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Crundwell pensions part of restitution?
SVM ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
DIXON, A3
SPORTS, B3
dailyGAZETTE Tuesday, September 23, 2014
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
ELECTION 2015 | STERLING MAYOR
Lee to seek re-election Two city council members also pick up papers BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570
STERLING – Mayor Skip Lee has decided to seek a second term in April. Lee told Sauk Valley Media on Monday that he wants to continue work on what he considers unfinished business at City Hall. “There are things we started that I want to continue to be a part of,” Lee said. “I
still have dreams that I hope to implement to move Sterling forward.” A longtime science teacher, Lee retired after 38 years at Rock Falls High School. He was elected mayor in 2011. He handily beat state social services worker Marc Batley, taking 78 percent of the vote. Despite the mayoral race being on the ballot, only 8.5 percent of the city’s registered voters went to the polls.
Lee said a mayor needs to check his ego at the door and be a team builder, something he believes is one of his strong suits. “I think that’s one of the hallmarks of this administration,” Lee said. “I’m not about ego, and I’m eager to again be part of a very talented and hardworking team working for the betterment of Sterling.” LEE CONTINUED ON A4
Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
Sterling Mayor Skip Lee meets with members of the Rock River Open Forum on April 3 at the Sterling Public Library. Lee has decided to seek a second term in April.
NORTHLAND MALL DUNHAM’S SPORTS
WHITESIDE AREA CAREER CENTER | CONGRESSWOMAN VISITS
Bridge for ‘skills gap’?
Athletes can look forward to a treat Store summons workforce, eyes Halloween open BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570
STERLING – The third time appears to be the charm for Northland Mall’s newest retailer. After previously targeting two earlier opening dates, only to face delays, Dunham’s Sports is set to open its doors Oct. 31. Store Manager John Watts said things are looking good for the Halloween opening. “We had a few things to work out that delayed the opening a bit, but things are rolling now,” Watts said. The Sterling Dunham’s will inhabit 50,000 square feet at the mall. Most of that space became available when Hibbett Sporting Goods left the mall, closing its doors for the last time Feb. 13. Hibbett opened a store in the Walmart Supercenter plaza in Dixon in September. Watts said the Sterling Dunham’s will employ between and 40 and 50 full- and part-time workers. “We’re real close to being at full staff with our hiring,” Watts said.
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (right), D-East Moline, and Whiteside Area Career Center Director Kim Purvis speak about the many facets of education offered to the 17 school districts that use the center.
Bustos commends center, will tout it at economic summit BY MATT MENCARINI mmencarini@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5529
STERLING – U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos toured the Whiteside Area Career Center on Monday morning and emphasized its role for career preparation. Bustos, D-East Moline, said there’s a “skills gap problem” in the region and
state, and local programs like those at WACC can help prepare students to fill that gap. She also met with students from the center’s Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities class. Those students talked about the “soft skills” they learned in class, such as making eye contract, using firm handshakes and being punctual,
skills Bustos said students often lack after graduating high school. “That’s also, in a sense, a gap that’s out in the work world,” she said. “You have 600-plus students [here]. If they’re learning that by the time they get out of here, that’s impressive.” BRIDGE CONTINUED ON A2
RECREATION | PARK DISTRICTS
Smoking ban making way through area
DUNHAM’S CONTINUED ON A4
Two districts already enforcing restrictions that go beyond letter of law BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5521
ROCK FALLS – Slowly but surely, the Whiteside County Health Department, in conjunction with the American Lung Association, has been working to convert all of
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the Sauk Valley’s parks into smoke-free zones. So far, both the Oregon and Sterling park districts have instituted tight restrictions on where park users can smoke, said Marcia Widolff, director of public health. The next park districts on
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INDEX
her radar are Freeport and Dixon, she said. The Smoke-Free Illinois Act, passed in 2008, mandates that public places and places of employment must be completely smoke-free inside and within 15 feet of entrances, exits, windows,
ABBY ................... A7 BUSINESS ......... A11 COMICS ............... A9
CROSSWORD....B11 LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2
and ventilation intakes. The Oregon and Sterling park districts both took that a step further, implementing a ban on smoking within 50 feet of all park amenities such as playgrounds and fields. BAN CONTINUED ON A4
NATION/WORLD .. A8 OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6
About the company Northland Mall location will join a roster of more than 200 stores and employ between 40 and 50 full- and part-time workers. For more information, visit dunhamssports.com
Today’s weather High 73. Low 47. More on A3.
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B7.
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