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DUCHESSES DROP Queen is attracting DEFEAT ON NEWMAN a Legion of fans GIRLS TENNIS, B1
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Thursday, October 6, 2016
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
DIXON | FINANCIAL REPORT
Pension tension stretches budget City is gaining on lost revenue, but pension payments are looming large over progress BY RACHEL RODGERS rrodgers@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5529 @rj_rodgers
DIXON – The city is making up for lost revenue, but growing pension obligations could put it in a tight spot down the road.
City revenue declined by about $1.2 million between fiscal years 2015 and 2016, Rory Sohn, a certified public accountant with Wipfli, told the City Council on Monday. About $800,000 of that can be attributed to a loss of sales tax revenue, the rest to reductions in income tax dollars dis-
tributed by the state and local property tax revenue, he said. Still, the city maintained a balanced budget and had a surplus of about $1.9 million, most of which helped to fund $5.3 million in capital projects, including improvements to Monroe and River streets, the Dixon Public Library
NEWMAN FOOD DRIVE
They can clear the air before they fill their minds Photos by Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
Students get a haul pass
MUSIC
Their own brand of easy listening
$1.00
TODAY’S EDITION: 28 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 166 ISSUE 111
BUDGET CONTINUED ON A3
EDUCATION
RIGHT: Sean Celestine (left) and Karter Decker pick up donations Wednesday morning during Newman Central Catholic High School’s annual food drive. This was the 15th year the school has conducted the food drive in which students travel throughout the Sauk Valley to pick up nonperishable food left out by residents. All food collected will be disbursed to area food pantries. BELOW: After picking up food, students hauled it back to the Sterling Township building and sorted it.
Shattered Picks isn’t out to write a hit or change the world; they just want people to let loose, share a laugh, and maybe learn a thing or two
remodel, and downtown development. Sohn also noted a recent stipulation that could cause pension payments, already growing at an alarming rate, to stack up even faster. “It’s really becoming a bigger and bigger issue for all cities and governments this year,” he said.
BY LUCAS PAULEY lpauley@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5576 @LucasJayPauley
More inside
DIXON – It’s a simple plan. “We just kinda write something that we would want to listen to.” The moment Shattered Picks kicked off “Scott’s Mom’s Song” to start its practice Tuesday, those words from Trevor Tauch (guitar), 22, came to life. Trevor, his brother, Nathan (bass/lead vocals), 20, and their friend, Colin Adams (drums), 25, had spent the past 30 minutes discussing influences and talking
INDEX
ABBY ................... A8 COMICS ...............B7 CROSSWORD....B12
Check out all the area’s entertainment events in Plan!t. Pages A9-12 about what drives them – all clearly excited to perform Saturday at West End Fest on West First Street in downtown Dixon. As Nathan puts it, there’s an “unspoken energy and some vibes” with his brother and Colin “that you just can’t get from anybody.”
LIFESTYLE ........... A8 LOTTERY ............. A2 OBITUARIES ........ A4
Students tackle topics big and small during morning meetings BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 CHeimerman_SVM
STERLING – In 20 minutes Wednesday morning, a seventh-grader was reunited with his lost iPad, students learned how fast rumors can get out of control, and the creepy clown phenomena was addressed. The new advisory program at Challand Middle School is off to a sprinting start. The first 20 minutes of the day, students meet with a teacher to discuss anything and everything that’s going on in their lives – from the seemingly mundane to the massive, it’s all fair game. When Blake Majeski walked through the door of language arts teacher Kim Reiley’s classroom, she knew something was up. “Blake usually comes in and is fun and easygoing,” she said. “He came in today with a worried face. I knew that something was weighing on him heavy.” The seventh-grader likely didn’t get much sleep, wondering where he’d lost his $300 district-issued iPad. Reiley sent him to the office to ask administration about it, and it was there waiting for him. Once he rejoined his 20 classmates, visibly relieved, Reiley opened up the floor, and Sevanah Lucas’ hand shot up. “The creepy clown sightings are getting scary,” she said. People dressing as deranged clowns and walking the streets is a nationwide phenomenon that hit close to home Tuesday night when the volleyball coaching staff stepped off the bus at Augustana College in Rock Island and saw – you guessed it – a creepy clown. “You had a clown discussion, too?” Principal Matt Birdsley asked Reiley shortly after the advisory period. He’d been in several classrooms, and the Augie clown came up in at least two of them. Word travels pretty doggone fast these days. “It just flies, and it spreads like wildfire,” Reiley said.
LISTENING CONTINUED ON A5
OPINION .............. A6 PLANIT ............A9-12 POLICE ................ A2
MEETINGS CONTINUED ON A3
Today’s weather High 78. Low 56. More on A3.
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