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City gets behind Main Street small business head resigns DIXON, A5
SVM ATHLETES OFSPORTS, THE WEEK B3
DIXON, A3
dailyGAZETTE Tuesday, September 22, 2015
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
STERLING | LAWRENCE PARK
Holes poked in pitch for tents ADA could make idea cost-prohibitive; board to gather more info BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
STERLING – The Sterling Park District board has agreed to gather preliminary numbers on the cost of bringing tent camping to Lawrence Park. Sterling resident Kurt Schwab pitched the idea to staff and the commissioners at Monday’s board meeting. Schwab said that, after speaking with many recreation enthusiasts, he thinks there is a need for more campsites in the area.
Next meeting The Sterling Park District Board of Commissioners next meets at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 19 at the Duis Recreation Center, 211 E. St. Mary’s Road. “Pearl Valley in Sterling fills up quick with trailers and RVs, and Crystal Lake doesn’t have tent camping,” Schwab said. He would eventually like to see space made for trailers and small RVs, but his initial plan for Lawrence Park was basic.
“You could start with primitive camping, and people could sign themselves in,” Schwab said. “A park district worker or a volunteer could pick up the $5 to $10 a day to make sure they pay.” Schwab said the campers could be a boon to the economies of Sterling and Rock Falls. “My kids and I just spent 2 weeks camping at Mount Rushmore, Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com and we probably spent $150 a day on camping essentials,” Schwab Because of the need to be Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant, Larry Schuldt, director of the Stersaid. ling Park District, said it could cost $30,000 to find out whether Lawrence Park could be used for tent camping. TENTS CONTINUED ON A9
NO DODGING HOMECOMING FEVER IN ROCK FALLS
STERLING PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Board to approve balanced budget Cut teacher positions could be restored BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5525 @JPigee84
Photos by Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
Clearly not afraid of inviting the opposition’s best shot, players dressed in bull’s-eye T-shirts race to grab balls Monday evening during the second annual Dodgeball Tournament at Rock Falls High School. Homecoming activities will continue throughout the week.
STERLING – For the third year in a row, the school board will vote Wednesday to approve a balanced budget. The proposed $38.1 million budget includes a balanced education fund of $28.6 million. The education fund, which is 75 percent of the budget, pays for teacher salaries, books and supplies. It has a projected
surplus of $16,785. “Six years ago, we had a projected $1.8 million deficit, so we started to balance the budget over Tad Everett a 3-year period,” Superintendent Tad Everett said. “We made cuts and we have maintained that budget for 3 straight years. In this economic time, that is not a small feat.” BUDGET CONTINUED ON A3
FRANKLIN GROVE
THE BIG GAME
Nachusa Grasslands plans to add bison
Winnebago at Rock Falls The Rockets will aim to break into the win column when they welcome Big Northern West rival Winnebago – also 0-2 in the conference – to Hinders Field. Kickoff is 7 p.m. Friday. Watch for a preview in Thursday’s sports section.
Changes noticed in plant, animal life, thanks to herd Madison Shetler catches a ball Monday as she and teammate Shyanee Thayer guard their team’s pin.
BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
FRANKLIN GROVE – The bison herd at Nachusa Grasslands is growing, and its habitat is expanding along with it.
The herd was brought to Nachusa last October from Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota. The first calf was born April 6, and what is likely the last of the season was born a few weeks ago. “We now have 45 in the herd – 14 were born in April and May, and one more was born 3 weeks ago,” said Bernie Buchholz, a volunteer from Oak Park. BISON CONTINUED ON A9
Players race to grab ammunition at the center line during a match. Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com
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TODAY’S EDITION: 20 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 161 ISSUE 202
INDEX
ABBY ................... A7 BUSINESS ........... A9 COMICS ............... A8
CROSSWORD....B10 LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2
NATION/WORLD .. A9 OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6
Today’s weather High 80. Low 57. More on A3.
Young Bison stay close to their elders in June at Nachusa Grasslands near Franklin Grove. Fourteen bison were born at the preserve in April and May, and another was born recently.
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B6.
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