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Profiles of both governor hopefuls
POSTSEASON TUNE-UP AT HOOVER PARK
ELECTION 2014, A5
CROSS COUNTRY, B1
dailyGAZETTE Monday, October 13, 2014
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
STERLING THEATER FINE FOCUS ON FALL AT 4-H FESTIVAL
O’Brien resigns as GM His replacement already on the job BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570
Photos Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com
Abbee Ward, 4, of Dixon uses a marker to decorate her pumpkin during the 4-H Fall Fest on Saturday in the west mall of Sauk Valley Community College. The event featured a variety of fall-themed games, activities and crafts for kids.
STERLING – Tim O’Brien has resigned as general manager of the Sterling Theater, and his successor is already on the job. Mayor Skip Lee said O’Brien informed city officials on Thursday that he was leaving the theater to pursue an opportunity to expand his O’Brien News Service business. “He has an opportunity to open his news service in Hollywood,” Lee said. “He’s always enjoyed that scene, so he’s opening a branch there.” O’Brien has been an entertainment writer for more than 30 years, and had lived in Hollywood for 7 years. He said the expansion of his business has been about 10 years in the making. “The timing dictated that I had to make a decision,” O’Brien said. “I decided I couldn’t commit to the area for another 5 to 10 years.” Sterling Theater employee Rob Hutcherson will step out from behind the machines and replace O’Brien as general manager. Hutcherson worked part time as a projectionist since July, coming in to download the films and get them ready for showings. Lee said Hutcherson has worked in the cinema business for 30 years. THEATER CONTINUED ON A4
ABOVE: Sophia Brewer, 3, of Dixon feeds a miniature horse at the petting zoo Saturday during the 4-H Fall Fest.
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOXES
RIGHT: Daniel Bentz, 9, of Dixon throws a bean bag toward a jack-o-lantern-shaped target at one of the event’s many kidfriendly games.
ROCK FALLS | HENNEPIN CANAL PROJECTS
Volunteers cross tasks off their list Committee working on trail and prairie projects BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570
ROCK FALLS – While the city and state continue to negotiate an annexation agreement for the Hennepin Feeder Canal, volunteers are doing their part to clean up the area. Years of severe budget cuts have made it difficult for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to maintain the canal, fueling the city’s desire
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TODAY’S EDITION: 24 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 160 ISSUE 217
See the list A rundown of the canal projects completed in 2014 is on A10. to annex the 2.2 miles of waterway outside the city limits that feeds into the main canal. An important part of any lease agreement would be using volunteers in order to save money on basic cleanup costs. Some of the more complex maintenance duties, as designated in the agreement, would remain with IDNR. Brian Tribley, pastor of Firehouse of God Ministries, and a member of the
INDEX
COMICS ...............B6 CROSSWORD....B12 DEAR ABBY ......... A7
city’s Hennepin Canal/Trails Committee, has been working on several canal projects with volunteer groups he has organized. Weather has the work winding down, but not before the volunteers crossed several projects off the committee’s to-do list. Tribley gave committee members a list of completed tasks in the canal area on Thursday. The list includes everything from pressure-washing buildings, locks and cement, to staining and painting barns, bridge railings, picnic tables and benches.
LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2 NATION/WORLD .. A8
CANAL CONTINUED ON A10
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 SPORTS ...............B1
Michael Krabbenhoeft/ mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com
Jacob Buck, 7, of Rock Falls lets the pins have it while playing the ball toss game at the cardboard arcade during the Cardboard Challenge Global Day of Play on Saturday at the YWCA in Sterling. See some of the 85 arcade games created by students and the peace train built by the community on A3 and at saukvalley.com.
Today’s weather High 68. Low 57. More on A3.
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B7.
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