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WEATHER CUTS DIXON DOUBLEHEADER SHORT BASEBALL, B1
You can help send a local student’s art to the Capitol SAUK VALLEY, A2
TELEGRAPH Monday, April 11, 2016
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
A CLOSER LOOK | ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE
Adopting change for children Bill would give adoptees access to critical information about their birth parents BY ASHLEY LISENBY Associated Press
SPRINGFIELD – Ed Izenstark inherited Huntington’s disease from his biological father, but he only found out after the fatal nerve disorder began to show itself and after months of frustrating and costly efforts to learn more about his origins. The 30-year-old father of three from the Chica-
go suburb of Batavia was hospitalized last May with severe stomach pains, nausea and involuntary twitching that his doctors couldn’t explain. Suspecting it could be genetic, Izenstark sought more information about his background but had a hard time getting it from state adoption agencies. In February, he finally learned that his birth father had the disease. On Friday, his fears were confirmed that he did, too.
“[The information] should be available to anyone, if it’s yours. But it’s not yours. It’s the state’s and the state decides,” Izenstark said. The Illinois House is considering a measure that would allow agencies to let people know the reasons they were put up for adoption and other information that wouldn’t identify their birth parents, including details of their medical histories.
More info This bill is HB4590 Online: ilga.gov The bill: http://shawurl. com/2iqh
ADOPTING CONTINUED ON A5
MOUNT MORRIS
PROPHETSTOWN
It’s her work of art
Shell games BELOW: Hayden Bryan, 4, shows his older brother, Deacon, 10, a shell he found Sunday afternoon along the Rock River. The Prophetstown youth were combing the shore for rocks and shells at Prophetstown State Park while their dad kept an eye out for a good fishing spot. Though the weather has been cold and gloomy the past few days, relief should be on its way. A stretch of warmer weather will finally break through later this week, as the sun comes out and temperatures start to hit the upper 60s by Friday, and reach the lower 70s by the weekend. LEFT: Deacon shows off a shell he found Sunday.
Artist sees downtown as a blank canvas with great potential BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
MOUNT MORRIS – A vision for the downtown to become an arts destination point came into focus during a 3-day conference that wrapped up Saturday at Pinecrest Grove Community Center. The third session drew about 80 people who participated in smaller action planning sessions. Each group made presentations that included timelines, and who would be accountable for carrying out the plans. The vision of the arts fueling downtown revitalization and growth belongs to a former Mount Morris resident. Artist Andria Thorngren Burchett of Geneva has been a longtime believer in the potential of the Mount Morris College campus. The buildings would become a rural artists retreat with studios, galleries, renowned guest instructors, and space for the visual and performing arts. A flourishing arts community would need the support of new businesses, from restaurants and brew pubs to bed and breakfasts and gift shops. Andria visits her hometown often, to see her 94-year-old father, and the vision continues to grow. Photos by Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
CANVAS CONTINUED ON A5
MILLEDGEVILLE
Author sets sail on a journey of discovery Writer pens book about her seagoing grandfather who helped war-torn nations heal BY JERMAINE PIGEE
Milledjpigee@saukvalley.com geville 815-625-3600, ext. 5525 native @JPigee84 and MILLEDGEVILLE – It’s not every author granddaughter who can say their Peggy grandpa was a cowboy, but MilledMiller.
geville native Peggy Miller can – though he was no ordinary cowboy. His steed was a boat and he wore a lifejacket instead of a vest as he rode across the ocean to help people in nations devastated by war. Today, Miller’s grandfather, Abe, is the
inspiration for a children’s book published March 31, “The Seagoing Cowboy.” Miller’s seagoing journey began in 1969, after the death of her grandfather. Her father gave her some photos of Abe’s 1946 trip to Poland. DISCOVERY CONTINUED ON A5
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TODAY’S EDITION: 20 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 164 ISSUE 242
INDEX
ABBY ................... A7 COMICS ............... A8 CROSSWORD....B10
LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2 OBITUARIES ........ A4
OPINION .............. A6 POLICE ................ A2 POLITICS ........... A10
Today’s weather High 52. Low 28. More on A3.
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