Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal May 1, 2014 Volume 152, Number 1 - $1.00
Doubleheader
Stolen Tipi
Recycling Event
The Forreston-Polo Lady Cardinals swept a doubleheader against Pecatonica. B1
A tipi promoting Oregon Trail Days has come up missing. B2
Ogle County residents can take advantage of a free electronics recycling event May 3. A6
Woman claims sheriff has too many job duties By Vinde Wells Editor
Prom Court Ben Heitman and Maggie Curry were chosen Forreston High School Prom King and Queen April 26. Members of the Prom Court are: Dustin Groen, Abbey Osterloo, Heitman, Curry, Travis Cunningham, and Cassidy Langill. Prom Prince was Ethan Groom and Prom Princess was Rebekha O’Rourke. After the grand march and coronation in the junior high gym, the 135 attendees then went to the Peppercorn in Monroe, Wis., for their banquet and dance. Photo by Kathie Conerton
Dog bite victim is recovering By Vinde Wells Editor Eight days after she was viciously attacked by three dogs, a rural Ashton woman was recuperating at home. Aneda Ebert, 63, 3413 Dugdale Rd., said Tuesday that she is very grateful for the concern people have expressed for her and the help that’s been offered. “The support has been overwhelming. People have been wonderful,� she said. Ebert suffered severe injuries to her neck, shoulder, arms, and leg, and spent four days at KSB Hospital, Dixon, before being released April 25. “I’m healing — my nurse (husband Larry) says I look better every day,� said Ebert, who appeared in good spirits despite the ordeal. “I’m mauled. I’m just a mess. I
have stitches everywhere.� She was almost home from her morning jog April 21 when two pit bulls and a smaller brown dog ran out of a neighbor’s yard and attacked her. Larry, who was out riding his bike, was some distance done the road and saw the dogs shaking something. He soon realized they were attacking his wife and sped to her rescue, scaring the dogs off. “They started biting at my elbows and I knew I was in trouble,� Ebert said. “Then they got more vicious and they were growling. They got me down, and they had me by the neck. I protected my face. Larry saw them drag me at least 15 feet. I can’t believe the grip they had. There was nothing I could do. And then I saw Larry’s face.� Dr. Tom Champley, Ogle
County Animal Control Administrator, said last week that Larry’s quick action likely save her life. “It’s a good thing her husband was right there or it might have been a fatality,� Champley said. Ebert said she was shocked by the viciousness of the attack. “The brutality is what bothers me,� she said. “It was so savage.� Initially, Champley had reported the attack came from the two put bulls, a male and a female. However, he said Tuesday that further investigation showed that the third dog, owned by the same person, also took part in the attack. He said he did not know the breed of the smaller dog. All three dogs were impounded by Animal Control and have been
A Rochelle woman told the Ogle County Board recently that the sheriff has too many duties. Diane McNeilly said the Ogle County League of Women Voters recently did a study of several Illinois county sheriffs and discovered that the Ogle County Sheriff is responsible for more departments, employees, and money than his counterparts. “It doesn’t allow him enough time to do statemandated duties,� she told the county board April 15. Besides overseeing the Sheriff’s and Corrections Departments, Ogle County Sheriff Michael Harn is also in charge of the Ogle County Emergency Management Agency, the county’s Buildings & Grounds, Information Technology, telecommunications, and security for the courts as well as all county properties. In all, he oversees more than 80 county employees and a large share of the county’s budget. “The Ogle County Sheriff is responsible for more departments and funds than other counties surveyed. Checks and balances and supervision can be an issue in delivering services,� according to the report McNeilly presented to the board. McNeilly said the recommendation of the
League of Women Voters is that the county board remove Buildings & Grounds and Information Technology from the sheriff’s duties and instead appoint a department head for each. The recommendation calls for two new department heads who should “report through the regular county committee structure.� McNeilly said only seven of the 11 counties contacted responded to the organization’s request for information. Ogle County officials did not respond, she said, and officials in three other counties told her Harn had requested they not participate. McNeilly said the three other counties that did not respond were Boone, LaSalle, and Whiteside. The counties that participated were Carroll, DeKalb, Lee, Kendall, McHenry, Stephenson, and Winnebago. In none of the responding counties does the sheriff serve as computer services director, maintain the Information Technology System or maintain county buildings. Winnebago County was the only one where, like Ogle, the sheriff also serves as the Emergency Management Agency director and provides security for all the county’s buildings and grounds. Harn did not respond to a phone call from Ogle County Newspapers seeking his comments for this story.
euthanized with the consent of the owner, Champley said. Ebert said the dogs had never posed a problem for her before, although they have for some of her neighbors. “The dogs have been there a long time,� she said. Another neighbor had reported the dogs more than once for running at large, she said. Champley said Tuesday that he is unaware of any previous complaints being made to Animal Control. A spokesman for Ogle County State’s Attorney Michael Rock said Tuesday morning that prosecutors are working with law enforcement officers to determine if charges will be filed against the dogs’ owner. Forreston Garage Sales will be held on Thursday, May 1, The Ogle County Sheriff’s Friday, May 2, and Saturday, May 3. Department investigated at For more information call Shirley Vietmeier at 815-938the scene. 3212.
Garage sales are set
Youths must know dangers and consequences of drinking By Vinde Wells Editor Officials at a meeting on underage drinking last week stressed the importance of making youths aware of both the dangers and consequences of drinking alcohol. Joanie Padilla, Director of Health Education and Emergency Preparedness at the Ogle County Health Department, told the audience of approximately 30 people that studies have shown that some youngsters begin drinking as early as the sixth grade. “The younger they start, the more chance there is for problems,� she said. Mandy Wood, a counselor at Sinnissippi Centers, Inc., said parents and other adults should begin talking to youngsters as early as
possible about the dangers drinking alcohol can bring. “Talk to your kids honestly about alcohol,� Wood said. “When an incident occurs, talk about what happened and how to make better choices. Make sure they have consequences.� Padilla and Wood were two of the presenters who spoke at a meeting organized by Project LEAD of Ogle County April 24 at Nash Recreation Center to discuss the increasing problem of underage drinking. Project LEAD (Leaders Encouraging Abstinence from Drugs) of Ogle County is a recently formed partnership between Lutheran Social Service of Illinois (LSSI) and Ogle County schools, businesses, parents, social service agencies and government services.
In This Week’s Edition...
The community coalition is working to reduce substance abuse among Ogle County youth. Padilla cited statistics that show 71 percent of high school students nationwide report drinking alcohol, and 21 percent said they started before age 13. She said drinking can cause significant brain injury to teenagers and younger youth as well as physical problems because their bodies and internal organs are not fully developed. Alcohol is also a factor in a significant percentage of fatal vehicle crashes, especially those involving teenagers, Padilla said. “We’re talking about the very lives of our youth,� she said. “I was formerly a health care worker. I x-rayed a lot of LSSI counselor Kris Noble makes a point with Russ Senti April 24 after the underage Turn to A3
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B7-B10 College News, A4 Entertainment, A6
drinking meeting sponsored by Project LEAD. Photo by Vinde Wells
Fines, B6 Marriage Licenses, A4 Property Transfers, B6 Public Voice, A9
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B6
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Deaths, B5 Sarah E. Buschek, James T. Welty