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ENTERTAINMENT, A9-12
ARTIST SEEKS HELP TO FUND TRIP
SECTIONAL STANDS IN WAY OF STATE PREP WRESTLING, B1
TELEGRAPH
Thursday, February 12, 2015
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
STERLING
LASC cleared of liquor violation Bartender says beer she bought was not for club BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
STERLING – The city’s Liquor Control Commission dropped a complaint against the Latin American Social Club, citing insufficient
evidence after a second hearing Wednesday morning. The first hearing, on Nov. 26, addressed a formal complaint that the club had bought nine cases of beer at the Casey’s convenience store across the street from the club at 2708 W. Fourth St. It is a violation of state statute and city ordinance to buy liquor from a retail outlet rather than a distributor.
The complaint had been filed with the Illinois Liquor Commission, and the club paid the state a $500 settlement instead of appearing for a hearing in Chicago. Club President Tony Ortiz said the payment was not an admission of guilt, rather it was done for financial reasons. “We didn’t do anything wrong, which the city discovered, too,” Ortiz said. “It was just cheaper
than getting an attorney and driving to Chicago. We decided to pay the settlement because the club has limited funds.” The incident considered by the commission occurred on Aug. 31, the Sunday before Labor Day. Illinois Liquor Control agent Keith Morehead testified first at Wednesday’s hearing. VIOLATION CONTINUED ON A4
Tony Ortiz LASC club president
ILLINOIS
MORRISON | RESTHAVE NURSING AND RETIREMENT HOME
$8M expansion nearly complete
Smiddy co-sposors minimum wage hike Bill would increase wage to $11 an hour by 2019 BY MATT MENCARINI mmencarini@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5529 @MattMencarini
Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com
At Resthave Nursing and Retirement Home in Morrison, residents play bingo Wednesday afternoon in one of the new dinning rooms in the new skilled nursing wing, which boasts 70 private rooms with baths – one for each resident.
Residents move into new, private rooms at nonprofit facility BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5521 @SeaWarren
MORRISON – A 2-year, $8 million expansion of Resthave Nursing and Retirement Home is nearly complete, and residents spent some time this week moving into their new, private digs. Expansion of the facility at
408 Maple Ave. was born of the idea that many nursing home residents want private rooms, not roommates. Resthave employee-turnedresident Marilyn Herrick was one such person. The 82-year-old New York state native, who has lived at Resthave with various roommates in recent years, is happy to have her own space.
“I think it’s beautiful, all of it,” she said Wednesday afternoon. “I’m excited about it. Every roommate that I’ve had, I had to watch out for. Nobody said, ‘You need to do this.’ But if you see someone falling out of bed, you’re not going to sit there and watch them, so I really had a lot of responsibility in my own mind for the other people.” The construction has more
than doubled the size of the nonprofit facility. The skilled nursing wing now has 70 private rooms with baths – one for each resident. The wing is ovalshaped and has a park-like garden inside the oval, as well as a therapy room and five rooms for skilled-care patients, who need physical rehabilitation.
Rep. Mike Smiddy is co-sponsoring a bill that would gradually increase Illinois’ minimum wage to $11 an hour by 2019. The Senate version of the bill passed Feb. 5 on a 35-18 vote. The bill now moves Rep. Mike to the House, Smiddy where it will be assigned to a committee. During the November election, an advisory question on the ballot asked voters whether the minimum wage should be raised to $10 an hour in 2015. Nearly 67 percent of voters approved the non-binding referendum. “I think that’s a mandate of the people of the state,” Smiddy said. “And as lawmakers who were elected by the individuals, we have to live up what they asked us to do.”
EXPANSION CONTINUED ON A2
SMIDDY CONTINUED ON A4
BIG HEARTS ON DISPLAY AT VALENTINE WORKSHOP IN DIXON Coming Saturday in SVWeekend • Night News Editor Christopher Heimerman will profile Kim Zera, the Dixon resident who organized the Valentine workshop for kids with autism and learning disabilities, in The People’s Voice. Zera’s 12-year-old son, Evan, is nonverbal autistic and has ADHD. • SVM Reporter Matt Mencarini will have a story on Florissa, a pediatric development center being opened by Kreider Services in downtown Dixon. The center will serve as a resource for families to help evaluate and diagnose children up to 18 with developmental disorders such as autism.
$1.00
TODAY’S EDITION: 28 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 163 ISSUE 200
Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
INDEX
ABBY ................... A8 BUSINESS ......... A13 COMICS ...............B7
CROSSWORD....B12 LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2
ABOVE: Volunteer Jake Ackman (left), 11, the son of occupational therapist Corrie Ackman, helps Josh Meyers with a project Wednesday evening at an autism workshop in Dixon. The workshop, organized by Kim Zera, gave families a chance to come together and enjoy crafts, food and interaction. LEFT: Occupational therapist Corrie Ackman invites LeRoy Higley (left), 5, into the sensory area, where she also works with Blake Jasper, 3. The sensory area allows children to let off some energy so they can get back to the crafts and structured environment.
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 POLICE ................ A2
Today’s weather High 13. Low 4. More on A3.
‘Idol’ watch
Venier moves on to next round, A2.
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