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Wednesday, March 30, 2016
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
ILLINOIS BUDGET BATTLE | LOCAL IMPACT
Mental health takes a hit Sinnissippi Centers forced to cut psychiatric services; county health department will step in to help BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
DIXON – The state’s inability to pass a budget has once again left its mark on local social services programs. Sinnissippi Centers announced Tuesday that the loss of a $350,000 state grant will significantly limit its
ability to provide psychiatric services to 500 to 800 clients in Lee, Whiteside, Ogle, and Carroll counties. Sinnissippi Centers President and CEO Patrick Phelan said the psychiatric services – largely evaluations and medications – are often a subset of other services. “We serve just short of 6,000 people a year, and about 35 percent of our clients access the affected
services,” Phelan said. Sinnissippi will continue to provide the services for as many people as possible, but the center no longer can find cuts in other areas to compensate, he said. “This will affect 500 individuals between now and the end of May, and it should impact about 800 before the end of the year,” Phelan said.
STERLING HIGH SCHOOL
There are a few alternatives available to those losing psychiatric services, but not enough, Phelan said. “There was a scarcity of psychiatric providers even before the state budget situation,” Phelan said. “KSB Hospital has some capacity, and the Whiteside County Health Department is limited in what they can do.” MENTAL HEALTH CONTINUED ON A4
Patrick Phelan
LEE COUNTY
Two for the show Pair of theater groups return to state competition BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 @CHeimerman_SVM
STERLING – Abby Langner, Collin Zollinger, Kinsey Zacharski and Evan Lobdell are all members of both of Sterling High School’s state-bound theater groups: drama and group interpretation. When the latter takes the stage at 5:25 p.m. Friday to perform “Benny & Joon” in Sangamon Auditorium at University of Illinois in Springfield, the quartet will quickly know
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how things are going to play out. “There’s this feeling right before you go onstage together, that you’re all one being, almost, one body that tells the story,” Zollinger, a senior, said. “It’s one of the best feelings ever.” “It’s all of us kind of meshing together,” his classmate, Lobdell, said. “There’s kind of that feel when you’re on stage, and you can feel everyone really connected together – especially for GI, because it’s such a group event.” SHOW CONTINUED ON A11
There’s this feeling right before you go onstage together, that you’re all one being, almost, one body that tells the story. IT’S ONE OF THE BEST FEELINGS EVER. Collin Zollinger — Member of SHS group interpretation team
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Members of Sterling High Schools’ group interpretation team perform “Benny and Joon,” Tuesday evening at the Centennial Auditorium.
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Henry Rex stands near a newly installed Lee County 911 sign Monday on his Dixon property. Rex, who lives on a private lane off of Sink Hollow Road, had a seizure a year and half ago, and the lack of signage on the lane caused a 15-minute delay for rescuers.
Signs make a valuable point Officials: 911 signage can help rescuers in the race to save a life BY RACHEL RODGERS rrodgers@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5529 @rj_rodgers
DIXON – Henry Rex realized that a simple green sign could be the difference between life and death. About a year and a half ago, the 66-year-old had a seizure at 3 a.m. in his rural Dixon home. His wife, Ima, immediately called 911, but emergency responders couldn’t find his house. “They went to three different houses before they found the place,” Rex said. “If it had been a heart attack instead of a seizure, I might not be here today.” SIGNS CONTINUED ON A5 Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
DIXON HIGH SCHOOL
They’re filling an emotional need Counselors step in to help after state leaves high school short of help BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 @CHeimerman_SVM
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Blake Gilbert is one of two Sinnissippi Centers counselors providing support for students in the Dixon School District after the state budget impasse reduced the ranks of counselors at Dixon High School.
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TODAY’S EDITION: 24 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 164 ISSUE 234
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DIXON – For Principal Michael Grady, the stretch of 2 weeks Dixon High School was without a counselor dedicated to students’ emotional needs was 2 weeks too long. It could have been much longer, if not for United Way of Lee County, Sinnissippi Centers and a twist of fate. “The students who need that service are the ones who, stereotypically, have had adults let them down
ABBY ................... A8 BUSINESS ......... A12 COMICS ...............B6
CROSSWORD....B12 FOOD ..............A9-10 LIFESTYLE ........... A8
in the past, and we were adding to that,” Grady said. “It bothered me quite a bit, and we were very fortunate for United Way and Sinnissippi to help us out.” When the state budget impasse forced Lutheran Social Services of Illinois to lay off 750 workers in late January, Dixon High School graduate-turnedbeloved-counselor Madeline Schulze was among the casualties. United Way of Lee County has long funded the program through LSSI, and when the chapter’s executive director, Jenny Koch, heard Schulze would lose her job Feb. 22, she contacted Sinnissippi.
LOTTERY ............. A2 OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6
COUNSELORS CONTINUED ON A5
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