to the blog with a cryptic message: “The subject will be recent reports and speculation regarding Hank 1, ‘The Ballpark Pup.’” By the sixth inning, the dog’s official Twitter account released a tweet saying “I’M NOT DEAD!!

You’ll find out more tomorrow.”

The Brewers confirmed Friday that their furry, four-legged mascot is the same bichon frise mix that walked on to the team’s spring training complex in Phoenix 2 years ago.

“This is definitely the original Hank, and this a notarized document from Hank’s veterinarian,” chief operating officer Rick Schlesinger said.

While the saga of Hank

may be over, Baez’s adventures in center are just beginning.

The Cubs are attempting to play Baez all over the place, trying to get his bat in the lineup at any cost.

The first Brewers hitter, Jonathan Villar, crushed a ball over Baez’s head that ricocheted off the wall and past him as he ran toward it for a triple. Baez then called off Jorge Soler on a sacrifice fly and made a wide throw to the plate for an error off the Jonathan Lucroy fly.

“Well, you guys already saw it,” Baez said with a grin.

He admitted he took a bad read on his error, played the ball off the wall badly, and rushed his throw to the plate.

Baez made no excuses, saying he was “too hyper

to be back there” in his first game.

“I just have to relax,” he said.

There will be plenty of time for Baez to get used to center, and he’ll feel more comfortable as the spring progresses. There’s no need to panic, and nowhere to go but up.

The Cubs did get decent pitching from Travis Wood, Hendricks, and four other pitchers, who combined for 13 strikeouts while walking only one and allowing four hits.

Wood, who is likely to return to the bullpen this season, has been around since the start of the rebuild in 2012, and was their best starter in 2013, when he made the All-Star team. He’s just happy to be a Cub after all he has been through.

“It definitely has been something to see over the years,” he said. “Especially when you look back and see how many players we ran through those first couple of years. And to now have a pretty solid, solidified team is nice.”

For manager Joe Maddon, the opener was a chance to stand on the top step and exercise his brain. There are no simulated games for managers.

“It never gets old,” Maddon said. “You put it down for a couple of months, then you have to pick it up. ... It’s primarily observation right now.”

There is plenty to observe, and a long way until opening day.

B7 place ads online www.saukvalley.com

CLASSIFIED SAUK VALLEY

Section B

Saturday, March 5, 2016

Dixon 815.284.SOLD(7653)

Sterling 815.626.SOLD (7653)

• we reach over 48,000 readers every day • LOST

110

IS YOUR PET MISSING? Read our found section in todays paper. Just in case it is not there, call one of your area animal shelters listed below: Lee County Animal Control (815)284-3833 Granny Rose Animal Shelter (815)288-7387 Whiteside County Animal Control (815)625-3507 Happy Tails Humane Society (815)626-2994 A public service of Sauk Valley Media

VOLUNTEERS

126

CASA 15th Judicial Circuit (Lee/ Carroll/Ogle Counties) is seeking volunteers to advocate for children in the court system involved in abuse and neglect cases.

Your involvement can impact a child’s future.

Contact Vanessa White-Broome, Director of Advocate Services (815) 440-6598 www.casalee carroll.com

VOLUNTEERS

REAL ESTATE 202 SERVICES

126

Dixon Main Street is looking for volunteers to assist with events and activities in 2016. Please call 815-288-2308, email riverfront dixon@gmail.com, or stop in the office at 115 S. Hennepin Ave., for more information Volunteer Drivers Wanted The Lee County Veterans Assistance Commission is in need of drivers for Veterans. If you would like to help Veterans, we need you. You will be compensated for your time! Valid Drivers License and proof of Insurance a must. Call 815-288-5683 for more information.

Volunteers wanted to assist with kitchen prep & other misc. duties at Whiteside County Sr. Center. Call 815-622-9230 ext.

104.

Need to place an ad?

Call us today!

815-625-3600 815-284-2222

PUBLISHER'S NOTICE All real estate advertising in this newspaper subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference , limitation or discrimination based on race, color,religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention, to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18.

This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law.

Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD toll-free at 1-800-669-9777.

The toll-free telephone number for the hearing impaired is 1-800-279275.

Find your dream home!

Read Sauk Valley Classifieds real estate section and Real Estate Weekly on Thursdays.

FOR SALE

BY OWNER

209

OHIO 2BR, 1ba., 2.5 lots (2) 1 car garages.

Asking $75,000.

Local school 1-12 grades. Call 815915-5738.

CEMETERY LOTS

226

2 Lots in Coloma Township. $500 cash. 815-6258959 before 6 p.m.

One lot in Oakwood Cemetery, Lot 830, Sec. 3, space 3. $650. Call 815-440-0066.

MOBILE HOMES 230

MOBILE HOMES

APARTMENTS UNFURNISHED 306 HAVING TROUBLE wording your ad?

Call our Classified Department today.

We'll be glad to help you.

626-SOLD or 284-SOLD

ASHTON ★★ 1&2 BR., Ashton/ F.G. 815-7512712/562-5075.★

NEW TODAY 2BR upper, garage No pets. $375/mo.

847-809-6828.

DIXON 3BR Townhouse, W/D hook ups, garage, stove, refridge, year lease & dep. 815-535-2093

PUBLIC NOTICES

DIXON

SAUK VALLEY OREGON

Dixon Manor Apts- 1 & 2BR openings. Heat, water, garbage included. Hardwood floors, on-site laundry, security building. Walk to downtown. Clean and Quiet :) Call for information: Erick: 815-739-5806

1 BR 1 BA 1st floor Full size w/d in apt. all applcs including d/w, oak cabinets in kitchen & bath, ceiling fans, C/A, Call 847-204-5015

MILLEDGEVILLE

2 bedroom apartment in Polo. Water, sewer, garbage included, off road parking. $450/mo. plus electric, 6 month lease. 815378-2151.

2 BR Apt. Cent/AC W/D, garage, $425 + dep.

815-946-3330

Need to place an ad?

Call us today!

815-625-3600 815-284-2222

POLO

2BR, util. incl. newer carpet & paint, $550/mo.

Call Keith 815-5627443 or 815-3750007

230

Advertise your mobile homes for sale here!!

Marie Rombouts City Clerk March 4, 5 & 7 2016

APARTMENTSFURNISHED 305 ROCK FALLS

Classifieds Work!

EFFICIENCIES! -InclusiveClean & Quiet 815-626-8790*

APARTMENTS UNFURNISHED 306

C CCLASSIFIEDS LASSIFIEDS SAUK VALLEY SAUK VALLEY SAUK VALLEY

Attractive 1 & 2 BR. apts. with some utilities. Sterling & Rock Falls.

No pets, no parties.

Refs. req.

815-336-2305.

LASSIFIEDS dailyGAZETTE

dailyGAZETTE dailyGAZETTE

it really is

as

as simple

TELEGRAPH

TELEGRAPH TELEGRAPH

815-284-2224 815-625-3600

Sometimes

Black &

We have advertising solutions to fit your needs!

NOTICE TO BID SIDEWALK AND CURB MAINTENANCE PROGRAM Bid #B-2016-03-03 The City of Sterling will accept bids for the 2016 Sidewalk and Curb Maintenance Programs until 10:00 a.m., Central Time, Thursday, March 31, 2016. Bids will be accepted by the office of the City Clerk in the City Council Conference Room, Sterling Coliseum, 212 Third Avenue, Sterling, Illinois.

The 2016 Maintenance Programs will consist of the removal and replacement of approximately 10,000 square feet of p.c.c. sidewalk and point curb repair and replacement. The most current prevailing wages for the types of work bid will apply. The City reserves the right to waive all technicalities and to reject any and all bids. Specifications are available from the Code Enforcement office at 212 Third Avenue, Sterling, Illinois 61081.

White

Call TELEGRAPH dailyGazette 284-2222 625-3600

B8

A1

SAUK VALLEY MEDIA • Saturday, March 5, 2016 • PAGE B8

saukvalley.com

EMPLOYMENT

Contact us to place an ad call 815-626-7653 815-284-7653

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES 501 NOTICEPURSUANT to the Business Opportunity Sales Law of 1995, every business opportunity must be registered with the Illinois Securities Department. Protect yourself and get the facts before you hand over your hard earned money by contacting the Illinois Secretary of State's Securities Department at 1800-628-7937. This notice provided as a public service by Sauk Valley Classifieds.

HEALTH / MEDICAL

504

Wanted P.T. Night Nurse Please apply at: Heritage Square 620 N. Ottawa Ave. Dixon, IL EOE NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

EMPLOYMENT

505

Automotive Experienced Detailer Wanted for successful used car business. Full time with benefits.

Please apply in person at: Credit Auto Sales, 601 IL Route 2 Dixon.

Bartender/Waitress needed at Wagon Wheel Restaurant.

Apply in person at 1711 W. 4th St., Sterling or call Ruth 815-499-2328

Bi-County Special Education Cooperative has immediate openings for Teacher Aides.

29 ½ hours weekly, minimum starting wage $9.50/hr., no health benefits.

Must be 20 years of age. Openings in Sterling and Morrison. If interested contact: Laurie Heston, Director, by e-mail: lheston@bi-county .org or fill out an application at the main office, 2317 E. Lincolnway, Suite, A, Sterling, IL, or call 815-622-0858

Sauk Valley Classi

eds

CDL CLASS A Drivers needed for part time work, April-Oct. Most all work would be on Mon., some work could be SunWeds. Also need Drivers with passports for 6 trips into Canada. Good pay plus hotels paid.

Call Phil 815-973-4054

Need to place an ad?

Call Us!

EMPLOYMENT

505

Caseys General Store in Sterling, IL now hiring for two positions.

Store Manager and Assistant Store Manager.

Both positions are full time and offer benefits. Must be Flexible to work variety of hours including weekends, holidays, as well as day and night shifts.

Please apply online at www.caseys.com

or send application to Raylene Wright P.O. Box 836 Sterling, IL 61081

Farm Equipment Operator Full time position operating MFWD and tracked farm tractors and semis.

Class A CDL required.

Maintenance work in the off season.

M & R Farms 815-288-3136 First Federal Savings Bank is seeking an energetic individual for a Fulltime Customer RepreService sentative position. include Duties teller work, opening new accounts and customer contact marketing. This position is available at our Rock Falls Office.

First Federal Savings Bank is an Equal Opportunity Employer Apply online at www.ffsbweb.com or email resume to mmulinazzi@ffs bweb.com Grain Farm Help wanted. Class A CDL required. Experience preferred.

Dixon, IL. Call 815288-5000.

HVP VENDING Hiring Full Time Route Driver Sales Person Qualifications/ Requirements •High School Diploma or GED •Able to pass physical/Drug Screen •Have excellent driving record Send Resume: HVP Vending P.O. Box 382 Morrison, IL 61270 Or Apply: HVP Vending 409 East Main St, Morrison, IL. 61270 815-772-4035

EMPLOYMENT

505

HELP WANTED: PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES The City of Lanark is now accepting applications for possible future fulltime, part-time, and seasonal temporary openings in the Public Works department. High school diploma or equivalent is required. A valid Illinois Driver's license is required for all positions. A CDL license is required for all fulltime positions. Employees must possess the physical ability to walk/ stand/reach/ kneel/ climb over various types of terrain.

The employee is also required to transport items weighing up to 125 pounds and properly operate required tools and equipment. Work involves possible exposure to adverse weather, raw sewage, noise, electrical and chemical hazards, confined work areas, and the like when performing assigned tasks.

On-call availability to handle emergency situations at all hours is required for all fulltime employees.

Skilled trades training and/or previous experience work preferred, but not necessary. Analytical ability and mechanical aptitude is a plus.

Applications can be picked up at the Lanark Municipal building, Maintenance building, or online at www.lanarkil.com.

Local chemical and fertilizer company has openings for seasonal truck drivers. Applicants must have a current medical card and a minimum of a Class B CDL. Interested candidates can call 815-537-2630 or inquire at Rock River Lumber & Grain 5502 Lyndon Road Prophetstown, IL 61277 Mr. Nifty Cleaners in Sterling needs Counter Person Please apply in person, 1102 E. 4th St., Sterling.

815-625-9386 ServiceMaster has openimmediate ings in Dixon, Sterling, Amboy, Ohio & Walnut area.

Multiple day and night part time positions. 15-20/hrs. per week. Apply in person at 205 6th Ave., Sterling.

EMPLOYMENT

NOW HIRING FOR Plasma Table Operator Must have experience. Full time.

Apply in person at Bellini's Custom Welding, 1577 Eldena Rd., Dixon or email resume to bellini@grics.net No phone calls.

NOW HIRING Spring is near!

Jimmy John's is hiring all shifts in Dixon and Rock Falls. Apply at either store.

Sterling Commercial Roofing, Inc. is looking to hire an Architectural Sheet Metal Apprentice and an experienced Sheet Metal Worker.

Sheet Metal Workers Local 219 will be accepting new applicants to their apprenticeship program until March 23rd, 2016.

Experienced workers may be eligible to start as a journeyman. Start your new career today.

Please contact Aletha Beard @ 815-626-7744.

Must have a valid Driver's License.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.

284-2222

EMPLOYMENT

“The People Professionals” 102 S. Galena Ave 2nd floor, DIXON 815-835-3000 Now Hiring: •Administrative •Material Handler •Assembly •Shipping/ Receiving •Inside Sales ------------Apply online at: hughes resources.com

Wanted P.T. Dietary AideNights Please apply at: Heritage Square 620 N. Ottawa Ave. Dixon, IL EOE NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

APPLY ONLINE AT

505

TO OUR

READERS:

Sauk Valley Media does not knowingly accept advertising which is in violation of the law. Likewise, we do not knowingly accept advertising which is fraudulent or has malicious intent.

While we attempt to screen advertising with potential fraud, it is impossible to screen all potential problems.

We strongly encourage our readers to exercise caution and common sense, particularly when dealing with companies with which you are not familiar.

Wastewater Manager The City of Dixon is seeking a Wastewater Manager. A of a minimum Class 1 wastewater certification, ten years of progressive responsible wastewater treatment facility and collection system experience, including a minimum of four years in an administrative or supervisory capacity, and a valid CDL are required.

Submit a cover letter, résumé, an application, and five professional references electronically to employment@ discoverdixon.org

by Wednesday, March 16, 2016.

The job description and application are available at http://www. discoverdixon.org/ job-postings.html Call Amanda Bradshaw for more information: (815) 288-6827. EEO employer.

CHILD CARE

CHILD CARE

512

Licensed Daycare has openings for children, 4C's Ok, Sterling area. 815535-0588 or 815499-7216 L506966 NO INDIVIDUAL, unless licensed or holding a permit as a childcare facility, may cause to be published any advertisement soliciting a child care service.* A childcare facility that is licensed or operating under a permit issued by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services may publish advertisements of the services for which it is specifically licensed or issued a permit. Sauk Valley Media strongly urges any parent or guardian to verify the validity of the license of any facility before placing a child in it's care. *Family homes that care for no more than three (3) children under the age of twelve or which receive only children from a single household, for less than 24 hours per day, are exempt from licensure as day care homes.

The three children to whom this exemption applies includes the family's natural or adopted children and any other persons under the age of 12 whether related or unrelated to the operator of the day care home. (DCFS Rule, Part 377.3 (c))

512

Need to place an ad?

LICENSED DAY CARE has openings. 4C's accepted. (815)284-0461,

Lic. #00062-03.

Call us 625-3600 284-2222

NOW HIRING FOR OUR BUSY SPRING SEASON Seasonal Openings for CDL Drivers, NH3 Fillers, and In-Plant Operations APPLY TODAY, POSITIONS FILL UP FAST Positions available at our Illinois locations in Annawan, Osco, Fenton and Galva. Assistance available for any required certifications. Driving positions require a good driving record and valid driver’s license.

Apply online @ rivervalleycoop.com/careers.

Equal Opportunity Employer

SEASONAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE *SUPERVISOR OF FOOD SERVICES *RECREATION LEADER *POOL MAINT LEAD We are accepting applications for these seasonal supervisory positions at our family friendly camp resort.

Visit our website for information and application. w ww.jjellyystoneamboyy.com ww ww

PRODUCTION POSITIONS • Full-Time Positions • Full Benefits Package • 1st Shift Apply online at etnyre.com

E. D. ETNYRE & CO. 1333 S. Daysville Road, Oregon, Illinois M/F Disabled and Vet EEO/AA Employer

FIND YOUR DREAM HOME!

Read Sauk Valley Classifieds real estate section and Real Estate Weekly on Thursdays.

Looking For A Change?

We are looking for experienced and dedicated professionals to assume key positions on our nursing team.

CNA/LPN/RN We offer an excellent starting wage, 401K, vacation, Potential SIGN ON BONUSES and much more!

For an immediate interview, apply in person or call Lynette at (815) 284-3393.

