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What’s a pake? THREE RIVERS POWERS Get the inside scoop TO HIT ROAD EARLY PREP FOOTBALL, B1
FOOD, A9-10
TELEGRAPH Wednesday, July 2, 2014
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
WHITESIDE COUNTY | SALES TAX REFERENDUM
Sterling to vote on resolution If District 5 votes yes tonight, it would ensure countywide referendum If the referendum is put on the ballot and passes, the county sales tax will increase from 6.75 percent to 7.75 percent. The Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico board approved the measure last week and has sent its paperwork to the Whi-
BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570
STERLING – The Sterling school district will vote tonight on a resolution that – if approved – will put a 1-cent county sales tax referendum on the Nov. 4 ballot.
teside County Regional Schools office. “We can’t count them until the districts get their official documents in,� Regional School Superintendent Bob Sondgeroth said. RESOLUTION CONTINUED ON A4
DIXON | PETUNIA FESTIVAL BEGINS TODAY
Yes or no? The Sterling Public School Board of Education will address the facility sales tax resolution during its meeting that begins at 7 tonight in the Sterling High School library, 1608 Fourth Ave.
ROCK FALLS
The show must go on
Alderman relocates, resigns Vandersnick on end of 10-year-stint: ‘I’m really gonna miss it’ BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570
Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
ABOVE: A North American Midway Entertainment Carnival worker sets up the Starship ride Tuesday afternoon in the Dixon High School parking lot. Recent storms forced the move of the Petunia Festival carnival to the lot. BELOW: Carnival workers set up rides Tuesday afternoon in the high school parking lot.
Storm displaces carnival to Dixon High lot BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5521
More storm stories inside
DIXON – Because of this week’s storms and the rising Rock River, the location of the Petunia Festival’s carnival is being moved – but not far. It’s now being placed just a short distance from the river, in the Dixon High School parking lot. The children’s rides will still be in front of the high school. For the most part, the Sauk Valley was spared from the majority of damage done during Monday night’s severe thunderstorms.
s /REGON HIT HARD LOSES POWER A3 s &IRE MIGHT HAVE CAUSED 'ENEVA FIRE A5 What damage there was, though, happened mostly in Lee County, authorities said. Flooded roads, a few downed power lines, and broken tree limbs were the extent of the damage for most of Lee County, with the exception of a sinkhole in Dixon on Monroe Street near Seventh Street (no cars were damaged) and a transformer fire in Amboy, authorities said Tuesday.
PREVIEWING THE SOUNDS OF THE FESTIVAL
‘If you really like music’ Nielsen says you’ll love Rusted Hearts show Friday BY LUCAS PAULEY lpauley@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5576
So, who plays when?
DIXON – Miles Nielsen and the Rusted Hearts will show Dixon what they’ve got at 9:30 p.m. Friday on the main stage along the Riverfront during the Petunia Festival. It’s not that far of a trip for the band, which hails from Rockford. But the band’s frontman, Nielsen, has a connection that stretches far beyond the reach of northern Illi-
s 3EE THE LINEUP AT PETUNIAFEST ORG s Coming Thursday: Lucas Pauley previews The Wood Brothers nois. His dad, Rick Nielsen, is the well-known lead guitarist and songwriter of the rock band Cheap Trick. “He’s a big part of why I’m playing music,� Nielsen said. MUSIC CONTINUED ON A4
Submitted
Miles Nielsen and the Rusted Hearts will headline a day full of local music at 9:30 p.m. Friday on the main stage along the Dixon riverfront during Petunia Festival.
ROCK FALLS – First Ward Alderman Mark Vandersnick resigned from the City Council during Tuesday’s meeting, ending a 10-year run in council chambers. An emotional Vandersnick told his colleagues he didn’t want to give up his seat, but a recent move forced his hand. “I’m just a stone’s throw outside the city limits now, on the east side of Rock Falls,� Vandersnick said. “This is tough; I’m really gonna miss it.� Vandersnick was active on several committees, currently serving on the Ordinance, Personnel and Licensi ng Committee, Planning and Zoning Commission, Building Code Committee, and the Police and Fire Commission. Bill Wescott “We will miss M a r k o n t h e Those interested council, espe- in the vacant cially all of the First Ward seat should call good work he has done on the Ordi- the Rock Falls mayor at nance and Per815-380-5333 sonnel Committee,� Mayor Bill Wescott said. As a Planning and Zoning Commission member, Vandersnick had a great deal of input on the zoning changes that were recently put in place to pave the way for future development along the riverfront. The mayor reminded Vandersnick that there are other government bodies on which he can serve, regardless of where he lives. Vandersnick said “if something tickles his fancy,� he would certainly consider serving in another capacity. Vandersnick said the most memorable event during his 10 years on the council was this year’s pump station failure that led to a citywide water shutdown Feb. 13. ALDERMAN CONTINUED ON A4
$1.00
TODAY’S EDITION: 24 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 163 ISSUE 44
INDEX
ABBY ................... A8 BUSINESS ......... A11 COMICS ...............B5
CROSSWORD......B8 LOTTERY ............. A2 NATION/WORLD A11
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 POLICE ................ A2
Today’s weather High 68. Low 52. More on A3.
Fireworks!
See when, where they go off, A11.
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