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Relations with ROCK FALLS A.D. Cuba mended NAMED COACH
Obama signs law to honor Evans GALESBURG, A3
PREP FOOTBALL, B1
WASHINGTON, A5
dailyGAZETTE Thursday, December 18, 2014
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
DIXON SCHOOLS | NEW SUPERINTENDENT
Assistant to take helm in 2015 Empen unanimously named Juenger’s successor BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5525
DIXON – Margo Empen was named superintendent of the Dixon School District on Wednesday after spending the past 8 years in the No. 2 post. Empen, 46, the district’s assistant superintendent, accepted the job offer from the School Board, which unanimously voted to award
her a contract during its regular meeting. “I’m honored and extremely excited to be able to serve this district in this capacity,” Empen said. Empen will be the superintendent at least the next 2 years. Her contract begins July 1 and runs through June 30, 2017. She will replace Michael Juenger, who will retire at the
end of the school year after spending the past 6 years as superintendent. Twenty-two people applied for the position. The field was narrowed to 10, and then to six before two finalists were named. The school board declined to release the names of the candidates during the interview process, citing confidentially. “What would that do to
another candidate, if they didn’t want their district to know they were actually applying,” said Pam Tourtillott, president of the Dixon School Board. Empen, who grew up in Rock Falls, has a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Northern Illinois University. SUPERINTENDENT CONTINUED ON A4
LIGHTS AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL IN DIXON
Next meeting
Margo Empen Assistant superintendent will succeed Michael Juenger at start of 201516 school year
The Dixon School Board will next meet at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 21 at Reagan Middle School, 620 Division St. Go to www. DixonSchools.org or call the school district’s central office, 815-2847722, for more information.
LEE COUNTY
Policy on DUIs to gain teeth Breath, blood, urine tests to be pushed in 2015 BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5521
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Electricians put up traffic lights Wednesday afternoon at the corner of First Street and Peoria Avenue in Dixon. The work is among the final elements of the downtown streetscape project to be completed this year. Paver installation and planter work is also expected to continue this week along Peoria Avenue between River and First streets. Some final landscaping elements and aesthetics will have to wait until spring 2015.
COMING SATURDAY
THINGS TO SEE AND DO Need to get out? From live theater to a family band’s upcoming performance at a Fulton church, see all the entertainment the Sauk Valley has to offer in our listings on A9-10.
MORE LISTS Change is an art form Dixon artist captures societal unrest in her work. See her work and her story on Page C12 of Saturday’s SV Weekend edition.
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TODAY’S EDITION: 24 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 161 ISSUE8
• Managing Editor Jeff Rogers offers 28 holiday tunes off the beaten sleigh path. A10 • Newsroom confessions: See what we loved to read in 2014. A11
ONE THING YOU WON’T SEE This ‘Interview’ is canceled During the annual ritual of picking which flick to see on Christmas Day, moviegoers won’t see the latest comedy from Seth Rogen (right) and James Franco. Find out why it won’t be playing at Carmike Sauk Valley 8 – or anywhere – this holiday season on A12.
See staffers’ favorite albums of 2014 and more at planitsaukvalley.com
INDEX
ABBY ................... A7 BUSINESS ......... A12 COMICS ............... A8
CROSSWORD....B11 LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 POLICE ................ A2
DIXON – Lee County authorities will ring in the new year with a more stringent DUI policy. Starting Jan. 1, the county’s policy when it comes to DUI cases, especially ones involving accidents or repeat offenders, will be to obtain search warrants to compel suspects to take a blood, breath, or urine test. “We always request the blood, or the urine, or the breath test,” Dixon Police Chief Danny Langloss said. “But if someone refuses, we just mark it as a refusal. ... Having the actual breath, blood or urine will make the case that much stronger. “This isn’t going to be everyone who’s stopped – just the high-level DUI cases.” According to a report from the Illinois Secretary of State’s office, in 2012, police agencies reported 37,126 DUI arrests. That same report said that alcohol was involved in 35 percent of the 956 fatalities caused by car crashes that year. “We intend to get tougher on those individuals who continue to drink to impairment and drive,” Lee County State’s Attorney Anna Sacco-Miller said. “By utilizing these new policies and procedures, we can ensure that ... justice is served.”
‘‘ ’’ We intend to get tougher on those individuals who continue to drink to impairment and drive.
Today’s weather High 30. Low 19. More on A3.
Anna Sacco-Miller
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B7.
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