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Police looking into reports of vandalism
NEW COACH SET TO STEER THE STORM
STERLING, A3
PREP FOOTBALL, B1
dailyGAZETTE Monday, August 18, 2014
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
ROCK FALLS
Local history for the masses Businesswoman wants to preserve stories of old commercial buildings BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570
ROCK FALLS – The Rock Falls Project didn’t really start out as a project. When Connie Selmi’s daughter and son-in-law, Kurt and Katy SelmiDowns, recently bought adjoining storefronts at 223-225 First Ave., she was curious about the history of the buildings that are now Selmi’s Bridal and Katy’s Country Financial office. “People said, ‘Remember when Rigler’s Smoke Ring was at that building?” Selmi said. “The family
How to help To send photos and information, or just keep track of Connie Selmi’s progress, visit www. therockfallsproject.com and click on the photo sharing link. In addi-
tion to sending photos, there are options for sharing information and volunteering for the project. Photos also can be emailed to Selmi at therockfallsproject@gmail.com.
is still at the gun shop on First Avenue, and I realized how much history is in these business buildings.” She then decided to research all of the commercial buildings on First Avenue and transfer her research from several different print sources to one convenient digital site. But the plan kept evolving. “I started thinking that it wouldn’t be fair to just do First Avenue, so now I’m trying to do all of the businesses in Rock Falls,” Selmi said.
She has been taking pictures of local storefronts, shooting video, and gleaning information from business owners and employees. The digital results are taking shape at www. therockfallsproject.com. The site is replete with social media options, and all of her work is in Internet cloud storage. She said the Facebook page is basic, set up simply to tell people what she’s working on. HISTORY CONTINUED ON A3
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Connie Selmi works on what has become The Rock Falls Project – her effort to create a digital site with information and history about all commercial buildings and businesses in the city. She hopes to have the project, at therockfallsproject.com, completed in time for the city’s sesquicentennial celebration in 2017.
DIXON
MUSIC AND MORE AT GARDENSTOCK
Not a big fish today Cops, kids try their luck at Lowell Park BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570
Photos by Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
Mikayla Huisheere (right) and her friend Emily Rasmussen look over items being sold by Susi Daniel (left) of Bolingbrook as they browse the vendors section of Gardenstock Art and Music Festival on Saturday at Distinctive Gardens in Dixon. The daylong event featured musicians, artists, a tie-dye contest, a raflle, and a 50/50 drawing. The sixth annual event also included about 40 regional artists, painters, photographers, sculptors, ceramicists, jewelers, mixed media artists, and more.
DIXON – The Cops and Bobbers youth fishing derby yielded only four fish Saturday, but no one watching at the end of the event would have guessed. Dixon Police Officer Tony Quadraro, the event coordinator, reeled in the young fishermen so they could enjoy snacks and collect their prizes. “We didn’t catch as many fish as last year, but we got to go outside and have a great time together,” Quadraro said, positioned behind the prize table that had something for all ages. The eighth annual derby once again brought kids up to 15 years old, parents and police officers to Lowell Park for fun and positive messages in a relaxed environment. Cops and Bobbers is one of several programs run nationwide through the Cops and Kids Foundation. FISH CONTINUED ON A8
Gerry Joe Weise gets the crowd going Saturday evening during Gardenstock at Distinctive Gardens in Dixon.
Busy weekend in Sauk Valley Check out photos of the kids tractor pull at the Whiteside County Fair on A2. Turn to A3 to see photos of the Proud to Wear Pink ride.
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TODAY’S EDITION: 20 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 160 ISSUE 178
INDEX
Percussionist Juma Sultan plays Saturday night with Gerry Joe Weise Band during the headliner performance at Gardenstock. Sultan, a special guest, played at Woodstock in 1969 with Jimi Hendrix’s band Gypsy Sun and Rainbows. Local musicians Jay Pauley (keyboards), Bill Encke (bass) and Joe Pasteris (drums) also joined Weise for the performance.
COMICS ............... A9 CROSSWORD......B9 DEAR ABBY ......... A7
LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2 NATION/WORLD A10
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 SPORTS ...............B1
Philip Marruffo/ pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
Brody Bodzioch, 6, looks on as Lexton Nordan gets his catfish measured during the Dixon Police Department’s eighth annual Cops and Bobbers on Saturday at Lowell Park.
Today’s weather High 83. Low 56. More on A3.
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B6.
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