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MARCH MADNESS KICKS INTO HIGH GEAR COLLEGE BASKETBALL, B1
Where’s the fun hiding?
EASTER ACTIVITIES, A9
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Thursday, March 17, 2016
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
DIXON | SCHOOL BOARD
Dixon High: Data to decision Board poised to announce decision on next course of action for school BY RACHEL RODGERS rrodgers@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5529 @rj_rodgers
DIXON – Within the next month, seven people will be called upon to decide the fate of Dixon High School, a building with almost 9 decades of history. The school board has three options to address the aging school: bring the building up to code, build a new school,
or remodel. The estimated costs are $22 million, $69 million and $78 million, respectively. During the board’s meeting Wednesday, President Pam Tourtillott said the 3 years spent collecting data on the project is nearing an end, and the board soon will make a final decision. “I’m pleased to say that I think we are coming to a close of all the data needed to make a decision, and as a board,
she expects a special meeting in April will address the decision. The two most important factors are what will provide the best learning environment for students and what will be most fiscally responsible. “I think to have a vision, and to know how to work to achieve that vision, it’s very exciting,” Empen said.
Next meeting
The Dixon school board next meets at 6:30 p.m. April 20. Go to www.dps170. org for an agenda or more information. we are excited that in the next couple weeks, we will publicly announce what we can do to incorporate change ourselves,” she said. Superintendent Margo Empen said
SCHOOL BOARD CONTINUED ON A3
LEE COUNTY BOARD
A FURRY FIELD TRIP IN ROCK FALLS
Right fit proves to be a challenge Search for county administrator opened for the third time BY RACHEL RODGERS rrodgers@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5529 @rj_rodgers
Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com
Dave Suarez, board president of Happy Tails Humane Society, shows students from Washington Elementary School around the animal shelter Wednesday afternoon during a field trip to the Rock Falls animal shelter. The shelter, at 1408 McNeil Road, is open 8 a.m. to noon daily, as well as 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. Among the programs it provides is Humane Education Programs, which teach children, adults, and school groups about compassionate and responsible pet ownership. Shelter staff will visit schools or host field trips to the shelter. The shelter also encourages schools, classrooms and youth groups to hold supply drives to help support the shelter while getting young people involved in the cause of animal welfare. Kids can collect supplies and deliver them to the shelter, or arrange to have them picked up. The shelter also has materials to make drives more educational. Call 815-626-2994 or email happytailsanimalshelter@comcast.net for more information.
DIXON ONE
Getting everyone on the same calendar page Task force gets behind idea of a master schedule to capitalize on city events BY RACHEL RODGERS rrodgers@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5529 @rj_rodgers
DIXON – For Tim Boles, general manager of Stage Left theater, scheduling shows that don’t conflict with other community events can be a challenge. During its meeting Tuesday, the Dixon One advisory task force discussed ways of alleviating this problem. The group was formed by the
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City Council in December to consolidate marketing, tourism and development into a single entity under one roof. The members are charged with forming a plan to do that within the next few months. “There are going to be unavoidable accidents with doubling up on events, but it would be nice if there was more coordination,” Boles said. By consolidating a calendar of events, the group envisioned fewer instances of
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Next meeting
The next Dixon One advisory task force next meets at 5:30 p.m. April 12 at Dixon City Hall, 121 W. Second St. overlap and more opportunities to draw visitors – marketing an entire weekend lineup, for example. “There have been many calendars created by organizations, but we haven’t seen one that combines them all,”
ABBY ................... A2 COMICS ...............B6 CROSSWORD......B9
LIFESTYLE ........... A8 LOTTERY ............. A2 OBITUARIES ........ A4
said Vicky Turner, a task force member and former Dixon Tourism chairwoman. Hypothetically, the marketing director could be tasked with overseeing the calendar, and the group also discussed having a filter option. The task force also discussed how to structure the marketing hub, what key components should be featured, and categories under which organizations could fall. DIXON ONE CONTINUED ON A5
OPINION .............. A6 PLANIT ......... A9-A11 POLICE ................ A2
DIXON – The Lee County Board on Wednesday embarked on its third attempt to find a county administrator. With the initial goal of hiring its first administrator by March 1, the board began the search last fall. Three finalists were chosen from two pools of applicants, but each declined the offer for financial or geographical reasons. “Lee County is one of those counties that’s Rick too big to be Ketchum small and too small to be big, but we do need help,” board Chairman Rick Ketchum said. At Wednesday’s meeting, members voted Greg unanimously Witzleb to reopen the search and discussed possibly revising the job requirements and salary range. The move came after the board shot down a proposal to hire an interim administrator internally, 14-5. Board member Greg Witzleb said because of the importance of the position, he was opposed to confining the scope of the search to county employees. “This is a very specific area with very specific needs, and I have trouble with having an employee assume the position,” Witzleb said. ADMINISTRATOR CONTINUED ON A5
Today’s weather High 53. Low 31. More on A3.
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In Dixon ...
Boat dock plan resurfaces, A3.