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GALENA INCHES PAST ERIE
For now, life’s a bowl of cherries for Duchesses
GIRLS BASKETBALL, B1
GIRLS BOWLING, B1
TELEGRAPH Friday, February 19, 2016
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
DIXON | HISTORIC THEATER
Who takes the stage? Two sides don’t see eye-to-eye on how to return an aging star of downtown to a starring role BY JERMAINE PIGEE AND KATHLEEN A. SCHULTZ 815-625-3600, ext. 5525 @JPigee84
DIXON – A world-renowned playwright and Dixon native wants to buy the Historic Dixon Theatre and turn it into a major regional entertainment venue. The nonprofit board that has managed the theater since 1997 has said no thanks, citing what it considers a meager $80,000 offering for a building one member says is worth $3 million to $6 million. The problem is, the theater, built in 1922 and now
rented only for the occasional event, is owned by the county. Probably. “The details on the Dixon Theatre are really murky,” county board Chairman Rick Ketchum said. Jeanie Linders, writer and producer of “Menopause: The Musical” and owner of an event-planning and production company, approached the theater group around April 2014, ultimately offering $80,000 for the building, which she said could be the centerpiece of a downtown art district. The price reflects the fact that it needs major renovations and repairs. Before she can book shows, “the dressing rooms need to be updated because they are in bad shape. The ceiling in the theater is falling down and the walls are crumbling on the side,” she said. THEATER CONTINUED ON A4
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Tom Elmendorf, caretaker of the Historic Dixon Theatre, isn’t opposed to having the theater take center stage in downtown Dixon’s redevelopment efforts, but he’s uncomfortable with the plan that’s been floated by a Dixon native and world-renowned playwright.
SAUK VALLEY EDUCATION
Open minds make a statement worthy of an award
Faith Christian School junior Shianne Warner wears a gory mask Feb. 10 that was crafted by Ohio High School junior Haley Mioner at the Whiteside Area Career Center, leading up to the Digital Media Arts program’s first Cos War competition.
BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 @CHeimerman_SVM
Media matters Students are the stars in a program that helps hone career skills
Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com More 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 Online: Read @CHeimerman_SVM this story at
STERLING – Once a striking young lady, Kelsey Simpson looked a fright – her eye blackened as black as night, her right arm grotesquely burned, a stomach-turning gash across the right side of her throat. Isabelle Carreno and Sierra Williams couldn’t have been prouder. Except for the black eye. “I think I need to work on the black eye a little,” said Isabelle, a senior at Amboy High School. “It needs a little love.” The most startling development: The bloodied Kelsey didn’t win the first Cos War mask-design competition through the Digital Media Arts program at Whiteside Area Career Center, which was based on the popular TV show “Face Off.” MEDIA CONTINUED ON A11
TOP5
Your Weekend
1
Trio in Morrison
MORRISON – The Jim Brady Trio will perform at 7 p.m. Sunday at Emmanuel Reformed Church, 202 E. Morris St. Doors open at 6; admission is by donation. The church is handicapped accessible. Go to jimbradytrio.com for more on the group. Call the church office at 815772-3890 for more on the concert.
$1.00
TODAY’S EDITION: 28 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 164 ISSUE 206
2
Dust off that leisure suit
DIXON – All area adults are invited to an Ugly Prom at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Dixon Elks Lodge, 1279 Franklin Grove Road, a benefit for Sinnissippi Centers Community That Cares program. Participants must be at least 21. Promgoers can wear what they want, but are encouraged to wear “ugly” prom outfits, including leisure suits. A royal court will be crowned. Tickets are $25, or $40 for a pair, which includes dinner. Call 815-284-6611, ext. 273 or 316, for tickets or more information.
INDEX
3
Get pampered, ladies
4
MOUNT CARROLL – The 10th annual Ladies Pampered Day Out fundraiser for the Patriots Relay for Life team runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Church of God, 816 S. Clay St. Tickets are $15 in advance at all Triumph Community Bank, Savanna-Thomson State Bank, Mount Carroll Banking Center, Milledgeville State Bank, Lanark Exchange Bank, and Shannon-Polo State Bank branches; as well as Flower Fan-A-See in Mount Carroll. They are $18 at the door. Admission is free for vendoronly shopping. Call 815-541-4628 or 815218-7496 for more information.
ABBY ................... A8 BUSINESS ......... A12 COMICS ...............B7
CROSSWORD....B12 DAY TRIP ............. A7 LIFESTYLE ........... A7
saukvalley.com to see behind-thescenes work in the Digital Media Arts program. Inside: The Whiteside Area Career Center’s 50th birthday is a great excuse for blowout coverage: Page A11 Little lessons make a big difference in teens’ lives: Page A5
OREGON – For the second straight year, a Sauk Valley high school won a statewide public service announcement competition through the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Last year, it was Fulton High. This year, a team of students from the Open Program at Oregon High took top honors in the fourth ICADV Teen Dating Abuse Video Challenge. Another flock of Hawks took third, too. The 60-second PSA juxtaposes two synced-up scenes from a high school courting scenario. On the left, the young man, played by Paul Reckamp, is rejected by a girl played by Rosie Sarantakos. Put off by her interactions with other guys and her objection to his physical advances, he eventually resorts to violence. OPEN MINDS CONTINUED ON A3
Grab a laugh at the Happy Spot
DEER GROVE – Chicago Comic Jeff Arcuri will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday at Arnie’s Happy Spot, 1667 Hoover Road. Tickets are $5 for the show only, or $11 with a chicken dinner, in advance. Show-only tickets also are available at the door, which opens at 6:30 p.m. The food special runs from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Go to jeffarcuri.com for more information.
LOTTERY ............. A2 OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6
5
Take in a talent show
ROCK FALLS – The Rock Falls Junior Optimist Talent Show begins at 7 p.m. Saturday at Rock Falls High, 101 12th Ave. Admission is $3, which includes cookies, brownies and drinks. High-schoolers will perform, as will comic Tom Garland, who’s done a handful of HBO specials. The competition portion will feature judges made up of Junior Optimists mimicking “American Idol’s” celebrity panel, then the audience will vote. The winners will get prizes, and all the proceeds go to the club, and to a charity to be determined.
Today’s weather High 56. Low 36. More on A3.
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