Your source for community news and sports 7 days a week.
GET PRIMED FOR BIG GAME BETWEEN HAWKS, PROPHETS
Check the agenda for council meetings STERLING, ROCK FALLS, A3
GIRLS BASKETBALL, B1
TELEGRAPH
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
ELECTION 2014 | LEE COUNTY SHERIFF RACE
Police official criticizes Varga Department brass backs incumbent’s challenger BY DAVID GIULIANI dgiuliani@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 525
DIXON – The second-incommand at the Dixon Police Department says Lee County Sheriff John Varga has committed of “a series of critical mistakes” in major investigations. In a letter to the editor to Sauk Valley Media printed in today’s edition, Dixon police Lt. Brad Sibley said Varga impeded the investigation into the 1983 murder of Gary D. Dawson of Peoria, whose body was found in Lee County. Sibley supports Varga’s opponent, John Simonton, a Dixon police officer, in the March 18 Republican primary. Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com Varga said Sibley’s letter Lee County Sheriff John Varga smiles as Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Channahon, greets supporters of Varga’s re-election camdidn’t surprise him. paign during a meet-and-greet Monday evening at the Elks Lodge in Dixon. Varga and his challenger, John Simonton, also a CRITICIZES CONTINUED ON A10 Republican, both held meet-and-greets Monday. Meanwhile, a Dixon Police Department lieutenant criticized Varga’s decisions.
Simonton: It takes a county Plenty of support for Ex-state lieutenant the ‘homegrown kid’ shares regional vision over coffee
State representative among 40 at Varga’s meet-and-greet event
BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 521
FRANKLIN GROVE – About 13 people – friends, family, and supporters of John Simonton – gathered at Franklin Grove’s Lincolnway Cafe early Monday morning, braving hazardous road conditions to come out and support the man they think should be Lee County’s next sheriff. Simonton, an officer with the Dixon Police Department, was dressed in a denim shirt embroidered
BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 521 Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Lee County Sheriff candidate John Simonton speaks with customers during a meet-and-greet Monday morning at the Lincolnway Cafe in Franklin Grove. with “John Simonton for Sheriff.” The group of people drank coffee and chatted among themselves as Simonton made his
rounds, introducing himself to people eating breakfast and sipping on their morning coffee. COUNTY CONTINUED ON A2
DIXON – Lee County Sheriff John Varga knows everyone in the room. Or if he doesn’t, you’d never know. He treats them all just like old friends. About 40 supporters showed up to his meet and greet Monday night at Dixon’s Elks Lodge, including members of his family, Lee County Board members and Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Channahon, who has endorsed Varga
in his re-election bid. Guests milled about, sipping drinks and munching on snacks that his campaign committee had laid about the rather large room. Gary Presley, 53, grew up with Varga. “He represents the county,” Presley said. “He has strong family values. He knows the county. He’s been here all his life. He’s done a good job. “He’s a homegrown kid. That’s what you want, a homegrown kid. ... He’s who we need.” Varga has been Lee County Sheriff since 2006 and has more than 19 years experience in the criminal justice field. HOMEGROWN CONTINUED ON A4
ELECTION 2014 | GOVERNOR RACE
Candidates back new building plan Quinn: Nearly completed $31B project creates thousands of jobs SPRINGFIELD (AP) – With the largest statewide public construction program in Illinois history nearing its end, all of the 2014 candidates for governor say the state should approve another one. But their ideas on what it should look like and how to pay for it vary. Gov. Pat Quinn, a Chicago Democrat seeking re-election, signed the current capital construction program weeks
$1.00
TODAY’S EDITION: 28 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 163 ISSUE 204
after taking office in 2009. The 6-year, $31 billion statewide initiative was the first of its kind in about a decade, and Quinn’s office says it has been used to fix thousands of miles of roads, update transit systems and put thousands of people to work. Quinn has said he expects the Legislature to consider a new plan this spring. He told The Associated Press his admin-
INDEX
istration is still looking into how to fund it, but suggested the state could eliminate some corporate tax breaks – which he described as “loopholes” – to come up with some of the money. Lawmakers approved video gambling and tax hikes on liquor and other products to help pay for the current building program.
ABBY ................... A8 COMICS ............. A12 CROSSWORD....B14
BUILDNG CONTINUED ON A4
LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2 OBITUARIES ........ A4
AP
OPINION .............. A6 OBITUARIES ........ A4 SPORTS ...............B1
Today’s weather High 39. Low 18. More on A3.
Cars pass a road construction project Feb. 3 in Springfield. With the largest public construction program in Illinois history nearing its end, all of the candidates for governor in 2014 say the state should approve another one.
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B6.
TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE PAPER, CALL 815-284-2224 OR 800-798-4085