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Sterling’s Harris ANOTHER EXTENSION SOUGHT Player of the Year FOR PROPOSED COMPLEX STERLING CITY COUNCIL, A5
SVM ALL-AREA AWARDS, B1
FUNDRAISING | UNITED WAY
Charities tied tight to economy Steel mill, recession affected donations BY DAVID GIULIANI dgiuliani@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 525
As the economy goes, so often go donations to charities. Before Northwestern Steel and Wire closed in 2001, United Way of Whiteside County was poised to reach its longtime goal of $900,000 in pledges during its annual campaign, according to the group. That never happened.
In the past 6 years, the group has collected from $766,150 to $824,857, according to its tax forms. The recent recession, though, appeared not to have had a big effect on donations. For United Way of Lee County, donations took a dive during the economic slump. In 2007, it collected $481,781. As the economy soured, pledges plunged each year after that until 2011 – to a low of $363,963.
Giving United Here’s how much the Lee and Whiteside County United Way chapters have collected in donations over the years: United Way chapter 2007 Lee County $481,781 Whiteside County $786,171 This time around, the Lee County campaign is 85 percent toward its $406,000 goal, hoping to reach that amount in time for its annual celebration in late January. Susan Hohlen, Lee County’s
2008 $434,439 $784,091
2009 $430,059 $782,046
2010 2011 $400,754 $363,963 $824,857 $766,150
executive director, is optimistic. “The past couple of years, we didn’t make the goal,” she said. “This year, we are on track to meet it.” Whiteside County’s United Way hopes to get $730,000 in
2012 $395,917 $767,095
this year’s campaign, which will end with a luncheon in March. It is at 92 percent. The advantage of United Way is that it specializes in fundraising. CHARITIES CONTINUED ON A2
EDUCATION | ECONOMY’S IMPACT
HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS IN THE SAUK VALLEY
Rate of low-income students increasing State average 50 percent; some area schools higher BY MATT MENCARINI mmencarini@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 529
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
ABOVE: KSB occupational therapist Melody Maney helps Emma (left), 5, Ellie, 5, and Danny Linboom, 8, hit the button Friday evening lighting up the Christmas tree to start the Dixon Christmas Walk. The Dixon Municipal Band will have its annual holiday concert at 7 p.m. today at the Historic Dixon Theatre, 114 S. Galena Ave. LEFT: Scouts from Cub Pack 305 walk in Sterling for the Seasonal Sights and Sounds holiday parade Friday evening. The celebration began officially with the lighting of the city Christmas tree at Grandon Civic Center.
Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
More photos from both events can be found on page A9.
In the past 5 years, the rate of low-income students in Illinois public schools has increased to 50 percent, up 7 percentage points. In the Sauk Valley, most schools and school districts have seen a greater increase. The Rock Falls High School district, in 2009, had 43 percent of its enrollment considered low-income. In 2013, that percentage rose to 56 percent. For Rock Falls Elementary school district, the percent increased to 77 percent, up 10 percentage points from 2009 to 2013. During those same years, the percentage of low-income students in the Sterling school district rose to 58 percent, from 45, with the lowest level of lowincome students being at the high school level. In Dixon, the rate of low-income students increased from 39 percent in 2009 to 49 percent in 2013, staying below the state average, but increasing at a quicker rate. According to the Illinois State Board of Education, students are considered low-income if they meet at least one of four criteria: from a family that receives Public Aid; eligible to receive free or reduced-price lunches; living in institutions for neglected or delinquent children; or being supported in foster homes with public funds. The vast majority of the students in the four school districts considered low-income qualify under one of the first two reasons, the superintendents said, and the criteria for both of those are similar. STUDENTS CONTINUED ON A4
Sunny
VOLUME 6 ISSUE 15 44 Pages
Today: 18/11 For the forecast, see Page A10
A taste for tractors
Yorktown man has a collection of 24 IH tractors. See Page C1
Lovable leading man Moviegoers can’t get enough of Paul Rudd Also inside USA Weekend: Enchanting cheese plates How not to overindulge Holiday films not to miss
Index Births................ C5 Markets .......... A11 Business........... C1 Nation ............ A10 Classified .......... D1 Obituaries ......... A4 Comics ............. B8 Opinion............. A6 Community ..... C12 Scoreboard .... B12 Scrapbook ....... C3 Crossword Saturday ........... D6 Sports .............. B1 Support groups .. C5 Crossword Sunday ............. C8 Travel .............. C10 Dear Abby ........ C6 Weather.......... A10 Lottery .............. A2 Wheels ............. D8