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FULTON FOURSOME HELPS PUSH STEAMERS TO A WIN BOYS BASKETBALL, B1
G olden E cho SECTION INSIDE
dailyGAZETTE
Tuesday, December 27, 2016 n SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
ELECTION 2018 | ILLINOIS GOVERNOR
U.S. REP. CHERI BUSTOS
CHRIS KENNEDY
GOV. BRUCE RAUNER
STATE SEN. ANDY MANAR
J.B. PRITZKER
Weighing the options and odds Gov. Rauner has made his intentions clear, but the picture on the Democratic side is still coming into focus CHICAGO (AP) – Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner sent two clear signals when he dumped $50 million into his campaign fund: The 2018 race for Illinois governor will be a rough one, and the contest starts now. What’s still unknown is which Democrats will try to unseat the multimillion-
aire former businessman. Among those contemplating a bid are U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, businessman Chris Kennedy, state Sen. Andy Manar and billionaire investor J.B. Pritzker, according to potential candidates and aides. In a glimpse of what’s to come, the Democratic Governors Association said
Rauner is “more focused on getting elected than passing a budget or growing Illinois’ economy,” and that his cash infusion “won’t make Illinois voters forget about his past 2 years of failure.” Illinois Republican Party spokesman Steven Yaffe fired back that the election will “present a clear choice between
those like Gov. Rauner who want to reform state government so it works for the taxpayers and those who will simply raise taxes without reforming the status quo in order to protect the political insiders and special interests.” WEIGHING continued on A84
DIXON PARK BOARD
STERLING
Caught between rocks and a hard place
Golfers get a late Christmas gift: A winter warm-up
Fixing Plum Creek will be costly, but not fixing it could be even costlier BY RACHEL RODGERS rrodgers@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5529 @rj_rodgers
DIXON – The Park Board is looking to find less costly ways to fix the erosion of Plum Creek in Page Park. Plum Creek receives runoff from as far off as Lowell Park, and its steep banks have been eroding for years, causing concern for the portion of Page Drive adjacent to the creek. The Park District prohibited parking along the west side of Page Drive about a year ago as a precaution and asked Wendler Engineering Services to come up with a way to control the erosion. The $200,000 project would include laying three stretches of gabion baskets filled with rip rap – metal cages filled with large rocks – to offset the erosion, but District Executive Director Deb Carey said they are looking at less expensive options. Park Board members plan to discuss earmarking about $20,000 in next year’s budget for in-house staff to install rip rap along the bank near the road, similar to work done about 2 years ago. That would be more like a Band-Aid for the problem, but the issue must be addressed, Carey said.
Photos by Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com
ABOVE: Brad Eakle of Sterling throws his putter toward the basket on hole 16 Monday afternoon at Sinnissippi Park in Sterling. The weather was a mixed bag for disc golfers: They were able to take advantage of unseasonably warm weather – temps topped out in the upper 40s – but winds made things a little more challenging at the course, which debuted in the early ‘80s with 18 holes and now sports 24. Golfers could get another day of decent weather at the course this week, when temperatures in the mid- to low-40s are forecast to return Wednesday and Saturday. The other days of the week will see the mercury hovering in the upper 30s. Next week, things should start heading back toward seasonal norms, with temperatures dropping to the upper 20s by the end of the week. RIGHT: Rick Johnson of Sterling plans his throw from the tee on the 17th hole Monday at Sinnissippi Park in Sterling. ONLINE EXTRA: Find these photos at saukvalley.com to see more pictures of disc golfers in action at Sinnissippi Park.
PLUM CREEK continued on A84
PROPHETSTOWN
Is there a doctor in the farmhouse? Sometimes A rural Whiteside County veterinarian has found his calling, serving all creature great and small BY DAVE FOX For Sauk Valley Media
PROPHETSTOWN – It probably was obvious early in Dr. Karl Hohenboken’s life what path his career would take. The 54-year-old grew up on a farrowto-finish hog farm in rural Hillsdale, and enjoyed working with the pigs as
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well as the cats and dogs. “Dad would bring home vaccines for the cats and dogs, and he would have me do those vaccines,” Hohenboken said. “I enjoyed it.” Now, it’s one of many tasks he does as a rural Whiteside County veterinarian, his job for more than 2 decades now.
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ABBY.................... A7 COMICS................ A9 CROSSWORD.....B10
His contagious smile flashes frequently as he talks about his profession. It’s clear being a vet is more than just a job. “I enjoy working with all of the animals, large and small, and I get to meet lots of different people, too. It’s great.” After graduating veterinary school at
LIFESTYLE............ A7 LOTTERY.............. A2 POLICE................. A2
OBITUARIES... A4-A5 OPINION............... A6 STATE................. A12
the University of Illinois in Champaign in 1990, Hohenboken set up practice in Xenia, Ohio. About 2 years later, Dr. D.D. Sampson of Prophetstown called him, and Hohenboken found his calling. VETERINARIAN continued on A104
Today’s weather High 38. Low 25. More on A3.
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