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SKYHAWKS SAVE THEIR BEST FOR LAST
A Champion for the community honored
BASKETBALL, B1
CHAMBER AWARDS, A3
TELEGRAPH Friday, January 27, 2017 n SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
ILLINOIS | BUDGET BATTLE
Parties drive a hard bargain Lawmakers adjourn without deal on compromise plan; leaders say they’d better return ready to vote Tribune News Service
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate left town Thursday without voting on a much-hyped, sweeping plan that aims to end the state’s historic budget impasse, with one leader warning lawmakers not to buckle from interest group pressure while they’re home for
nearly 2 weeks. Senate Republican leader Christine Radogno said members needed more time to address concerns with the multipronged proposal, that’s come to be known as “grand bargain” and that calls for various tax hikes and pro-business changes.
“This is just a little pep talk, we’re going to go home now for a while. Listen to people in your community, they want our state to be proud again,” Radogno said. “And we are going to have to come here and take some hard votes to make that happen. “There’s going to be a lot of pressure on
us when we get home. On you guys from certain elements, on us from certain elements,” Radogno said, directing her comments to Democrats on the Senate floor. “Don’t succumb to that. We need to do this together for the good of the state. I think we are still on that path.” BARGAIN continued on A54
LEE COUNTY
DIXON
Sheriff might have to pull the trigger on jail Without tax money, Simonton might have to shut down facility before the state tells him to BY ASHLEY CADY acady@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5521 @ashleycady_svm
DIXON – It’s no secret that the dilapidated Lee County Jail’s days are numbered. Its days, though, might be fewer than you think. The Illinois Department of Corrections recently completed its last inspection of the jail. It discovered conditions so bad that it’s stepping up its yearly evaluations to every 6 months. If conditions don’t improve, the state might shutter the building at 306 S. Hennepin Ave. If that happens, inmates would have to be housed at other jails, at the county’s expense – about $75 a day per inmate on top of other transportation and medical costs. Based on 2015 numbers, that would total about $1.1 million a year. Sheriff John Simonton hopes votJohn ers understand how dire the situaSimonton tion is, and on April 4 pass a one-half percent sales tax to pay for a new one, which would be built on the south side of the Lee County Courts Building, where the parking lot is. If they don’t, he likely won’t wait for the state to shut it down. He might have no choice, he said, but to call the state, tell officials the jail is not safe for inmates and employees, and ask them to give it the ax. “I’m certainly not hoping to do that,” Simonton said, but the infrastructure has deteriorated to the point where it’s not “financially feasible” to make repairs. A new jail will cost between $15 million and $17 million, paid for up front with a 20-year loan. The sales tax increase, which would bring in more than $1 million a fiscal year, starting July 1, would make the loan payments. JAIL continued on A54
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Orval Gearhart Jr. talks Thursday about the surveyor’s transit his father used to survey routes, including state Route 38 between Dixon and Rochelle and the roadways through White Pines State Park, to name a few.
History in
trans t A family keepsake that played a role in the lay of the land finds a new home in a Dixon museum
TOP5 Your Weekend
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Cool anniversary
ROCK FALLS – The Cooler, 311 W. Second St., will celebrate its fifth anniversary Saturday with free food and a performance by Sunset Strip from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. If you can’t make it Saturday, stop by and wish them a happy anniversary and take in some music over the weekend; 3 On The Tree will play from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. today, and Carsick Radio will play from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday.
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Turn up the Heat for a good cause
ROCK FALLS – The Sauk Valley Heat traveling baseball team will host a dodgeball tournament Saturday and the public is invited to watch – and do their part to help fight hunger. The game will run from 3 to 6 p.m. at Rock Falls Middle School, 1701 12th Ave. Spectators should bring at least one canned good or a cash donation to benefit local food pantries. Concessions will be available.
INDEX
BY RACHEL RODGERS rrodgers@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5529 @rj_rodgers
DIXON – The lens Orval Gearhart peered through nearly a century ago revealed a much different picture of the city seen today. Lugging around his engineer’s transit, which is a universal instrument for surveyors with a spyglass apparatus mounted to a tripod, Gearhart designed a gravel road connecting Dixon to Rochelle in the 1930s – what is now state Route 38. He was one of the first three civil engineers to staff the Illinois Department of Transportation office in Dixon, and in addition to engineering the road, he also negotiated with area farmers to buy land for the route. HISTORY continued on A54
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Family fun is a real toss-up
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BYRON – A free family juggling show will start at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Jarrett Prairie Center, 7993 N. River Road. The interactive, all-ages program will have balls, clubs, rings, giant beanbag chairs, and more flying through the air, all leading up to the big balancing and juggling finale. Guests can also try out their juggling skills during a totalparticipation, hands-on workshop. Registration is not required. Call the Byron Forest preserve at 815-234-8535 ext. 200 or go to byronforestpreserve. com for more information.
ABBY.................... A8 BUSINESS............ A7 COMICS................B6
CROSSWORD.......B9 LIFESTYLE.........A7-8 LOTTERY.............. A2
One last look at the holidays
STERLING – The holidays are over, and the Holiday 2016 exhibit at CGH is about to be over, too. Today is the last day to see the exhibit at the healing art gallery “Spirit of the Heart” in the Main Clinic Atrium. The free show features works by CGH employees, volunteers and physicians. Several pieces are for sale, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the CGH Auxiliary. The gallery is in the north hallway between the hospital and the main clinic at CGH Medical Center, 101 E. Miller Road. Email info@cghmc.com for information.
OBITUARIES......... A4 OPINION............... A6 POLICE................. A2
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Get queued up for Quartermania
ASHTON – AFC FFA Alumni is holding a Quartermania on Saturday at the Ashton Lions Club, 404 Tracy Ave. Doors open at 5; bidding starts at 6:30 p.m. Players buy paddles to bid quarters – up to four an item – on auction items. Also on the menu: A $10 dinner of pulled pork, potato salad, homemade desserts, and a nonalcoholic drink; there will also be a cash bar. Call Katie Pratt, 815-2853158, or find AFC FFA Alumni Quartermania on Facebook for more information and a list of auction items.
Today’s weather High 29. Low 24. More on A3.
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