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Murder suspect delivers himself to police department
SVM ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
NEWMAN & ROCK FALLS, B3
MORRISON, A2
dailyGAZETTE
Tuesday, November 1, 2016 n SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
SAUK VALLEY | EDUCATION
Not quite ready yet While some students did better on college-readiness test, others didn’t fare as well BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 CHeimerman_SVM
STERLING – As one might have expected, some gains were made the second time students took the state-mandated Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers test – particularly for students in grades that will continue taking the assessment.
Three-fifths of Sauk Valley schools have students in third through eighth grades, and the percentage of those students who met or exceeded expectations on the test went up in the 2015-16 school year, according to data released Monday by Illinois Report Card. (The report card is an overview of schools, and test scores are just a drop in the bucket.) TEST continued on A94
Stay tuned
Sauk Valley Media will soon take a more in-depth look at the Illinois Report Card results for the 2015-16 school year. In the meantime, visit illinoisreportcard.com for more information, including new data to the report card, such as teachers’ attendance and dual-credit enrollment.
ROCK FALLS
STERLING
Caught between pensions and a hard place Bigger tax increase or a smaller one? City Council faces tough choice BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
There’s no bucket of candy too big for these muscles! The Hulk, a.k.a Javarreon Moman, 4, of Sterling, stomped his way around town Monday in Sterling to get some Halloween treats. CHECK OUT DIXON TRICK-OR-TREATERS ON PAGE A3.
‘Trick or treat!’ BELOW: Isabella Young, 3, of Sterling was flying down the sidewalk in Sterling as she went door to door to collect some Halloween goodies. Mother Nature gave kids a treat this year, too: Nice weather. Temperatures in the low 60s made for a less chilly reception as troops of trick-ortreaters took to the streets and sidewalks.
LEFT: Hannah Carter got into the Halloween spirit and dressed up to hand out candy to trick-or-treaters outside of the Freak Show Tent her family set up in front of their Sterling home.
ROCK FALLS – The city’s Finance Committee was prepared to bring three tax levy options to today’s City Council meeting, then a fourth plan emerged. Like many cities statewide, Rock Falls is trying to find a way to deal with year 2 of state-mandated rules for funding police and fire pensions. Those rules include setting a statutory minimum for contributions, as determined by actuaries, and the threat of cities losing their share of state tax revenue if the recommendations aren’t met. The first option would fund both pensions at the full recommendation level, but that would require a levy increase of 25.11 percent to make up the $246,000 shortfall. PENSIONS continued on A54
MORRISON HOSPITAL
More room for improvements $6 million project will add more space for patients and their families BY KATHLEEN A. SCHULTZ kschultz@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5535 @KathleenSchul10
MORRISON – The nonprofit, city-owned Morrison Community Hospital plans to break ground next fall on a $6 million or so renovation and expansion of its Emergency Department. Plans call for five private treatment bays; a trauma room; a private waiting area for friends and family members, who now must sit in the hallway and be taken elsewhere to get news of their loved ones; and a training center to be used by staff and for community classes, such as CPR. In addition, the remodel will mean ambulances will be able to back into a closed facility when unloading patients, and get out of the weather, said Mick Welding, MCH’s marketing director. HOSPITAL continued on A44
Photos by Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
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TODAY’S EDITION: 20 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 162 ISSUE 230
INDEX
ABBY.................... A7 BUSINESS.......... A10 COMICS................ A8
CROSSWORD.....B10 LIFESTYLE............ A7 LOTTERY.............. A2
OBITUARIES......... A4 OPINION............... A6 POLICE................. A2
Today’s weather High 73. Low 57. More on A3.
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