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STERLING’S ELITE DOES WELL AT NATIONALS
Dixon camp gives kids a breath of fresh air
WRESTLING, B1
LEARN AND LIVE, A10
dailyGAZETTE Friday, July 22, 2016 n SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
ROCK FALLS | ROADWORK
Drivers reap benefits of tax hike Several projects will get underway next week BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
ROCK FALLS – Street priming and resurfacing work crews will be in action
next week in several areas of town. The work will begin Tuesday, and is expected to wrap up by Friday. No parking will be allowed on the streets that are slated for resurfacing, and it’s recommended that vehicles be at least
10 feet from the roadway from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the days work is being done. For many years, poor road conditions have consistently topped the complaint list at City Hall. Shortly after taking office, Mayor Bill Wescott told residents the city wouldn’t be able to make much headway on roads
Rock Falls gets its Goat
Relief on the river
Game store opens today BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
ABOVE: Paula Trancoso-Jackley of Sterling paddles a kayak down the Rock River on Thursday afternoon as she watches her son, Michael, and their dog, Sara, play fetch. BELOW: Michael tosses a stick to Sara at Seward’s Park in Rock Falls. As the mercury headed into the 90s, people either hunkered down under their AC, or headed somewhere to find some relief, and the river was a perfect spot to do just that. People will be doing their best to keep their cool over the next few days, with temperatures staying in the lower 90s at least through Sunday, and then the upper 80s after that. The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning through 7 p.m. Saturday. According to NWS, the “prolonged period of heat and humidity will increase the risk for heat exhaustion or heat stroke.”
Not everyone headed to the river Thursday. Some folks decided to make a splash instead. Page A3 Sometimes the heat and humidity can feel like a big wet blanket. Wonder what made it so wet? Blame it on the corn. Page A5
ROADWORK continued on A54
NEW BUSINESS
TWIN CITIES
Inside
without a tax increase. In April 2015, voters OK’d a half-cent increase in the Local Option Sales Tax. City officials promised it would be used for roads and sidewalks, and the referendum received the support of 55 percent of the city’s voters.
ROCK FALLS – A new retailer will open its doors today on First Avenue, hoping to not only sell products, but a culture. The Gaming Goat will make its local debut at 1023 First Ave., giving the community a preview of the store before its grand opening July 29. The store will open with 1,000 tabletop games in stock, and it will carry more after gauging what its clientele wants. The lifeblood of the store, however, is players who come in for structured events such as Pokemon league, and open play sessions when many differMore info ent games are on the What: The Gaming tables. Goat Company CEO Jeff Where: 1023 First Bergren is an Illinois Ave., Rock Falls native who splits Opening: 2 p.m. today his time between Schaumburg and Hours: Monday Las Vegas. Bergren through Thursday – 2 to opened the chain’s 8 p.m., open play 8 to first store Jan. 1, 10 p.m.; Friday – 2 to 2011, in Elgin. 9 p.m., open play 9 to “The first store 11 p.m.; Saturday and I opened, I ran it Sunday – noon to myself for a year 6 p.m., open play 6 to and a half before we 8 p.m. started to expand,” Bergren said. Growth is fast and furious now – 11 stores are open, most in the suburban Chicago area, and Bergren is on target to hit 22 by the end of October. “There is a big franchise push now, and our goal is to get to 50, and then we’ll take a break and evaluate where we go from there,” Bergren said. The business model, based on offering a familyfriendly alternative entertainment option, and carrying a lot of inventory, resonates with Bergren on a personal level. GOAT continued on A104
TOP5 Your Weekend
1
Musical Fridays
DIXON – Dixon Main Street & Riverfront will present a free Musical Fridays performance by singer and guitarist Charlie Gall, from noon to 1 p.m. in the pavilion along the riverfront downtown. Find Dixon Main Street & Riverfront on Facebook for more information.
$1.00
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2
High-flying fun
ROCK FALLS – The public can check out custom kit planes this weekend as the pilots of 30 Van’s RV6/6A single engine craft make a pit stop at the Whiteside County Airport on their way to Oshkosh, Wisconsin. While in Rock Falls, pilots will practice for the fly-in, and people are invited to watch from the airport parking lot, for free. Practices are planned from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, and from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Sunday, weather and other conditions permitting.
INDEX
3
A fest for families
4
STERLING – The fifth annual Main Street Music Fest kicks off at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Grandon Civic Center downtown. Five bands will perform, and food and drink will be sold. People are encouraged to bring folding chairs, blankets and their kids – it’s an all-ages event and will feature artist booths and activities for kids. Admission is $5 for those 13 and older. Go to sterlingmainstreet.org, call 815-6268610, or email info@sterlingmainstreet.org for tickets for more information.
ABBY.................... A8 BUSINESS.......... A12 DAY TRIP.............. A7
COMICS................B5 CROSSWORD.......B9 LIFESTYLE.........A7-8
Schoolhouse rock
STERLING – The Woodlawn Arts Academy presents a family-friendly rock show, at Hoover Park, 3807 Woodlawn Road, at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. The musicians are current and previous members of the academy’s Rhythm-Quest Rocks! program, directed by Ramiro Martinez, along with current and former Woodlawn staff and students. Admission is $3. Go to woodlawnartsacademy.com or call 815-626-4278 for more information.
LOTTERY.............. A2 OBITUARIES......... A4 OPINION............... A6
5
A musical salute
MOUNT MORRIS – The fourth annual Wounded Warrior Concert Benefit will run from 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday at Sharky’s Sports Bar and Grill, 3 N. Wesley Ave. A battle of the bands will be followed by headliner Desolation Row, food and drinks will be sold, and a 2005 Harley Davidson custom Sportster will be raffled. Camp for free at the Mount Morris Moose Family Center, 101 Moose Drive. Admission is $15 for those 19 and older. Find the event on Facebook for more information.
Today’s weather High 93. Low 74. More on A3.
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