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AN UP-AND-DOWN NIGHT FOR NEWMAN WRESTLING, B1
Polo grad’s game is a rising star POLO, A3
dailyGAZETTE Friday, December 11, 2015 Q SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
ROCK FALLS | RECREATION
Expert: Follow the money trail Group’s director says city is well-positioned to reap the economic benefits of walkways BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
ROCK FALLS – Just about any type of trails development can add to an area’s quality of life, but unlocking recreation’s economic value is much more complicated. Steve Buchtel, executive director of Trails For Illinois, was in Rock Falls Thursday to help get the town on the right
path. Buchtel’s organization, previously known as the Illinois Trails Conservancy, promotes trail use and has a vision of building an interconnected trails network in which every state resident is within 10 minutes of a trail. A big part of Buchtel’s job is conveying the economic impact component as a compelling reason for political and business decision makers to connect trails.
For more information
Visit trailsforillinois.org/ maketrailscount for more trails economic data and a video on the recreational bottom line. “Steve works with many blue-collar, economically challenged small communities, and he is an expert on how trails affect local economies,” said Jim Schuneman, chairman of the city’s Hennepin Canal/
Trails Committee. Buchtel said that too often trails don’t have the signage that invites trail users to a town’s amenities, and they wind up just passing through. “You have to consider trail users as customers,” Buchtel said. “Just because I’m not in my car, doesn’t mean I don’t have my wallet.” One of the organization’s projects, the Make Trails Count program, helps to identify and
DIXON
quantify the spending habits of bikers and walkers. Seven state trail systems are tracked, including the Hennepin Canal Trail. The feeder canal area isn’t part of the statistics. In addition to being counted, the trail users are given socioeconomic surveys that provide information on why they are there, where they came from, and where their dollars are going. TRAILS CONTINUED ON A2
DIXON
Coming together as One
Divers drop bait for frisky fish
Task force will help consolidate agencies BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5525 @JPigee84
Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
ABOVE: Divers for EnviroScience place catfish spawning structures across the way from the Page Park boat ramp Thursday morning in Dixon. The spawning beds are designed to help restore the numbers of flatheads in the Rock River between Sterling-Rock Falls and the western edge of Dixon. The $150,000 project is being funded by a $420,000 settlement with the Chicago, Central and Pacific Railroad, in the wake of a massive fish kill 6 and a half years ago. On June 19, 2009, a derailment in Rockford killed one person and sent about 79,000 gallons of an ethanol and gasoline mixture into a creek that flowed into the Kishwaukee River, then into the Rock. LEFT: A trio of the spawning beds sit on the river bank, waiting to be anchored to the river bottom. The corrugated pipes in the beds are meant to simulate a hollow log – a catfish’s idea of home sweet home, and one that will encourage spawning.
TOP5 Your Weekend
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Get in the holiday spirit in Amboy
AMBOY – Starlight Dance Studio will have a holiday performance Sunday in the auditorium at Amboy High School, 11 E. Hawley St. Admission is free. Doors open at 3:30 p.m., with the performance at 4. Visit amboystarlightdance. com or call 815-677-1789 for more information.
$1.00
TODAY’S EDITION: 28 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 162 ISSUE 3
DIXON – Before the city’s event-planning agencies can get on the same page, someone has to write the book on how to do it. Enter an advisory task force. Its task: help make Dixon One a reality. Dixon One is a group the city is creating to consolidate Main Street, Mayor Li the Riverfront Arellano Jr. C o m m i s s i o n Will recommend and Dixon members for Tourism. But Dixon One in order to turn task force three groups – each with its own interests and goals – into one, the city will need a little help sorting everything out. That will be the job of the task force. But before the task force can come together, someone has to come up with a roll call. That’ll be Mayor Li Arellano Jr.’s job. DIXON ONE CONTINUED ON A5
2 It’s back: Dixon’s
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Second Saturdays DIXON – Second Saturdays Art Happenings returns to various venues, most of them running from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, downtown between First and Second streets and Peoria and Galena avenues. Second Saturdays features art, music and other cultural events. the Second Saturdays open mic runs from 8 p.m. to midnight at Rosbrook Studio, 107 S. Peoria Ave. Admission is a suggested $3 donation.
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The sounds of the holidays in Sterling
STERLING – The Sauk Valley Community College concert choir and band will perform holiday music at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Centennial Auditorium at Sterling High School, 1608 Fourth Ave. Admission is free.
ABBY ................... A9 BUSINESS ......... A13 COMICS ............. A12
CROSSWORD....B12 LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2
Go ‘Carol’-ling in Dixon
DIXON – Want to see a fresh take on a holiday classic? Then a performance of “A Christmas Carol” at Dixon Stage Left is for you. Five local actors will play all of the roles – and even pieces of furniture – in the familyfriendly adaptation. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $20 ($10 on Sunday) for adults and $5 for children. Sunday’s matinee features hot cider and popcorn. There is a bar service at evening shows.
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 POLICE ................ A2
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It’s Christmas In The Grove
FRANKLIN GROVE – The 18th annual Christmas In The Grove will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today throughout the village. Among the activities will be a book sale at the library, a visit from Santa to the H.I. Lincoln Building, and horsedrawn wagon rides downtown by the bank – all from 6 to 8 p.m. The Dixon High School Madrigals will perform at 7:15 p.m. at Presbyterian Church, followed by the Rock River Barbershop Chorus at 8. Admission is free.
Today’s weather High 54. Low 46. More on A3.
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