Dixon Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center 800 Division St Dixon, IL 61021

$$$ EARN CASH $$$

Sauk Valley Media Telegraph 3200 E. Lincolnway 815-625-3600 ext. 5301 113 S. Peoria Sterling, IL 61081 Dixon, IL 61021 Towns Rock Falls Rock Falls Milledgeville Milledgeville Prophetstown Walnut

Streets Route 9th - 12thAve, Rt 30 - Roberts St. 222 14th St. - 24th St., 14thAve. - 9thAve. 225 Cochran, Main, Meyers, E. Old Mill 313 W.6th,Conchran,Hager,Holcomb,Main,Meyers,Thorp 315 Whole TownAsk For Sign-On Bonus Whole TownAsk For Sign-On Bonus

Customers 37 66 57 75

For motor route availability call David Sheets 815-625-3600 ext. 5311

CGH Medical Center 100 E. LeFevre Road - Sterling, IL 61081 815.625.0400

Current Positions www.cghmc.com

Patient Advocate & Experience Specialist 40 hrs/wk; Days; Salaried; Bachelor’s in Nursing; minimum 3 yrs. experience in healthcare setting required Physical Therapist-Home Nursing 20 hrs/wk; flexibility required; IL License required; 2 yrs. experience in health care setting required RN – CCU 24 hrs/wk; 7am-7:30pm or 7pm – 7:30am w/weekends RN – Medical Floor 36 hrs/wk; 7pm – 7:30am w/weekends RN – Obstetrics (Hospital) 24 hrs/wk; Night shift; OB experience required

625-3600

505

CARS815.com

Search for local job listings at saukvalley.com/jobs/

RN-Cath Lab 40 hrs/wk, M-F rotating 7am – 3:30pm or 8am – 4:30pm, w/on-call, w/every third weekend RN-Surgical Floor 36 hrs/wk; Days; 7am – 7:30pm w/weekends

RN- Emergency Department 40hrs/wk; Days; 8am – 4:30pm; w/weekends LPN-Float (Clinic) 36 hrs/wk; Days RN-Float (Hospital) 36 hrs/wk;7pm-7:30am w/weekends CNA-Medical Floor PRN (as needed); 7pm – 7:30am; w/weekends Nuclear Medicine Tech PRN (as needed); cover high volumes, etc.

Teacher-Day Care 40 hrs/wk; Days; Associates degree or at least 18 credit hours in child care/development required; one year experience required Patient Registration Clerk PRN (as needed) Interpreter PRN (as needed); various hours

NOW

HIRING

Sterling:

• Receptionist • Header Operator 3rd shift • General Labor & Production Positions •1st Shift Supervisor • Forklift 1st & 2nd Shifts • Tool & Die Maker Mechanic • Builders - Travel Required • Machine Operators

Dixon:

HR Generalist pay DOE Accounts payable 5-10 years experience Service Tech/Travel required Valid Drivers License Graphics/Marketing 5+years experience 2nd & 3rd shift Machine Maintenance PLC preferred Production All shifts $10.14 -$10.84

Apply online. Visit: manpowerjobs.com Sterling Office 815.622.2814 Dixon Office 815.288.7800

B9 SAUK VALLEY MEDIA • Saturday, March 5, 2016 • PAGE B9

PROPHETSTOWN 3BR Luxury apartment- 202 Market St. $1,200/month.

Kophamer and Blean Realty 815-772-2728

ROCK FALLS 1 & 2 BR Hampton Apts.

815-625-7043 2BR Duplex, no pets. $500/mo plus dep. Call 815-6259638 for details.

Lg. 1BR. + appl.

No pets. $425 + dep. 815-718-1784.

STERLING

NORTHLAND PARK APARTMENTS Studio’s, 1 & 2 BR Apts.

STERLING

RIVER RIDGE APARTMENTS

2 Bedroom Great Location

$

495

PER MONTH

No Security Deposit Required

*with 1 year lease

Garages Available

(Located Behind Northland Mall)

Nice Lg. 1BR, no pets. $450/mo. + dep. 815-631-6678

Sterling Rentals

ALDI in Sterling

1-815-414-2288 2 BR for $500

Water, sewer, garbage incl.

Coin W/D, No pets/ No parties.

Call Diana: 630-327-7046

2BR Upper, nice & clean. w/applcs.

W/D, AC $550/mo. + $550 dep. Water & garbage incl.

Quiet location.

Avail. now. 815739-4896.

310

FOR RENT/SALE HOUSES & APTS. svla.org

Newer 2 Bedroom $640.00 Applcs., Fireplaces 2002 3rd Ave. 1836 First Ave.

DIXON 2 BR, 1 Bath, 1 car gar., all season rm, a/c $695 mo. Incl.

Water/garbage, mowing. 1st/last mo deposit/references.

Call 815-739-7914

606 W. Lefevre 2 BR $535.00 1 BR $465.00 1 Studio $390.00 Partial Heat, Water, Sewer, Refuse Removal, Laundry Facilities, Satellite

(815)626-1431

Next to

CALL FOR AVAILABILITY

(815) 632-7368

HOMES FOR RENT

STERLING

Room for Rent. All utilities incl. + wifi Starting at $75/wk. + dep. Call or text 815-716-6150.

Sinnissippi Townhomes First Mo. Free!

Spacious 2 BR. 2 story townhomes.

Central air, good location. Laundry hookup. (815)6261130.

WOOSUNG 1BR, $400 + dep.

Appliances.

815441-4591.

2BR home, great location just outside of town. 1 ba.

Main flr. laundry. 1 car garage, no pets $850/mo. + utilities Serious inquiries only Call or text 815-973-3430.

3BR, 1 bath, a/c, washer and dryer, basement, preferably no dogs. Rent $600-700/mo. First floor and basement, part of duplex, second floor unavailable to rent.

815-677-3414.

Newer duplex for rent. 2 BR, 1 Bth, finished basement.

Call Tim 815-7662769 Nice 2BR Ranch, bsmt., garage. No pets. $675/mo.

Call Vickie 815973-4444.

COMMERCIAL RENTAL

DIXON NEW TODAY Nice clean quiet 2 story duplex, 2BR, 1.5 BA, attached garage w/ opener, all appliances incl.

W/D, micro., D/W, No pets. 603 Apple St. $700 mo. Call 630-902-1060 Remodeled 3BR, 3ba. w/den & fireplace, 2 car garage 3 season porch.

Applcs. incl. No pets, non smoking. $1,000/mo. Avail. to show on 3/7.

815-440-0927.

MOBILE HOMES 311

1200 sq.ft., 10 E. Miller Rd., Sterling Call 815-625-9638 3818 River Rd. Strlg., 4.5k sq. ft. w/ office, shop, 14' OHD. $1,950/ mo.815-626-8790 NEW Commercial/ Professional Office space avail. 1100 sq. ft.

1302 N. Galena, Dixon. Flexible lease terms. Call 815-631-7610.

NEW TODAY Room for rent$400/mo. + $400 dep. Home for rent $700/mo. + $700 dep. 815-441-8465 before 10am.

STERLING 2BR., 1BA garage NO PETS. $500 mo. + dep. 815677-3419.

OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE Space includes secretarial area and private office with space for a conference table.

Private restrooms and spacious back rooms. $625/mo. + utilities. Call 815-626-4200.

Cute 2BR Ranch all new, Why Rent?™ $580/mo.

815-878-7399

Need to place an ad?

Nice small 2BR $450/mo. + dep.

815-713-4793

815-625-3600 815-284-2222

Call us today!

FOR RENT

315

LOANS

402

THE CLASSIFIED Advertising Department of Sauk Valley Media does not have the opportunity to fully investigate the credibility of each advertiser appearing within these columns. If an offer sounds “too good to be true” it probably is.

Proceed with caution if you are asked to send money or to give a credit card number.

Proceed with caution in calling 900 phone numbers. All phone numbers prefixed by “900” are charged to the CALLER. Charges may be assessed on a “per minute” basis rather than a “per call” basis.

Sauk Valley Classified makes every effort to qualify these charges for the reader.

If you have a concern about an advertiser, please contact the Better Business Bureau 330 N. Wabash, Chicago, IL 60611.

312-832-0500

AREA GARAGE SALES 624 ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES 705 I Buy: Antiques, collectibles, toys, post cards, etc.

815-445-6151.

APPLIANCES

710

Hotpoint elect. stove, black.

Self cleaning. excellent cond., 4yrs old. $350 815-973-9639

FURNITURE

755

Leather recliner, electric powered, dk. brown w/antique brass nails.

Exc. cond. $550.

815-626-8861.

Leather reclining loveseat, black.

Like new.

Pd. $1500, sell for $900.

Call 815-499-1061.

“Martins” oak dining room set- 65” table w/2 leaves, 4 chairs and double bench. Exc. cond. $1500/obo.

815537-2516.

Mattress sets: Twin $99, Full $129, Queen $159, King $199. Will deliver! Bunk Bed $298. Call 309451-7477

FURNITURE

New furniture & beds wholesale also used: Twin, full, queen, king beds. Elec. & gas dryer, stoves, washer, table & chairs, recliners, sofa, dresser, full & qu. BR set, refrig.

815-718-4385.

PETS & PET SUPPLIES 775 Free to good mature indoor home male cat, neutered, declawed, all shots.

815-499-9923 WARNING ADS FOR FREE PETS Your beloved pet deserves a loving, caring home. The ad for your free pet may draw response from individuals who will sell your animal for research or breeding purposes.

Please screen respondents carefully when giving an animal away.

Your pet will thank you!

Here Today.

Let Sauk Valley Classifieds do the work!

It’s easy, effective and will get you results.

Call 815-625-3600 or 815-284-2222 and get started!

Gone Tomorrow.

CLASSIFIEDS SAUK VALLEY dailyGAZETTE

TELEGRAPH

815-625-3600

815-284-2222

755

B10

SAUK VALLEY MEDIA • Saturday, March 5, 2016 • PAGE B10

Eikenberry Sheet Metal 412 E. 3rd Sterling Service work heating & cooling; gas, electric. Free estimates. Accept Visa & MC on all new installations.

Active Const.

(815) 499-1871 Kitchen & Bath Remodels Additions, Garages Siding, Windows, Handicap, Ramps Concrete Work WE DO IT ALL! Anything Interior Exterior 35 year experience FREE Estimates And We Will Call You Back!

CALL 815-625-0955

FARLEY'S APPLIANCE Heating & Cooling Sale & Service Free Estimates New & Replacement Units We service all brands!

Call Today (815)284-2052

Alterations SHOE REPAIR ZIPPER REPAIR & ALTERATIONS Grummert's Hardware Sterling, Rock Falls, & also Shaw's Marketplace 214 Washington Prophetstown

815-989-8320

Basement Waterproofing Prater Paint & Waterproofing We Dry Up Basements & Crawl Spaces, Remediate Mold & Install E-Z Breathe™ Ventilation Systems 815-626-5165

www.praterpaintand waterproofing.com

ASSOCIATED Services Enterprise, LLC

Excavating Hauling •Tandem Dump Trucks •Skidsteers Guaranteed Low Rates 815-618-2717

Golf Instruction Jim Stewart “Dr Golf” Full Swing & Short Game. Re-Gripping & Club Repair Indoor Range Golf Instructor For Info Call!

815-631-1028

Gutters American Energy Savers “Sauk Valley's Oldest & Best Seamless Gutter Company” Always Flow Seamless Gutters Call Dan Maloney 815-288-4525

Home Improvement

Roofing/Siding

TELEVISION ✶Since 1981✶ ◆Home Improvement ◆New Construction

Spring is the

perfect time to build your garage, addition or Re/Roof, or Reside your home!

Randy L. Moore

815-626-1333

IL State Roofing Licensed 104-002247(1986) Bonded-Insured

Painting DAN'S HOME REPAIR Commercial Residential Interior & Exterior Painting Remodeling Gutter cleaning.

15 yrs. Experience Insured

815-677-7970

PRATER Paint & Waterproofing Specializing in •Residential •Commercial •Farm & •Industrial Call for your FREE painting or sandblasting estimate 815-626-5165

Power Washing

Serving the Sauk Valley Area for over 15 years.

•Garages •Additions •Roofing •Siding •Windows •Gutters •Interior/Exterior •New Construction & Re-Construction Residential, Industrial, Commercial •Licensed •Bonded •Insured FREE Estimates 815-213-0704

Storage Storage Units (Big & Small) $35-$45 per month No Deposit Flexible Terms Open Every Day **We accept debit or credit cards** 2213 New Century Drive, Dixon 61021 815-618-2717

STORAGE UNITS Multiple Sizes Starting at $35 No appt. needed Located inside MOORE TIRES 2411 E. Rt 30 Rock Falls (815)625-3764

Bicycles GREEN RIVER CYCLERY

We Take Your Fun Seriously!

Bicycle Repairs Tune-Ups Overhauls 205 E. 1st St. Dixon, IL 61021 (815)622-8180

www.grc.bike Tuesday - Friday • 10 - 6 Saturday • 8-1

Cleaning Service

ADVANCED CLEANERS

Serving the Sauk Valley Areas for over 15 years •On the Job Manufactured • Expert Installation •Competitive prices •Best Quality Materials, Guaranteed •5” and 6” Seamless Gutters for Residential, Industrial & Commercial Needs •Leaf Free Gutter Protection Systems •Licensed •Bonded •Insured FREE Estimates 815-213-0704

Mobil Pressure Wash Service • Commercial, • Residential & • Semis You name it.... we clean it!

Call Ben 815-590-2694

Remodeling

Handyman

MAID SERVICE JANITOR SERVICE CARPET CLEANING

815-632-3822 Concrete Contractors

A Family's Handyman ★Roofing ★Siding ★ Decks ★Great Rates ★Fast Service Interior Discounts CC#'s Accepted 815-994-0075 HANDYMAN/ GENERAL CONTRACTING Bathroom/Kitchen Rehabs, Complete Remodels, Drywall Painting, Flooring (tile, linoleum, wood, carpet) All types of home repairs.

Free Estimates Insured-Bonded 815-564-7428

PAUL’S HANDYMAN SERVICE “Anything Your Husband Won’t Do!” •Experience On All Manner of Home Repairs & Maintenance since 1986

Concrete Workz Sidewalks • Steps Driveways • Patios Floors Exposed & stamped concrete Poured walls/ retaining walls Skidloader work & Hauling *Free Estimates *Insured 815-441-6126 All Types of Concrete Work

Dumpster Rental

Dumpster Rental for Clean-ups & Construction Small & Large containers avail.

Tidy Bug Inc. Dixon, IL tidybuginc.com 815-456-3001

(815)631-4122

www.mullerslane farm.com

Haul/Clean Service

www.allsafe center.com High-Security Storage Solutions and Much More!

•Climate Controlled Storage •Low-Cost Moving Truck Rental •Confidential Document Shredding •We Ship FedEx & UPS! •Expert Packaging Services •Value Boxes & Packaging Supplies •EBAY and EMOTORS Internet Auction Sales Over 15,000 Sales •Office Hours: Mon-Fri. ☛ 8:306, Sat. ☛ 8:30noon 690 Timber Creek Rd. Dixon, (815)285-2212

Stump Removal

Roofing

DALE COLLIN STUMP GRINDING 815-564-7892 Insured FREE Estimates Clean Up Available All stumps ground out 8-10 inches below ground 20 Yrs. Experience

Tree Service A&M TREE SERVICE “Area's #1 Roofing Contractor IL Lic# 104-015191 Licensed, Bonded & Insured •Roofing •Siding •Windows •Decks •Additions •Garages & More Residential & Commercial Call now to schedule your FREE Estimate!

Will beat any leading competitor price 815-590-2677

JOHN'S CLEANUP & REMOVAL Anything goes!!

Estate Cleanups PHONE 815-622-0240

Roofing/Siding

Home Improvement

Illinois License #104.016127 Bonded/Insured •Roofing •Siding • Windows •Doors •Additions• •Garages •Drywall •Decks and more Free Estimates 815-213-0556

Morris Handyman ** 30 Years Plus ** ** Experience ** -Kitchen & Bath Remodeling -Flooring, Siding, Sewer Roding 779-861-2509

TV Repair

Lowest Prices Guaranteed!

Free Estimates 25 yrs. Experience Fully Licensed/ Insured.

Whiteside Area 815-590-1677 ✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤✤

BRAD'S TREE SERVICE A division of Timber Industries, LLC. Tree & Limb Removal Stump Removal Storm Clean-up Mulch & Firewood •Free Estimates •Fully Insured 815-857-3674 Cole's Complete Tree Service Tree Trimming Stump Removal

Snow Removal Snow Plowing Licensed and Insured *Free Estimates* 25HR Emergency Service Call 815-718-2997 Donnie Cole colestree service@outlook.com

Find your dream home!

Read Sauk Valley Classifieds real estate section and Real Estate Weekly on Thursdays.

IN HOME REPAIR 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE! Work on all Brands & Models Old or New Serving the Sauk Valley and More Call Ron for a free quote at 815-561-0011 Dixon, IL

Water Softeners

The Softener Man 815-323-1622

Repairr on all makes & models Servicce Call Special $19.95!

MISCELLANEOUS 796 FOR SALE

5HP Craftsman snowblower, 2 stage, 6spd., w/2 reverse. Elec. start 24” width. 1yr old.

Like new. $450.

815-625-1606.

We Buy Junk Cars, Equipment, Fork Lifts, & Farm Equip., running or not. Ask for Will 815-213-4071 Sterling, Dixon, & surrounding areas.

