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Wednesday, May 13, 2015
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
OREGON
DIXON | FLORISSA CENTER
Let there be new lights Sidewalks, too, part of $657K project BY CHRIS JOHNSON Shaw Media cxjohnson@shawmedia.com
Doors opened New facility expands care beyond autism Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Amy Boss, speech and language pathologist, works with Kyree Mitchell, 7, on reading skills Tuesday at the Florissa Center in downtown Dixon. The facility, in the old U.S. Bank building at First Street and Galena Avenue, has been open for 7 weeks and has helped specialists address an array of special needs, beyond just autism. BY BRENDEN WEST bwest@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5529 @BWest_SVM
DIXON – A few months ago, Kreider Services’ pediatric specialized needs care was crammed in “a tiny hallway,” according to Laura Watters. In her words, this made things “difficult.” Scheduling specialists was a problem, because professionals and families had one room to coordinate around. Sometimes the room might not have met the needs of a particular child, who would need to go elsewhere for care. And, located on Anchor Road, it placed families seeking pediatric treatment on the edge of Dixon. “It was kind of on the outskirts, in a tiny hallway, in a much bigger building that primarily served adults,” Watters said. Laura Watters, director of autism and day services at the Florissa CenNow, 7 weeks in with the new Florissa Cen- ter, speaks about the new pediatric care facility. “We saw so many kids ter, Kreider Services is offering more. who didn’t have autism,” Watters said. “We realized there’s a need for DOORS CONTINUED ON A2 more services for all families with children with specialized needs.”
GRUB HUB | MOM’S DINER
OREGON – Nineteen new street lights soon will illuminate the downtown. City officials met Tuesday afternoon to discuss the $657,000 project to not only replace the lights, but also sidewalks, curbs and gutters along Fourth Street/state Route 2 between Franklin and Jefferson streets. An Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program grant will pay $525,000, or 80 percent of the cost. Work tentatively is set to begin May 26, but might be delayed a week to let city workers check the water service curb stops to downtown businesses. Any issues with water meters or curb stops should be addressed while the sidewalk is ripped up, water and sewer employee Jeff Pennington said. Money to pay for those improvements, which are not part of the original project, will come from the 1 percent sales tax the city levies for capitol improvements. “It can be used,” Mayor Ken Williams said. “We will work with the business owners. We don’t want to tear up the sidewalks a year from now.” Work will begin on east side of the street, by the old Bemis building; then the west side will be done. Parking in the construction zone will be restricted based on the work being done each day. After the sidewalks are removed, access to businesses will be available until concrete is poured. Businesses might have limited access from Fourth Street when the concrete is poured and set. The downtown will be dark until the 19 new decorative lights are delivered. City engineer Corey Buck is reviewing specifications for final approval; they should arrive about 10 weeks after they are ordered. The entire project is expected to take 35 work days. Whether to remove the trees next to Harvard State Bank and replace them with smaller ones is being discussed.
BLUE SKIES, BLUE-COLLAR WORK IN DIXON
Coated in what? Reporter recommends the French toast BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5525 @JPigee84
STERLING – As I walk into Mom’s Diner in downtown Sterling, one thing I notice all over the restaurant is the color red. The cushions on the chairs and in the booths are red and black. The table mats are red, and Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com Mom’s Diner, 23 E. Third St. in Sterling, the servers in the restaurant wear red shirts. offers Mom’s French toast, rolled in corn “I like the color red,” says Mudae Xheka, owner of Mom’s Diner. flakes and topped with bananas, powMOM’S CONTINUED ON A3 dered sugar and cinnamon.
Solidarity, mothers Have a fussy toddler? Don’t flush your paycheck into store-bought purées. Learn how to make your own on A9, or by watching the latest Foodtorial at saukvalley.com.
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TODAY’S EDITION: 24 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 164 ISSUE 9
INDEX
ABBY ................... A7 BUSINESS ......... A12 COMICS ...............B6
CROSSWORD....B12 LIFESTYLE .......A7&8 LOTTERY ............. A2
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
A roofer is silhouetted against the Tuesday afternoon sky as work continues on the bell tower of United Methodist Church in Dixon. Today looks like a safe bet for work to continue, as the forecast calls for sunny skies. Check the 5-day forecast for the Sauk Valley on A3. NATION/WORLD A11 OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6
Today’s weather High 67. Low 44. More on A3.
Seller’s market Dixon schools to part with properties, A3.
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