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A BACK-ROW SEAT TO Couples say ‘I do’ VICTORY FOR ROCKETS again at resort VOLLEYBALL, B1
AMBOY, A9
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Tuesday, September 6, 2016 n SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
DIVIDED AMERICA | EDUCATION
STERLING
A hard lesson in division A growing divide in schools is widening the gap between the districts that are the haves, and those that are the have-nots, and students are caught in the middle
Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
Bruce Kunde, 80, of Sterling holds his grandchildren, Kaden and Kaleah Dale, on Sunday during his 80th surprise birthday party at Cochran’s Pub in Sterling.
Jumping for
joy
Slow down? Not for 80-year-old Bruce Kunde. He needs that speed when he goes soaring through the air on his waterskis
BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 CHeimerman_SVM
STERLING – As if we needed more evidence of Bruce Kunde’s superhuman recovery ability, several hours after enjoying three Old Milwaukee tall boys at his 80th birthday party, he was at the griddle at 6 a.m. Online extra Monday, making Click on this story at pancakes for the saukvalley.com to family. Once the flap- watch Bruce Kunde teach his grandson, jacks were down Talon Dale, how to and properly digested, t h e waterski. national champion waterski-jumper was out on the Rock River, helping his grandkids fall in love with the sport in which he’s become a national treasure. Want the secret to longevity? It’s not the Brew City’s combination of barley and hops. JUMPING continued on A104
Bruce Kunde and his grandson, Talon, waterski Monday morning at Moonlight Bay in Sterling.
Editor’s note: This is part of Divided America, AP’s ongoing exploration of the economic, social and political divisions in American society. WAUKEGAN (AP) – Consider Waukegan and Stevenson, two Illinois school districts separated by 20 miles – and an enormous financial gulf. Stevenson, mostly white, is flush with resources. The high school has five different spaces for theater performances, two gyms, an Olympic-size pool and an espresso bar. Meanwhile, Waukegan, with its mostly minority student body, is struggling. At one school, the band is forced to practice in a hallway, and as many as 28 students share a single computer. Last year, Stevenson spent close to $18,800 per student. Waukegan’s expenditure? About $12,600. And the gap has only been getting wider – here in the suburbs north of Chicago, and in many places across the nation. In the years following the 2008 financial crisis, school districts serving poor communities generally have been hit harder than more affluent districts, according to an Associated Press analysis of local, state and federal education spending. The result has been a worsening of America’s rich schools, poor schools divide – and its racial divide, because many poor districts are also heavily minority. It also perpetuates the perception that the system is rigged in favor of the haves, at the expense of the have-nots – a major driver of America’s angst in this election year. The AP found that aid to local districts from the federal government surged after the economic downturn, as part of the stimulus, but then receded. Schools were left to rely more on state funding that has not bounced back to pre-recession levels. And poorer districts that cannot draw on healthy property tax bases have been left in the lurch. The effects vary widely across the 50 states. Each has its own unique funding formula. For example, per-pupil spending in poorer Missouri districts fell behind richer districts in 2013 – the first time in a well over decade. Most rich districts have seen a steady increase in revenue while poorer districts – such as Louisiana RII, a predominantly white, rural district 80 miles northwest of St. Louis – have seen cuts since 2010. DIVISION continued on A54
Christopher Heimerman/cheimerman@saukvalley.com
A TOP-FLIGHT FUNDRAISER IN DIXON Bags players took to the street in downtown Dixon on Saturday for the third annual Blues, Brews, BBQs and Bags for the Brave. The event was held in the 100 block of First Street and – true to its name – featured blues, brews, a barbecue, and a bags tournament. In addition, Class Act II played patriotic tunes and a 50-50 raffle was held. The event was sponsored by Bonnell Industries and That Place on Palmyra, and proceeds will benefit the Lee County Honor Flight for veterans, which pays to take veterans on a tour of memorials in Washington, D.C. Photos by Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
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TODAY’S EDITION: 20 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 166 ISSUE 89
INDEX
ABBY.................... A7 COMICS................ A8 CROSSWORD.......B8
LEE COUNTY........ A9 LIFESTYLE............ A7 LOTTERY.............. A2
OBITUARIES......... A4 OPINION............... A6 POLICE................. A2
Paula Thompson sits with her mother, Helen Burgess, on Saturday while veterans tell stories from the latest Lee County Honor Flight at the third annual Blues, Brews, BBQs and Bags for the Brave. Burgess served as an Army nurse during World War II.
Today’s weather High 90. Low 73. More on A3.
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