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Special look at state fairs
CATCH UP WITH MORRISON GREAT JOSH VOS
AMERICAN PROFILE, INSIDE
COLLEGE FOOTBALL, B1
dailyGAZETTE Friday, July 18, 2014
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
DIXON | STREETSCAPE PROJECT
What a ‘beautiful mess’ Less access means less foot traffic for some businesses BY MATT MENCARINI mmencarini@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5529
DIXON – For more than 2 months, roads downtown have been blocked off, and construction equipment and holes have filled the streets. But many businesses have remained
open as the downtown streetscape project entered its ninth week this week, the first that saw a section of road reopen. Some business owners have seen a drop-off in customers and others, with more years under their belt and more regular customers, have been able to maintain business, despite the limited access from the main roads. At least one business, J&J Household Furnishings, 223 W. First St., has closed during the work. A sign in the front door window on Thursday read,
“Closed due to construction. Will reopen when done.” Venier’s Jewelry Store, 117 W. First St., owned Mike Venier, was among the first businesses to see some of their street reopened to traffic, when the south side of First Street, between Hennepin and Galena avenues, was finished last week. “It’s gone pretty smoothly,” Venier said. “I can’t say that we were adversely affected at all. We were maybe 4 hours without a sidewalk [at one point].” MESS CONTINUED ON A5
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Some businesses in downtown Dixon, such as J&J Household Furnishings, 223 W. First St., have temporarily closed, rather than deal with construction during the streetscape project.
DIXON | CRUNDWELL AFTERMATH
WHITESIDE COUNTY 4-H FAIR
Fair skies, ladies in Morrison
Audit bill signed into law Demmer-sponsored legislation calls for more transparency BY KATHLEEN A. SCHULTZ kschultz@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5535
Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
ABOVE: Trail horsemanship competitors wait their turn outside the arena Thursday afternoon at the Whiteside County 4-H Fair at the fairgrounds, 201 W. Winfield St., Morrison. In trail riding, the participant must navigate several obstacles on the horse. RIGHT: Allie Wiersema, 17, of the Cottonwood 4-H Club, pilots Story through horsemanship event’s obstacle course.
COMING SATURDAY See pictures from the Tampico Days mud volleyball tournament in the SV Weekend edition. Check out new photos every day at saukvalley.com
SPRINGFIELD – You could call it Rita’s Law. A bill requiring Illinois cities and counties to get annual audit presentations was signed into law Thursday. The bill was sponsored by state Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon. House Bill 5503 unanimously passed both chambers of the state Legislature on State Rep. Tom Demmer May 22. The bill, Demmer has said, was inspired by former Dixon Comptroller Rita Crundwell’s theft of nearly $54 million over 2 decades. BILL CONTINUED ON A4
TOP5 Your Weekend
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Wine Friday in Dixon
DIXON – In the mood for some vino? The Amos Fund Wine Tasting will be from 6 to 9 p.m. today at Distinctive Gardens, 2020 Lowell Park Road. Wine, martinis, beer and soda will be sold. You will have music, artwork and photography to enjoy, along with a silent auction. The $20 tickets are available at eventbrite.com under Amos Fund Wine Tasting. The Amos Fund raises money for veterinary expenses of sick animals whose owners can’t afford to pay bills in full.
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TODAY’S EDITION: 28 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 160 ISSUE 157
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4-H Fair in Morrison
MORRISON – Cattle and kitties and pigs, oh my! The Whiteside County 4-H Fair, featuring all kinds of animals and exhibits, continues today and Saturday at the Whiteside County Fairgrounds in Morrison. The beef and cat shows are this morning; a taco cookoff begins at 5 p.m. On Saturday, the swine and dog shows start in the morning, then the 4-H Olympics from 2 to 4 p.m., a craft and vendor show from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., a pork chop barbecue from 4:30 to 7 p.m., and music by Route 88 from 8 to 10 p.m. Admission is free; go to web. extension.illinois.edu for a complete schedule.
INDEX
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Where else but Who Else?!
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NELSON – Who Else Entertainment will have its 43rd annual hog roast Saturday along the railroad tracks in Nelson at 126 Anderson Lane. Gates will open at 2 p.m., with music from Terry Cox, Dirt Road Rockers, Trippin Molly and headliner Black Stone Cherry. Enjoy a ride-in bike show, a burnout contest, beer and food vendors, and free camping. This is a 21-andolder event. Tickets cost $25 at the gate.
BUSINESS ......... A13 CHURCH............ A12 COMICS ............. A11
CROSSWORD....B12 DEAR ABBY ......... A9 LIFESTYLE ........... A7
Go Barefoot in the Park
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DIXON – Dixon Stage Left presents “Barefoot in the Park” by Neil Simon, with shows at 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Shows will resume July 23-27. Dixon Stage Left is at 306 W. First St. Tickets cost $20 at The Crystal Cork, The Next Picture Show, Trein’s Jewelry, and Orom Restaurant. A $60 Orom dinner package includes four courses, wine, theater beverage, and a show ticket. Go to dixonstageleft. com for more information.
LOTTERY ............. A2 OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6
Fifth and final Oregon Trail Days
OREGON – Oregon Trail Days Festival will be Saturday and Sunday at Lowden State Park. The festival was started to raise funds to pay for repairs to the Black Hawk statue. With a majority of those funds raised, the festival will have its fifth and final run this year. A number of activities will celebrate Native American and Western history, and kids will have plenty of fun things, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Go to oregontraildays. org for a full schedule.
Today’s weather High 79. Low 57. More on A3.
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B6.
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