County News
www.oglecountynews.com
Ogle County Newspapers, Thursday, January 16, 2014, Page B2
Help with income tax returns available at RRC AARP will again provide trained tax aides to prepare tax returns at Rock River Center for individuals with low to modest incomes. Representatives will not be able to complete a return for individuals who have a
business, farm, partnership, rental property, or need to file a return for another state. It is not necessary to be a member of AARP or of a particular age to participate in this free program. A change in procedure has
been implemented this year. In an effort to keep on schedule and not have to wait past the scheduled time for assistance, participants must arrive at least a half an hour before their scheduled appointment times to complete a pre-registration
form. If this form is not ready on time, the individual will have to reschedule for another day. To insure being ready for the scheduled appointment, stop by Rock River Center in advance and pick up the pre-registration
form and arrive on time the day of your appointment. Taxpayers are reminded to bring at least one picture ID such as a driver’s license or passport for themselves and each dependent. Reservations are now being
taken for appointments to begin on Tuesday, Feb. 4. Since appointments are required to see a preparer, call 815-732-3252 or 1-800-5415479. Rock River Center is located at 810 S. 10th St., Oregon.
Crematory, Vero Beach, Fla. An online guestbook may be signed at www. coxgiffordseawinds.com.
Morris; daughter, Martha (Charles) Speakes, Byron; grandchildren, Sarah (Andrew) Zadlo, DeKalb, Eric Speakes, Princeton, Stacey (Paul) Hayenga, Mt. Morris, Rebecca (Nick) Taylor, Dakota, and Bryan (Stacey) Scheffler, Mt. Morris; two greatgrandchildren, Ashlynn and Avery Taylor, Dakota, and a sister, Joyce (Lorin) Gatz, Polo. Lois was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Loren Scheffler; sisters, Dorothy Scheffler and Carol Carr; a grandchild, Megan Speakes; and a greatgrandchild, Drake Taylor. Funeral services were held on Jan. 13 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Mt. Morris, with Rev. Josh Ehrler officiating. Burial was at Silver Creek Cemetery, Mt. Morris. Arrangements were completed by Finch Funeral Home, 405 E. Hitt St., Mt. Morris. Memorials have been established to Trinity Lutheran Church and Pinecrest Manor Nursing Home.
Obituaries
William S. Giles
William Steven Giles, 76, Polo, died unexpectedly at his home on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014. Bill was born on April 23, 1937 in Dixon, the son of Herman and Ruth (Pope) Giles. He graduated from Polo Community High School and was a proud veteran of the armed forces. Bill was married to Annette Marie Dunphy on Feb. 17, 1977. Bill had a successful career including more than 30 years with IBM in Chicago, and Poughkeepsie, N.Y. before
moving to Oklahoma and working with EMC and Decision One. Bill loved his family, especially his grandchildren, his friends, technology, history, and reading. Bill is survived by his children, Mike Kuhlow, Kathy (Tom) Collier, John (Kristin) Kuhlow, and Colleen (Tony) Wilson; his eight grandchildren, Elisabeth, Ben, Daniel, Lucas, Jack, Nicholas, Camilla, and Sydney; his sister Ann Lois (Bruce) James; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and his sisters Sandra Hendershot and Betty Herbig. Visitation is on Saturday, Jan. 18 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Polo Church of the Brethren, 401 S. Congress Ave., Polo A service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Burial will take place following the service at the Fairmount Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society
would be appreciated. Arrangements completed by Polo Family Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent by visiting www. polofamilyfuneralhome. com.
“That we once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes part of us.” - Helen Keller
John R. Long John R. “Dick” Long, 77, Vero Beach, Fla., died Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014. Dick was born Sept. 8, 1936 in Dixon. He farmed many years in Polo, and prior to his
retirement, he worked with Forsyth County Parks and Recreation in Cumming, Ga. He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Polo, and the Church of the Good Shepherd, Cumming, Ga. Dick married Karen Adams on April 4, 1959 in Sterling. He was a Nascar fan, in particular #48 Jimmie Johnson and he also collected anything John Deere. He enjoyed life, was an unselfish person, and personified the virtues of faith in God. He is survived by his wife, Karen; daughter, Veronica Spellman, Cumming, Ga.; sons, Rick (Sandy) Long, South Beloit, and Timothy (Debi) Long, Chetek, Wis.; two sisters; five grandchildren; three greatgrandchildren and his special lapdog, Benny. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother. A celebration of Dick’s life will be held at a later date at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Polo. Arrangements are under the direction of Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home &
Lois M. Scheffler Lois M. Scheffler, 85, Mt. Morris, died Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014 at Rockford Memorial Hospital. Lois was born Jan. 19, 1928 in Freeport, the daughter of Irvin and Gladys (Shrader) Zumdahl. She graduated from Mt. Morris High School. Lois married Loren E. Scheffler on April 3, 1948 in Mt. Morris. Lois loved her family time, baking cookies, coffee time, and ice cream parties. She loved the 4th of July family functions. Lois loved all children who visited her. She put everyone before herself. Even though Lois left the farm and moved to town, she never left the farm in her heart. Lois worked for various retails business in the area, along with working on the family farm. Lois is survived by her son, Donald Scheffler, Mt.
