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Dixon soph finishes in top 3
STUDENTS OF THE MONTH
STATE SWIM MEET, B1
STERLING HIGH, A3
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Monday, February 29, 2016
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
ILLINOIS BUDGET BATTLE | EDUCATION
Budget is hitting the books As the stalemate in Springfield continues, colleges and their students brace for even more cuts CHAMPAIGN (AP) – Gov. Bruce Rauner once again is calling for deep cuts in state funding for higher education, showing how tempting a target universities continue to be for a state desperate to get its budget under control.
The Republican proposed a 20 percent trim for the 2016-2017 fiscal year in his budget blueprint this month – a drop from a 30 percent cut he proposed last year. But the number is largely theoretical, since Rauner and Democratic leaders still
haven’t agreed on a budget for the current fiscal year, which means the campuses haven’t received any money in months. It’d be one of the largest pools of long-term funding available to cut if the state doesn’t raise revenues, and the situa-
tion leaves public universities scrambling to cover costs. Even the flagship University of Illinois, which has more resources than other campuses, is pleading for some kind of certainty going forward. In a letter to Rauner earlier
this month, President Timothy Killeen pitched the idea of a multi-year budget for the university and highlighted all the sacrifices the school has already made. BUDGET CONTINUED ON A4
PERCUSSION PALOOZA
WACC CEO CLASS
The right end of the sticks
Photos by Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
Photos by Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com
CEO students dance during the Masquerade Ball on Saturday night at Deer Valley Country Club. The event helped raise funds to help students in the class start their own businesses.
They got the ball rolling
Lydia Wheeler, 3, of Madison, Wisconsin, shows off her chops on the sticks in the Fast Drum setup Sunday at the Percussion Palooza at Rock Falls High School. The event, sponsored by school’s music department and visitrockfalls.com, featured solo and ensemble percussion competition from local and area drumlines. It’s held a week prior to the Illinois state contests and almost a month before the Iowa state contests. The top three preliminary performances in each category at each level received awards, and the judges’ special merit honorees performed at the Percussion Palooza Premier Showcase. Go to rhythm-quest.org for more information.
Students tap into organizational skills to put the fun in fundraiser BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 @CHeimerman_SVM
DEER GROVE – Moments after speaking faster than lightning – to auctioneer Rob Young, as coincidence would have it – Newman senior Maura Harrison was finally able to giggle with delight Saturday night. For there on the dance floor, smack dab in the middle of the entertainment portion of the CEO Masquerade Ball at Deer Valley Golf Course, was her instructor, Le Hartman. Serenading her was Jim Prombo, a member of the CEO Advisory Board, with the soothing, lip-synced sounds of “Unchained Melody.” BALL CONTINUED ON A5
Kim Purvis (left) and Le Hartman lip sync to “Shut Up and Dance” on Saturday during the Masquerade Ball at Deer Valley Country Club.
Brent Boyce of the Pulse of Peoria Drumline practices outside of Rock Falls High School on Sunday.
Students aim to turn creativity into cash BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 @CHeimerman_SVM
STERLING – As students in the Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities class shared their business ideas last Monday, tangible ideas were often met with the same response. “Do you want to hydro-dip it?” asked Kevin Sigel, who, along with his twin brother, Kyle, is a
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TODAY’S EDITION: 24 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 164 ISSUE 212
INDEX
senior at Prophetstown High School. What is hydro-dipping? Over the past few months, Sigel’s gotten much better at explaining it, according to his classmates and their instructor, Le Hartman. Hydro-dipping is decoration applied to a 3-D product’s surface. Instead of spray-painting, you’re using water. The new finish can either be a solid color or a pattern, Sigel explained. CREATIVITY CONTINUED ON A11
ABBY ................... A7 COMICS ............... A9 CROSSWORD....B11
LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2 NATION ................ A8
Elizabeth Joly practices in a hallway at Rock Falls High School on Sunday before her performance in Percussion Palooza.
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 POLICE ................ A2
Today’s weather High 53. Low 26. More on A3.
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