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Tuesday, December 3, 2013
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
OGLE COUNTY | DEATH OF OREGON TEEN
‘I’m not a troublemaker’ Man charged with hate crime after fight appeals to judge BY VINDE WELLS vwells@shawnews.com Shaw News Service
OREGON – A Mount Morris man charged with a hate crime and battery told an Ogle County judge Monday that he is not a troublemaker. Justin W. Coltrain, 33, is one of seven people who were charged last week in connection with a fight at
an Aug. 10 underage drinking party at which an Oregon teen was hit and later died from his injuries. Coltrain faces one hate crime charge, while Matthew Steder, 22, of Mount Morris, is charged with three counts of a hate crime, a Class 4 felony. None of the charges are directly related to the death of Jonathan Williams, who was 18 at the time.
“I’m not a trouble-maker,” Coltrain said after his lengthy criminal history was recounted by Assistant State’s Attorney Josh Versluys in a hearing before Judge Robert Hanson. Coltrain is accused of making racial slurs to another partygoer and striking him at the party. CHARGED CONTINUED ON A4
Justin W. Coltrain Accused of making racial slurs toward man he hit at party
EDUCATION| STERLING SCHOOLS
Website redesigned for all digital users A redesigned saukvalley. com launches today to provide the reader with a better user experience on a desktop, smartphone or tablet. Still with an emphasis on local news, the new website of Sauk Valley Media helps readers to find news that’s important to them with better visual cues. The website’s responsive design ensures that readers will see the same important stories and headlines, regardless of the device they are using to visit saukvalley.com. The website still features more local news, photography and videography about the Sauk Valley than any other website. WEBSITE CONTINUED ON A7
STATE LEGISLATURE PENSIONS
Bivins opposes pension proposal Other lawmakers remain undecided Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Washington Elementary School fifth-grader Christina Chattic is one of four students who had their essay chosen by Sterling Police Officer Josh Weber as a winner in the DARE program. The winning students read their essays during Monday’s graduation ceremony for 139 fifth-graders. Weber met with the students once a week for 10 weeks.
Graduation celebration Fifth-graders receive medals, diplomas for DARE program BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 521
STERLING – Medals and certificates were part of the celebration by 139 fifth-graders at Washington Elementary School who graduated
Monday from the school’s DARE program. Four fifth-grade classes at Washington Elementary participated in the 10-week program, led by Sterling Police Officer Josh Weber. Weber met with each class
once a week for 45 minutes, during which students learned about decision-making skills, bullying, drugs and alcohol. At 1:30 p.m. in Washington Elementary’s gymnasium, those students, dressed in matching black DARE
T-shirts, lined up according to class and took a seat on the gym floor. More than 70 parents and friends surrounded them as Weber welcomed the group. GRADUATION CONTINUED ON A2
ENTERPRISE SERIES | ILLINOIS TOWNSHIPS
Coloma yet to submit reports Official: State will withhold money BY DAVID GIULIANI dgiuliani@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 525
ROCK FALLS – Coloma Township Supervisor Debra Burke has yet to submit long overdue financial reports to the state – despite a recent promise to do so. In a Thursday, Nov. 21, email to the township’s trust-
$1.00
ees, Burke said her goal was to turn in the reports to the state comptroller by that weekend. She has yet to do so. The township hasn’t submitted reports to the state since 2009. It is the only governmental entity in Whiteside County that hasn’t done so, and that includes all 21 other townships, all but one of which are smaller than Coloma. The township’s trustees are becoming increasingly wor-
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ried about Coloma’s finances. Its legal notices in the newspaper have been riddled with errors. Trustee Peggy McFadden said the trustees hoped to have an accountant attend a special board meeting tonight. “We have a lack of communication, definitely,” she said. “That’s probably why we’re in the position that we’re in.”
BUSINESS ......... A12 COMICS ...............B6 CROSSWORD....B12
Under the Radar: Many townships, little scrutiny
About this series Today’s story is part of a yearlong occasional series about townships in Illinois.
BY DAVID GIULIANI dgiuliani@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 525
State Sen. Tim Bivins, R-Dixon, says he opposes legislation that aims to eliminate the state’s pension debt over 30 years. Other lawmakers aren’t sure how they will vote. Today, the Legislature will have a 1-day session to State Sen. consider the bill. Tim Bivins Bivins said he will vote against the bill, because he believes it violates the state constitution, which bans the state from diminishing employees’ pension benefits. “It’s not a pro-union or an anti-union vote; it’s a constitutional vote,” Bivins said Monday. “The constitutional language is so plain to me.” Gov. Pat Quinn and the Legislature’s Republican and Democratic leaders are backing the bill. The package would gradually raise the retirement age for workers who are 45 and younger and set a cap on the part of high-wage earners’ salaries that is used to calculate pension benefits. The measure would also reduce automatic increases in pension payments. Public worker unions oppose the legislation and have threatened to take the issue to court if the bill passes. In an interview, Bivins said he feared a court ruling in the unions’ favor would undercut the state’s leverage in negotiations. That could likely result in higher taxes, he said. PENSION CONTINUED ON A7
COLOMA CONTINUED ON A4
DEAR ABBY ......... A8 LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 SPORTS ...............B1
Today’s weather High 50. Low 36. More on A3.
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B7.
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