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Student Shape up HURDLES NOT FOR THE of the for summer FAINT OF HEART SPRY LIVING, SOFTBALL, B1 Month INSIDE
dailyGAZETTE
NEWMAN, A3
Monday, May 11, 2015
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
DIXON | HIGH SCHOOL
Paying either way Replace or renovate? Both would cost taxpayers BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5525 @JPigee84
DIXON – Doing nothing at Dixon High School is definitely not an option. If school officials and the public decide to leave the school where it is, between $21 million and $24 million worth of work would have to be done to the building. “When the state comes to different school districts, they do audits, which happen every 10 years,” said Amy Yurko of BrainSpaces, a Chicago-based
consultant on school facilities planning. “It’s in the state’s best interest to make sure that schools are safe.” Dixon High School’s next audit is scheduled for this fall. The school has not been audited in 10 years. With the help of Green Associates Architects Inc., based in Deerfield, school officials came up with a list of costs that could come up during the audit, including repairs to the exterior walls for $4.6 million; asbestos abatement for $2 million to $3.5 million; and heating, ventilating, and air conditioning
repairs, for $6.2 million to $6.6 million. The money would come from the district’s 10-year Health and Life Safety Bonds, which would be repaid with property taxes. “The district would be obligated to pay those repairs and not require a community vote,” Yurko said. “If the public votes no on [a bond] referendum, the district will have to pay roughly Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com $22 million anyway. The public’s taxes will increase no mat- Mike Grady, principal of Dixon High School, talks to the public ter what.” Thursday night during a tour of the school. The tour helped show areas of the school that need improvements, in order to create a PAYING CONTINUED ON A2 better learning environment for students.
MOTHER’S DAY FOR ALL IN ROCK FALLS
ROCK FALLS | CENTENNIAL PARK
Clean, quiet piece of land That’s what park district envisions at 4.3-acre parcel BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
Brunch served all day Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
A gosling feeds with one of its parents Sunday afternoon at Sewards Park in Rock Falls. While it will be a bit cooler this week than last week, after scattered thunderstorms skedaddle this morning, Sauk Valley residents can look forward to good bird-watching weather. Rain doesn’t appear in the forecast again until Friday. Check out the 5-day forecast for the Sauk Valley on A3.
CRIME
Police: Chadwick man pulls gun on cop; chase ensues Pursuit covers 4 counties, ends with crash in Mendota BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5521 @SeaWarren
MENDOTA – Police say during a traffic stop in Freeport on Sunday morning, a Chadwick man pulled a gun on a police officer, who fired shots at his car, triggering a highspeed chase. Alec T. Pulley, 29, led officers on a high-speed chase through Ste-
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phenson, Winnebago, Ogle, and LaSalle counties for more than an hour before crashing his green 2000 Buick into the median on Interstate 39 in Mendota, according to an Illinois State Police news release. Pulley was arrested and taken to OSF Saint Paul Medical Center in Mendota, treated, and released. He is charged with driving under the influence, aggravated fleeing and eluding, and unlawful use of a weapon. Past felony convictions in Stephenson County include four for burglary, two for theft, and one for possession
INDEX
ABBY ................... A7 COMICS ............... A8 CROSSWORD....B10
of a controlled substance. No one at the Illinois State Police headquarters or the Freeport Police Department was available for comment. According to Lee County Sheriff John Simonton, Pulley is being held at LaSalle County Jail, and will be transferred to Stepenson County Jail. Freeport police officers, Ogle County sheriff’s deputies, Lee County sheriff’s deputies, and state police troopers from districts 1, 15, 16 were involved in the chase. No pursuing officers were injured. The investigation is ongoing. LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2 NATION/WORLD .. A9
Alec. T. Pulley Chadwick man en route to Stephenson County Jail, Lee County sheriff says
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 POLICE ................ A2
ROCK FALLS – The Coloma Township Park District is cleaning up 4.3 acres of land it acquired last year at the southwest corner of Centennial Park. The land at the south end of Avenue A was purchased from local restaurant owner Sam Akiti, with some help from the city. The city had three liens on the property for lawn-mowing costs, but the park board was able to negotiate away half of those costs. The final price of the property was just short of $15,000. In addition to the mowing responsibilities, the city had other reasons for wanting to unload the property. “The structure had been empty for 5 or 6 years, and because it sits back where no one can see it, people dumped garbage and tires,” City Building Inspector Mark Searing said. Because of limited access and wet areas, the property was not conducive to commercial use, so this was a good solution for everyone involved, Searing said.
Today’s weather High 69. Low 38. More on A3.
CLEAN CONTINUED ON A4
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B6.
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