TEL_12132013

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DIXON, STERLING CLASH ON THE LANES

AMERICAN PROFILE, INSIDE

SPORTS, B1

TELEGRAPH

Friday, December 13, 2013

SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851

UPDATE | BODY FOUND ON INTERSTATE 88

ISP: Alcohol likely a factor No investigation being done into police response BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 521

DIXON – Alcohol might have been a contributing factor in the death of a man found alongside Interstate 88 just west of Dixon on Nov. 13, Illinois State Police said Thursday. Lee Catlin, 65, of Bettendorf, Iowa, was found along the side of the highway, just west of Dixon, almost 12 hours after

two 911 calls were made to alert state police to his presence. Catlin’s car was found along the the highway less than a mile west of where his body was found, State Police Capt. Jim Winters said Thursday. “It does appear alcohol was a contributing factor [in Catlin’s death],” state police spokeswoman Monique Bond told the Associated Press on Thursday. “We just don’t know. Maybe he had passed out someplace, then again got up [and collapsed elsewhere]. It’s unclear, and it’s unfortunate.” ALCOHOL CONTINUED ON A2

SATURDAY Sheriff’s credit card spending stopped OREGON – During a countywide review of departmental credit card policies this year, some spending on credit cards of the Ogle County Sheriff’s Department was questioned and then stopped. Read the first of a two-part series on spending practices in the department in Saturday’s edition of SV Weekend.

DIXON Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com

Police work at the scene along Interstate 88 where the body of a 65-year-old Bettendorf, Iowa, man was found Nov. 13.

SANTA MAKES THE ROUNDS AT CGH

Police say school chief soon to be in custody Say Schmitt has been out of the country BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 521

Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

Dressed as Santa Claus, John Watts and Rock Falls High School student Thomas Wei greet Vern Workman on Thursday evening at CGH Medical Center. The two and other members of the Rock Falls Optimist and Junior Optimist clubs greeted patients at the hospital and delivered blue spruce trees. The group was looking to spread some good cheer to those who are hospitalized during the holidays.

DIXON – The president of a performing arts school who is charged with failing to report sexual abuse allegations is expected to turn himself in next week, police said Thursday. An arrest warrant was issued Nov. 21 for Curt Schmitt, president of Dixon’s VIVA! Performing Arts School. Dixon Police Chief Danny Langloss said Schmitt had been out of the country, but that police have been in touch with an attorney who represents one of the people charged, and Schmitt is expected to surrender to police as soon as he returns. Langloss said police have statements from more than one person indicating that Schmitt knew about abuse allegations made by a former student against VIVA! vocal instructor Robert Campbell. Tim Boles, the school’s director of drama, also is charged with failing to report the sex abuse allegations. Boles and Schmitt have the same local address, police said. During the summer of 2012, police say, Campbell abused a then-16-year-old boy. The abuse reportedly occurred at VIVA! CUSTODY CONTINUED ON A2

TOP5 Your Weekend

1 Holiday-themed dinner theater STERLING – First Church of the Nazarene presents a 1950s-themed dinner theater at 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Woodlawn Arts Academy, 3807 Woodlawn Road. During “Christmas at Uncle Phil’s Diner: No Room at the Diner,” audience members will enjoy classic dinner food and Christmas music. Tickets are $5. Go to www.sterlingnaz. com or call 815-625-0864 for more information.

$1.00

TODAY’S EDITION: 28 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 163 ISSUE 159

2 From Nashville to Dixon

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DIXON – The Paul Childers Band, a blues trio from Nashville, headlines the December Second Saturdays Art Happenings in downtown Dixon. The band plays at 9 p.m. at Rosbrook Studio, 107 S. Peoria Ave. There also will be a co-op artists show and open mic at Rosbrook, and musicians will play at Ginkgo Tree Cafe, Books on First, and The Next Picture Show. Dixon Main Street’s holiday window displays at local businesses will set the stage for the evening. Find Second Saturdays Art Happenings on Facebook.

CLINTON, Iowa – Make the drive across the Mississippi to see the Clinton Symphony Orchestra’s popular Holiday Concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Clinton High School’s Vernon Cook Theater, 817 Eighth Ave. S. Individual tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for students. The Holiday Concert features Clinton’s RiverChor. The CSO includes in its ranks many musicians from the Sauk Valley. Go to www. clintonsymphony.org for more information.

INDEX

BUSINESS ......... A14 CHURCH............ A11 COMICS ...............B4

Symphony for the season

CROSSWORD....B12 DEAR ABBY ......... A8 LIFESTYLE ........... A7

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Festivities in Franklin Grove FRANKLIN GROVE – Christmas in the Grove is tonight, featuring door prizes and raffles from churches and businesses in the village. Horse and wagon rides, a kettle corn giveaway, and firehouse chili all will be available again this year. Other events include the Presbyterian Church cookie sale, the Victorian Santa in the Lincoln building, and the Rock River Barbershop chorus performing at 8 p.m.

LOTTERY ............. A2 OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6

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See another ‘Hobbit’

STERLING – In the mood for a movie in a warm theater this weekend? Go see “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” at The Sterling Theater and Sauk Valley 8. If you haven’t yet seen “Frozen,” you can do so at either theater, as well. Go to sterlingmovies.com for the Sterling Theater or carmike.com for Sauk Valley 8 for complete lists of movies and showtimes.

Today’s weather High 28. Low 21. More on A3.

Need work? Check out your classifieds, B7.

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