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FIRST-ROUND MATCH-UPS SET
Score a victory for awareness STERLING, A10
PREP FOOTBALL, B1
dailyGAZETTE Monday, October 26, 2015
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
SCARY FUN IN SAUK VALLEY
TAMPICO
THE HOME OF
‘SAMMY THE BRAVE’ Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
A clown lurks in the darkness Saturday evening at Chaplin Creek Historic Site for the third annual Haunted Zombie Hayride. See more photos from the event on A3, and find out when trick-or-treating is in your neck of the woods on A9.
ILLINOIS | BUDGET BATTLE
What can we expect from their meeting? Photos by Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
Becky Hodgett kisses her son, Sam, while he lies in the top bunk of his new Coachmen Freedom Express camper on Sunday afternoon at the family’s Tampico home. Sam was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in December, and chemotherapy caused blood clots around Easter, causing his heart to stop. He was on life support for more than 6 weeks, and has since relearned how to walk and talk. His top wish through Illinois’ Make-a-Wish Foundation chapter was an RV, and with the help of family, friends and complete strangers, he got his wish Sunday.
After cheating death, 6-year-old granted his top wish: a camper BY BRENDEN WEST bwest@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5529 @BWest_SVM
TAMPICO – A procession of fire trucks and police cars led a large, shiny new toy up the driveway. A 6-year-old on his father’s shoulders shuddered with excitement. The boy’s name is Sam Hodgett, but he’s been dubbed “Sammy the Brave.” And that’s what the decal reads on the 25-foot camper that rolled up his family’s driveway Sunday in rural Tampico. “I want to open it,” the boy said. “I want to open it right now.” A few months ago, the Hodgetts didn’t know if Sam would walk or talk again.
Technically, Sam already cheated death twice when his heart stopped in April. In December, he was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia – cancer of the white blood cells. Treatment in children has an 80 percent cure rate. But chemotherapy caused blood clots that nearly killed the boy around Easter this year. He was on life support for more than 6 weeks. Sunday was a different story. Sammy the Brave was surrounded by friends and family. There were no signs that anything was going to slow him down. Mike Hodgett fought back tears as he watched his son play.
Among the things happening in the Sauk Valley this week:
Pam Eggemeier, Sterling/Rock Falls:
Tax levy time: The city’s finance committee will begin discussions about the next tax levy increase, warning that it is likely to exceed the 5 percent level that would require a Truth in Taxation hearing. The Rock Falls finance committee next meets at 5 p.m. Tuesday, at City Hall, 603 W. 10th St.
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SAMMY CONTINUED ON A2
BY JOHN O’CONNOR AP Political Writer
Mike Hodgett and his son, Sam, smile as a police- and fire truck-led caravan pulls into the family’s driveway. “He’s just in awe of everything,” Mike said. “It’s been a rough road through all of this. Now he’s running around and happy.”
Looking Forward Brenden West, Dixon: Get to know GenNex: We’ll take closer look into project GenNex – the action group that is looking to repurpose Veterans Memorial Pool as a skate park. Steve Wilson, the youth
INDEX
Five leaders to meet in same room for first time since May
ABBY ................... A7 COMICS ............... A8 CROSSWORD....B10
group’s co-founder, will present an update to the Dixon Park Board at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Jermaine Pigee, education: The Sauk Valley Community College Board of Trustees will get an update on the college’s strategic plan, which includes the college’s mission, vision, values and goals. The trustees will meet at 6 p.m. today in the thirdfloor board room, 173 state Route 2, Dixon.
LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2 NATION/WORLD .. A5
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 POLICE ................ A2
SPRINGFIELD (AP) – In the break room, at the barbershop, on the street, it’s heard over and over, like the refrain from a hit song: “Why don’t they sit down and talk?” Taxpayers have implored Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrats who control the General Assembly to negotiate since the fiscal year started July 1 without a state spending plan in place. Last week, seven goodgovernment groups wrote a letter in the pleading tone typical of advocates seeking an answer. “While leadership may not align on some core principles, we believe it is necessary for you to meet together, work through these issues, and agree Bruce Rauner on a budget,” the letter read. “Now is the time to act, before the consequences become even more dire.” But this one serendipitously hit the right desk at the right time. According to one of the letter’s authors, House Speaker Michael Madigan, a Chicago Democrat, responded positively and added a twist: Make the meeting public. It snowballed from there. Late Friday, the Republican Rauner took the reins and invited the leaders to meet with him in Chicago or Springfield on Nov. 18. MEETING CONTINUED ON A4
G olden Echo SPECIAL SECTION, INSIDE Today’s weather High 64. Low 46. More on A3.
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B6.
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