Issuu

VOLUME 156 NO. 3 • SERVING THE FORRESTON AREA SINCE 1865

Friday, May 20, 2022 • $1.00

NEWS

Building’s Fate

Superintendent to ask Mt. Morris if they are interested in DLR. / 5

NEWS

HAPPY GRADS

Pines & Lowell Park

Crash victims, relatives ask for changes at rural intersection. / 4

Quarry Debate The PAZ

Committee weighs in on reopening a quarry near Polo. / 8

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media Cole Becker holds classmate Logan Dyson as they strike a pose following Forreston High School’s commencement May 15. Fifty-five seniors received diplomas during the afternoon event. Story on page 7.

One section • 20 pages

INDEX Betty’s Column ........ 6 Classifieds ........ 19-20 Colbert Column ......16

Library News ............ 2 Oregon Police..........13 Otto’s Column .......... 6

DEATHS Published every Friday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media

Galen Keith Russell, Page 8

Property Transfers..12 Sheriff Activity........12 Sports................. 14-18

Forreston Journal / ShawLocal.com • Friday, May 20, 2022

FORRESTON BEAT

2 oglecountynews.com ShawLocal.com OFFICE 113-115 Peoria Ave. Dixon, IL 61021 SUBSCRIPTIONS $39 in Ogle County, and $52 outside Ogle County. Singlecopy price is $1 To subscribe, make a payment or discuss your delivery, call 1-866-979-1053 Monday-Friday or send an e-mail to subscriptions@ oglecountynews.com. You also can subscribe online by going to oglecountynews.com and clicking on Subscribe.

CLASSIFIED SALES 815-220-6942 apicco@shawmedia.com OBITUARIES 815-632-2534 phartman@shawmedia.com Deadline for obituaries is 2 p.m. Tuesday for Friday’s edition SEND NEWS news@oglecountynews.com Publisher Jennifer Heintzelman 815-632-2502 jheintzelman@shawmedia.com General Manager Earleen Hinton 815-632-2591 ehinton@shawmedia.com News Alexa Zoellner 815-632-2590 azoellner@shawmedia.com Advertising Sales Alexandria Shields 815-632-2502 ashields@shawmedia.com Forreston Journal, Ogle County News and oglecountynews.com are a division of Shaw Media. Ogle County Newspapers also prints the Mt. Morris Times,

Oregon Republican Reporter, and Polo’s Tri-County Press.

The FORRESTON JOURNAL (USPS No. 205-520) is published weekly by B.F. Shaw Printing Co., Shaw Media. Periodical postage paid at Forreston, Illinois. POSTMASTER Send address changes to FORRESTON JOURNAL, P.O. Box 237, Forreston, IL 61030. Phone 815-732-6166, ext. 2516. All rights reserved. Copyright 2022.

Special Hoo Haven guests visit the Bertolet library The Bertolet Memorial Library had some special guests on May 14 when staff from Hoo Haven Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center, along with their four-legged and feathered friends, came to visit. Those in attendance heard Director Karen Herdklotz speak of the services the center provides, from rehabilitating and releasing sick and orphaned North American wildlife to educating the audience on the importance of conservation of the land. “Of course, the animals were the highlight of the program, including Diva, the red-tailed hawk (who lived up to her name) and Bowser, the spurred tortoise. Everyone came away with a better understanding of the important work Hoo Haven does,” said Raina Dyck, library spokesperson.

Photos supplied

LEFT: Diva, a red-tailed hawk, was one of the Hoo Haven visitors. RIGHT: A tortoise checks out the library’s carpet during Hoo Haven’s program.

SPECIAL EVENT Memorial Day service in Forreston on Monday, May 30

On Monday, May 30, the Forreston American Legion will be holding a short Memorial Day service at Memorial Park at noon.

The public is invited to help us remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.

Thayer. Plastic Recycling We are collecting film-type plastic for recycling. This includes plastic bags, zipper type baggies (with the zip portion removed), cereal/snack bags, bubble wrap, and other soft plastic. Please make sure bags are free from debris and remove all paper/sticker labels. We cannot accept hard plastic, such as water bottles, milk cartons, etc., for this program. Thank

you! Library Hours The library is open: Monday 10 a.m.-1 p.m., 2-7 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 10 a.m.-1 p.m., 2-6 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m.-12 p.m. We may be reached by phone at 815-938-2624, email at forrestonpubliclibrary@gmail.com, or through Facebook messaging. Of course, we always love to see you in person, too!

longs and dance moves to inspire imagination, creativity and a love of reading in audiences of all ages and abilities. Oceans of Possibilities - Thursdays, June 9 July 14 10-10:45 a.m., Pre-K thru 5th graders are invited to join Miss Jana for stories, crafts, and games as we learn about everything that goes on under the sea! 10:45-11:30 a.m., 1st thru 5th graders are invited to stay for a project geared to their ages. Miss Jana will have a more in-depth, hands-on project just for you! Adult Book Club Spend some time with the Soames family, the subject of our Springtime Book—The Moonflower Vine by Jetta Carleton. The story follows Matthew

Soames and his family over the span of the first half of the 20th century. Set in rural Missouri, the book recounts the joys, the sorrows, and the secrets of each member of this apparently close knit family. Pick up a copy of a little known but unforgettable American classic next time you visit the Library. New Releases Adult Books: Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher, Run Rose Run by Dolly Parton and James Patterson, Love Everlasting by Tracie Peterson DVD: Dog Juvenile Books: Catwad: You’re Making Me Six by Jim Benton (Graphic Novel), Secret Sisters Of the Salty Sea by Lynne Rae Perkins Picture Books: The Luckiest Snowball by Elliot Kreloff, Peppa Loves Yoga

FORRESTON LIBRARY Preschool Storytime - Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. Preschool Storytime has moved to Tuesdays! Join us for a fun-filled time of stories, activities, and crafts each week! Please call the library for more information or to preregister. New Materials New adult fiction includes: “The Home-Wreckers” by Mary Kay Andrews, “When She Dreams” by Amanda Quick, and “Summer Love” by Nancy

BERTOLET LIBRARY Closed Memorial Day Bertolet Memorial Library will be closed on Monday, May 30 in observance of Memorial Day. The library will also be closed on Saturday, June 4 during Leaf River Daze. Oceans of Possibilities Kick-Off - Thursday, June 9, 10 a.m. Our summer reading program kicks off with Rockin’ & Reading with Leonardo Bring your dancing shoes and best air guitar moves because it’s time to go ROCKIN’ and READING with LEONARDO. He is a Parents’ Choice Award winning family musician from Chicago strumming into town with a humorous high energy musical program that inspires little rockers to become big readers! This highly interactive performance has plenty of sing-a-

By EARLEEN HINTON

ehinton@oglecountynews.com Firefighters are known for putting out fires, but on Saturday they started several – all for the purpose of training and honing their blaze-battling skills. A rural Oregon home served as the training site as more than two dozen firefighters from area departments took part in the all-day session. “We set up several scenarios today,” said Oregon Fire Chief Mike Knoup as he commanded operations from his tent near the home on River Road, east of Oregon. “We went in and set some fires in the rooms and then firefighters went in and put them out as part of our live-fire training.” With heavy smoke pouring out of the single story, wood frame home, firefighters entered marked doors finding their way through a maze of fire and smoke. “We have about 30 people here today with five departments taking part,” Knoup said. After that portion of the training was completed, officials set the entire home on fire which caused a large, black cloud of smoke and ash to rise from the home along the east side of the Rock River.

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

Crews from five fire departments took part in a fire training exercise on a house on River Road near Oregon on May 14. The home was burned down at the end of the class, offering more training for participants. “We just let it burn while protecting some of the other structures around it,” Knoup said. “Then we will put it out and find any hot spots.” Knoup said the new owners of the

farm site offered the home as a training site. “We really appreciate the Benesh family for allowing us to burn it,” Knoup said. “This really helps with

training.” Departments taking part in the May 14 training included Oregon, Byron, Franklin Grove, Dixon Rural and Stillman Valley.

