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G olden Echo

A DAY FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS

SPECIAL SECTION, INSIDE

PREP FOOTBALL, B1

TELEGRAPH

Monday, September 28, 2015

SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851

SAUK VALLEY | RECREATION

Officials: It’s not easy being green ADA compliance chief among challenges to maintain, upgrade rec space BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier

In a state that ranks 48th in available land for public recreation, the per-capita green space in the Sauk Valley might seem like an embarrassment of riches. While open space is a huge piece of the area’s overall quality of life,

it comes at a cost. “Our area is fortunate to have an abundance of parks and recreational space,” Rock Falls Mayor Bill Wescott said, “but there is a tremendous amount of maintenance and expense, and I don’t think people understand just how much it can cost.” Much of the land is owned by park districts, but some belongs to the

state or cities. The responsibilities and challenges vary greatly depending on the breakdown. Officials in Sterling still struggle to comply with regulations under the federal Americans With Disabilities Act, 16 years after being hit with three ADA complaints.

DIXON | SCARECROW FESTIVAL

At least it looked like fall

GREEN CONTINUED ON A2

‘‘ ’’ Looking We want to keep this a park, but grass doesn’t make money, and this area is costly to take care of.

Jim DuBois, Morrison Sports Complex director, on trying to decide what to do with French Creek Park

Forward

Among the things happening in the Sauk Valley this week: Pam Eggemeier, Sterling/ Rock Falls: Morrison Council: The council will consider the sale of surplus city property at the sewer plant when it meets at 7 tonight in the Whiteside County board room, 400 N. Cherry St. in Morrison.

Autumn-themed event withstands summery heat

Jermaine Pigee, education:

Enrollment numbers: Stay tuned for a roundup of school district enrollment numbers across the Sauk Valley. A lot of schools are seeing a decrease in enrollment, although there are more than 100 new students at Sterling High School. Christopher Heimerman, night news editor: Silver Linings series wraps up: The four-part retrospective series on Silver City, the old Wallace Street neighborhood and Northwestern Steel and Wire Co. will focus on the mill’s president, P.W. Dillon, his legacy, and how it affects Sterling today.

(CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP) Scarecrows decorated West First Street in downtown Dixon on Saturday during Scarecrow Festival. The annual event featured music, face painting, a petting zoo, a scarecrow contest and much more. Liz Fischbach, owner of Baked by Liz in Morrison, dips an apple in caramel at her caramel apple bar, where customers could pick toppings for their sticky, sweet treat. McKenna (left), 7, and her mother, Kelli Scruggs, both from Oregon, turn their pumpkin into a minion at the free pumpkin-painting station in front of Dixon Paint Co.

MORE PUMPKINS Season opens at Anderson’s Pumpkin Patch near Amboy. See more photos on A3.

Photos by Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com

Miss any of the first three Silver Linings installments? Click on this logo at saukvalley.com for links to each of the stories published thus far.

Q&A | VAL’S PLACE OWNER VAL WILSON

She created a ‘Place’ of her own People, music at the center of Dixon woman’s business plan BY BRENDEN WEST bwest@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5529 @BWest_SVM

DIXON – There was nothing wrong with Wilson’s Tap, says Val Wilson. But if she was going to take on her parents’ longtime downtown

$1.00

pub, Wilson was going to inject a little bit of her personality. And so, Val’s Place, at 316 W. First St., was born. Wilson, 45, bought the bar in 2012, spent 5 weeks remodeling it, and reopened it to a customer base she says is diverse and

TODAY’S EDITION: 20 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 164 ISSUE 105

INDEX

easy to mesh with. With recent downtown developments adding to Dixon’s nightlife, Wilson sat down with Sauk Valley Media to chat about her place in it all.

ABBY ................... A7 COMICS ............... A8 CROSSWORD....B10

Q&A CONTINUED ON A5

LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2 OBITUARIES ........ A4

Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

OPINION .............. A6 POLICE ................ A2 SPORTS ...............B1

Today’s weather High 83. Low 60. More on A3.

Val Wilson, owner of Val’s Place, 316 W. First St., Dixon, says the people are the best part of her job. “It’s such a diverse group,” she said. “It’s not one type of person or culture.”

Need work? Check out your classifieds, B6.

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