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MORRISON GALLOPS PAST CLIPPERS FOR A WIN
Artists express themselves in Dixon
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Thursday, March 31, 2016
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
SAUK VALLEY
Lawyer: Deck is stacked against landlords Landlords, legal experts and local law enforcement gather to discuss owners’ rights BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
STERLING – When landlords deal with problem tenants, resolution rarely comes easily, quickly, or without expense.
Landlords from Whiteside, Lee, and Ogle counties gathered at Coventry Living Center in Sterling on Wednesday to discuss landlord and tenant rights in the case of evictions and other contentious issues. Sterling Attorney Greg Schott anchored a panel of city and county professionals
involved in many of those situations. Panelists represented the Dixon, Sterling, and Rock Falls police departments, the county sheriff’s offices, and building code enforcement from each city. The workshop was sponsored by the Sauk Valley Landlord Association in response to frustrations voiced by
STERLING SCHOOLS | REDUCTION IN FORCES
area landlords. “Over the years, the association has had problems with evictions and access to properties,” Director Sharon Simester said. “We wanted to get on the same page with law enforcement and the cities on these problems.” RIGHTS CONTINUED ON A7
MORRISON
Tough choices
Balanced budget comes with loose ends
Spanish classes, music dodge cuts, but seven teacher positions, other cuts recommended
List of city’s needs left off the table BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5525 @JPigee84
Zach Woessner, a former Sterling High School Student of the Year, speaks to the Sterling school board Wednesday during a special public hearing. Read this story at saukvalley.com to see video of Woessner addresseing the board. Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 @CHeimerman_SVM
STERLING – Longtime Sterling High School band director Mike McCoy asked for something “unimaginable” Wednesday night and, at least in part, the Sterling school board made it a reality. After more than 2 hours of closed-ses-
sion discussion, the board agreed to nix the elimination of Spanish-3 and -4, as well as any reductions to the district’s music programs. Seven teachers, however, saw their positions recommended for elimination: art teacher Abby Jones, foreign language teacher Julie Melsness, secondgrade teacher Cisco Puentes, aide Kyle Ruiz, first-grade teacher Kara Wade,
fifth-grade teacher Michelle Weisenberger, and teacher Caroline Wright. Of the 200-plus people who filled the Sterling Public Library for the reductionin-force hearing, about 50 stuck around for the board’s action. McCoy was one of 20 teachers, current students, recent alumni, and parents of kids in the district who addressed the board. CHOICES CONTINUED ON A7
MORRISON – The City Council was presented with a balanced budget Wednesday, but it wouldn’t take much to tip it off balance. In fact, the city could be one repair away from looking at a deficit – and that could force officials to look at raising taxes. The proposed fiscal year 2017 budget eked out a surplus, but it did it by leaving a nearly half-million dollar shopping list out of the equation. With total revenue at $1,468,850 and total expenses at $1,467,786, the fiscal year 2017 budget came in with a surplus of $1,064, which is less than the $4,409 surplus last year’s budget had, but that’s not taking into account some bigand small-ticket items that officials say the city needs. “The budget will be balanced, but there are some things that need to be repaired,” City Administrator Barry Dykhuizen said. BUDGET CONTINUED ON A2
DIXON
Knee-deep in determination A Dixon Woman did more than just talk the talk, she walked the walk – walker, pain and all
BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 @CHeimerman_SVM
DIXON – A year removed from a terrifying fall, with a knee that makes more noise than some 1985 Yugos, 67-year-old Lynda Norton did something she’d never done before: run a 5K – with a walker. “I’d never [even] run a 1K,” she said. Her daughter, Dawn Lopez, was
in town a couple of weeks ago and signed up online for the Dixon Family YMCA’s Shamrock Shuffle on March 12. Intent on surprising Lopez, Norton contacted the Y the Tuesday before to ask about the price and the terrain, then took the $25 plunge herself. The next night, she drove along the out-and-back course to scout it out. DETERMINATION CONTINUED ON A5
Accompanied by Shamrock Shuffle volunteers and Michelle McCue-Magik, 49, of Sterling, Lynda Norton walks the homestretch leading to Old Settler’s Cabin along the Dixon riverfront. Submitted photo
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TODAY’S EDITION: 24 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 164 ISSUE 235
INDEX
ABBY ................... A8 BUSINESS ........... A7 COMICS ...............B6
CROSSWORD....B10 LIFESTYLE ........... A8 LOTTERY ............. A2
PLANIT ............A9-12 OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6
Today’s weather High 65. Low 36. More on A3.
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