See More Online Photos, Commerce, Expanded Text

TICKETS / TRAVEL 787 & EVENTS No person or business, unless properly licensed by the Illinois Secretary of State, may sell ticket(s) for any sporting event or otherwise, for more than the price printed upon the face of the said ticket(s).

Only licensed ticket brokers may legally advertise, negotiate and execute the sale of ticket(s) for any amount over what is printed upon the face of ticket.

WANT TO BUY 795 I Pay Cash 4 Gold, Silver, Coins & Antiques 24/7 779-245-2950 Want to Buy: Karaoke machine and stereo - radio 815-631-6678

MISCELLANEOUS 796 FOR SALE Desk Chair, brown faux leather, w/ castors $25 815590-1154 Do you need Gravel for Driveways?

Call 815-499-7195 Garage & Household Sale: Snapper riding mower, ladders, furniture, karaoke machine, tvs, DVD player, DVDs & CDs, handmade dollhouse & furniture, dolls, & other misc.

815-440-8769 Murray lawn mower. 20”. 3.5hp. $45.

Call 815-732-1492 Newer, color tv. cable ready, $25.

Call 815-732-1492 Real nice recliner, $60. Call 815-7184385.

➛Look for WEB ID ➛Log on to: www.saukvalley. com classifieds ➛Enter the WEB ID in the WEB ID Box ➛View Photos, Expanded Text BUY ONLINE!! saukvalley.com CLASSIFIEDS

HAY & STRAW

Over 30 years of experience

Windows

LIVESTOCK / SUPPLIES

840

For sale: 2yr. old yearling Bulls & bred Heifers Duane Kruse DeKap Angus Farms 815-493-2663 or 815-297-2663.

FARM EQUIPMENT

855

JD7200 corn planter $14,000/ obo 815-225-7824 YOUR 1ST AND 2ND CHANCE DEALER!

LOCATIONS! DEALER FINANCING AVAILABLE

1397 N. Galena Ave., Dixon 708 First Avenue, Rock Falls 815-288-5626 815-622-6655

$199 DOWN

& No Payments Til April 2016

We Buy Cars Too! “Area's #1 Roofing Contractor IL Lic# 104-015191 Licensed, Bonded & Insured •Roofing •Siding •Windows •Decks •Additions •Garages & More Residential & Commercial Call now to schedule your FREE Estimate!

Will beat any leading competitor price 815-590-2677

825

Big Round Bales grass hay net wrap 815-225-7824

2

SAUKVALLEY.COM

Genl. Contracting

VISIT

Air Cond./Heating

WANT TO BUY 795

We Finance!

Til 3/11/16

www.SaukValleyMotors.com

Hours Mon - Fri 10-6 • Sat 9-3

GREAT DEALS ON “HOT” NEW WHEELS! AND FINANCING AS LOW AS 2.49% WITH APPROVED CREDIT

ANAX LERF CA C

2013 RAM 1500 4X4 - BIG HORN PACKAGE

ANAX LERF CA C

ANAX LERF CA C

2013 FORD EXPLORER

LOADED - LEATHER ANAX LERF CA C

2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX SPORT AWD - TOP OF THE LINE - VERY SPORTY!

7 PASSENGER- ONE OWNER- LOW MILES - NICE

ANAX LERF CA C

ANAX LERF CA C

2007 GMC YUKON DENALI

2004 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN

2008 HONDA CRV

AWD - FULLY LOADED

AWD - LEATHER LOADED - VERY CLEAN!

ANAX LERF CA C

ANAX LERF CA C

2011 FORD ESCAPE

VERY CLEAN - NICE! ANAX LERF CA C

2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO EXT CAB 4X4 LOCAL TRADE

2012 GMC ACADIA SLT - AWD - FULLY LOADED

ANAX LERF CA C

2003 GMC ENVOY AWD - RED - LOADED VERY VERY NICE!

®

849 N. GALENA, DIXON, IL • 815-284-8655

WWW.THEAUTOSTORES.COM

Call

815-625-3600 to announce weddings or engagements in Celebrations!

CARS815.com

SAUK VALLEY

SNOWBLOWERS 782

SEARCH FOR LOCAL CARS

SERVICE DIRECTORY

A1

B11 SAUK VALLEY MEDIA • Saturday, March 5, 2016 • PAGE B11

www.majeskimotors.com

AUTOMOBILES

905

NEW REAL DEAL FOR ITEMS OVER $300

A 5 Line REAL DEAL

QUALITY VEHICLES

1707 East 4th St., Sterling

815-625-9600

UNDER

$15,999* 2012 FORD FOCUS SEL

ad runs for 30 days in Sauk Valley Classifieds, 4 Ogle County Papers, The Review and saukvalley.com all for only $38!

Special must be mentioned at time of ad placement.

Offer expires 12/31/16 No Commercial Advertising, Pets, Garage Sales, Wood/ Fuel, Tickets/ Travel or Real Estate

1999 Cadillac DeVille; black; Good condition. $3,500 obo. 815288-7910 ★2006 Chrysler★ ★300C★ 4 door, 39K mi., vg cond. $12,000 858-212-1952 HAVING TROUBLE wording your ad? Call our classified department today. We'll be glad to help you. 626SOLD or 284SOLD.

S.U.V.S

$13,999* 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX AWD LT

909

2005 GMC Yukon XL, black, 1 owner, gar. kept, 185k mi. seats 9, tow pkg., extra rack, $4,900 815-631-0924

S.U.V.S

909

2005 Silver Ford Escape LTD, fully loaded, good cond., looks great! $3,800 obo 815-652-4123

TRUCKS

910

1995 Chevrolet S 10 Blazer 4x4 new motor trans. 6.4 $3000. Call 815441-2559

VANS

911

2000 Chevy Astro LS E&D AWD. V/G cond., mechanically well maintained Good tires.

138K mi. $4000.

815-537-5603. or 815-564-8787

4X4S

912

1999 Chevy Silverado, ext. cab, Z71 pkg. Brand new tires & rotors. 181K mi. Locally owned and bought. $5500 815-564-7380.

BOATS/MOTORS

940

16 ft. 1984 Champion Bass Boat, 150hp, runs good, red metallic,$3,500 /obo 815-716-6347

Use Sauk Valley Media

CLASSIFIEDS Sell Your Unwanted Items!

625-3600 • 284-2222

TRAILERS/RVS

945

2005 Jayco, Jay Feather Lgt. 25Z, full kitchen, bath, queen bed, 1 slide out sofa. Sleeps 6.

Many options. $8000. 815-2257798 before 9 P.M. 2005 Winnebago Minnie Winnie, two slides, generator, HWH hyd. Levelers. 11,800 orig. mi Always stored inside. $41,000. 309659-2488.

2013 244DS Starcraft Travel Star sleeps 4, U-shaped dinette slide out.

Outside refrigerator. Completely furnished. $14,000 Call 815-438-2122.

24 ft Layton 02 ideal for couples; sleeps 4; Qn bed; awesome floor plan, bonus cover, jacks, weight dis. hitch. Come see!

Early birds camp this weekend. $5,500 Lost Nation. 815-440-8022

AUTOS WANTED

960

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We are licensed & insured to buy vehicles. Running or non running, scrap, Ect. 7 days a week.

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TR IV I A AN SW ER 1) Ben. Ben Solo is the son of Han Solo and Leia Organa

$9,999* 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU LS

2) Starkiller Base

Astrograph Aim to please Saturday March 5, 2016 PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -Aim to please. Offer incentives and be charming in order to persuade others to do things your way. A partnership will prove to be advantageous. Think big and be willing to give your all.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Look for ways to improve your chances of success. Sign up for a course or find someone to be your mentor in order to attain a better position.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- You’ve got a good eye for what will work. Your input will draw attention and help you bring people together. Draw the line if someone wants a cash donation.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Show some discipline and refuse to be sucked into doing something that isn’t good for your health, finances or emotional state. Avoid secret affairs or unsafe entertainment.

Don’t avoid the truth.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- You’ve got more going for you than you realize. Stand tall and share what you have to offer.

Don’t sit back when you should be taking the lead. You’ll be

rewarded for your efforts.

reputation and do what’s right.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -Rethink your vocational strategy.

Check the online job market. Set up a healthy routine that will help you approach new opportunities with enthusiasm and drive.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Gather facts before you make assumptions. It’s in your best interest to listen to others and gauge what they think if you want to gain the upper hand in a conversation or challenge.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Put more time and thought into important relationships.

Engaging in activities with children, your parents or a loved one will alleviate tension and build a strong bond.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Set up a routine or put together a plan that will help you make positive changes. Looking back at past accomplishments will help you rise to the occasion.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Personal improvements can be made. Relaxing or attending a retreat that will help you recognize your potential is favored, along with love, romance and new beginnings.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Keep your emotions tucked away where they cannot be detected. Put your heart into an idea that you want to pursue.

Explore new friendships and share creative dreams.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Refuse to let anyone distract you from pursuing your goals. Indulgence will lead to regret. Spare your

©2016 UFS

CELEBRITY CIPHER

by Luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present.

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

TODAY’S CLUE: Y equals P “ ’ I L E P M K A’ . . . C R A R M P K N O R H E X M EM ULXNY KDMRBEO. E ORBP XNH XI H Z P L P C E H Z R B R A H P L’ A K P U L P P E M OXBPKD.” -- BRHH FPTFRMO Previous Solution: “Shirley MacLaine said, ‘You’re so funny,’ then gave me a hug ... I thought I was going to pass out!” -Lisa Kudrow

Before you make a move call…

SHIPPERTS Moving & Storage

404 N. Lincoln Ave., Dixon, IL 288-3133 www.alliedvan.com ILL CC 10540

$15,999* 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU LOW MILES!

US DOT 76235

Public Auction 77.92± surveyed acres Bureau Co., IL Farmland 76.82± cropland acres - No Improvements - 1 Tract

Property Location: Part of E1/2 of NW 1/4 of Sec. 18, Township 8 North, Range 9 East, Ohio Twp.

Auction Location: Green River Country Club 15212 IL Route 92, Walnut, IL

Tuesday, April 5, 2016 - 11:00 a.m.

Bidder Registration begins at 10:15 a.m.

Timothy A. Harris, Managing Broker/Auctioneer 815-875-7418 timothy.a.harris@prudential.com IL Lic. Auctioneer #441.001976

$10,999*

Seller: Ella Snodgrass Trust, The First National Bank in Amboy, Trustee

Details on Auction at www.capitalag.com 22263 1365 N. Ave., Princeton, IL 61356

2015 CHEVROLET SONIC LT

$12,999* 2006 JEEP COMMANDER

PUZZLE ENTHUSIASTS: Get more puzzles in “Random House Crossword MegaOmnious” Vols. 1 & 2

7 PASSENGER

$9,999* 2008 PONTIAC TORRENT

$8,999* Mon.-Thur. 9-7 • Fri. 9-6 • Sat. 8:30am-4pm *Plus tax,title,license & doc fee.Payments based on 3.99%APR financing for 75 months with approved credit with vehicles up to $10,000 - $1,000 down, vehicles $10,000-$20,000 - $2,000 down, vehicles $20,000+ $3,000 down. Photos for illustration only. Dealer not liable for errors.

Sudoku!

Answer on B7

SV Weekend • B16 Paid Advertisement

Wheels www.saukvalley.com

Saturday, March 5, 2016

2015 Chrysler 300

By Terry Box The Dallas Morning News

(TNS)

L

eave those sequined jeans and the tomato-red cowboy boots in the closet.

Likewise, we probably won’t need the parrot or David Lee Roth’s ankle-length black leather coat for our spin in the Chrysler 300.

Which suits me just fine. I’m odd-looking enough without having to dress like a refugee from Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen.

When the modern-day Chrysler 300 arrived in 2005, it invited all sorts of embellishment like a wildly stylish, slightly dangerous den on wheels where various glitzy crimes might be committed. Back then, the 300 flashed urban style that absolutely jolted the auto industry with its chopped-down top, exaggerated Rolls-Royce-like grille and starkly flat sides. Drivers had The 300S I had proudly featured Chrysler’s still-strong 5.7-liter Hemi V-8, now bolted to a fairly refined eight-speed automatic. to dress for a 300 occasion.

But after a decade in which the overall shape of the car has remained more or less the same, the 300 actually seems mildly respectable today though still packing heat. It has aged nicely.

Chrysler is finally hard at work on the successor to the 300, one of the longest-running modern designs in the industry. (The new 300 will supposedly arrive in 2018.)

Granted, the current car got a pretty substantial facelift in 2011, but it remains as recognizable as Mick Jagger with its familiar extrovert grille and bold stance.

And the dark blue 2015 300S I had recently still had the unmistakable big-city stroll that Ralph Gilles now senior vice president of design gave the car more than 10 years ago.

For 2015, the 300’s signature giant grille, which got toned down in 2011, is nearly a third larger,

flanked by modern projectorstyle headlamps. Extremely short overhangs front and rear virtues Gilles bestowed on the car a decade ago continue to look fresh.

While still mostly flat, the 300’s body now sports a tiny bit more curve in its sides, including graceful arches atop the wheel wells.

My 300S rode pretty smoothly on 245/45 tires wrapped around appropriately dark 20-inch wheels.

In back, fine-looking vertical taillamps still stood tall along a squared-off trunk. Also, the side windows of the 300 seemed a tad larger and a little less ominous.

But the most important element in the 300’s strong personality besides its enduring design continues to reside not-so-quietly beneath the hood.

Sadly, the vast majority of 300s these days arrive with mainstream

V-6 engines, which are adequate and keep sales high but further dilute the car’s great heritage from the ‘50s and ‘60s.

The 300S I had proudly featured Chrysler’s still-strong 5.7-liter Hemi V-8, now bolted to a fairly refined eight-speed automatic.

With age comes value or so I try to tell myself each morning staring back at what’s left of me in the mirror. And get this: For a reasonable $39,885, the 300 offers well-seasoned style, a powerful V-8, eight-speed automatic, fully independent suspension and room for at least four real adults.

That strikes me as a pretty good deal.

Incidentally, in case you hadn’t noticed, the 300 is one of only three full-size, rear-wheel drive, V-8 powered sedans still wearing American badges with the Dodge

Charger and Chevy SS rounding out the shriveled segment.

Ironically, the 300 and the Charger are built in Canada, and the SS hails from Australia. By the time the new 300 arrives, that number could be down to two or none, depending on which direction Chrysler decides to go. Get it while you can, as Dr. Joplin advised.

The big 363-horsepower Hemi in the 300 I had didn’t sound all that promising initially, idling lazily with an occasional tick from its old-school engine (overhead valves, pushrods, iron block).

Blip the throttle, though, and the magical Hemi felt as silky as some German vehicles. The car’s 394 pound-feet of smooth torque begins flowing down low, pushing passengers into their seats and easily spinning the back tires if provoked. Whoops. Sixty comes up in a quick five seconds. Thanks

to cylinder deactivation, the thirsty Hemi can muster 16 miles per gallon in town and 25 on the highway.

Best of all, though, you don’t need to stick to straight-line driving.

A few years back, Chrysler sedans steered like the front wheels had been disconnected and maybe stashed in the trunk.

Your kid’s pedal car offered heavier, livelier steering. But Chrysler went to work on its electric-assist steering units, bringing models like the 300 back down to earth.

While still somewhat murky, the steering is now quick and provides the sort of heft you expect in a 4,300-pound sedan.

Business

www.saukvalley.com

Section C

SV Weekend

Saturday, March 5, 2016

STERLING

Illinois Rock Tech has permanent home Business crushes concrete, asphalt for reuse

BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5525 @JPigee84

STERLING – Illinois Rock Tech now has a permanent place to call home.

Roberta Witmer, 64, and

her husband Dan, 65, run the mobile concrete and debris recycling business.

For the past 3 years, they’ve rented land from Rock River Cartage on Galt Road in Sterling. In November, they bought

the empty lot, zoned for heavy industrial use, at 2401 W. Fourth St., a former Propheter Construction site.

“We knew that old location was temporary,” Roberta said. “We saw

the industrial site and we bought it.”

The Witmers, who also farm, have a portable machine that they haul to sites where they crush concrete and asphalt into aggregate that can be used as road base material, in driveways and under new buildings. Crushed

asphalt also contains oils that can be used for blacktops and new roads, among other things.

“This is for anyone who wants to get rid of old concrete, so we don’t have piles of it going into lakes and streams,” Roberta said. “We will work it down to usable size, and

it can be used again as an underlayment.”

They plan to store their machine on site, and set up an office to “serve as our home base,” she said.

Because of the zoning, they also can crush rock there.

Call 815-631-7070 for more information.

daveRAMSEY

WISCONSIN | MANUFACTURING

Molding a future

Financial straight talk.

For more advice, plus special readers offers, visit davesays. org or call 88822-PEACE.

Building wealth is best plan Dear Dave, My boyfriend is wondering whether he should buy life insurance for his mom and dad. They’re both in their 70s, and they’re no longer married. His mom is disabled and remarried, and she doesn’t have any life insurance coverage. The only coverage his dad might have would be through his employer. He’s afraid he would have to pay funeral expenses if one of them died, and he’s not in good enough shape financially to do that right now. What’s your advice?

