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Girls are off BOTH SIDES WIN IN like a rocket THE BARBECUE GAME
CROSS COUNTRY, B1
FOOD, A9-10
dailyGAZETTE Wednesday, August 26, 2015
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
STERLING
Work on Westwood project nearing completion Another project will begin soon BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
STERLING – One project at Westwood Fitness and Sports
Center should wrap up before the end of the year, and a more ambitious undertaking to resurrect a long-dormant building will begin soon. Though the $335,000 elevator project on Building 3 has inconvenienced the public – sending people to a side door while a vestibule was built near the front entrance – the
elevator that will reach the building’s mezzanine will be finished this year. “We’ve had the plans approved, and the permitting is in order,” Park District Director Larry Schuldt said, adding that the district is just waiting on “some things we had to order.” Building 3, built in 2002, has
eight courts used primarily for basketball and volleyball. The building is also used for track meets, soccer, flag football, and special events such as expositions, meetings, and trade shows.
Building 2 The much larger $1.1 million renovation project at West-
On the road to success
The new battle in the war on heroin: The state budget
Riders have LOTS to be thankful for as local Greyhound routes are off to a good start BY BRENDEN WEST bwest@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5529 @BWest_SVM
GREYHOUND CONTINUED ON A2
WESTWOOD CONTINUED ON A4
ILLINOIS BUDGET BATTLE | SAUK VALLEY IMPACT
DIXON
DIXON – Local transportation officials are making a lot of connections with their new bus route. The new Interstate 88 Greyhound Bus route is nearing its third full month of usage, and already they’re surprised and excited at how many people are catching a ride. Launched in June, service features four daily routes from Davenport to Chicago, with Dixon being one of five stops along the way. The Dixon-based LeeOgle Transportation System obtained federal funding to launch the program, which was years in the making, LOTS executive director Jaime Blatti said. So far, the number of passengers using the Greyhound route is promising, she said. “We were all pleasantly surprised and excited with the preliminary ridership reports,” Blatti said. “It shows there is a great need for this service.”
wood’s Building 2 will be done in phases. In 1991, the park district acquired the building that dates back to the late 1970s. Its four courts were used mainly for tennis, but as interest in the sport declined, youth programs moved into the space.
Officials say Rauner veto could cripple efforts to fight addiction BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5521 @SeaWarren
DIXON – The decision by Gov. Bruce Rauner to cut a key provision from a bill intended to help opiate addicts could be “crippling” to efforts of local law enforcement agencies, officials say. In Rauner’s amendatory veto Monday of the bipartisan bill, he eliminated a requirement that Medicaid cover heroin addiction treatment, as well as antioverdose and addiction-treatment medications. It’s a move that, unless three-fifths of the House and the Senate vote to override it, would be immensely damaging to a new program spearheaded by PRISM of Lee County. The program allows opiate addicts to – without fear of legal action – show up at the Dixon Police Department, turn over their paraphernalia and drugs, and ask for help. The departments then will work together to place them in one of 10 beds available each month at treatment facilities throughout the state and in Florida. HEROIN CONTINUED ON A5
EDUCATION
Photos by Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com
ABOVE: Jaime Blatti, executive director of the Lee-Ogle Transportation System, stands inside a Greyhound Connect bus Tuesday that was parked in front of the Reagan Transit Center in Dixon. BELOW: A Greyhound Connect bus leaves the Reagan Transit Center on Tuesday afternoon.
Enrollment at Sauk declines College working on ways to reverse downward trend BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5525 @JPigee84
DIXON – Enrollment is on the decline at Sauk Valley Community College, and it’s costing the college money. Sauk reported 1,895 students are enrolled this semester, 313 fewer than last fall, when 2,208 students were enrolled at the 2-year college – and fewer students hitting the books means less money on the college’s books. The college is losing about $350,000, or 7.4 percent of tuition revenue, compared to Dave this time last year. Hellmich “The funding from the college comes from local tax support, from the state – in theory – and tuition,” said Dave Hellmich, president at Sauk. “I’m concerned with how much money we have brought into the college in terms of tuition this year compared to last fall.” SAUK CONTINUED ON A5
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TODAY’S EDITION: 28 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 161 ISSUE 184
INDEX
ABBY ................... A8 BUSINESS ......... A12 COMICS ...............B4
CROSSWORD....B13 FOOD ..............A9-10 LIFESTYLE ........... A8
LOTTERY ............. A2 OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6
Today’s weather High 75. Low 50. More on A3.
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B8.
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