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3 OGLE COUNTY NEWS Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, May 20, 2022

Firefighters hone skills with practice on Oregon home

Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, May 20, 2022

OGLE COUNTY NEWS

Crash victims and their family members ask for changes at Lowell Park and Pines intersection County engineer has been studying incidents at intersection By ALEXA ZOELLNER

azoellner@shawmedia.com When another driver blew the stop sign at the intersection of Lowell Park and Pines roads, Marcia Dewey, of Polo, had a moment to react, but it wasn’t enough time to avoid a collision. “I was in critical condition and am still on the road to recovery today,” she said 50 weeks later. July 5 will mark 50 years since a similar crash at the same intersection claimed the life of Sue Ramage’s sister, Kathleen Brooks. “She was 22 years old. She had her 2-year-old daughter with her,” Ramage said. “Someone came upon the accident and pulled Becky [the daughter] out of the car and did CPR on her to save her life before the ambulance got there, but my sister was killed instantly.” Trisha Richards’ father, Terry E. Richards, was killed on July 31, 2021, while riding his motorcycle on Pines Road after another driver traveling on Lowell Park Road failed to yield. “He did not have any time to swerve and the car ran right into him,” Trisha Richards said. “He was flown to Rockford where he later died that evening.” On May 17, Dewey, Ramage and Richards asked Ogle County Board members to make changes to the Lowell Park and Pines roads intersection. Their comments were made prior to County Engineer Jeremy Ciesiel’s presentation of the results of a traffic study done on the intersection. Ciesiel conducted the study internally, so it did not cost the county additional money. From Jan. 1, 2009, to April 30 of this year, 21 crashes occurred at the intersection of Pines and Lowell Park roads, Ciesiel reported. Sixteen of them involved drivers on Lowell Park Road who either did not obey the stop signs, or failed to yield to traffic on Pines Road after stopping. “I didn’t realize how many of the crashes were people on Lowell Park Road that didn’t even stop,” Ciesiel said, referring to an analysis of crash reports. “The fact that we had six or so crashes that didn’t even stop or slow down, it’s hard to fight against.” He obtained the crash reports from the Illinois Department of Transporta-

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

The intersection of Pines Road and Lowell Park Road is located east of Polo, about 2 miles west of White Pines State Park. Stop signs are located on Lowell Park Road, but not on Pines Road. There have been several crashes at the location. tion’s Safety Portal. Usually, these kinds of studies look at data from the previous five years, but Ciesiel said he went as far back as the database allowed because “I wanted to take advantage of all the information we possibly could get.” The engineering department gathered current traffic data last October using some recently purchased monitoring equipment. The process of gathering data from the Pines and Lowell Park intersection was delayed because he and staff still were learning to use the equipment and were running tests in various locations, Ciesiel said. As a result of the study, there are steps Ciesiel and his department already are taking. Solar-powered LED enhanced stop signs have been ordered for both the north and south legs of Lowell Park Road, Ciesiel said. They cost about $2,000 each – a price which will come out of the department’s annual sign budget – and will be installed upon delivery, he said. Ciesiel also has contacted ComEd about the possibility of installing a suspended flashing beacon at the center of the intersection. That project would cost an estimated $10,000 to $15,000, he said. While he normally wouldn’t need to involve ComEd in such a decision, there are powerlines crossing several legs of the intersection and part of the beacon’s suspension system would need to be affixed to a ComEd pole,

Ciesiel explained. “All of our stoplights are now in the middle of the roadway on an arm or strung across a lane of traffic,” he said. “They’re a lot more effective, I think. In the middle of the roadway, it would be more visible to the public. At least six vehicles have missed the stop signs we have currently. Anything we can do to grab the attention of drivers, we need to do.” The option of adding rumble strips to Lowell Park Road is another thing Ciesiel is looking at, but that requires speaking to residents living within 250

feet because of the noise they cause. Dewey said she brought signed petitions from those residents saying they were OK with rumble strips being added and that they are aware of the noise factor. She also had other petitions with more than 200 signatures asking that the rumble strips be put in on Lowell Park Road. That likely will make things easier, Ciesiel noted. There are multiple reasons they are not currently looking to make the intersection a four-way stop, he said. The first reason is that it’s hard to get drivers to break the habit of going straight through an intersection where there never has been a stop, especially if it’s an older road like Pines Road. Another, less pressing factor, is ensuring the efficient movement of traffic, Ciesiel said. Still, safety is the priority, he said. That’s part of why he requested IDOT’s Bureau of Safety Programs and Engineering – which has people who specialize in these kinds of studies – conduct a roadside safety review of the intersection. That is underway, Ciesiel said. “I want a four-way stop, rumble strips, anything to get people to slow down,” Ramage said. “They might save their own life, or they might save the life of any of your loved ones here. Because it’s dangerous and it’s been dangerous for 50 years. So please consider making changes.”

Junior high students to travel to Oregon High School next school year By EARLEEN HINTON

ehinton@oglecountynews.com The Oregon School Board will ask Mt. Morris Village Board members next week if they are interested in entering negotiations to assume ownership of David L. Rahn Junior High after it closes at the end of this school year. The school board agreed Monday night to have Oregon Superintendent Tom Mahoney attend the May 24 village board meeting to see if transferring the school and property was an option. “We can divest ourselves of the property by one of three ways,” Mahoney told school board members. “We can transfer the property to another governing body, we can demolish the building and sell the land, or we can sell the property as-is now through the bid process.” Mahoney estimated the cost of keeping the vacant building would cost the district $35,000 to $50,000 each year while demolishing it would cost $675,000 to $700,000. The board could opt to transfer the property to another governmental agency as long as both parties agreed on terms and conditions for the transfer, he said. “I’d like to give first refusal to the Mt. Morris Village Board,” said Bryan Wills, school board president. “You are welcome to bring any proposal to the village board,” replied Mt. Morris Village President Phil Labash. The school board voted in February to close the school and move seventh grade and eighth grade students to

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

David L. Rahn Junior High is located on Brayton Road in Mt. Morris. It used to be Mt. Morris High School before the districts merged.. Oregon High School, 5 miles to the east, despite pleas from Mt. Morris officials and residents to keep the school open. DLR is the last remaining school in Mt. Morris. The two school districts merged in 1994 after the Mt. Morris School District dissolved due to financial reasons. Mahoney first proposed closing DLR in May 2021 citing decreasing enrollments throughout the district and increasing maintenance costs at DLR as reasons for the closure. Monday night, Mahoney said the process to sell the property would include the board approving a resolution containing the terms and conditions of the sale. Within 60 days after the passage of the resolution, the property could be sold at a public auction or by sealed bids after being advertised for three successive weeks. Board member Mindy Nesemeier said she would like to delay any decision on selling the school until the district sees if the transfer of junior high students to the high school actually works. “I’m a little nervous about selling it so soon,” she said. “I feel like maybe

we need to at least get through the first semester before we decide to sell it. I’m more for offering it to Mt. Morris and then deciding from there.” The decision on what to do with the building and property is up to the school board, Mahoney said. “I don’t have the authority to authorize anything,” he told school board members. After the meeting, Labash said Mahoney would address the village board at its May 24 meeting.

In April, Mahoney said he was approached by a group who was interested in acquiring the property to create a college in Mt. Morris, but not until three years in order to secure funds to establish the institution. He also cautioned the board that letting the building sit vacant for any extended period could create additional security concerns for the district as well as the community. In addition to saving money on maintenance costs, Mahoney has said the pros of closing DLR include allowing junior high students to have access to additional elective courses at the high school; aligning the curriculum more closely and providing more frequent opportunities for staff to collaborate; bringing more coaches/sponsors to a building where some sports/ activities have no coaches in the building; and allowing for more staff collaboration while also giving younger athletes more immediate exposure to older athletes. But in a multi-page presentation made in fall 2021, the advisory board argued that the 1950s DLR building was in “sound shape,” could still serve as a “viable educational facility” and that the district’s finances did not warrant the school’s closing.

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5 OGLE COUNTY NEWS Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, May 20, 2022

District to ask Mt. Morris about interest in DLR

Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, May 20, 2022

OGLE COUNTY NEWS

LOCAL HISTORY

Wild violets bring back good memories of May baskets

love violets that spring up in your yard during those early days of May. For me, they bring back memories of May baskets that we made years and years ago as a child. Violets were about the only flowers blooming on the first day of May when we hung May baskets on the door knobs of our friends, rang the door bell and then ran away. Your May baskets were made in secret as you attempted to come up with some unusual design that no one else would have thought of in those early years. One year we used bottle caps that had a little cork liner. I think my mother used them to make catsup. This particular year we took the bottle caps and carefully pried out the cork liner. I had cut out circles of colored cellophane and these were pushed down into the bottle cap. The cork was then replaced and one had a beautiful little May basket.

POLO HISTORY Betty Obendorf You filled them with popcorn, a piece of hard candy and violets. They did not have a handle but sat nicely by the door of a favorite friend. To this day when I see violets blooming randomly in my yard, I think of May baskets. They were a dainty flower and fit nicely into all different kinds of homemade May baskets. When I taught first grade, I had a pattern that all the students used to make May baskets and they took them home to their mothers filled with popcorn and violets. I wonder if those are made any more or have they been

totally forgotten? I waited until Lori, my granddaughter, visited and I asked her if she made May baskets with her first graders. She looked at me and said, “What are May baskets?” I explained to her the tradition that we had as children. Obviously she knew nothing about them. After she left, I went onto the internet and there was all sorts of information and pictures of May baskets that could be made. It started in St. Joseph, Michigan, on May 6, 1886. It said, “The little folks observed May Basket Day by hanging pretty little baskets to door knobs.” In Dunkirk, New York, the newspaper observed that on April 30, 1932, “The young people were making baskets from samples from wallpaper dealers.” The internet had all sorts of ideas for making baskets and I hoped this tradition would be brought back. I

loved all their ideas for making May baskets. One even put dandelions in them as flowers. Some involved florists when it came to the flowers. One basket used flowers cut out of construction paper and then in the center one stuck a lollipop. It was so unique and that took care of the flowers. Many of them used the cornucopia method with wall paper. Most of them hung from the door knobs although one picture showed a little girl placing her May basket on the porch floor in front of the door. It is too late for this year but next year I want to remember this forgotten idea and send some through the mail. Do you suppose I can remember next year at May first? I will try. How many of you did this on the first of May this year? • Betty Obendorf is a retired teacher and a volunteer for the Polo Historical Society.

