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VOLUNTEERING, A3
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dailyGAZETTE
Thursday, April 10, 2014
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
STERLING
Two hurt in two-vehicle accident Both taken to CGH Medical Center BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5521
STERLING – Two people were treated at the hospital Wednesday after being involved in a car accident just before noon in downtown Sterling. Police say that Natasha A. Schillaci, 28, of Lyndon was driving west on Sixth Street when she ran a stop sign at the Locust Street intersection. A car driven by Arthur G. Barnhart III, 73, of
Rock Falls, who was headed north on Locust, struck her car on the driver’s side. Schillaci had to be removed from her car by Sterling and Rock Falls fire crews, and both she and Barnhart were taken to CGH Medical Center for treatment of injuries. Shillacii was ticketed on a charge of disobeying a stop sign. Neither hers nor Barnhart’s condition was available Wednesday afternoon.
Stop shifts to chase in Lee County
Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
A Shabbona man was chased, caught and arrested on seven criminal charges in Lee County on Wednesday. Read more on A2.
Emergency personnel move a driver injured in an accident at the intersection of Sixth and Locust streets Wednesday morning in Sterling. The two-vehicle accident sent two people to the hospital, and their conditions were unavailable Wednesday evening.
STERLING & ROCK FALLS
NEWMAN, COMMUNITY TO PRESENT ‘PASSION’ PLAY
Substance abuse discussion planned Speaker tries to spare others pain of losing a child BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570
Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
Actors go through dress rehearsal of “The Mystery of the Passion of Christ� Tuesday evening. The play is being presented by Newman Central Catholic High School and volunteers from the area. Show dates will be at 7 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday and 5 p.m. Friday, April 18 at the Centennial Auditorium at Sterling High School.
OGLE COUNTY | SPENDING IN THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT
Handling of money from park district unclear County treasurer: $3,754 cash refund ‘totally inappropriate’ BY DAVID GIULIANI dgiuliani@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5525
OREGON – The Oregon Park District issued a $5,000 check to the Ogle County Sheriff’s Department last September, as part of an agreement for the department to provide “reactive patrol support,� among other policing services. That money was never deposited. A year earlier, the department had received another $5,000 check, made out to Ogle County Sheriff Michael
$1.00
Harn. That money was deposited, according to public records the park district released to Sauk Valley Media more than 2 weeks ago. Where that money was deposited, however, is unclear. On March 28, the Sheriff’s Department decided to void the undeposited check and return the money that was unspent from the first $5,000 payment. That refund amounted to $3,754, according to the park district, which Sheriff Harn paid in cash. Such a payment in cash is “totally inappropriate,� Coun-
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ty Treasurer John Coffman said Wednesday. The county treasurer has no record of the county receiving either $5,000 check, though the money could have bypassed the treasurer’s office by going, for instance, to the controversial, off-budget administrative tow fund, over which the sheriff had wide spending discretion. On Monday, Sauk Valley Media sent Harn a Freedom of Information Act request for information on the checks. The sheriff has not responded to questions about the matter.
BUSINESS ......... A13 COMICS ...............B4 CROSSWORD....B12
DEAR ABBY ......... A8 LOTTERY ............. A2 OBITUARIES ........ A4
STERLING – Doug Petit says he didn’t chose a life of public speaking; it chose him. It chose him, however, in a most horrific manner. Eight years ago, Petit’s 16-year-old son Jonathan left their home to attend an event with a friend and wound up at a party where a parent had provided alcohol. He went missing after leaving the party, and after a 4-day search, his body was found in a pond. “Things are now separated into life before and after Jonathan,� Petit said. Life after his son quickly became a mission to save others from the pain of losing a child to underage drinking. SUBSTANCE CONTINUED ON A4
Parent Night
Michael Harn Ogle County Sheriff
John Coffman Ogle County Treasurer
On Tuesday, the park district board ended its agreement with the sheriff’s office and approved a restructured one. The original pact, approved in 2012, was set to expire next year. UNCLEAR CONTINUED ON A4
OPINION .............. A6 PLAN!T ................. A9 SPORTS ...............B1
Speaker: Doug Petit, a founder of Parents and Teens Together, an organization that fights teen substance abuse. Where: s TO P M !PRIL AT Challand Middle School, 1700 Sixth Ave., Sterling s TO P M !PRIL at Rock Falls Middle School, 1701 12th Ave., Rock Falls Both presentations will be in the school cafeterias. There will be door prizes, refreshments, and child care services.
Today’s weather High 65. Low 33. More on A3.
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B7.
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