– Cherie Tribune News Service photos

Daven Claerbout, director of business development and one of the owners of Dutchland Plastics, checks over one of the company’s kayaks Jan. 19 in Oostburg, Wisconsin. The company makes NuCanoe fishing kayaks, and Emotion kayaks sold at Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Plastics-maker places its future in kayaks, coolers and furniture

BY RICK BARRETT Tribune News Service

OOSTBURG, Wis. – Everywhere he goes, Daven Claerbout takes notice of plastic products – including the quality and whether his company, Dutchland Plastics, was the manufacturer.

Claerbout is co-owner and director of business development at Dutchland, based in Oostburg, about 40 miles north of Milwaukee.

The rotational plastics molder makes an array of products, including coolers and kayaks. Some of the items are as small as a thumbnail, while others, such as a kayak, are more than 10 feet long.

Whether he’s in a restaurant or a department store, Claerbout pays attention to what’s made from plastic.

He’s even checked to see whether a restaurant uses

Staff at Ductchland Plastics do finish work on Yeti coolers molded and built at the factory. The coolers are one of the hottest high-end coolers on the market, and very popular with hunters, campers, fishermen and tailgaters.

Dutchland-made lids on trash bins.

It’s a natural curiosity for someone who has been close to a business for most of his life.

“I was 9, and my brother Carl was 11, when our father got into this,” Claerbout said.

Rotational molding can be used to produce complex plastic parts that have fea-

tures such as intricate contours, inserts and double walls. In 2014, Dutchland was ranked by Plastics News as the 20th largest rotational molder in North America.

In 2015, the company received the Product of the Year award from the Association of Rotomolders. The award was for an ice vending machine manufactured for Leer Inc., based in Madison.

Dutchland has about 280 employees, down from 320 8 years ago. The privately held company had more than $38 million in sales in 2015, up nearly 30 percent from 2008.

If the recession taught manufacturers anything, Claerbout said, it was to work smarter through continuous improvement.

MOLDING CONTINUED ON C8

Dear Cherie, If the only insurance his dad might have is furnished through his employer, then yeah, when he stops working he probably won’t have life insurance anymore. It would be fine if he wanted to buy them each a small policy, but it’s going to be very expensive at their age. He would have to get them to sign off on it, and they’d also have to be healthy enough to have a policy issued.

This isn’t a good long-term plan, however. As a long-term plan, I’d tell your boyfriend that he needs to build up his own wealth. If he had $15,000 to $20,000 in savings, that’s more than enough to bury two people. I don’t mean to sound insensitive, but we’re talking about the economics involved in this kind of situation. You can have a nice funeral for as little as $5,000.

The other thing I’d do if I were him is have a discussion with his mom about whether the stepfather has the funds to handle this sort of thing. When it comes right down to it, that would be his responsibility, not the son’s.

RAMSEY CONTINUED ON C8

MARKETING | COMIC BOOK CHARACTERS

Franchise with feminine twist Warner Bros. expands its universe with DC Super Hero Girls

BY RYAN FAUGHNDER Tribune News Service

LOS ANGELES – Shortly after she took over DC Comics 6 years ago, Diane Nelson noticed a glaring problem at the company owned by film and TV studio Warner Bros.

DC’s vast library boasted some of the most popular female superheroes and super villains in the industry, dating back to the 1940s – including Amazon princess Wonder Woman, Kryptonian heroine Supergirl and Batman nemesis Poison Ivy. But

comic book characters had been targeted almost exclusively at boys and men.

“We realized there’s this untapped opportunity,” said Nelson, whose large office door is covered in an image of Wonder Woman. “There’s clearly demand in the marketplace to serve the young girl market.”

Now Nelson, 48, is trying to zero in on that audience with the launch of a new superhero franchise aimed at girls 6 to 12.

The Los Angeles-area company’s DC Super Hero Girls – a youthful,

feminine twist on popular characters – is hitting store shelves for the first time this year, with a trove of new action figures, dolls, costumes and other products. The ambitious rollout started this month with a limited release in Target stores and will be followed by a global launch in July. The initiative re-imagines popular heroes like Wonder Woman and Batgirl – plus more obscure characters such as Bumblebee and Katana – as high-schoolers.

FEMININE CONTINUED ON C8

Tribune News Service

DC Super Hero Girls – a youthful, feminine twist on popular characters — is hitting store shelves for the first time this year with a trove of new action figures, dolls, costumes and other products. In the costume are: Batgirl, Charlotte Osterloh, 6; Supergirl, Elyse Osterloh, 4; and Wonder Woman, Summer Taira, 7.

C2 • SV Weekend

www.saukvalley.com

Saturday, March 5, 2016

IN BRIEF New preschool center opening

Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

The Ashton-Franklin Center November Student of the Month is AnnaMarie Bartlett. She plans to study zoology and environmental studies in college. She is from Franklin Grove.

AFC’s Student of the Month FRANKLIN GROVE – AnnaMarie Bartlett, 17, of Franklin Grove, is Ashton-Franklin Center High School’s November Student of the Month. She is the daughter of Michelle and Richard, and has a sister, Emmelyn, 15.

Favorite class: Biology.

I love learn about nature and animals and how everything works.

Least-favorite class: Algebra. Who cares about “x”?

Favorite teacher: Travis Stauffer, because he cares about each and every student, and is excited about what he is teaching, and it creates a great learning environment Activities: Chorus at school, and I work at my church when they need help.

What will you do after high school? Attend Sauk Valley Community College in Dixon, then transfer to The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, to study zoology and, or environmental studies

What is something you learned in high school that you think you will never use? Sine, cosine, and tangent What kind of music are you listening to? Indie rock–pop, classic rock, and even classical What is your favorite: App: Instagram Food: Fruit Game or activity: Swimming Actor: Jennifer Lawrence Movie: “The Road Within” TV show: “Scream Queens” Do you have a hobby?

Photography Is there a celebrity you look like or act like or feel like? Jennifer Lawrence. I don’t look like her, but she is super relatable, and I think we could get along. Also she is very funny and I think I’m at

least somewhat funny. So we have that in common.

What’s the one thing in your life you can’t do without? The Internet What is your advice for surviving high school?

Stay positive and do your homework.

What scares you? The unknown. I don’t like to be uncertain. And I don’t want to make the wrong the decision, so if I could see into the future I would be much happier.

What’s something about you that nobody knows? I am interested in being part of Congress.

If you could ask President Obama any question, what would it be?

What do you plan to do about the environment and how could you make America more green?

If you could try any job for a day, what would it be? Movie director If you could go anywhere in the world for free, where would it

be? Italy. It is a beautiful country, and it is No. 1 on my places to go outside the U.S. What is the last good book you read? I really liked “Jane Eyre,” by Charlotte Bronte. I really enjoyed the storyline and the twists and turns.

What is your proudest moment? Yet to be determined. I’m a teenager still.

Who is your hero or role model? British filmmaker Louis Cole. He is a very happy, go-with-the-flow guy and he always is traveling and video blogging, and does a lot of charity work, which basically describes how I want to live my life.

Is there anything else you would want people to know about you? I’ve been to 16 states. New York, Tennessee, and Colorado are my favorites, and New York City is my favorite city.

Is there someone you’d like to send a shout out to? To the reader: Vote Bernie Sanders 2016.

College financial help available OREGON – The Foundation for Focus House and Community Programming will offer two scholarships for Ogle County residents.

The $250 F. Lawrence Lenz Scholarship Fund began in April 2003. It was established in honor of the late Ogle County Circuit judge, who was an advocate of Focus House in Rochelle.

The LaVerne Adams Scholarship Fund began in May 2002, after the

death of this Ogle County Board member and 1975 chairman of the committee that oversaw the operation of the program. The award is for $500.

Applicants must be graduating from high school or already enrolled or attending a post-secondary institution. The focus is on positive impact or personal growth which applicants have made in their lives or their community.

All students can apply,

but priority is given to past Focus House residents, former probationary clients, youth who have had police contact, and youth who are studying criminal justice.

The application deadline is April 29. Visit ogle county.org/departments/ probation and click on scholarship information to download application forms, email Jane Biddle at jbiddle@ogle.com to request a form, or stop in from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30

p.m. Monday through Friday at Suite 100 at the Ogle County Judicial Center, 106 S. Fifth St. Winners will be notified

by May 6, and the awards will be presented at noon May 18 at the Ogle County Juvenile Justice Council meeting at Nash Recreation Center, 304 S. Fifth St. Focus House is an Ogle County-owned youth shelter-care facility operated by the probation department.

tasja Vaessen won stuffed animals. Other prizes awarded to those attending were nachos, pop, DIXON – St. Anne Prewater, candy bars, and school Academy and a bag of cookies. Louella Elementary School, 1112 Blackburn made and N. Brinton Ave., will have an open house from 5:30 donated cupcakes.

For more information, to 7:30 p.m. Thursday and call Teen Turf at 815-8579 to 11 a.m. Friday.

4800.

Those attending can look into the school’s new preschool academy center Food sanitation and extended learning and course planned aftercare options. Activities for preschoolers are OREGON – The Univerplanned. Visitors also will sity of Illinois Extension will receive a gift certificate for offer the state Food Serdinner. vice Sanitation Manager For more information, call Course at the Ogle County the school at 815-288Extension office, 421 W. 5619.

Pines Road.

Marilyn Csernus, ExtenRegistration can sion nutrition and wellness educator, will be the be paid at event instructor.

The course will be from STERLING – An open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 22 house for Woodlawn and 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Preschool Academy of with the exam from 12:30 the Arts will be from 5 to 6 p.m. Monday at Wood- to 2:30 April 26.

A valid photo identificalawn Arts Academy, 3807 tion is required for the Woodlawn Road. course.

Visitors will be able to The cost is $100, which meet the preschool teachincludes lunch. An addier, arts curriculum instructional $35 must be paid tors, and administrative staff. Tours of the building to the state Department of Public Health to receive and the classroom will be the certificate after comoffered. pleting the course. The A $25 non-refundable class meets certification fee will be accepted that and recertification requireday to register for the fall ments. session. The first month Registration is due by or first semester payment April 21; visit web.extenis due by Aug. 1 The presion.illinois.edu/bdo or call school will run a 3-day morning program for chil- 815-732-2191. dren 4 and 5 and a 2-day morning program for those Certification class 3 and 4. For information testing scheduled on afternoon classes, call Becky Rich, program MENDOTA – A food coordinator and preschool service sanitation manager director, at the academy, certification course will 815-626-4278. take place from 8 a.m. to During the summer, 5 p.m. March 12 in ConPetra Paufve, lead preference Room C at OSF school instructor, will offer Saint Paul Medical Center, preschool-themed pro1401 E. 12th St. grams. A Touch of Nature This is a state-approved Preschool Camp, which class for Illinois food safety will run twice, will involve certification and renewal. outdoor activities. Tiny Tots Testing will be at 4.

Academy, for children 1 to The cost is $100.

3, is an introduction to preFor information or to school. Parents are asked request registration forms, to attend. Registration for contact David Williams at summer programming williamsclasses@gmail. opens at 9 a.m. May 9. com or 815-564-5603.

Financial assistance is available. Visit the office, or Naturalist to talk the website at woodlawn about area bees artsacademy.com for an application.

ROCKFORD – Wild Ones

– Rock River Chapter will meet at 7 p.m. March 17 at Rock Valley College’s Woodward Technology AMBOY – Teen Turf Center, 3301 N. Mulford recently received $500 Road. from Knights of ColumBarbara Williams, a natubus 8277 of St. Patrick ralist, will talk about bumble Church. bees and other native polThe donation was from linators. She will discuss proceeds of the Knights’ their importance and how Feb. 21 euchre tournato attract and provide them ment. Thirty-two players sanctuary in a garden. attended.

Williams has been studyThe winners of Teen ing bumble bees for several Turf’s Valentine dance years and documenting Feb. 12 were Dashad their ranges. The public is Green and Josh Yocum, welcome. $5 each; and Reed The group’s library will Barnes, Bailey Bickett, be open, merchandise will Jacob Bickett, Angie be sold, and refreshments Daszkiewicz, Austin Dees, will be served before the Ethen Fowler, Nathan Friel, meeting.

Ari Groitia, Milla Hartford, For more information, Alex Jerry, Kenzie Kessel, visit wildonesrrvc.com or call 815-494-6977.

Chloe Landahl, and Nas-

Donation given to youth group

KNIGHT OF WINE AND BEER RAISES MONEY FOR SCHOOLS

Students and Jean Spohn, principal, of St. Mary School in Dixon receive $1,400 from Luke Dixon, grand knight of Knights of Columbus Council 690 in Dixon. The money was raised during the annual Knight of Wine and Beer Tasting and Dessert Sister Marcianne, principal of St. Anne School in Dixon, and students also acceptAuction, which was in January. Photos submitted. ed $1,400 from the event from Dixon.

Saturday, March 5, 2016

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Life in the Sauk Valley LEFT: At least one beaver’s handiwork could be seen by a boat ramp near Grand Detour. The “lumberjack” itself wasn’t in evidence that day during a winter drive. Photos submitted by Anita Schryver of Rock Falls.

BELOW: Just a little dash of snow remained on the ground and roadway near a peaceful-looking the Rock River.

Winter-spring cheerleading, tumbling, and dance-pompon winners from Coloma Township Park District in Rock Falls are (kneeling, from left) Kiersten Bontz and Elizabeth Lombardo; (middle row) Kirsten Bliefnick, Fantasia Ward, Marissa Bliefnick, and Trinity Funderberg; with (back row) Emily Blackert, Alex Kelemen-Nelson, and Johanna Cravatta, instructors. Not pictured are Gyneya Roman, Aleecia Rodriguez, ElizaLynn Mcninch, and Kalina Willhite. Photo submitted by Maggie Wolf.

Who’s on my turf? A deer stands its ground Nov. 11 in Keith Zickuhr’s backyard in Oregon. Photos submitted by Zickuhr.

A squirrel takes advantage of a feeder Dec. 6. Photo submitted by Zickuhr.

A sharp-shinned hawk paused Jan. 25 among the trees. Photo submitted by Zickuhr.

A northern flicker takes a peek over the edge of a The family of Katie Ortgiesen (front row, second from left) of Dixon gathered Jan. 31 at Mama Cimino’s in peanut-filled “super” bowl Feb. 7 at Irv Bolthouse’s yard in Oregon. Photos submitted by Bolthouse.

Dixon. Photo submitted by Ortgiesen.

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Saturday, March 5, 2016

Artists needed for show

FIRST TIME TO STATE

DIXON – Entries are wanted for the 69th annual Phidian Art Show, which will open April 12 at Loveland Community House, 513 W. Second St. Artwork must be original paintings or drawings and not previously entered in the show, ready for hanging by wire, no more than 48 inches in width, not exceeding 25 pounds, and suitable for family viewing.

The artist must live within 35 driving miles of Dixon, and be 17 or older. The entry cost is

$15 for one submission and $25 for two, the limit per artist.

No drafts, photography, computer-generated art, sculptures, or 3-D work will be accepted.

The club was founded in 1890 to promote the arts in the form of visual art, literature, and music.

Last year, about 100 pieces were submitted.

The works are critiqued by judges, most of whom are artists.

Awards are given in a variety of categories, including American and regional scenes, nature, creativity, realistic style,

multicultural, best floral, best landscape and reflections of the past.

More than $4,000 will be bestowed through 20 awards.

Entries will be accepted from 2 to 6 p.m. April 7 and 8 at Loveland. The show and reception are open to the public; the doors open at 6 p.m. and the judges’ critique and presentation of awards are at 7 April 12.

For more information, guidelines, and entry forms, call Rosemary Coplan at 815-535-1011 or Judy Dixon at 815288-2501.

Award nominations sought

The Scholastic Bowl team of Bureau Valley High School in Manlius advanced to the Masonic Academic Bowl state finals for the first time. Celebrating their victory are (kneeling) Chelsea Higgins and Christian Terzoli, seniors; and (standing, from left) Michael Goessman, coach; and Kurt Bitting, sophomore; Nick Glubczynski, captain and a junior; Harrison Brousseau, senior; and Austin Catton, sophomore.

Not pictured is Annie Nichols, assistant coach. The finals are today at Bloomington High School. Photo submitted by Joyce Wallace.

IN BRIEF

DIXON – The YWCA of the Sauk Valley’s annual Women of Achievement Luncheon will be April 7 at Dixon Elks Lodge 779, 1279 Franklin Grove Road.

Nominations honoring women are due Monday.

The awards are the Louise Bittorf Sullivan Award for Inspirational Woman, Pearl Woods Award for Business and Industry, Crete Dillon Bowman Award for Community Leadership, Jane Reid Keefer Award for Professions and Education, L.L. Ely Award for Secretarial Excellence, Young Woman

Area homemakers Bridge players tie prepare for meeting in February games

Cassie Schlais, owner of Lucky 2B Quilting in Pecatonica, will present the STEWARD – Members DIXON – The Dixon Mon- program.

