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LOCALS DUKE IT OUT FOR STATE BERTHS WRESTLING, B1
DIXON, A3
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Monday, February 16, 2015
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
DIXON | SEIZURE OF CRUNDWELL ASSETS
Fed: Trophies represent motive Government says unless they’re seized, ex-comptroller benefits from crime BY MATT MENCARINI mmencarini@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5529 @MattMencarini
DIXON – The U.S. government filed its response to former Comptroller Rita Crundwell’s efforts to retain ownership of
about 700 trophies and other possessions. The response, filed Friday evening, said that allowing Crundwell to keep the items, because their value might be more sentimental, would allow her to benefit from her theft.
“This is especially true for Ms. Crundwell’s substantial trophy collection, as these awards represent the primary motivation of her massive fraud,” the response said. “Until Ms. Crundwell has satisfied this court’s forfeiture
order, all of her assets can be forfeited.” The response came a little more than 2 weeks after Crundwell and her attorney, Ruth Robinson, filed a response to a December motion to seize trophies she won during horse
competitions, various pieces of artwork, a computer, her show clothing, bicycles, patio chairs, two motorized scooters, and an all-terrain vehicle, among other household items. TROPHIES CONTINUED ON A4
STERLING | MURAL SERIES
NEWS ANALYSIS | ILLINOIS BUDGET
No more missing Lincoln?
Gap not likely to be filled in 2015 Governor scheduled to lay out his budget at noon Wednesday BY KERRY LESTER The Associated Press
SVM file photo
The mural “The President’s Corner” has graced 1 East Third St. at Locust Street since Don Gray painted it in 2005. Sixteenth among 19 works in the downtown Sterling series, it includes President Abraham Lincoln, but a more Lincoln-centric work will be dedicated in late July on the corner of East Third Street and Seventh Avenue.
Honest Abe-themed painting planned near Manahan home BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
STERLING – In 1995, the first in a series of murals painted to bring the city’s history to life was finished in the downtown. “Old Downtown” by Dan Peter Sawatzky was dedicated on the west wall of the courthouse in the 200 block of First Avenue. The painting takes viewers back to East Third and Locust streets, circa 1907. Eighteen murals followed, the most recent being “The Lincoln Highway Radio Show,” completed 2 years ago.
The mural on the north wall of Grummert’s Hardware at Locust and East Fifth streets was a gift from the Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition. Now under the guidance of Sterling Main Street, the Sterling Mural Society is marking 20 years of artistic contributions to the downtown. Plans are underway for a 20th mural to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the movement. “Lincoln in Sterling” will be the theme of the painting, and its location has been chosen to tie in with the SterlingRock Falls Historical Society’s Manahan Home. MURAL CONTINUED ON A2
How to help Donations to the Sterling Mural Society can be mailed in care of Sterling Main Street, P.O. Box 261, Sterling, IL 61081. Donation forms are available at the Sterling Welcome Center and Gallery, 318 First Ave., or at the Sterling Main Street office at 17 E. Third St. They are also online at sterlingmainstreet.org. For more information, call Sterling Main Street at 815626-8610.
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner will lay out his plan Wednesday to confront an unprecedented fiscal crisis exacerbated by the recent expiration of the state’s temporary income tax increase. The expiration means a multibillion-dollar revenue loss that could foreshadow big spending cuts and test Rauner’s campaign pledge to not raise taxes. By law, Rauner Bruce Rauner must develop a budget based on currently available funds. But the loss of the additional income tax revenue last month leaves a gaping hole for the remainder of this fiscal year and next year. Rauner has been tight-lipped about his plan, but the Republican offered some hints in his State of the State address this month and at recent stops around Illinois. GAP CONTINUED ON A4
ILLINOIS | COUNTY FAIRS
Fair question: How valuable are they? Study shows promising economic benefits, despite cuts in funding BY NICK SWEDBERG The Associated Press
SPRINGFIELD – The more than 100 Illinois county fairs generated an estimated $170 million in spending last year, but continue to see a decline in state funds that reimburse vital costs, according to a University of Illinois economic impact study. The study, released Friday, found spending at the fairs
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totaled about $170 million in 2014. About $90 million of spending occurred at the events while the rest was in the community surrounding the fairgrounds. The findings paint a positive picture of the economic benefit the fairs bring the state, despite a decline in the number of farms in rural Illinois counties for decades. County fair advocates hope the study attracts the atten-
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ABBY ................... A7 COMICS ...............B6 CROSSWORD....B11
tion of state leaders to increase funding to county fairs. “Over the last several years, we have received tremendous cuts and, hopefully, we’ll be able to stop that bleeding and realize the impact we’re still having with county fairs throughout the state,” said Bill Jennings, Richland County Fair board president. FAIR CONTINUED ON A3
LIFESTYLE ........... A9 LOTTERY ............. A2 OBITUARIES ........ A4
Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
OPINION .............. A6 POLICE ................ A2 SPORTS ...............B1
Today’s weather High 19. Low 6. More on A3.
Brynn Schneider of Sterling kisses her 4-month-old calf Aug. 14, 2014, at the Whiteside County Fair. A study of the state’s 104 county fairs says cuts in state funds and a lack of interest from younger people are affecting the fairs.
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