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PUBLIC INVITED TO OPEN HOUSE
An Extravaganza you won’t want to miss in Morrison
DIXON PUBLIC SAFETY, A3
A9-12
dailyGAZETTE
Thursday, July 21, 2016 n SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
STERLING | PARK DISTRICT
Problems on the paper trail Contractor: ‘Everybody loses’ after low bid for trails project is rejected BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
STERLING – A series of miscommunications has not only put the city on the hook for more money and cost a local contractor thousands of dollars, it’s throwing up another roadblock to having a school trail project done on time. On Wednesday, the bad news was offi-
cial: The Sterling Park District received final word that the low bidder on its school trail project has been disqualified. Martin & Company Excavating in Oregon had turned in the low bid of $404,237.95. The bidding process was handled by the Illinois Department of Transportation, which is the administrator for the federal Safe Routes to School grant program statewide. The bid-letting date was June 10, and
the park district received an emailed list of the bids on that day. The low bid was approved at the next meeting of the park district board, and construction was to begin soon on the trail that has been in the works for nearly a decade. Then, early last week, the park district learned there was a problem with Martin’s bid because some of the paperwork hadn’t been turned in by the company. The Dixon IDOT office said Wednes-
OGLE COUNTY
day it learned that Martin definitely wouldn’t be getting the contract. “They confirmed that the central office in Springfield rejected the low bidder as ‘unresponsive,’ and they have contacted the next lowest bidder and requested a utilization plan and other information,” said John Wegmeyer, IDOT’s project implementation manager in Dixon. TRAIL continued on A44
DIXON
Reagan home director brings a wealth of history BY RACHEL RODGERS rrodgers@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5529 @rj_rodgers
R&R River and recreation Oregon couple taps into a current attraction – the Rock River – and turns it into a positive cash flow for their new business
TOP: Aaron Sitze helps Katie Blessman (left), of Dixon and Jessica Johnston of Melbourne, Australia, cast off as they begin their journey down the Rock River. ABOVE: Johnston and Blessman took a 2-hour trip down the Rock River.
BY TERRY THOMAS For Sauk Valley Media
OREGON – When Aaron and Christy Sitze moved to Oregon 15 years ago, they were immediately captivated by the town’s rustic charm and the region’s natural beauty. “We came here from the [Chicago] suburbs and were just blown away,” Christy said. “The town was so friendly, and we were so exited with all the things to do outdoors,” like hiking, camping, and observing nature and wildlife in the three state parks that surround the community. But one of the biggest attractions for the married couple was the Rock River. “We really loved taking the family out on the river” to canoe, kayak, To book a trip and just experiWhite Pelican Inc. ence the water201 N. Third St. in way’s breathOregon, is open taking scenery, through October. Christy said. Reservations can “And we loved be made at whitesharing it with pelican.biz or at our friends.” 828-777-4861 or This year, 815-263-4088. The Aaron and company also has a Christy decided Facebook page. to take that love a step further and open an outfitting business that offers water lovers and nature enthusiasts such as themselves the opportunity to explore the Rock River’s allure directly, by paddling and floating along its storied currents. White Pelican Inc. offers customers the opportunity to rent canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and inflatable tubes and travel the Rock River. The company began operations May 1 from its base at historical Conover Square, on North Third Street in Oregon, adjacent to the Rock River near the town’s dam. R&R continued on A74
Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
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TODAY’S EDITION: 24 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 162 ISSUE 158
INDEX
ABBY.................... A8 COMICS................B6 CROSSWORD.....B10
LIFESTYLE............ A8 LOTTERY.............. A2 OBITUARIES......... A4
DIXON – Pat Gorman has taken on a new role related to local history. Gorman, president of the Lee County Historical and Genealogical Society, was named the new executive director of the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home Wednesday. “This gave me an opportunity to serve Dixon in another capacity,” he said. “It will be a challenge, and I’m Pat up for it.” Gorman Brandi Langner, who had served as executive director since March 2012, stepped down May 17 and started as the admissions and marketing coordinator at the Dixon Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center on May 23. REAGAN continued on A54
DIXON SCHOOLS
The state of the industry: Inflation Superintendent: Nailing down cost of school projects is like trying to hit a moving target BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 CHeimerman_SVM
DIXON – In 8 months, the cost to build a new Dixon High School and bring all the district’s buildings up to code has gone up about 4 percent. At Wednesday’s school board meeting, Superintendent Margo Empen said the project is projected to cost $80,675,000, about $3 million more than the $77.5 million price tag attached when the board chose April 12 to build new, rather than renovate the existing high school. GreenAssociates, the firm the district has worked with on its long-term facilities plan, announced the $77.5 million figure at a forum in December. “The increase is not just because of the option,” said George Reigle, principal with the firm. “It’s the state of the industry.” It’s been repeated ad nauseam throughout the district’s campaign that a cost increase of 3 to 4 percent annually should be expected. INFLATION continued on A54
OPINION............... A6 PLAN!T.............A9-12 POLICE................. A2
Today’s weather High 94. Low 76. More on A3.
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