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Previewing Sauk’s VETERANS DAY basketball squads EVENTS IN THE AREA LOCAL, A5 SPORTS, B1
STERLING | NORTHLAND MALL
ROCK FALLS
City set to extend sewer lines Part of development plans for west side
Deck the mall Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Work continues on the back wall of Northland Mall in Sterling. The wall, in the back of Dunham’s Sports, fell when winds around 100 mph ripped off a portion of the roof in the June 22 storm.
Northland recovery continues as holidays approach BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5525 @JPigee84
STERLING – Large cardboard snowflakes swing from the ceiling as soft Christmas music plays. Northland Mall is gearing up for the holiday season, 5 months after a devastating storm caused a shutdown of a restaurant and more than 20 stores. Bath & Body Works, the latest store to make a comeback, opens today. That leaves only two previous outlets still out of commission: Dunham’s Sports, which had been open only 8 months when the storm hit June 22, and The Spot Restaurant. Dunham’s sustained the most damage, when winds exceeding 100 mph peeled back its roof and blew a hole in the rear wall of its 50,000-square-foot store in the center of the circa-1970s mall. MALL CONTINUED ON A14
Donald Czyzyk, owner of Donald’s Sweets and Treats, makes fresh caramel apples at his new store, which opened Sept. 4 in the space where Accents used to be.
BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
ROCK FALLS – The city’s public works committee gave its approval to move ahead with a sewer extension project on the U.S. Route 30 west-side business corridor. The infrastructure project would be part of a longerterm development plan that calls for continuing the new sewer lines all the way to the river. This part of the project would extend from the north side of U.S. Route 30 at Riverdale Road to the city’s wastewater treatment plant. An older cost estimate, provided by Willett, Hofman & Associates, comes in at $437,000. The estimate includes construction, engineering, and a 10 percent contingency. “Two years ago, we got the estimates for this phase of the project, and we have been told that the cost should still be close,” City Administrator Robbin Blackert said. Not only might the sewer improvements attract new development, but the work also could pave the way for the annexation of established businesses. Long Shot Bar and Grill on U.S. Route 30 is interested in coming into the city limits. “Long Shot is in desperate need of access to 24-inch sewer lines, and the owner wants to be annexed into the city,” Blackert said. SEWER CONTINUED ON A2
DIXON | PROJECT GENNEX
Taking on more than kids’ stuff Teens are taking ownership of skate park plan, but obstacles ahead BY BRENDEN WEST bwest@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5529 @BWest_SVM
DIXON – Only one person in the room considers himself an adult. Steve Wilson is trying to steer a discussion with people less than half his age. Yet this group consisting mostly of Dixon High School students is talking about important matters.
Sunny
VOLUME 8 ISSUE 10 40 Pages
Today: 52/29 For the forecast, see Page A13
How to get a project to repurpose a local landmark off the ground. How to raise money. How to work within a public taxing body – Dixon Park District. Weighty stuff for kids, some not yet old enough to drive. They are Project GenNex – short for Generation Next. The landmark is the former Veterans Memorial Pool.
Project GenNex members (from left) Jarod White, Jayda West, Bradley Cobler, and Michael Sandoval are among the group of Dixon teens proposing to turn the former Veterans Memorial Pool into a skate park. (Alex T. Paschal/ apaschal@ saukvalley.com)
TEENS CONTINUED ON A3
Business
Quilt and embroidery shop moves to downtown Oregon for more visibility. See Page C1
Community Creative costumes were in fine fashion during the Dixon Noon Lions costume parade on Halloween. An SVM photo page tells the tale. See Page C12
Index Births................ C5
Lottery .............. A2
Business........... C1
Markets .......... A13
Classified .......... B9
Obituaries ......... A4
Comics ............. A8
Opinion............. A6
Community ..... C12
Scoreboard ...... B8
Crossword Saturday ......... B13
Scrapbook ....... C3
Crossword Sunday ............. C8
Support groups .. C5
Dave Ramsey ... C1
Weather.......... A13
Dear Abby ........ C6
Wheels ........... B14
Sports .............. B1 Travel .............. C10