TEL_02242014

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Dogs’ day ANOTHER TITLE FOR at local bar NEWMAN SENIOR

SPECIAL SECTION INSIDE

STATE WRESTLING, B1

STERLING, A11

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Monday, February 24, 2014

SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851

2014 ELECTION | REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOR LEE COUNTY SHERIFF

Dixon: Police wrong to weigh in Says ‘little doubt’ criticisms of Sheriff Varga an attempt to influence outcome BY DAVID GIULIANI dgiuliani@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 525 Former Dixon Mayor Jim Dixon

DIXON – Former Dixon Mayor Jim Dixon says there is “little doubt” that the Dixon Police Department’s leadership is trying to influence the race for Lee County sheriff.

Meanwhile, the police chief defended his department’s position. Dixon said the city’s commissioner of public safety should act to protect the department’s reputation. “I don’t think our police department should be giving the impression that it involves itself in partisan

politics, let alone the impression that it wants to take control of the sheriff’s office,” Dixon said in a letter to the editor that appeared in Saturday’s editions of Sauk Valley Media. “It has been a nonpartisan force operating without political influ-

ences and, consequently, has had the highest standing in our community,” Dixon wrote. The sheriff’s office, he said, should be independent and not “beholden” to the city police. POLICE CONTINUED ON A11

AMBOY

ROCK FALLS

Airman helps to restore memorial

Prepping for PercussionPalooza

Parents mailed paint needed for work BY MATT MENCARINI mmencarini@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 529

Photos by Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com

ABOVE: The Rhythm-Quest Performance Ensemble practices Sunday afternoon in Tabor Gym at Rock Falls High School for Percussion-Palozza, which will be held at 1 p.m. March 2 at the school. Rhythm-Quest draws members from across the Sauk Valley and into eastern Iowa and Wisconsin. Percussion-Palooza is an educational and entertainment event feature a solo and ensemble competition for snare drum, melodic percussion, multi-percussion, and drum set for Middle School (grades 5-8), High School (grades 9-12) and Senior (post-secondary) level percussionists. TOP: Amboy’s Paige Setchell plays the drum set during the Rhythm-Quest Performace Ensemble’s practice.

Matt and Dawn Moore were getting ready to send their son a Christmas care package when he called them from an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. Their son, 20-year-old Alex Moore, is an airman first class in the Air Force, assigned to the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. He called home that day looking to get his hands on some paint. Moore and several others were working to restore a memorial for Elizabeth Jacobson, the first female airman killed in the line of duty during the Iraq war and the first Security Forces member killed in conflict since Vietnam. She was killed in 2005 when a vehicle she was in hit an improvised explosive device – or IED. The memorial to Moore was dedicated later that year. “After nearly a decade of rough, dry climate the memorial has been severely worn,” Moore said in an email. It was his unit commander who first noticed the damage to the memorial, Moore said, while conducting routine post visits. The commander sent out an email to see whether anyone was interested in restoring the memorial. MEMORIAL CONTINUED ON A2

INSIDE Stephanie Swan of Geneseo practices Sunday afternoon in the color guard of the RhythmQuest Performance Ensemble. Rhythm-Quest will be hosting Percussion-Palooza, which will place an emphasis on performance. The top three preliminary performances will in each category at each level will receive awards. Individual champions will be announced and will perform at the event’s premier showcase, with exhibitions from Rhythm-Quest and by The Knights Alumni Drum Line.

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TODAY’S EDITION: 24 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 163 ISSUE 208

INDEX

Brian Haan of Rock Falls plays the vibraphone Sunday during the Rhythm-Quest Performance Ensemble practice. The PercusionPalooza on Sunday will feature guest percussionists Kevin Donka and Washbord Jo.

COMICS ............... A9 CROSSWORD B10-11 DEAR ABBY ......... A8

LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2 NATION/WORLD A12

OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 SPORTS ...............B1

New life for building A longtime area ambulance salesman who now lives in Dixon is breathing new life into a longvacant eyesore on Sterling’s West End. PAGE A3

Today’s weather High 20. Low 6. More on A3.

Need work? Check out your classifieds, B7.

TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE PAPER, CALL 815-284-2224 OR 800-798-4085


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