FOR-11-28-2013

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Serving the Forreston area since 1865

FORRESTON Journal November 28, 2013 Volume 151, Number 31 - $1.00

Season Previews

State Bound

Happy Thanksgiving!

Area boys basketball teams are ready for the 2013-2014 season. B1

The Stillman Valley Cardinals pull of a 2-point upset to advance to the state finals. A15

Christmas tree farms set to open for the season By Chris Johnson Reporter With turkeys in the oven, families may be thinking about where they plan on getting a Christmas tree this holiday season. A variety of options are available throughout Ogle County to get a freshly cut tree. Two organizations will be

selling trees at the former Sinnissippi farm locations. The Oregon FFA Chapter and Eagle Bluff at Sinnissippi Farm will open for business on Friday, Nov. 29 at 8 a.m. The tree farm is located about three miles south of Oregon at 2856 Lowden Rd. To help customers locate the farm, signs will be placed at the entrance on Lowden Road, and on the corner of

Daysville Road and Lowden Road. Signs will also be located at the corner of Daysville and Ill. 64 and the corner of Lowden Road and Flagg Road. The farm has once again expanded its selection of trees and services for the holiday season. Customers will have their pick of:

•฀ Choose฀ and฀ cut฀ scotch฀ pine trees, •฀ Premium฀ grade฀ freshcut Fraser fir, Douglas fir, concolor fir, and white pine trees, •฀ Douglas฀ and฀ Fraser฀ fir฀ wreaths, •฀White฀pine฀garland, •฀ On-site฀ tree฀ shaker฀ and฀ net wrapping available, •฀ Wagon฀ rides฀ around฀ the฀ farm,

•฀ Concession฀ stand฀ with฀ hot chocolate, coffee, hot cider, popcorn, and apple cider donuts. Members of the Oregon FFA Chapter and Eagle Bluff will be on site to provide saws and assist with cutting and loading the trees. The tree farm will be open from Friday, Nov. 29 through Sunday, Dec. 22. Hours of operation are

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday from 12 to 4 p.m.; closed Monday and Tuesday. For more information call the Oregon FFA Chapter at 815-732-6241, extension 1116. Also located in the same area, the Prairie Preservation Society of Ogle County Turn to A3

Village officials will miss Rust By Chris Johnson Reporter The Forreston Village Board learned last week that long-time water and sewer department employee Mark Rust has accepted another position. “Rust is heading to Pecatonica to be the head of their public works department,” said village president Michael Harn. “This was an opportunity for Mark and is good for his family.” Harn said he will be an asset to Pecatonica and will be missed in Forreston. Forreston officials plan to advertise the position and will try to hire locally. “We welcome all potential applicants and I would like potential local applicants,” said Harn. The village may cover the cost of classes to get additional certification for the potential candidates. Resumes may be dropped off at village hall. The candidate who is hired will work in the water and sewer department under the direction of Alan Cruthis,

the superintendent of public works. In other business, the board approved a $53,316 insurance premium to cover all village property. “I do not like the process,” said trustee Gary Buss. “You give the board a 20 minute presentation to make a $50,000 decision.” The policy renews on Dec. 1, and the Nov. 18 meeting was when a decision needed to be made. Previously the insurance policy was for $3 million. Julie Heeren, from Diamond Bros. Insurance said an inspector came to the village and made the recommendation to insure the village property for a full replacement cost of $5 million. “The rates did go up but we inspected all the village buildings,” said Heeren. She said the insurance rate for full replacement is higher than actual cash value. With actual cash value, the village may not receive enough money from an insurance payout to replace a

Ready For Winter The Ogle County Highway Department was prepared for the snow Monday morning. The trucks at the highway department were loaded with salt and gravel to spread on county roads to try and keep them safe. Photo by Chris Johnson

Christmas in the Country Dec. 6

Forreston will usher in the holiday season with its annual Christmas in the Country celebration on Friday, Dec. 6. Forreston school choir groups will entertain shoppers with carols at various locations Turn to A3 throughout the village.

Sweetwood Interiors and Forreston Hardware, along with other businesses, will have extended hours until 8 p.m. and offer treats and specials. Forreston State Bank will host its annual Customer

Appreciation Day from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., offering refreshments. The First United Methodist Church will hold a luncheon and bazaar from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Faith Lutheran Church will

hold its annual cookie sale from 4:30 p.m. until sold out in the Sweetwood Annex next to Village Hairstyles. Kids are invited for cookies and cocoa with Santa from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Forreston Public Library.

Santa will arrive at Candlelight Walk on Nov. 30 By Vinde Wells Editor Santa and Mrs. Santa will be chauffeured by the Oregon Fire Department to the Ogle County Courthouse Square on Saturday, Nov. 30 to kick off the Christmas season at the 27th annual Candlelight Walk. Santa will light the Christmas tree on the courthouse lawn at 4 p.m. to begin the festivities. Entertainment, good food, and giveaways are just a small part of the evening’s events which will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Oregon Chamber of Commerce. Luminaria will light the downtown, compliments of the Oregon Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and Oregon High School Key Club. A Winter Quarter Carnival for kids ages 3 to 10 is one of this year’s new features.

Chamber president Debbie Leffelman said the Oregon Park District and two 4-H clubs have teamed up to provide games that youngsters will enjoy at a cost of 25 cents in the lower level of the Coliseum. Franklin Street will between Fourth Street (Ill. 2) and Third Street will be closed to traffic and transformed into Candy Cane Lane for the evening. Businesses throughout the city will extend their hours for shoppers to find holiday bargains, gifts, and refreshments. Youngsters can visit with Santa and Mrs. Santa in the lower level of the Oregon Coliseum, at the corner of Franklin and Fourth (Ill. 2) Streets after the tree lighting until 8 p.m. and then walk down Candy Cane Lane on their way to see Santa’s reindeer at First National Bank and shop at Conover Square.

In This Week’s Edition...

A Holiday Gift Fair featuring numerous vendors will be held at the Coliseum, offering a variety of items and information. In the downstairs, the Gingerbread Kitchen and Pizza Hut will serve a variety of food. More food will be offered on Candy Cane Lane. Entertainment from music to drama to dance will be offered throughout the evening at the Coliseum. Conover Square will host live entertainment, refreshments and plenty of holiday décor. Shoppers can also sign up to win prizes and a $250 shopping spree in the Red Bow Give-A-Way. Register at participating businesses, which will display the large red Candlelight Walk Bow. Shoppers can also get involved in the Hysterical Holiday Hunt. Collect clues from designated Red Bow sponsor locations and answer the questions for a chance to

Business Briefs, B6 Church News, A5 Classifieds, B7-B16 Entertainment, A6

win the grand prize package of dinner at LaVigna and an overnight stay at the White Pines Inn. A few of Red Bow

Sponsors have hidden clues participants hunt down the strategically placed at their answers. Find the location, businesses, and the chamber (listed on the form), follow officers have created silly Holiday Hints to help Turn to A11

Candice Holbrook sets up a Christmas tree in the basement of the Oregon Coliseum to prepare for the annual Candlelight Walk. Photo by Chris Johnson

Fines, B5 Oregon Police, B4 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B3

Sheriff’s Arrests, B4 Social News, A4 Sports, A15, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B6

Published฀every฀Thursday฀by฀Ogle฀County฀Newspapers,฀a฀division฀of฀Shaw฀Media฀•฀www.oglecountynews.com

Deaths, B3 Darrel E. Fulton, Stone O. Hanson


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