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Streetscape project ahead of schedule? DATELINE DIXON, A3
‘SUCCESS FACTOR’ RULE POSTPONED A YEAR PREP SPORTS, B1
dailyGAZETTE Wednesday, June 25, 2014
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
OREGON | BLACK HAWK STATUE
Urgent need for fixes, funds Damage to statue ‘way more than we expected’ BY VINDE WELLS Shaw Media vwells@shawmedia.com
OREGON – The $724,000 already raised for the repair and restoration of the Black Hawk statue probably won’t be enough.
“We have sufficient funds to do 80 percent of the work,” said Frank Rausa of Sterling. He is leading the effort to repair the 103-year-old statue that overlooks the Rock River at Lowden State Park near Oregon.
Rausa said he will not have a better estimate of the cost until repair work begins later this summer. “Until we start removing the exterior surface, we won’t know the full extent of the damage,” he said.
To donate Checks can be made to the Illinois Conservation Foundation and marked for the Black Hawk Statue, and mailed to Illinois Conservation Foundation, 1 Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702.
Rausa is a member of the Friends of the Black Hawk Statue, an organization that has been working to secure funding for the repairs. URGENT CONTINUED ON A4
STERLING
You say it’s Gaby’s birthday?
LEE COUNTY | WELLING SENTENCING
Convicted murderer faces up to 180 years Judge to rule this afternoon on how many will be served BY KATHLEEN A. SCHULTZ kschultz@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5535
Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
Gaby DeLaFuente looks in the mailbox Tuesday outside her Sterling home. One of Gaby’s favorite things is to receive mail, and her mother, Cindy (left), is encouraging people to send a birthday card to P.O. Box 86, Sterling, IL 61081, as Gaby turns 20 on Sunday.
Her mom asks that you send a card, make her day BY ANGEL SIERRA asierra@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5695
STERLING – Gaby DeLaFuente has a birthday coming up, and her mom, Cindy, has a surprise that she hopes will put her daughter over the moon – birthdays cards. Lots of them. Gaby loves getting mail. She will celebrate her 20th birthday Sunday, and
Cindy, 49, is asking the public to send her birthday cards. Even if it’s just a smiley face or a piece of paper with stickers on it, send it. Her mom put together the idea over the weekend, posted it to Facebook, and the message took off Sunday night. BIRTHDAY CONTINUED ON A4
Join the celebration s Mail birthday cards to Gaby DeLaFuente, P.O. Box 86, Sterling IL 61081. s Say happy birthday in person. Gaby will be at Candlelight Inn, 2200 First Ave, in Rock Falls around noon Sunday.
DIXON – Today marks what is likely the final chapter in one of the bloodiest crimes in Amboy’s history. Matthew Welling, convicted May 19 of five counts of first-degree murder and one count of home invasion, will be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. in the Lee County courtroom of Judge Ron Jacobson. The 34-year-old Amboy man, who has no previous criminal record, faces 26 to 180 years in prison for stabbing and beating Delmar “Leroy” Daniels, 79, in the early hours of July 18, 2012. The autopsy showed Daniels had a broken jaw, broken ribs, a broken nose, and more than 30 cuts and stabs to his head alone. He bled to death from a deep slash to the back of his neck. The murder weapon was a broken glass vase. SENTENCING CONTINUED ON A4
THOUSANDS MOURN FALLEN SOLDIER IN MOKENA An American flag is presented to Pamela Toppen during the funeral of her son, U.S. Army Pfc. Aaron Toppen, on Tuesday in Mokena. Read more about the funeral on A5.
ALSO INSIDE: OGLE COUNTY UPDATE Ogle County Board’s adoption of concealed carry law draws criticism, A3. Neighboring communities answering ambulance calls in Oregon. Referendum could be considered as a solution, A4. Artsy event brings out colorful side in kids, A13.
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Lathan Goumas/lgoumas@shawmedia.com
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TODAY’S EDITION: 28 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 160 ISSUE 141
INDEX
BUSINESS ......... A13 COMICS ............. A12 CROSSWORD....B10
DEAR ABBY ......... A8 LIFESTYLE ........... A8 LOTTERY ............. A2
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 SPORTS ...............B1
Matthew Welling enters the Lee County courtroom May 19, the day he was found guilty of the murder of Delmar “Leroy” Daniels on July 18, 2012. Welling will be sentenced this afternoon.
Today’s weather High 82. Low 60. More on A3.
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B7.
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