Stories to remember from 2007

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Smoking ban taking effect Tuesday, Jan. 1 Anti-smoking activists notched another victory in 2007 when Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed the Smoke Free Illinois Act, making this the 22nd state to ban smoking in all public places. The ban, which takes effect Tuesday, prohibits smoking in any place of business and outside within 15 feet of any door, window or ventilation unit. The battle between smokers' rights advocates and the clean-air camp raged throughout the year after the Whiteside County Healthier Communities Partnership met with mayors and city officials in January, to present its case for citywide smoking bans. In April, the partnership held public forums in Sterling, Rock Falls and Morrison seeking community input on possible bans. That issue became moot in July, when the governor signed the statewide act. Bar owners fear the ban will mean a loss of business and sales tax revenue. Whether that becomes true will be revealed in the new year. Businesses come and go Businesses in the Sauk Valley came and went. Among them: Quinn's Jewelers and Harts Jewelers in Sterling both closed when their owners decided to call it a career and retire. The Jewel food store in Dixon closed its doors for financial reasons. In Sterling, Ace Hardware and Ryan's Restaurant closed up shop, both citing a lack of profit. Rock Falls added two banks, Sauk Valley Bank and Freedom Bank to the First Avenue family. In Sterling, the Herb Cellar, Moore Monument and Razor Wireless played hopscotch, moving to new locations on Lincolnway. Rock Falls unit members return safe and sound After a year in Iraq, members of the Rock Falls-based 1644th Transportation Company safely returned to American soil. The soldiers were mobilized with the 1744th Transportation Company, which arrived at Camp Anaconda, Iraq, in mid-September 2006, ran more than 200 missions with no casualities, and left the second week of September. While deployed, the unit's mission was changed from driving semi-tractor trailers to force protection, which meant it was responsible for the protection and oversight of 20,000 soldiers that traveled throughout central Iraq. Specifically, the 1744th provided security escort services for military and civilian vehicles that became inoperable and needed to be recovered. It was one of the most important missions in Iraq, said Staff Sgt. Mike Chrisman, the 1744th's public affairs representative. Murderer, gang member tried, convicted and sent to prison Two men were brought to justice for the 2006 daylight shooting death of Ryne Thomas, 21, of Rock Falls. In October of 2007, triggerman Paul Bash was sentenced to 60 years in prison. Nathaniel Galvan, who was driving the car in which he and Bash fled the scene, was later sentenced to six years for aiding a fugitive and six years for obstructing justice. The pair confronted Thomas and another man near St. Andrew's School in August of 2006 in Rock Falls. When Thomas and his friend ran at Galvan's car, Bash fired one shot shooting Thomas in the chest. The pair fled all the way to Mexico before being picked up by authorities. While awaiting trial in February of this year, Bash and a cell mate in the Whiteside County Jail, made an unsuccessful escape attempt when they managed to chisel through most of their cell wall with a jagged piece of metal. Investment brokers get into trouble Nevin Gillette wasn't the only local investment broker accused of wrong doing in Whiteside County. Investigations into three more investment brokers, by the state securities became public in 2007. Richard A. Wells, of Sterling, pleaded guilty in federal court to a mail fraud charge in a scheme where he stole $337,000 from his investors over a period of five years. He is awaiting sentencing. Ray Hager, of Morrison, who had an office in Rock Falls, was indicted in June on 10 counts of fraud and theft in Whiteside County Circuit Court. He allegedly stole more than $500,000 in a real estate scheme. He pleaded guilty to all charges. Stephen A. Walker, an independent broker who lives in Rock Island, and had an office in Sterling, was barred from selling securities in the state. He allegedly sold gas and oil investments without telling the state or his investment company Linsco Private Ledger. Walker plans to plead his case to the State Securities Department in January, so he can keep his securities license. The Nevin Gillette case came to an end in criminal court when the former broker pleaded guilty to federal mail and wire fraud charges. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison. He also was ordered to pay $7.2 million in restitution. Gillette ran a seven-year Ponzi scheme through which he stole money from 55 people and businesses. The rash of securities fraud in the area led to the State Securities Department holding an investment seminar on how people can protect themselves when they invest money with a broker. Largest corn crop since '44 planted in 2007 This was another banner year in the farming business, as 2007 netted the largest corn crop in more than 60 years. Farmers across the nation, and particularly in the Midwest, planted the most acres of corn since 1944. With a relatively cool and wet summer in northern Illinois, that planting netted impressive yields that will likely rival the record setting 2004 crop in Illinois when all totaled. According to a University of Illinois agronomist, the state corn crop was estimated at 12.838 billion bushels, 1 billion more than in 2004. During this fall's harvest, some area farmers reported yields as high as 240 to 250 bushels per acres in some areas. As the still growing ethanol industry continued to have its affect on the corn prices, prices have hovered around the $3 to $4 range throughout the year. In August, Rich McDonnell, executive director of the Whiteside County Farm Bureau commented on the strong year. Nationally farmers planted more than 90 million acres of corn up 15 percent from 2006. In Illinois farmers planted 12.9 million acres. Swollen Rock removed from Labor Day fun The rolling Rock River roiled over its banks just in time to put a big wet blanket on Labor Day. Two weeks' worth of heavy rain forced rivers into backyards all across northern Illinois, but the Sauk Valley was spared much of the heavier flooding that afflicted suburban Chicago, where Gov. Rod Blagojevich declared a disaster in six counties. A few homes along the Rock had water lapping over their lawns, and parks took some minor damage to roads and playgrounds, but the biggest damper was closing the river down for the usually busy farewell-to-summer weekend. On Labor Day, people partied from the shoreline. No boats were allowed.