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Holiday bustle arrives EASTLAND-PEARL CITY EARNS SHOT AT TITLE PREP FOOTBALL, B1
SPECIAL SECTION INSIDE
dailyGAZETTE
Monday, November 24, 2014
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
STERLING
Pensions hit property tax rates Fire, police contributions biggest tax levy driver BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570
STERLING – Pensions continue to challenge municipalities as administrators present tax levy estimates to their councils. Because the levy is just an estimate at this point, no action has been taken at the council level. The estimated versions are done mainly to determine whether a levy extension increase will
exceed 5 percent. If it does, state law requires that a public hearing be held. City Manager Scott Shumard told the council that Sterling could expect a 4.25 percent increase in the 2014 levy over the previous year. The 2013 levy came in at 3,489,477, while the 2014 estimated levy is $3,637,306. If the estimate is approved, the owner of a $100,000 house would see an increase of $32.85 in their 2015 property taxes. It would be less with a senior
homestead exemption. The number also changes for rental property. The estimate presented is the 2014 levy. When approved, the levy is paid in 2015, and it is factored into the city’s 2015-16 fiscal year budget. Last year’s levy was approved at the projected 4.99 percent increase, barely escaping the need for the Truth in Taxation hearing.
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PENSIONS CONTINUED ON A4
TWIN CITIES | HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS PARADE
Getting together for the holidays
Once we weather the storm with this wave of baby boomers retiring, I think the situation will greatly improve.
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Sterling Mayor Skip Lee on rising pension costs
Year-over-year levy increase See the rate change in pensions on A4.
WEATHER
Rain to give way to snow First significant storm of season, gusting winds in forecast today BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5525
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Naturally, Santa’s sleigh is last but not least in Saturday’s first Twin Cities Hometown Holidays parade. The parade ended at Merrill Elementary School in Rock Falls, where a party was held for children. They got to meet Santa, Mrs. Claus and some of their reindeer. Of course, there were also cookies and refreshments.
About 65 floats featured in first joint venture BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5525
STERLING – It was cool and rainy Saturday afternoon for the Twin Cities Holiday Parade, and one float made people want to visit a tropical climate. Amy Clark, owner of The Spa ... ahhh, a day spa in Rock Falls, along with her staff, created a trailer with palm trees decorated with Christmas tree ornaments. The float also had a backdrop of blue ocean water, and it was topped with an orange and white saltwater fish, similar to the clown fish from the movie “Finding Nemo.” “We tried to create tropical décor with our float,” said Clark, 43. “These trees are usually in the spa, and when you walk in, its a warm and tropical theme.” The float was one of roughly 65 entries in the Twin Cities Holiday Parade, the first one on which Sterling and Rock Falls joined forces. TOGETHER CONTINUED ON A3
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TODAY’S EDITION: 24 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 160 ISSUE 247
INDEX
Morgan Waninger (left), 5, and Millie Estrada, 3, gather up candy thrown from a float Saturday during the Hometown Holidays Parade. It was the first holiday parade that took part in both Sterling and Rock Falls.
ABBY ................... A7 COMICS ............... A9 CROSSWORD....B12
LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2 NATION/WORLD A11
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 SPORTS ...............B1
STERLING – Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. That’s the hope of meteorologists, at least, as they’re predicting it to fall today in the Sauk Valley. In fact, if you’re reading this in the paper, the flurries could be flying, and the forecast calls for them to keep coming throughout the day. Tom Philip, meteorologist for the National Weather Service, said overnight rain would gradually change into snow sometime between 6 and 8 this morning. During that switch-over period, Philip said rain will become mixed with sleet before becoming all snow by mid-morning. Philip said about an inch of snow will be on the ground by noon, and by 6 p.m., an additional 2 to 2.5 inches of snow will fall. By the end of the day, Philip said between 2 and 3 inches of snow will be on the ground. To make things worse, wind gusts could reach 35 mph, which will create blowing, drifting snow and limited visibility. But wait. There’s more. “There will be little additional accumulation Monday night,” Philip said. Temperatures will fall to about 28 degrees by 3 p.m., and will dip into the teens by tonight. Today’s system will bring the season’s first significant accumulation. About an inch of snow fell in the area Nov. 15 Philip said a second, quickmoving storm will blow through the area Wednesday, and it could drop an additional inch of snow. He says the snow should stop by Wednesday evening, but added the roads could be slick for Thanksgiving travel. “We will keep an eye on that system to see how that pans out,” Philip said. Thanksgiving looks to be dry and cool, with a high of 21 and lows falling into the single digits.
Today’s weather High 39. Low 19. More on A3.
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