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CATCHING UP WITH KEANU INTERONE
BUSINESS DECISIONS IN LIGHT OF NEW LAW CONCEALED CARRY, A9
COLLEGE SWIMMING, B1
AGRICULTURE | RENEWABLE FUELS STANDARD
Farmers push ‘growth industry’ Ag community fights proposed cut to fuel standard BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 570
Farmers and other supporters of biofuels have been working relentlessly to derail proposed cuts in renewable fuel standards before the 60-day public comment period ends Tuesday. Last November, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed a renewable fuels quota of 15 billion to 15.52 billion gallons for 2014, a cut of about 18 percent from the previously set standard of 18.15 billion gallons. The standard applies to corn-based etha-
nol as well as biodiesel made from soybeans and cellulosic products. The proposed change in the amount of biofuels that can go into Americans’ gas tanks has sent fear into grain and energy markets, and threatened the stability of investments with biofuels producers. “We’ve really been gearing up for our efforts against the EPA proposal,” said Jill Frueh, manager of the Bureau County Farm Bureau. Those efforts include an Illinois Farm Bureau petition drive that warns of the damage the EPA cut-
backs could do to the ethanol and biodiesel industries. Jim Rapp, who raises corn north of Princeton, is District IV director of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board. As an investor in Patriot Renewable Fuels in Annawan, he has been heavily involved in efforts to defeat the EPA proposal. “We’ve sent out emails, news releases, and encouraged people to contact EPA to tell them how important ethanol is to the American farmers,” Rapp said. FARMERS CONTINUED ON A10
Phillip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
Don Temple empties the corn from his combine into a chaser bin on his land in western Whiteside County. For the past 2 years, Temple’s corn crop has gone to an ADM ethanol plant in Clinton, Iowa. He farms about 500 acres of corn and 150 acres of soybeans.
WEEKEND FEATURE| ROCK FALLS
WHITESIDE COUNTY
So many options, obstacles to plan County works on blueprint for future development BY KATHLEEN A. SCHULTZ kschultz@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 535
Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
Cliff and Matt Sexton, a father and son who as part of operating Sexton’s Lawn Service plow snow, stand at the intersection of 10th Avenue and West Seventh Street in Rock Falls, where they found an older woman walking in the middle of the road Tuesday morning, wearing only pajamas and one slipper.
Snow angels
PLAN CONTINUED ON A5
Snow plow team finds woman in pajamas wandering streets BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 521
ROCK FALLS – The life of a Rock Falls woman was likely saved by two snowplow drivers who found her wandering the streets in sub-zero temperatures. Cliff and Matt Sexton, a father and son team who
operate Sexton’s Lawn Service, were plowing roads in Rock Falls early Tuesday when they saw an older woman walking in the middle of the road, wearing only pink pajamas and one slipper. “We were like, ‘What’s going on? Why is she out walking at 2 o’clock in the morning?’”
Mostly cloudy
VOLUME 6 ISSUE 22 44 Pages
Today: 20/3 For the forecast, see Page A11
Matt said. “And she was just in pajamas.” The temperature that morning was around minus 15, he said. They pulled up to a stop sign, and Cliff called out to her. “She says some man stole her car,” Cliff said. “She’s in pajama pants and one slipper. Nothing on her other
Touch of rehab
Renovation continues at future home of Touch of Thai II in Rock Falls. See Page C1
foot, and the road hasn’t been plowed or nothing, and she’s saying someone took her car.” They decided they should get the woman warm, and quickly. Cliff told her to get into the truck, and Matt gave her a pair of gloves. ANGELS CONTINUED ON A11
Super recipes Wow your guests with chicken wings, chile and more Also inside USA Weekend: Cold and flu remedies Hottest guys in entertainment Camera tips
MORRISON – What’s more valuable, a field of prime farmland, or the 20 or so jobs the company that wants to locate there can bring? How do you bring more business to an underutilized airport? Persuade a railroad to build a third line? Should there be more, or fewer, regulations regarding development near streams and rivers? Should the county commit more tax dollars to attract and retain businesses? What kind of businesses?
COMMUNITY
The beauty of winter Life in the Sauk Valley can be quite picturesque amid the snow and cold, as today’s collection of photos shows. PAGE C12
Index Births................ C5 Markets .......... A11 Business........... C1 Obituaries ......... A4 Classified .......... D1 Opinion............. A6 Comics ............. B6 People’s Voice .. A3 Community ..... C12 Scoreboard ...... B7 Scrapbook ....... C3 Crossword Saturday ........... D6 Sports .............. B1 Support groups .. C5 Crossword Sunday ............. C8 Travel .............. C10 Dear Abby ........ C9 Weather.......... A11 Lottery .............. A2 Wheels ............. D8