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VOL. 84 • NO. 7
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Getting the chance to host the opening round games in the IHSA Basketball Playoffs is an honor in itself. There are many teams which would wish to take on the responsibilities. In Hanover on Monday, Feb. 6, the Girls’ Class 1A Tournament tipped off and the home team did just fine. They didn’t win it all, but they put on a good show for the many fans gathered to cheer them on. The ten-seed River Ridge Lady Wildcats, with their companions from Scales Mound, grabbed a lot of attention as they captured a playoff win over the nine-seed Forreston Lady Cardinals 41-26 on opening night. The victory pushed them into the Class 1A Regional Semi-Final and gave them a shot at the top team in the bracket, Galena. The Lady Pirates entered the post-season with one-loss in the scorebook. They were issued the top-seed as a result of the dynamics they brought nightly to NUIC victims as they outpaced all chasers with their perfect conference record. On Tuesday night however, River Ridge/Scales Mound kept the Lady Pirates’ potency diluted. Galena won 41-29, but they made them work for it. The twelve-point victory margin was small in comparison to how Galena wrapped up the NUIC regular season. No team since a Jan. 23 meeting with Pearl City has even been within 15 points when the final totals were etched. River Ridge/ Scales Mound pushed the Lady Pirates to the end. Galena carried a one point lead into the second quarter of play. The Lady Pirates offense couldn’t work through River Ridge/Scales Mound as easily as they had hoped. At the start of the second it was 11-10 in favor of the one-seed over the ten. Galena was much stronger in the second quarter and the inside pres-
ence was felt. The Lady Pirates scored 14 points in the period and allowed only six. At the turn it was 25-16 Galena. The third quarter was slower in comparison as offenses were limited to 14 points combined. The top-seed picked up nine of them and carried the double-digit edge down the stretch and through the fourth. River Ridge Scales Mound began cutting into the 34-21 deficit in the final frame but ran out of time and available options. Galena lost the final period 8-7 but held on for the 41-29 win. The Lady Pirates moved on to the River Ridge Class 1A Regional Final and a showdown with the Pearl City Lady Wolves. Galena was too powerful as they ran over Pearl City 54-36. The winner from River Ridge advanced to Pearl City for the second round games the week of Feb. 13. Galena will face Freeport Aquin for the right to move to the Sectional Title Game. The winner from the Galena-Freeport Aquin match will take on either three-seed Eastland or top-seed Pecatonica for the right to advance to Oglesby and the IVCC Class 1A Super-Sectional.
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E. North Ave. 815-947-3445 841 Hwy 20 East Stockton, IL WWW.RICHARDROSENBERGLAW.COM
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2017
River Ridge Regional produces Champion
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Blackhawks of the month
Each month Stockton Middle School students are recognized for going above and beyond to display our Blackhawk Way expectations. They have been nominated for special acts of being Respectful, Responsible, and Safe. Blackhawks of the Month are: Fifth Grade-Ashlyn Schubert, Sixth Grade-Lauren Kehl, Seventh Grade-Vanessa Ernst, Eighth Grade-Case Harmston
Area homeowners eligible for home repair loans and grants
Homeowners in Northern Illinois may be eligible to apply for home repair grants and low interest home improvement loans, thanks to a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development program. A Rural Development repair loan is similar to a home improvement loan. The money must be used to improve or modernize homes, make them safer and more sanitary, or remove health and safety hazards. Examples of eligible repairs include roofing, siding, windows, foundation repairs, kitchen cabinets, septic system, furnace / air conditioning. The maximum loan
amount is $20,000. Loans can be made for a term of 20 years at one percent interest. The applicant needs to own and occupy the home, have acceptable credit, be able to repay the loan, and meet very low income guidelines. For example, a family of 4 in Stephenson County can earn up to $29,950 and still qualify. A limited number of home repair grants are also available to appli-
cants who meet very low income guidelines, are 62 years of age or older and demonstrate an inability to make loan payments. There is a $7,500 lifetime limit on repair grant funds. Grant funds can only be used to address health, safety or accessibility issues for the home. Unlike loans, grants do not have to be repaid. Grants are frequently made in conjunction with small loans. The Oregon
Rural Development office serves seven Northern Illinois counties including Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Kane, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside, and Winnebago. To learn more about this program, homeowners are encouraged to contact the Oregon office at (815) 732-6127, ext. 4. More information is also available at http://www.rd.usda.gov/il . Eligibility rules apply.
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