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Serving Lee, Whiteside, Carroll, Ogle and Bureau counties Saturday&Sunday, May 24-25, 2014 $2.00
Tracking all the day’s events in Charleston
SHELEY MURDER TRIAL TO RESUME TUESDAY LOCAL, A12
GIRLS STATE TRACK, B1
OGLE COUNTY
Double duty for sheriff Harn starts job with Forrestville Valley district June 2 BY MATT MENCARINI mmencarini@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5529
Starting on June 2, Ogle County Sheriff Michael Harn will be working two jobs. Harn’s term as sheriff ends in November. But for the next 6 months, he’ll also have a full-time responsibility to the Forrestville Valley School District. The board there on Wednesday hired him as the district’s maintenance coordinator.
The job pays $17 an hour, and Harn will be expected to work 40 hours a week, said district Superintendent Jane Eichman. Harn will be in charge of buildings and grounds maintenance for the district, which includes two elementary school buildings and a combined junior and senior high school, Eichman said, adding that he’ll also be supervisor of the district’s custodians. Harn was elected Ogle County
sheriff in 2010. He lost a close primary election to Rochelle police officer Brian VanVickle in March. Harn’s salary as sheriff is $87,000. If he works 40 hours a week for the school district from June 2 through November, he will make about $61,000 between the two jobs. Harn didn’t respond to requests for comment. SHERIFF CONTINUED ON A4
No paper on Memorial Day Just a reminder that there will be no paper Monday because of the holiday, and Sauk Valley Media offices will be closed. We will resume our normal publication schedule Tuesday.
ROCK FALLS
Ogle County Sheriff Michael Harn Lost primary election in March; term ends at the end of November
THE PEOPLE’S VOICE | GRANT C. “JACK” YOUNG
Owner says Thai restaurant will open Despite setbacks, all four projects moving forward BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570
ROCK FALLS – The owner of the former Innovations 4 You building says he still plans to open four businesses there, including a Thai restaurant. Trirong Khuntangta says the building at 102 W. Second St. still is being renovated to house a fitness center, coffee shop, Thai restaurant and bar. A shared rooftop area also is part of the plans, he says. While the fitness center and coffee shop are further along than the other businesses, Khuntangta said he is hoping that everything can open this summer. “I would like to open everything at the same time,” Khuntangta said. “That would be best for all of the individual businesses.” Khuntangta, who recently returned from a 2-month trip to Thailand, said he believes that a change in plans regarding who would operate the restaurant has caused some confusion. Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
Captain Jack, Grant C. Young, smiles as he wears his flight jacket from his Navy days. Young served for 30 years, and spent nearly 14 of those years at sea. Jack’s interest in planes and the Navy began when he was 5 and saw a few old biplanes fly overhead during a tour of the National Guard’s Camp Grant in Rockford. “I said to my grandpa, ‘I’m gonna fly one of these things before I’m done,’” he said.
THAI CONTINUED ON A4
COMMUNITY
Oh captain, their captain christopher HEIMERMAN Heimerman is the Night News Editor at Sauk Valley Media. He can be reached at cheimerman@ saukvalley. com or 800-798-4085, ext. 5523.
Career Navy man cherishes family life above all
J
ack. Boss. Captain. Commander. There are a lot of names Grant C. Young has gone by that can’t be found on his 92-year-old birth certificate. Decades later, might I recommend Steel, a tribute to his traplike mind, still sharp, despite bearing some rust and trying to lock down more memories and stories than I might amass during two lifetimes.
Sunny
VOLUME 6 ISSUE 39 52 Pages
Today: 76/52 For the forecast, see Page A15
As Jack tells these stories, his cadence is punctuated by an unmistakable laugh that insists he adored his 30 years in the Navy and the hundreds who served under him. But while his body was at sea for months at a time (13 years, 11 months and 8 days, to be exact), his heart was always somewhere where he was known by his favorite nicknames: Dad. Husband.
River riders visit
Three men kayaking the length of the Rock River went through the Sauk Valley on Friday. See Page A14
“I’m lucky. You’re looking at a guy who had a whole bunch of honeymoons,” Jack says, his face lighting up at the very thought of his bride of 70 years, Ethel. “Every time I came home was a honeymoon, kid. She taught my children to love me and to worry about me when I was gone. They were hugging me, and it was a love mass every time I came home.” CAPTAIN CONTINUED ON A5
Special pet issue Learn how to keep dogs fit, choose right cat food, and more Also inside USA Weekend: Homemade dog treats Celebs and their pets Gifts for pets
Bringing the farm to school A look at Tractor Day at Sterling High School. PAGE C12
Index Births................ C5 Lottery .............. A2 Business........... C1 Markets .......... A15 Classified .......... D1 Obituaries ......... A4 Comics ....... B7-B8 Opinion............. A6 Community ..... C12 Scoreboard ...... B9 Scrapbook ....... C3 Crossword Saturday ........... D5 Sports .............. B1 Support groups .. C5 Crossword Sunday ............. C8 Travel .............. C10 Dave Ramsey ... C1 Weather.......... A15 Dear Abby ........ C6 Wheels ............. D8