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ROCKFORD LUTHERAN HANDS ROCK FALLS LOSS
Groundhog star of party
GIRLS BASKETBALL, B1
DAY TRIP, A7
TELEGRAPH Friday, January 15, 2016
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
DIXON
New task force names its officers
At first meeting, Mayor Arellano urges all 11 members to share ideas bers has a chance to shape history. The Dixon One task force met for the first time Thursday night, and will get together every second and fourth Tuesday to plan the merger of Main Street, the Riverfront and Dixon Tourism into – you guessed it – Dixon One. “It’s my vision and the council’s
BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5525 @JPigee84
DIXON – The group charged with the task of consolidating Dixon’s marketing bodies has its officers. But each of the group’s 11 mem-
vision to not be formal,” Mayor Li Arellano Jr. said. “We want you to be comfortable sharing and critiquing ideas. We want everyone’s input.” The task force voted to name Gary Gehlbach, chairman of the Lee County Industrial Development Association, as its chairman; Dave Hellmich,
first-year president of Sauk Valley Community College, was named vice chairman; and Ryan Marshall, a board member with the Dixon Area Chamber of Commerce and Main Street, will serve as secretary. OFFICERS CONTINUED ON A4
Li Arellano Jr. Dixon mayor
ROCK FALLS | FATAL FIRE
ILLINOIS BUDGET IMPASSE | LOCAL IMPACT
Navigating road with no MAP
Community reaches out to surviving children Cause not yet known in Wednesday morning blaze BY KATHLEEN A. SCHULTZ kschultz@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5535 @KathleenSchul10
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Annette Cady of Dixon, a nursing student at Sauk Valley Community College, is pinching pennies and cutting back on pencils in the absence of her usual state MAP grant. It might not seem like much, but that $212 she received last semester helped pay for transportation, books, and required materials for classes.
Sauk students coping with life without financial help from state BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 @CHeimerman_SVM
DIXON – Without her Monetary Award Program grant, Sauk Valley Community College nursing student Annette Cady is being very judicious about the number of No. 2 pencils she buys.
The 20-year-old Dixonite has left no stone unturned since she found out the college would not be picking up the state’s tab this semester. Classes resumed Monday. She received $212 last semester, which she used for transportation, books, and required materials for classes.
But for the sake of her mental health, she also was able to occasionally go out for a meal with friends. She had to put the kibosh on that practice. “I miss it quite a bit, because going out with friends for social interaction and special occasions is important,” she said.
She also hunts for bargains on school supplies. “Instead of buying a case of pencils, I’ll just buy a few and make them last,” she said. “It’s mainly about tightening the belt. Basically, I just don’t spend as much in other areas where I would normally.” MAP CONTINUED ON A2
ROCK FALLS – People far and wide, moved by the tragedy that took the lives of five family members, are opening their hearts and wallets in an effort to help the two surviving children lay their parents and siblings to rest. Patrick and Mary Hopkins, and their children, Maggie, 26, Donovan, 16, and Katie Jo, 13, were killed in a fire Wednesday morning at their home at 414 Second Ave. A cause has not been determined, but it is presumed to be accidental, fire officials have said. Two other children, Becca, 21, and John, 23, were not at the house that night. As of 10 p.m. Thursday, two Go Fund Me accounts set up to help pay funeral and other expenses had raised more than $25,000. One account, the Hopkins Family Memorial Fund, raised $17,879 from 293 donors in 1 day. Its goal is $30,000. It was set up by Phil Adams, Mary Hopkins’ brother. COMMUNITY CONTINUED ON A4
TOP5 Your Weekend
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Free pops concert in Sterling
STERLING – The Sterling Municipal Band’s 22nd annual Pops Concert is tonight at Abiding Word Church, 806 E. Lynn Blvd. Admission is free; doors open at 6. Music will include arrangements from the “Star Wars” movie franchise by John Williams. Call Jon James, 815-6221681, for more information.
$1.00
TODAY’S EDITION: 24 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 164 ISSUE 181
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Blues and Bluegrass
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FRANKLIN GROVE – If it’s the third Friday of the month, it’s Blues and Bluegrass night at the H.I. Lincoln Building, 136 N. Elm St. Open-stage acoustic gospel, folk, country, blues and bluegrass will be performed, beginning at 7 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are accepted to help with the upkeep of the historic building. Go to franklingroveil.org for more information.
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Wine- and beer-tasting
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DIXON – A wine and beer tasting and fine dessert auction to benefit Catholic education in Dixon runs from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 506 W. Third St., The Crystal Cork will provide the beer and wine. Admission is $15 and includes 10 sample tickets and chances to win door prizes. Hors d’oeuvres and entertainment will be provided. The dessert auction will feature goodies made from local cooks. Tickets are available at the door, at St. Anne School, 1112 N. Brinton Ave., St. Mary School, 704 S. Peoria Ave., or by calling Gary at 815-994-1368 or 815-288-1821.
ABBY ................... A8 BUSINESS ......... A11 COMICS ............... A9
CROSSWORD......B9 LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2
Out-of-town chuckles
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DeKALB – Comedian Brian Regan performs at 8 tonight at the Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St. Tickets cost $42.50 and are available at egyptiantheatre. org, at 815-758-1225, or at the box office. Regan appeared on the “Late Show with David Letterman” 28 times, the most of any comic since the show moved to CBS in 1993. Go to brianregan.com or follow him on Twitter, @BrianReganComic, to learn more about him.
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 SPORTS ...............B1
At The Next Picture Show
DIXON – The Regional Survey of Art 12 exhibit runs through Feb. 29 at the gallery, 113 W. First St. A display of Paul Kuehl’s work ends today; galleryowned artwork will be shown Saturday through Jan. 31. Go to thenextpictureshow. com for more details.
Today’s weather High 37. Low 17. More on A3.
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