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Sterling softball finds familiar foe
‘GYPSY’ KICKS OFF TLP’S 55TH SEASON THEATER REVIEW, A3
SPORTS, B1
SAUK VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE | SAUK COMMONS
Room and boarded at Sauk Student housing complex closed and in foreclosure BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
DIXON – The student housing complex at Sauk Valley Community College has been closed, after the latest efforts to make it financially viable fell short. Sauk Commons is in foreclosure, and as of mid-May, no students have been staying there. “We had graduation May 13, the students were out by May 15, and the property was boarded up early the next week,” Sauk President David Hellmich said. The complex was most recently
owned by United Housing and Community Services Corporation, a nonprofit based in Los Angeles. It was managed by BMOC Inc. of MadiDavid son, Wisconsin. Hellmich Tax-free revenue School president says bonds were used to a local person build the $7 million is interested in facility, for which reopening the the college has never facility been on the hook. “The college has no financial responsibilities for the building, but we do provide water and sewer, and we haven’t
received payment for that in months,” Hellmich said. Hellmich said the management company has done a “phenomenal job” under difficult circumstances – in fact, BMOC said it hasn’t been paid in a year and a half for its services. “We made sure the local vendors were paid first,” BMOC CEO William Levy said. Levy said he has been with Sauk Commons since it first opened for the 2005-06 school year, and he has great affection for the school and community.
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Sauk Commons, the student housing complex at Sauk Valley Community College, closed after the school year BOARDED continued on A44 ended last month. It is now in foreclosure.
THE PEOPLE’S VOICE | LESLEY O’RORKE OF ROCHELLE
CORDOVA PLANT
Losing ‘a good neighbor’ Worries abound after closure announcement BY BRIAN WELLNER Quad-City Times For The Associated Press
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Lesley O’Rorke, 27, of Rochelle, shows off the Family of Distinction award from Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies, which he received in recognition of him earning his commercial driver’s license, despite the fact that he was born deaf. Tri-County Opportunities Council, based in Rock Falls and serving nine counties, helped put the gears in motion for O’Rorke to get his CDL at Kishwaukee College in Malta.
Have drive, will travel christopher HEIMERMAN
Rochelle man rides help from Tri-County to CDL license
Heimerman is the Enterprise Projects Editor at Sauk Valley Media. He can be reached at cheimerman@ saukvalley. com or 815-625-3600, ext. 5523.
orn deaf, Lesley O’Rorke dreams of a life over the road, driving a semitrailer – not just for himself, but for all those who have been told they can’t. “I want to be an example, to show people they can do it,” he said through sign language interpreter Gary Ven Rooy on Tuesday at Tri-County Oppor-
B
Scattered thunderstorms
VOLUME 8 ISSUE 40 36 Pages
Today: 80/57 For the forecast, see Page A11
tunities Council in Rock Falls. “Deaf people can do anything, if they put their mind to it.” Tri-County, along with the Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies, has helped O’Rorke, a 27-year-old Rochelle resident, to the cusp of his dream. Through them, he got his commercial driver’s license at Kishwaukee College,
Business
Quaint Rock Falls quilt shop is also home to a charitable sewing circle. See Page C1
and was recently honored with one of 16 Family of Distinction awards through IACAA. “Lesley’s disability didn’t deter him from making his dream come true,” said Renee Barnhart, a community outreach specialist with whom O’Rorke worked extensively. PEOPLE’S VOICE continued on A54
Community Students at Open Sesame’s Summer Fun program look forward to their annual food fight. An SVM photo page captured the mayhem. See Page C12
CORDOVA – At Mr. Blue’s BBQ, the talk around the lunch table on Thursday zeroed in on Exelon’s announcement that it will close the nuclear power plant that has been in the backyard of this Mississippi River town of 750 people for more than 40 years. Mr. Blue’s customers say the impact will be catastrophic. “It’s going to hurt, big time,” said Bill Genung, who grabbed lunch with his wife, Penny. They have a farm right outside of town. “They’ve been a good neighbor,” said Penny Genung, a local volunteer firefighter. Their son worked as a security guard at the plant out of high school. The facility employs about 800 people. CLOSURE continued on A54
ONLINE EXTRA Heroin in the Sauk Valley
Did you miss our recent special section about the efforts to combat heroin abuse in the Sauk Valley? Go to saukvalley.com for free access to our stories about the initiatives and programs underway to help beat the addiction.
Index Births................. C5
Lottery............... A2
Business............ C1
Markets........... A12
Classified........... B7
Obituaries.......... A4
Comics.............. A8
Opinion.............. A6
Community...... C12
Scoreboard....... B6
Crossword Saturday.......... B11
Scrapbook........ C3
Crossword Sunday.............. C8
Support groups... C5
Dave Ramsey.... C1
Weather........... A11
Dear Abby......... C6
Wheels............ B12
Sports............... B1 Travel............... C10