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AMERICAN PROFILE, SPECIAL SECTION INSIDE
DIXON HOOPS PREVIEW, B1
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Friday, November 21, 2014
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
ROCK RIVER FORUM | MINIMUM WAGE
Smiddy active in race to raise it Democrat says it’s crucial to get increase before Jan. 14 BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570
STERLING – Democrats in the Illinois Legislature are making progress in their push to enact a minimum wage increase before Republican Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner takes office in January.
State Rep. Mike Smiddy, the guest of the Rock River Forum on Thursday, is one of the Democrats championing the cause. The 71st District representative from Hillsdale visited the Sterling Public Library after dealing with some override vetoes in Springfield, and speaking at a minimum wage rally.
Smiddy and State Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, have been making appearances organized by Raise Illinois, a coalition pushing lawmakers to bump the minimum wage from $8.25 to $10 an hour. MINIMUM WAGE CONTINUED ON A5
Rock River Forum Rock River Forum is a local group that advocates for more citizen participation in civic matters. For more information about the group, call 815-625-4657.
Mike Smiddy
STATE LEGISLATURE
DIXON | ANTI-VIOLENCE CURRICULUM
Rauner to Quinn: No hiring
Second Step is acceptance
Gov.-elect puts issues on hold; lawmakers head home early SPRINGFIELD (AP) – Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner called on Gov. Pat Quinn to freeze hiring in the final weeks of his term, saying Thursday he wants to prevent a repeat of previous governors who handed out jobs or cushy appointments to friends on their way out the door. The Winnetka Republican said he has no reason to believe Quinn is doing anything inappropriate “today,” but said such a freeze is “good management practice.” Quinn’s office wouldn’t commit to that, however, saying the Chicago Democrat has instructed state agencies to act responsibly to ensure basic operations continue. Rauner spoke at the Capitol, where he was meeting with elected officials ahead of taking office Jan. 12. His presence already is being felt in the Legislature, as lawmakers cut the first week of the fall session short and headed home a day early without action on major issues such as raising the minimum wage.
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Kris Noble, a presenter for the Second Step program, hands out materials to parents at the start of a presentation Thursday at Washington Elementary School in Dixon. Second Step is a violence prevention curriculum that helps schools and families encourage children to get along well with others.
Students taught to show empathy, curb anger and impulses BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5525
DIXON – Elementary students in the Dixon School District are learning more than reading, math and science in the classroom. They also have learned social skills and ways to manage their anger in a
positive way. For the past 5 years, the school district has been implementing Second Step, a violence prevention curriculum that helps schools and families encourage children to get along well with others. “This program teaches students about anger management, empa-
thy and impulse control,” said Pam Maas, a social worker at Washington Elementary School. “Students are also taught the skills for learning.” There was a parent meeting about Second Step on Thursday at the school. SECOND STEP CONTINUED ON A5
HIRING CONTINUED ON A4
TOP5 Your Weekend
1 Festival of Trees wraps up STERLING – The 25th Festival of Trees will conclude this weekend at Woodlawn Arts Academy, 3807 Woodlawn Road. The festival and Country Store will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and Saturday, and from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday. Bidding on table settings and silent auction items will end at 2 p.m. Sunday, and the Friendship Trees auction will end at 2:30 p.m. The festival will close with a large tree auction at 3 p.m. Sunday.
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TODAY’S EDITION: 28 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 163 ISSUE 144
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Hometown Holidays kicks off
ROCK FALLS – Hometown Holidays in Rock Falls will go into full swing today with the Love Light Ceremony at 5:30 p.m. at First Street and First Avenue. The Uptown Christmas Walk will be from 6 to 8 tonight in the area of First Avenue and Second Street. The Twin Cities Holiday Parade, which will start in Sterling and cross the First Avenue bridge into Rock Falls, will begin at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. A children’s party with Santa will start at 2 p.m. at Merrill Elementary School.
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Santas on the run in Sterling
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STERLING – Santas on the Run, a fundraiser for the Sterling-Rock Falls Family YMCA scholarship fund, is Saturday. The 2K run/walk, for all ages and fitness level, will leave at 1 p.m. from the parking lot of the YMCA, 412 First Ave. Participants must wear Santa suits, and the Santas will lead the holiday parade after the run. The cost is $25 for adults and $20 for children younger than 12. Advance registration only at the Y or at srfymca.org.
ABBY ................... A8 BUSINESS ......... A13 COMICS ...............B4
CROSSWORD....B13 DAY TRIP ............. A7 LOTTERY ............. A2
Blues and bluegrass in the Grove
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FRANKLIN GROVE – It’s the third Friday of the month, which local music fans know means it’s Blues and Bluegrass night at the H.I. Lincoln Building, 136 N. Elm St. Open stage acoustic gospel, folk, country, blues and bluegrass will be performed, starting at 7 p.m. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted to help with the upkeep of the historic building.
NATION/WORLD. A10 OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6
Holding court on the DHS stage
DIXON – “Fairy Tale Courtroom” hits the stage this weekend in the auditorium at Dixon High School, 300 Lincoln Statue Drive. The show, in which fairy tale villains are brought to trial, will be performed at 7 p.m. today and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $10 for adults, $3 for children and students, and $20 for a family pack for two adults and an unlimited number of children.
Today’s weather High 32. Low 28. More on A3.
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