Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal December 3, 2015 Volume 153, Number 32 - $1.00
Wrestlers Ready
4-H Awards
Christmas Concert
The wrestlers are ready for the 2015-2016 season and are aiming for state. B1
4-H clubs and individuals were recognized Nov. 16. A7
A community Christmas concert will be performed in Mt. Morris Dec. 6. A6
Part-time police officer is arrested for battery By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com A part-time police officer, who is also an area school superintendent, was arrested Nov. 27 on a charge of domestic battery. Wade Winekauf, 56, Dixon, was arrested by Ogle County Sheriff’s Police after they investigated a physical domestic disturbance at 4:36 p.m. at a home in rural Grand Detour. Winekauf is a part-time Polo police officer and the superintendent at the Earlville School District in northern LaSalle County. Ogle County State’s Attorney Eric Morrow said Monday that as soon as the police reports are completed, he will review them to
Wade Winekauf
determine if further charges will be filed. Winekauf was transported to the Ogle County Jail, where an Ogle County judge set his bond at $20,000. He posted $2,000 and was released with conditions of no contact with the victim or her residence. A bond return date was set for Friday, Dec. 18.
Earlville School District officials are in the process of scheduling a special board meeting to determine how the arrest will affect Winekauf’s duties as superintendent, a spokesman said Tuesday. Winekauf is one of 11 part-time police officers on the Polo Police Department, and works only occasionally, Polo Police Chief Dennis Christen said Tuesday. The terms of Winekauf’s release on bond forbid him from possessing any weapons, “which precludes him from being a police officer at this time,” Christen said, adding that the Ogle County Sheriff’s Department confiscated his guns. Winekauf was formerly employed by the Polo School District as a high school teacher and football coach.
Byron School District and Exelon appeal assessment By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com In what has become an almost annual procedure, officials from both Exelon Generation officials and Byron School District have appealed the assessment of the Byron Generating Station. The two entities are on opposite sides of the issue — Exelon officials believe the $482.4 million assessment set by Ogle County Supervisor of Assessments Jim Harrison is too high, while school officials argue that it’s too low. The Ogle County Board of Review (BOR) is expected to hear the appeals in mid to late January. A hearing date has not yet been set.
Exelon Generation’s appeal sets the plants value at $238.3 million, less than half of Harrison’s number, which is identical to the amount set by the BOR at the appeal hearing last January. The school district’s appeal did not specify a value for the plant. The appeals are for the generating station’s 2015 assessment, which affects taxes payable in 2016. Harrison said both sides have indicated they plan to submit appraisals, but he has not yet received either one. The BOR upheld both the 2012 assessment of $499 million and the 2013 assessment of $509 million, but reduced Harrison’s 2014 assessment of $509.4 million by $27 million. Exelon has appeals for all
three years pending before the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board. Exelon paid more than $32 million in real estate taxes this year to 11 taxing bodies, which include Ogle County, Rockvale Township, Byron School District, Oregon School District, Oregon Park District, Byron Fire District, Rock Valley College, Byron Public Library District, Byron Museum District, Byron Forest Preserve District, and Kishwaukee Community College. The Byron School District received the largest share of that money — $18.2 million. The value of the Byron Generating Station has frequently been disputed throughout the 30-year history of the facility. Turn to A3
Christmas decorations were hung in downtown Forreston Monday by Scott Timm to prepare the village for the holiday season. Christmas festivities kick off Friday night with Christmas in the Country and the visit of Santa to the library. Photo by Chris Johnson
Christmas in the Country kicks off the holiday season Food, bargains, and Santa Claus will all be on the bill of fare Friday, Dec. 4 when Forreston officially kicks off the holiday season at its annual Christmas in the Country. Local businesses will show their appreciation for their customers with open houses and bargains. Koeller’s Forreston
Hardware and Sweetwood Interiors, along with other businesses, will have extended hours until 8 p.m. and offer treats and specials. Forreston State Bank will host its annual Customer Appreciation Day from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., offering refreshments and hospitality. The First United Methodist
Church will hold a luncheon and bazaar from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Faith Lutheran Church will hold its annual cookie sale from 4 p.m. until sold out in the Sweetwood Annex. Kids are invited for cookies and cocoa with Santa from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Forreston Public Library.
Entertainment and bargains during Candlelight Walk By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com Shoppers in a holiday mood thronged Oregon’s downtown Saturday evening for the 29th annual Candlelight Walk. Long lines of people filled the Coliseum and Conover Square for the bargains, entertainment, and food offered throughout the evening. The winter nip in the air only added to the holiday atmosphere. Debbie Dickson, executive director of the Oregon Chamber of Commerce, which sponsored the event, said it may have been a record crowd. She estimated the turn-out at 3,500 to 4,000 people. “We’re very please with
the crowd,” she said. “I feel this year is the biggest we’ve ever seen. There was lots of energy and excitement.” Much of that energy and excitement was in the basement of the Coliseum where a long winding line of youngsters and their parents waited to have a word with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Four-year-old Kylie Morrow was on her way to tell Santa about the Rainbow Hair Barbie she’s hoping to find in her stocking on Christmas morning. She and her father Eric has also been to see the live reindeer at First National Bank, just a block away. “I got a picture by them,” Kylie said. “I think one of them is Dasher.” Youngsters also queued up in the Coliseum’s basement for the Winter Quarter
In This Week’s Edition...
Carnival that offered games and prizes, while adults enjoyed the food from the Gingerbread Kitchen. Sylvia Norman, Oregon, was taking a break from shopping with a snack. She said the evening was enjoyable. “We love it,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun, and we meet a lot of people we know.” Aaron Wells, Mt. Morris, grinned as he ate a hamburger. “The food,” he said between bites, was the best part of the event. Upstairs, the Holiday Gift Fair offered dozens of booths and tables featuring home-based specialties and local entrepreneurs. On stage, Dance with Angie performers from tots
Agriculture, A7 Church News, A5 Classifieds, B7-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B4
Connor and Jackson McPartlin, Malta, check out the live reindeer during Oregon’s 29th Candlelight Walk on Saturday night. The reindeer were sponsored by First National Turn to A3 Bank. Photo by Earleen Hinton
Marriage Licenses, A4 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B4 Sheriff’s Arrests, B3
Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B4 Weather, A3
Deaths, B5 June E. Arians, Michelle J. Huskins, Maurice C. Scholl
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com