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PLAN!T, A9-11
WRESTLING, B1
dailyGAZETTE
Thursday, December 1, 2016 n SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
STERLING | PARK DISTRICT TAX LEVY
Total estimate stays the same Tax rate could go down slightly with higher EAV BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
STERLING – The Sterling Park District approved its fiscal year 2017-2018 tax levy ordinance, perhaps with a sense of déja vu
in the process. The levy ordinance unanimously OK’d last week by the board of commissioners is almost a carbon copy of the previous year’s estimates. The total levy estimate, at $1,184,000, is exactly the same as
last year’s. The actual total from last year came in slightly below the estimate, at $1,179,172. Although the estimates are identical, the end result could work in the taxpayers’ favor. ESTIMATE continued on A54
2017-2018 levy breakdown Estimated levies have been approved for the following Sterling Park District funds: General corporate: $217,000 Recreational programs: $163,000 Illinois Municipal Retirement: $ $130,000
Social Security: $213,000 Public liability insurance: $245,000 Auditing expense: $10,000 Museum expenses: $65,000 Policing system: $54,000 Special recreation: $87,000 Total: $1,184,000
LEE COUNTY | STATE’S ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
DIXON
Life in the slow lane
Klahn begins his term Former assistant plans to take aggressive stance against violent crime BY ASHLEY CADY acady@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5521 @ashleycady_svm
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Briar Tell Vandermyde, held by mom Jessica, was born in the family car on the way to KSB Hospital at 11:53 p.m. Tuesday. Mom and Briar are both doing well. He checked in at 7 pounds, 13 ounces and 21.5 inches, and has been “pretty zonked out,” Jessica said. Click on this story at saukvalley.com to meet Jessica and Briar.
Morrison woman delivers own baby in interstate construction zone BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 CHeimerman_SVM
riar Tell Vandermyde entered the world at 11:53 p.m. Tuesday – according to the clock in his parents’ car. The Vandermydes – Jessica, Mike and little Briar – were admitted to The Birth Place at KSB Hospital at 11:58 p.m., minutes after Jessica delivered Briar herself in the
front seat of a Hyundai Sonata. The wild ride from Morrison began with a decision about 9:30 Tuesday night. Mike was thinking about going hunting. Jessica’s Braxton Hicks contractions were intensifying, but hadn’t yet established a pattern. “He decided, wisely enough, that he probably shouldn’t go,” she said, cracking up. “That was very big of him.” About 10:30 p.m., the pattern formed and an S.O.S. phone call went to Grand-
LIFE continued on A34
DIXON | PARK DISTRICT
INSIDE Polo Area Community Theatre prepares to present the holiday classic “It’s A Wonderful Life,” A5.
Board looks at referendum to expand tax base Increasing program fees could hurt participation, only yield minimal gain BY RACHEL RODGERS rrodgers@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5529 @rj_rodgers
DIXON – The Park Board decided that increasing program fees would only yield a small ripple of new revenue, and the cash-strapped district would need to expand its
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ma Darla Vandermyde, asking her to come stay at the house. Their 2-yearold daughter, Viola, was fast asleep. “She came in to the rescue, and we got all packed up and started moseying,” Jessica said. Moseying is the right word. The Sonata was slogging through a construction zone less than 10 miles from the Dixon exit when the contractions intensified.
DIXON – The mission of the State’s Attorney’s Office is to ensure public health, safety and protection and to seek justice. That’s exactly what new State’s Attorney Matthew Klahn plans to do as he takes office today. Matt Klahn, who Klahn spent the past 3 years as first assistant state’s attorney, succeeds Anna Sacco-Miller, who decided not to run for a second term. SaccoMiller unseated Henry Dixon in Anna 2012. Sacco-Miller Klahn’s top priority is taking an aggressive stance against violent crime. KLAHN continued on A34
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INDEX
Next meeting The Dixon Park Board next meets at 6 p.m. Dec. 14 at the district office, 804 Palmyra St. Go to dixonparkdistrict.com or the park district office, or call 815-284-3306 for an agenda or more information. tax base to make a substantial splash. Since the district – as well as all of Lee County – is taxcapped under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, the board is considering a referendum to grow its pool
ABBY.................... A8 BUSINESS.......... A12 COMICS................B9
CROSSWORD.....B13 LIFESTYLE............ A8 LOTTERY.............. A2
of taxpayers. The board reviewed a slew of options to better subsidize park programs or bring in additional dollars Wednesday, all of which led back to the recurring strain of stagnant tax revenue.
OBITUARIES......... A4 OPINION............... A6 POLICE................. A2
“The only way to increase our revenue is to expand our tax boundaries,” Board President Shane Miller said. The board has considered raising out-of-district fees for its various programs, such as sports leagues, either by a dollar amount or a percentage, but there was concern that an extra $5 or $10 could discourage participation. TAX BASE continued on A44
Today’s weather High 41. Low 33. More on A3.
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