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Full-court coverage of the Sauk Valley PREP BASKETBALL, B1
TEAM APPROACH TO RENTAL INSPECTIONS? STERLING & ROCK FALLS, A5
UPDATE | SHOOTING DEATH ON INTERSTATE 88
No charges against officer State’s attorney: Fatal shooting of Ohio man on I-88 was ‘justified’ BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 521
MORRISON – No charges will be filed against the state conservation police officer who shot and killed a motorist on Interstate 88 west of Rock Falls on Nov. 22, Whiteside County State’s Attorney Trish Joyce announced Friday. After an investigation into the death of Shane D. Cataline, 30, of Toledo, Ohio, Joyce issued a written decision that she
believes the shooting by Conservation Police Officer Steven Francisko was “justified.” She said deadly force was approp r i a t e b e c a u s e Whiteside County Cataline was using State’s a van in “a manner Attorney which was likely to Trish Joyce cause imminent death or great bodily harm” to an Illinois State Police officer whom Cataline had pinned.
The seven-page written decision includes a detailed description of the scene that day, as reconstructed by Joyce from scores of photographs, investigative reports, interviews, videos, and more. According to Joyce’s statement of facts from that day: On Nov. 22, 2013, the opening day of shotgun season for hunting deer, Francisko was patrolling rural Whiteside County when he decided to
Online extra
Go to saukvalley.com to read the complete copy of Whiteside County State’s Attorney Trish Joyce’s decision. investigate a van stopped on the side of the road. After approaching the van, Francisko identified himself and had a short conversation with Cataline, who said he was tired since he had been driving all of the day before. Cataline said he was heading to San Francisco. Francisko thought
THE PEOPLE’S VOICE | OGLE COUNTY SNOW PLOW DRIVERS
Cataline seemed confused. At 10:50 a.m., ISP Trooper Luke Kuehl arrived as backup for Francisko. Kuehl and Francisko talked briefly at Francisko’s car before the two approached Cataline’s van together. OFFICER CONTINUED ON A4
EDUCATION
An ‘act of God’ day? Schools – out of bad weather days – have another option BY MATT MENCARINI mmencarini@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 529
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Ogle County Highway Department plow driver Dave Boehle has had his work cut out for him this snowy season. The 14 members of the department have worked 53 of the last 55 days. Except foreman Joe Palmer. He worked Christmas, too, meaning he’s worked 54 days since Dec. 8.
Snowbound on the job Boehle and Co. already have endured a long winter
E
ver lie in bed at night, wondering whether you could’ve done a better job at work? Could you have closed another sale? Maybe you can’t remember whether you put a cover sheet on all of your TPS reports. Prepare to feel silly. Dave Boehle wonders whether he did enough to preserve the health – and lives, frankly –
christopher HEIMERMAN Heimerman is the Night News Editor at Sauk Valley Media. He can be reached at cheimerman@ saukvalley. com or 800-798-4085, ext. 523.
Snow
VOLUME 6 ISSUE 23 44 Pages
Today: 26/2 For the forecast, see Page A11
of his fellow man. “You never switch it off,” the longtime Oregon resident said while I rode along on his snow plowing route Tuesday morning. “You’re still thinking about, ‘Maybe I should’ve ran that route. ... Is that one still OK? Maybe that’s my first objective tomorrow.’ It’s very hard to shut it off.”
Whiteside folks want more jobs and a good quality of life, new survey says. See Page C1
SCHOOLS CONTINUED ON A2
COMMUNITY
Listen in Go to saukvalley. com to listen to a podcast of the interview with Ogle County plow driver Dave Boehle.
VOICE CONTINUED ON A8
Thinking ahead
STERLING – If area superintendents cancel another school day because of bad weather, they may have another decision to make. If school is canceled, superintendents will have 30 days to file a request for an “act of God day,” officials said. On Tuesday, Sauk Valley Media reported that once schools use up their five emergency days, any additional cancellations would result in the school year being extended. Bob Sondgeroth, regional superintendent for Whiteside County, said he had never – during his 10 years in the job – had to deal with schools using all of their emergency days.
Going for the gold Skater Kristi Yamaguchi celebrates the Olympic spirit Also inside USA Weekend: Falafel with tzatziki sauce Advice for weekend athletes Buying tips
Warmer days Tired of feeling cold? SVM photographers Alex T. Paschal and Philip Marruffo provide some sights for sore eyes. PAGE C12
Index Births................ C5 Markets .......... A10 Business........... C1 Nation ............ A11 Classified .......... D1 Obituaries ......... A4 Comics ............. B6 Opinion............. A6 Community ..... C12 Scoreboard .... B11 Scrapbook ....... C3 Crossword Saturday ........... D7 Sports .............. B1 Support groups .. C5 Crossword Sunday ............. C8 Travel .............. C10 Dear Abby ........ C6 Weather.......... A11 Lottery .............. A2 Wheels ............. D8