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dailyGAZETTE Monday, July 13, 2015
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
NEWS ANALYSIS | ILLINOIS PENSION NEGOTIATIONS
TRACTOR CELEBRATION GOES OFF WITHOUT A HITCH IN ROCK FALLS
Proposal includes frozen wages Rauner says his new plan has a lot Dems are seeking BY SARA BURNETT The Associated Press
Photos by Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
Babe and David Brandon of Pa & Ma Blacksmithing in Van Petten work in front of onlookers Saturday at the annual Rock Falls Antique Tractor and Engine Show Cookout at Long Shot Bar and Grill. Joel Jones of Rock Falls adds water to his 1912 Waterloo Boy Hit Miss engine Saturday at the Rock Falls Antique Tractor and Engine Show at Long Shot. Tractors and parts were displayed and sold. Vendors also sold jewelry, crafts, Avon products, and other items. A playground was open, and food was sold at the free event. See more photos from the showcase on A10.
CHICAGO – Gov. Bruce Rauner says Illinois could save billions of dollars each year through an ambitious new plan to address hugely underfunded pension systems, a proposal he describes as “fair and reasonable” for both government workers and taxpayers. But labor unions and their supporters – including Democrats who run the Legislature – say it’s the latest attempt by the Republican to attach union-busting measures to broader policy changes. The legislation would prohibit state employee unions from collective bargaining on issues such as wages, vacation and overtime, and would freeze salaries for 5 years beginning this month. It would then offer workers the option of getting raises, more vacation or more overtime – but only if they agree to switch to a less-generous pension plan. Democratic leaders declared the plan all but dead last week, while labor unions called it “unconstitutional, unfair to workers and retirees, and a waste of taxpayer dollars and time.” PENSIONS CONTINUED ON A4
More inside • Several GOP lawmakers not cashing checks from Rauner’s campaign, A4 • Get ready for another week of budget wrangling by reviewing the fallout from last week’s developments, A5
STERLING
Car crashes into school St. Mary officials: Services, classes won’t be affected STAFF REPORT news@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5501
STERLING – An Elgin man is facing DUI charges after police say he drove his 2004 Ford Mustang into St. Mary School on Sunday morning. Dane M. McElroy, 33, and his passenger, Sarah E. Koley, 25, also of Elgin, were taken to CGH Medical Center, where they were treated and released. McElroy was westbound in the 10 block of east Seventh Street around 12:30 a.m. when he drove onto the lawn of the school at
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6 W. Sixth St., collided with the east side brick wall and came to a stop inside, police said in a news release. McElroy also is charged with disobeying a stop sign, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and having no insurance. He was given a notice to appear in court. School officials said Sunday afternoon that the crash would not impact services or classes at the school. Anyone who witnessed or has information about the accident is asked to call Sterling police at 815-632-6640.
INDEX
ABBY ................... A7 COMICS ...............B5 CROSSWORD......B9
LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2 NATION/WORLD .. A9
Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 POLICE ................ A2
Today’s weather High 91. Low 68. More on A3.
A man inspects the damage done to the St. Mary Parish Center in Sterling on Sunday afternoon after a 2004 Ford Mustang crashed into the building Sunday morning. Police say the driver, Dane M. McElroy, 33, is facing DUI charges after driving the vehicle through the wall about 12:30 a.m. He and his passenger, Sarah E. Koley, 25, also of Elgin, were taken to CGH Medical Center, where they were treated and released.
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