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Your source for community news and sports 7 days a week.

Which streets should be fixed?

A LOOK AT NIB-12 WEST, BNC WEST

DIXON, A5

PREP BASEBALL, B1

TELEGRAPH Tuesday, March 18, 2014

SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851

ROCK FALLS, STERLING & DIXON | SALES TAX

All in on try for tax hike? Dixon unlikely to pursue increase at this time BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 570

When Rock Falls Mayor Bill Wescott gave his State of the City address this month, he introduced the possibility of doubling the local half-cent sales tax. The history of the tax in this area, however, also brings the issue to Sterling and Dixon. In Rock Falls, the extra money would

be used to fix roads that are in “terrible condition,” Wescott said during his address. Without more funding, the city won’t be able to make a dent in the problem, the mayor said. “Perhaps it is time to get with Sterling and Dixon to revisit the half-cent sales tax, and ask you, the residents, by vote in a referendum, if you would support another increase to the maximum of 1 cent total,” Wescott said. Rock Falls receives about $280,000 a

year from the state’s motor fuel tax. For 5 more years, $140,000 of that money will be used to pay off a bond on the city’s West Second Street project. “The remaining distribution is used for salt, patch for repairing potholes, gravel, sand, etc.,” Wescott said. “So the only funds that remain are the halfcent monies, which total approximately $405,000.” HIKE CONTINUED ON A10

UPDATE | AMBOY FAMILY

Rock Falls Mayor Bill Wescott Used State of City address to raise the possibility of doubling the local half-cent sales tax

Sterling Mayor Skip Lee Said city hasn’t discussed raising the tax; thinks it’s best for all 3 cities to ask voters together

Dixon Mayor Jim Burke Believes city’s finances are good, and that it has the money for larger projects it is working on

It’s time to vote!

‘It’s taking a toll on both of us’

Today is primary election day in Illinois. Get your last-minute primer on local and statewide primaries on Pages A3&A5.

AMBOY

Hoy says mayor struck her arm twice Sheriff investigating, alderwoman says BY DAVID GIULIANI dgiuliani@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 525

Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

Kennedi Smothers yawns while her mother, Kelsey, holds her. Smothers, who arrived 7 weeks premature to save her mother’s life, has since suffered seizures. “It’s pretty tough on both of us,” her father, Justin, said. “It’s taking a toll on both of us. I hate not being there with my daughter, but I also hate having bill collectors calling me.”

More challenges for Amboy family and premature baby BY MATT MENCARINI mmencarini@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 529

AMBOY – Kennedi Smothers’ first 3 months have been hard on her and her parents. She was born on Dec. 31 at KSB Hospital in Dixon. Her parents, Kelsey and Justin Smothers, both of Amboy, were expecting a Valentine’s Day baby. Kennedi was born 7 weeks premature during emergency cesarean section surgery to save her mother’s life. Kelsey had eclampsia, a condition that can occur late in a pregnancy and can be fatal. The only cure is to give birth. Kennedi and Kelsey spent nearly 2 weeks in the hospital,

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TODAY’S EDITION: 20 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 163 ISSUE 224

during which Justin worked and then drove to Dixon to be with his wife and daughter. Despite the events surrounding Kennedi’s birth, Kelsey told Sauk Valley Media in January that her daughter was “perfect.” Since then, the family has returned home, but the challenges haven’t stopped. This week, Justin told Sauk Valley Media that the past 2 months had been a “rollercoaster of emotion.” “Everything that went on with Kelsey, that broke me down – possibly losing my wife and my daughter,” he said. “That was the hardest thing ever.” CHALLENGES CONTINUED ON A8

INDEX

AMBOY – Alderwoman Deanne Hoy on Monday accused Mayor Tom Nauman of striking her twice in the arm during a confrontation outside a local restaurant earlier this month. She also called for the mayor to resign. “No one in the audience would let a family member be treated that way,” said Hoy, who was two sitting seats from the mayor. “He needs to be removed.” Hoy said she wouldn’t provide any more details about the confrontation, because it is being investigated by the Lee County Sheriff’s Department. The issue surfaced at the monthly meeting of the Amboy City Council. More than 100 people attended, far more than usual. MAYOR CONTINUED ON A8

Justin Smothers smiles as he looks at his wife, Kelsey, and daughter, Kennedi. Justin has had to take as much work as he can in order to pay the family’s rising bills.

You can help Go to www.YouCaring.com/other/smothers-family-donations/148567 to donate to the Smothers family.

BUSINESS ......... A10 COMICS ............... A9 CROSSWORD......B8

DEAR ABBY ......... A7 LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2

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

Philip Marruffo/ pmarruffo@saukvalley.com

Mayor Tom Nauman speaks during a meeting Monday of the Amboy City Council.

Today’s weather High 53. Low 32. More on A3.

Need work? Check out your classifieds, B4.

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