Quilt demonstration of Lee County Homemak- day Night Bridge Club has warm-ups will take place ers Education Associaannounced its Feb. 22 at 6:30. tion will attend the 92nd results.

Visitors can attend for $5, annual Illinois Association Competitors played in a payable at the door. for Home and Community Swiss team game, with all For more information, call Education Conference three tying for first place.

Ann at 815-238-6489 or March 15-17.

They are Barb Bass of Frances Eccher, Marilyn Princeton and Mimi Boysen Carol at 815-535-3432.

Kemmerer, Shirley Rees, of Dixon, Phil and Elizabeth Linda Tarpley, and Nata- Naffziger of Princeton, and Vendor sign-up lie Witek will participate.

Diane and Don Pauser of open for event Rollin’ on the River With Dixon.

IAHCE is at Embassy The group meets at 5:30 LENA – A Ladies Day Out Suites East Peoria – p.m. Mondays at the Post will be from 10 a.m. to 3 Hotel and Riverfront House Community Center, p.m. May 7 at the downConference Center. The 100 W. Second St. For town municipal parking lot women will take home more information, contact on Railroad Street. details from the 42 lesFred Spitzzeri, club manA food drive, raffles, one sons to share with their ager, at spitzzeri@aol.com for the Lena Area Church local associations. or 630-917-5858.

Cooperative, and other The group promotes activities are planned. social and economic Both men and women Quilters to hear well-being through home are welcome.

LuckyB program and community educaVendors are wanted. To tion. request applications or for FREEPORT – The CounFor more information, more information, contact try Crossroads Quilt Guild contact Rees, president, will meet at 7 p.m. March Kristina Weaver at Ladiesat 815-824-2279, or DayOut05@gmail.com or 21 at Forreston Grove Witek, membership chair- Church, 7246 Freeport 815-541-2355, or Chelsea man, at 815-824-2009.

White at 815-275-3997.

Road.

of Tomorrow, and the Spirit of Achievement Award.

The event is open to both men and women.

The cost is $35. A gift basket raffle and 50-50 drawing will take place, with tickets available at the luncheon, payable by cash or credit or debit cards. Basket raffle tickets are $1 each or $5 for six.

Specialty basket tickets are $5 each. The 50-50 ticket price was not available at press time.

Seating is limited; luncheon registrations are due by March 23. Groups reserving a table of eight

will be listed as table sponsors in the event program.

Registration at the luncheon will be at 11:30 a.m., with the meal from noon to 1:30 p.m. All proceeds will support YWCA services in Lee and Whiteside counties.

For more information, to register and for registration forms, or to nominate, visit ywca.org/ saukvalley or call 815-6250333, or search Facebook under YWCA of the Sauk Valley. Reservations also can be sent to the YWCA at 412 First Ave., Sterling, IL 61081.

AT ODELL

A night of coloring for adults will be from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. March 7 at Odell Public Library, 307 S. Madison St., Morrison, as part of the Calming the Mind series. Leona Schmidt (left) and Joan Zuidema were among those at the Feb. 2 session. For more information, call 815-772-7323. The program is offered by Odell Public Library Friends. Photo submitted by Anne Frame.

Series topic: life in cloister

Maddie Erickson

Emily Hanover

Jon Buyers

Deidra Davis

Alex Kersten

Taylor Kobbeman

MacKenzie Nielsen

Cobie Terrock

Student achievers acknowledged STERLING – Whiteside Area Career Center has announced its January Students of the Month.

They are: Jon Buyers, building trades, Sterling High School, the son of Troy and Melinda Buyers Deidra Davis, commercial foods, Amboy High School, the daughter of Colleen Ryan Maddie Erickson,

early childhood education, Newman Central Catholic High School in Sterling, the daughter of Bill Erickson and Leanne Blasé Emily Hanover, allied health, Prophetstown High School, the daughter of Kevin and Suzette Hanover Alex Kersten, automotive service, Milledgeville High School, the son of

Jason and Stephanie Kersten Taylor Kobbeman, computer technology, Rock Falls High School, the son of Seth Kobbeman MacKenzie Nielsen, criminal justice, Dixon High School, the daughter of Stacey Nielsen Cobie Terrock, welding, manufacturing technology, Sterling High School, the son of David Terrock

MORRISON – The lives of cloistered nuns will be the focus of a presentation March 15 at Odell Public Library, 307 S. Madison St. “Monastic Silence and a Visual Dialogue: Life among the Poor Clare Colettine Nuns” will be from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., followed by a question and answer session. The public is welcome.

Abbie Reese, a writer and documentary filmmaker who grew up in Lanark, spent 8 years with a community of

20 Poor Clare Colettine nuns in Illinois. She is the author of “Dedicated to God; An Oral History of Cloistered Nuns,” and is working on a movie, “Chosen,” about a 27-year-old former blogger and painter who now is a cloistered novice.

Reese will share aspects of the hidden monastic life and the nuns’ motivations and internal journeys.

According to the news release, one of the nuns, “Sister Nicolette,” is claustrophobic in an ele-

vator, and was worried when she first felt called, since “cloister” shares the same root as “claustrophobia.”

The program is part of Odell’s “Calming Your Mind” winter lifelong learning series. The program is through the Illinois Humanities Council.

Reservations are requested, but are not required. Sign up at the library or call 815-7727323. For more information, call or visit library on Facebook.

Minions continue world conquest MORRISON – “Minions” will be shown at 2 p.m. March 12 in the program room at Odell Public Library, 307 S. Madison St. Starring Sandra Bullock and John Hamm, the animated film tells the

tale of the Minions, who have served evil bosses throughout history. When they accidentally kill their last boss, they set out to find a new leader, and join Scarlett Overkill, the world’s first super-villainess. After a while, Overkill

plots to kill the minions, and one of them, Kevin, must save them.

Donations will be accepted; popcorn will be served.

For more information, call the library at 815772-7323.

Bus heads to Joliet for mansion lunch, ‘live radio broadcast’ in ballroom setting DIXON – A motor-coach trip has been planned by the Post House Community Center for April 19 to see the Alan Gresik Swing Shift Orchestra perform at the Jacob Henry Mansion

Estate in Joliet.

The bus will leave at 8 a.m. from Rock Falls Community Center, 601 W. 19th St., and at 8:30 from Dixon Walmart, 1640 S. Galena Ave.

The group will arrive at the mansion in time for a self-guided tour, followed by a chicken cordon bleu lunch. The menu also includes a chef’s choice of starch, a steamed veg-

etable, garden salad, warm rolls, dessert. and coffee or tea.

Vocalists and radio actors will perform a “live radio broadcast” show from the “Limestone Lounge” at the

estate’s Victorian-era ballroom. The bus will return about 4:30 p.m. to Dixon and about 5 to Rock Falls.

The cost is $75 for center members and $80 for nonmembers.

Registration and payment are due by April 4 at the Post House, 100 W. Second St., For more information, call the center at 815-2889236.

Saturday, March 5, 2016

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BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS Breslin Henry Buckingham Kortney Buckingham and Brandon Vasquez of Rock Falls are the parents of a son born at 7:26 a.m. Jan. 14, 2016, at CGH Medical Center in Sterling.

Breslin Henry Buckingham weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces at birth and was 20 inches in length.

He is welcomed by Hollisten Buckingham, 1.

Maternal grandmother is Rachel Fauble of Rock Falls.

Paternal grandparents are Rick Vasquez and Paula Garcia, both of Rock Falls.

Maternal great-grandparents are Jack and Patricia Buckingham of Middleburg, Florida.

Paternal great-grandparents are John and Lupe Garcia and Steve and Nellie Young, all of Rock Falls, and Marta Vasquez of Sterling.

Audriana Louise Mattingly Deanna and Robert Mattingly of Princeton are the parents of a daughter born Feb. 15, 2016, at Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru.

Audriana Louise Mattingly weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces at birth and was 20 inches in length.

She is welcomed by Olivia, Dominick, and Wesley.

Maternal grandparents are Donna and John Davies of Princeton.

Paternal grandparents are Mark Mattingly and Suzanne Williams of Princeton and Johanna and Rob Wagner of Peoria.

Paternal great-grandparents are Bonnie and Bob Mattingly of Deer Grove and Jim Juarez of Sterling.

Paternal great-greatgrandparents are Marcella Mattingly of Walnut and Gene Hardy of Deer Grove.

Wade Robert Smith Lynsey and Kody Smith of Rock Falls are the parents of a son born at 8:56 a.m. Feb. 16, 2016, at CGH Medical Center in Sterling.

Wade Robert Smith weighed 8 pounds, 13

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ounces at birth and was 23 inches in length.

He is welcomed by Weston Smith, 1.

Maternal grandparents are Diane and Jay Young of Rock Falls.

Paternal grandparents are Kim and Matt Smith of Rock Falls.

Maternal great-grandparents are Bill and Alice Young and Bob Peugh, all of Rock Falls.

Paternal great-grandparents are Wayne and Lavern Smith of Rock Falls and Norma Wilson of Sterling.

Remington Lee Austin Elizabeth and Dylan Austin of Sterling are the parents of a son born at 12:30 p.m. Feb. 23, 2016, at CGH Medical Center in Sterling.

Remington Lee Austin weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces at birth and was 21 inches in length.

He is welcomed by Jaxson, 4.

Maternal grandparents are Julie and Jeff Vinson of Deer Grove and Kevin and Kim Newburgh of Rock Falls.

Paternal grandparents are David and Tayne Austin of Rock Falls.

Maternal great-grandparents are Lynn Newburgh of Rock Falls and Marilyn and Bernardo Padilla and Jerry and Linda Heckler, all of Sterling.

Paternal great-grandparents are Shirley Austin and Shirley and Earl Beck, all of Rock Falls.

Zayvin Stanley Everett Sliger Rikki Sliger of Sterling is the mother of a son born at 5:01 p.m. Feb. 10, 2016, at CGH Medical Center in Sterling.

Zayvin Stanley Everett Sliger weighed 8 pounds at birth and was 21 inches in length.

Maternal grandparents are Tammy and Doug Heeren and Greg and Amber Sliger, all of Sterling.

Maternal great-grandparents are Janie and Wayne Yates of Sterling and Stan and Judy Sliger of Limestone, Tennessee.

Sauk Valley Ducks Unlimited received recognition during the February Illinois Ducks Unlimited State Convention.

With the awards are (from left) Dale Hall, Ducks Unlimited CEO; Mark Swegle and Brent Hasenauer, co-chairmen of the Sauk Valley chapter; and Bill Sarafin, state chairman. The local chapter was honored with a Regional Performance Award for being the top chapter in northwest Illinois and the Canvasback Award as the top chapter statewide, based on increases of net to net, net to gross, and in membership. Photo submitted.

COLLEGE HONORS University of Iowa

Rockford University ROCKFORD – Students named to the fall dean’s list at Rockford University are: Oregon: Matthew Murray Rochelle: Shawnna Worley

Bachelor of Science, advertising; Tanner Meyer-Wright, Bachelor of Arts, liberal arts and sciences Fulton: Brandon J. Dierks, Bachelor of Science, technical systems management Sterling: Nathanial J. Kirchhoff, Bachelor of Science, industrial engineering University of Illinois Those named to the fall dean’s list are: CHAMPAIGN – Students Byron: Austin C. Deets, earning degrees during the Ashley Dinges, Lauren fall semester at the UniverNicole L. Ditmars, Kathryn sity of Illinois – Champaign J. Lillie are: Dixon: Thomas A. CleAmboy: Talon Becker, mens, Molly Fane, Kurt Doctor of Philosophy, crop Gale, Brooke Garren, Kyler sciences Grossman, Paige Himes, Byron: Kristen A. Goetzka, Jarilyn C. Jackson, Samuel Bachelor of Science, liberal J. James, Matthew J. Kerr, arts and sciences; Scott Vivian C. Villegas, CassanSwanson, Master of Scidra N. Vivian ence, crop sciences Rochelle: Alexander J. Dixon: Nicholas E. Davis, Lang Those named distinguished scholars are: Dixon: Jamie Logan Rock Falls: Amanda Davy Paw Paw: Nathan McKee Oregon: Elizabeth Roberson Mount Morris: Nicholas Seeley

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Those named to the University of Iowa fall dean’s list are: Dixon: Alexander Deforest, Ellie Drezen, Rachel Hageman, Abbey Schaefer Morrison: Andrew Schaver Sterling: Allie Harkness, John Sheppard, Morgan Zuidema Walnut: Irini Petros Benjamin Urick of Prophetstown earn a Certificate in College Teaching degree during the fall semester.

Rock Falls: Haley E. Scott Fulton: David R. Stage, Krista D. Temple, Kyle Wiebenga Oregon: Kathryn Speck Polo: Lynae Merdian, Madison D. Merdian Rochelle: Lauren E. Murphy Rock Falls: Charles A. Rozhon Sterling: Nathan J. Blackburn, Joseph K. Brouilette, Robert Y. Clifton, Ethan G. Rocha, Mengyang Zheng

Iowa Wesleyan University MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa – Holly M. Johnson of Morrison was named to the fall honors dean’s list at Iowa Wesleyan University. Julie A. Hurd of Sterling was named to the highest honors list.

IN BRIEF Tri-City Trail Riders to meet

ROCHELLE – The Illinois Chapter of Singles in Agriculture will have a singles dance for those

21 and older March 12 at the Flight Deck Bar and Grill, in the hanger at Rochelle Airport, 1207 W. Gurler Road.

The Mississippi Man will play from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. The cost is $10 at the door. The public is welcome.

For more information, call Pat at 815-6252006 or Lorraine at 815626-4483.

City Senior Center, 401 Cherry Ave., Rochelle, 815-562-5050.

Quilting, 9:30 a.m., Rock River Center, 810 S. 10th Ave., Oregon, 815-732-3252.

Euchre lessons and games, 10 a.m., Whiteside County Senior Center, 1207 W. Ninth St., Sterling. Register: 815-6229230 or 828-461-7979.

Situation Room, 10 a.m., Rock River Center, 810 S. 10th Ave., Oregon, 815-732-3252.

Zumba class, 10:30 a.m., Post House Community Center, 100 W. Second St., Dixon, 815288-9236.

Lunch, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Whiteside County Senior Center, 1207 W. Ninth St., Sterling, 815-622-9230.

Organized Wii Bowling games, noon, Post House

Community Center, 100 W. Second St., Dixon.

Hand and Foot cards, 12:15 p.m., Rock River Center, 810 S. 10th St., Oregon, 815-7323252.

Pinochle, 12:30 p.m., Big Room, Whiteside County Senior Center, 1207 W. Ninth St., Sterling, 815-622-9230.

Friendly Mexican Train dominoes, 12:30 p.m., Whiteside County Senior Center, 1207 W. Ninth St., Sterling, 815-6229230.

Duplicate bridge, 12:30 p.m., Post House Community Center, 100 W. Second St., Dixon.

Rummy, 1 p.m., Robert Fulton Community Center and Transit Facility, 912 Fourth St., Fulton, 815-589-3925

Tacos, 4-8 p.m., Latin American Social Club, 2708 W. Fourth St., Sterling, 815-6258290.

Exercise group, 4 p.m., Robert Fulton Community Center and Transit Facility, 912 Fourth St., Fulton, 815-589-3925 Bingo, Dixon Elks Lodge No. 779, 4:30 p.m. doors open, 5:30 p.m. kitchen opens,and 6:30 p.m. bingo begins, 1279 Franklin Grove Road 815-2883557. No computers.

Loaves and Fishes, 5-6 p.m., Holloway Center, St. Patrick Catholic Church, 612 Highland Ave., Dixon, 815-284-7719. A free, hot meal for the needy.

Sauk Valley Chess Club, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Northland Mall, 2900 E. Lincolnway, Sterling, 815-622-8838.

pal Church, 221 W. Third St., Dixon.

Alcoholics Anonymous Gratitude Group, noon, step, closed; 6 p.m. open, lower level, Loveland Community House, 513 W. Second St., Dixon.

Alcoholics Anonymous, noon, open, St. Paul Lutheran Church, 114 S. Fifth St., Oregon.

Alcoholics Anonymous, noon, closed, Big Book; 6 p.m., closed, Spanish; 7 p.m., open, beginners, Bazaar Americana, 609 W. Third St., Sterling.

Sauk Valley Alcoholics Anonymous Group, noon, open, Sunshine meeting, back door, 1503 First Ave., Suite D, Rock Falls.

Crochet-Knitting Club, 12:30 p.m., Whiteside County Senior Center, 1207 W. Ninth St., Sterling.

Stories of the Past program

by University of Illinois Extension, 1 p.m., Post House Community Center, 100 W. Second St., Dixon, 815-288-9236.

Care for the Caregiver, 1:30 p.m., Home of Hope Cancer Wellness Center, 1637 Plock Road, Dixon, 815-288-4673.

TOPS, 4 p.m. weigh-in, 4:30 p.m. meeting; 5:30 p.m. weighin, 6 p.m. meeting, Hub City Senior Center, 401 Cherry Ave., Rochelle.

TOPS Chapter IL 634 meeting, 4:30 p.m., 205 S. Walnut

St., Franklin Grove.

