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LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT, A11-15
dailyGAZETTE Thursday, October 30, 2014
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
DIXON SCHOOLS | STUDENT SECURITY
3rd threat found in bathroom Two students in custody for first two incidents BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5521
DIXON – As plain-clothes police officers were milling the halls of Madison Elementary School on Wednesday, the third threat in a matter of 2 weeks was found
written on the wall of a girls bathroom at a Dixon school. This comes on the same day that police discovered the writers of the threat made Tuesday at Madison, and also of the original Oct. 20 threat at Reagan Middle School that Dixon Police Chief Danny
Langloss said likely inspired the two copycats who have followed it. The newest threat was found at Reagan by a staff member around 11:15 a.m., he said. THREAT CONTINUED ON A7
STUDENTS SPREADING PLAYOFF FEVER IN DIXON
‘‘ ’’ I am completely confident that the students and staff are safe, and that there’s no reason for concern.
Police Chief Danny Langloss
ELECTION 2014 | STERLING 1ST WARD ALDERMAN RACE
Vasquez to oppose incumbent Says her generation needs to step it up BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570
Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
ABOVE: Dixon High School dance squad member Mekayla Anderson decorates the window of Dixon Paint Company on Wednesday afternoon in anticipation of the Dukes’ playoff football game Saturday against Richmond-Burton. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. at A.C. Bowers Field. RIGHT: Tionna Freeman, a junior dance squad member, decorates a downtown window with Duke pride. Read all about the first-round matchups for the Dukes, Newman Comets and Sterling Golden Warriors on B1.
MORRISON | SALES TAX REFERENDUM
Voters face two proposals Tuesday City seeks funds for road repairs; residents also must decide on schools BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570
More on A4
MORRISON – The city’s voters will have a lot to think about before they go to the polls Tuesday. The city and Whiteside County schools will have 1 percent sales tax referendums on the ballot. This comes on the heels of a substantial water and sewer rate increase approved by the council Monday to pay for a new waste-
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See sales tax rates throughout area. water treatment plant, at an estimated cost of $23 million. City water and sewer bills, which also include garbage, will increase from $97.25 to $107.75 for the average residential user, based on consumption of 5,000 gallons a month. The city said it would use the esti-
INDEX
ABBY ................. A10 BUSINESS ........... A7 COMICS .............B10
mated $250,000 a year that the full 1 percent tax increase would bring for roads projects. State law requires that the sales tax increase be used only for infrastructure projects. Mayor Everett Pannier said a study by an engineering group and the city’s public works department concluded that the city should be budgeting $400,000 a year for road work, and that isn’t happening.
CROSSWORD....B16 LIFESTYLE ......... A10 LOTTERY ............. A2
PROPOSALS CONTINUED ON A4
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A8 POLICE ................ A2
STERLING – Diana Vasquez believes there is a generation gap in her hometown, and the younger residents need to pick up the pace. That’s why the 30-year-old mother of two has decided to challenge alderwoman Retha Elston in Sterling’s 1st Ward in the April election. “Not many people in my age bracket run for Diana anything around Vasquez here,” Vasquez said. “It’s important for me to get involved in the community at this point in life.” The Newman Central Catholic High grad is having a homeRetha coming of sorts. Elston She moved back to Sterling in the past year, after spending some time in Austin, Texas. “I’ve lived here pretty much my whole life, and I was just drawn back home,” she said. “The city has taken some hits with the mill closing and lost jobs, but I think we’re making progress, and I want to see people get involved and get excited about Sterling again.” VASQUEZ CONTINUED ON A4
More Election 2014 coverage • Candidates Bustos, Schilling differ on issues next Congress will face, A5 • Sen. Mike Smiddy leaning on accomplishments; challenger Wozniak getting name out, A7 • Visit saukvalley.com to read archived stories on local races, and saukvalley.com/electioncentral to read candidates’ to questionnaires.
Today’s weather High 53. Low 31. More on A3.
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B11.
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