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TAKE A LOOK INTO LIFE OF THE ANPEOPLE’S ELECTION JUDGE VOICE, A3
ALL-AREA TEAM, B1
VISION 2030 | WORKFORCE
Keeping things in the family Some businesses in new age keep things old school
Special Section coming Tuesday
BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 521
Time kind of stops when you walk into Folsom’s Bakery in Rock Falls. It could be the 1940s, back when now-owner Jim Helle’s grandfather first started his own bakery in Sterling, or it could be March 2014. Either
Tuesday’s edition will include a 52-page special section, “Vision 2030,” that will examine what the Sauk Valley might look like in 2030. We will look at employment, the workforce, education, infrastructure, housing, religion and health care, among other issues.
way, the recipe for that cinnamon roll you’re staring at – and its icing – has never changed. And that’s the way Helle likes things. Simple. Old-school. Family-oriented. Times change and technology
advances, but conveyor belts and premade icing have no place in Folsom’s Bakery. Helle generally gets to his shop about 2:30 in the morning and stays until it closes. But even when he’s not in the
More inside Read more about why charter schools are not seen in the Sauk Valley and more likely to be in urban areas on A10.
physical building, he’s working on something for the business. Recently he struck up a contract to get his 3-ounce chocolate chip cookies into vending machines, and his Dixon store-
SUNSHINE WEEK | OPEN GOVERNMENT SURVEY
front opened not too long ago. Helle’s No. 1 priority, though, is family. You can feel that when you’re talking to him, when you’re taking a bite of a thumbprint cookie. There’s something to it that’s different from anything you can buy in any grocery store. “I want to try to keep it as old school as possible,” he said. “And if you look at some of the coffee cakes – our icing is our traditional family recipe that we’ve done for years. FAMILY CONTINUED ON A10
STERLING
Can we see your budget? Helping county breathe easier Rock Falls High, Sterling Township put up barriers BY MATT MENCARINI AND DAVID GIULIANI news@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 591
Earlier this week, the Rock Falls High School district asked a Sauk Valley Media reporter to show his credentials when he asked to see the district’s annual budget. Then he was Inside asked to show Read more his driver’s about how license. Other local accessibilentities didn’t ity to court make getting records varies their budgets from county quite so hard. to county To m a r k on A8. Sunshine Week, Sauk Valley Media’s reporters went to a number of agencies and posed a simple question: May we see your annual budget? Sunshine Week, which is spearheaded by the American Society of News Editors, is designed to promote the importance of open government. Unless asked to do so, the reporters didn’t identify themselves. This was so that reporters could understand the experience of an average citizen requesting to see such information. At Rock Falls High School, the reporter was immediately asked why he wanted to see the budget. After saying it was being requested because it was a public document, the reporter was asked who he was. “A local resident?” one district employee asked.
CGH will donate defibrillators for sheriff’s squad cars BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 570
BUDGET CONTINUED ON A5
Illustration by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
STERLING – CGH Medical Center is helping Whiteside County residents to breathe a little easier with its donation of 10 defibrillators. This week the devices are being installed in all squad cars of the Whiteside County Sheriff’s Department, both county courthouses, and the county jail. Early defibrillation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation can be the difference between life and death in cases of sudden cardiac arrest. It is important that the sheriff’s department has access to the automated external defibrillators – AEDs – hospital officials said. “Quite often, law enforcement is the first to arrive on the scene,” said Dr. Paul Steinke, CGH president and CEO. “To get life-saving tools, such as AEDs, in their hands means we are able to save more lives.” The sheriff’s department had asked CGH for new batteries for older devices. Because there were so many different brands of varying ages, the cost of new equipment turned out to be virtually the same as new batteries. BREATHE CONTINUED ON A4
Mostly sunny
VOLUME 6 ISSUE 30 40 Pages
Today: 40/18 For the forecast, see Page A9
Body artist is back
Tattoo artist Shannon Scalise has opened a new studio in Sterling. See Page C1
Spotlight on Enrique Iglesias tells of inspiration for new album Also inside USA Weekend: Rhubarb and strawberry shortcakes Ease spring allergies Spring fashion
Index Births................ C5 Markets ............ A9 Business........... C1 Nation .............. A9 Classified .......... D1 Obituaries ......... A4 Comics ............. B6 Opinion............. A6 Community ..... C12 Scoreboard .... B10 Scrapbook ....... C3 Crossword Saturday ........... D6 Sports .............. B1 Support groups .. C5 Crossword Sunday ............. C8 Travel .............. C10 Dear Abby ........ C6 Weather............ A9 Lottery .............. A2 Wheels ............. D8