TOPS, 5 p.m. weigh-in, 5:30 p.m. meeting, Polo Church of the Brethren, 401 S. Congress Ave., Polo, 815-946-3638.

Celebrate Recovery, 6-8 p.m., 201 W. Market St., Morrison, 815-590-8929.

Celebrate Recovery, 6-8 p.m., New Hope Baptist Church, 902 W. 12th St., Rock Falls; John Mattingly, 815-631-3896.

Celebrate Recovery, 6-8 p.m., Revive Community Church, 8 E. Front St., Mount Morris, 815-994-0428.

Rock Falls Rotary, 6 p.m., Beelendorf’s Deli, 204 W. 10th St., Rock Falls.

Dixon VFW Men’s Auxiliary, 6 p.m., Post 540, 1560 Franklin Grove Road.

Rock Falls Boy Scout Troop 306, 6:30-8 p.m., fellowship hall, Harvest Time Bible Church, 1802 Dixon Ave., Rock Falls.

Dixon VFW Post 540 Auxiliary, 6 p.m., 1560 Franklin Grove Road.

Amboy American Legion Post 453, 6:30 p.m., Community Room, Amboy Family Restaurant and Pizza, 211 E. Main St., 815-849-5219.

VFW Post 5418 Men’s Auxiliary, 7 p.m., 217 First Ave., Rock Falls, 815-626-3513.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 7 p.m., open, Immanuel Lutheran Church, 960 N. U.S. Route 52, Amboy.

Dixon Elks Lodge 779 Auxiliary, 7 p.m., 1279 Franklin Grove Road.

Mount Carroll Monday Night Al-Anon-Alateen, 7 p.m., Church of God, 816 Clay St., Mount Carroll.

Petunia City Quilters, 7 p.m., Loveland Community House, 513 W. Second St., Dixon, 815626-6627.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 7 p.m., closed, step study, Elim Reformed Church, 140 S. Church Road, Kings.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 7 p.m., closed, 808 Freeport Road, Sterling.

Rock Falls American Legion Post 902, 7 p.m., 712 Fourth Ave., 815-626-3862.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 7 p.m., step study, closed, Church of St. Anne, 401 N. Cherry St., Morrison.

Sauk Valley Al-Anon GroupAlateen, 7 p.m., back door, 1503 First Ave., Suite D, Rock Falls.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 7:30 p.m., closed, Eells Room, St. Luke Episcopal Church, 207 W. Third St., Dixon.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m., closed (3), First Presbyterian Church, 502 Third St., Savanna.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m., open, 217 N. Hickory St., Shannon.

Tickets are available from club members through March 20; no tickets will be sold at the door. The GENESEO – The next gathering of the Tri-City Trail cost is $13 per person, and includes dinner and the Riders will be March 13. dance. For more informaThe group will meet at 1 p.m. to bowl, with a meeting tion, call Sally Johnson at 815-499-0278 or 815-631at 3 p.m. at Lee’s Lanes, 7281.

925 S. Oakwood Ave. A horse shots clinic will The annual dinner-dance banquet will be March 26 at be April 9 at the home of Denny and Sally Johnson. the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge, 1025 S. State St. The first ride of the season

is at 1 p.m. April 23 at the Johnsons’. Call Sally for more information on the activities.

The public is welcome.

Ag singles night planned for March

COMMUNITY EVENTS Today Bi-County Cooperative Foundation Spring Expo and Self Help Enterprises pancake breakfast, 7 a.m.-noon, 2300 W. LeFevre Road, Sterling.

Farmers Market, 8 a.m.noon, Twin City Market, indoors, 106 Avenue A, Sterling, 815-626-8610.

Winter Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., lower level, Loveland Community House, 513 Second St., Dixon.

Mexican food, 5-8 p.m., Rock Falls VFW, 217 First Ave. Sunday Monroe Township Firefighters’ Association all-you-caneat buffet breakfast, 7-11 a.m., fire station, 104 West St., Monroe Center.

Knights of Columbus allyou-can-eat breakfast buffet, 7-11:30 a.m., St. Andrew School, 701 11th Ave., Rock Falls.

Annual Central School pancake and French toast breakfast, 8 a.m.-noon, Amboy Central School, 30 Provost St., 815-857-3619.

Tampico Lions Club annual pancake breakfast, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Tampico Grade School, 305 E. Kimball St. Euchre tournament, 12:30 p.m. sign-in, 1 p.m. start, Post House Community Center, 100 W. Second St., Dixon, 815-2889236.

Euchre tournament, 12:30 p.m., Whiteside County Senior Center, 1207 W. Ninth St., Sterling, 815-622-9230.

Monday Open pool, open cards, Wii games (call ahead), and computer lab, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Whiteside County Senior Center, 1207 W. Ninth St., Sterling, 815-622-9230.

Open pool, open cards, open Wii games, and computer lab, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Post House Community Center, 100 W. Second St., Dixon, 815288-9236.

Pool players, 8:30 a.m., Rock River Center, 810 S. 10th St., Oregon, 815-732-3252.

Kings on Corner cards, 9 a.m., Whiteside County Senior Center, 1207 W. Ninth St., Sterling, 815-622-9230.

Mexican Train dominoes, 9 a.m., Wii Bowling, 9 a.m., cards, 10 a.m. and noon, Hub

SUPPORT GROUPS, CLUBS, AND SERVICES Today Alcoholics Anonymous, 9 a.m., closed, Big Book, United Methodist Church, 201 E. Chicago Ave., Davis Junction.

Alcoholics Anonymous Gratitude Group, 9 a.m., open; noon, open; 6 p.m., open, lower level, Loveland Community House, 513 W. Second St., Dixon.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 9:30 a.m., closed, former St. Anne Grade School, 32 N. Jones Ave., Amboy, 815-857-2315.

Illowa Sport Flyers, 10 a.m., Erie Airpark, 8689 Star Road.

Women’s Alcoholics Anonymous, 10:30 a.m., closed; 7 p.m., closed, 808 Freeport Road, Sterling.

Alcoholics Anonymous, noon, closed; 7 p.m., closed (5), Bazaar Americana, 609 W. Third St., Sterling.

Narcotics Anonymous Hope Without Dope, noon, in the back of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, 1901 First Ave., Sterling, 815-535-3748.

Sauk Valley Alcoholics Anonymous Group, noon, open, Old Timers; 7 p.m., open, family fun night, back door, 1503 First Ave., Rock Falls.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 7 p.m., open, First Presbyterian Church, 1100 Calvin Road, Rochelle.

Chapter 410 of the Experimental Aircraft Association,

7:30 p.m., terminal building, Whiteside County Airport, 10950 Hoover Road, Rock Falls, 815-626-1249.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m., steps and traditions, closed, Village of Progress, 710 S. 13th St., Oregon.

Sunday Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 a.m., closed; noon open; 1 p.m., closed, Spanish; 7 p.m., closed, Bazaar Americana, 609 W. Third St., Sterling.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 10 a.m., open, barn, Horizon View Farm, 2422 N. River Road, Oregon.

Sauk Valley Alcoholics Anonymous Group, 10 a.m., open, Big Book; 7 p.m. veterans, open, back door, 1503 First Ave., Suite D, Rock Falls.

Latin American Social Club meeting, 3 p.m., 2708 W. Fourth St., Sterling, 815-6258290.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 6 p.m., closed, Church of St. Anne, 401 N. Cherry St., Morrison.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 7 p.m., closed, Spanish, St. Patrick Catholic Church, 236 Kelly Drive, Rochelle.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 7 p.m., open, Rochelle Community Hospital, 900 N. Second St., Rochelle.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 7

p.m., closed, 808 Freeport Road, Sterling.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 7 p.m., closed, clearance required, BAAbble on for Life Prison Group, 815-973-6150.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 7:30 p.m., closed, 304 Seventh Ave. W, Lyndon.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m., closed (4), Mount Morris Senior Center, 9 E. Front St. Monday Women, infants and children clinic; and family planning services, Lee County Health Department, 309 S. Galena Ave., Suite 100, Dixon. Appointments: 815-284-3371.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 a.m., open, Methodist church, 402 First Ave., Forreston.

Blood pressure screenings, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Whiteside County Health Department, 1300 W. Second St., Rock Falls, 815626-2230.

American Red Cross blood drive, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., West Carroll High School, 500 Cragmoor Drive, Savanna.

Appointments: 800-733-2767.

Abuse Changing team, 815625-0338.

Mercy Nursing Services free blood pressure clinic, 8:3010:30 a.m., YMCA, 2505 YMCA Way, Sterling.

Dixon Rotary Club, noon, lower level, St. Luke Episco-

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Saturday, March 5, 2016

RENAISSANCE PROGRAM HONOREES

The Renaissance Program at Bureau Valley High School in Manlius had a breakfast Feb. 24 to honor the Students of the Month and Staff Member of the Month. At the breakfast are (front row, from left) Sheila Heth, Kalynn Sullivan, Andrew Mazzei, and Gabe Strader, recipients; and (back row) Angie Florschuetz with the Walnut Leader, program sponsor; Kohl Hendon, Madalynn McFadden, and Emily Fordham, recipients; and Jay Schneider with the Apollo Theater, program sponsor. Not pictured are Gabe Asher, Ashleigh O’Brien, Delaney Dzurisin, Joe Peters, and Hunter Schoff, recipients. Photo submitted by Tori Boyle.

New ‘daughter’ makes younger kids jealous Dear Abby: My wife and I have been married 20 years and have three children, ages 10 to 17.

Our oldest is a senior in high school. Her best friend, “Maya,” is a friend of the family we have known for 10 years.

Maya’s parents have been divorced for as long as we’ve known her. She lives with her single mom. Her dad moved out of state.

Maya spends a lot of time with us on weekends, and we have all embraced her as another family member. Recently, Maya pulled me aside and asked if I could be a father figure in her life. I was honored and immediately agreed. Now when she comes over she calls me “Dad” and even says

dearABBY Dear Abby is written

by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips. The column is provided through Universal Uclick.

“I love you.” I say it back.

Last week, my wife mentioned that our younger two children have noticed the bond between me and Maya and are upset about it. How can I be there for Maya through these tough teen years without alienating my own younger kids?

– Family Guy in the Midwest

Dear Family Guy: Consider having a talk with your younger children and explaining to them that the more love there is in this world, the better our world will be. Explain that Maya has no father in her life, and that any affection you express for her does not lessen the love you feel for them, and they will always be “No. 1” in your heart.

This does not, however, mean that you cannot have love for Maya, too, and say it when you think she needs to hear it. If you haven’t already been doing it, make special time for your younger children that does not include Maya. If you do, perhaps it will help them to feel less threatened.

Dear Abby: Allow me to offer a word of encouragement to young boys who are short in stature: All your life, you will hear thoughtless remarks about your height. “He’s short. That’s so sad. It will hold him back in life.

He’ll have trouble with girls,” and so on. Don’t listen to a word of it.

I am now a senior citizen. Not once has being short held me back from anything I wanted in life – relationships, money, career, friends, and respect. Other people may have stereotypes, but do not let them control your goals and dreams.

You can have whatever you want in life, so go for it.

– Mike in California

PASTOR’S CORNER

IN BRIEF

God’s discipline strengthens

Biblical values program planned

During the month of March, a time that moves the church through the days of Lent and toward Easter, discipline seems like an appropriate topic.

Hebrews: 12, titled “God Disciplines His Sons,” advises us to “endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons.” The reason is tough to accept, but true: discipline strengthens your weakness.

We’re all aware of the significance of fitness centers in our 21st-century world. However, if you’ve ever been inside one and watched what went on with all those exercise machines, you might consider a better name for the building – House of Pain. Few people go there unless a doctor sends them. The fitness center is no doubt

perspective. In fact, the writer employs the image of endurance to make The Rev. Allen the concept of discipline Campbell is the pastor clearer. of First ConFurther, the writer uses gregational an analogy of a parent’s Church in discipline of a child to Rock Falls. emphasize God’s discipline for believers. If we accept the discipline of our human parents, then how much more should a place where more diswe be subject to the discicipline occurs than at pline of God? any other place in our Thus, in the long run, town. I recently finished 3 the pain of discipline months of physical thera- promotes good health py, which I often referred in both the spiritual and to as pain and torture. But physical realms. Disthe results were better cipline is the ability an balance for me. individual calls on to Even repenting takes a do what Stephen Covey certain amount of discisuggests by the phrase pline. “putting first things first.”

The writer of Hebrews First things first promotes is attempting to place health and wholeness in the human enduring our lives. It is to this end of suffering into a faith that discipline aims.

allenCAMPBELL

Dear Mike: There is no height requirement for success.

As I write this I am thinking of Prince, Elton John, Michael J. Fox, Kevin Hart, Danny DeVito, and every jockey who races for the Triple Crown. (My lawyer is also short in stature, but I measure him only from the eyebrows up.)

Dear Abby: I’m 18 and have never had a boyfriend. I really, really like a boy from church, but I don’t know how to approach him. He has a job and is in his second year of college.

We’re good friends, but he’s so busy with work and school that I never see him, not even

DIXON – The Northern Illinois Values Council will offer a discussion at 7 p.m.

Tuesday at the Brandywine, 441 state Route 2.

The talk is about restoring biblical values in America.

The featured speaker is Dan Fisher, pastor, author, and Oklahoma state representative, who will present “The Black Robed Regiment.” David Smith, director of the Illinois Family Institute, will be the guest speaker. James King, a pastor and the mayor of Cisco, Texas, will moderate.

The public is welcome.

Participants will discuss the importance of returning to biblical values in local, state, and federal governments. Coffee and snacks

on Sundays. It’s upsetting. I’d really like to be more than friends. What should I do?

– Crushing in Indiana Dear Crushing: Because of the schedule he is on, I don’t think you have much choice other than to wait until his classes end and he’s on holiday or summer break.

In the meantime, do not put your life on hold.

Stay busy with friends and other activities, and who knows? You may meet somebody else who’s also interesting.

Contact Dear Abby at DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

will be served.

Email northernilvalues council@gmail.com or call 815-590-9421 or 573-8086435 for more information.

Visit blackrob ereg.org and illinoisfamily.org for more information on the organizations.

continue until one book remains.

Snacks will be served.

For more information, call the library at 815-3792159.

‘Playoffs’ action with library books

WALNUT – Patrons can bring their empty inkjet cartridges and old cellphones to Walnut Public Library, 101 Heaton St. The library receives up to $4 for each cartridge recycled. Cartridges should be placed in plastic sandwich bags and left in the collection bin to the left of the inside door. No large laser cartridges will be accepted.

For more information or a list of what cartridges are acceptable, call Michelle at the library at 815-3792159.

WALNUT – The Walnut Public Library Board of Directors will offer March Madness at 10 a.m.

March 12 at Walnut Public Library, 101 Heaton St. Children from preschool through fifth grade will divide into teams to have books read to them. Each group then will vote on their favorite, which will move on to the next round. The process will

Old cartridges, phone disposal

ON THE MENU Breakfast buffet

church at 815-732-7683.

MONROE CENTER – The The tickets will be held at Monroe Township Firefight- the door.

Church youth also will ers Association will have an have a bake sale and will sell all-you-can-eat breakfast pecans and homemade holbuffet from 7 to 11 a.m. iday wreaths. The proceeds Sunday at the fire station, will go to their camp fund.

104 West St. The church is accessible to The cost is $8 for adults, wheelchairs. $4 for children 6 to 12, and free for children 5 and Pork chops younger.

ASHTON – A pork chop supper will be Lasagna served from 4:30 to 7 CHANA – Chana United p.m. March 19 at ReynMethodist Church’s annual olds United Methodist homemade noodles with Church, 2496 Reynolds chicken and lasagna supper Road. will be from 4 to 6:30 p.m.

The menu includes March 12 at the church, 606 boneless pork chops, Main St. scalloped potatoes, green The menu also includes beans, homemade rolls, salads, cheesecake, coffee, beverages, and dessert. and beverages.

Tickets are $8.50 for a Tickets are $9 for adults one-chop meal, $10.50 for and $5 for children 6 to 12 two chops, and $4.50 for a in advance; $10 for adults children’s hot dog meal. and $5.50 for children at the Drive-through carry-out door; and $10 for carry-out. will be available.

Children 5 and younger eat The church youth group for free. also will have a pie sale, For advance tickets, with proceeds going information, and to place toward camp and mission trips. carry-out orders, call the

For tickets, directions, or more information, call 815-751-0979, or visit the church’s Facebook page.

Pancakes TAMPICO – Tampico Lions Club members will serve their annual pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at Tampico Grade School, 304 E. Kimball St. Donations will accepted at the door.

The club’s annual Easter egg walk will be at 1 p.m.

March 19 at Reagan Community Center, 202 W. Second St. Children through fifthgrade age can take part.

The walk is a parade in the center gymnasium led by Tampico royalty.

The court includes Auden Newman, king; Riann Thomas, queen; Ryder Smith, prince; and Calleigh Thompson, princess.

Profits from Lions fundraisers go to sponsor scholarships and help area residents in need of glasses.

