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Rhubarb: One THEY’VE GOTTA HAND IT sweet veggie TO ‘EM ... SMOOTHLY TRACK & FIELD 101, B1
FOOD, A9-10
TELEGRAPH
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
DIXON
‘I was wanting the opportunity’ Nord to oversee day-to-day operations for 6 months – at least BY BRENDEN WEST bwest@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5529 @BWest_SVM
DIXON – In appointing David Nord as its interim city manager Monday night, Dixon ushered in its new form of government. Nord will be charged with the
full duties of the managerial office, meaning he’s responsible for day-today operations and oversees all personnel decisions within the city. The council extended Nord’s contract 6 months by unanimous decision. “I was wanting the opportunity,” Nord said Tuesday. “I came in under an unusual form of govern-
ment. I got a few things straightened out. I’d like the opportunity to continue with that.” Nord was hired as administrator in November 2013 after an extensive search conducted by the previous city council. OPPORTUNITY CONTINUED ON A4
More on A4 • So much to talk about at Dixon City Hall, council to meet weekly, rather than twice a month. • Elderstatesman would assume mayoral duties, should leader be incapacitated.
David Nord Interim city manager
LEE COUNTY
DAMS IN THE SAUK VALLEY
Participant celebrates drug court Talks about 9 months of sobriety at meeting; sheriff’s requests OK’d BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5521 @SeaWarren
Photos by Earleen Hinton/ehinton@shawmedia.com
A pelican comes in for a landing just below the Oregon dam on Friday. The Rock River Valley is a stopping area for the large birds as they migrate back to breeding grounds in Canada. But the dam in Oregon has claimed at least 10 lives, according to recently retired Oregon Fire Chief Don Heller.
Pretty, dangerous BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5521 @SeaWarren
OREGON – Kiwanis Park in Oregon is lovely. A set of 18 wooden steps leads to a little beach from which you can watch the great Rock River roll by, as it makes its way toward a low-head dam. It’s a beautiful place to sit on a sunny afternoon, and watch as the pelicans swoop into the water.
Former chief: At least 10 lives claimed at Oregon dam
The reeds and tree branches along the river bank rustle in the wind. Kids play. People fish. But downstream from where the river tumbles over the dam, deadly dangers lurk beneath the water. Signs on each bank of the Rock River in Oregon warn swimmers and waders.
DAMS CONTINUED ON A2
DIXON – In front of a crowd of about 50 people at the Lee County Board meeting Tuesday night, Tom Lilyman talked about the best 9 months of his life. Those 9 months, he said, unfolded slowly, day by day, since he first enrolled in Lee County’s drug court and finally got sober. “I’ve lived in this community off and on since 1967,” he said. “I’ve had an ongoing problem with alcohol.” Lilyman said that when he walked into the Old Lee County Courthouse on Tuesday night, he recognized the room. “I was in here a long, long time ago,” he said. The reason? An alcohol-related charge. “Since then, I’ve struggled with alcohol addiction,” he said. “And tomorrow, I’ll be sober 9 months.” He’s been enrolled in drug court for 8 of those months. “It’s a reminder that every day, no matter what I’m doing … keep it up front all the time,” he said. “Don’t let it get away from you. ... If you start to get a little shaky, you’ve got people you can call. You’ve got things you can do internally. DRUG COURT CONTINUED ON A3
STERLING
Inferno ignites on scrap heap Employee: Explosion happened after shutdown; no one hurt BY BRENDEN WEST bwest@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5529 @BWest_SVM
STERLING – Emergency responders from three cities battled flames at the Cimco Recycling facility west of Sterling on Tuesday. An employee on the scene, Richard Ashford, said he believes an explosion in a
$1.00
scrap metal heap occurred after the plant shut down at 4 p.m. “We were just finishing up, and all of a sudden there was a big bang,” Ashford said. “It scared us. It would scare anybody.” Ashford said no injuries were reported. Emergency personnel from Sterling, Rock Falls and
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INDEX
Milledgeville responded to 13509 Galt Road. Nearby, flames could be seen above treetops east of the Cimco compound. Thick, black smoke obstructed the sun, casting a shadow over onlookers as far away as a half-mile east of the site. INFERNO CONTINUED ON A5
ABBY ................... A8 BUSINESS ......... A13 FOOD ..............A9-10
COMICS ............. A12 CROSSWORD....B14 LIFESTYLE ........... A8
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
LOTTERY ............. A2 OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6
Today’s weather High 55. Low 39. More on A3.
Local residents watch plumes of smoke, seen Tuesday evening from as far away as Morrison, rise from the scene of a fire at Cimco Recycling on Galt Road west of Sterling.
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B6.
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