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Tis the WARRIORS GRAB 4-POINT WIN season in GIRLS BASKETBALL, B1 Rock Falls
Turkey: Give pieces a chance
A11-12
FOOD A9-10
dailyGAZETTE Wednesday, November 18, 2015
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
ROCK FALLS | PENSION FALLOUT
Tax hike heads to city council Saddled with ‘unfair system,’ alderman faced with only one way to meet pension demands BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
ROCK FALLS – City officials issued a call to battle during a public hearing Tuesday for the city’s proposed 10.09 percent tax levy increase that will now move to the Rock Falls City Council for its approval. After many years of keeping its tax levy
increase below the 5 percent mark – which would require a Truth in Taxation hearing – Rock Falls is one of many cities opting for double-digit increases to meet new mandated standards for funding its police and fire pensions. That increase, if passed, would tack another $45.06 a year onto the tax bill of the owner of a $71,000 home – the median price in Rock Falls. The lone member of the public who attend-
ed Tuesday’s meeting wasn’t happy about a tax increase, and neither were aldermen. Several voiced their displeasure with being forced to play the hand dealt by the state. “Even though we’ve been doing our job keeping the pensions adequately funded, these rules equalize the process for the people who weren’t,” Finance Committee Chairman Glen Kuhlemier said.
Inside City buys more prime land; deal worth nearly $2 million buys 67 acres near interstate exchange: A5 Chicago workers face off with city over pension cuts. A4
TAX HIKE CONTINUED ON A5
LEE COUNTY
STERLING
Assistant in charge for now Sacco-Miller taking leave of absence BRENDEN WEST bwest@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5529 @BWest_SVM
Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Emery Henert, 4, looks in awe Tuesday at one of the trees on display at Hospice of the Rock River Valley’s Festival of Trees at Northland Mall in Sterling. Emery was checking the trees out with her grandparents.
There’s a festive spirit at the mall Sandi Ivey designed and built this mannequin Christmas tree, decked out in a dress adorned with peacock-feathers and named Proud Merry, for the Hospice of the Rock River Valley’s Festival of Trees. The trees will be auctioned off as a fundraiser for Hospice. The festival, an annual tradition for 26 years, got underway last week at the mall, 2900 E. Lincolnway. It’s open from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. through Saturday, and noon-4 p.m. on Sunday, when it wraps up. Today, the Sauk Valley College Choir will sing at 5 p.m., and at 6:30 there will be Irish clog dancing with Celtic Rhythm. Go to hospicerockriver.org for more information on Hospice of the Rock River Valley.
WHITESIDE COUNTY
Landfill change helps residents, pays off for county BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5525 @JPigee84
MORRISON – People who need to scrap certain kinds of auto parts, or other kinds of special waste, don’t have to leave the county to do so. It’s good news not just for local residents, but for the county’s
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bottom line, too. The county landfill recently started collecting special waste. Previously, the county operated the only landfill in the state that did not allow special waste dumping. That changed in September, when the county began accepting the waste. In the past, anyone wanting to dump special
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ABBY ................... A8 BUSINESS ........... A7 COMICS ...............B6
waste had to take it to other places, such as Rock Island, where they had to pay out-of-territory fees. Landfill manager Mike Wiersema said there are several categories of special waste, and that only some types are hazardous.
CROSSWORD......B8 FOOD ..............A9-10 LIFESTYLE ........... A8
LANDFILL CONTINUED ON A5
LOTTERY ............. A2 OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6
DIXON – Embattled Lee County State’s Attorney Anna Sacco-Miller is taking a leave of absence in the wake of her misdemeanor DUI arrest, Lee County Board Chairman Rick Ketchum said this morning. Whether she intends to resign won’t be made public until a news conference she has called for 9 a.m. today at the courthouse. For now, Assistant State’s Attorney Matt Klahn is hanAnna dling her Sacco-Miller duties. “He’s going to be in charge of the office while she’s out,” Ketchum said. “Obviously, she’s going to get some help. She wasn’t specific. She just said she needed time to sort things out.” Sacco-Miller met with the board in executive session, but did not speak publicly after the meeting. Ketchum declined to reveal what else was said in closed session, except that she apologized to the board and said “she’s going to take responsibility” for her actions, which is what she said in a statement released Monday. Sacco-Miller, 48, of Dixon, was arrested after hitting a parked car at 7:02 a.m. Sunday in the 500 block of East Fellows Street, police said. No one was injured. She is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, DUI with a blood-alcohol content greater than .08, and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. She was taken to Lee County Jail, posted $100 bond and her driver’s license. Her first court appearance is Dec. 16 in Lee County Court. SACCO-MILLER CONTINUED ON A5
Today’s weather High 59. Low 37. More on A3.
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