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A STRONG START AND Good things FINISH FOR WARRIORS come in pears VOLLEYBALL, B1
FOOD, A9-10
dailyGAZETTE Wednesday, November 2, 2016 n SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
PENSION FUNDING | ROCK FALLS
Options weighed; tax hike OK’d BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
ROCK FALLS – Two of the city’s four proposed options for a tax increase were brought up for a vote at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, but the mayor’s vote was needed on both.
The council, on a 5 to 3 vote, approved a 15.32 percent tax levy increase that will fund the police and fire pension funds at the full level recommended by actuaries. The increase will cost the owner of a $71,000 house an estimated $65 a year in additional property taxes. The option chosen includes the use of $120,000 that will come from an
increase in the rural fire tax levy that nearly doubles its contribution to the city’s fire protection costs. Three options had been presented to the Finance Committee last week, but input from auditors led to the last-minute creation of the plan that was eventually approved. “On Friday, the auditors and actuaries
BUSINESS
strongly advised that we choose Option 1 or Option 4 to fully fund the pensions to the recommended levels,” City Administrator Robbin Blackert said. Option 1 was a 25.11 percent levy hike, which would have cost the owner of a $71,000 home about an extra $105 a year. OPTIONS continued on A54
ELECTION 2016: STATEHOUSE
COLLABORATION ...
The Measurement of success From first draft to last, an architect who left the Chicago suburbs for Sterling makes sure his projects are designed with teamwork in mind BY DANA FRANCIS For Sauk Valley Media
STERLING – When Skip McCloud was 12, he set a TV tray in front of the family room chair, made himself a name tag, got out his pencils and paper, sat down, and started drawing houses, airplanes, and yachts. He didn’t have clients yet, but he had a passion. Decades later, Sterling architect Al “Skip” McCloud of McCloud and Associates smiles at the memory: “I still have those drawings,” he said.
He might not design planes and yachts, but houses? Oh, yeah. McCloud and Associates, housed in the renovated Royer Home at 401 E. Second St., is Skip and his associate, Brad Hunsberger, who joined the business last year. Hunsberger adds an essential element to the two-man team. He “brings a lot to the table, especially his construction management experience,” McCloud said.
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Sen. Dick Durbin (left) stopped in Rock Falls on Tuesday to lend his support to Mike Smiddy’s (right) run for reelection, Smiddy, the Democratic state representative for the 71st District, is running against Tony McCombie.
Durbin: Mike’s the man for District 71
COLLABORATION continued on A54
Senator steps up to the proverbial stump in Rock Falls to back Smiddy BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
Brad Hunsberger (left) and Al “Skip” McCloud of McCloud and Associates in Sterling stand in front of the addition they designed at That Place on Palmyra in Dixon. The two-man architecture firm has designed several projects throughout the Sauk Valley.
ROCK FALLS – State Sen. Dick Durbin was in town Tuesday stumping for Democratic State Rep. Mike Smiddy. Durbin made a quick stop at the Carpenters Local 790 Hall in Rock Falls to help Smiddy, who is in a race targeted as politically important to both parties. Smiddy is facing Savanna Mayor Tony McCombie in his run for a third term in the 71st District. Projections are for a close race that the incumbent from Hillsdale said will be decided in the Sauk Valley. “I’ll win or lose this election in Sterling and Rock Falls because this is my largest voting base,” Smiddy said. This will be one of the state’s most expensive elections. Smiddy has brought in more than $3 million, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections, while McCombie has about $1.8 million in her war chest. DURBIN continued on A44
Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com
BYRON
Deadly house fire ruled as suspicious BY VINDE WELLS vwells@shawmedia.com Shaw Media
BYRON – Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle said the fire that claimed the lives of a Byron mother and her 3-yearold son started the night before it was discovered, and has been ruled suspicious.
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TODAY’S EDITION: 24 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 162 ISSUE 231
Margaret “Maggie” Meyer, 31, and Amos Meyer died as a result of the fire reported the morning of Oct. 19. “The cause of the fire and their two deaths are being investigated by the Byron Police Department, Ogle County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police and Illinois State Fire Marshal,” VanVickle said in a statement released Monday
INDEX
ABBY.................... A8 BUSINESS.......... A12 COMICS................B6
evening. “Although the cause of the fire is still unknown, it is suspicious in nature.” The fire at 2020 N. Silverthorn Drive was reported around 6:40 a.m. Oct. 19, apparently by Meyer’s ex-husband and the boy’s father, Duane C. Meyer, who reportedly was there to pick up the youngster. FIRE continued on A44
CROSSWORD.....B10 LIFESTYLE............ A8 LOTTERY.............. A2
OBITUARIES......... A4 OPINION............... A6 POLICE................. A2
To help The Ogle County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone who may know something about the fatal fire or saw anything suspicious in the Byron area the night of Oct. 18 to call the office at 815-732-2136. Callers also can call the anonymous tip line, Ogle-Lee Crime Stoppers, at 888-228-4488. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest.
Today’s weather High 68. Low 48. More on A3.
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