Steamboats built in Metropolis will be featured in the March 13 program during the Sterling-Rock Historical Society meeting at CGH Medical Center in Sterling. Photo submitted by William Abate.

Steamboat tales at meeting STERLING – The Sterling-Rock Falls Historical Society will meet at 2 p.m. March 13 in Ryberg Auditorium at CGH Medical Center, 100 E. LeFevre Road.

Robert Swenson of Metropolis, a retired professor of architecture

at Southern Illinois University – Carbondale, will present a program about steamboats. Starting in the 1850s, 67 boats were constructed in Metropolis. The information includes boats used in the Civil War, built for the Missouri River trade

during the Gold Rush, railroad ferries, logging boats, and the 327-foot cotton boat, Mary Belle.

The public is welcome.

Refreshments will be served.

For more information, call the society at 815622-6215.

Saturday, March 5, 2016

www.saukvalley.com

SV Weekend • C7

FARMERS MARKET REGISTRATION UNDERWAY

Customers browse through last season’s farmers market in Morrison. Vendor applications for the upcoming season are available through the Morrison Farmers Market Committee. Local growers and vendors who sell vegetables, fruits, meats, cheeses, flowers, herbs, preserves, and baked goods are sought. The market also accepts artisans and vendors with unique products. Hours are 8 to 11 a.m., rain or shine, May 21 through Sept. 24 and from 5 to 8 p.m. July 26 at 204 E. Lincolnway. Go to morrisonfarmersmarket.com to download the rules and regulations and an application. Full-time vendor applications and fees that are submitted and paid before opening day will receive an early-bird discount. Returning seasonal vendors will be assigned market spaces first. For market information, call 815-7724874 or 815-772-2018. All dairy, meat, poultry, eggs, and food vendors must be in compliance with any governmental regulations and furnish all necessary licenses, and permits before selling at the market. Call the Whiteside County Health Department at 815-772-7411, ext. 104, for more information on food regulations. Photo submitted.

VALENTINES Ogle County 4-H Federation members created more than 50 Valentine’s Day cards for troops at Rock Island Arsenal.

Anna Ring (from left) of Oregon, Kayla Mingus of Byron, and Katelyn Ackland of Rochelle show their work. Federation members are Ogle County 4-H’ers from eighth grade through their last year of 4-H, its purpose is to provide leadership to the program.

Photo submitted by the University of Illinois Extension.

AMBOY FFA

State releases trout regulations SPRINGFIELD – The spring trout fishing season opens April 2 at 50 ponds, lakes, and streams throughout the state.

Prospect Park, 30th Avenue, Moline, has been added to the list of spring trout fishing locations.

Beginning March 19, fly fishing anglers can use fly fishing gear to catch and release trout.

No trout may be kept during the fly fishingonly period.

The state’s catchable trout program is funded by those who use the program through the sale of Inland Trout Stamps.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources stocks more than 80,000 rainbow trout each year in bodies of water where trout fishing is permitted during the spring season.

No trout may be taken from any of the stocked sites from March 11 until 5 a.m. on opening day.

Anyone attempting to take-harvest trout before then will be issued citations.

All anglers – including those using fly fishing gear who intend to release fish caught before April 2 – must have a fishing license and an Inland Trout Stamp, unless they are younger than 16, blind or disabled, or are an Illinois resident on

leave from active duty in the Armed Forces.

The daily catch limit for each angler is five.

Not all sites open at the same time – go to ifishillinois.org for more information and site hours.

Fishing licenses and Inland Trout Stamps are available at DNR Direct license and permit locations, and at many bait shops, sporting goods stores, and other retail outlets.

Go to http://dnr.illi nois.gov/DNRDirect Monitor/VendorList ing.aspx for a complete list.

They also are available by using a credit card through DNR Direct online via the IDNR website at dnr. illinois.gov, or by calling DNR Direct at 888673-7648.

Area spring trout fishing location are at: (**denotes sites open for catch-and-release fly fishing only early season: Apple River State Park, 8763 E. Canyon Road, Apple River ** Lake Mendota, off Main Street in Mendota Pine Creek, White Pines Forest State Park, 6712 W. Pines Road, Mount Morris** Yellow Creek in Krape Park, 1799 S. Park Blvd., Freeport Centennial Park Pond, 520 E. 11th St. Rock Falls

Master Naturalist training to begin Amboy High School FFA academic team members placed second out of 16 teams at the Feb. 20 Masonic Sectional at Keith Country Day School in Rockford. With Cynthia Carlson, team coach are, (kneeling, from left) Makayla Feith, Megan Grady, and Hannah Grady; and (standing) Paul Meyer, Greg Kessel, Zach Becker, and Lindsey Dewey. Photos submitted by Grady.

The food science team placed fifth at the Jan. 20 Section 2 contest at Prophetstown High School. They are (from left) Alana Gittelson, Reece Vaessen, Zach Becker, and Grace Klein.

OREGON – Adults of all ages are welcome to register for the University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalist program.

The classes will be from 5 to 9 p.m. April 4 11, 18, and 25, May 2, 9, 16, 23, and June 6 and 13 at the Ogle County Extension office, 421 W. Pines Road.

Instructors from local natural resource agencies and organizations, as well as state extension experts, will lead the program.

It will showcase the natural heritage of the area by having classes in different locations.

Training includes instruction on ecosystems and interrelationships of plants and animals that make up the natural world, how help with land man-

agement, and share knowledge with the community.

According to the news release, the goal is to encourage participants to seek out lifelong learning opportunities to further their development as a naturalist.

Those attending agree to serve 60 hours of volunteer service within the first 2 years of their initial classroom experience. Volunteers then can continue their certification with 30 volunteer hours and 10 continuing education hours annually. Scheduling is tailored to personal interests, abilities, and time restraints.

For more information and to apply, go to illinois.edu/bdo or call the office at 815-7322191.

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Saturday, March 5, 2016

Owner: Finding qualified employees has been tough MOLDING

CONTINUED FROM C1

“More than 50 percent of our people have been here 10 years or more, so we have a really good core group of employees.

Some of these people have worked here for so long, you know what their next step is going to be, and they know what yours is going to be,” Claerbout said.

Bill and Nancy Claerbout started Dutchland in 1967. For more than 30 years, they owned a real estate and auction company in Oostburg, and it was through that business they acquired the plastics firm – then named Heller Industries – that was in bankruptcy.

Bill Claerbout didn’t know much about plastics, but he was good at hiring the right people, according to Daven Claerbout.

“He was out in the plant taking care of the people, and he absolutely loved his employees. Dad always said ‘make sure the next person you hire is smarter than you.’”

The company went through several expansions, including the addition of a factory in Sherrill, New York. In 2014, Daven and Carl partnered with Omni Investors, Isleworth Capital and Squire Ridge Capital as investors.

Among its products, Dutchland makes Yeti coolers that can keep items frozen up to 48 hours and are popular with hunters and fishermen.

The company also makes NuCanoe fishing kayaks, and Emotion kayaks sold at Dick’s Sporting Goods.

When a retailer orders NuCanoe boats, the Bellingham, Washington, company forwards the order to Dutchland, which builds the boats and ships them direct to the retailer.

It’s a good arrangement, said NuCanoe President Blake Young.

“Logistically, shipping out of the state of Washington is difficult when two-thirds of our business is east of the Mississippi,” he said.

Besides kayaks and

coolers, Dutchland makes the Sway Lounge Chair for KI Furniture, based in Green Bay. And while most of the company’s business is with U.S. manufacturers, it’s also working with some foreign firms to make their products for the North American market and ship them to North American customers.

“One-stop shopping.

I think that’s the way of the world now,” Daven Claerbout said.

Dutchland has grown by identifying products made from metal and convincing the product companies that plastic parts are better.

One of the challenges has been finding qualified employees for the work that varies a lot with the range of products.

“We have a robot that does some things, ... but I don’t see robots doing rotomolding because it’s so operative sensitive.

With us, on any given day, someone could be making components for Leer, the KI chair, a kayak or a playground slide,” Claerbout said.

Analysts applaud endeavor FEMININE

CONTINUED FROM C1

And it’s not just toys.

Warner Bros., also based near L.A., hopes the franchise will also generate revenue across its film and television businesses.

The push comes at an important juncture for the studio. Warner Bros.

Chief Executive Kevin Tsujihara has bet big on its stable of DC superheroes to drive box-office sales and television ratings. The studio is hoping upcoming movies like “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” “Suicide Squad” and “Justice League Part 1” can help reverse its box-office fortunes after suffering several flops last year. DC has seen success with Christopher Nolan’s “Dark Knight” films, but the unit has lagged behind Disney’s Marvel Studios, which dominates the superhero market.

Nelson, who also runs Warner Bros.’s consumer products business, has overseen major licensing brands such as Harry Potter and The Hobbit. She says young girls have been mostly excluded from the superhero action. American consumers spent $7.4 billion on girls toys last year for kids aged 6 to 12, according to research firm NPD Group, and a third of those sales were dolls.

“I think this is one of the most important

things that DC will do,” said Geoff Johns, DC’s chief creative officer. “It’s changing the culture of what superheroes are.”

The studio has already unveiled a series of short online videos, and will soon premiere a 44-minute animated TV special on Turner Broadcasting’s Boomerang network.

Boomerang will also air the girls’ video shorts and music videos. Warner Bros. and Turner are both owned by Time Warner Inc. The TV special and animated shorts, which will be promoted by Cartoon Network, play off the personalities and abilities of the young heroes, who are still learning their powers and place in the world. Wonder Woman is an overachiever, but still a vulnerable teenager.

Supergirl can fly, but she’s socially awkward. Harley Quinn is mischievous, though not yet the murderous villain she later becomes in the comics.

The Super Hero Girls program spans a wide range of products, including Batgirl and Supergirl costumes, a Wonder Woman shield that fires plastic projectiles, and books. DC plans to release a smartphone and tablet app this month, which will include videos, games and character bios.

If successful, Warner Bros. might develop a movie based on the characters, said Nelson, a veteran Warner Bros. execu-

tive who played a key role in shepherding the Harry Potter franchise.

Analysts applaud Warner’s efforts to make superheroes relevant to young girls.

“Superheroes at DC Comics traditionally have been targeted toward men and boys, so targeting girls is the smart economic thing to do,” said Laura Martin, senior entertainment analyst at Needham & Co. “That DC Comics is focusing on the less wellserved target market is smart business.”

The company has already reached into its vault of female characters, unleashing the CBS prime time series “Supergirl” last year. The show, which was picked up for a full 20-episode season, is averaging about 10 million viewers a week, according to Nielsen.

And then there’s the “Wonder Woman” movie, set to debut in theaters in 2017. Wonder Woman, played by Gal Gadot, will make her first live-action feature film appearance in “Batman v Superman.” Wonder Woman last commanded a mass audience when Lynda Carter played her on TV in the late 1970s.

“I think [girls] have been ignored for a long time,” said Deborah Snyder, who is producing “Wonder Woman,” “Justice League” and other films for Warner Bros.

“Girls like action. It’s important for girls to see themselves as the hero.”

Celebrate when you’re debt free RAMSEY

CONTINUED FROM C1

Then, he should have a similar discussion with his dad. If his dad’s got insurance through work, and the stepdad is ready to pay for the mom’s burial, then I wouldn’t buy insurance on them. They’re covered for the immediate future.

So, I wouldn’t do it unless they absolutely don’t have this sort of thing covered. Even then, I’d prefer you just cover it with cash, because all we’re talking about is just enough to cover burial costs. Nothing needs to be elaborate.

I hope this helps, Cherie.

– Dave

Pausing Baby Steps to celebrate?

Dear Dave, My wife and I are in Baby Step 2 of your plan, and we’ve got our 20th wedding anniversary coming up in a few months. We had always planned to take a 10-day luxury trip to celebrate, but now that we’re trying to get out of debt, it seems pretty unrealistic.

Should we pause the Baby Steps and celebrate like we originally planned, or would it be better to concentrate on paying off debt?

– Don Dear Don, If it were me, I’d want to pause and celebrate in a smaller way. Then, in a year or 2 when you’ve reached your goal of

being debt-free, you could have a big double celebration – for your anniversary and for gaining control of your finances.

Think about it. Why isn’t the 21st, 22nd or 23rd anniversary just as big as the 20th? No reason, really. It’s just an arbitrary milestone we as human beings created. But you can “undecide” stuff like that any time you want.

If you two, as a couple, are in agreement on that point, then it suddenly becomes easier to delay pleasure to win. And trust me, when you agree on things like that, the celebrations become even sweeter.

– Dave Follow Dave on Twitter (@DaveRamsey), or go to daveramsey.com.

Rich Trossen uses a torch Jan. 19 to put the finishing touches on a grass catcher at Ducthland Plastics in Oostburg, Wisconsin.

Dutchland also makes the Sway Lounge Chair for KI Furniture, based in Green Bay. Tribune News Service

Astrograph You can do anything Sunday, March 6, 2016 PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Your intuition won’t deceive you. Trust your instincts and call the shots as you see fit. If someone challenges you, take measures to show that you cannot be intimidated.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- You will be reminded of people you have had problems with in the past. Guard against interference by being secretive regarding your feelings and plans. Strive for perfection.

TAURUS (April 20May 20) -- Carefully choose which organizations you help. Not all are equal, and you don’t want to contribute to a group that isn’t worth it. Look for an opportunity to boost your reputation.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Entertainment will be costlier than anticipated. Don’t be too quick to put your money into something risky. A change of scenery, friends or activities will do you good.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Do what you can to improve your surroundings and make the people you love happy. Your gesture will be appreciated and will ensure

that you have the opportunity to follow one of your dreams.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- So much will be riding on how you respond to a challenge. Don’t feel obligated to buy into someone else’s deal or scheme. Make romance a priority and positive change your goal.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept.

22) -- Interacting with people or groups that have an unusual appeal will take your mind off any concerns you have been laboring over.

Someone will offer a solution that you overlooked.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Put your time and effort into self-improvement. Time spent with children or your loved ones will give you ideas about ways you can work together to reach collective goals.

23-Dec. 21) -- Extravagance, secretiveness and poor choices of friends and entertainment will damage your reputation. Concentrate on home, family and self-improvement projects, and avoid temptation. The choice is yours.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Look over potential opportunities to buy and sell property or possessions. Don’t hesitate to negotiate if you don’t like what’s being offered. Make plans to reunite with old friends.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19) -- You can do anything you put your mind to. Turn your dream into reality by making whatever changes are necessary. Your status, position or personal situation will improve.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- An emotional jolt will get you back on track and spur unique ideas that can help you improve your situation at home and your relationships with those you love.

SAGITTARIUS

(Nov.

See Today’s Classified Section for Crossword Answers

Saturday, March 5, 2016

www.saukvalley.com

SV Weekend • C9

NEW BUSINESS

Potthoff Tax & Accounting, 2317 E. Lincolway, Sterling, recently joined the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce in Sterling. Dana Ronk-Potthoff (center), owner, cut the ribbon. Also pictured (in no particular order) are Ron Potthoff; Scott Shurmard, Sterling city manager, and chamber ambassadors. Photo submitted by the chamber.

ROCK FALLS ROTARY

Rock Falls Rotary was named the Shoulder to the Wheel Award winner during the Rock Falls Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting. According to the news release, it is presented to the organization which most promotes the community of Rock Falls in the spirit of volunteerism – making the community a better place to live. Members in attendance were Karen Voss (from left), president; Julie Logan, and Pam Erby, Betty Clementz, and Bob Sondgeroth, Photos submitted

by Clementz.

NATIONAL FFA WEEK

West Carroll High School FFA members from Savanna recognized National FFA week Feb. 22-26 at the school. A highlight of the week was a magic trick performance by John Greene (right), a magician. FFA students with him are (from left) Austin Pritchard, Brianna Kampmeier, Natalie Shaw, Daniel Hartman, Katie Hoffman, Josi Anderson, Hayley Guilinger, Tessa Ehlers, Cameron Ehlers, and Riley Sullivan. Photos submitted by Don Mathey.

On Feb. 26, West Carroll FFA junior officers, Leland Houzenga (from left), Emma Aljets, Shae Williams, Elizabeth Rath, and Jacob Carey, served FFA breakfast to faculty and students. Ten students also drove their tractors to school in recognition of FFA Tractor Day. Mary Nelson (right) of the University of Illinois Extension shared pictures of the newly-constructed Storybook Walking Trail from Avenue D to McNeil Road in Rock Falls. Cheryl Faber, Rotarian, helped with the presentation. “Pick a Pocket of Prairie” was selected as the first book to be posted in laminated form to be read to children as they walk the .25-mile trail.

Mark Young (left), Rotarian, welcomed Jim Walters, new executive director of the YWCA of the Sauk Valley in Sterling, to a recent meeting. Walters stated that there are only some 230 YWCAs in the country that belong to the national organization, which focuses on eliminating racism and empowering women. He also discussed the hotline for child-elder abuse cases and the shelter in Sterling, two of the programs most used.

ABOVE: Daniel Hartman, chapter president, grilled about 140 pork chops for lunch Feb. 24.

BELOW: Balethrowing was one of the activities of the week.

Jessica Armstrong, a senior member, shows the bale before the contest.

