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LINCOLN HIGHWAY VETERAN AT 23
LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT, A9-11, A13
MEN’S GOLF PREVIEW, B1
dailyGAZETTE
Thursday, July 17, 2014
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
ROCK FALLS | FACADE PROGRAM
ROCK FALLS
First wave of awards granted
HUNGRY EYES
Director pleased with buzz created by new program BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570
Photos by Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
Jan Whitlock, a special education teacher at Merrill Elementary School, reads a book to children Wednesday afternoon outside the Coloma Homes meeting room in Rock Falls. Every Wednesday, Whitlock has parlayed a session of reading to the children into the “Let’s Feed Our Children” free summer lunch program.
Teacher reads to children during free lunch program BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5525
ROCK FALLS – Jan Whitlock has created her very own outdoor classroom. Every Wednesday for the past month, Whitlock has been reading books to elementary school students outside the Coloma Homes meeting room, at 401 W. 18th St., during a session of the “Let’s Feed Our Children” free summer lunch program. Although area students have been spending the summer months away from the classroom, Whitlock said she wants them to keep their minds active over the long break. “I just have a drive and interest in doing a program for the kids,” said Whitlock, a special education teacher at Merrill School. “I want the students to continue to read in the summertime.”
ABOVE: Children use a book from Whitlock to create color while painting Wednesday afternoon outside the Coloma Homes meeting room. LEFT: After reading to children every Wednesday, Whitlock sends them home with a book – many of them from her own collection. She wants students to read over the summer and hopes her program “can grow over time.”
HUNGRY CONTINUED ON A2
WHITESIDE COUNTY | 4-H FAIR STARTS TODAY
ROCK FALLS – The committee for the city’s new facade improvement grant program has approved its first applicants. The panel on Monday awarded the maximum of $5,000 each to three downtown renovation projects. Kurt Downs and Katy Selmi-Downs have been approved for two adjoining storefronts: Selmi’s Bridal at 223 First Ave., and Katy’s Country Financial Randy Balk office at 225 First Ave. The space had Executive direcpreviously been tor of RFCDC home to Stage Two says several Resale shop, before business owners that business moved requested applications the day to Sterling. after the counThe other grant cil passed its award went to Vio- facade program. let Jaramillo for her new business, The Grapevine Wine and Martini Bar at 205 W. Second St. The city budgeted $20,000 to launch the program, but it is run through the Rock Falls Community Development Corp. The funds are allocated as 50/50 matching grants. Officials said the level of interest shown in the first year would help determine the future of the program. RFCDC Executive Director Randy Balk said the response has been very good from the beginning. FACADE CONTINUED ON A4
RUFFING IT IN OREGON
Fair to say they’ve added a lot New this year: weekend hours, craft and vendor show and more BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5521
MORRISON – It’s time once again for the annual Whiteside County 4-H Show, but this year, things are a little bit different. For the first time, it’s being held at the end of the week, an effort to make the fair more convenient and open to the public, said Janice McCoy, newly appointed director of the University of Illinois Extension Service’s Carroll/Lee/Whiteside unit. Family Day is Saturday. New this year is a craft and vendor fair
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TODAY’S EDITION: 28 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 160 ISSUE 156
Show the highlights! Check out the must-see/partake events for each day on A4. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. “We really wanted to, or hope that, we get some folks from the community to see what our youth have been up to,” McCoy said. “Hopefully, having it on a Saturday will increase their ability to get out and see what our kids have been up to.” The show starts today at the Whiteside County Fairgrounds in Morrison with the horse show and
INDEX
BUSINESS ......... A13 COMICS ............. A12 CROSSWORD....B11
dairy judging in the morning, and the sheep, goat, rabbit, and poultry judging later on. Not to be confused with the Whiteside County Fair, the 4-H fair is always held as a separate event, McCoy explained, because of the deadline for 4-H’ers to compete at the state fair. “The Whiteside County Fair happens after the state fair, so in order for our kids to be able to participate at the state fair, we have our fair separately,” she said. 4-H CONTINUED ON A4
DEAR ABBY ......... A8 LOTTERY ............. A2 OBITUARIES ........ A4
Earleen Hinton/ehinton@shawmedia.com
Janice Garren of Dixon guides her dogs, Reina and Blaze, through the obstacle course during a demonstration Wednesday at the Oregon Park District’s Wiggly Wag & Walk. The canine event was held at the district’s Wiggly Field Dog Park and featured vendors, prizes and a 2-mile walk from the park through Oregon Park West and back.
OPINION .............. A6 PLAN!T ................. A9 SPORTS ...............B1
Today’s weather High 76. Low 55. More on A3.
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B6.
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