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dailyGAZETTE Wednesday, August 24, 2016 n SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
LEE COUNTY | MARIO GARNICA JR. CASE
DIXON
Charges dropped Ex-teacher accused in beating pleads guilty to misdemeanor BY KATHLEEN A. SCHULTZ kschultz@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5535 @KathleenSchul10
DIXON – Attempted murder and other felony charges filed against a former Sterling elementary school teacher accused of attacking his then-boyfriend were dismissed Tuesday. Mario Garnica Jr., 28, was a bilingual firstgrade teacher at Jefferson Elementary School when he stabbed Benjamin B. Brainerd, 31, in the neck and beat him Jan. 19, 2015, in Brainerd’s Dixon home, prosecutors have said. He was arrested that Feb. 3, and has been free on a $300,000 recognizance bond since Aug. 18, 2015.
Garnica, charged with four counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of armed violence, four counts of aggravated domestic battery, and two counts of battery, claimed self-defense. He pleaded guilty Tuesday morning to misdemeanor attempted obstruction of justice – initially, he lied to police about certain aspects of the attack – and will serve a year of court supervision. That charge will be expunged from his record if he successfully completes supervision. Among the elements that must be proved in violent felonies is the defendant’s intent and/ or lack of justification to kill or injure. CHARGES continued on A24
Main Street stipulation could be a sticking point in Dixon One progress Mario Garnica Will serve 1 year of court supervision, after which, lone charge could be expunged
ERIE
Happiness was waiting in the
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It’s OK, but there’s just 1 thing ...
DJ is living his lifelong dream behind the mic at the area’s new radio station
BY RACHEL RODGERS rrodgers@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5529 @rj_rodgers
DIXON – Before committing to a marriage, the Dixon Area Chamber of Commerce wants to live with Dixon Main Street for 6 months to work out any kinks. Both organizations gave their approval to the Dixon One advisory task force for a proposed merger to become the city’s marketing, tourism, business outreach and development hub Tuesday, but their blessings came with conditions. Chamber Chairwoman Dana Considine, a task force member, said the group is on board with the Dixon One proposal, but a 6-month window is necessary to ease the transition. The Chamber would move into the Dixon One building, 87 S. Hennepin Ave., with Main Street on or before Jan. 1, and a few board members from both sides would meet regularly to further develop the union. “Essentially, we would move in together before the marriage,” she said. The 6-month transition was well-received by the task force, but the same could not be said of Main Street’s request. Main Street approved the proposal with the stipulation that the group have equal representation on the Dixon One board of directors rather than a 12-and-8 split. DIXON ONE continued on A44
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
She’ll help the public and private intersect
Aaron Dail, morning host and general manager of WQUD 105.5 FM Vintage Radio, gives a news update at the station in Erie.
Former director of Whiteside agency named to state board BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
BY MITCHELL BRINKMAN Special to Sauk Valley Media
ERIE – If you’ve been surfing the local airwaves at all, you might have run across some new voices on the radio dial. One of those voices has had his eye on the mic for a long time – ever since he was a kid.
Meet Aaron Dail. He’s the general manager of WQUD 105.5 FM, which signed on Jan. 7. Since then, Dail and his fellow disc jockeys have brought their unique voices to the air, along with a mix of vintage rock ’n’ roll and country music. While the station is getting good
feedback from listeners, Dail, the host of “AD in the Morning,” is making the most of his chance to fulfill his lifelong dream. “As a kid, I always wanted to be on a morning show.” Dail said. “I’m really happy, and it’s a lot of fun.” STATION continued on A54
STERLING – The former director of Whiteside County Economic Development, Betty Steinert, has been named to the board of a new agency the state has formed to partially privatize its economic development efforts. Betty In February, Gov. Bruce Steinert Rauner established the Illinois Business and Economic Development Corp. through an executive order. The cumbersome name resulted in the agency being rebranded Intersect Illinois on July 25. INTERSECT continued on A44
Photos by Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
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TODAY’S EDITION: 28 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 162 ISSUE 182
INDEX
ABBY.................... A8 BUSINESS.......... A13 COMICS................B6
CROSSWORD.....B14 LIFESTYLE............ A8 LOTTERY.............. A2
OBITUARIES......... A4 OPINION............... A6 POLICE................. A2
Today’s weather High 82. Low 67. More on A3.
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