Black Hawk Trail started and ended at Camp Lowden By OTTO DICK he Black Hawk Trail hike was an 18.2-mile round trip hike from Camp Lowden to Lorado Taft’s Black Hawk Statue in Lowden State Park. This hike started and ended at Camp Lowden. The trail between Camp Lowden and Daysville crossed land owned by the Lowden family. Some say this was the route used during the Black Hawk War and possibly Abraham Lincoln. As many as 300 in one day have traveled on this trail. The original trail continued from Daysville along the river to Blackhawk. Later the trail was blocked by a few land owners so once they arrived at the railroad tracks they took the blacktop roads to Black Hawk. In later years the trail was covered with high weeds, poison ivy, etc. In 1978 more than 80 Scouts helped rebuild the trail. These volunteers marked the trail, built a foot bridge, and basically put the Black Hawk Trail back into service. The trail became more of a blacktop route than a trail through the woods by

the river. This trail was closed in 2004. The medals and the Black Hawk Trail patches are popular memories for the Scouts. One medal is engraved with a bronze face and the hiker’s name and date beside Black Hawk Statue. I remember while driving on Daysville Road seeing the Boy Scout hikers on their way to Blackhawk and returning to Camp Lowden. I didn’t realize it was a 18.2 hike and that they received Black Hawk Trail patches. The dedication of Camp Lowden took place on June 16, 1949. At this dedication Frank Lowden Madlener, a Cub Scout and Gov. Lowden presented a long term lease for the camp. Lowden spoke the following, “The Boy Scouts of America offers the best guarantee we have for the future of this country we love. Only the wildlife has inhabited it. I am sure you boys will take care of it and until further notice, which I am sure will be a long time, it is yours. I know you are going to enjoy these woods I have loved and over which I have ridden and walked for many years.” • Otto Dick is a retired teacher and has researched Ogle County history for several years.

The Oregon Depot Museum program, “Those Were the Days” will have a recorded interview with Gene Lebwick Jr., who is currently living in Rancho Bernardo, California. His grandfather opened the National Clothing House store in Oregon in 1896.

“We met with Gene in Rancho Bernardo on Jan. 12, 2019, and have saved this presentation until this time due to scheduling conflicts and the COVID shutdown,” said Chris Martin, program organizer. “Join us on Saturday, May 28, at 10 a.m. at the Oregon Depot.”

LEFT: This postcard shows Boy Scout staffers at the base of the Black Hawk Statue. BELOW: Hikers’ names were engraved on medals. Photos provided by Otto Dick

By EARLEEN HINTON

ehinton@oglecountynews.com Forreston High School Principal Travis Heinz thanked the Class of 2022 on May 15 for helping him through his battle with cancer and urged graduates to “chase their dreams.” “I love each and every one of you,” Heinz said, noting he had been the class’ principal from grade school to high school. “You are my seniors.” Fifty-five seniors received their diplomas in the high school gym following two years of COVID-19 experiences. Valedictorian “Your freshman Taylor Akins year you had 15 snow days and then in March 2020 we had the shutdown and then the year of mitigations. You guys have yet to have a normal year,” Heinz said. “Your four years of high school have been far from tradiSalutatorian tional,” said SuperJulia Wells intendent Sheri Smith, who encouraged students to live in the moment. “And may the last two years leave you better, not bitter.” Valedictorian Taylor Akins urged her classmates to “embrace their differences”. “Maybe we are all different, but maybe that’s not all bad,” she said thanking her classmates for putting up with her “Twilight” movie phase in middle school. “We’ve learned not to take our time together for granted.” Salutatorian Julia Wells said she had seen her class grow and adapt to life’s challenges. “Not all of us have the same journey. Not everybody in this room is looking for the same version of success,” she said. “Whatever your suc-

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

TOP LEFT: Ryan Morris exits the Forreston High School gym following commencement on Sunday. He will be entering the U.S. Army. TOP RIGHT: Laci Meyer and Courtney Greenfield become emotional as they exit the gym. cess is I want you to know that it is possible.” Wells, along with Matthew Beltran and Natalie Johnson, earned associate degrees from Highland Community College. Heinz said he had modified his address after his daughter, Montanna, who is a member of the Class of 2022, had informed him of what he could and could not say. But his strongest recommendation to the class came from a man whom he met while undergoing cancer treatment. “He said sometimes when you are in a dark place you think you’ve been buried, but you’ve only been planted,” Heinz said. “Know your self worth. You don’t owe anything to anybody. Chase your dreams, good and bad things will happen, but learn from it,” he said.

The top five students for Forreston High School’s Class of 2022 were recognized for their academic achievements during commencement on Sunday. Pictured, left to right, are Kara Erdmann, Autumn McGlynn, Montanna Heinz, Julia Wells and Taylor Akins. Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

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Graduation is an exciting time. It marks both an ending and a beginning; it’s warm memories of the past and big dreams for the future. We wish you a bright and successful future. Like us on Facebook 1 W. Hitt Street Mt. Morris, IL 61054 Other locations: Rockford . Freeport . Belvidere

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7 OGLE COUNTY NEWS Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, May 20, 2022

Fifty-five seniors graduate from Forreston High School

Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, May 20, 2022

OGLE COUNTY NEWS

ZBA recommends denying permit to reopen quarry Ogle County Board members have final say, likely will decide at June 21 meeting By ALEXA ZOELLNER

azoellner@shawmedia.com A local company’s request to reopen a stone quarry just outside of Polo for limited mining operations failed to garner support from Ogle County Zoning Board of Appeals members. NITRAM Properties – which is owned and operated by the same people as Martin & Company Excavating – is seeking a special use permit for the quarry located at 14584 West Brick Church Road, west of Polo city limits.

The 88.75-acre property has been zoned I-1 Industrial by Ogle County since 1965. “We all understand you guys all have concerns about a quarry moving in next to your house, and we can respect that,” Jared Martin told the two dozen or so objectors just before ZBA members voted. “As homeowners you’ve got to take care of your property and you have to look out for yourself. Obviously that’s why you’re there and that’s what it’s all about. I just hope that you can see the other side of that coin as well.” Quarries are a necessary part of life in the U.S., said Martin, who is Martin & Company’s supervisor of equipment and maintenance. He also noted that the roads everyone drove on to get to the meeting came from quarries, and that 60% of the concrete foundation of peoples’ houses is from quarries.

On May 12, members of the Ogle County ZBA voted unanimously to recommend denying the special use permit after they found the request did not meet three of the six standards needed for approval. The vote differed from the April 21 vote by members of the Ogle County Regional Planning Commission, who voted 6-0-1 to approve the permit. Both recommendations will be reviewed by the Supervisor of Assessments and Planning & Zoning Committee on June 14, and then sent to the full Ogle County Board for a final decision, likely at the June 21 meeting. Attorney Theodore Liebovich represented several nearby property owners who opposed the reopening of the quarry, speaking for them in parts of the May 12 meeting. “It [opening the quarry] is a matter of serious concern to the citizens,”

Liebovich said. “We know that there are representations that have been made by the petitioners that this is going to be a relatively minor quarry. Those are representations only. Once they have the zoning, they can do what they want to do within the zoning.” Martin said the company owns three other quarries, the busiest of which they blast rock from a maximum of six times a year. “I would be completely amazed if we blasted five times [at the West Brick Church Road quarry],” he said. The May 12 meeting originally was scheduled for April 28, but was postponed because the agenda had not been posted on the county website. Knowing people were interested in the petitions being presented, the county wanted to be sure the information was readily available in time for the meeting, officials said.

Ogle County Farm Bureau offers trip to see Cubs in Milwaukee

Defensive driving class offered in July in Oregon

who are auto policy holders. Those completing the course may be eligible for a discount on their auto insurance. This program was developed by the National Safety Council and will be taught by safety specialist Doug Sommer of Pekin. The course is informative, entertaining and relevant to today’s driving environment and standards. An examination is not required to complete the course or receive certification. Reservations are required and class size is limited. Call the Ogle County Farm Bureau at 815-732-2231 to make your reservation.

BRIEFS County clerk to talk about election at Indivisible meeting

Indivisible: Mt. Morris/Oregon Political Action will meet on Thursday, May 26, at 6:30 p.m. at the Mt. Morris Senior Center. The guest will be Ogle County Clerk Laura Cook who will provide information and answer questions about the upcoming primary. This meeting is open to anyone who is interested. Indivisible is a group of local citizens who have come together to share information, support each other and act against a political tide that runs counter to our values of truth, inclusion, tolerance, ethics and fairness. The group does not have a designated political affiliation.

