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Playing for the team and his father NEWMAN PREVIEW, B1
SPECIAL DELIVERIES, HANDLED WITH CARE THE PEOPLE’S VOICE, A3 EDUCATION
WEEKEND FEATURE | HOLY GHOST RIDERS
Alternative education in P-town?
HEAVEN on WHEELS
Lee/Ogle ROE looks to add retention program BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5525
‘This isn’t a club, it’s a ministry’ BY ANGEL SIERRA asierra@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5695
The rumble of pavement heralds the arrival of a local motorcycle ministry that is bringing the light and breathing new life into the crusade against sin and evil. Terry “Preacher Terry” Meiners, 58, of Sterling, founded the Holy Ghost Riders 15 years ago after discovering a need for spiritual outreach in the area. “We’re street preachers,” Meiners said. “We’re training [members] to go out into the streets ... where a normal pastor would feel uncomfortable being around [people like] hardcore bikers.” It’s the only group like it from Chicago to Clinton, Iowa, he added. At a backyard barbecue on a warm Saturday afternoon, riders and their families gathered for fellowship and food, hosted at the home of a ministry elder. Parked out front were the group’s choppers, synchronized neatly in a line on the lawn. Meiners’ gaze drifted away as he recalled a painful history, and like a poker tell, his piercing blue eyes, cradled by wrinkles, helped to reveal what was buried. After trips to jail, “too many to count,” and a third divorce, “That’s when I hit rock bottom.” “There was a war going on inside of me, and I knew that I wasn’t living right.”
Photos by Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com
Terry Meiners, aka Preacher Terry, is the founder of the local Holy Ghost Riders, a motorcycle ministry that spreads the word of Jesus to the biker community through prayers, bike blessings and special church services. The ministry has 15 members, each of whom considers himself an independent missionary of God. TOP: Meiners with his “Jesus Bike.” “Years ago, he won the loudest pipes contest at Sturgis, the annual motorcycle rally in South Dakota. It shows the other bikers that Christians can have a radical bike and still have fun, too,” Meiners says.
WHEELS CONTINUED ON A4
PROPHETSTOWN – The alternative learning program of the Lee/Ogle Regional Office of Education could soon be coming to Prophetstown. Officials with the Whiteside Regional Office of Education are looking for a place to house the program, called Education Options, which also has a location at Nachusa Campus School in Nachusa. “There is a need for the alternative education program,” said Chris Palmer, assistant superintendent at ROE. “Area principals agree there are students that need the extra help.” Bob Sondgeroth, superintendent of the Whiteside ROE, said it’s not economically feasible for students who live in Prophetstown, Morrison or Erie to travel to the Nachusa site. “We are trying to find a location in a school district in Prophetstown, Morrison or Erie,” Sondgeroth said. “Preferably, we’d like to house it in Prophetstown, because it’s a central location and we can bring the program to Whiteside County.” The program would have its own teacher and possibly a teacher’s aide. “We would prefer to house the program in a building that has a school administrator already,” Sondgeroth said. The education options program is a safe and secure classroom for students who suffer from anxiety and other nondisciplinary attendance issues. Students do all of their school work on computer programs. “These kids don’t have a real discipline problem; they just don’t like the regular school,” Sondgeroth said. “Sometimes, we have to seek out the students, or else they will drop out.” ALTERNATIVE CONTINUED ON A2
COMMUNITY
WHITESIDE COUNTY FAIR WRAP-UP Final day at fairgrounds today MORRISON – You haven’t been out to the 144th Whiteside County Fair yet? Well, get a hitch in your gitalong – today is the last day! Who wants to wait a whole ‘nother year to munch cotton candy atop the Ferris wheel? The carnival opens at noon, harness racing begins at 1 p.m., and the super-popular demoli-
tion derby revs up at 6:30 p.m. at the fairgrounds, 201 W. Winfield St. Big Bingo fan? The game is on from 6 to 9 p.m. Kids need a bike? Giveaways will be at 2 and 6 p.m. Like the exhibits? Get there early; they pack up and go home at 6 p.m. Go to whitesidecountyfair.org for a full schedule.
Scattered T-storms
VOLUME 6 ISSUE 51 40 Pages
Today: 81/66 For the forecast, see Page A9
Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
Graphics and gifts Dezine99, a oneof-a-kind Dixon gift store, is a gallery and boutique, too. See Page C1
Harness racers enter a turn during the Whiteside County Fair harness races in Morrison. Friday’s races are followed today with more harness racing, a horseshoe tournament, and the demo derby. More photos, Page A8.
Future of food Experts tell four ways we’ll eat differently Also inside USA Weekend: How to pickle green beans Tried-andtrue dental tips Viola Davis fights hunger
A dash of color Trista Shelly runs through puffs of purple Aug. 8 during the Roy G Biv 5K Fun Run at Woodlawn Arts Academy in Sterling. See more colorful photos from the event on PAGE C12.
Index Births................ C5 Lottery .............. A2 Business........... C1 Markets .......... A10 Classified .......... D1 Obituaries ......... A4 Comics ............. B6 Opinion............. A6 Community ..... C12 Scoreboard ...... B8 Scrapbook ....... C3 Crossword Saturday ........... D6 Sports .............. B1 Support groups .. C5 Crossword Sunday ............. C8 Travel .............. C10 Dave Ramsey ... C1 Weather............ A9 Dear Abby ........ C4 Wheels ............. D8