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JUNIOR GETS HELP WITH LIFE IN THE FASTER LANE
SECTION INSIDE
SWIMMING, B1
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Tuesday, August 30, 2016 n SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
LEE COUNTY | COURTS
Making a Full Court press County is doing more than just upgrading a filing system, it’s doing a complete overhaul BY RACHEL RODGERS rrodgers@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5529 @rj_rodgers
DIXON – The county will undergo a complete overhaul of its court filing system in the coming weeks. Talks of transitioning to an upgraded
system began about 2 years ago, and after months of preparation and an investment of about $500,000, the new platform will launch Sept. 19. “Everything we do here, every process we have today will be different on Sept. 19 when we go live,” said Denise McCaffrey-Ehrmann, Lee County circuit clerk.
Offices including the Lee County Circuit Clerk, the State’s Attorney and the Probation Department have been training personnel to operate the Full Court Enterprise system, which is used in Ogle, Winnebago and Boone counties. COURT FILES continued on A54
DIXON SCHOOLS
BUSINESS
Want to help with a referendum for change?
A good of frame mind
Public invited to meeting to learn more about ‘vote-yes’ committees BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 CHeimerman_SVM
Zach Haas, 23, takes measurements Monday while working on a building for Rural Renovators.
A Franklin Grove business owner went from being cooped up inside walls to building them instead, and he couldn’t be happier
BY TERRY THOMAS Special to Sauk Valley Media
FRANKLIN GROVE – The midsummer sun pounded down mercilessly on the two men stooped and pounding nails atop the partially completed structure. It wasn’t yet midday, and the thermometer already registered near 90 degrees. “We’re trying to get as much done as we can before the rain comes in,” Kyle Stumpenhorst said as he descended from the rooftop, perspiration glistening on his forehead. “We’re hoping to have this project done by end of next week.” He glanced to the west where dark clouds roiled on the horizon, an indi-
cation the weather could turn at any moment. Mother Nature’s mood swings are but one of the challenges Stumpenhorst, 33, faces as owner of Rural Renovators, a Franklin Grove-based building firm that specializes in post-frame construction. But he’s not complaining. “It’s a lot of work,” he said, “but I love it” – and it shows. In each of the past 2 years, The National Frame Builders Association, the only national trade association to represent post-frame industry professionals, has recognized Rural Renovators for construction excellence. FRAME continued on A94
Greg Haas, 23, Rural Renovators’ owner Kyle Stumpenhorst’s only full-time employee, carries a piece of sheet metal Monday afternoon while working on a home.
DIXON – Superintendent Margo Empen said many members of the school district’s staff and the community have asked her to let them know when they can help to carry the torch for referendums to build a new high school. Wednesday, is the short answer. Training for the “vote-yes” committees, expected to last about 90 minutes, will be at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria at Reagan Middle School. A fundraising committee has already been formed, but volunteers, including chairpersons, are sought to make up canvassing and To attend public relations committees. Training for A referendum seek- “vote-yes” coming voters’ approval mittees will be to build a new high held at 6 p.m. school, as well bring Wednesday in all the district’s build- the cafeteria at ings up to code, and Reagan Middle a referendum for a 1 School, 620 Divipercent sales tax hike sion St., Dixon. will be on the Nov. Attendees should 8 general election enter through the ballot. The sales tax main entrance, measure’s purpose is or Door 6, just off to lessen the property the cafeteria. tax increase. For more inforThe 6 to 8 weeks mation, call the leading up to the Dixon School election will be busy District office at ones for committee 815-284-7722. members. Empen said figuring out who will serve on which committees and in which capacities will start “almost immediately” after Wednesday’s training session, which is being run by Rod Wright, president of the public relations firm Unicom-ARC. “This is not anything we are paying for, or part of our previous service agreement,” Empen said. “It’s something he is offering.” The St. Louis-based firm was hired to help the district reach the point of putting the referendums on the ballot. If and when the referendums should pass, the firm would work with the school district to help advise the committee charged with repurposing the old high school. MEETING continued on A54
Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
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TODAY’S EDITION: 20 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 166 ISSUE 85
INDEX
ABBY.................... A7 BUSINESS.......... A10 COMICS................ A8
CROSSWORD.......B9 LIFESTYLE............ A7 LOTTERY.............. A2
OBITUARIES......... A4 OPINION............... A6 POLICE................. A2
Today’s weather High 82. Low 67. More on A3.
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