The Ogle County Farm Bureau is sponsoring a member bus trip to catch the Chicago Cubs in action versus the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Insurance Field. Game time is slated for 1:20 p.m. on July 6 in Milwaukee. The cost for each trip is $80 per person, which includes your reserved seating ticket and motorcoach transportation. The bus will depart on at 9:30 a.m. on July 6 from the Ogle County Farm Bureau Building, in Oregon. Only 50 seats are available and they will go fast. To reserve a seat call Ron or Melody at 732-2231.

The Ogle County Farm Bureau will host a Defensive Driving Course for Farm Bureau members and those insured with COUNTRY Financial. The class will be held July 20- 21 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ogle County Farm Bureau Building, 421 W. Pines Road in Oregon. Both days must be attended to receive the certification. The registration fee of $10 covers course materials and lunch both days. The course is open to people 55 and older

OBITUARY

GALEN KEITH RUSSELL

of Midwest Heavy Truck Repair until his retirement in 2018. Galen is survived by his children Steve (Cara) Hoffman, Becky (Aaron) Coon and Julie (Travis) Howarth; friend Patty Page; brother Alan Ranz; aunt Vera Johnson; Galen Keith Russell, and six grandchildren Reese Coon, Peyton 70, of Forreston, Carpenter, Kerigen Hoffman, Ryan Coon, IL passed away Zayne Hoffman and Alayna Howarth. PrecedWednesday, May 11, 2022 at the University ing Galen in death are his parents, step-father of Wisconsin hospital. Robert Sheaffer, aunt Mildred Russman, uncle Marvin Russman, cousin Donna Bennett and Galen was born in sister-in-law Judi Ranz. Funeral services will Dixon on June 25, be 11:00 a.m. Thursday May 19, 2022 at Burke 1951 to Glen Russell & Velma Ludwig. Galen Tubbs Funeral Home, Forreston. Visitation graduated from Forreston High School and 4:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m. Wednesday May 18, Highland Community College. Galen was a 2022 also at Burke Tubbs, Forreston. Burial member of the Freeport Eagles Club #679. He was a firearm enthusiast and a member of will be in White Oak Cemetery. A memorial has been establish in Mr. Russell’s memothe National Rifle Association. He farmed for several years in the Forreston community and ry. Please sign his guestbook and share a was a lifelong business owner, most recently remembrance at www.burketubbs.com Born: June 25, 1951 in Dixon, Illinois Died: May 11, 2022 in Madison, Wisconsin

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By EARLEEN HINTON

ehinton@oglecountynews.com

An Ogle County farm was bursting with yellow, green, red and a bit of blue as 400 garden tractors converged May 14 for the 13th annual AJ’s Garden Jamboree. Collectors came from seven states to “talk tractors” and then show what their Cub Cadets, John Deeres, Fords, Wheel Horses and other brands could do on the Hinrichs’ property off Columbian Road, between Oregon and Polo. “This is the most tractors I’ve seen since I’ve been coming here,” said Dave Devers of Rock Falls as he stood by his “fleet” of Economy Tractors. “These were made between 1946 and 1995. They were used on small farms and some were used on golf courses. The had all the attachments.” Devers’ five tractors included one that was made in 1947 at the plant in Waukesha, Wisconsin. He bought his first Economy Tractor after mowing his lawn one time with a hand mower. “I had a large lawn and I mowed it with a push mower – once. That’s when I bought a tractor,” Devers said

See JAMBOREE, Page 10

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

Dennis Devers of Rock Falls (left) talks tractors with Bob Aldhaus of Amboy at AJ’s Garden Tractor Jamboree on May 14. Devers brought his antique Economy tractors to this year’s event.

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ABOVE: Carter Urschel, 6, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, gets some help from his dad, Scott, as he drives one of his family’s antique garden tractors at AJ’s Garden Tractor Jamboree on May 14. RIGHT: Alec Neuenschander of Evansville, Indiana, checks his plow as he drives his 1968 Cub Cadet in the plowing demonstration.

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9 OGLE COUNTY NEWS Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, May 20, 2022

Garden tractor enthusiasts descend on Ogle County

Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, May 20, 2022

OGLE COUNTY NEWS

• JAMBOREE

Continued from Page 9 smiling. He began collecting Economy Tractors in earnest after he retired from the HVAC profession. Devers’ passion for his garden tractors was echoed by other owners at the event. Jarod Cleveland of Polo used his 1973 Wheel Horse and its bucket attachment to scoop up gravel and distribute it down the center of show area in the “Gravel Pile” event. Tractors lined up to carry, grade, and even out the gravel as they created a road. “I’ve had this a little over a year,” Cleveland said. Six-year-old Carter Urschel piloted one of his family’s vintage Cub Cadets through the gravel-road-building line with a bit of guidance from his dad, Scott. Meanwhile, Alec Neuenschander of Evansville, Wisconsin, was busy plowing the pumpkin patch with his 1968 Cub Cadet and its rear plow. And in one of the barns, Braxton Haerther, 5, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was very busy shelling and grinding corn as his dad Jordan supervised. “He’s never seen a hand sheller before today,” Jordan said. “He will definitely be taking a nap on the ride

back home. Maybe we should get one of these for home.” Antique corn shellers, along with other vintage farm tools, toys, and machinery are all part of the Jamboree experience. “We like to have family activities and have events kids can take part,” said Andy Hinrichs, who named the event after his son AJ. “This is our 13th year. We’ve never skipped a year. Last year it was by invitation only and we had about 70 people here. Today we had 427. “We had people here today from Kansas, Missouri, North Carolina, Kentucky … and one guy flew in from Colorado,” Hinrichs said. “He’s thinking about driving here next year and bringing a tractor load with him. Collectors use our event as a meeting place.” Proceeds from admission and food sales help cover the cost of port-a-potties and the sound system along with other expenses for hosting the show, Hinrichs said. “All the proceeds from the 4-H auction go to the Blackhawk Crossing 4-H Club,” said Hinrichs who is hoping to add new attractions to next year’s show that is slated for the Saturday following Mother’s Day. In the meantime, the farm is open for tours for groups and organizations. Visit Andy Hinrichs on Facebook for more information or call 815-262-6358.

ABOVE: Elmer Heid, 8, of Pearl City and Kinsley Pankratz, 6, of the Quad Cities pour kernels of corn into a grinder during AJ’s Garden Tractor Jamboree on May 14. LEFT: Braxton Haerther, 5, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, shells corn with an antique crank sheller with the help of his dad Jordan. Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

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Events set for Saturday, June 11, and Sunday, June 12, at Chana Education Center By ALEXA ZOELLNER

azoellner@shawmedia.com

The Maggie & Amos Foundation is teaming up with Chana residents to host the community’s 150th anniversary celebration and the fifth annual Infinity Run. The two-day celebration and associated events – including breakfast, water races, a street dance, scavenger hunt, parade and more – are scheduled for June 11 and 12. The majority of events will take place at the Chana Education Center, located at 204 Main St., in Chana. By partnering with the Chana Sesquicentennial Celebration Committee, they’re able to offer a lot more activities over a longer period of time, said Megan Dettman, one of The Maggie & Amos Foundation’s main coordinators. She also served as the foundation’s representative on the celebration planning committee.

“It’s a two-day-long event instead of just a few hours,” Dettman said. “We normally do the 5K and 1-mile walk, we do a silent auction, a 50/50 raffle and the street dance with Cornett’s Chana Tap.” Members of the Chana Sesquicentennial Celebration Committee approached The Maggie & Amos Foundation and asked to “combine forces for the greater good,” she said. “We said, “As long as we can come to a mutual date, that sounds good. It offers a lot more things for a lot of people.’” The foundation is a 501(c)(3) established by friends and coworkers of Margaret “Maggie” (Rosko) Meyer who died in a house fire in Byron on Oct. 19, 2016, along with her 3-year-old son, Amos Meyer. Duane C. Meyer, Maggie’s ex-husband and Amos’ father, is charged with murdering them and arson. The case is pending in Ogle County court. Dettman, Lynn Kalnins and Stephanie White are the foundation’s main coordinators. “For us [the foundation], the biggest thing we wanted people to get out of doing the 5K and activities is something Maggie would do with Amos,” Dettman said. “He used to cheer her on when she ran. ‘Family first’ truly

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Sunday, June 12 10 a.m.: Outdoor worship service hosted by the Chana United Methodist Church. 10 a.m.: Chana History Memorabilia. 11 a.m.: Rope making, Bingo, basketball, corn hole bags games and children’s games and crafts. 11 a.m.: Community Potluck with homemade ice cream.

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10 a.m.: Dunk Tank. 10 a.m.: Free Kids Events – Ms. Twisty Pants face painting, arts and crafts and bounce houses for all ages. 11 a.m.: Corn Hole Bags Tournament. 11 a.m.: Ralphie & Lulu’s Grilled Pork Chop Lunch. Noon: Touch-A-Truck. 1 p.m.: Water races. 2 p.m.: The Amazing-Chana-Race, a village wide team scavenger hunt challenge. 4 p.m.: Hector’s Cocina food truck. 4:30 p.m.: Parade through town. 5 p.m.: Pine Rock Township War Memorial dedication at Pine Rock Township Town Hall. 6 p.m.: Live auction. 7 p.m.: Street dance with live music by Blue Steel; Cornett’s Chana Tap.