Sheriff Arrests Ogle County Sheriff an alcoholic beverage by Michael Harn reports the a minor. Larson was also following activity. ticketed for one headlight, expired registration, and Jan. 7 operating an uninsured Deputies responded to a vehicle. possible accident at 8:02 Sean Seivert, 29, Rockford, p.m. in the 8,000 block North was arrested for failure to Ill. 2. Upon deputies’ arrival, appear. His bond was set at a maroon 2002 Dodge van, $2,016.27. occupied by a white male, Marc W, Anderson, 44, was located in the east side Rockford, was arrested ditch with extensive new for failure to appear on an front end damage. original charge of criminal The white male was trespass to a vehicle. His identified as Gregory E. bond was set at $1,897. Barrett, 64, Rockford. After a further Jan. 9 investigation, Barrett was Peter H. Neumann, 27, arrested for driving under DeKalb, was arrested on the influence of alcohol and two outstanding warrants, operating an uninsured motor one for failure to provided vehicle. the Secretary of State He was transported to the with a name and address Ogle County Jail where he change ($2,000 bond at 10 posted bond and was given a percent) and a failure to January court date. appear on an original charge of trespass on right of way Jan. 8 of a railroad ($590 full Deputies initiated a traffic cash bond). Neuman was stop at 1:34 a.m. in the 3000 scheduled to appear in court block of West Ill. 64. on Jan. 10. Pursuant to an At approximately 6:25 p.m., investigation, Blake O. deputies were transporting Larson, 19, Byron, was prisoner Jarrod Carter, arrested for violation of 24, Rochelle, to the Ogle the drug paraphernalia act County Jail. Carter was and unlawful possession of picked up by the Lee County
Sheriff’s Department for two outstanding warrants, one from Ogle County and one from Kane County. Ogle County deputies additionally charged Carter with obstructing justice, a Class 4 felony, for giving a different name and signing a different name on two citations issued after a traffic stop on Dec. 7 at 7:45 p.m. while in the 6,000 block of South Ill. 2. Jan. 10 Deputies responded at 3:30 a.m. to a call of a vehicle in the ditch in the 12,700 block of North Kennedy Hill Road. After an investigation, Teray Bell, 30, Rockford, was arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol and driving while license revoked. Bell was also ticketed for no valid registration and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Bell was transported to the Ogle County Jail and held in lieu of bond. The sheriff’s department, Oregon Fire Department and Oregon Ambulance responded at 4:10 p.m. to a two-vehicle accident with injuries in the 4,000 block of
East Ill. 64. A vehicle driven by Victoria Lints, 17, Chana, was eastbound on Ill. 64 when she became stopped sideways in the road due to icy roads. A semi tractor trailer driven by Douglas Andrews, 50, Fort Wayne, Ind., was also eastbound on Ill. 64. Andrews struck Lints’ vehicle causing the semi tractor trailer to roll over onto its side in the southside ditch. Lints was transported to Rochelle Community Hospital with minor injuries by the Oregon Ambulance. Andews refused medical treatment. The accident remains under investigation. Deputies were called at 3:52 p.m. to a residence in the 3,000 block of South Knoll Road in reference to a domestic problem. Upon completing an investigation into the incident, deputies arrested Thomas J. Pappas, 24, Rochelle, for disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property. Pappas was transported to the Ogle County Jail and held in lieu of bond.
