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CITY COUNCIL Railroad car lease presentation made

Zephyr car might be coming to the Depot

BY JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com

Oregon Depot Museum Board Chairman Roger Cain made a presentation to the Oregon City Council on Tuesday regarding the possible lease of a restored railroad car that may be coming to town.

The depot board has been in contact with Mike Abernathy, the owner of a 1947 Zephyr dome car about it being relocated to Oregon.

“It’s a feasible, doable project,” Cain said. “There’s been a tremendous amount of support financially and from local manufacturers. The relevance to the Oregon Depot is there. It’s part of a set that traveled from Chicago to Minneapolis where it stopped in Oregon both ways. The car is in Charles City, Iowa. He’s been spending money to where it can be licensed to travel.”

The renovations of the car aren’t finished yet. Cain said the car will be worth around $500,000 when completed and it will have a patio, fence, seat 24 people and feature a kitchen. It could be used for those that want to hold events in it.

Burlington Northern has been “convinced” to extend tracks and lease land for the exit and entrance of the car at no cost, Cain said.

“I’m not sure when completion will

POLO NEWS BY JEFF HELFRICH

jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com

The Polo City Council unanimously approved a $229,000 offer on a building that could become its new city hall and police department at a special meeting on Friday, Oct. 9.

The building, located at 610 S. Division Ave. in Polo is the former site of the CedarStone banquet hall, which was operated by White Pines Resort. That business declared bankruptcy due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We were contacted by the bank about a new property as a city hall,” Polo Mayor Doug Knapp said. “I talked with the aldermen. The asking price was $229,000. We were going to try for $200,000. They were showing it and we thought maybe we should offer the full asking price. The plan is to move city hall and the police station over there. The main hall could be used for civic

In this undated photo, the Twin Cities Zephyr makes a stop at the Oregon Depot. Photo supplied by Otto Dick

be,” Cain said. “I’m guessing two years,”

Cain said that without being owned by the city, the car can’t be put on city property. He said Abernathy understands that and will relinquish ownership after he passes away.

The city did not take any action on the project. It will be reviewed by the council at a later date after some decisions that must be made by Burlington Northern.

Candlelight Walk

The carriage ride route for Candlelight Walk was unanimously approved functions. We could open it up to weddings.”

The council discussed paying for the new property equally out of its four funds: general, water, sewer and sanitation. That method would see $57,250 coming out of each fund. The full price could also be taken out of the general fund.

The city plans to do around $50,000 in by the board Tuesday. Rides will be offered Nov. 28 and Dec. 19.

Candlelight Walk’s lineup was rolled out last week and will be different from years’ past due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Christmas isn’t canceled in Oregon,” Oregon Mayor Ken Williams said. “It will take place over more days and there will be raffles, decorated businesses, our people can sign up to have Santa and Mrs. Claus drive by in the firetruck. Merchants will give out craft bags instead of the kids indoor carnival. It’s

Council approves offer for new city hall

going to be really neat.”

renovations to make the new building suitable for city operations. Engineering work would also have to be put out to bid and done.

The city’s current city hall is located at 115 S. Franklin Ave. downtown. Alderman Randy Schoon voiced concerns about the old building.

“I can’t imagine anyone would want to buy city hall,” Schoon said. “We’d have to tear it down. So $229,000 plus $50,000 for renovations and money for demolition we’d have $350,000 in this project. By moving this out, we’re taking this out of downtown and we’re hurting enough down here. But I still think it’s the best opportunity so far.”

City Attorney Tom Suits said there could be delays in the purchase process due to financial difficulties of the previous owner.

If there are no delays, the city’s contract would see it take ownership on Oct. 29.

ELECTION 2020 Ballot drop box for vote by mail is available now

More than 7,000 mail in ballots out; hand sanitizer donated by Anheuser-Busch

BY JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com

The Ogle County Clerk’s office has officially installed a ballot drop box for those that don’t want to leave their mail-in ballots up to the United States Post Office.

