Serving Ogle County since 1851
OREGON Republican Reporter
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November 28, 2013 Volume 163, Number 50 - $1.00
State Bound
Happy Thanksgiving!
The Oregon boys basketball team and girls bowlers prepare for the season. B1
The Stillman Valley Cardinals pull of a 2-point upset to advance to the state finals. B1
Test results for Black Hawk coming soon By Vinde Wells Editor The findings from tests done on the Black Hawk Statue this fall may be available as early as next week. Frank Rausa, Sterling, who is spearheading an effort to repair the 102-year-old world renowned icon, said the reports are expected the first week of December. Structural engineer Aldo De La Haza, who was one of a team of experts who examined the damage to Above, a firefighter makes sure the trailer is secure as emergency crews work to extricate the driver of an overturned the concrete statue, said last semi from her truckâs cab following an accident on Chana Road Monday morning. Below, the vehicle lays on its in week that the analysis is almost completed. the east ditch. Turn to B4 for two more photos. Photos by Earleen Hinton He said other engineers will be on the site to do further study of the repairs that are needed to reverse the
Minor injuries in truck accident Driver was extricated by rescue workers
Rochelle center could be closing
By Vinde Wells Editor A Stillman Valley woman suffered minor injuries Monday when the semi tractor trailer she was driving rolled over north of Ashton. According to an press release from the Ogle County Sheriffâs Department, the semi, driven by Stephanie L. Williams, 32, was southbound in the 7,000 block of South Chana Road near the intersection with Ill. 38 when it left the east side of the roadway. The semi tractor trailer entered the ditch and rolled over onto its side. The crash occurred at 10:37 a.m.
effects of time and weather and preserve the statue from further damage. De La Haza and several other engineers spent most of a week in October at Lowden State Park where Black Hawk stands on a high bluff overlooking the Rock River. He and fellow engineer Daniel Schultz used high-tech scanners which allowed them to see inside the concrete to assess its condition and to determine the amount and location of steel reinforcing. The locations of the steel were then marked on tape placed on the statueâs hollow interior. Another crew scanned the statue with rotating lasers to create an exact 3-D model of the statue. Turn to A2
By Vinde Wells Editor
Willams, who was trapped in the semi cab, was extricated by the Ashton Fire Department. Rochelle Fire Department assisted at the scene. Williams was then transported by
Rochelle ambulance to Rochelle Community Hospital for treatment of minor injuries and was later released. The road was slippery from snow which fell that morning and continued to fall with
a stiff wind while rescuers worked to extricate her from the mangled cab. The trailer was loaded with lime, which spilled into the ditch and nearby corn field. The crash remains under investigation.
Rochelle officials are considering closing the cityâs emergency call center and turning its operations over to the Ogle County Sheriffâs Department. Rochelle Police Chief Eric Higby said Nov. 19 that the proposal is in the early stages of discussion. He said city officials discussed it as a cost-cutting measure. âThe city has a $250,000 deficit in the General Fund,â he said. Salaries and benefits for the six full-time and four
part-time telecommunicators add up to more than $400,000 per year, he said. Higby said the call center handles 911 calls, as well as other calls, and dispatches emergency personnel for the city of nearly 10,000. He said he does not favor closing the center. âI think having our own would work better for us,â he said. Currently, Rochelle is the only municipality in the county that handles its own calls. All others are answered by Ogle County telecommunicators, who also dispatch police, fire and Turn to A2
Santa here Saturday to start Candlelight Walk Downtown Oregon hosts event 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 eveningâs 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 yearâs 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
In This Weekâs Edition...
until 8 p.m. and then walk down Candy Cane Lane on their way to see Santaâs reindeer at First National Bank and shop at Conover Square. 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 dĂŠcor. 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.
Business Briefs, B6 Church News, A5 Classifieds, B7-B16 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B5
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 A few of Red Bow win the grand prize package Sponsors have hidden of dinner at LaVigna and an clues strategically placed overnight stay at the White at their businesses, and the Pines Inn. Turn to A2
Four-year-old Cameron Folk places ornaments on a Christmas tree at the Oregon Coliseum Monday morning. Photo by Chris Johnson
Library News, A11 Oregon Police, B4 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B3
Sheriffâs Arrests, B4 Social News, A4 Sports, A15, B1, B2 Stateâs Attorney, B6
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Deaths, B3 Darrel E. Fulton, Stone O. Hanson