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Dukes, Marcos look to advance
SET TO GET SCARY AND EAT SOME SWEETS? HALLOWEEN FESTIVITIES, A3
FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS, B1
DIXON | CITY MANAGER
East Moline candidate gets nod Vote on hiring O’Donnell on Monday’s meeting agenda BY BRENDEN WEST bwest@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5529 @BWest_SVM
DIXON – The City Council is offering its first city manager position to East Moline City Administrator Cole O’Donnell, the mayor said in a news release Friday morning.
Interim City Manager David Nord, who has worked for the city for 2 years next month, was the other candidate. “Both finalists are outstanding candidates who could run the city well,” Mayor Li Arellano Jr. said in the release. “After vigorous discussion, the council felt Cole O’Donnell was the
To attend
best fit for the vision and direction of the city of Dixon going forward. We believe he will be a dynamic leader, and is well suited to execute the council’s agenda. We look forward to working with him.”
Cole O’Donnell East Moline city administrator since 2011
CANDIDATE CONTINUED ON A4
The Dixon City Council meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 121 W. Second St. Among the items on the agenda is the consideration and approval of the city manager employment agreement with East Moline City Administrator Cole O’Donnell. Go to www.discoverdixon.org or call 815288-1485 for a complete agenda or more information.
WHITESIDE COUNTY
COLETA
Duo chasing fires, dreams
Schools to receive sales tax dollars Payments to schools based on enrollment BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5525 @JPigee84
Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com
Heather Smith of Sterling and her father, Harold Smith of Coleta, operate the Eye on News Facebook page in their spare time.
Retired firefighter, his daughter operate Eye on News social page it smashed a bridge column. Harold Smith, a Sterling firefighter at the time, immediately responded, and still remembers the horrific scene. It was the worst he had seen in his career, he said, but
BY ANGEL SIERRA asierra@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5695 @_angelsierra
COLETA – A van filled with eight people veered off the road on Interstate 88, splitting it in two after
“being able to serve the people” kept him going. Harold retired from the department 17 years ago after more than a quarter century of service. Although some retirees fold away the uniform, and
relocate to the token Florida home, the mechanically inclined 67-year-old, who joined the department after high school, couldn’t shelve his desire to chase fires. DREAMS CONTINUED ON A5
STERLING – Nearly 40 bucks a student. That’s how much money Whiteside County schools will be getting next week, in the first payment coming from the passage of the 1-percent sales tax. The tax, approved Nov. 4, took effect July 1, the beginning Bob Sondgeroth regional of the state’s fissuperintendent cal year. This time, 11 schools are splitting $357,480 – money generated in July. Because payments are based on enrollment, the Whiteside County Regional Office of Education had to wait to disburse until official numbers were in. TAX CONTINUED ON A5
SPECIAL PUBLICATION
A moving tribute to those who served ‘Tales of Valor’ now available for purchase STAFF REPORT news@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5501
Dane Van Oosten of Grand Detour is among the fourth generation of Van Oostens to serve in the U.S. military. “We were born warriors. It’s what we all knew we would do,” he said of his family’s commitment to service.
That bravery and sense of duty to country is celebrated in “Tales of Valor,” a 128-page book written and published by Sauk Valley Media. The stories of the Van Oostens and other Sauk Valley residents who have served in conflicts from World War II to the pres-
Rain likely
VOLUME 8 ISSUE 9 40 Pages
Today: 52/44 For the forecast, see Page A9
ent day are included, as are a number of photos of veterans and current service members submitted by relatives and friends. Order your limited edition copy for $19.95 plus tax at our Sterling office at 3200 E. Lincolnway, or our Dixon office at 113 S. Peoria Ave., or by phone with a credit card at 815-625-3600 or 815-2842224. The book will be available in late November.
Business
As furry friends live longer, business booms in the pet-care industry. See Page C1
Community Zombies and haunts and hayrides, oh my! The Haunted Zombie Hayride at the Chaplin Creek Historic Site is not for the faint of heart. See Page C12
Submitted
The stories of the Van Oostens (shown here) and other Sauk Valley residents who have served in conflicts from World War II to the present day are included in “Tales of Valor,” a 128-page book written and published by Sauk Valley Media.
Index Births................ C5
Lottery .............. A2
Business........... C1
Markets ............ A9
Classified .......... D1
Obituaries ......... A4
Comics ............. B6
Opinion............. A6
Community ..... C12
Scoreboard ...... B4
Crossword Saturday ........... D7
Scrapbook ....... C3
Crossword Sunday ............. C8
Support groups .. C5
Dave Ramsey ... C1
Weather............ A9
Dear Abby ........ C6
Wheels ............. D8
Sports .............. B1 Travel .............. C10