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HUSTLE AND TUSSLE: TIGERS TOP COUGARS
The Daily Gazette will not publish on Monday, Jan. 2, and our office also will be closed that day in observance of the New Year’s holiday. We will resume publishing, and normal office hours, on Tuesday. Sauk Valley Media would like to wish everyone a safe and happy New Year!
BOYS BASKETBALL, B1
dailyGAZETTE
Friday, December 30, 2016 n SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
ROCK FALLS | CITY COUNCIL
Council still 1 short Mayor having hard time filling open seat BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
ROCK FALLS – A vacant City Council seat will remain empty for a few more months. Mayor Bill Wescott tried to fill the 4th Ward opening created by the Sept. 30 resignation of Troy Ebenezer, but no pro-
spective appointees were found. The term expires in 2017, so an appointee would have been forced to run in April to keep the seat. But because no one was named to fill the vacancy prior to the city’s Dec. 19 election filing deadline, the mayor must wait to bring an appointee before the council. “I’m still going through a list of people to call, but now I can’t make the appointment until after the [April 4] election,” Wescott said. Rock Falls has eight council members, two from each of the city’s four wards. The 4-year terms are staggered, but as
will be the case in the 4th Ward situation, an appointment will have both of the ward’s representatives on the ballot at the same time. Lee Folsom holds the other seat in the 4th Ward. “When we find someone, they would be appointed for 2 years, and then both council members in Ward 4 would be up at the same time, before they get back on the staggered schedule,” Wescott said. It has become increasingly difficult to find aldermanic candidates, Wescott said. He even has considered the possibility of changing the ward structure. COUNCIL continued on A44
STERLING
An ice day to go fishing
ROCK FALLS
New Year’s resolution: Address broadband BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
ROCK FALLS – One of the city’s top priorities in the new year will be determining the future of its broadband business, and officials say those decisions could be made soon. The city is looking at options for funding a fiber buildout that would provide high-speed services for business and residential customers. The City Council on Dec. 6 approved a request from City Administrator Robbin Blackert to pursue additional funding information. The city likely would use alternate revenue bonds to fund the $13 million buildout. RESOLUTION continued on A34
ILLINOIS
State budget bandage comes off Sunday Unlikely lawmakers’ rift will be healed SPRINGFIELD (AP) – Illinois will ring in the new year with a familiar tune: Deadlock in the Capitol and no state budget. The only spending agreement reached in 2 years between bickering Republicans and Democrats, a 6-month temporary fix, expires Sunday. Not only is there no arrangement to fill the void, Gov. Bruce Rauner and his Democratic opponents controlling the General Assembly have hardly talked about it. Funding for elementary and secondary education was provided through June.
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
A pair of fishers huddle against the whipping wind Thursday to try their luck at ice fishing at Sinnissippi Park in Sterling. Things will probably get a little slushy for folks heading out to fish over the next few days. Temperatures are forecast to gradually warm up to the mid 40s by Monday, when rain is also in the forecast, then start returning to more seasonably cold temperatures. Things will cool off a few degrees by Tuesday, but Wednesday the mercury will take a dive into the upper 20s and keep on falling, hitting 20 degrees by the end of next week.
BUDGET continued on A34
TOP5 Your Weekend
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Concert keeps the faith
DIXON – A New Year’s Day worship concert begins at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Bethel Evangelical Congregational Church, 131 North Court St. Duncan Holmes, a touring concert pianist based in Fredericksburg, Texas, will perform. Holmes, who is blind, was involved in music throughout his education, both at home and at the Maryland School for the Blind. Call 815-284-3849 or go to duncan-holmes.com for more information.
$1.00
TODAY’S EDITION: 28 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 163 ISSUE 15
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All skate, all night
MOUNT MORRIS – Families can roll into the new year at White Pines Roller Rink, 6929 W. Pines Road, across from White Pines State Park. The rink will have an AllNight Skate on New Year’s Eve, beginning at 8 p.m. Saturday and ending at 7 a.m. Sunday. There will be games, a 500-balloon drop at midnight and more. Adult supervision is provided. Cost is $20 for the night, or $12 to skate from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.The rink also will have New Year’s Eve party from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday; admission is $7. Call 815-9469988 or go to skatingfun. com for more info.
INDEX
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Get into the New Year’s spirits
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What’s a New Year’s Eve weekend without some music and libations? Here are a just few of the acts that will take the stage, all from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. unless otherwise noted: • DJ Hollywood, today at the Cooler, 311 W. Second St. in Rock Falls. • Bad Phoenix is parting ways, but not before a final show Saturday at The Corner Spot, 510 Chicago Ave. in Dixon. • Reflex Blues, Saturday at Cragel’s, 345 Washington St. in Prophetstown. • Hitz City, Saturday at the Latin America Social Club, 2708 W. Lincolnway in Sterling. • Karaoke with the James Gang from 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday at the Roadhouse, 807 S. Seventh St. in Oregon.
ABBY.................... A8 COMICS................B7 CROSSWORD.....B12
DAY TRIP.............. A7 LIFESTYLE.........A7-8 LOTTERY.............. A2
Kick back and have some fun
Looking for some leisurely fun? There’s plenty of it at Sauk Valley’s senior centers today: • Whiteside County Senior Center, 1207 W. Ninth St. in Sterling, 815-622-9230: Intermediate line dancing, 10 a.m.; beginning line dancing, 11 a.m.; Mexican Train dominoes, 12:30 p.m.; Pinochle, 12:30 to 3 p.m. • Post House Community Center, 100 W. Second St. in Dixon, 815-288-9236: Organized Wii Bowling games, noon; Duplicate bridge, 12:30 p.m.; Pinochle, 1 p.m. • Polo Area Senior Services, 101 E. Mason St. 815-9463818: Bridge, noon To see what else is going on, check out the Community Calendar on page A8, or contact the centers.
OBITUARIES......... A4 OPINION............... A6 POLICE................. A2
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Stay-at-home fun
Don’t feel like going out on New Year’s Eve? Ring in the new year at home with friends and family: Enjoy a family game night and a late-night family meal (with cocktails for Mom and Dad and “mocktails” for the kids). Make some lists: favorite moments from 2016, predictions for the new year, what you accomplished in 2016 and what you’d like to accomplish in 2017. Celebrate stars we lost in 2016 with some binge watching – a “Star Wars” marathon for Carrie Fisher or back-to-back “Brady Bunch” for Florence Henderson – or take a stroll down a musical memory lane. Party like it’s 1999 with Prince or celebrate ch-chch-changes with David Bowie – and dance! Hang out with old friends, or make some new ones. Whatever you choose to do, make it a happy new year!
Today’s weather High 34. Low 28. More on A3.
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