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Bradywine gets new flavor
CHICAGO LEGENDS JOIN ELITE CLASS
DIXON. A3
MLB, B1
TELEGRAPH Monday, July 28, 2014
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
A CLOSER LOOK I THE BUDGET
Candidates’ plans lacking Neither proposal truly addresses state’s financial problems SARA BURNETT The Associated Press
CHICAGO – The Illinois governor candidates have been ridiculing each other’s budget plans, with Republican Bruce Rauner accusing Gov. Pat Quinn of leading a “tax-happy” state and the Chicago Democrat countering
that Rauner’s proposal to cut income taxes will lead to painful cuts to schools, social services and public safety. But a closer look at their claims shows both sides are playing a little fast and loose with the numbers, and neither has specified a plan that truly addresses Illinois’ monumental financial problems.
The debate At the core of the debate is Illinois’ income tax, which
Gov. Pat Quinn
Bruce Rauner
Quinn and other Democrats raised by 67 percent in 2011. The personal income tax rate jumped from 3 percent to 5
percent, costing the typical Illinois taxpayer about $1,100 last year, while the corporate rate went from 4.8 percent to 7 percent. The rates are set to drop on Jan. 1 to 3.75 percent for individuals and 5.25 percent for corporations. Quinn wants to make the current rates permanent to avoid severe cuts to education and other areas. If he’s re-elected in November, Democrats are expected to vote on whether
to keep the higher rates during the final days of the legislative session – when a “yes” vote could be easier for members no longer facing re-election. Rauner says the tax hike stunted economic growth and contributed to Illinois’ higherthan-average unemployment. “Pat Quinn is the big taxer,” Rauner said. “I am reducing taxes overall on the working families of the state.” QUESTIONS CONTINUED ON A4
CATERPILLAR
ROCK RIVER RIDERS TRY TO REACH THE TOP
No date set for closing plants Local Anchor Coupling sites to close by end of next year’s first quarter BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570
Photos by Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com
ABOVE: Chad Altfillisch, a member of the the Rock River Riders Motorcycle Club, carves his way to the top of the hill during its hill climb Saturday at the club’s track at 6719 W. Pines Road, between Polo and Oregon. RIGHT: Riders line up in the staging area near the starting line. Find Rock River Riders Motorcycle Club on Facebook or call 815-946-2183 to learn more about the club, which is involved in all aspects of motorcycling.
ROCK FALLS HIGH I EXCHANGE STUDENT
16-year-old girl winging it to Denmark Rotary program puts her with host family for 10 months BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5525
Tess Schaefer
$1.00
ROCK FALLS – Instead of learning about Denmark in a classroom, Tess Schaefer will learn about the country firsthand. TODAY’S EDITION: 20 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 163 ISSUE 61
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The 16-year-old Rock Falls High School junior will spend the next 10 months in the land of the Danes, with the help of the Rotary Club student exchange program. “While ranking my country options, I choose Denmark as my number one choice because it is very safe and I knew very little about it, so I thought it would
COMICS ............... A8 CROSSWORD....B10 DEAR ABBY ......... A7
be interesting to go somewhere unfamiliar to me,” said Schaefer, daughter of Kelly and Marty Schaefer. Rotary Youth Exchange is a study abroad opportunity for students who spend anywhere from a few weeks to a full year as an international student.
LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2 NATION/WORLD .. A9
STERLING – Caterpillar won’t get specific yet on a date to begin moving production from three of its local Anchor Coupling plants targeted for closure. Company spokeswoman Rachel Potts said she expects most of the transition of production to occur during the fourth quarter of this year. The buildings are to be closed before the end of next year’s first quarter, affecting about 170 full-time employees. The local Anchor Coupling plants are at 2910 W. LeFevre Road and 1005 Commerce Drive in Sterling and 1100 Anchor Road in Dixon. In May, the company announced plans to consolidate the plants as part of a larger initiative to improve efficiency, but said only that the relocation site would be somewhere in North America. On June 6, Caterpillar told employees at the Sauk Valley plants that production and distribution operations would be moved to the Anchor Coupling plant in Menominee, Michigan. Caterpillar has said the three Illinois plants do the same work – building hydraulic hoses – that is done at the Menominee plant. The company says consolidation of the plants will save Caterpillar money in production costs and through the elimination of redundant management positions.
DENMARK CONTINUED ON A4
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 SPORTS ...............B1
Today’s weather High 75. Low 55. More on A3.
PLANTS CONTINUED ON A4
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B5.
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