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DIXON, A3
SPORTS, B3
dailyGAZETTE Tuesday, April 8, 2014
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
DIXON | FIREARM SAFETY
Welcome to Guns 101
Police lecture Reagan students on firearm safety BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5521
DIXON – A crowd of about 100 eighth-grade students gathered in Reagan Middle School’s gymnasium Monday afternoon just before 1 p.m. Not an unusual sight – it was their P.E. period, after all. But on Monday, those students were joined by members of the Dixon Police Department to talk about something a little more serious than correct push-up form: firearm safety. The series of lectures provided throughout the day to Dixon mid-
dle-schoolers came in response to the recent shooting death in Rock Falls, in which two friends were allegedly handling a gun, and one of the boys ended up being fatally wounded. Illinois State Police continue to investigate the shooting they’re calling accidental. Dixon officer Doug Lehman provided the talk for the students, which covered topics such as what to do, should one find themself around a firearm; and the difference betwen active-shooter video games and violence on television and the consequences real-life games like that can have. Lehman
also asked students to consider how the release of a firearm – even if accidental – could affect not just the person shot, but also everyone around them. “Something happened a few weeks ago,” Lehman said, introducing the story about the Rock Falls shooting. “Some teenagers, for whatever reason, had some access to firearms, and they thought they should handle it ... look next to you – you probably know everybody in here. ... It’s not just two people involved; it affects everybody.” GUNS CONTINUED ON A2
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Reagan Middle School eighth-grader Mikayla Huisheere asks a question Monday afternoon during a gun safety question-and-answer session held by the Dixon Police Department at the school. The class came in response of the accidental shooting death of a Rock Falls High School student.
SEASONAL LIGHT OF PASSAGE IN ROCK FALLS
STERLING
Approval of Subway deal met with ire Developer says year-long process took too long BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570
Photos by Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
ABOVE: Wayne Russell of the Coloma Park District packs up the strings of Christmas lights Monday afternoon at the John W. Bowman Family Park along the Rock River in Rock Falls. RIGHT: With the help of the cherry picker, Russell’s co-worker, Steve Pleskovitch, takes down down the strings of Christmas lights from the trees at the John W. Bowman Family Park.
LEE COUNTY | FINANCES
Little progress made on 2-year-old plan No effort toward hiring administrator BY DAVID GIULIANI dgiuliani@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5525
DIXON – Nearly 2 years ago, the Lee County Board approved a long-range financial plan that called for hir-
$1.00
ing a county administrator and conducting an outside review of staffing levels. Since then, the board has made little, if any, progress toward achieving the plan’s goals.
TODAY’S EDITION: 24 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 160 ISSUE 86
INDEX
The plan was inspired by the expected loss of about $1 million in annual revenue as the result of an expiring clause in the county’s contract with Phoenixbased Republic Services. That clause, which expired at the end of 2013, guaranteed the county income of
BUSINESS ......... A12 COMICS ............. A10 CROSSWORD....B11
DEAR ABBY ......... A7 LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2
$1.8 million a year – regardless of the amount of waste deposited. Now, the fees are based on how much waste the landfill accepts, resulting in the projected loss of $1 million a year in that revenue.
STERLING – The City Council approved a development agreement for a proposed Subway restaurant at Monday’s meeting, but local developer Pete Harkness was there to voice his displeasure over the process. The council, missing three of its six aldermen, voted for the agreement and site plan for an ordinance to vacate a right of way that had once been known as Reins Street. Subway franchise owner Dan Sigwards wanted the area for use as an entrance for the new store at 1901 Locust. Sigwards operates the Subway at 2210 N. Locust, but found out last year that his lease there would not be renewed. The request was made last April by Dan Sigwards, Katherine Sigwards and Harkness Properties LLC. The new site will be on four lots owned by Harkness. Harkness spoke to the council, expressing his frustration with how long it took to get the agreement for the project in place. “The city knew of this project one year ago,” Harkness said. “We filed the petition last April, and on Sept. 3, they finally agreed to vacate. Then it took almost 4 months to complete a simple development agreement.” The request had been put before the council for a vote last July, but a vote was delayed because more information from the developer had been requested.
PROGRESS CONTINUED ON A2
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 SPORTS ...............B1
SUBWAY CONTINUED ON A4
Today’s weather High 54. Low 29. More on A3.
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B6.
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