Your source for community news and sports 7 days a week.
Ruling upheld in grain bin deaths
OREGON FAMILY TEAMS UP FOR TOURNAMENT
CARROLL COUNTY, A5
WOMEN’S GOLF, B1
dailyGAZETTE Thursday, July 9, 2015
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
ROCK FALLS | BUDGET REVIEW
Back in black in 2015 Conservative approach helps produce $76,000 surplus BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
ROCK FALLS – City officials have said they take a conservative approach to the budget, and the results would appear to back up that strategy. City Administrator Robbin Blackert closed the books on Fiscal Year 2015 with a presentation to the council Tuesday. The new fiscal
‘‘
’’
Each year, I’ve found some adjustments were needed, just to keep up with the way government changes. Robbin Blackert, city administrator
year began May 1. When the nearly $21.7 million budget was approved last year, it projected a small surplus of $5,708. Blackert reported that the actual numbers were better than the estimates.
“We ended up $76,000 in the black, so I was really pleased with how the numbers came out,” Blackert told aldermen. The Fiscal Year 2014 budget closed with a surplus of $3,705.
This is Blackert’s fourth year doing the city’s budget, and she said there is always some procedural fine-tuning that needs to be done. “Each year, I’ve found some adjustments were needed, just to keep up with the way government changes,” Blackert said. Several modifications were made to this year’s budget. BUDGET CONTINUED ON A4
NOW SHOWING: ‘INTO THE WOODS’ AT WOODLAWN ARTS ACADEMY
DIXON | CABELA’S TOURNAMENT
City will try to lure a big one But likely won’t host championship until ready – think 2017 BY BRENDEN WEST bwest@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5529 @BWest_SVM
DIXON – After the success of Cabela’s King Kat Tournament in June, Dixon might have positioned itself to reel in a bigger catch. Mayor Li Arellano Jr. revealed during Monday’s council meeting that the city is having extensive discussions with Cabela’s about hosting one of two annual King Kat Championships within the next 2 years. Dixon already hosts a “Super Event” that drew 52 teams this year on this area of the Rock River. Should the city land a championship – the largest category used by Cabela’s – it could mean 80 teams and hundreds of anglers dipping their lines in Sauk Valley waters for 2 days. LURE CONTINUED ON A3
Michael Krabbenhoeft/ mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Abby Langner, who’s playing the part of Florinda in Woodlawn Arts Academy’s “Into the Woods,” applies her makeup for Wednesday’s opening night in Sterling. Hannah Matheny coifs up Suzie Branch’s hair, making it look decidedly evil for her part as the evil stepmother in Woodlawn’s “Into the Woods.” The show, a combination of several beloved fairy tales, will be performed free of charge at 7 p.m. each night through Sunday. In the event of rain, the production will be moved indoors to the academy’s stage. Attendees are allowed to bring alcohol to enjoy during the performances.
Matt Dennison of Rock Falls unloads his catch at the end of the second day of the Cabela’s King Kat fishing tournament June 6 at Page Park in Dixon.
NORTHLAND MALL
Recovery crews have seen some things, man Including Ground Zero, Hurricane Katrina’s wake BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
But wait ... there’s so much more Whether you’re wondering which bands are playing at the local watering holes this weekend, looking at festivals for the rest of the summer, or wondering what there is to see at local art exhibits, check out our listings on A9-11.
STERLING – Restoration services crews continue to ready the Northland Mall for a full reopening, but much remains to be done. A tractor-trailer with “ATI Catastrophe Response Team” emblazoned on its side was again parked in front of the mall’s main entrance Wednesday. ATI is American Technologies Inc., an Orange, California-based company that does varying degrees of restoration, environmental and reconstruction work. MALL CONTINUED ON A2
$1.00
TODAY’S EDITION: 24 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 161 ISSUE 150
INDEX
ABBY ................... A8 BUSINESS ........... A7 COMICS ...............B6
CROSSWORD....B11 LIFESTYLE ........... A8 LOTTERY ............. A2
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 POLICE ................ A2
Today’s weather High 76. Low 58. More on A3.
Budget
Latest on impasse, A7.
TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE PAPER, CALL 815-625-3600 OR 800-798-4085