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Tuesday, December 17, 2013
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
SHELEY TRIAL
Beyond shadow of doubt Pathologist testifies only hammer could inflict victims’ injuries BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 521
MORRISON – A hammer was used to kill the four people found beaten to death in a Rock Falls apartment during the summer of 2008, a forensic pathologist testified during a hearing Monday. Assistant Attorney General Bill Elward said a murder weapon had never been
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These injuries were caused by a hammer. Nothing else caused these injuries. Testimony of forensic pathologist Dr. Mark Peters
recovered, and up until Monday, no mention of a specific weapon had been made during legal proceedings. During a hearing Monday to decide which autopsy
photos would be admitted in the upcoming murder trial of Nicholas Sheley, forensic pathologist Dr. Mark Peters first mentioned the use of a hammer when
talking about the autopsy of Kenneth Ulve. Peters said Ulve suffered at least 11 injuries and died of blunt trauma to the head. “These injuries were caused by a hammer,” Peters said, referring to a photograph showing the skull. “Nothing else caused these three injuries.” BEYOND CONTINUED ON A2
SVM file photo
Nicholas Sheley is led into the a Whiteside County courtroom in January during his sentencing for the murder of Russell Reed.
DIXON
WEATHER
How other half thrives Buddy Bags to feed kids from low incomes BY MATT MENCARINI mmencarini@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 529
Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Robert Schwindenhammer of Rock Falls casts into the Rock River on Monday afternoon while fishing at the lower dam. Schwindenhammer hasn’t let the cold stop him from catching a few nice walleye the last couple of days.
Expert: Cold case could linger Per meteorologist, some highs in region lower than average lows BY DAVID GIULIANI dgiuliani@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 525
It’s not your imagination: The weather has been much colder than normal this year. And it’ll probably continue, a meteorologist said Monday. “It’s been colder than the 30-year normal,” said Eric Apel, a meteorologist with Washington, Ill.-based Mobile Weather Team Inc. “Some of our highs have been lower than our normal lows. Later this week, it’ll get warmer, but it won’t be for long.” The weather is locked in a pattern, he said, as shots of cold air from the Arctic have nowhere to go but the Midwest. “I see that continuing as you look out at the rest of the winter,” Apel said. The frequent snowfalls – there was another one Monday afternoon – are taxing road departments. The heads of the Lee and Whiteside county departments say their overtime expenses are higher than they were at this time last year. COLD CONTINUED ON A2
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DIXON – A pilot program carried out by local churches set to begin next month could send Dixon students home with food each Friday. The idea for Buddy Bags originated in Princeton, Dixon program organizer Janet Wittenmyer said. Locally, about six churches are working to collect food, equivalent to about $25 a month per student, Wittenmyer said. The group is collecting nonperishable food and easy pop-top containers. When the Dixon program gets started, its goal will be to send enough food home each Friday for two breakfasts, two lunches and two snacks, Wittenmyer said. Students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches through school will also be eligible for the Buddy Bags program, she said. Buddy Bags of Dixon will start with 37 students at Washington Elementary whom the school has identified, Wittenmyer said. THRIVES CONTINUED ON A4
Get involved Ty Henkel, 3, helps his mom, Tiffany, clear the sidewalk Monday afternoon in front of their Dixon home. The little guy pushed the snow back and forth and tossed big snow balls around, often creating more work for mom.
Mother Nature merciful? While the recent highs have been bitter cold, let alone the lows, the forecast for today (below, A3) is comparable to the average in Dixon. According to weather. com, the average high for Dec. 17 is 32, the average low 16.
INDEX
BUSINESS ......... A10 COMICS ............... A9 CROSSWORD....B10
DEAR ABBY ......... A7 LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 SPORTS ...............B1
Buddy Bags of Dixon meets today at 7 p.m., at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 421 S. Peoria Ave. in Dixon. For more information or to donate, search for Buddy Bags of Dixon on Facebook or call 815-288-2757. * – See what donations the program is seeking on A4
Today’s weather High 32. Low 11. More on A3.
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B5.
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