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WHAT’S A DOG DO ON A DAY OUT? COMMUNITY, C12
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DIXON | THE CRUNDWELL AFTERMATH
Most minutes to stay secret Only four meeting minutes expected to be made public BY MATT MENCARINI mmencarini@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 529
DIXON – The Dixon City Council will vote Monday to keep private the minutes from a meeting on the day in 2012 when thenComptroller Rita Crundwell was arrested at City Hall.
The vote will take place during the City Council’s regular meeting on Monday. The council has been reviewing minutes since January and has met in closed session three times to discuss whether to release them. Under the Open Meetings Act, the city is required to review minutes of closed sessions twice a year to determine whether the need for secrecy still exists. Council members can vote to release the minutes if they no longer see the need
for confidentiality. Public bodies are permitted to have a closed session to discuss a variety of issues, including litigation and employment decisions, among others. The City Council has scheduled a closed meeting during its regular session Monday night, according to the agenda. That executive session will be devoted to “deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of municipal employees.” In September, the City Coun-
cil released minutes from six closed sessions, but kept minutes from 16 others secret, citing pending litigation and personnel matters. On Sept. 25, the city announced it had reached a $40 million outof-court settlement with its former auditors and Fifth Third Bank. On Monday, the City Council will vote on two agenda items relating to the closed session minutes it has been reviewing.
Inside Dixon Mayor Jim Burke said $15,000 has been pledged to pay for an entrepreneurial competition. Page A2 Even with a renewed spirit of transparency, agendas for Dixon City Council meetings aren’t always clear, SVM News Editor David Giuliani writes. Page A5
MINUTES CONTINUED ON A2
GIRLS BASKETBALL | STATE TOURNAMENT
ALBANY
Title within reach for P’town Money taken in bank holdup Police say man wore hoodie, mask BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 521
Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
ABOVE: Prophetstown fans celebrate the Prophets’ 57-48 win over IC Catholic in the Class 2A state semifinals Friday night at Redbird Arena in Normal. Prophetstown will play St. Thomas More at 8:15 p.m. today for the state championship. Read all about Friday’s big win in today’s Sports section. RIGHT: Eastland’s Hannah Hake and head coach Colleen FinnHenze talk late in Friday’s Class 1A state semifinal game against Annawan. The Cougars lost 71-45 and will play for third place at noon today against Moweaqua Central A&M at Redbird Arena in Normal. Read about Friday’s game on Page B11 in Sports.
ALBANY – A lone robber got away with an undisclosed amount of money Friday at Albany’s First Trust and Savings Bank, 209 S. Main St. Police are looking for a man who was dressed in a hoodie and wearing a mask. WQAD-TV in Moline reported Friday that police said the robber got away in a black vehicle and was heading northbound on state Route 84. According to the station’s report, the Albany police chief said that around 2 p.m. the male entered the bank, showed a weapon, and demanded money. He was described as being 5 feet, 11 inches to 6 feet tall, with a thin to medium build and weighing about 150 or 160 pounds. Officials were working to get surveillance video of the robbery. Anyone with information is asked to call the Whiteside County sheriff’s office at 815772-4044, Whiteside County Crimestoppers at 877-625-7867 or the Illinois State Police.
Inside A Savanna man jailed in Carroll County hanged himself Thursday night. Page A4
Snow likely
VOLUME 6 ISSUE 27 44 Pages
Today: 16/5 For the forecast, see Page A11
New Internet cafe
Ten Pennies in Oregon works hard to cater to its customers. See Page C1
Academy Award attire Experts pick all-time favorite Oscars dresses Also inside USA Weekend: Celebrate Mardi Gras with hearty gumbo The latest research on MS Manage pain
Index Births................ C5 Markets .......... A12 Business........... C1 Nation&World . A11 Classified .......... D1 Obituaries ......... A4 Comics ............. B6 Opinion............. A6 Community ..... C12 Scoreboard .... B12 Scrapbook ....... C3 Crossword Saturday ........... D7 Sports .............. B1 Support groups .. C5 Crossword Sunday ............. C8 Travel .............. C10 Dear Abby ........ C6 Weather.......... A11 Lottery .............. A2 Wheels ............. D8