W eekend SV
Saukvalley.com
Your source for news and sports 7 days a week
Serving Lee, Whiteside, Carroll, Ogle and Bureau counties Saturday&Sunday, November 30-December 1, 2013 $2.00
Rock Falls wrestling preview
LEE UNITED WAY HITS 80 PERCENT OF GOAL LOCAL, A2
SPORTS, SECTION B
HEALTH INSURANCE | AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
Locals see policies canceled Comparable plans could cost more
Deadlines, penalties Open enrollment in Obamacare’s health insurance marketplace started Oct. 1. Consumers have until Dec. 23 to sign up for insurance that goes into effect Jan. 1, which is when Americans are required to have health coverage. But the uninsured are allowed to go without insurance for 3 months in a row without a penalty. Open enrollment for health insurance ends March 31. Americans have until that day to enroll to avoid a penalty. The basic penalty in 2014 for having no insurance is $95, but that is for those who are unmarried, have no dependents and have income less than $19,500. Those with higher incomes pay more.
BY DAVID GIULIANI dgiuliani@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 525
President Barack Obama had said repeatedly that people could keep their insurance policies under the Affordable Care Act. Leonard Sheaffer, who farms near Dixon, found that wasn’t true. He is among millions of Americans whose insurance
companies have canceled their policies over the past couple of months. Sheaffer, 62, and his wife, Anne, 63, received a notice of cancellation about a month ago. They had been paying a premium of $600 a month, with an
individual deductible of $5,000. If they get a new policy with Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com their insurance company, their premium will increase to Leonard Sheaffer and wife, Anne, have lost their health insur$1,100, with a $6,000 individual ance because of the Affordable Care Act. Leonard’s exasperation has led him to question whether to have health insurance at deductible. all. “I can’t see spending $13,000 a year on insurance,” he said. CANCELED CONTINUED ON A5 “I’m healthy.”
PREP FOOTBALL | CLASS 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 5 iced early Newman puts fifth trophy in case, sets 2A rushing record
BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 521
When the storm hit, Char Homerin knew something was wrong. Nov. 17 was a Sunday, which meant Tazewell County Animal Control was closed. Homerin was the warden on call that day. “The thunder was just continuous,” she said. “And then I was like, ‘That’s not thunder.’” She knew pretty much immediately that she would be getting a phone call. And between 1 and 1:30 p.m., that call came. Homerin drove to Washington, where she waited to be told what to do. “I was there if somebody need me,” she said. After natural disasters, animal control workers work tirelessly to reunite pets with their owners. In the 2 weeks since 24 tornadoes ripped through Illinois, the seven staff members of Tazewell County Animal Control have had their work cut out for them. “It’s just overwhelming for all of us,” Homerin said. Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Newman coach Mike Papoccia gets an ice water bath after his Comets defeated Staunton 40-13 on Friday in DeKalb for the program’s fifth state title.
More on the historic victory in a special four-page wrap around the sports section. s 'AME STORY s "Y THE .UMBERS s 36- S $AN 7OESSNER PUTS A HUMBLING BEGINNING IN PERSPECTIVE
Mostly sunny
VOLUME 6 ISSUE 14 44 Pages
Today: 42/25 For the forecast, see Page A11
A happy tale amid the rubble Local groups help animals affected by Illinois tornadoes
BY DAN WOESSNER dwoessner@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 555
DeKALB – Sean Abernathy will likely cringe every time he sees highlights from Friday’s 2A state championship game at Huskie Stadium. The senior linebacker from Staunton will be featured in many clips – just not for reasons he would like. Abernathy tried squared up to tackle Newman senior Dillan Heffelfinger late in the second quarter. He didn’t make it. Instead, the 5-foot10, 185-pound running back bulldozed over Abernathy on his way to a 27-yard touchdown. It was the Comets’ fifth touchdown on their fifth drive of the game en route to a 40-13 win. “This means everything in the world to us,” Heffelfinger said. “We had to come together this season as a team in order to get here. We worked so hard and are so proud to do this for Newman.” It is the Comets’ fifth state championship in football, joining the 1990 (1A), 1994 (1A), 2004 (2A) and 2010 (2A) teams. It is the ninth team state championship in school history. Newman did it in dominating fashion. amassing a 2A title game record of 425 rushing yards. The previous record of 384 was set by Seneca in 1990. “That was the most physical team that we have ever played,” Staunton quarterback and safety Jake Bruhn said. “On every play, you had to be ready to get hit hard.”
TORNADO RELIEF
Christmas time
A look back at Hometown Holidays in Rock Falls. Community, see Page C12
Barrymore’s new role Motherhood changes Drew’s life for the better Also inside USA Weekend: Holiday age-appropriate gift ideas Snacks for the season Exercise tips
HELP CONTINUED ON A5
How to help To donate supplies, call Tazwell County Animal Control, 309-925-3370.
Index Births................ C5 Markets .......... A10 Business........... C1 Nation ............ A11 Classified .......... D1 Obituaries ......... A4 Comics ............. A8 Opinion............. A6 Community ..... C12 Scoreboard ...... B8 Scrapbook ....... C3 Crossword Saturday ........... D7 Sports .............. B1 Support groups . C5 Crossword Sunday ............. C8 Travel .............. C10 Dear Abby ........ C6 Weather.......... A11 Lottery .............. A2 Wheels ............. D8