Jan. 11 Deputies responded to a two-vehicle accident at 3:59 a.m. on I-39 at mile marker 114. The driver of a 2013 Chevy, Ryan M Sense, 31, Minnesota, rearended a 1997 Chevy Blazer driven by Lorena Sanchez, 25, Rockford. Sanchez and her passenger Victoria Banuelos, 28, Rockford, were transported by Lynn Scott Rock Ambulance to Swedish American Hospital, Rockford, with minor injuries. Sense was ticketed for failure to reduce speed and released on an I-bond. Deputies initiated a traffic stop at Ill. 64 and Pine Rock Road at 6:27 p.m. Pursuant to an investigation, Martin Hernandez Carrillo, 49, Rochelle, was arrested for no valid driver’s license and cited for disobeying a police officer. Jan. 12 Deputies responded to a rollover accident at 3:25 a.m. in the 18,500 block of East Ill. 38 in Creston. An eastbound Honda, driven by Desiree Starzyk, 20, Roscoe,
went out of control and overturned in the ditch. Starzyk was arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol, illegal consumption by a minor, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. She was transported to the Ogle County Jail and held in lieu of bond. At 8:09 a.m., deputies were called to the 300 block of Slippery Rock Drive in Lost Nation in reference to a report of a theft. Upon completing an investigation into the incident, deputies arrested Sherilyn L. Eliason, 37, Des Moines, Iowa, for the unlawful use of a credit card, a Class 4 felony. Eliason was transported to the Ogle County Jail where she was held pending an appearance before a judge. Williams R. Felse, 19, Rochelle, was arrested on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear. Felse’s bond was set at $2,519. Kayleigh A. Trosper, 19, Chana, was arrested for battery resulting from an incident that occurred on Jan. 11 in Creston. Trosper posted bond and was given a return court date.
Sports Column Marketing is not a waste of taxpayer money By Andy Colbert Reporter A few months ago, something from the Oregon School Board meeting caught my eye. One order of business was awarding a $15,000 contract to a marketing firm as means for promoting Oregon as an educational destination. At first glance, it might seem like this is a waste of taxpayer money. However, here is the most sobering fact why this measure was taken. According to the 1966 IHSA enrollment figures, Oregon had 490 high school students and Mt. Morris had 340. Right now, less than 500 total students are enrolled and projections are 428 by 2017.
Nearly half of the student base has been lost and it is a serious problem facing most schools in northwest Illinois. Oregon is not alone in this, that’s for sure. Even a place like Rochelle, with all its industrial growth, is scratching its head wondering why its population is stagnant. A brand new high school built on Flagg Road is nowhere near the capacity envisioned for it. That school district, along with several other taxing bodies in Rochelle are joining together for a $100,000 marketing initiative program designed to bring more residents to town. Polo went from 330 students in 1966 to 201 this year. Forreston (232 in 1966) and Leaf River (150 in 1966) have declined to a total of 242 in the same time period. The only growth in the county has been at Byron (from 200 to 506) and Stillman Valley (280 to 590).
Byron reaped the rewards of having the nuclear plant in its tax district and Stillman saw tremendous growth from housing development in Davis Junction and its location near I-39. Another enrollment advantage that Byron and Stillman enjoy compared to the rest of the county is proximity to Rockford. Families looking to flee the dismal Rockford public school system or those seeking a bedroom community find those two school districts ideally situated. Forreston, Oregon, and Polo are bit off the beaten path and are not as apt to draw those future students. “The board and I believed that our district was the best kept secret in Ogle County. We saw the dedicated work our staff was doing for our students and community but also realized much of the public was unaware
of these strengths,” said Oregon Superintendent Tom Mahoney. “When speaking with members of the public, both inside and outside the district, they were unaware the great things happening in our district and held perceptions that did not fit the reality of what OCUSD 220 was offering.” To that end, the school board set forth a vision to become an educational destination for students and families. After interviewing several PR firms, KMK was chosen to provide professional expertise in how to promote that vision. “We knew enrollments across the county were decreasing and wanted to be proactive in attracting and retaining students,” Mahoney added. “I believed that it was best to consult professionals in PR/Marketing to get our message out in the most effective manner.”
KMK has assisted in branding (logo, letterhead, email signatures, PowerPoint template), social media plan (Facebook and Twitter), and repeated regional TV reports and newspaper articles highlighting the positives of the district. Recently, they produced a brochure that can be viewed on the school’s website and serves a tangible tool for district officials when visiting with prospective families. “We provide a new means of communication and the best practice of technology for getting the message across,” said Pam Maher of KMK. “Oregon does very well in academics, extracurriculars and culture. People in Oregon know that, but people outside don’t.” Besides numerous other clients, KMK works with four public and two private schools in the public relations realm. Could it be that Oregon is at the forefront of
Andy Colbert
a burgeoning issue? “It happens more with larger schools, but Oregon has the foresight to realize the importance of it,” said Maher. “So often, educators are trained to be effective in the classroom and not in the public. There is competitiveness among regions to attract jobs. The same thing can be applied to school districts in attracting students.”