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GETTING READY FOR MAYHEM IN DIXON COMMUNITY, C12
WEEKEND ENTERPRISE | LOCAL SCHOOLS
Fewer students in most districts Sterling school district bucks this year’s trend BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5525
STERLING – While enrollment is down at most districts in the Sauk Valley this school year, Sterling Public Schools reports an increase in the number of students.
“I assume it’s because Inside of the larger size of our Enrollment school district, as well as the educational pro- numbers for grams we offer,” said local school Superintendent Tad districts, A3 Everett, who added, “We are proud of the things we do.” Sterling reported 3,302 students this year, 123 more than 2013-14. While student enrollment has grown, the number of staff members in the
school district is declining, primarily because of budget cuts. Last year, Sterling had 197 certified staff members; this year, there are 189. Everett said the cuts had forced staff members to do more with less. “They have not complained about it,” he said. “Our achievement scores have not dropped at all. Our teachers deserve a lot of credit.” The Dixon school district, like most in the area, has a slightly smaller student
population this year: 2,765, down 19. “That is not a huge decrease,” Superintendent Michael Juenger said. “That decrease is across all grade levels.” A decline in students means a drop in state funding. A district is supposed to receive $6,119 for each student. But the cash-strapped state government has been sending districts only 89 percent of that funding the past few years.
THE PEOPLE’S VOICE | BRYAN ANGELL, PROPHETSTOWN
STUDENTS CONTINUED ON A3
LOCAL ECONOMY
Still a future in making things Manufacturers, local educators reach out to parents BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570
Photos by Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com
Bryan Angell, 13, of Prophetstown, enjoys building bicycles from new and used parts. He’s finished two bikes in the past month and is working on four more. He has helped fix and build bikes for other kids in his neighborhood.
Ability to build is off the chains I
t’s easy to forget Bryan Angell is just 13 years old. Those BMX bikes could not have been built from scratch by someone who just became a teenager. And no one that age can possibly be polite, right? Wrong. Talk about a breath of fresh air, both literally and figuratively. During the summer, Bryan Angell might spend more time outside in a single day than the average 13-year-old does in a week. His mom, Jessica, and stepdad, Alex, have to cherish the time they see him. He’s usually out the door, shortly after the sun rises, and off to the river, not far beyond the family’s backyard. Days full of fishing and riding bikes are punctuated by popping home for meals. Full disclosure: I found myself chatting with Bryan and wondering, What the heck was wrong with me as a kid? Sure, I played ball, rode bikes, and got into just
christopher HEIMERMAN Heimerman is the Night News Editor at Sauk Valley Media. He can be reached at cheimerman@ saukvalley. com or 800-798-4085, ext. 5523.
enough trouble. But I also zapped more aliens and took more digital jumpshots than I care to admit. And these were 8- and 16-bit jumpshots. Today, it’s even easier for a youngster to get lost in the world of video games that have become lifelike to a fault. Not interested, says Bryan. “It’s just boring,” Bryan said. Jessica didn’t necessarily see the writing on the wall. Instead, it was on the Christmas list of then-3-year-old Bryan.
Mostly sunny
VOLUME 7 ISSUE 4 58 Pages
Today: 80/53 For the forecast, see Page A15
ABOVE: The first bike Bryan Angell built from scratch on his own. LEFT: The second bike Angell built flying solo. He enjoys building bicycles from new and used parts. He usually has multiple projects going at one time.
PEOPLE’S VOICE CONTINUED ON A8
No longer truckin’
G’s moves its burger business from a food truck to a Sterling bar and grill. See Page C1
Fleetwood’s back Legendary group returns to the road Also inside USA Weekend: Best of fall Spicy carrotstuffed chicken Beginner’s guide to running Kate Walsh
STERLING – Good jobs in manufacturing are available in the region, and the push is on to get the word out. Manufacturing Day events will take place nationwide in October, and the Sauk Valley will participate for the first time. As part of the observance, area manufacturers will host Parents Night, a public educational event at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Sterling High School Auditorium. Paddy Lange, plant manager at BorgWarner in Dixon, will be keynote speaker. The event will celebrate the region’s manufacturing heritage with a multimedia presentation, and Lange will focus on the future of the sector nationally and at home. The organizing committee for Manufacturing Day events includes representatives from Astec Mobile Screens, BorgWarner, Frantz Manufacturing, Raynor Garage Doors, Sterling Steel, UPM Raflatac, Wahl Clipper, Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center, Sauk Valley Community College, and Whiteside Area Career Center. FUTURE CONTINUED ON A4
INSIDE
Table talk Three Republican Party candidates in the November general election visited Rock Falls on Friday to talk business. PAGE A5
Index Births................ C5 Lottery .............. A2 Business........... C1 Markets .......... A14 Classified .......... D1 Obituaries ......... A4 Comics ............. B6 Opinion............. A6 Community ..... C12 Scoreboard ...... B5 Scrapbook ....... C3 Crossword Saturday ........... D8 Sports .............. B1 Support groups .. C5 Crossword Sunday ............. C8 Travel .............. C10 Dave Ramsey ... C1 Weather.......... A15 Dear Abby ........ C6 Wheels ........... D10