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Thursday, January 2, 2014
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
LOCAL WEATHER ILLINOIS
New year greeted by snow onslaught But no accidents get reported on New Year’s Eve BY MATT MENCARINI mmencarini@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 529
Photo Illustration by Alex T. Paschal and Michael Krabbenhoeft
While pension reform has generated many headlines of late, all told, more than 200 rules and regulations are on the books for 2014 in Illinois.
More than 200 new rules take effect MONIQUE GARCIA MCT News Service
It was a history-making year at the Illinois Capitol, with lawmakers legalizing gay marriage, allowing medical marijuana for those with chronic illnesses, permitting concealed handguns and approving major changes
to the government worker pension system. But those high-profile measures represent just a handful of new laws to be put on the books, with more than 200 rules and regulations that took effect Wednesday. The laws affect everything from how stu-
dents are taught sex education in public schools to who can use a tanning bed to how dogs can be legally tethered outside. “Obviously, pension reform was the big issue and I think nothing else even came close to that in terms of the importance to the people of this
state,” Senate Republican leader Christine Radogno of Lemont said. “But I think a lot of the legislation we undertook really reflects the concerns of the day. They are all issues that across the country are very timely right now.” LAWS CONTINUED ON A5
RAIN, SLEET OR SNOWSTORM, FENWICK RIDES B.J. Fenwick readies his ride to continue the 20-year New Year’s Day tradition of biking around the city of Dixon. Fenwick received several calls early Wednesday morning from riders who decided to sit this one out. But a day better set for snow plows and skis couldn’t stop Fenwick from keeping his tradition alive – even if he was the only cyclist to embrace the challenge. See photos of his snowy trek around Dixon on A3.
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STERLING – The new year in the Sauk Valley started with snow and a winter weather advisory from the National Weather Service. The weather service issued the advisory at 11:05 a.m. for Sterling and Rock Falls, and for Dixon at 11:54 a.m. Other cities, like Oregon, Rockford, Clinton and Mount Carroll, were also included in those advisories. Both advisories were set to expire at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Snow accumulation estimates from the National Weather Service Dixon Water ranged from 4 to 7 Superintendent inches. Rusty Cox A Dixon water main broke, near the intersection of Second Street and Crawford Avenue, affecting 14 homes, according to Dixon Water Superintendent Rusty Cox. While the break happened near KSB Hospital, Cox did not believe the hospital was affected, adding that work to fix the water main could be completed Wednesday afternoon, barring any significant damage. Police received the call about the break at approximately 11:04 a.m., Sgt. Mike Wolfley said. Half of the homes affected were on East Second Street, between Crawford Avenue and Dement Avenue, Cox said, and the other half were along Dement Avenue. The residents were notified, he said. Today’s weather is expected to be windy, with gusts between 10 and 20 mph, and temperatures in the single digits, according to the National Weather Service, which didn’t predict snow in the area until Saturday. Tomorrow’s high is expected to be between 12 and 14 degrees, with winds gusts that could reach up to 20 mph, according to the National Weather Service. Despite Wednesday’s weather conditions, there were few traffic accidents in the area. Because of the holiday, more people were at home and not on the roads, as opposed to a typical Wednesday, Wolfley said. “Thus far, everything has gone well for us,” he said at about 1 p.m. There were no reported accidents from Tuesday night.
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com TODAY’S EDITION: 24 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 163 ISSUE 171
INDEX
COMICS ...............B6 CROSSWORD....B11 DEAR ABBY ....... A11
LOTTERY ............. A2 OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6
PLAN!T ................. A7 POLICE ................ A2 SPORTS ...............B1
SNOW CONTINUED ON A2
Today’s weather High 8. Low -17. More on A3.
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B7.
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