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Wednesday, August 10, 2016 n SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
ROCK FALLS | COLOMA TOWNSHIP PARK DISTRICT
District bans tobacco in parks Students help organizer push through change; ordinance in effect immediately BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
ROCK FALLS – A tobacco-free initiative targeting the Coloma Township Park District came to a successful conclusion Tuesday.
The district’s board of commissioners, by a vote of 4 to 0, approved an ordinance banning cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and electronic cigarettes from park districtowned property. The ordinance is almost identical to one passed by the Dixon Park District in November 2014.
Judy Randall, a tobacco treatment specialist, led the tobacco-free efforts in Dixon and Rock Falls, which are funded by state grants. Randall works on the projects with high school National Honor Society members in each city. Randall made one last plea before the board voted on the ordinance.
CRIME
LEE COUNTY
Murder trial gets postponed
Depot Days without a depot? It could have happened had it not been for the tireless volunteers who kept Amboy’s history on track BY RACHEL RODGERS rrodgers@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5529 @rj_rodgers
AMBOY – For nearly 4 decades, Amboy Depot Days has been a celebration of all things Amboy, and this year’s no different. A lot of people will be hauling their caboose to the citywide event Aug. 25-28, so it’s hard to believe that the engine that drives the
“Part of the population will fight this – I understand that, but look at it as an opportunity to set the health bar higher for our kids and grandkids,” Randall said. Randall said behaviors and attitudes about smoking are passed along to the next generation. BAN continued on A44
Both sides in case file motions in decades-old Lee County cold case
celebration – the depot itself – was nearly derailed. But that’s almost what happened, had it not been for the tireless efforts of people dedicated to preserving the city’s rich rail history. Although the last train left Amboy Depot nearly 5 decades ago, the station still gives transport to its passengers, who instead of looking to travel across distances, take a trip through the town’s history. DEPOT continued on A114
BY KATHLEEN A. SCHULTZ kschultz@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5535 @KathleenSchul10
DIXON – The Aug. 22 trial of one of three men accused of murder in a Lee County cold case has been postponed until the judge rules on a half-dozen motions filed by the prosecution that seek to include, or exclude, evidence, and one filed by the defense that seeks to discredit the identification that ties their client to the killing. A status hearing is set for Sept. 28 in Lee County Court for Terry E. Bobell, 69, of ChilliTerry cothe, who is free on Bobell $100,000 bond. Bobell, his brother, Gordon “Kent” Bobell, 66, also of Chillicothe, and Steven Watts, 59, of Berryville, Arkansas, formerly of Peoria, are charged in the Aug. 28, 1983, death of 30-year-old Gary D. Dawson of Peoria, whose beaten body was found the next day in a Franklin Grove hog pen. Each brother is charged with five counts of first-degree murder, punishable by 4 to 100 years, or life in prison. Watts is charged with one count. Gordon Bobell’s next pretrial hearing is Sept. 29; he is free on $300,000 bond. TRIAL continued on A44
Dan Etheridge of Amboy is in the process of preparing the engine outside the Amboy Depot Museum for a fresh coat of paint. Etheridge plans to have the engine painted in time for Depot Days. Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Whiteside County has the world at its fingertips Development director says group can help county be a bigger player in global market BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
MORRISON – Whiteside County has taken a big step in removing artificial barriers from its economic development efforts. The Whiteside County Economic
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Development Department has started working with the International Trade Association of Greater Chicago. Development Director Gary Camarano has experience working with global trade missions, and he wants the county to be plugged into the global marketplace. Camarano worked with the nonprofit before leaving Illinois to take a job in
INDEX
ABBY.................... A8 BUSINESS.......... A12 COMICS................B7
Las Cruces, New Mexico. Whiteside County is one of more than 600 members that have access to the nonprofit organization’s extensive international business network. “I’ve known this group before, and some of the same players are there,” Camarano said. “I want to re-establish my connections – it’s about pressing
CROSSWORD.....B12 LIFESTYLE............ A8 LOTTERY.............. A2
OBITUARIES......... A4 OPINION............... A6 POLICE................. A2
flesh and telling people what’s going on here.” American companies are increasingly looking overseas for growth opportunities, he said. The international association can help the region’s businesses find global opportunities. WORLD continued on A44
Today’s weather High 91. Low 72. More on A3.
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