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FILLIES’ FINISHING TOUCHES PAY OFF
It’s the icing on city’s birthday cake
GIRLS BASKETBALL, B1
PAGE A10
TELEGRAPH
Thursday, January 12, 2017 n SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
STERLING
Dog learns new trick: Retirement Police pooch will stay with his partner in crime-fighting BY ASHLEY CADY acady@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5521 @ashleycady_svm
STERLING – The new year always brings plenty of new beginnings, and that’s certainly the case for one team at the Sterling Police Department. On Dec. 31, just before his 12th birthday, police K-9 Marco ended his career with the Sterling PD. The Belgian Malinois started his time on the force in March 2005, at almost a year and a half old. Marco had an extensive career, spending his time as a full-service dog searching for drugs, articles and cadavers, while also tracking and protecting.
Officer Pat Bartel, 46, of Rock Falls, was Marco’s handler for the duration of his service, and now, in his doggie retirement, will be his full-time owner. A state law that took effect Jan. 1 requires departments to offer handlers the chance to take over ownership of their retiring K-9 partners. If the officer does not want to keep the dog, it can be given to another officer or employee, a no-kill animal shelter, or a nonprofit organization. Being unwanted was never in Marco’s future, though. Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com “I had spent a lot of time training with him,” It seems a fitting reward for more than a decade of loyal service: Bartel said. Sterling PD’s K-9 cop, Marco, now retired at age 12, also is now RETIREMENT continued on A54 the personal pet of his handler, officer Pat Bartel.
DIXON | AIRPORT BOARD
SAUK VALLEY
Turning the scales on people
Stuck in a holding pattern Clock ticking for the airport, but its board needs guidance from city first BY RACHEL RODGERS rrodgers@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5529 @rj_rodgers
Chase Pierce of Walnut reacts to getting up close and personal with Beads, a tegu that handler Jon Heidler brought to Sauk Valley Community College on Wednesday. The reptile was one of a slew of sleek and slithery creatures that made an appearance at the college as part of the free presentation, Dave DiNaso’s Traveling World of Reptiles. The audience was treated to an up-close, interactive and humorous experience with reptiles and amphibians from around the world. DiNaso, of Downer’s Grove, has been traveling with his reptilian troupe for 20 years on a mission to dispel fears, debunk myths, and educate the world on the wonders of the misunderstood creatures, whose habitats are threatened and lives endangered by fear and misinformation. Go to travelingworldofreptiles.com or find Dave DiNaso’s Traveling World of Reptiles on Facebook for more information.
DIXON – The Dixon Municipal Airport Board is preparing for improvement projects over the next 5 years, but it needs the City Council’s blessing before moving forward. The city has been looking into ways to make the airport a more sustainable operation during the past several months, and the council was given a variety of options to mull over from a feasibility study completed in October. PATTERN continued on A54
DIXON PARK BOARD
Director: Creek needs more than a 360-ton bandage Erosion is just a symptom of a larger problem with watershed BY RACHEL RODGERS rrodgers@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5529 @rj_rodgers
DIXON – The Park Board might have found an affordable fix for erosion at Plum Creek, but it will take more than a pile of rocks to solve the problem in the longterm. At its previous meeting, the board discussed allocating $20,000 in next year’s budget, which begins April 1, to address concerns along the creek banks, especially in an area that holds up a portion of Page Drive. Park District Maintenance Director Duane Long told the board Wednesday that he might have found a way to help stabilize the banks for $13,300. Long and his crew placed about 120 tons of rip rap (large rocks) along 100 feet of the bank last year.
ABOVE: John Mark Epps, 9, of Rock Falls, holds Whopper, an 8-year-old African sulcata tortise. The slow-moving creature, along with his two other tortoise pals at Wednesday’s show, Big Nugget and Big Mac, were given fast-food-inspired names. RIGHT: Iggy Azalea clings to Heidler.
Online Extra
Read this story at saukvalley.com to see more photos, and video, from Wednesday’s show. Photos by Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com
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TODAY’S EDITION: 24 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 166 ISSUE 178
INDEX
ABBY.................... A8 BUSINESS............ A7 COMICS................B6
CROSSWORD.....B10 LIFESTYLE............ A8 LOTTERY.............. A2
POLICE................. A2 OBITUARIES......... A4 OPINION............... A6
PLUM CREEK continued on A54
Today’s weather High 27. Low 11. More on A3.
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