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ROLLING INTO THE SEASON GIRLS BOWLING PREVIEW, B1
HOLIDAY EVENTS & MORE AHEAD PAGES A9, A11-12
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Friday, November 27, 2015
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
GALT
Fire ravages home Family safe, but loses house, pets, vehicles STAFF REPORT news@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5501
GALT – All five members of a local family are safe, although they lost their pets, vehicles, and all the belongings in their home when it went up in flames Thurs-
day morning. Inside The Sterling Woman F i r e D e p a r t - dies after fire ment respond- Tuesday in ed about 9:30 Rock Falls, a.m. to 5203 A3 Spruce St., where a blaze consumed the single-story home of Robert and Omega Cantu and their three children until firefighters got it under control about
11:20 a.m. Capt. Matt Laughlin was the last to leave the scene just before 3 p.m. He said the Red Cross was assisting the family. The Rock Falls, Dixon City, Dixon Rural, Morrison, ColetaMilledgeville, and Prophetstown fire departments assisted, and the state fire marshal is on the scene investigating.
Mike Dowell/Special to Sauk Valley Media
Sterling Fire Department, CGH ambulance and other agencies work the scene of a house fire at 5203 Spruce St. that began around 10 a.m. Thursday in Galt. The fire was under control by 11:20 a.m.
LOCAL ECONOMY
DIXON | THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT
Next up, Saturday shopping
Food and fellowship
Small Business Saturday marking its fifth year BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Rock River Valley International Fellowship exchange student Kate Brown of England opens up a steaming tray of sweet potatoes while volunteering to serve meals Thursday with her host family, Robin (left) and Greg Cason, at the Dixon Knights of Columbus Thanksgiving meal. Hundreds of free meals were served and delivered.
TOP5 Your Weekend
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Prophetstown gets festive
PROPHETSTOWN – The Lighted Christmas Parade festivities will include horsedrawn carriage rides from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday on Main Street, where Small Business Saturday will be in full swing. Santa also will be on hand from 2 to 4 p.m. at the fire station, 210 Washington St., where a chili supper will be served at 4:30 p.m. The Love Light Tree lighting is 5:30 p.m. in Eclipse Square, where the Morrison High School Madrigal Singers will perform. Go to prophetstownil.com or find Main Street’s Facebook page for more information.
$1.00
TODAY’S EDITION: 28 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 164 ISSUE 148
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Variety is concert’s key
STERLING – A variety show-inspired concert at 7 p.m. Saturday in Centennial Auditorium, 1608 Fourth Ave., begins with Broadway musical and pop songs and ends with holiday tunes. The Sterling High School show and madrigal choirs, Rock River Valley Barbershop Chorus, and Woodlawn Arts Academy students will perform, as will Marc and Madeline Geil, Weston Henry and Evan Lobdell; Rachel Pashon and Rachel Spencer, and the Pashon Family Singers. Cookies and hot apple cider will be served at intermission. Admissions is $5. The concert is a fundraiser for the Sterling School Foundation’s 25th anniversary matching campaign, so each ticket will make a $15 impact. Call 815-6260022 or email foundation@ sps5.org for more information.
INDEX
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Amboy Christmas Walk
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AMBOY – The annual Christmas Walk begins at noon when Santa arrives in a fire truck to light the downtown Christmas tree. He also will be available for pictures, for $1 and a donation of a can of food, at On 3 Photo. Festivities at the bandstand include a silent auction of Christmas decorations and reindeer petting and pictures. Eileen Quest and the Amboy High School chorus and band will perform, and there will be free horse and wagon rides, and free cookies, apple cider and s’mores. There also will be face painting at the Illinois Fire Store, crafts, snacks and stories at Pankhurst Memorial Library, a performance by Starlight Dance Studio, and, of course, shopping at local businesses, many of which also will have craft vendors on hand.
ABBY ................. A13 BUSINESS ........... A2 COMICS ...............B7
CROSSWORD....B14 LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2
Candlelight Walk in Oregon
OREGON – Saturday’s 29th annual Candlelight Walk begins at 4 p.m. when Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive at Ogle County Courthouse Square to light the Christmas tree. They will be at the Coliseum from 4:30 to 8 p.m. to hear kids’ Christmas wishes and take pictures. Also at the Coliseum: the Holiday Gift Fair with dozens of vendors; the Winter Quarter Carnival; the Gingerbread Kitchen, serving chili, pizza, and gingerbread cookies; and music, dancing and dramatic performances. Franklin Street between Fourth and Third will be transformed into Candy Cane Lane, where walkers can shop Conover Square and find reindeer, and there will be horsedrawn wagon rides, and businesses open throughout the town for holiday shopping.
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 SCOREBOARD B3-4
STERLING – For several years, business pundits have predicted the death of Black Friday, while the “Shop Small” movement seems to pick up steam. The allure of Black Friday has been dimmed by the big-box stores’ desire to spread the deals out over a longer period, and consumers’ love of online shopping. With strong corporate backing from American Express, Small Business Saturday is gaining traction in communities nationwide since its inception in 2010. Sauk Valley Shop Small, also marking its fifth year, has been coordinating Small Business Saturday events throughout the area. SATURDAY CONTINUED ON A5
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Holiday Spirit in Savanna
SAVANNA – The annual Christmas Walk begins with the lighting of the downtown Christmas tree at 4:45 p.m. Girl Scouts will sing, and horse-draw wagon rides will be available. Santa will be at Savanna Thomson State Bank at 5:30 p.m., and there will be face painting at The Answer Fitness and Tanning Club. A $5 chili supper will be served at Savanna Museum and Cultural Center, and there will be a silent auction of gift baskets at Blackhawk Area Credit Union. Call 815-273-2722 or email savchamber@grics.net for more information.
Today’s weather High 38. Low 28. More on A3.
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