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Thursday, August 13, 2015
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
STERLING
The park district that Duis built First parks director, youth sports innovator, dies at 87 BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
STERLING – Frank “Moe” Duis, 87, the city’s first parks director, died Wednesday at CGH Medical Center. When Duis took the helm at Ster-
ling Park District, there were no facilities, only land. Now the park district’s most recognizable building bears his name – a tribute to the growth of the system during his nearly 40 years there, 23 as its leader. Duis actually holds the distinction of being both the first part-
and full-time director. A teacher and track coach at Challand Middle School, he also ran recreational programs for the park district during the summers. In 1965, the park district board made him the fulltime director, the first of only three in the organization’s history. “He had an unbelievable work
ethic, and he was still teaching when he was a part-time director,” said Pete Dillon, a longtime friend and colleague. “As the scope of the job grew, he finally quit teaching and worked full time as parks director.”
Frank R. “Moe” Duis Oct. 3, 1927Aug. 12, 2015
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WHEN THE BELL RINGS, THEY HIT THE SWINGS STERLING
DIXON PARKS
Estimated statue cost sees uptick Board still mulling whether to ‘parent’ fundraising campaign BY BRENDEN WEST bwest@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5529 @BWest_SVM
Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
ABOVE: Olivia Frump (left) and Charley Frank, both 5 and of Sterling, feel the wind in their hair as they whip around the Swinger at the St. Andrew Catholic School Back to School Carnival on Wednesday in the Northland Mall parking lot. Wednesday was opening night for the carnival, which runs through Sunday. RIGHT: Don’t like to fly solo? Riders on Pharoah’s Fury hang on during their thrill ride at the carnival.
More on the carnival ... and more For more information on the carnival, check out our local entertainment listings on A9-12. Keep turning the pages to A13-14 for the lowdown on the Whiteside County Fair, which fires up next week.
DIXON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Project on schedule, intact ... unlike school District official urges action; firm representative says visual plan is halfway done BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5525 @JPigee84
DIXON – Kevin Schultz, the director of buildings and grounds for the Dixon School District, approached the board Wednesday with two chunks of concrete.
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“These chunks of concrete are falling off the building at [Dixon High School],” Schultz said of the pieces he was holding, which were about as big as his hand. “We need to really start making decisions so we can correct these problems.” George Reigle, principal
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INDEX
with Green Associates, met with the Dixon School Board on Wednesday to update members on the district’s conceptual plan. It will show how a renovated or new Dixon High School could look. The board is looking at two options: Option A includes
ABBY ................... A8 BUSINESS ........... A7 COMICS ...............B7
CROSSWORD....B12 LIFESTYLE ........... A8 LOTTERY ............. A2
renovation of the existing Dixon High School; Option B includes building a new high school. Both options also include basic renovation and upgrades at Washington and Jefferson elementary schools. SCHOOL CONTINUED ON A2
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 POLICE ................ A2
DIXON – The estimated cost of the proposed Ronald Reagan lifeguard statue at Lowell Park has grown. For 2 years, former Mayor Jim Burke has been on an eightperson committee that includes Ron Pritchard, chairman of the Dixon Park District Board. The committee (formerly a branch of Dixon Tourism and the city) paid for a rendering of what a statue could look like, with original cost estimates pegging the project at $200,000, according to Pritchard. Burke presented recent findings during Wednesday’s park board meeting. The latest estimate brings the project cost to $300,000, including $15,000 for maintenance and $20,000 for contingency. This budget also includes pricing for landscaping and a visual exhibit, though $200,000 worth of the project would go to the 10-foot-tall hollow bronze statue of young Reagan. Burke said all funds would be raised privately. But the question facing the board is whether to let the statue committee funnel money through the park district’s budget. Pritchard has consulted the district’s attorney about the legality. “He didn’t find anything illegal,” he said, “but he wondered about the appropriateness.” Burke passed out an email from Grand Prairie, Texas, native Kevin Dopp – a recent Lowell Park visitor who believes more can be done to commemorate Reagan. Dopp said there was no indica-
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He didn’t find anything illegal, but he wondered about the appropriateness.
Ron Pritchard, chairman of Dixon Park District Board, on his conversation with district’s attorney
Today’s weather High 87. Low 68. More on A3.
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