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Superintendent departing NEWMAN HIGH, A2
SVM ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
SPECIAL SECTION, INSIDE
SPORTS, B3
TELEGRAPH Tuesday, April 14, 2015
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
DIXON PUBLIC SCHOOLS | LONG-RANGE FACILITIES PLAN
Findings on options to be shared Board to get update on two plans; one includes building a new high school BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5525 @JPigee84
DIXON – The Dixon School Board will receive an update on the longrange facilities plan during Wednesday’s meeting. Different work groups made up of
students, staff, teachers and community members have been meeting to discuss the district’s final two options. Amy Yurko of BrainSpaces, a Chicago-based consultant on school facilities planning, will share the discussions and opinions of the work groups, whose input has served as a road map for the plan’s development.
“We have been getting opinions from parents, teachers, students and the community to get their perspective on the options,” the consultant’s founder said. “Some people are taking a stand on the different preferences, and they are discussing the pros and cons.”
To attend The Dixon School Board meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the school district’s central office, 1335 Franklin Grove Road. Go to www.DixonSchools.org or call 815-284-7722 for an agenda or more information.
OPTIONS CONTINUED ON A4
DIXON WORKERS MAKE LEAVES ABSENT AT LOWELL PARK
ILLINOIS | SUPREME COURT
Verdicts sought on court experience ‘Customers’ being surveyed on how they were treated BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5521 @SeaWarren
Photos by Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com
ABOVE: Dixon Park District employees Dave Shank (left) and Len Reuter rake leaves Monday afternoon at Lowell Park in Dixon, while Monroe Wells scoops up the leaves with a skid-steer. RIGHT: Wells dumps leaves into a truck.
YOU’RE CLEARED FOR FUN Today is the day to get out and enjoy the weather, if you can. The forecast calls for mild conditions, a high of 68 and a low of 40. If you can’t get out, you’ll have to wait until Saturday for similar conditions – in fact, the only difference in Saturday’s outlook is the low is 42. For the entire 5-day forecast, check out A3.
ROCK FALLS | HENNEPIN CANAL/TRAILS
Prairie burn planned for Wednesday Storybook Trail added to city’s beautification efforts BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
ROCK FALLS – Plans are underway to improve the city’s nature areas, particularly prairie land and the bike path. City Building Inspector Mark Searing has been
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working with the Hennepin Canal/Trails Committee on several beautification projects. If the weather cooperates, Searing and staff from the Public Works and Streets departments will do a controlled burn Wednesday of about 3 acres of prairie land near the industrial park
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water tower. It’s scheduled to begin at 8 a.m., and should be completed by noon. The fire department will be there to supervise. “The area is at the railroad right of way from Avenue D to McNeil Road,” Searing said. “We just planted it last year, and this will be the first burn.”
ABBY ................... A7 BUSINESS ......... A12 COMICS ............... A9
CROSSWORD....B11 LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2
Last spring, the city planted prairie grass and flowers on vacant land to lower maintenance costs. Within the city limits, 6 acres have been planted near the bike path, industrial parks, and the wastewater treatment plant. Rock Falls was one of only a handful of cities statewide to adopt a beautification ordinance 2 years ago. BURN CONTINUED ON A5
NATION/WORLD A11 OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6
The Illinois Supreme Court wants you to tell them about your experience with your local court. This week, and for the following 2 weeks – depending on where you live – circuit court administrators will distribute surveys that ask the public about just that. Were people nice to you? Did court start on time? “It’s strictly civility,” said Vicky Bluedorn, administrator for the 14th Circuit. “It’s about their experience in court, their perception of how they were treated, and general information.” In Ogle County, sur- Online extra veyors were Click on this in c o u r t story at saukvalMonday. ley.com to see a T h e y ’ l l copy of the surbe in Car- vey court users roll County will be asked to on April 21. complete. In Sterling, expect them on the 27th and the 28th. In Lee County: the 29th, and in Morrison, the 29th and the 30th. After the two-page survey is filled out, the court user will slip it into a box that will be sent to the Illinois Supreme Court, where workers will pore over the responses and offer an analysis to the various courts when they’re done – likely at a meeting of the state’s Conference of Chief Judges, said Tom Schwamberger, administrative assistant for the 15th Circuit. Surveys are available in English, Spanish, and Polish. All court users will be asked to complete the survey, including attorneys, students, and visitors. The idea behind the whole thing is that the court is expected to “be accountable and provide justice in a fair, equitable and expeditions manner,” Chief Justice Rita Garman said in a news release.
Today’s weather High 68. Low 40. More on A3.
No more ‘stuff’ Fairdale continues recovery, A3.
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