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Execution nears for RUNNERS COMPETE IN Oregon woman’s killer STERLING INVITATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY, B1
LOCAL, A5
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Monday, October 14, 2013
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
ILLINOIS PENSIONS
Panel divided on proposed fix Partisan split could further stall solution SPRINGFIELD (AP) – Four Republicans want a pension crisis fix to be more farreaching. One of six Democrats wants more concessions to unions. With the Illinois Legislature’s fall veto session a week away, an Associated Press survey of a special 10-member committee tasked with finding a solution to the state’s enormous public pension shortfall found that half the members, all Democrats, support a recently proposed plan estimated to
save about $138 billion. The other half – a key Democrat and all four Republicans – say they still have major concerns. A partisan split is developing as Republicans – three of whom are running for higher office next year – are demanding more information on additional cost-cutting measures, which could take weeks. “We know the Democrats can’t pass this on their own,” said Republican Sen. Bill Brady. “Unfortunately, I don’t see anything happening legislatively for at least 4 weeks at the earliest.” But with the committee serving as a microcosm of the General Assembly and its struggle over the issue, a Democratic
senator, Linda Holmes, also has yet to come on board. By law, the full Legislature cannot consider the emerging proposal unless it is signed by six of the committee’s 10 members. Here is a breakdown of where committee members stand:
Democrats
Sen. Kwame Raoul, Chicago: Raoul, AP file photo the committee chairman, who considered Pensions conference committee chaira campaign for governor, says he remains optimistic a plan can be brought for a vote man and State Sen. Kwame Raoul speaks during a bipartisan committee in the coming weeks. of Illinois lawmakers during its first public pension hearing June 27 in Chicago. PANEL CONTINUED ON A2
AMBOY
DIXON
Restoring the undisturbed
City Council to finalize settlement on Tuesday
Amboy Marsh opens to more than 200 visitors BY DEREK BARICHELLO dbarichello@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 526
AMBOY – More than 200 people caught a glimpse of what Illinois looked like about 300 years ago, before farming took over the landscape. Now, the public is welcome to do the same. The Amboy Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, a rare and fragile ecosystem, which includes endangered turtles and unique plant life, was showcased during an open house Saturday, and trails on the grounds were introduced to the public. The Illinois Audubon Society, with the help of a handful of organizations, acquired 272 acres of wetlands this past winter near the intersection of U.S. Route 52 and Mormon Road about 3 miles south of Amboy. Illinois has the second most disturbed soil in the United States, because of its strong agriculture, said Tom Clay, executive director of the Illinois Audobon Society, but this piece of land has managed to go mostly undisturbed.
Closed session for possible hire also on special meeting agenda BY DEREK BARICHELLO dbarichello@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 526
Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com
The Big Marsh, at Amboy Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, is a common place to see sandhill cranes in the morning and evening. The Amboy Marsh was opened Sunday for visitors to tour the grounds and hike the newly created trail system. The complex, interspersed Americans lived here,” Clay to buy the marsh and do reswith black oak savannas, sedge said. “This is the closest to toration work. The organizameadows and sand prairie, what I imagine the settlers tion kicked in an additional has unique natural features would’ve come across when $200,000 toward the project. that are home to one of the they first came 300 years ago.” No tax money was used to largest populations of nesting The state Audubon Soci- buy the land, and the nonBlanding’s turtles in the state – ety received more than $1 profit group is paying real an Illinois endangered species. million in grants from the estate taxes on the property, “This area was miles of Illinois Clean Energy Com- Clay said. marsh when the settlers first munity Foundation and the MARSH CONTINUED ON A3 came here, or when Native Grand Victoria Foundation
DIXON – The City Council on Tuesday will take the final step in approving the city’s $40 million settlement agreement with its former auditors and bank it blamed for the Rita Crundwell theft. The City Council is expected to give final approval during a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the second-floor council chambers, 121 W. Second St. The out-of-court agreement was approved Oct. 7, but had to be placed on file for public review for at least 7 days. Of the $40 million, $35.15 million was paid by CliftonLarsonAllen, the city’s auditor until 2005; $3.85 million by Fifth Third Bank, which handled the city’s checking accounts; and $1 million by Janis Card and Associates of Sterling, which took over the city’s audits in 2005 from Clifton until Crundwell’s arrest. SETTLEMENT CONTINUED ON A4
THE WEEK AHEAD
FRIDAY One last dance for Dixon, Sterling football teams With the Dixon Dukes moving to the Big Northern West next school year, Friday night will mark the last time that Sterling and Dixon will meet in a regular-season football game. The game starts at 7:30 p.m. at Sterling Chevrolet Field at Roscoe Eades Stadium. Here are the rest of the games in Week 8: Mendota at Oregon, 7 p.m.
Rock Falls at Burlington Central, 7 p.m. AFC at Warren, 7 p.m. Polo at River Ridge, 7 p.m. Dixon at Sterling, 7:30 p.m. Amboy at Fulton, 7:30 p.m. Bureau Valley at Riverdale, 7:30 p.m. Erie-Prophetstown at Morrison, 7:30 p.m. Newman at Sherrard, 7:30 p.m. Galena at West Carroll, 7:30 p.m. South Beloit at EPC, 7:30 p.m. East Dubuque at Milledgeville, 7:30 p.m.
MONDAY Sectional golf to compete Boys golfers in 1A and 2A and girls in Class AA will compete in sectionals with a chance to advance to the state tournament on Friday and Saturday. Local 2A boys will play at Park Hills Golf Course in Freeport. Class 1A boys will play at PrairieView in Byron. SVM’s lone remaining Class AA girls golfer Michala Smith, of Sterling, will play in Springfield.
ST. LUKE EPISCOPAL CHURCH CELEBRATES 175TH ANNIVERSARY. DETAILS ON PAGE A7. $1.00
TODAY’S EDITION: 20 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 163 ISSUE 116
INDEX
COMICS ...............B5 CROSSWORD....B10 DEAR ABBY ......... A8
LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2 NATION/WORLD...A10
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 SPORTS ...............B1
Today’s weather High 67. Low 50. More on A3.
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