Your source for community news and sports 7 days a week.
The best thing ROCKETS ROSTER since sliced bread HEAVY ON EXPERIENCE FOOD, A9-10
dailyGAZETTE BASEBALL, B1
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
ELECTION 2016 | LEE COUNTY STATE’S ATTORNEY
Voters weigh the evidence Candidates build their case at debate BY RACHEL RODGERS rrodgers@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5529 @rj_rodgers
From left: Lee County state’s attorney candidates Bill Brozovich, Michael Downey and Matt Klahn told nearly 100 people at Dixon High School why they’re the best candidate at Tuesday night’s forum.
Online extra
DIXON – Three candidates with more than 60 years of combined experience practicing law vied for the opportunity to become the next Lee County state’s attorney Tuesday. With the March 15 primary election less than a week away, Republican candidates Bill Brozovich, Michael Downey and
Read this story at saukvalley.com to see highlights from Tuesday’s forum. Matthew Klahn participated in an hour-long debate at Dixon High School, addressing issues including jail overcrowding, heroine abuse and relationships with other agencies. DEBATE CONTINUED ON A5
Photos by Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com
STERLING
ROCK FALLS
A path to compromise
How sweet it is ... Merrill School fifth-grader Kian Rose lets out an “aaahhh!” after taking a drink of one of the many lemonades offered Tuesday by his classmates.
Pastor, park district work out agreement for trail BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
Photos by Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
A
taste of success
What do you do when you’re given lemons? Make a profit, which is just what some Merrill School students did BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 @CHeimerman_SVM
Team Emoji business partners, Abbey Knowles (center) pours a cup of lemonade as partner Alyse Bryant (right) looks on Tuesday afternoon during lunch at Merrill School.
Online extra Read this story at saukvalley.com to meet Izzy, the 2-year-old spokes-turtle. Visit gofundme.com/JadasJourney2015 to donate to Jada Saffell’s battle against leukemia.
ROCK FALLS – Every businessperson wants the problem fifth-grader Damien Winfield was dealing with Tuesday afternoon at Merrill School. “The end of the line is back there!” Damien, 11, shouted to the drove of customers gathered around Turtle Lemonade. About a dozen classmates were jockeying for position to touch Izzy, the 2-year-old spokesturtle brought in by Damien’s co-entrepreneur and classmate, Isaiah Kobbeman, 11. “Everyone likes turtles,” Isaiah said with a big smile. Karen Ricks has 18 of the 40 kids in the Enrichment Program, one of several intervention programs geared toward kids who either need help keeping up with curriculum, or need to be challenged more. The Enrichment kids fall into the latter. SUCCESS CONTINUED ON A5
STERLING – A potential roadblock on a trail system in Sterling has been removed after a local pastor worked out a deal with the park district. Abiding Word Church Pastor Scott Porter refused to sign an easement agreement with the city, but he has agreed to finalize the pact with the Sterling Park District. The park district needs the easeScott ment before it can get work started Porter on its trails project, which is funded by grants from the federal Safe Routes to School program. COMPROMISE CONTINUED ON A5
ROCK FALLS
District tackles blight problem Vacant houses near football field will be torn down BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 @CHeimerman_SVM
ROCK FALLS – Income from the 1 percent sales tax is going to fix or replace a lot of outdated, worn-out property in Whiteside County schools. By the time football practice opens in the fall, it will also clear up some blight alongside the home gridiron of the Rock Falls Rockets. The Rock Falls High School District board approved the purchase of the two vacated, northern-most houses at the dead end of 15th Avenue for $30,000 at its Feb. 17 meeting. Superintendent Ron McCord said that after demolition of the white houses at 406 and 406 1/2 15th Ave. is bidded out, they could come down as soon as spring, but most definitely by August. BLIGHT CONTINUED ON A5
$1.00
TODAY’S EDITION: 20 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 162 ISSUE 64
INDEX
ABBY ................... A8 COMICS ...............B5 CROSSWORD....B10
FOOD ..............A9-10 LIFESTYLE ........... A8 LOTTERY ............. A2
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 POLICE ................ A2
Today’s weather High 63. Low 49. More on A3.
TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE PAPER, CALL 815-625-3600
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B6.