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COMETS TAKE ON TWO AT TOURNEY
Number of sledding hills on downward slope?
BOYS BASKETBALL, B1
WINTER RECREATION, A5
TELEGRAPH
Monday, January 5, 2015
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
ROCK FALLS | RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT
City receives $400K grant State awards maximum for green space project BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570
OAK PARK – Rock Falls will receive $400,000 from a state grant program to develop its green space project in the RB&W district. Gov. Pat Quinn was in Oak Park on Saturday to announce the recipients of $26 million from the Open
Space Land Acquisition and Development program that is administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and funded by the state real estate transfer tax. Rock Falls was one of 72 communities to receive funding for 75 projects statewide. The OSLAD awards are available for parks and other green space projects and
require a 50 percent match. After the city learned it had made it into the second round of competition, Mayor Bill Wescott gave a presentation on the green space plans Oct. 24 in Springfield. Wescott said he felt confident about getting the full amount after making the trip.
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GRANT CONTINUED ON A2
We won’t seek financing until we’re sure we can make payments with TIF money. We’re not looking to use any general fund money at all on this project.
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Robbin Blackert, city administrator, after Rock Falls was awarded $400,000 to develop the green space project in the RB&W district
LOCAL WEATHER | MOTHER NATURE’S WRATH
ILLINOIS | GOVERNOR’S OFFICE
She’s baaack ...
Taking one last quack at issues? Lame duck has a week to push for election, wage hike BY SOPHIA TAREEN AND KERRY LESTER The Associated Press
Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
Brett Schnake shovels snow as his 5-year-old daughter, Lola, plays in the snow piles Sunday afternoon in Dixon. Sauk Valley residents can expect another inch or 2 today, and – gulp – a potential historic low temperature Wednesday, when the forecast calls for 21 below ... without the wind chill.
Winter makes presence felt; more snow, potential record low coming BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570
Winter weather made its first notable appearance in the Sauk Valley over the weekend, and forecasts call for more snow and bitter cold throughout the week. Freezing rain, followed by a dusting of snow and fierce northwest winds, made for some tricky travel conditions late Saturday and most of Sunday. Temperatures started to drop Sunday as the wind gusts approached 37 mph, making about a half-inch of snow more problematic. “We’re seeing the snow, wind, and extreme cold, but
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Déjá vu, all over again? According to National Weather Service meteorologist Tim Gross, Wednesday’s low temperature could reach 21 below, which would be a record for that day, set in 1912. But, at least for now, the National Weather Service is projecting an average winter, in terms of snowfall and temps. See the local 5-day forecast on A3. luckily they won’t hit their peaks at the same time,” said Tim Gross, meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Quad Cities forecast office. Gross said the wind is expected to die down by the time a light, powdery snow returns at about 6 tonight, but the temperatures will continue to plummet. A winter storm watch calling for 4 to 6 inches of
INDEX
snow is in effect from 6 p.m. today to 6 p.m. Tuesday. A wind-chill advisory expires at noon today, with wind-chill values coming in between minus 18 and minus 22 degrees. The wind-chill advisories won’t be gone for long, however, as another cold front is expected to make its way to the area Wednesday morning, Gross said. The advisories will be back
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for Wednesday and Thursday. “The snow Monday night is from a fast-moving system out of the Dakotas, and it should move across Iowa and Illinois at about 6 p.m.,” Gross said. “After that, another shot of cold air from Canada should be here Wednesday morning.” That second cold front could bring a high of minus 4 degrees and a low of minus 21 on Wednesday. The wind chill could feel like minus 39 degrees. If the area does see minus 21, it would break the previous record of minus 20 for that day, set in 1912.
CHICAGO – Gov. Pat Quinn enters his final days in office with a last speech and special legislative session on the agenda, but it’s unclear whether fellow Democratic leaders will work with him on his proposal for a 2016 comptroller election or other issues he might raise. The Chicago Democrat has kept a lower profile since losing Nov. 4, aside from a weekend flurry of public stops. Political experts and lawmakers say his dwindling influence means little hope for a full commitment from legislators on his desire for an election to replace late Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka, or any last push to increase Illinois’ minimum wage. Aides also acknowledge the lower-key exit, saying he’s focused on slogging through clemency petitions and the transition of power to Republican Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner. Quinn addresses the City Club of Chicago’s business and civic leaders for a Tuesday luncheon – a setting where he’s previously floated new ideas, but this week could also talk about his legacy or future plans. ISSUES CONTINUED ON A3
Toby Keith will perform at Bruce Rauner’s Jan. 12 inauguration. More on A3. AP
WINTER CONTINUED ON A3
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 POLICE ................ A2
Today’s weather High 10. Low 5. More on A3.
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B6.
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