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11 OGLE COUNTY NEWS Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, May 20, 2022

Chana to host 150th anniversary, 5th Infinity Run

Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, May 20, 2022

OGLE COUNTY NEWS

12 OGLE COUNTY SHERIFF ACTIVITY Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle reports the following activity. May 9 Caleb J. Spate, 32, of Belvidere, was arrested at 6:26 a.m. for improper cannabis container/driver after a traffic stop in the 6000 block of Illinois Route 2. Spate also was cited for speeding. He was transported to the Ogle County Jail and held in lieu of bond. Emma Boyd, 46, of Rockford, was arrested at 10:27 p.m. for driving while license suspended after a traffic stop on Interstate 39 mile marker 104. Boyd also was cited for an inoperable registration light and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Boyd was given an I-Bond with a return court date and released from the scene. May 12 Brianna R. Robinson, 20, of Rochelle, was arrested at 9:09 p.m. for driving while license suspended after a traffic stop at Road Ranger Gas Station at 1101 N. 7th St., Rochelle. Robinson also was cited for an inoperable registration light. Robinson was taken into custody without incident and released on scene after being issued a $2,500 I-Bond with a return court date. May 13 Saul Valdez, 28, of Rochelle, was arrested for violation of an order of protection. Valdez

was transported to Ogle County Jail and held in lieu of bond. At approximately 5 p.m., deputies, Monroe Center and Stillman fire protection districts and EMS responded to the intersection of Illinois Route 72 and Interstate 39 southbound off-ramp for a two-vehicle crash. An investigation showed that a Jeep Patriot driven by Meagan Prosise, 22, of Davis Junction, was traveling west on Illinois Route 72. A Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck driven by Aurelio Mascorro-Arenas, 60, of Irving, Texas, was traveling south on the I-39 southbound off-ramp. Mascorro-Arenas failed to stop at the posted stop sign, at which point Prosise’s vehicle struck Mascorro-Arenas’ near the rear driver side wheel causing major damage to both vehicles. Prosise had a juvenile passenger, who was transported to OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center for minor injuries. Mascorro-Arenas and passenger, Maria Mascorro-Pacheco, 19, of Irving, Texas, both were transported to OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center for minor injuries. Mascorro-Arenas was cited for failure to stop at an intersection. At 7:35 p.m., deputies were dispatched to a two-vehicle crash in the 1800 block of Illinois

Route 26. An investigation showed a 2002 Chevrolet pickup truck driven by Difo C. Nunez, 58, of Freeport, was traveling north on Illinois Route 26 when Nunez lost control on the wet pavement, crossing the centerline and striking a southbound 2018 Chevrolet pickup truck driven by Kathleen I. Donaldson, 51, of Polo. Donaldson’s vehicle then entered the west ditch, spun back onto the roadway and then re-entered the west ditch facing northwest. Nunez was transported by Polo EMS to KSB Hospital in Dixon for minor injuries. Nunez was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. Deputies were assisted on scene by the Polo Police Department and the Polo Fire Protection District. Jesus Garcia, 24, of Rochelle, was arrested at 11:20 p.m. for improper container of cannabis/driver and an active Ogle County warrant after a traffic stop on Interstate 39 mile marker 100. Garcia also was cited for having an inoperable taillight. Garcia was transported to the Ogle County Jail and held in lieu of bond. May 14 At approximately 12:29 a.m., deputies and Illinois State Police District 1 troopers

attempted to initiate a traffic stop in the 8000 block of Illinois Route 251. The vehicle fled from deputies and continued traveling north at a high rate of speed. Deputies continued to pursue the vehicle until reaching the city limits of Rockford, at which time deputies disengaged the pursuit. Illinois State Police District 16 troopers, Winnebago County deputies and Rockford police officers were able to apprehend the vehicle and suspect, identified as Kyle Kirschbaum, 26, of Rockford, near Perryville Road just south of Guilford Road. Kirschbaum was transported to OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center to be treated for injuries after a crash involving his vehicle. The incident remains under investigation. Deputies responded to the intersection of N. Baileyville and West Pit roads at 7:45 p.m. for a one-vehicle motorcycle crash. It was determined the driver, Richard E. Thompson III, 30, of Freeport, had lost control of the motorcycle, exited the roadway and struck a tree. Thompson was transported to FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport for moderate injuries. Thompson was arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol. Thompson also was cited for operating an uninsured motor vehicle, expired registration, too fast for conditions, violation of See SHERIFF ACTIVITY, Page 13

PROPERTY TRANSFERS May 6-12 Warranty Deeds Loves Travel Stops and Country Stores Inc. to Road District of Monroe, one parcel in Monroe Township, $0. Russell A. Stevens to Jacklyn Robleto, 1240 Tilton Park Drive, Rochelle, $230,000. Tiffani Griffin to Stephen Conrad Arves and Nichole Christine Johnson, 706 Adams St., Oregon, $147,500. The late Harold L. Rogers by heirs to Jacqueline Verastegui, 625 N. Sixth St., Rochelle, $217,000. Collin Rahrig to Matthew and Samantha Greenfield, 1635 Westmont Drive, Byron, $239,900. University of Illinois Foundation to Wayne W. Hayenga, one parcel in White Rock Township, $175,000. Shirley Garnett to University of Illinois Foundation, one parcel in White Rock Township, $0. Margaret P. Baie and Linda L. Wright to Bryant L. and Stephanie R. Hagemann, 14443 E. Eddy Road, Davis Junction, $275,000. Country Mutual Insurance Co. to Haywell LLC-Lake Lida, 448 Lake Lida Lane, Rochelle,

$225,000. Vittoria Love to Abel Vasquez, 310 W. Phyllis Ave., Rochelle, $152,500. Brian E. and Thomas W. Vanhise to Ethan and Tracy Ringle, one parcel in Flagg Township, $23,000. Brian E. and Thomas W. Vanhise to Jacob and Lauren Ryan, one parcel in Flagg Township, $23,000. Chad Warborg to Kevin and Lori Behrens, 105 Windover Park Drive, Rochelle, $212,500. Raymond and Faye Carolyn Smith to Gerald R. Spoonmore Jr., 1101 Garfield Drive, Rochelle, $140,000. Steven P. and Colleen S. Esterday to Sally Lynn Sawicki and Steven Conrad Strang, 1321 W. Lincoln Ave., Rochelle, $84,000. Kevin and Lori Behrens to Diego Jose Marroquin Aquino, 212 S. 10th St., Rochelle, $110,400. Lisa A. Russell to Thomas A. and Marjorie J. Meadows, 1651 Squires Landing, Rochelle, $250,000. Jacob J. and Olivia A. Krumm to Lisa Van and Jason Todd, 1107 Illinois St., Davis Junction, $3,800. Duane L. and Carolyn J. Meyer to Gendreau

1031 Eat LLC, 520 W. Blackhawk Drive, Byron, $215,000. Brianna Lavender to Elaine L. Titock Neville, 509 S. Fifth St., Oregon, $149,000. Patrick M. McClanahan to Ryan Bahr, 306 N. Walnut Ave., Forreston, $87,500. Quit Claim Deeds Deutsche Mortgage Securities Inc. Mortgage Loan Trust 20044, HSBC Bank USA, trustee to First York Financial LLC, 301 W. Main St., Mt. Morris, $0. William R. and Mary E. Iwans to End Poverty Now Inc., 407 Wild Rice Lane, Dixon, $0. William R. and Mary E. Iwans to End Poverty Now Inc., 309 Mississippi Drive, Dixon, $0.

Joseph, Issa Ephram, Edwar, Jone and Andy Lazar to Monroe Center Oasis Inc., 5532 N. Limestone Road, Davis Junction, $0. Trustees Deeds Jes Farm Trust 1, Donelle H. Ward, trustee, to Stephen M. Chapman, one parcel in Lafayette Township, $748,200. S. Joanne Eyster Family Trust, Charleen A. Boudreau, trustee, to Bryan Mink Trust, Bryan Mink, trustee, one parcel in Pine Rock Township, $515,000. Marvin K. Eyster Living Trust, Charleen Boudreau, trustee, to Wayne Hayenga, one parcel in White Rock Township, $525,000. Philip A. and Gina K. Pedraza 2018 Living Trust, Philip A. Pedraza, trustee, to Joseph C. and Z. Diane Hagan Living Trust, Kimberly A. Hendry and Joseph C. and Z. Diane Hagan, trustees, 1230 Sunnymeade Drive, Rochelle, $249,900. Executors Deed Estate of Richard J. Johnston, the late Richard J. Johnston by executor, to Kimberly D. Hannold, 207 S. First St., Oregon, $310,000. Source: Ogle County Recorder’s Office

