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Students of DUKES GET THE HOME olden cho the Month PLATE ADVANTAGE SECTION INSIDE
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STERLING, A10
BASEBALL, B1
dailyGAZETTE Monday, March 28, 2016
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
TAMPICO
A dream finally come true A years-long effort to celebrate village’s Main attraction finally pays off BY RACHEL RODGERS rrodgers@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5529 @rj_rodgers
TAMPICO – Denise McLoughlin saw a decade-long dream of hers come to Denise McLoughlin reacts Saturday to seeing the first plaque fruition Saturday. McLoughlin, chairwoman of the go up in downtown Tampico. It’s been an emotional journey for Tampico Historical Preservation AdviMcLoughlin to get the plaques made. Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
sory Committee, dedicated 13 plaques placed on the outside of historic buildings along Main Street on Saturday morning. “I’m doing my best not to burst into tears; this has been my goal for so long, and I had almost given up hope,” she said. The committee raised funds for 3 years to get the $2,500 needed to purchase the plaques, each of which list the building’s address, its designation on the National Register of Historic Places, and the year in which it was built. DREAM CONTINUED ON A5
Up for grabs
Stuck with the bill
Budget battle forces local governments to pay for election law; voters could face long lines and headaches at the ballot box CHICAGO (AP) – A sweeping new election law that was intended to increase voter turnout in time for the presidential contest and a critical U.S. Senate race might instead cause greater frustration among voters due to Illinois lawmakers’ inability to agree on a budget, with officials warning of possible long lines, fewer safeguards against voter fraud and other costly headaches come November. The bill, pushed through the Legislature in the final weeks of Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn’s term, required several changes that traditionally benefit Democrats, such as same-day voter registration and expanded early voting.
Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
20 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 162 ISSUE 77
While those pieces of the law will be in place come Nov. 8, some local election officials say they’ve stuck with the bill for additional equipment and staffing. And the nearly $4 million that state election officials said they’d need in the first 2 years for other changes wasn’t approved by the Legislature. The standoff between Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and majority Democrats over the state budget – now approaching its 10th month – has only made matters worse by delaying an overhaul of the state’s voter registration system and data updates that are critical to cleaning up the list of eligible voters. BILL CONTINUED ON A5
Judges try to tilt election’s verdict in their favor Critics say an end run around the election law highlights a need for change
ABOVE: Natalie Rhodes, 5, of Dixon scoops up eggs Saturday during the Dixon Park District’s annual Easter egg hunt. Some 7,000 treat-filled eggs were scattered about for kids in six different age groups to snatch up. RIGHT: Larrell McClain, 12, of Franklin Grove makes his way through the field, picking up eggs. The afternoon egg hunt was held at Wooden Wonderland and the soccer fields on Washington Avenue for kids ranging in age from 2 to 12. Turn to page A3 to see photos from Oregon’s egg hunt.
TODAY’S EDITION:
Plaques were placed on buildings at 106, 107, 109, 110, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 122, 124, 126, and 131 Main Street.
CLOSER LOOK | ILLINOIS ELECTIONS
DIXON
$1.00
The plaques
BELLEVILLE (AP) – A move by several southern Illinois judges to avoid a November election in which they would need more votes than most other candidates is drawing attention due to skyrocketing campaign costs and the undue influence that money might have. The three Democratic St. Clair County circuit judges plan to retire later this year to avoid retention elections in which they would run unopposed but need 60 percent
INDEX
ABBY ................... A2 COMICS ............... A8 CROSSWORD....B10
LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2 OBITUARIES ........ A4
OPINION .............. A6 POLICE ................ A2 WORLD ................ A9
approval rather than a simple majority. Judges John Baricevic, Bob Haida and Robert LeChien argue that if they retire then they are free to seek election as first-time candidates and would only need to exceed a 50 percent vote threshold. The tactic is being challenged by Belleville’s city clerk, a Republican, and criticized by those who believe Illinois would be better served if its judges were appointed. JUDGES CONTINUED ON A5
Today’s weather High 55. Low 33. More on A3.
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