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LOCAL ECONOMY | GUN SALES
‘There’s been a panic’ After mass shootings, a spike at local shops BY ANGEL SIERRA asierra@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5695 @_angelsierra
ROCK FALLS – Mass shootings are becoming more commonplace in American culture. So, too, is the response of American consumers to buy military-style guns and ammunition in larger quantities after those shootings, local store owners say. At 626-GUNS, 1114 First Ave. in Rock Falls, AR-15s sell the most, but store owner James
Prescott prefers they be referred to by a more conservative name. “Modern sporting rifles,” the 57-year-old said. “They aren’t supposed to be called assault rifles anymore.” Flanking Prescott is an armory filled with a constellation of bows, arrows, bullets, shells, handguns, shotguns, sniper rifles, and AR-style weapons, including a Bushmaster ACR (adaptive combat rifle), the same style of gun used in the Newtown, Connecticut, school
shootings in December 2012. The Bushmaster was in Adam Lanza’s arsenal when he shot his way into an elementary school, killing 20 first-graders, six adults, and himself. Prescott said the political discussion following such shootings drives up sales. “There’s been a panic,” Prescott said, “and if the political rhetoAlex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com ric stays the same, [the demand] James Prescott, owner of 626-GUNS in Rock Falls, holds an could last for quite some time.” AR-15 semiautomatic weapon, the highest seller at his 2-yearold store. An AR-15 was used in a mass shooting in San BerSPIKE CONTINUED ON A4 nardino, California, last week.
DIXON SCHOOLS | MULTIPLE CHOICES
STERLING
A double whammy for city’s taxpayers? Property tax increase and new utilities fees on Dec. 21 agenda BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
THE CASTLE CONUNDRUM
Board must weigh many factors in deciding high school’s fate BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 @CHeimerman_SVM
DIXON – Whether to renovate Dixon High School or build new is the loaded question the school board must soon answer. Loaded not just because of the emotional connection to the school, but because of the myriad factors to consider. There’s also the option to spend about $30.5 million to bring Dixon Public School District’s buildings up to code, which would do nothing to bring the high school
In the photo illustration Among the high school construction options being considered by the Dixon school board is renovating the current facility, depicted here by combining a photo of the existing south side entrance with a drawing of a new north side entrance that is part of a proposed renovation. Photo illustration by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com into 21st century education, Superintendent Margo Empen said. “It would fix what’s broken,” said George Reigle, principal of GreenAssociates, the architectural firm hired to lay out a districtwide conceptual plan. One thing is a foregone conclusion for Empen:
“Whatever choice is made is what we’re going with for the next 80 or 90 years,” she said. The administration and school board members Pam Tourtillott and Jim Schielein have advised the firm as it’s laid out the plan. Coincidentally, Reigle is a member of the Class of 1970 of Dixon
More education coverage: Test results for local schools. Page A3
High School, the aging 87-year-old building at the heart of the debate. “I want to make sure what we go forward with is the right thing to do,” Reigle said.
Old school GreenAssociates managed to incorporate everything that would be included in a new high school building into the proposed renovated building, creating what the firm calls an apples-to-apples comparison. CONUNDRUM CONTINUED ON A5
New center of attention at Sauk. Page A8
STERLING – City officials have expedited work on the utilities tax ordinance, hoping to factor the revenues Inside into the next budget planA look at ning process. city services C i t y C l e r k at risk Ma r i e Ro m - because of bouts said the the city’s ordinance will budget be ready to situation, A4 present to the Sterling City Council at its Dec. 21 meeting. To balance the fiscal year 2016-17 budget, the city must find an additional $701,286 even if the huge property tax levy increase is adopted. Without it, the city would need cuts or additional revenue totaling $1.45 million. The city booked a $300,000 budget deficit last year. City Manager Scott Shumard said the city has managed to ward off the utilities tax for many years, but recommended that the council not wait to institute the tax. “We have kept it at bay longer than most, but this is one of the few bullets the city has left to avoid cuts in city services, including public safety,” Shumard said. He said it is better to “pull the Band-aid rather than continue to operate under a cloud of uncertainty.” WHAMMY CONTINUED ON A4
Isolated rain
VOLUME 8 ISSUE 15 40 Pages
Today: 58/54 For the forecast, see Page A9
Business
Aireloom Music, Mount Morris, offers customers a one-stop musical shop. See Page C1
Community Area veterans haven’t let their missing comrades be forgotten. SVM shares photos of VietNow’s POW/ MIA Christmas tree lighting. See Page C12
Index Births................ C5
Lottery .............. A2
Business........... C1
Markets .......... A13
Classified .......... B9
Obituaries ......... A4
Comics ........... A12
Opinion............. A6
Community ..... C12
Scoreboard ...... B4
Crossword Saturday ......... B13
Scrapbook ....... C3
Crossword Sunday ............. C8
Support groups .. C5
Dave Ramsey ... C1
Weather............ A9
Dear Abby ........ C6
Wheels ........... B14
Sports .............. B1 Travel .............. C10