OREGON POLICE May 9 Francis Barrios, 34, of Oregon, was arrested at 3:16 a.m. for driving while license suspended. Barrios was also charged with improper cannabis container as a driver. Barrios was transported to the Ogle County jail. These violations occurred in the 100 block of S. 2nd Street. At 10:30 a.m., the Oregon Student Resource Officer issued a city citation to one female juvenile, 16, of Oregon, for violating Ordinance 6-84, possession of tobacco products and alternative nicotine products. This violation occurred at the Oregon High School, 210 S. 10th Street. Stefanny G. Altamirano, 26, of Cicero, was issued citations at 11:33 a.m. for driving while license suspended, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, and operating a motor vehicle when registration suspended for non-insurance. Altamirano

was issued an I-bond with a future court date. These violations occurred in the 400 block of W. Washington Street. Delanius M. Amaechi, 23, of Rockford, was arrested at 3:53 p.m. for driving while license revoked. Amaechi was transported to the Ogle County jail. This violation occurred in the 100 block of S. 4th Street. May 12 Luis R. Garza, 30, of Rockford, was arrested at 7:49 p.m. for driving while license revoked. Garza was also cited for illegal transportation of alcohol and no front plate. A passenger in the vehicle, Tricia Prenot, 51, of Rockford, was also arrested for possession of a controlled substance and unlawful use of a weapon. Both Garza and Prenot were transported to the Ogle County Jail. These violations occurred in the 500 block of Gale Street. May 13 Hayli M. Stier, 30, of Oregon, was arrested at 1:36 p.m. on

an outstanding Ogle County warrant for failure to appear. Stier was transported to the Ogle County Jail. May 15 At 1:35 p.m., police responded to a two-vehicle traffic crash at the intersection of Madison and Fourth streets involving a 2019 Kia driven by Darlene S. Justice, 64, of Oregon, and a 2005 Subaru driven by John M. Goley, Jr., 31, of Oregon. Justice was issued a citation for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. Twenty parking citations and five verbal warnings issued May 9-15.

Please note: Any arrests listed are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

MARRIAGE LICENSES The following marriage applications were filed in April. April 1: Joseph Mark Ghibellini and Missy Rene Clark, both of Mt. Morris. April 4: Matthew Edward McDonald and Judith Ann Bianchi, of Princeton. April 5: Cody Michael Stahl and Courtney Dyan Vivian, of Amboy; Larry Charles Miller, of Polo, and Karen Jean Churney, of Oregon. April 6: Airrin David Coy and Elizabeth Jean Scott, both of Forreston; Juan Antonio Gonzalez and Kristy Lynne McMurray, both of Kirkland. April 8: Nevin Ray Maxwell, of Monroe Center and Rachel Mary Evett, of Rockford. April 11: Cristhian Lopez Vega, of Lansing and Brenda Ramos, of Chicago. April 13: Mitchel Stanley Meares and Kelsey Leanne Koester, both of Malta. April 14: Samuel Sage Smith, of Creston,

and Kaitlin Mary Robinson, of Rochelle. Brandon Lee Person and Jillian Nicole Kopecky, of Davis Junction; Andrew Joseph Herron and Charlene Kay Baum, both of Milan. April 18: David Curtis Denker and Deborah Kay Ferlita, of Rockford; William Paul Kilmer, of Leaf River, and Holly Sue Fink, of Rochelle; Robert Leland Widick and Abigai Monrroy-Garcia, both of Kings. April 19: Christopher Michael Carter and Sarah Elaine Robertson, both of Loves Park. April 20: Daniel Steven Harrington and Lillian Grace Wartgow, both of Loves Park. April 21: Jason Robert Clark and April Lynn Donegan, both of Oregon. April 22: Matthew Hartzler and Tiffany Leigh Hamling, both of Minier. April 25: Johnny Williams and Clarinda Deanna Corkran, of Byron; Derrick Art Lider

• SHERIFF ACTIVITY

on scene.

Continued from Page 12 license class 1st and 2nd divisions. Thompson was released on a $3,00 I-Bond and given a return court date. Deputies were assisted by the Forreston Police Department and Forreston Fire Protection District and EMS. Jasmine Alexander, 22, of Aurora, was arrested at 7:48 p.m. for driving while license suspended after a traffic stop on Interstate 39 mile marker 104. Alexander also was cited for operating an uninsured motor vehicle and expired registration. Alexander was given an I-Bond and a return court date and released

May 15 Candy M. Wendt, 31, of Rockford, was arrested at 6 p.m. for driving on a suspended license after a traffic stop in the 9000 block of N. Pecatonica Road. Wendt also was cited for expired registration and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Wendt was released on an I-Bond and given a return court date. May 16 Steven Dodson, 44, of Chana, was arrested for domestic battery. Dodson was transported to the Ogle County Jail and held in lieu of bond.

and Miranda Sue Huber, both of Steward; Ian Robert Grice, of Beloit, Wisconsin, and Renee Elyse Hansen, of South Beloit. April 27: Michael Anthony Benson, of Warren, and Holly Mae Burisek, of Medford,

Wisconsin. April 29: Dana Alan Sievert and Devon Amanda Daubert, both of Byron; Paul Duane Jensen, of Sterling, and Danielle Marie Hadaway, of Rock Falls.

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OGLE COUNTY NEWS Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, May 20, 2022

Oregon Police Chief Shawn Melville reports the following police activity,

Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, May 20, 2022

OGLE COUNTY NEWS

14 SPORTS

Locals punch tickets to girls state track meet By ANDY COLBERT For Shaw Media

Midway through the Class 1A Winnebago Sectional on May 13, inclement weather put a pause on things. But Forreston-Polo, Oregon and West Carroll already had plenty of competitors qualify for the state meet. As she’s done all year, it was senior Jenae Bothe leading the way for Oregon with a third straight trip to Charleston in both the shot put and discus. They weren’t her best marks (12.65 meters in the shot, 35.65 in the discus), but the real test comes next week. “I’m focused on tuning up on both pads,” Bothe said. “I’ll put more emphasis on the shot, where I peaked [44-feet, 11 inches] earlier. I wasn’t happy with my discus today [third place], but the No. 1 goal is to qualify.” Bothe goes into the state meet with the No. 1 effort in the shot put and an outside chance at also taking aim at a state title in the discus. “I feel a lot of pressure,” Bothe said. “The biggest thing is performing regardless of them.” Joining her downstate will be a pair of first-timers in hurdler Sophie Stender and pole vaulter Sonya Plescia. Stender finished third in the hurdles, but qualified on time (16.39 seconds). As a member of the Oregon soccer team, hurdling is a secondary activity for Stender. Plescia advanced with a 7-foot clearance in her first year trying the event as a freshman. The meet started off fabulously for Forreston-Polo, with Letrese Buisker winning the 100 hurdles and also advancing in the high jump. Another double-qualifier early on was Syndi Badertscher in the throws. Both are sophomores. After Buisker broke a long drought at Forreston by qualifying last year, it was even more excitement for the co-op with Polo. “This is unbelievable,” longtime coach Terry Jenkins said. “With COVID, last year’s shortened season

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

Forreston-Polo’s Letrese Buisker (center) celebrates with her teammates after winning the 100-meter hurdles at the 1A Winnebago Sectional on Friday, May 13. and the bad weather this year, I’m just happy to have a season and see the girls shine tonight.” In the hurdles, Buisker led three other girls to state qualifications with a time of 16.16 seconds. It bested her PR of 17.25. “A lot of energy out here,” Buisker said. “It’s all positive. A blessing and beautiful.” In the high jump, Buisker and Renee Rittmeyer tied at 5 feet, but Rittmeyer, one of the stars on Winnebago’s state runner-up basketball team, won on fewer misses. Close behind at 4-10 were Ennis Ferris of Forreston and Jennica Ciesiel of Oregon. It was a family affair for Badertscher in claiming her state berths.

See GIRLS TRACK, Page 15

TONY AWARD-WINNING BROADWAY MUSICAL

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Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

Oregon’s Sophie Stender races in the 100 hurdles at the 1A Winnebago Sectional on Friday, May 13. She qualified for the state meet.

• GIRLS TRACK

Continued from Page 14 “It helps having my brother [Garett] coach me and my dad yelling at me,” Badertscher said. “Another motivation is peach [gummi] rings promised by my mom if I made state.” That was after the shot put, where she nailed a PR of 11.30 meters to take third. Things got even better after a state-qualifying toss of 34.46 meters in the discus when her grandma came through with a doughnut for her. In the 100 meters, freshman Emma

Randecker of West Carroll won with a time of 12.73 seconds. Immediately after that race, meet officials called for a weather delay. “We think she has a good chance to make the finals downstate,” West Carroll coach Teo Clark said. “She already has the school records in the 100 and 200.” The Thunder had two other qualifiers in the jumps. Taking second in the long jump was Kylie Hill at 4.67 meters, and second in the triple was Olivia Shelly at 9.88 meters. Hill was also fourth in the triple jump at 9.49 meters, but did not qualify in that event.

