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DIXON INCHES PAST ROCHELLE
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Wednesday, February 24, 2016
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
DIXON ONE
City could use a coordinated effort Group says marketing and events coordinator would help enhance what city has to offer BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5525 @JPigee84
DIXON – Dixon has a lot to offer, so how can it make what it already has even better? Market it. Coordinate it. And get someone do both of those things. During a Dixon One meeting Tuesday, the group tasked with creating a one-
stop shop for marketing, tourism and development kicked around the possibility of having a marketing and events coordinator to enhance the city’s image. “My concept is there would be a marketing director in charge of the marketing and event functions,” task force chairman Gary Gehlbach said. “That same person would also coordinate and market Dixon and make it look the best it can. I would want someone
professional to look at how we can best enhance what Dixon has to offer.” He said the coordinator could either become a city employee, or part of another organization. Gehlbach wasn’t the only one who thought the idea had merit. “Marketing for us is one of the biggest expenses outside of paying for the artists coming in,” said Tom Elmendorf, head of Dixon Theater Renovation Inc. “Market-
A spring in their step Sterling Park District weight loss program draws rave reviews, and big crowds STERLING – There are a lot of reasons nearly 200 people signed up for the Sterling Park District Spring Fever Weight Loss Challenge at Westwood Fitness & Sports Center. Better health, camaraderie, and the
COORDINATOR CONTINUED ON A4
ILLINOIS BUDGET BATTLE | LOCAL IMPACT
HEALTH AND FITNESS
BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 @CHeimerman_SVM
ing is where you are able to sell tickets.” While the committee agreed on the need for marketing Dixon, some members want to make sure the group knows how to market itself. Dana Considine, president of the Dixon Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, is worried about Dixon One groups losing their identity.
most positive possible form of peer pressure turned the door leading into the west wing of Building 1 into a turnstile Tuesday night. Let’s not forget the 21-visit punch card each participant got – it’s valid as long as they keep weighing in every Tuesday.
Dirt poor
With state funding on hold, soil and water conservation offices are in danger of closing BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
Online extra Read this story at saukvalley. com to hear from weight loss program participants – while they work out.
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Daily operations at the state’s 97 water and soil conservation districts could cease if the state doesn’t come to a budget agreement soon. The agencies receive funding from the Illinois Department of Agriculture, and the payments have been suspended since the state’s new fiscal year started July 1. The last time the agencies received a payment was March 2015. The Whiteside County Soil and Water Conservation District shares office space at 16255 Liberty St. in Morrison with Natural Resources Conservation Services, a federally funded agency. Four federal employees work there, while only two state Without additional SWCD employees are at the county office – Patrifunding, we’ll have cia Paxson, the adminto close our doors istrative and education in September coordinator, and Dave or October. Harrison, the county’s resource conservationDave Cook, ist. Hours have been Whiteside County Soil and Water Conservation cut for the coordinator District Board chairman position. A special board meeting was held Tuesday to discuss the agency’s dire financial situation. Some districts have already laid off people, and lost staff through attrition. Board Chairman Dave Cook said the window is narrowing for continuing services. “We’re a nontaxing body, so we are totally dependent on the state for funding,” Cook said. “Without additional funding, we’ll have to close our doors in September or October.” Making matters worse, funding had been gradually drying up even before the state budget mess. “The county gives us some money, but that’s dropped from $15,000 to about $5,000,” Cook said. State funding for fiscal year 2016 was to be $7.5 million for the 97 agencies combined. Prior to the suspension of funds, only about $4.7 million of fiscal year 2015 funds had been distributed. “It’s been an ongoing battle,” Cook said. “The funding has greatly decreased over the last several years, but we’ve always managed to get by somehow.”
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Photos by Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com
Dawn Castillo (left) and Karla Vazquez, both from Sterling, exercise Tuesday evening at Westwood Fitness & Sports Center in Sterling. They’re among nearly 200 people participating in the Sterling Park District Spring Fever Weight Loss Challenge, and they’ve both focused on exercise and diet thus far. Castillo, who’s 34th birthday is today, said “It’s birthday week for me, though, so that’s no fun, but I’m still indulging a little bit for birthday week.”
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TODAY’S EDITION: 24 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 164 ISSUE 209
INDEX
ABBY ................... A8 BUSINESS ........... A7 COMICS ...............B6
CROSSWORD....B12 FOOD ............. A9, 11 LIFESTYLE ........... A8
LOTTERY ............. A2 OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6
Today’s weather High 41. Low 30. More on A3.
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