The box was installed by the west doors of the Ogle County Courthouse late last week. It is under video surveillance and can be used 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“We’re excited to have it up there,” Ogle County Clerk Laura Cook said. “We think a lot will use it. People were calling left and right in recent weeks and now we get calls thanking us for doing it. People don’t want to even go into the courthouse. It’s safe and secure for them.”

Ogle County Maintenance Staff workers Tim Mitchusson and Garret Koch installed the box by the west doors of the Ogle County Courthouse in Oregon.

Cook said her office has mailed out over 7,000 mail-in ballots. Voters still have the option to drop their mail-in ballots off in-person at Cook’s office from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday until Friday.

There were 32,659 registered voters for the

LIVE THEATER

Reservations required along with COVID-19 precautions for student-led play

Oregon High School students will present their fall play “The Customer is Always Wrong” Oct. 16-18 in the Oregon High School auditorium.

Show times are 7 p.m. on Oct. 16, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Oct. 17, and 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18.

“The Customer is Always Wrong”, written by Ian McWethy, follows five different high school students through their first jobs. At first, it doesn’t seem like rocket science to babysit, wait tables, pass out flyers, work at a movie theater, or be a telemarketer, but it’s not long before they find out that in the minimum-wage world, the customer is king… a brutal, ruthless king.

“This funny, biting comedy is an ode to anyone who’s ever had to tell the worst customer in the world to “have a nice day,” OHS Choir Director Zach Hall said.

Tickets are available via reservation only; they are $8 for adults and $5 for students.

Photo supplied

Anheuser-Busch has donated hand sanitizer for polling places across the United States including Rochelle.

March 2020 primary.

Early voting has also been going on at the clerk’s office. Currently, early voters stand at 1,439. “There was a total of 3,063 at the last presidential election,” Cook said. “We’re almost at half. I think we’ll surpass it.”

Cook and her election judges are preparing to conduct election operations in person in November as well. Her office recently received some help from an unlikely source.

Beer company Anheuser-Busch delivered more than 375,000 ounces of hand sanitizer to Illinois to help ensure the safety of voters and polling site workers in the state.

One shipment landed in Ogle County in

To reserve tickets, email Lydia Cermak at lydicerma@students.ocusd.net.

Only one person per party should send an email for reservation.

In your email, you MUST include the names of

Ogle County Clerk

Ogle County’s Ballot Drop Box was installed Thursday morning. Ogle County Voter Bill Reecher was the first to use the drop box.

Rochelle. The brewer is donating more than eight million ounces of hand sanitizer to election offices across the country.

“Especially when you can’t find it in the stores in the quantities we need, it’s phenomenal,” Cook

Oregon students will present fall play Oct. 16-18

said. “It helps people to feel safe.”

Michael Krabbenhoeft/Shaw Media

Waitress, Heidi (left) played by Sydney Hermes, listens to complaints from a customer, played by Austin Ebert, during a recent rehearsal .

everyone in your party and which show date(s) you plan to attend.

Space is limited and attending multiple shows may not be possible. Each group will be seated 6 feet apart from other groups.

Payment will only be collected at the door, and all attendees will also be required to self-certify that they have no COVID-19 symptoms and have not been in contact with anyone exposed to COVID-19.

Masks must be worn at all times. There is a limit to the amount of people that can attend each show, so be sure to reserve your seats as soon as possible!

“OHS’s fall play is unique to other productions because it is entirely student-led. This means that student leaders are in charge of choosing the play, directing rehearsals, building the set, and organizing for the community,” Hall said.

This year’s play is directed by Claudia Reckamp and produced by Lydia Cermak.

“The cast has been rehearsing since the beginning of school, so come see the hard work they have put in for this enjoyable comedy,” Hall said.

For additional information, email Lydia Cermak (lydicerma@students.ocusd.net).