Just missing out on a trip downstate in the triple jump was third-place finisher Ava Wight of Oregon, only 0.22 meters behind Shelly. Wight did anchor the Hawks (53.60 seconds) to a fifth in the 400 relay, along with Rylie Robertson, Lexi Ebert and Abi Virgil. Forreston-Polo’s team of Buisker, Ferris, Emileigh Williams and Autum Pritchard was fourth at 53.20 seconds. Oregon got an individual sixth from Avery Sellers in the shot put and the 4x800 relay of Miranda and Jennica Ciesiel, Gabriele Hoyle and Ellen Hodson.

With the weather showing no signs of letting up, the decision was made to postpone the meet until Saturday morning. When the meet resumed, locals advanced to state in two more events. West Carroll’s Randecker added a win in the 200 (26.18 seconds) to sweep the sprints, and Forreston-Polo’s Buisker took second in the 300 hurdles (47.48 seconds). Oregon’s Grace Tremble just missed out on state in the 400. She finished sixth in 1:02.43, missing the state qualifying time by 0.39 seconds; the top five in the event advanced to Charleston.

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OGLE COUNTY NEWS Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, May 20, 2022

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

LEFT: Oregon’s Jenae Bothe throws the shot at the 1A Winnebago Sectional on Friday, May 13. She won the event and qualified for the state meet in Charleston. RIGHT: Forreston-Polo’s Sydni Badertscher throws the shot at the 1A Winnebago Sectional on Friday, May 13. Badertscher, a sophomore, also qualified for the state meet.

Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, May 20, 2022

OGLE COUNTY NEWS

Rock Falls rallies to top Oregon in regional quarterfinal By TY REYNOLDS

treynolds@shawmedia.com When the ball left his bat, Rock Falls senior Dillon Schueler wasn’t sure he got enough of it to get the job done. But his blooper in the bottom of the seventh inning dropped between the Oregon infielders and outfielders giving chase, and Gavin Sands scored the winning run as the Rockets defeated Oregon 4-3 in walk-off fashion in a Class 2A Byron quarterfinal on Monday. The seventh inning capped a game-long comeback for the Rockets. Oregon scored unearned runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings to lead 3-1 going into the bottom of the fifth, and pitcher Jack Washburn was keeping the Rock Falls hitters guessing the whole game. He threw 111 pitches and finished with eight strikeouts, two walks and two hit batsmen while allowing four earned runs and eight hits in a complete game. His greatest weapon was his ability to either keep the Rockets off the board when they threatened to score, or limiting the damage when it looked like Rock Falls had big innings brewing. “You’ve just got to weather the storm, really, just put your head down and keep going. That’s all you can do, just keep them honest,” Washburn said. “The fastball was my best pitch, and the curveball

Alex T. Paschal/Shaw Media

Oregon’s Logan Weems (left) attempts to avoid a tag by Rock Falls shortstop Gavin Sands.

got me out of a couple of jams tonight, so that was good. My changeup is a work in progress still, but it worked a couple times tonight and got me some strikes.” Oregon was aggressive from the start, just like coach Nate Girton wanted. Josh Crandall was hit by

a pitch to lead off the second, then Dom Terlikowski bunted him to second, and Gabe Eckerd’s grounder was thrown away at first base to allow Crandall to score. In the third, Gavin Morrow reached on a two-base error to start the inning, then went to third on a wild pitch before scoring on Jackson Werren’s two-out single up the middle. In the fourth, Crandall led off with a single, Terlikowski bunted him to second again, then Crandall scored when Eckerd reached on another error in the infield. “In a setting like this, we’re not expected to win. We’re always the underdog, so we’ve got nothing to lose,” Washburn said. “We knew we might as well swing the bat, try to put the ball in play and do some damage.” “Ultimately your goal when you’re the underdog is you’ve got to be aggressive and go at it. If you come out and play scared, it’s only going to make matters worse,” Girton said. “I thought we came out and played aggressive from the get-go, and then when you have a guy that pitches like that for you, it makes it fun for everybody. Jack did a tremendous job, and made it the competitive game that it was.” Rock Falls remained unfazed by the two-run deficit through four innings and just kept plugging away until it earned a semifinal berth against hot Byron on May 18.

SPORTS COLUMN

Schools seem to be happy in Big Northern Conference

ith all the uncertainty of high school conferences of late, it’s refreshing to see how well members of the Big Northern get along. That really hit home to me at the BNC boys track meet last week. “This conference is as about as stable as you can get,” said Oregon athletic director Mike Lawton, echoing the thoughts I had. “Everything is going well and looks good into the future.” Bottom line – unlike many other leagues where schools are angling for better opportunities elsewhere, everyone appears to be happy to be in the Big Northern. There is the long-standing relationship with Byron, Oregon, Stillman and Winnebago, which has been the anchor. Throw in former NCIC mates Dixon and Rock Falls and you have two schools fortunate to be in a conference where they have a bit of enrollment advantage. One complaint I often hear from the locals is that Dixon is too big for the BNC. Yes, they are the largest enrollment-based school, but their location is ideal. Additionally, the culture of Dixon is more geared to us than former suburban members Hampshire, Marengo, Richmond-Burton and Burlington

GUEST VIEW Andy Colbert Central. Someone has to be the largest school, so why not Dixon. Another factor is that Dixon makes us a stronger conference, which adds to that stability factor. The same with Rock Falls. If there has been any animosity, it was during the football season that Rockford Lutheran was beating opponents by 50, 60 and 70 points. They have also had basketball teams that have dominated play, with some people claiming recruiting. That’s the problem with a private school in a large metropolitan area. Compared with the rest of the conference, they have a greater pipeline to talent. But Lutheran has come back down to earth a bit and are more readily accepted. Rockford Christian has also stepped up its game in athletic prowess, but doesn’t take as much flak as Lutheran, probably because their football program remains the doormat of the league.

Genoa-Kingston and North Boone? Though it is a bit of extra drive time, they fit the mold of being rural enough to be accepted as one of our (BNC) type. The other thought permeating my mind at the BNC track meet was how nice is was to finally have good weather. Unfortunately, there isn’t a solution to the chilly, wet and windy weather we’ve experienced the last few springs. Add in COVID-19, last year’s shortened season to on-going weather woes and it is easy to see how spring sports participation and performance has declined. That hasn’t slowed down softball at Forreston and Oregon. Going into regional play this week, Forreston finished with a 17-4 overall record and 9-1 in the conference. Oregon was 23-9 and 13-5 in the BNC, good for third in a packed leaderboard. The Forreston baseball team wrapped up its regular season at 18-8 (7-3). One of the top programs in the area, the Cardinals look for a fifth straight regional title. My favorite baseball box score of the season was last Tuesday between Warren/Stockton and Forreston. The Cardinals fell behind 8-0 after the first inning, but rebounded for an 11-10

win, plating two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Another bright spot for the Forreston track and field co-op is the chance for a state medal this weekend. Not since Kristi Naylor of Polo grabbed a ninth-place in the discus in 2010 has any girl from either school brought home hardware from Charleston. With Letresse Buisker seeded in the top 10 in both hurdles races and Syndi Badertscher ranked sixth in the shot put, that drought looks to end. Another highlight for Forreston/ Polo girls was taking fifth place at the sectional, their highest finish in several years. In boys track and field, the 1A sectional will be at Oregon on Friday. May 20. Statewide, Matthew Beltran of Forreston is ranked fifth in the high hurdles (15.24) and Oregon’s Daniel Dominguez is fifth in the discus (159-5). The highlight of the meet will be final event of the night – the 1,600meter relay – where Winnebago, Rockford Christian and Lena-Winslow have three of top four times in 1A. • Andy Colbert, an avid runner, has been a sports writer for Shaw Media and has covered high school sports in Ogle County for more than 30 years.

SPORTS ROUNDUP

17 mound, giving up five earned runs and six hits in 2 1/3 innings, with two strikeouts and two walks. Nolan Hahn allowed seven runs (five earned) and seven hits in 2 2/3 innings of relief, striking out three and walking three. Softball 1A Dakota Regional Polo 8, Pecatonica 4: The Marcos doubled up on Pec in a regional semifinal victory in Dakota to advance to the championship, where they will take on the host Indians on Friday. 1A Durand Regional Forreston 14, Woodlands Academy 0, 5 inn.: The Cardinals led 5-0 after two innings, then scored eight runs in the third to pull away in a regional semifinal win. Rylee Broshous finished a home run shy of the cycle and had three RBIs, and Hailey Greenfield and Jenna Greenfield each finished with two hits and two RBIs for Forreston. Kara Erdmann was 3 for 4 with an RBI, and Brooke Boettner added a double and drove in a run. Aubrey Sanders pitched a three-hit shutout, striking out two and walking one for the top-seeded Cardinals, who will play host Durand for the regional title on Friday. See ROUNDUP, Page 18

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

Amboy’s Kaysi Schaeffer turns to tag Polo’s Teah Almassy as she slides safely to third during April 28 action in Polo. The Marcos play Friday at the Dakota Regional.

