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A look back at area holiday festivities COMMUNITY, C12
CARROLL COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER STEPS DOWN MOUNT CARROLL, A3
WEEKEND ENTERPRISE | LOCAL SCHOOLS
PREP FOOTBALL
Photo illustration by Alex T. Paschal/ apaschal@saukvalley.com
Michael Krabbenhoeft/ mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com
Mixed report cards for area schools Scores a bit lower than state averages – but so is spending BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5525
STERLING – Schools in the Sauk Valley scored just below the state average on standardized tests, according to the 2013-14 Illinois Report Card. The Illinois Standard Achievement Test, taken by all elementary and junior high students in the state, was considered more challenging in 2014 because all questions were based on new Common Core standards, which accounted for just 20 percent of questions in 2013. The district result of the test is a composite reading and math score.
REPORT CARDS CONTINUED ON A8
BY BRIAN WEIDMAN bweidman@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5551
By The Numbers See how your school district fared in test scores compared to the state average. Page A8 How much money is your school district spending per student? Page A8
More Inside SVM education reporter Jermaine Pigee writes about incentives for students to do well in school in his column, The Main Scoop. Page A3
WEEKEND FEATURE | FUNDRAISING BY NONPROFITS
Giving Tuesday: A day for local charities How to give Be a part of the national movement and get details on how to give back by visiting givingtuesday.org. Check out Kreider Services at kreiderservices.org and click on the red and white Giving Tuesday branding at the top right of the website. Visit smile.amazon.com to donate to the Lee County Council on Aging by shopping the AmazonSmile program, or to find a local organization of your choice by name or ZIP code.
Partly cloudy
VOLUME 7 ISSUE 13 44 Pages
Today: 48/37 For the forecast, see Page A10
In the flurry to find the best flat-panel TV, next-generation gaming console, or that shiny new coffee maker, remember to squirrel away a few bucks for area charities and service organizations on Giving Tuesday, the day after Cyber Monday. The grassroots nationwide event, which began in 2012, is a response to the consumerism that grips us during the holiday shopping season, and a push back to commercialization by being a reminder to donate to those less fortunate. In the Sauk Valley, dozens of groups actively promote and encourage donations through online portals where a
Healthy cooking
Sterling chef follows her dream of creating healthy meals for clients. See Page C1
Wildcatz win first state title EPC rolls to 41-12 victory in Class 2A
In the Dixon and Sterling school districts, 55 percent of students met or exceeded state standards on the ISAT. The state average is 59 percent. At Rock Falls Elementary School, 46 percent of students met or exceeded standards, and at Rock Falls Junior High School, 44 percent of students were deemed proficient. Bob Sondgeroth, superintendent of the Whiteside Regional Office of Education, said local schools are at a disadvantage because they are compared to school districts in suburban Chicago, which spend more money per student. “The majority of students who can swing that state average are in the Chicago suburbs,” Sondgeroth said. “If local school districts can stay close to that state average, they are in good shape.”
BY ANGEL SIERRA asierra@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5695
Deven Heeren throws the ball during Eastland-Pearl City’s 41-12 victory against MaroaForsyth in the Class 2A championship game Friday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign.
credit card and a push of a button can add to the holiday cheer. The Lee County Council on Aging, for example, has linked up with AmazonSmile, a subsidiary of Amazon.com, in an effort to take advantage of those already buying online. There you’ll find the same prices, but the website shares a small portion of the proceeds with local groups. “We make most of our money in dribs and drabs,” Executive Director Geoff Vanderlin said. “We could always use more money.” The money LCCOA makes isn’t profit at all, and most of it goes toward keeping the lights on and paying the bills, he said. GIVING CONTINUED ON A4
Traditions of the stars Chris Rock, Rosario Dawson tell of childhood Christmases Also inside USA Weekend: Sticky garlic tamarind chicken Breaking up by text Jon Stewart
CHAMPAIGN – Eastland-Pearl City’s football team wrapped up an undefeated season with a 41-12 victory against MaroaForsyth in the Class 2A championship game Friday at Memorial Stadium. It is the first state football title for the Wildcatz in 16 playoff appearances as the EastlandPearl City co-op. And it is the 12th state football title won by a Sauk Valley team. The Wildcatz join the ranks of Amboy, Bureau Valley, Fulton, Morrison and Newman as area schools with a state football title. “I can’t even think of a word to describe it,” senior lineman Jared Gaughan said. “It’s just amazing – that’s the weakest word I can think of, but that’s all I can come up with right now. It’s just amazing.” After a scoreless first period, EPC (14-0) took control by scoring three consecutive touchdowns in the second quarter. Eric Schaney broke the ice with a 3-yard run early in the period. WILDCATZ CONTINUED ON A5
Inside SVM has more coverage of the 2A championship game win by the Eastland-Pearl City Wildcatz. B1, B6-B7
Index Births................ C5 Lottery .............. A2 Business........... C1 Markets .......... A10 Classified .......... D1 Obituaries ......... A4 Comics ............. B8 Opinion............. A6 Community ..... C12 Scoreboard ...... B5 Scrapbook ....... C3 Crossword Saturday ........... D5 Sports .............. B1 Support groups .. C5 Crossword Sunday ............. C8 Travel .............. C10 Dave Ramsey ... C1 Weather.......... A10 Dear Abby ........ C6 Wheels ............. D8