W eekend SV
Saukvalley.com
Your source for news and sports 7 days a week
Serving Lee, Whiteside, Carroll, Ogle and Bureau counties Saturday&Sunday, August 29-30, 2015 $2.00
New season, new look MAKE SILHOUTTE ART to SVM coverage FORDIY YOUR WALLS HOME, A9 16-PAGE FOOTBALL SECTION INSIDE
NEW LAWS | UNDERAGE DRINKING
Help, in cases of emergency Officials praise new amnesty law for underage drinkers who call 911 BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5521 @SeaWarren
OREGON – A new law signed this week by Gov. Bruce Rauner could have life-saving repercussions. It’s like the state’s Good Samaritan law, which offers amnesty to drug users in the event of a medical emergency. But this one, signed Monday by the
Republican governor, applies to underage drinking parties. Under the new law, if an underage drinker calls 911 in the event of a medical emergency, the caller and the person receiving medical care will be offered immunity from citations That scenario calls to mind the death of 18-year-old Jon Williams, who died at an underage drinking party in Oregon 2 years
ago this month. His death was later ruled a homicide, although no one was charged. Winnebago County Coroner Sue Fiduccia determined that he had died from blunt force trauma. He was punched in the face and fell to the ground, but wasn’t taken to the hospital until the morning after the party, by which time he was unconscious. The new law could prevent
such tragedies, Oregon Police Chief Darin DeHaan said. “It’s hard to say in that particular instance [whether the law would’ve made a difference],” the chief said. “My hope would be that it would have, and [the fellow partygoers] would [call 911], and it would’ve saved his life.” Illinois joins almost a dozen other states with similar laws.
‘‘
I think it’s an excellent law. And if it removes that barrier and that fear, then it’s going to ultimately save a life, and that’s definitely a good thing.
HELP CONTINUED ON A4
WEEKEND FEATURE | SALVADOR VELAZQUEZ
’’
Oregon High School Principal Andrew Nelson
THE PEOPLE’S VOICE christopher HEIMERMAN Heimerman is the Night News Editor at Sauk Valley Media. He can be reached at cheimerman@ saukvalley.com or 800-798-4085, ext. 5523.
Meet me at Wallace Street reunion
I
NOT EVEN THE SKY’S THE LIMIT
82-year-old Sterling man takes leap of faith, celebrates youth BY ANGEL SIERRA asierra@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5695 @_angelsierra
story of overcoming adversity.
STERLING – Former President George H.W. Bush and Sterling resident Salvador Velazquez have something in common: both have stood at the edge of an open door several thousand feet in the air – and then jumped. For the 82-year-old Velazquez, the tandem skydive from 14,000 feet in June was more than an early birthday celebration. It was part of a dream accomplished, and an exclamation point on a lifelong
The Pachuca, Mexico, native first arrived in the United States in his early 30s, returned often to visit family, and permanently moved 2 years later after tasting opportunity. After a 4-month stint at a Chicago factory, he got better work in the Sauk Valley when his brother-in-law found him a job. Velazquez left the city at 4 a.m. and arrived at a foundry just 2 hours later.
Next stop: Sterling
Passing storms
VOLUME 7 ISSUE 52 52 Pages
Today: 76/62 For the forecast, see Page A10
SKY CONTINUED ON A2
magine driving into Sterling from the west on Lincoln Highway. From blocks away, you can smell fresh tortillas and beans. Dozens of children are shrieking and laughing from their own personal playground, nestled between the railroad tracks and the river. “From Avenue B, where the east plant wire mill was, all the way over to Avenue K – that was our playground,” said Dave Barajas, 69, owner of La Familia and former resident of 519 Wallace St. Despite the mouth-watering aromas that fill his Rock Falls restaurant while we chatted last week, he admitted that neither his cuisine nor any other could quite stack up to the home cooking he grew up with. Nor can we replicate the bonds and the sincerity of that old neighborhood. But Sunday at Heide Shelter at Centennial Park in Rock Falls, we’ll do our very best at the Wallace Street reunion. It will begin at noon, but lunch won’t be served until about 12:30. PEOPLE’S VOICE CONTINUED ON A5
ONLINE EXTRA Photos submitted
TOP: Sterling resident Salvador Velazquez, 82, and instructor Jo Beck descend from 14,000 feet during a tandem skydive in June at Chicagoland Skydiving Center in Rochelle. The staff at the center has a clean safety record, giving Velazquez the confidence to jump, he said. ABOVE: Velazquez gives a thumbs up to his first skydive.
Business
A Lanark day care and preschool facility plans to expand its hours. See Page C1
Community Even little kids were pulling for a successful Whiteside County Fair last week. Check out scenes from the fair in an SVM photo essay. See Page C12
Now, hear this!
Sauk Valley Media has launched playlists of music we’re listening to, and of interesting new singles. Go to saukvalley.com
Index Births................ C5
Lottery .............. A2
Business........... C1
Markets .......... A10
Classified .......... B6
Obituaries ......... A4
Comics ............. B5
Opinion............. A6
Community ..... C12
Scoreboard ...... B4
Crossword Saturday ......... B10
Scrapbook ....... C3
Crossword Sunday ............. C8
Support groups .. C5
Dave Ramsey ... C1
Weather.......... A10
Dear Abby ........ C6
Wheels ........... B12
Sports .............. B1 Travel .............. C10