W eekend SV
Saukvalley.com
Your source for news and sports 7 days a week
Serving Lee, Whiteside, Carroll, Ogle and Bureau counties Saturday&Sunday, May 7-8, 2016 $2.00
Three Rivers, NIB-12 girls compete for titles
STERLING MAN TRULY ATHEHALL-OF-FAMER PEOPLE’S VOICE, A5
SPORTS, B1
FULTON | MEDICAL MARIJUANA
Dispensary about ready to roll Open house May 17; opening date pending inspection BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5525 @JPigee84
FULTON – The building looks like a typical shopping center, but the first tenant to open its doors will be anything but typical. The only medical marijuana dispensary in the Sauk Valley is nearly complete. The Dispensary, at 1801 16th Ave., will be open for public viewing at 5 p.m. May 17. The 3,150-square-foot facility will open soon, pending approval of a state inspection. It will be a place for people with a state-issued permit to purchase medical marijuana. The Dispensary will occupy one of three spaces in a new shopping center being built by Dav-
enport, Iowa, developer Dan Dolan in a lot at state Routes 84 and 136. It is in a tax increment financing district. Anyone with a permit can purchase medical marijuana at The Dispensary as long as they designated it on their application, but it will mostly serve patients in Whiteside, Carroll, Lee and Ogle counties. More than 100 people have permits in District 1, which includes those counties. About 6,200 people have permits statewide. “This will definitely be something the city of Fulton can be proud of,” Kurt Dreger, manager of The Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com Dispensary, said. “We were definitely fortunate to The Dispensary, a place where local patients with state permits obtain the location we have here in Fulton.” can purchase medical marijuana, will be opening soon in the center of a new shopping center at state Routes 84 and 136 in DISPENSARY CONTINUED ON A8 Fulton. There will be an open house at 5 p.m. May 17.
EDUCATION | MENTAL HEALTH CARE
WHITESIDE COUNTY
Seeing things
Shrimp farmers cast net in region New Mexico company looking for partner
in a new light
Illustration by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Grant helps healing process in Morrison schools BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 @CHeimerman_SVM
MORRISON – The good news keeps coming for Morrison elementary schools counselor Steve Braasch. His application for a state grant was rewarded with $100,000 that’s helped the district make massive strides in mental health care this school year. Wednesday morning, he found out that Sinnissippi Centers therapist Carrie Mahar, who was brought onsite 2 days a week as a result of the grant, will be back next year, barring the unforeseen. But what about all the other rural school districts that must send students to bigger cities for mental health care? He’s hoping for some tremendous news on that front. “On the grander scale, it’s a model that can be duplicated in other school districts,” Braasch, 46, said. HEALING CONTINUED ON A3
Screenshot
Morrison elementary school counselor Steve Braasch (left) and Sinnissippi Centers therapist Carrie Mahar talk about the therapy doll Meebie, who was brought aboard this school year, thanks to a $100,000 state grant.
INSIDE: Parents discuss ‘crucial services’ for kids. Page A3
BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
MORRISON – Northwestern Illinois has long been known for its agriculture might, but an opportunity exists to gain a reputation for aquaculture. The New Mexico Shrimp Company, based in Mesquite, New Mexico, is looking for shrimp farmers, and the company has an eye on this area. The company recently reached out to Whiteside County Economic Development Director Gary Camarano for help in finding prospective partners in the region. Camarano knows the startup from his time as economic development coordinator for the city of Las Cruces. “When they were doing commercialization, I helped them find a location, so I’ve done some vetting of the business,” Camarano said. “They called a couple of weeks ago to say they were interested in the area and were looking for a local partner to license.” The proprietary process used by the company was developed by the New Mexico State University agriculture department. Tracey Carrillo, former assistant director of campus farm operations at the university, led the research efforts that began about 5 years ago. He took part ownership in the company when it was launched. SHRIMP CONTINUED ON A11
Scattered thunderstorms
VOLUME 8 ISSUE 36 40 Pages
Today: 70/47 For the forecast, see Page A13
Business
BD Cycles in Mount Morris specializes in two-wheel tuneups. See Page C1
Community For Mother’s Day, SVM photographers present a montage of moms from across the Sauk Valley – including their own. See Page C12
Index Births................ C5
Lottery .............. A2
Business........... C1
Markets .......... A13
Classified .......... B8
Obituaries ......... A4
Comics ........... A12
Opinion............. A6
Community ..... C12
Scoreboard ...... B4
Crossword Saturday ......... B12
Scrapbook ....... C3
Crossword Sunday ............. C8
Support groups .. C5
Dave Ramsey ... C1
Weather.......... A13
Dear Abby ........ C6
Wheels ........... B14
Sports .............. B1 Travel .............. C10