Looking on are Logan Gengenbach and Allison Whitehead, chapter and pre-veterinarian class members.

Winners were Eric LaShelle, 39 feet for the men; and Emma Aljets, 29 feet for the women.

Travel www.saukvalley.com

SV Weekend • C10

Saturday, March 5, 2016

Tribune News Service photos

Stark desert, distant mountain views and 400 miles of quiet time await travelers on U.S. Highway 50.

No one in sight in Nevada Driving ‘The Loneliest Road in America,’ with kids, no less

I

BY ANDREA AHLES Tribune News Service

had just crossed the state line into Nevada and crested a hill when I saw them – dozens of red blinking lights – off in the distance.

Without another car in sight, I thought, this was the perfect opportunity for aliens to snatch my family and me into the dark night sky.

We were, after all, traveling on the stretch of U.S. 50 dubbed “The Loneliest Road in America.”

The two-lane road stretches for almost 400 miles across Nevada, up and down elevation, through the Shoshone Mountains and White Pine Range and then across miles of white salt flats. Only a handful of towns dot the road, some more than a 100 miles apart.

The highway got its name when Life magazine published a 1986 article about the desolation of the road and quoted a AAA employee saying there were no points of interest along the road and there was no reason to drive it.

Our Thanksgivingbreak destination was Pollock Pines, California, and our family of four – my husband and me, along with our daughter, age 14, and son, age 11 – chose to take “The Loneliest Road” because it was the easiest way to get there.

And as I drove closer to the flashing lights, I thought about all the close encounters you see in the movies, until I realized it was just a giant wind farm.

Maybe the road wouldn’t seem so lonely in the daylight.

Although the “Loneliest Road” designation doesn’t start until Nevada on U.S. 50, the distinction should start in Delta, Utah.

After a day hiking in Arches National Park in Utah, when it was my turn to take over the driving at 8 p.m. in Delta, I counted only 15 cars passing me in the opposite direction and only two cars traveling in the

This stretch of U.S. Highway 50 is referred to as “The Loneliest Road in America.”

After you leave Ely, Nevada, it’s “no services for 77 miles,” so it’s best to get gasoline in town. same direction for the next 2.5 hours.

Once the sun rose the next morning, we left the Prospector Hotel & Gambling Hall in Ely, Nevada, and hit the road again.

It was a good thing we had topped off our gas tank at a service station when we left Ely because as soon as we passed the last building on the outskirts of town, we saw a sign: “No services for 77 miles.”

And then it was up and down mountain ranges through the HumboldtToiyabe National Forest and across the flat lands in between. Much of the

route intertwines with the old Pony Express route, and it’s easy to imagine a single rider with the mail, galloping among the hills.

The small towns of Eureka and Austin were 5-minute speed bumps along the road. It isn’t until you reach the outskirts of Fallon, Nevada, home to a naval air station and the Navy’s Top Gun program, that you feel as if you’ve returned to civilization.

Looking outside the car window at breathtaking mountain scenery and the occasional deer or cow is entertaining for

about 15 minutes. Then you have to figure out what to do the rest of the 6-hour drive across Nevada.

Forget turning on your radio to sing along with your favorite songs. We tried that at one point, and all we heard was FM fuzz. The AM stations tended to be very soft, and about half of them were Spanish-language stations.

And posting pictures of the lonely road to Instagram or Facebook was also out of the question, as cell service cut in and out for most of the drive. That meant the

online games my teenage daughter likes to play on her iPhone weren’t working either.

Luckily, we had packed enough entertainment into our Toyota Camry to keep our kids occupied while my husband and I tried to stave off highway hypnosis.

The portable DVD player was plugged into a charger we had attached to our car’s cigarette lighter socket, so our son could watch all of the “Avengers” movie without worrying the battery would run out. Our daughter’s iPhone was also plugged in, so she could listen to her boyband favorites with her headphones on for hours on end.

They also had the adult coloring books, which – lucky for us – are popular right now, along with a stack of colored pencils and a word-find puzzle book to make the miles seem shorter.

I counted cars, which were more plentiful during the daytime than during the evening drive. (We passed at least 30 during the first 2 hours of the drive.)

And, as my husband and I continued driving down “The Loneliest Road,” we talked about

what we thought it would have been like to travel the same road in a covered wagon during the 1800s.

We agreed it was a journey neither of us would have been adventurous enough to take.

Traveling through the windy curves of the mountain ranges, we encountered a lot of summits. Robinson Summit (7,588 feet). Little Antelope Summit (7,438 feet). New Pass Summit (6,340 feet).

Then, there was my favorite: Pancake Summit (6,521 feet). There was no syrup on the hillside, and I’m not really sure why it was given the name Pancake. But because it was about 8:30 a.m. when we passed it, I probably had breakfast on my mind.

The road takes travelers through high-desert flats in between the ranges, and we wondered what the names of the mountains in the distance were. Some of the peaks are more than 10,000 feet high (including Summit Mountain) and, because we couldn’t access Google Maps, my kids learned how to read a road atlas to figure out if we were looking at the Toquima Range or the Shoshone Mountains.

About 4 hours into our daytime drive, we were finally out of the mountains and it looked like a dusting of snow had fallen on the flat land ahead of us, about 50 miles out of Fallon.

It wasn’t snow. It was salt.

For miles, all we could see were crusty salt flats. My son thought we should pull over to the side of the road so he could taste it. But when we saw the sign for the Naval Electronic Warfare Range Centroid Facility that led to a dirt road with a gate, I told my son that we would not be stopping the car.

And we didn’t – not until we got to Fallon for a late lunch, thereby ending our adventure on “The Loneliest Road in America.”

Saturday, March 5, 2016

www.saukvalley.com

SV Weekend • C11

Public warned of mobile device cybercrime STERLING – National Consumer Protection Week runs Sunday through March 12.

In recognition of the week, Sterling Federal Bank has offered the following suggestions to help keep banking through mobile devices safe: Use a passcode lock on

smartphones and other devices to make it more difficult for thieves to access information if the device is lost or stolen.

Log out completely when finishing a mobile banking session.

Install mobile security software to protect devices from viruses and

malicious software.

Use caution when downloading apps; some can contain malicious software, worms, and viruses. Beware of apps that ask for unnecessary permissions,.

Download updates for phone and mobile apps.

Avoid storing sensi-

tive information, such as passwords or Social Security numbers on mobile devices.

Tell financial institutions immediately when changing phone numbers or if a mobile device is lost.

Be aware of surroundings when enter-

Nominees sought for 4-C awards DeKALB – The public is welcome to submit nominations for the Marian Baker Award for Excellence in Child Care in memory of longtime board member, Marian Baker.

In 1999, Community Coordinated Child Care established the award to recognize an individual who possesses the dedication and passion, which Baker exemplified in her role as teacher, board member, and child advocate.

The nominee must work in an early childhood edu-

cation program, included but not limited to child care centers and family day care homes, within the counties of DeKalb, Ogle, Lee, Carroll, Whiteside, and McHenry. The recipient will receive a $250 stipend.

4-C established the Friend of the Child Award in 1989 to recognize the outstanding efforts of individuals and organizations in 4-C area that have made a difference in the lives of young children.

Past winners have included child care program administrators, pol-

icy makers, organizations with histories of support for children and child care, and community leaders.

Nominees must live within 4-C’s service delivery area. To request a nomination packet for either award, contact Sylvia at 815-758-8149 or 800-848-8727, ext. 221, email: sylvia@four-c.org or visit four-c.org, the 4-C website. All nominations must be received in the 4-C office no later than 4:30 p.m. March 25.

The award will be presented at the 4-C annual

meeting April 12.

Networking and social time will be at 5:30 p.m., and the program at 6 at Haish Memorial Library, 309 Oak St. Tickets are $15 per person.

For more information or reservations, contact Sylvia.

4-C was established in 1971 to promote children’s well-being by advocating for quality, affordable, accessible child care and to support parents and those providing child care by offering information, education, resources and services.

Tax credit available for area residents ST. LOUIS – A group of 4,800 working individuals and families received more than $11 million in 2015 in earned income tax credits, according to a press release from the Internal Revenue Service.

The EITC was created in 1975 as a work incentive.

More than $2.5 billion was

awarded in 2015 to more than a million individuals and families.

Area county returns, total credits, and averages were: Bureau, 2,600 returns, $5,785,000, $2,225 Carroll, 1,200, $235,000, $2,113 Lee, 2,600, $5,531,000, $2,127

Ogle, 3,500, $7,924,000, $2,264 Whiteside, $11 million, 4,800, $2,330 Eligible applicants include non-English speakers, individuals who are selfemployed or have service jobs in private households, childless taxpayers, rural residents, and recipients of

other kinds of public assistance, such as food stamps.

Special rules exist to help some families, such as those in the military or those raising children with disabilities, to qualify.

Anyone who made less than $53.267 should visit irs.gov/eitc to see if they qualify.

ing sensitive information into a device.

Wipe mobile devices before getting rid of them using specialized software or the manufacturer’s recommended technique.

Beware of mobile “phishing” by not opening links or attachments in emails and text, especially

from unknown senders.

Beware of public wireless connections, WiFi – use a mobile network instead.

Report any suspected fraud to financial institutions.

Sterling Federal Bank has 10 locations in the Sauk Valley area and Clinton, Iowa.

CAMP WEEK NEARS

Allison Hunt (left) of Ogle County and Elena Bellisario of DuPage County, both camp counselors, take a break during last year’s 4-H camp. Registration continues for 4-H Camp ’16 June 13-17 at Camp Benson, 16355 Scenic Palisades Road, Mount Carroll. The cost is $260. Camp is open to all youth 8-14 years old

by June 13. 4-H membership is not required. Photo submitted by Angela Miller.

CERTIFICATION

RICE BAG DONATIONS Fenton Wizards 4-H Club members recently sewed and worked on rice packs for Resthave Home in Morrison. Marge Eggers, a resident, accepted the bags from Marge Kettler (left) and Rebekah Vroman. Other Wizards working on the project were Alexandria Dykstra, Kyle Dykstra, Kyra Wicklund, Logan Eggers, Corbin Eggers, Berkley Eggers, Malory Eggers, and Michelle Naftzger. Photo submitted by Resthave.

Derek Carroll (right) of Clark Carroll Insurance Agency in Mount Carroll accepted a certificate from Kurt Eaves, Grinnell Mutual Insurance vice president of direct undewriting and production.

Carroll attended the annual Grinnell Mutual Resinsurance Co. Farm Academy Feb. 16-19 in Grinnell, Iowa. Course topics included farm insurance coverages, services, and the company’s operation. The 25 participants from the Midwest toured a local farm cooperative and implement dealership to reinforce concepts that were introduced in the classroom. Photo submitted by Carroll.

IN BRIEF Water companies recognized for work BELLEVILLE – Illinois American Water and Missouri American Water have been honored as finalists for the St. Louis Regional Chamber’s Ameren Corporate Citizenship Arcus Award for demonstrating exceptional commitment to enhancing the quality of life in the St. Louis region.

The two were honored for establishing pharmaceutical drop boxes at police stations, city halls, and health departments. According to the news release, working in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies, the companies established more than 50 drop-off sites that dispose of several tons of medicines each year through incineration.

The program started in 2008 in Illinois American Water’s Pontiac District, through a partnership with high school students to stop flushing of medications and the resulting impact to local water sources.

The students created the model used by American Water. To date, Illinois American Water has helped to implement more than 35 permanent pharmaceutical disposal programs.

American Water has an

office in Sterling.

Firefighters earn service honors BYRON – The Byron Fire Department recognized firefighters for their service Jan. 9 at an awards banquet at Costa Ristorante.

Ryan Bruce, Brad Grillo, Tyler Lewellen, Craig Palzkill, and Mike Lawson were recognized for 5 years of service.

Those with 10 years are Ralph Larson, trustee; Jeff Ziolkowski, chaplain; and Mike Traum. Gary Cortese, chaplain, and Chad Springer have each worked 15 years, with Dave DeCicco at 25 and Chris Logston at 30.

Company releases earnings report MINNEAPOLIS – Donaldson Co. reported second quarter 2016 net earnings of $38.0 million, or 28 cents per share.

The impact from foreign currency translation reduced net income by $4.9 million, or 10.2 percent. Second quarter 2016 adjusted Electronic Prescription Service 2 was 29 cents, compared with 36 cents last year.

“While market conditions remained stagnant last quarter, we further intensified our focus on operational efficiency

tion-deficit-hyperactivity disorder and eating disorders.

The workshop is a partnership with University of Illinois Extension, Sinnissippi Centers, KSB Wellness, and Community That Cares. The cost is $25 and covers the workshop and a manual. Lunch is not included. Go to illinois.edu/ youthmentalhealth to register. Free Continuing EduMental health class cation Credits are available for licensed professional sign-up underway counselors, licensed cliniDIXON – A Youth Mental cal social workers, licensed Health First Aid workshop social workers, licensed clinical professional counwill be from 8 a.m. to 5 selors, and teachers who p.m. March 22 at KSB Town Square Centre, 101 complete the workshop.

For more information, W. Second St. The program is designed contact Janice McCoy at the University of Illinois to help adults – parents, Extension office at 815family members, care632-3611. givers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human serFarmer information vices workers, and other needed for booklet citizens – with adolesEach year the Northwest cents, age 12-25, who are experiencing a mental Illinois Audubon Society, in health or addictions chal- partnership with the University of Illinois Extension lenge or is in crisis.

Common mental health Stephenson County, offers a local foods brochure. challenges for youth, The information provides which reviews typical adolescent development, people in northwest Illinois with names of farmers and and teaches a five-step growers who sell their food action plan in both crisis and non-crisis situations, items directly to the consumer. also is included. TopThe 2015 brochure had ics covered are anxiety, 42 growers, with listings depression, substance such as maple syrup, use, disorders in which cheese, honey, eggs, poulpsychosis may occur, try, vegetables, flowers, and disruptive behavior disorders, such as atten- fruit, wine, and meat.

and expense management,” said Tod Carpenter, president and chief executive officer.

“Beyond our unwavering commitment to support our customers during this period of uncertainty, we are actively working to protect our bottom-line results.”

Donaldson has a plant in Dixon.

To list a name or for more information, contact Teresa at timtreetsmith@gmail.com or call 815-835-5109 by March 18.

available during the games.

For more information, go to the chamber website or call Kadina at 815-6254500.

Bingo, prizes at Rock Falls Legion

Annual eagle count shows low numbers

ROCK FALLS – Rock Falls Chamber of Commerce will offer a night out playing bingo.

Doors open at 11 a.m., with games at 1 p.m.

March 12 at Rock Falls American Legion, 712 Fourth Ave. Prizes valued from $50-$250 showcasing Sauk Valley area businesses will be awarded. ”Spring bingo has grown to be one of the community’s favorite events,” said Bethany Bland, chamber president and CEO. “It’s all about people and local businesses. Friends and family fill up the American Legion Hall as they gather to have fun and mingle.

It’s an opportunity for us to showcase local businesses and bring our community together.”

Advance ticket sales will be available through Sunday at rockfalls chamber. com and all Sauk Valley Bank locations in Rock Falls, Sterling, and Dixon.

A $10 advance ticket guarantees a seat at the event, and includes 10 cards for 10 regular games. Tickets will be $15 at the door.

Additional cards for special and jackpot games along with raffle tickets will be

APPLE RIVER – The results of the 56th annual Eagle Nature Foundation Midwinter Bald Eagle Count have been announced.

According to the news release, in a 2-hour period, hundreds of volunteers from Minnesota to Tennessee counted 863 bald eagles, including 219 immatures. This is down from the 1,343 bald eagles with 319 immatures last year.

This year’s total was about 35 percent lower than last year’s. According to the news release, on the average, there are about three bald eagles present at many dams, where those same dams in the past have had from 60 to 600 eagles each.

The percentage of immatures was, 32 percent, 3.1 percentage points higher than last year. The average of the last 5 years is 25 percent, and 24 percent for the last 10 years.

For more information on the count, contact Terrence N. Ingram, executive director, at 300 E. Hickory St., Apple River, IL 61001, 815-594-2306.

Community SV Weekend • C12

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Saturday, March 5, 2016

THIRD ANNUAL PERCUSSION PALOOZA

Photos by Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com

Ethan Mosher of the Pulse of Peoria Drumline practices outside of Rock Falls High School on Feb. 28 during the third annual Percussion Palooza. The event was sponsored by the school’s music department and visitrockfalls.com, and featured solo and ensemble percussion competition from local and area drumlines.

THEY’VE GOT THE BEAT

ABOVE: Bob Blomberg of Kenosha, Wisconsin, practices his drumming while waiting for his performance at Percussion Palooza.

RIGHT: Drew Reish performs at Percussion Palooza. Along with solo and ensemble performances, the event also featured clinics and critique sessions.

BELOW RIGHT: Glen Wicks is shown performing on the snare drum during the solo competition.

TOP RIGHT: Dezabrea Hollins of the Pulse of Peoria Drumline practices outside of Rock Falls High School.

BOTTOM RIGHT: People walk past the Crystal Lake Strikers’ drums in a hallway at Rock Falls High School.