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DIXON PUTS UP A GOOD FIGHT AGAINST STERLING GIRLS TENNIS, B1
ROCK FALLS, A10
TELEGRAPH
Friday, September 30, 2016
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
LEE COUNTY | CITY OF ROCHELLE RAILROAD
On track for development County would benefit from ripple effect of rail expansion that could bring jobs, tax dollars and more BY RACHEL RODGERS rrodgers@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5529 @rj_rodgers
ROCHELLE – A $3.42 million federal Economic Development Administration grant could be the key to opening
up 1,000 acres of new industrial development in Lee County. Rochelle was awarded the grant through the EDA’s Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance program, which will provide about half of the funds needed to expand the City
of Rochelle Railroad farther into Lee County. “It could become one of the largest rail industrial parks in the state of Illinois,” said Jason Anderson, director of the Greater Rochelle Economic Development Corp.
STERLING SCHOOLS
Familiar faces
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The project includes building a bridge over a Johns Creek tributary and laying three lines of track each traveling south about 3,200 feet along the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway main line. EXPANSION CONTINUED ON A4
ILLINOIS
They want their day in court
New places
Appeal tossed in Election Day registration case, but attorney general says she’ll try again BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Heather Wittenauer (left), Jefferson Elementary School principal, and Sara Dail, Sterling Public Schools assistant superintendent, are in their first years in those roles. They both worked at Jefferson – Wittenauer as a teacher’s assistant and Dail as a teacher, 13 years ago, and have worked only in the Sterling district.
Administrators enjoy taking new roles and new challenges BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 CHeimerman_SVM
STERLING – Now that the chaos is a bit more controlled, two Sterling Public Schools administrators are settling nicely into their new roles. Thursday was first-year Assistant Superintendent Sara Dail’s third day
back on the new job after maternity leave. It’s a comfort knowing her 2-month-old second child, Isabella, is loving her time in day care, exactly 60 steps – yep, she’s counted – from her office. “She’s doing really well, which makes it a lot better,” said Dail, 36. “She likes the interaction with other kids.” ADMINISTRATORS CONTINUED ON A4
Online extra Click on this story at saukvalley.com to hear Sterling Public Schools administrators Sara Dail and Heather Wittenauer tell funny stories from their teaching days.
CHICAGO – A federal judge has declared the state’s Election Day voter registration law unconstitutional, but the appeals process continues. The ruling from Judge Samuel Der-Yeghiayan came Tuesday in response to a lawsuit filed by Patrick Harlan, the Galesburg Republican facing 17th District U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos in November. The Crawford County Republican Central Committee also was a plaintiff. Harlan is president of the Knox County Tea Party. The legal work was done by the Liberty Justice Center, which is affiliated with the Illinois Policy Institute, a nonprofit conservative think tank based in Chicago. The lawsuit challenged a state law passed and signed by former Gov. Pat Quinn a few days before he left office. The law requires counties with a population of more than 100,000 to offer voter registration at the polls on Election Day, while smaller counties don’t have to provide the service. Only 20 of the state’s 102 counties were required to set up for same-day registration. REGISTRATION CONTINUED ON A4
TOP5 Your Weekend
1
Stroll through local history
STERLING – The Whiteside County Genealogists and the Sterling Public Library invite the public to walk back in time and hear the stories of men and women who contributed to our communities. Our Cemetery Walk will feature guided tours at 1:30, 2, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Sacred Heart Cemetery at Riverside Cemetery in Sterling. A horse and buggy and other vehicles will be provided for those who have difficulty standing or walking. The Rock Falls American Legion will provide a bugler to play taps at the conclusion of the walk.
$1.00
TODAY’S EDITION: 28 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 166 ISSUE 107
2
Put fun in a headlock
DIXON – Pro wrestlers from various wrestling organizations will be throwing down Saturday at VFW Post 540, 1560 state Route 38. Gates open at 3 p.m., and wrestling runs from 4 to about 6:15, followed by live music from 8 to 11 p.m. by local rock bands Abolish and Bloody Gulch. There will be door prizes, raffles of Cubs and other items, and a 50-50 raffle. Dinner and drinks will be available at the club, and concessions will be sold. Admission is $10 for those 18 and older, $5 for kids. The event will be held outside, so bring lawn chairs. Proceeds will help pay funeral and medical expenses for Dixon veteran Ronald E. “Toad” Smith. Call 815-2885265 for more information.
INDEX
3
Buddy up to kids
DIXON – A benefit for Buddy Bags of Dixon runs from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Dixon Elks Lodge, 1279 Franklin Grove Road. Buddy Bags provides a meal on weekends to 150 Dixon elementary school children who do not have enough food to eat at home. A breakfast buffet will be $10 for adults, $5 for ages 5 to 9. Also on the lineup: games with prizes, face painting, raffles, a bake sale, an ambulance, police cars, and fire trucks on display, and a visit from Shiloh the comfort dog. Buffet and 50-50 tickets are available at the door or at the Elks Lodge, Trein’s Jewelry, The Crystal Cork Wine Shoppe, Shamrock Pub, PatiO’s Irish Pub, and Petals to Parties, all in Dixon. Find Buddy Bags of Dixon on Facebook or call Jenny at 815677-0497 for more information.
ABBY ................... A8 BUSINESS ......... A12 COMICS ...............B7
CROSSWORD....B12 DAY TRIP ............. A7 LIFESTYLE ........A7-8
Fall in love with autumn, and Oregon
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OREGON – Autumn on Parade returns this weekend, with more than 150 craft booths outside the Ogle County Courthouse, 105 S. Fifth St., from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Also on the lineup: Saturday: Auto and tractor show 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Park East on River Road; a book sale 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Oregon Public Library, 300 Jefferson St.; doughnut-eating contests throughout the day. Sunday: 5K Run/Walk at 8 a.m. at Park West; Harvest Time Parade at 1 p.m. Both days: Olde English Faire from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Stronghold Center, 1922 state Route 2; live entertainment; kids fun zone in the North Fifth Street lot; and a food court from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Go to autumnonparade.org for more information.
LOTTERY ............. A2 OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6
5
A dash of fun to spice up your day
STERLING – The 25th annual Pumpkin Dash will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Hoover Park, 3807 Woodlawn Road. Kids up to age 12 will be grouped by age and run dashes of various lengths. Winners get a large pumpkin, and the first 1,000 finishers get a small pumpkin. All runners will get a free hot dog, bottled water, chips and candy. Registration begins at 9 a.m., and the first race at 11. Other activities include a petting zoo, bounce houses, ambulance tours, face painting, barrel rides and more. Admission is free, though donations are welcome. Call 815-6250400, ext. 4422 for more information.
Today’s weather High 66. Low 57. More on A3.
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