GAZ_06042014

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Your source for community news and sports 7 days a week.

Rice, rice salads, baby

SECTIONAL SEMIFINAL A NAIL-BITER

FOOD, A9-11

STERLING SOFTBALL, B1

dailyGAZETTE Wednesday, June 4, 2014

SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854

ROCK FALLS | FRONTAGE PROPERTY PURCHASE APPROVED

Step toward ‘bookend’? Land could make Parrish-Alford site more attractive to developers BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570

ROCK FALLS – The council on Tuesday approved the city’s purchase of property in the downtown TIF district they hope will help spur development at one of the riverfront’s “bookend sites”. The council authorized the city to buy the building – which most recently housed a laundromat along the north side of West Second Street – from owner Henry Steinhagen for $50,000. The city wants the frontage property, because they believe it makes the for-

SHARING AN ART FORM

Next meeting

mer Parrish-Alford site much more attractive to developers. “We have developers interested in Parrish-Alford, but we need the frontage property to make it more developable,” City Administrator Robbin Blackert said. “Then we have everything on that frontage but the houses.” Environmental consulting firm Terracon, in its 2008 community plan, referred to the former Parrish-Alford and Reliant Fastener sites as the “bookends to the larger Riverfront Redevelopment Area”. The Parrish-Alford site is about 6.5 acres of land north of West Second Street between Fifth and Eighth

The Rock Falls City Council next meets at 6:30 p.m. June 17, at City Hall, 603 W. 10th St. The agendas will be posted at www. rockfalls61071.com and at City Hall. Call 815-622-1100 for more information. The City Council meeting also can be viewed live on Channel 5. avenues. The Reliant site along East Second Street consists of 10 parcels on 11 acres. The purchase agreement contains an important caveat, city attorney Jim Reese pointed out to the council members. “The purchase is contingent on an environmental assessment report from Terracon,” Reese said.

Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

Are you an artist? Either way, turn to A2 to find out which new downtown Dixon business is rotating artists’ works in its front window.

BOOKEND CONTINUED ON A4

STUDENTS SPEND DAY OF FUN IN SUN

LEGISLATION | NEW BILL

Will ‘dust’ no longer collect on audit info? Demmer-sponsored bill passes chambers, would require reports to be posted, presented BY MATT MENCARINI mmencarini@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5529

Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

Second-grader Vinny Lombardo spins his wheels while anchoring his team in the tug of war competition Tuesday afternoon at East Coloma-Nelson Elementary School. The school celebrated its last few days of class with fun activities. CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Third-grader Nick Sheley eyes a padded tunnel to dive through during an obstacle course run at East Coloma-Nelson Elementary School. Third-grader Thomas Lewis works the ladder run during the field day. Shawbrya Dickinson, a second-grader, is pulled under a parachute during a game of “Sharks and Minnows.”

DIXON – Illinois cities and counties could soon be required to get annual audit presentations. State Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, sponsored HB5503, which unanimously passed both chambers of the state Legislature on May 22. It now awaits Gov. Pat Quinn’s signature to become law, which Demmer said he expects to happen. Tom The bill, DemDemmer mer said, was inspired b y State Rep.: Bill was inspired by f o r m e r D i x o n Crundwell theft Comptroller Rita Crundwell’s theft of nearly $54 million over 2 decades. Before Demmer’s bill, which was co-sponsored by State Sen. Michael Connelly, R-Wheaton, cities and counties were required to have an audit completed and file it with the Illinois comptroller’s office. But that was it. BILL CONTINUED ON A4

Captured soldier update Report: Genoa native killed in action while searching for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. Did sergeant cost lives? Official says case is not closed. Read more on A5

$1.00

TODAY’S EDITION: 24 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 160 ISSUE 126

INDEX

BUSINESS ......... A11 COMICS ...............B6 CROSSWORD......B9

DEAR ABBY ......... A8 LIFESTYLE ........... A8 LOTTERY ............. A2

OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 SPORTS ...............B1

Today’s weather High 72. Low 50. More on A3.

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