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TELEGRAPH Monday, April 21, 2014
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
ELECTION 2014 | SENATE RACE
DIXON PARK DISTRICT | EASTER EGG HUNT
Durbin: Fourth term not a gimme Oberweis’ wealth, recognition not lost on incumbent
Ready ... set ... EGG-celerate
CHICAGO (AP) – U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin says he’s taking his opponent in the November election more seriously than any challenger since he first was elected to the Senate nearly two decades ago. Durbin’s rival, dairy magnate and GOP state Sen. Jim Oberweis, is considered a long shot to unseat the Senate’s secondranking Democrat. Yet Durbin has been staffing up statewide field offices, bringing on social mediasavvy campaign veterans and banking more than $6 million. U.S. Sen. Durbin says he Dick Durbin doesn’t want to underestimate Oberweis, who enters the race with personal wealth, statewide name recognition from a chain of family dairies and ice cream Dairy magnate shops and half Jim Oberweis dozen bids for public office. He’s also facing a mid-term election climate that’s historically tough on the sitting president’s party. “I’m not going to have anybody at the end of this campaign say, ‘He didn’t take it seriously,’” said Durbin, who’s seeking his fourth U.S. Senate term. But there may be more to the decision than Durbin playing it safe.
Photos by Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
Kids take off to gather eggs at the soccer fields at The Meadows in Dixon on Saturday during the Dixon Park District Easter egg hunt. Andrew Smith points out eggs for his 2-year-old son, Gavin, Saturday morning at the Dixon Park District Easter egg hunt. This egg hunt was just one of several Saturday throughout the Sauk Valley. See photos from an event in Morrison on A3.
FOURTH CONTINUED ON A4
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | ROCK RIVER TRAIL INITIATIVE
Trail of untapped potential Volunteers, cities see opportunities along Rock River BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570
When taking inventory of the Sauk Valley’s assets, many trails lead back to the river. The Rock River is at the center of conversations about economic development, recreation, and overall quality of life. The full breadth of the river starts at Horicon Marsh in Dodge and Fond du Lac counties in Wisconsin. The marsh, a
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national wildlife refuge encompassing 33,000 acres, is the crown jewel along the Rock River Trail. The trail continues for 320 miles through 11 counties in Wisconsin and Illinois to its confluence with the Mississippi River near the Quad Cities. The Rock River Trail Initiative is the result of a group of volunteers’ desire to protect the historic areas along the Rock, while still maximizing the riv-
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er’s vast potential for jumpstarting economic development, recreation and tourism. Frank Schier, The Rock River Times editor and publisher, spearheaded the launch of the Rock River Trail Initiative in 2010, and it quickly gained steam with city and Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com county officials, park district People fish Sunday afternoon along the banks of the Rock River and conservation entities, and at the lower dam in Rock Falls. The lower dam is an example of politicians. the river’s untapped potential, as accessing its boat ramp can be dangerous for those unfamiliar with the area. TRAIL CONTINUED ON A2
ABBY ................... A7 COMICS ............... A9 CROSSWORD......B9
LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2 OBITUARIES ........ A4
POLICE ................ A2 OPINION .............. A6 SPORTS ...............B1
Today’s weather High 73. Low 44. More on A3.
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