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Time to make baseball a better game? SPORTS, B1
MOVING THE MUD FROMSTERLING, THOMAS PARK A3
DIXON SCHOOLS | LONG-TERM FACILITIES PLANS
Fix or build options for DHS Each plan carries estimated cost of about $45 million BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5525 @JPigee84
DIXON – Renovate Dixon High School, or build new?
School officials and the Dixon community have wrestled with that question for the past few months. The school board has narrowed the district’s long-range facility plan to two options. Both options include basic renovation and upgrades at Washington and Jefferson elementary schools. Option A includes renovating DHS, and option B includes a new high
BrainSpaces, a Chicago-based consultant on school facilities planning. “The major difference between the two options is what to do with the high school.” There is little difference in the estimated costs of the two options. The option that includes renovating the current high school is estimated to cost $42 million to $48 million. The option that includes building
Online extra The complete Dixon Public Schools Master Plan can be seen at saukvalley.com. school at an undetermined site. “The two elementary schools would get minor renovations, similar to the renovations Madison Elementary School got recently,” said Amy Yurko of
a new high school has an estimated price tag of $44 million to $47 million. The renovations at Washington and Jefferson schools are projected to cost between $6 million and $7 million. That would include new heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, lighting upgrades, and new drop ceilings. OPTIONS CONTINUED ON A2
2015 ELECTION
WALKING WITH CHRIST IN THE TWIN CITIES
Next steps for Sauk? Candidates weigh in Five seek three open seats on college board BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5525 @JPigee84
Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
ABOVE: Immanuel Lutheran Church pastor Henrietta “Hank” Milner and Eli Attig, 9, begin to carry a cross from the church in Rock Falls to Sterling on Friday morning. The walk is a representation of the last hours of Jesus before he died on the cross. Friday was Good Friday, and Sunday is Easter. RIGHT: About 20 people participated in Friday’s walk, which ended at First Congregational Church of Sterling, where refreshments were served. First Christian Church of Rock Falls also organized the walk.
DIXON – How can Sauk Valley Community College be improved? Each of the five candidates running for three open seats on the Board of Trustees has his own ideas. One candidate believes buildings should be updated, while others believe the college needs to spend more time reaching out to prospective students. Dwindling state funding is often mentioned as an obstacle to progress. Trustees serve 6-year terms. Three of the board’s seven elected seats are on the April 7 ballot. Board Vice Chairman Scott Stoller and incumbents Edward Andersen and Robert Thompson are seeking re-election. Dennis Fulrath, who works at Donaldson Co. in Dixon, and Michael Ortiz, a Sauk graduate, are seeking to join the board. SAUK CONTINUED ON A5
STATE BUDGET | MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Local officials anxious about proposed funding cuts BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5521 @SeaWarren
Of the 45 people in Lee County Jail on Friday, almost 20 percent were being treated for mental illnesses. In Whiteside County, 30 percent of the inmates were. As the state continues to cut
funding for mental health services – closing down state-run mental health centers and slicing money for community health providers – local jails and prisons have become the holding cells for Illinois’ mentally ill. With Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposal to further reduce the amount of state money put
Sunny
VOLUME 7 ISSUE 31 40 Pages
Today: 59/38 For the forecast, see Page A10
toward behavioral health services, the number of people housed in jails with mental illnesses will continue to swell, authorities say. Rauner’s budget plan, if approved, would cut more than $98 million in state funding from the Division of Mental Health in the Depart-
Business
Dairy farming struggles to keep up with the demand for organic milk. See Page C1
ment of Human Services. With more than $1 million of those dollars filling out Sinnissippi Centers’ budget, the cuts would mean dire consequences for the Sauk Valley’s largest provider of mental health and addiction services.
Inside
Dixon City Council candidates discuss the role of city government. Page A5
CUTS CONTINUED ON A3
Community The YMCA’s Rock ’n’ Stroll event at Sterling’s Northland Mall utilized art and music to raise money for a student trip to the Art Institute. See Page C12
Online
Go to saukvalley.com and click on Election Central 2015 for information about races and candidates on Tuesday’s ballots.
Index Births................ C6
Lottery .............. A2
Business........... C1
Nation/World .... A9
Classified .......... D1
Obituaries ......... A4
Comics ............. B6
Opinion............. A6
Community ..... C12
Scoreboard .... B10
Crossword Saturday ........... D6
Scrapbook ....... C3
Crossword Sunday ............. C8
Support groups .. C6
Dave Ramsey ... C1
Weather.......... A10
Dear Abby ........ C4
Wheels ............. D8
Sports .............. B1 Travel .............. C10