Serving Ogle County since 1851
OREGON Republican Reporter
October 30, 2014 Volume 164, Number 46 - $1.00
Regional Win
Fall Back
Election
The Lady Hawks defeat Rockford Christian in the opening round of the regional. B1
Turn your clocks back one hour to Standard Time at 2 a.m. Sunday.
Ogle County candidates are running unopposed but four referenda are on Nov. 4 ballot. A7
Fire board to sell one ambulance, repair other By Vinde Wells Editor
Oregon fire district officials will sell one ambulance to raise funds to make another road-worthy. The Oregon Fire Protection District Board decided Oct. 15 to sell the 2006 ambulance donated to the district by
the now- defunct Oregon Ambulance Service, Inc. Assistant Fire Chief Al Greene said last week that the proceeds from the sale will be used to get the 1995 ambulance, also donated by the Oregon Ambulance Service, Inc., up and running. “Based on the recommendations of Ford,
it needs some mechanical work,” Greene said. He said fire officials are getting quotes on the cost of the repairs, which have been estimated at $12,000 or more. Although the ambulance being repaired is older than the one being sold, it has fewer miles and is in better condition.
“The motor [in the 2006 ambulance] isn’t as good as the older one’s, and the chassis is just as good,” Greene said. The 2006 has 146,000 miles on it, while the 1995 has only 79,000. Greene said he hopes the ambulance will be ready to use by Jan. 1.
Cashew was getting a lastminute costume adjustment, Holly had her mind on high fives, and Daisy was just trying to make new friends. And all that was before the real action even started at the Oregon Park District’s second annual Howl’oween Canine Costume Contest at the Wiggly Field Dog Park. Twenty-one dogs of all sizes were decked out in their finest for the event, which began with a parade of dogs and their owners around the dog park to let the judges get a good look. Before the parade started Lisa Russell tweaked the pirate hat that her dog Cashew was sporting. Daisy, all dolled up as a skunk, sniffed noses with every dog who came near, her tail wagging the entire time. The dogs and owners were introduced one by one and each had the opportunity to show off a special trick or talent. Holly, a therapy dog, gave high fives as fast as her owner Joanne Pennock asked for them.
Judges chose the top three in each of three categories to take home prizes that included — what else — dog treats and toys. And the costume winners were: Best Store Bought — first, Buster and Nettie as Hugh Hefner and Playboy Bunny, owned by Amy and Brook Ewald; second, Boomer as Rafael the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, owned by Chasity Moorehead; third, Spot as a cowboy, owned by Amy Benton; Best Handmade — first, Bella and Foxy as the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts from Alice and Wonderland, owed by Reagan Johnson; second, Tank and Diesel as bikers, owned by Sue Harrod; third, Reggie as a Chia Pet, owned by Linda Claussen; Best Group — first, Bailey as a lobster and owner Karen Churney as a fisherman, “Deadliest Catch;” second, Elsa and Bear as Olaf and Sven from “Frozen” and owner Trevor Tighe and Company (others dressed up as characters from “Frozen”); third, Spicy as a Chia Pet and owner Amy Marchettie as a
By Vinde Wells Editor
Daisy was dressed in a skunk costume Monday evening as she waits with her owner Linda Claussen for the Howl’oween Canine Costume Contest to begin at the Wiggly Field Dog Park in Oregon. In the background is Claussen’s dog Reggie dressed as a Chia Pet and handled by Melodee Hoffman. Photo by Vinde Wells
Chia Head. Trevor Tighe won the grand The winner of the Tail prize gift basket donated by Wagging Contest was Betty, Pet Supplies Plus, Dixon. owned by Melonie and The basket was filled with Dominic Cozzi, with 74 wags. pet supplies.