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OGLE COUNTY NEWS Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, May 20, 2022

Baseball 1A Amboy Regional AFC 12, Polo 2, 6 inn.: The Raiders took control in a regional quarterfinal in Ashton with a five-run third inning, then scored five more runs in the sixth after a two-run fifth to defeat the Marcos. Griffin Bushman had two hits and two RBIs, and Michael Cochrane added a two-run double in the sixth for AFC (9-10). Pinch-hitter Michael Meadors followed with a walk-off RBI double to end it, driving in Auden Polk, who had two hits, scored three runs and drove in another. Evan Kopp had two hits, an RBI and scored twice, Braiden Runkle added a pair of runs, and courtesy runner Levi Near also scored twice. Carson Rueff had two hits and a run, and Mason Munroe and Dylan Gonnerman also scored runs for the Raiders. Munroe struck out six and walked two in three hitless, scoreless innings, while Cochrane allowed two earned runs and two hits in two innings, with three strikeouts and a walk. Rueff allowed a hit and struck out two in an inning of relief. Tyler Merdian tripled and scored, and Scott Robertson had a hit and scored. Blake Diehl had Polo’s other hit, and Jeffrey Donaldson drove in both runs with a sacrifice fly and an RBI groundout. Robertson also started on the

Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com • Friday, May 20, 2022

OGLE COUNTY NEWS

• ROUNDUP

Continued from Page 17 1A Lena-Winslow Regional Eastland 5, Lena-Winslow 4: The Cougars scored all five runs in the final two innings, including two in the bottom of the seventh to answer Le-Win’s run in the top of the inning to win their regional semifinal in Lena. Sarah Kempel doubled and drove in three runs for Eastland, and Samantha Fink also had an RBI. Jocelyn Green scored twice, and Chloe Sweitzer, Jenica Stoner and Addison Burkholder also scored runs. Burkholder allowed four runs (two earned), six hits and four walks in seven innings. The Cougars will face top-seeded Orangeville for the title on Friday. 1A Pearl City Regional Fulton 8, East Dubuque 3: The Steamers avenged a pair of regular-season losses to the Warriors with a regional semifinal win in Pearl City. Madyson Luskey was 3 for 3 with a run and an RBI, and Brooklyn Brennan singled, doubled and drove in two runs for Fulton. Kylie Smither had a pair of singles, an RBI and a run, Ariana Nielsen doubled, drove in a run and scored another, and Resse Germann, Amy Hughes and Addison Hartman all added RBIs for the Steamers. Hartman gave up three runs (one earned) and four hits in five innings, striking out 10 and walking one. Teegan Germann pitched two innings of shutout relief, allowing two hits and four walks while adding a strikeout. Fulton advanced to the regional final on Friday, where it will face the host Wolves. Boys track and field Oregon third at own quadrangular: The Hawks scored 38.5 points to finish behind Sycamore (140.5) and Annawan-Wethersfield (44) and ahead of Rochelle (27) at the Last Chance Quad at Landers-Loomis Field. Daniel Dominguez led Oregon with wins in the shot put (12.04 meters) and the discus (43.79 meters), while Kenrick Oriyavong won

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

Forreston-Polo’s Kadence Sheafer competes in the long jump at the 1A Winnebago Sectional on Friday, May 13.

the 300 hurdles (44.99 seconds) and took second in the 110 hurdles (18.03 seconds). Isaac Brooks, Emmett Peterson and Trevor Burkhardt teamed with Chase Harvell to win the 4x100 (46.52 seconds), and were joined by Hunter Bartel to win the 4x200 (1:37.19). Pre-Tournament Results Softball Forreston 3, Polo 1: The Marcos scored their lone run in the second inning to tie the game, but the Cardinals added runs in the third and fifth to pull away for a win. Jenna Greenfield went 2 for 3, Brooke Boettner went 1 for 3 with a home run, and Rylee Broshous had one RBI for Forreston. Kara Erdmann hit a triple, and also pitched a complete game for the win, striking out 12, walking zero, and allowing six hits and one run. Nicole Boelens took the loss, pitching six innings. She had five strikeouts, and allowed seven hits, three runs and one walk.

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

Forreston’s Alaina Miller takes a swing during action against Sterling earlier this year. The Cardinals play Friday at the Durand Regional.

Baseball Forreston 22, Polo 1, 4 inn.: The Cardinals exploded for 13 runs in the third inning en route to a four-inning win over the Marcos. Leading hitters for Forreston were Dylan Greenfield, who went 3 for 3 with a triple and three RBIs; Owen Greenfield, who went 2 for 3 with two RBIs; and Noah Johnson, who

tripled, homered and drove in two runs. Mason Fox also hit a home for the Cardinals. Brendan Greenfield and Alec Schoonhoven each pitched two scoreless, hitless innings in relief of Forreston starter Logan Dyson. Schoonhoven had three strikeouts. Nolan Hahn drew a walk and scored Polo’s only run. Scott Robertson took the loss.

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LEGAL NOTICES IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OGLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF CLYDE J. BERNDT, DECEASED CASE NO. 2022 PR 40 PUBLICATION NOTICE INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATION To: CREDITORS, CLAIMANTS, UNHEIRS KNOWN AND LEGATEES NOTICE IS GIVEN of the death of Clyde J. Berndt who died on March 6, 2022, a resident of Ogle County, IL. The Representative for the Estate is Gail Talan, whose attorney is Amanda C. Wielgus of Klein, Stoddard, Buck & Lewis, LLC, 2045 Aberdeen Court, Sycamore, Illinois 60178. Claims against the estate may be filed on or before November 20,

LEGAL NOTICES

2022. Claims against the estate may be filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court, 106 S 5th St.; Ste 300, Oregon, Illinois 61061 or with the representative, or both. Any claim that is not filed within that period is barred. Copies of a claim filed with the Clerk must be mailed or delivered to the representative and to the attorney within 10 days after it has been filed. On May 11, 2022, an Order Admitting the Will to Probate and Appointing the Representative was entered. Within 42 days after the effective date of the original Order Admitting the Will to Probate, you may file a petition with the Court to require proof of the validity of the Will by testimony or witnesses to the will in open court, or other evidence as provided in Section 6-21 of the Probate Act (755 ILCS 5/6-21). Within 6 months after the effective date of the Order Admitting the Will to Probate, you may file a petition with the Court to contest the validity of the Will as provided in Section 8-1 of the Probate Act (755 ILCS 5/8-1). The estate will be administrated without Court supervision unless an interested party terminates independent administration by filing a petition to terminate under Section 28-4 of the Probate Act 755 ILCS 5/28-4. Executor: /s/ Gail Talan May 20, 27, June 3, 2022 NOTICE Name: Mariah Bevineah Address: Belleville, IL Hereby inform of a petition for appointment of legal guardianship of Antonio

LEGAL NOTICES

Travlus-Bey (DOB: 6/26/2013) Makyah Travlus-Bey (DOB: 6/26/2013) The natural mother is Kelsie Ratcliff (Williams) and her last known location is Rochelle, IL. The natural father is Antonio Bey and his last known location is Chicago Heights, IL. The parents are hereby informed, a Written Objection to Guardianship of the minor(s) must be filed within 30 days or the guardianship may be entered without further hearing in Twelfth Circuit Court in St. Clair County, Illinois. The 30-day period for objection to end is 06/06/2022. Please contact Helena Viehweg, Children's Home and Aid, Office Number (618)235-5335. May 13, 20, 27, 2022 PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given by the Forrestville Valley School District #221, in the Counties of Ogle and Stephenson, State of Illinois, that the amended budget for FY2022 will be on file and conveniently available for public inspection by contacting the Forrestville Valley District Office at (815) 938-2036 from 8:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. each weekday the office is open from May 19, 2022 until June 22, 2022. Notice is further hereby given that a public hearing on said budget will be held at 6:30p.m. On June 22, 2022 at Forreston Junior Senior High School. May 20, 2022 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Board of Education of Oregon Community Unit School District #220 in the County of Ogle,

LEGAL NOTICES

y o Og State of Illinois that a Public Hearing for amending the fiscal year 2022 budget will be held June 20, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. in the Oregon District Office located at 206 South 10th Street, Oregon, IL. 61061 in the said School District No. 220, Ogle County, State of Illinois. NOTICE IS HERE BY GIVEN that the budget, beginning May 20, 2022, will be on file and conveniently available for public inspection at the District Central Office located at 206 South 10th Street, Oregon, IL.61061, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Friday. By Mary Jo Griffin, Secretary of the Board of Education, Oregon Community Unit School District #220. May 20, 2022

NOTICE Name: Shatanya Carroll Address: Madison, IL Hereby inform of a petition for appointment of legal of guardianship Jax Jones (DOB: 05/13/2016) The natural mother is Jermisha Ewing and her last known location is Alton, IL. The natural father is unknown. The parents are hereby informed, a Written Objection to Guardianship of the minor(s) must be filed within 30 days or the guardianship may be entered without further hearing in Judicial Third Court in Madison County, Illinois. The 30-day period for objection to end is 06/06/2022. Please contact Helena Viehweg, Children's Home and Aid, Office Number (618)235-5335. May 13, 20, 27, 2022

OGLE COUNTY NEWS Ogle County Newspapers / oglecountynews.com • Friday, May 20, 2022

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Ogle County Newspapers / oglecountynews.com • Friday, May 20, 2022

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