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MARATHON SESSION FOR 12-YEAR-OLD
You’re about to be berry hungry FOOD, A9-10
YOUTH TENNIS, B1
TELEGRAPH
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
SAUK VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
President plans retirement School year will wrap up Mihel’s 10-year run BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5525
DIXON – After 45 years as a professional educator and administrator, George Mihel will retire as president of Sauk Valley Community College next year. His 10-year run as Sauk’s fifth president will end on July 18, 2015. “I’m getting old,” said Mihel, 66. “I want to do some traveling that I didn’t get to do over the course of my career.”
Some of the places he wants to see are the Grand Canyon and Mount Rushmore. “I’ve never been to those places,” he said. “Those are some of the things I’d like to do.” Mihel has been an educator since 1970. Before coming to Sauk, he was president of North Central Kansas Technical College. He also spent time as a math and science teacher in Wheaton, and he taught education classes in the state of Oregon.
Under Mihel’s leadership, the college underwent various improvements, such as remodeling the science, math and welding labs. Mihel is also proud of the academic programs that were created, including welding, advanced manufacturing and courses in wind energy. “We’ve added quite a few new programs to meet the needs of the workforce,” he said. PRESIDENT CONTINUED ON A4
Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
Sauk Valley Community College President George Mihel (right) sits with U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger as the congressman speaks with the college’s staff in January 2013. Mihel on Tuesday announced he plans to resign after the upcoming school year.
ROCK FALLS | VIDEO GAMBLING
FRIENDS DON’T LET FRIENDS GET OVERHEATED IN DIXON
Owner slots new facility downtown She hopes to have establishment up, running next week BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570
ROCK FALLS – Suzi’s Video Poker and Slots is coming to the downtown. The gambling establishment will be at 1019 First Ave., between Fresh Looks and U.S. Cellular. In addition to Rock Falls, owner Suzi McAfoos has opened specialty gambling facilities in Coal Valley, Silvis, Princeton, Galesburg, Kewanee, LaSalle, Streator, and two in Ottawa. McAfoos plans to open a facility in Peru in September. The gambling terminals have been put in the Rock Falls building, and the owner would like to have things up and running next week. “I am hoping to be open on Aug. 5 at the Rock Falls location,” McAfoos said.
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Lucas Brown (left) and Spencer Pleskovitch (right) douse Open Sesame playmate Owen Winters with water Tuesday afternoon as Quintynn Sarver observes and smiles during recess at the Dixon day care.
GET YOUR LICKS IN WHILE YOU CAN Youngsters would be wise to enjoy the projected sunny skies and high of 79 degrees today, as rain is in the forecast for Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Get your 5-day forecast for the Sauk Valley on A3.
GAMBLING CONTINUED ON A4
STERLING SCHOOL DISTRICT | CHANGE OF COMMAND
Two elementaries get new principals New leader of Franklin school taught in Dixon for past 8 years BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5525
STERLING – When students and teachers at two Sterling elementary schools show up for the first day of classes on Aug. 18, each school will have a new leader. Amy Springman, 30, is the new principal at Franklin Elementary School. She replaces Suzi Hesser,
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TODAY’S EDITION: 24 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 163 ISSUE 63
who became a fifth-grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary School. Steve Etheridge, 31, has been named principal at Washington Elementary School. He replaces Matt Birdsley, who will become principal at Challand Middle School in the fall. Springman, a 2002 Sterling High School graduate, is a product of two local school districts: She
INDEX
BUSINESS ......... A11 COMICS ...............B5 CROSSWORD....B12
spent 8 years as a first-grade teacher in the Dixon School District before coming to Sterling. She has two master’s degrees: one in educational leadership from St. Xavier University in Chicago and an administrative endorsement from Aurora University in Aurora. PRINCIPALS CONTINUED ON A2
DEAR ABBY ......... A8 LIFESTYLE ........... A8 LOTTERY ............. A2
Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 SPORTS ...............B1
Today’s weather High 79. Low 57. More on A3.
Amy Springman is the new principal at Franklin Elementary School in Sterling. The new school year will get underway Aug. 18. Springman is a Sterling High School graduate who taught in the Dixon School District the past 8 years.
Fair opens
Ogle County gala starts today, A5.
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