ORR_09182014

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Serving Ogle County since 1851

OREGON Republican Reporter

September 18, 2014 Volume 164, Number 40 - $1.00

Hawks Win

Ready to Run

Unit of Honor

The Oregon football team shutout Rock Falls 40-0 in conference action. B1

Registration is now open for the annual AOP 5K and fun run. A12

Habitat for Humanity will be recognized during Autumn on Parade Oct. 4-5. A9

Gas leak causes brief evacuation Tuesday By Vinde Wells Editor

Residents of a block on the south side of Oregon were evacuated Tuesday morning after an excavator struck a large natural gas main. Oregon firefighters and police evacuated those living on the east side of the 800 block of South Fourth Street and the west side of South Third Street after the gas main was ruptured and began

leaking around 9:30 a.m. The area was cordoned off until early afternoon while a crew from Nicor Gas repaired the broken main. Oregon Assistant Fire Chief Randy Travis said an employee of Benesh Excavating, Oregon, was digging to locate the water shut-off in front of 811 S. Fourth St. when the mishap occurred. “They were going to shut the water off and hit the main

gas line,â€? Travis said. The house, owned by Joe Alfano, is slated for demolition. The Mt. Morris Fire Department assisted at the scene. Travis said the Nicor crew came from DeKalb, but had to go to Dixon to pick up needed equipment before heading for Oregon. He said the crew arrived on the scene around 11:30 a.m. They dug holes on both sides of the leak and capped off the main on each side. Residents reported a strong smell of natural gas as far away as the Casey’s store on Ill. 64 and Ninth Street, Travis said. last year over how Harn had The repairs were completed been handling money in the and residents were allowed to Workers from Nicor Gas arrived on the scene around 11:30 a.m. to begin repairs on Tow Fund. return to their homes shortly the broken gas main. Photo by Vinde Wells He came under fire over after 1 p.m. expenditures from the fund, which included purchasing a new vehicle, flowers for Secretaries Day, a tent at the county fair, and $4,000 for By Earleen Hinton Standing in front of a slide the department’s Facebook General Manager show depicting images from page to be managed. the terrorist attacks in New Harn was defeated by Brian Byron Fire Chaplain Gary York and Pennsylvania, VanVickle, Rochelle, in Cortese was quick to remind Cortese talked about Mychal his bid for re-election in the the 125-plus crowd at the Judge, a chaplain with the New March Republican Primary. Oregon Fire Station of the York City Fire Department In May, the board approved dangers first responders face who was killed on Sept. 11 engaging the forensic every day they go to work. after he followed firefighters services of Sikich to examine “There is no greater honor into the north tower to help Tow Fund expenditures and than to lay your life down in survivors. revenues from the time it was service,â€? said Cortese. “There Published reports say implemented in 2011 to the is a never-ending war against Judge was killed when he present. evil. Families of these public was hit in the head by debris The firm also does the servant warriors are just while tending to victims. He county’s regular annual supposed to ‘understand’.â€? is officially certified as the audits. Cortese was the main first victim of that fateful day Gary Cortese, a chaplain for the Byron Fire Department, The cost to undertake the speaker at a “blue serviceâ€? to because his was the first body holds up a photo of fire department chaplain Mychal Judge who was killed during the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks Turn to A2 remember the tragic loss of life to be recovered and taken to on the World Trade Center. Photo by Earleen Hinton on Sept. 11, 2001 and to honor the medical examiner. the dedication and sacrifices “Victim 0001 was Father must know they will not be were New York City Fire of local men and women Mike, a chaplain who went forgotten‌if tragedy occurs.â€? Department personnel, 37 working as first responders in to the north tower,â€? Cortese Michael Hoffman, were Port Authority officers law enforcement, fire service, said, commenting on the chaplain for the Oregon from New York and New and Emergency Medical brotherhood of all rescue Fire Department, said of the Turn to A2 Services. personnel. “Your families 2,977 victims that day 343 students next year,â€? Craven said. “Then enrollment will level off again. I think a good healthy number for us is By Vinde Wells 1,000 to 1,100 kids.â€? Editor While it’s difficult to pinpoint the cause of the One of Oregon’s most decline, Craven believes the active organizations will slowdown in the housing celebrate a major milestone market is a factor. this month. “Very few new houses Oregon Masonic Lodge are being built. It’s hard for 420 will mark its 150th people to sell homes,â€? he anniversary and rededicate its said. building at 117 1/2 S. Fourth The elementary districts St. on Saturday, Sept. 27. that feed into Rochelle “It’s remarkable for an Township High School organization to remain active District also have decreasing for this long,â€? said Mark enrollments. Shaulis, Worshipful Master Rochelle Elementary of the lodge. Superintendent Todd The milestone is especially Prusator said the number of significant because lodge students has declined over members are wrapping up an the last 10 years. This year is extensive renovation of the no exception — enrollment is second floor of their building, 1,572 compared to last year’s where lodge activities take 1,598. place. Creston Elementary has Shaulis said the project decreased from 116 students has included installing new last year to 111 this year. carpet throughout, converting At Eswood Elementary a storage area into a library, the student body went from completely redoing the tall 91 last year to 82 this year, wooden staircase and entry and the enrollment for Kings Elementary School went Leonard Jones and Mark Shaulis look at the lodge Bible on display in the newly area, remodeling the dining Turn to A4 Turn to A7 renovated library. Photo by Vinde Wells

Tow Fund still being examined By Vinde Wells Editor The auditing firm conducting a forensic examination of Ogle County Sheriff Michael Harn’s Tow Fund is still trying to decipher the records. “There are frankly very sloppy records. Right now there are more questions than answers,� County Board Chairman Kim Gouker told the county board Tuesday. He said that while Sikich LLP, Naperville, has made “significant progress� with the examination, they still need more information. Gouker said he has a list of information needed that he plans to give to Harn. Once Sikich examiners have the answers, they can complete their report, he said. Questions were raised late

Service held to remember Sept. 11

Enrollment down at several schools By Vinde Wells Editor Only two school districts in Ogle County are seeing an uptick in enrollment this year. For most districts, the downward trend that began a few years ago is continuing. The Forrestville Valley and Rochelle Township High School Districts, in opposite corners of the county, have slightly more students than last year. Forrestville Valley, a K-12 district, gained 24 students from last year to boost enrollment from 882 to 906, the first increase since 200708 when enrollment stood at 1,065. Rochelle High School gained 25 students for a current enrollment of 948 students in grade 9-12. Superintendent Richard Craven said the modest gain comes on the heels of three years of declining numbers. He anticipates another gain next year. “Because the current eighth grade is large, we expect to go up another 30

Masons will mark 150th anniversary

In This Week’s Edition...

Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B12 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B3 Marriage Licenses, A4

Oregon Library, A3 Oregon Police, B5 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B6

Sheriff’s Arrests, B6 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B5

Deaths, B3 Joan Hagemann, George E. Schmidt, Carl L. Stoner

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