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Vacations: Good for you, good for the economy TECH TALK, A9
SVM’S ALL-AREA EDITION SOFTBALL, B1
CITY PLANNING
Rock Falls has a story to tell Now, planners and city officials say, they need to do a better job of telling it BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
ROCK FALLS – As work on the Storybook Trail project continues, planners are reminded there is another important story to tell.
The need to do a recreational master plan became apparent when the city’s Trails/Canal Committee started discussing the possibility of developing the interactive reading trail from the Avenue D trailhead to McNeil Road. George Bellovics, a landscape architect for the Illinois Department of Nat-
ural Resources, told the committee it would be wise to develop a larger vision for the trails before filling in with specific projects. “You need a bigger concept or master plan, and build within; don’t do the inverse with smaller projects,” Bellovics said.
He also reminded the panel that the vision must be conveyed to the masses. “The recreational trail needs to be named,” Bellovics said. “Once you create an identity, there are many ways to get people involved and create a sense of stewardship.” ROCK FALLS CONTINUED ON A4
ASHTON | SESQUICENTENNIAL
Horse-guests A horse is just a horse, of course, but the horses at a Dixon family farm are pretty special BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5521 @SeaWarren
Photos by Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com
ABOVE: Levi, one of the famed Budweiser Clydesdales, gets a trim from handlers Mark Fischer (left) and John Fink Thursday at the Coers family farm. The team is in town to help celebrate Ashton’s sesquicentennial. BELOW: Clyde, the horses’ traveling companion, watches from a golf cart while handlers clean, curry and trim the horses.
were looking at, and they chose our place out of all of them because they found out we used to raise registered Belgians,” Shane said. While on the road, the Clydesdales’ DIXON – The Coers family farm in rural Dixon is absolutely beautiful. Its living conditions are never entirely cer2,000 acres of pastoral farmland are tain, although their handlers do the the picture-perfect representation of best they can. One week, they might stay at a fairgrounds, as they did recentthe American dream. But for the past week, it’s been a ly. The next, they could be guests at a little bit more American than usual. well-cared-for home, as they are now. The horses also stayed with the famSince Monday, the family has played ily in 2009. When they host to the famous, and learned they would have classically American, Online the honor of housing the Budweiser Clydesdales, To see more photos horses, the family was which are in town to help of the Clydesdales go excited. Dave noticed a celebrate Ashton’s sesto saukvalley.com wooden Anheuser-Busch quicentennial. “A” logo at LRB DistribuThis is the third time the tors in Dixon, and asked whether he family has stabled the famous horses. The first time, in 2006, LRB Distribu- could borrow it for the horses’ arrival. LRB let him keep it, and since then, tors was looking for a barn that could it’s stayed on the front of the barn. house big draft the horses, and the Dave spent almost a whole day Coers family’s fit the bill. The barn was Sue Coers’ dream. Her repainting it in anticipation of the husband, Dave, and son, Shane, built horses’ arrival this week. The whole area around the stait mostly with recycled materials. bles got a sprucing up, in fact. Wood The family used to raise draft horses, which is why the stables are so big – restained, a fresh coat of paint here and there. and a perfect fit for the Clydesdales. HORSES CONTINUED ON A2 “There were four places that they
Did you know? More than 300 years ago, the Clydesdale breed was first developed for farm work in the region of Clydesdale, Scotland. They are most easily recognized for their substantial feather – the long hairs of the lower leg that cover the hooves. Despite a dressy appearance, they are capable of pulling a 1-ton load at 5 mph. The Budweiser Clydesdales made their first public appearance on April 7, 1933. They were a gift from August A. Busch Jr. and Adolphus Busch to their father in celebration
of the repeal of Prohibition. The presentation of the horses moved father, sons and drivers to tears. The phrase “crying in your beer” was officially coined shortly thereafter. The Budweiser Clydesdales have figured prominently in two presidential inaugurations. They appeared in Harry Truman’s inaugural parade in 1949, and Bill Clinton’s in 1993. In 1950, the Budweiser Clydesdales received their own mascot: a Dalmatian. – Source: www.budweiser.com/clydesdales/history.html
DIXON
What’s up with the docks? They’re on hold, but not off the table BY BRENDEN WEST bwest@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5529 @BWest_SVM
DIXON – Although the Dixon City Council recently put a
hold on funding for boat docks on the downtown riverfront, the project is still on the minds of city officials. The previous council had approved $40,000 worth of Rita
Mostly cloudy
VOLUME 7 ISSUE 41 44 Pages
Today: 78/67 For the forecast, see Page A11
Crundwell settlement proceeds for the project, but on May 26, the new city council reversed course on those funds. With a unanimous vote, they pulled the funding for the dock and
Business
A Sterling business owner’s customers are in hog Heaven. See Page C1
several other allocations of the Crundwell cash. However, Councilman Christopher Bishop said on Friday that the repeal didn’t necessarily kill the projects associated
Community May the wind be at your back and the Lord be at your side. Local pastors give bikers their blessings. See Page C12
with the Crundwell money. The council simply wants to review the allocation and make sure the money’s being put to the best use. DOCKS CONTINUED ON A4
Index Births................ C5
Lottery .............. A2
Business........... C1
Markets .......... A11
Classified .......... D1
Obituaries ......... A4
Comics ............. B6
Opinion............. A6
Community ..... C12
Scoreboard ...... B7
Crossword Saturday ........... D5
Scrapbook ....... C3
Crossword Sunday ............. C8
Support groups .. C5
Dave Ramsey ... C1
Weather.......... A11
Dear Abby ........ C6
Wheels ............. D8
Sports .............. B1 Travel .............. C10