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BUSINESS | TOURISM IN THE SAUK VALLEY
Marketing tourism a challenge But ‘we have a lot to offer within our four counties’ BY ANGEL SIERRA asierra@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5695
POLO – At the helm of the Blackhawk Waterways Convention and Visitors Bureau is a Mount Carroll native with a bright smile and vivacious disposition. Diane Bausman, 60, leads the organization that represents the four-county territory of Carroll, Lee, Ogle and Whiteside counties, and is supervised by the Illinois Office of Tourism, a branch of the Illi-
Even more online Stop by visitnorthwestillinois.com for Sauk Valley events, how to plan a trip, what to do, lodging, a tourism directory, a comprehensive visitor’s guide, and more. Find it on Facebook at facebook.com/easygetaways and on Twitter at @BWCVBtourism. nois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Bausman wears many hats, but her top job is getting people to come here. Much like a travel agent, she’s a guide – she provides information through talks, pamphlets, brochures and magazines. She also spearheads an innovative marketing effort, which includes the group’s award-winning website, visitnorthwestillinois.com. “Build it, and they will come,”
she said. “But not if they don’t know about it.” The Sauk Valley has established itself as a great getaway spot, mainly for folks from the Chicagoland area, Bausman said, because it’s an easy 1- to 2-hour drive. In the phone calls and requests for information, she’s heard the urgency from suburbanites and city folk who want to get away. TOURISM CONTINUED ON A4
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Diane Bausman, executive director of the Blackhawk Waterways Convention and Visitors Bureau, points out one of dozens of brochures and pamphlets leading visitors to places of recreation in the Sauk Valley.
STORY UPDATE | AMBOY FIRE
STERLING
Harts will take on a new role ‘Leftovers’ actor to guide students interested in entertainment career BY KAYLA HEIMERMAN Special to Sauk Valley Media
Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Colton Shaw, 21, climbs the steps to what used to be his family’s home, which was razed by fire Tuesday morning in rural Amboy. Colton now lives in Dixon. None of the family’s four children who lived in the Amboy house were at home at the time of the fire. Their parents both were at work. A dog and five kittens also escaped.
After fire, community steps up Amboy family left homeless when fire ravages home BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5521
AMBOY – Tuesday morning happened just like any other for the Shaw family. Brenda and her husband, Neil, woke up early and headed to work. Neil left at 3:30 a.m., Brenda an hour later. At 6:45, Brenda called the house, as she always does, to make sure their three kids at home at the time were awake and getting ready to catch the school bus at 7:20. They were. Evan, 17, Gabriel, 13, and Christian, 10, were moving slowly, but moving.
Nineteen-year-old Ethan had spent the night elsewhere. Then, everything changed. It was about 8:15 a.m. when Brenda got a call from a friend of a co-worker: Her house was on fire. She and her family had built the house with their own hands. Their dream home. The one that took 5 years to create, going over every detail themselves, no contractor involved. Her mind raced to her children. FIRE CONTINUED ON A8
Searching through the rubble, Christian, 10, finds a stress ball that she “usually just throws at her brothers.”
STERLING – Sauk Valley area students who seek a life on the stage, the small screen, or even the silver screen have a unique opportunity next week. Frank Harts, a Rock Falls native and a cast member of the HBO hit show “The Leftovers,” Frank Harts will host a question- Rock Falls and-answer forum grad will speak about the enter- to Sterling students, tainment industry parents on for students interTuesday ested in a career on Broadway, television or film. Parents are encouraged to attend, too. The free event will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the choir room at Sterling High School. Harts will be joined by his wife, Shelley Thomas, a Broadway veteran and touring background vocalist for Vanessa Williams. Harts, 35, graduated from Rock Falls High School in 1998 then from Julliard in 2002. Harts got his first big break in 2004, when he was cast in the Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of “A Raisin In The Sun,” opposite rapper Sean “P. Diddy” Combs and Phylicia Rashad of “The Cosby Show” fame. Harts’ credits include appearances on “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia,” “Law & Order,” and “30 Rock,” as well as a few movies and independent films, as well as numerous Broadway and offBroadway shows. HARTS CONTINUED ON A8
Scattered rain
VOLUME 7 ISSUE 12 40 Pages
Today: 46/42 For the forecast, see Page A9
Shopping small
Small Business Saturday, on Nov. 29, is “more about the people.” See Page C1
Top holiday customs Festive cookie recipes, gift ideas, TV specials and much more Also inside USA Weekend: Plan for more fun with family Aubrey Plaza, Hillary Duff Shopping tips
Index Births................ C5 Lottery .............. A2 Business........... C1 Markets ............ A8 Classified .......... D1 Obituaries ......... A4 Comics ............. B6 Opinion............. A6 Community ..... C12 Scoreboard .... B10 Scrapbook ....... C3 Crossword Saturday ........... D7 Sports .............. B1 Support groups .. C5 Crossword Sunday ............. C8 Travel .............. C10 Dave Ramsey ... C1 Weather............ A9 Dear Abby ........ C6 Wheels ............. D8