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U.S. CONGRESS | THOMSON PRISON
Funding clears House hurdle Ill. lawmakers thwart effort to derail opening BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570
The House early Friday morning passed an appropriations bill that includes funding for the Thomson Correctional Center, despite a last-ditch effort by two legislators to sabotage the opening of the prison. The House passed the Commerce-Justice-Science spending bill about 12:15 a.m. Friday after first thwarting an amendment introduced by Tennessee Republican Marsha Blackburn that specifically called for denying operational funds for the long-dormant prison.
Blackburn and Virginia Republican Frank Wolf have been staunch opponents of closing Guantanamo Bay, fearing that detainees will be brought to U.S. prisons. In her speech introducing the amendment on the House floor, Blackburn said that even though it is in writing that federal funds can’t be used to transport Guantanamo detainees to U.S. prisons, the Obama administration has found “pots of money” to circumvent protections. “Thomson Correctional Center is ground zero in this debate,” Blackburn said. “My amendment would allow no funds for
operations, renovation or construction of the prison. As long as it remains operational, we run the risk of seeing Guantanamo detainees on American soil.” Wolf then took the floor in support of the Blackburn amendment, but it was shot down by a vote of 148-253. Seventeenth District U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-East Moline, spoke in opposition to the attempt to derail the prison’s opening. She said Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com the entire Illinois delegation U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-East Moline, talks during a briefing banded together against the about the Thomson Correctional Center on Sept. 5, 2013, in the amendment. library of West Carroll Intermediate School in Thomson. Sitting with Bustos are Thomson Village President Vicky Trager (left) FUNDING CONTINUED ON A4 and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois.
A MINI-EVENT IN DIXON
PET HEALTH
Parvo outbreak hits area Vaccinations ‘could save your dog’s life,’ local vet says BY KATHLEEN A. SCHULTZ kschultz@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5535
Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
ABOVE: Jordon Moore, 5, of Dixon, tries his golf hand on a multilayered putting green Friday at the Dixon riverfront. The Dixon Open downtown miniature golf outing and festival kicked off Friday and continues today. The Dixon Main Street festival is free to attend. It costs $5 to play the mini-golf course, but is free to those younger than 8. The course is open today from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. RIGHT: Kayla Wilson (left) watches as Samantha Vancil uses a pingpong paddle to play one of the crazy mini-golf holes Friday at the DIxon Main Street event on the riverfront. The course will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. today, with food, crafts and drinks available.
Mostly sunny
VOLUME 6 ISSUE 40 52 Pages
Today: 83/64 For the forecast, see Page A15
An unusual number of highly contagious canine parvovirus cases – enough to be considered an epidemic – have turned up on Sterling’s west side in the past month or so, a local veterinarian said. The good news is, the virus that causes severe diarrhea and even death in dogs of all ages, but particularly puppies, seems to be running its course, said Dr. Laurainne Haenni of Advanced Animal Clinic in Rock Falls. “We have been seeing many cases of parvo recently,” Haenni said. “Most of these cases involve pups, but we also are seeing it in older dogs, 1 to 2 years and up. My staff and I are alarmed at the number of cases we have treated.” PARVO CONTINUED ON A13
COMMUNITY
Salute to service A look back at Memorial Day events in the Sauk Valley. PAGE C12
Top Rocket
Joe Behrens is Rock Falls High School’s May Student of the Month. See Page A5
Bon Jovi, bon appétit Musician talks about inspiration for Soul Kitchen Also inside USA Weekend: Dealing with depression Recipe for seared salmon Remembering D-Day
Index Births................ C5 Lottery .............. A2 Business........... C1 Markets .......... A16 Classified .......... D1 Obituaries ......... A4 Comics ............. D5 Opinion............. A6 Community ..... C12 Scoreboard .... B16 Scrapbook ....... C3 Crossword Saturday ........... D6 Sports .............. B1 Support groups .. C5 Crossword Sunday ............. C8 Travel .............. C10 Dave Ramsey ... C1 Weather.......... A15 Dear Abby ........ C6 Wheels ............. D8