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SVM’s 2013 CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS all-area team IN THE GROVE LOCAL, A2
PREP FOOTBALL, B1
COMMUNITY
OGLE COUNTY| SPENDING IN THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT
Lunch time over Training during meals on the taxpayers’ dime ends after County Board raises questions about use of credit cards
Seasonal celebrations A look at some of the local holiday festivities. PAGE C12
ROCK FALLS
Community mourns loss of beloved teacher Amid the fanfare, Hand consistently shunned limelight BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 570
Earleen Hinton/Shaw News Service
Ogle County Sheriff Michael Harn walks from the scene of the discovery of the body of a Machesney Park woman in the Rock River south of Byron on Nov. 9, 2012. BY MATT MENCARINI mmencarini@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 529
In Monday’s edition
OREGON – During a countywide review of departmental credit card policies this year, some spending on credit cards of the Ogle County Sheriff’s Department was questioned – and then stopped. That spending included meals at local restaurants, in addition to uniform and equipment purchases. Sheriff Michael Harn and Ogle County Board Chairman Kim
Since late 2011, the Ogle County Sheriff’s Department has used, at the sheriff’s discretion, a fund not reported in the county’s budget to pay for a wide range of expenses. Gouker described the meals as meetings, although they were listed as “training” for accounting purposes. For 2011 and 2012, and the first few months of this year, those restaurant meals cost county taxpayers more than $7,500 – about $5,300
of it at Breakers Saloon and Eatery, which is a block from the jail. During an interview with Sauk Valley Media this week, both Harn and Gouker defended the lunch training as justified spending.
Ogle County Sheriff Michael Harn
LUNCH CONTINUED ON A8
WEEKEND ENTERPRISE | HEALTH INSURANCE
Different counties, different prices One resident contemplating choices BY DAVID GIULIANI dgiuliani@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 525
Mary Sweeney, 62, is a little more confident that she will have health insurance next year. Recently, the Oregon resident’s insurance company canceled her policy because it didn’t meet the standards under the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare. But President Barack Obama then announced that he would allow insurance companies to extend existing below-standard policies for a year. Afterward, Sweeney, like others in the area, was informed she would get such an exten-
In Monday’s edition On Monday, Sauk Valley Media will look at prices for policies in area counties. sion. But she has yet to get followup documentation from her insurer, which has her a bit worried. Her husband is taken care of; at 66, he’s on Medicare. She is 4 years away from benefiting from that program, which is for Americans 65 and older. Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com Now, her policy has a Mary Sweeney reviews a health insurance policy in her Oregon $267-a-month premium, with home. Sweeney, 62, recently had her insurance company cancel a $3,500 deductible. her policy because it didn’t meet the standards under the Affordable Care Act. She since has been informed she would get an DIFFERENT CONTINUED ON A5 extension, but has yet to get the documentation from her insurer.
Snow possible
VOLUME 6 ISSUE 16 44 Pages
Today: 29/8 For the forecast, see Page A10
Office work
Ground has been broken on Sinnissippi Centers’ new Oregon office. See Page C1
Party treat tips Your guide to holiday recipes, party treats, and thoughtful gifts Also inside USA Weekend: Beat the blues Delightfully tart Mexican lime pie Evangeline Lilly now a mom
ROCK FALLS – Longtime teacher Doug Hand and a doll named Elwood set out on a journey to teach kids to dream big. Along the way, their success likely surpassed Hand’s wildest dreams. As the community mourned the Doug Hand loss of Hand, who died of pancreatic cancer Wednesday, they still managed to revel in the improbable story of a wildly creative educator who almost by accident made himself and a 4-foot, 4-inch doll iconic figures on an international scale. But even in the last weeks of his life, Hand tried to deflect attention from himself. As Hand’s illness progressed, the community became more adamant about the need to publicly celebrate the adventures of Doug and Elwood. When approached about stories, Hand politely and appreciatively declined community and media requests. He instead sent Elwood on a whirlwind solo tour, making stops throughout the community. The journey never went off course – it was always about Elwood and the kids whose lives were impacted. TEACHER CONTINUED ON A3
Services for Doug Hand Family and friends will gather from 9:30 to 11 a.m. today, followed by the memorial service, at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, 703 Third Ave., Sterling. A memorial fund has been established for Rock Falls Public Library.
Index Births................ C5 Markets .......... A10 Business........... C1 Nation ............ A10 Classified .......... D1 Obituaries ......... A4 Comics ............. B8 Opinion............. A6 Community ..... C12 Scoreboard ...... B9 Scrapbook ....... C3 Crossword Saturday ........... D6 Sports .............. B1 Support groups .. C5 Crossword Sunday ............. C8 Travel .............. C10 Dear Abby ........ C6 Weather.......... A10 Lottery .............. A2 Wheels ............. D8