Habitat home blessed on Sunday By Chris Johnson Reporter What makes a house a home is more than four walls and a roof over your head. For Jennifer Larson and her on Vincenzo, 4, their home is built with love. “Our dream of having our own home began out of love, was built with love, and forever will be rooted with love,” wrote Larson in a letter to Habitat for Humanity of Ogle County. “This home is the cornerstone of our foundation. We have been blessed with a home.” The Larsons were the beneficiary of the newest home built by Habitat for Humanity. Larson said she would tear up if she tried to give a statement during the house blessing Sunday afternoon so she presented a letter she wrote that was read to those attending the ceremony. “We are and forever will be grateful to everyone,” her
statement read. “Thank you for everything. God bless you all.” The Oregon home at 210 N. Sixth Street has a history of love going back 40 years. “How did we get here?” said Habitat for Humanity of
Ogle County president Bob Van Stedum. “We got here because of a whole lot of volunteers that donated their time and expertise.” He said they also here because of the love of a family who used to own the
property “Marie Black lived here and her family decided to donate the house and the property to Habitat,” said Van Stedum. “We tore the house down and were blessed Turn to A2
Due to problems with a construction job last summer, a Freeport concrete contractor has been prohibited form bidding on Ogle County projects for the next 15 years. The Ogle County Board approved, by a vote of 18-5 Oct. 21, a recommendation from the Road & Bridge Committee to place Preferred Concrete Systems on the county’s restricted bidder list. County engineer Curtis Cook said the recommendation stemmed from “subpar” work in two instances at the Highway Department’s new storage building which was erected last spring and summer. Preferred Concrete Systems was a subcontractor on the project. Three board members objected to the measure. Lee Meyers, Byron, voiced concern that the action could lead to lawsuits. Bill Welty, Chana, also opposed the action. “Why cut off their legs completely?” he said. “Why not restrict the general contractor as well?” Cook said the matter will likely end up in court. “We had multiple exposures to subpar work with this contractor,” he said. Rich Gronewold, Forreston, asked why the
Members of Marie Black’s family gathered for a family photo with new homeowners the Larsons on Oct. 26. The Black family donated the property that was used to build a new Habitat for Humanity Home. Pictured from left to right are daughter in law Trisha Black, daughter Laury Edlund, grandchildren Arika Black and Tyler Black, sister Marilyn Schwartz, new homeowner Jennifer Larson, and Vincenzo Larson. Photo by Chris Johnson
Agriculture, A8-A10 Church News, A5 Classifieds, B7-B12 Entertainment, A6
Library News, A3 Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B6 Public Voice, A7
concrete supplier was not also being restricted. The concrete was supplied by Super Mix, which is based near Monroe Center. Construction was delayed for a month last May when the concrete poured for the walls of the 90 by 150 foot building did not meet the strength requirements specified in the contract. Cook said eventually the concrete met the requirements but it took much longer than specified. At that point, Cook said he met with representatives from Cord Construction, Rockford, the general contractor, and Preferred Concrete Systems to iron out the issues. As result, the county did not have to pay for the concrete in the walls, a $10,000 expense; the walls were sealed for extra weather-proofing, at no cost to the county; and the one-year warranty on the concrete was extended to five years. The second instance arose when the floor of the new building was poured. Cook said the joints and surface were not finished properly. Cord Construction officials again came through, Cook said, this time by hiring a finishing company to correct the deficiencies in the floor at no cost to the county. “Cord has done everything within their power to get this right,” he said Tuesday.
Honey bees found in tree relocated By Vinde Wells Editor
In This Week’s Edition...
The fire board has plans to put referendum on the April 7 ballot asking for voters’ permission to levy taxes for an ambulance service. After the Oregon Ambulance Service, Inc. closed its doors June 17, the district depended on mutual aid from surrounding fire Turn to A2
Contractor is prohibited from bidding again
Howl’oween event was something to bark about, again By Vinde Wells Editor
However, before it can run it will need to be licensed by the state and stocked with equipment and supplies. “What our goal is to get it up and operational,” Greene said. “Then we’ll figure out how to staff it.” Currently the Oregon Fire Protection District has no taxsupported ambulance service.
A swarm of honey bees found in a hollow tree in Oregon last week have been relocated for the winter. “We’ve moved them to a secure location, and they’re safe and sound,” said Susan Kivikko, an apiary inspector for the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Oregon Street Superintendent Mike Bowers said the bees were discovered Oct. 21 when Grover’s Tree Service cut down a large tree at 202 S. Second St. The tree had been damaged in a storm last June. “In the process of taking
Property Transfers, B5 Sheriff’s Arrests, B5 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2
it down, we found the honey bees in a hollow part of it,” he said. With the help of Oregon beekeeper Jeff Hendricks, Kivikko removed the bees from the tree and took them to her home on the east side of Ogle County. Kivikko said she and her husband raise bees at their rural residence between Esmond and Lindenwood. The bees are genetically unusual because of their hardiness, she said. “This is good old feral stock. They are very gentle,” Kivikko said. “They are exactly what you want. We knew there were some very Turn to A2
Deaths, B3 Lillian M. McCanse, Marie A. Frericks, Kevin D. Eckberg, Gloria J. Stone
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com