Serving the Polo Area Since 1857
POLO
Tri-County Press October 31, 2013 Volume 156, Number 6 - $1.00
Heartbreaking Loss
Fall Back
Ag Outlook
The Polo Marcos were knocked out of the playoffs after losing 14-8 Oct. 25. B1
Clocks go back an hour for Standard Time at 2 a.m. Sunday.
The corn yield for area farmers has been surprisingly higher than expected. A12-A13
Ogle Health Department offers ACA assistance By Chris Johnson Reporter Navigating the Affordable Care Act (ACA) can be confusing and difficult. Brian Kennedy, a marketplace insurance counselor at the Ogle County Health Department, and Linda Johnson, the director of health education at the Ogle County Health Department, are available to assist area residents with learning about health insurance. The ACA is also nicknamed “Obamacare� and begins Jan. 1. The government mandated that all Americans must have ACA medical insurance if they don’t already have medical insurance. The deadline to sign up is March 31. After this date, residents can be penalized. Not everyone needs to sign up for the insurance. If insurance is offered through an individual’s workplace, they will not be eligible for healthcare through ACA. “If you are on Medicare or Medicaid you do not need to do anything,� he said. “The ACA also expanded who is eligible for these programs.� The ACA requires everyone to be insured for at least nine months each year. “There is a fine of $95 or one percent of your income whichever is greater if you do
not have insurance,� Kennedy said. No individual or family can be denied health insurance based on pre-existing conditions. “I am here to give a quick overview of the ACA and Illinois Marketplace,� said Kennedy during a workshop at the Rock River Center Oct. 25. “There is a website set up to compare plans and sign up.� The website www. healthcare.gov, has been the subject of numerous crashes and has been in the national news over the past weeks. The site, when working, Kennedy said, has all the health care plans listed and can be compared before selecting one. In Illinois the marketplace website is getcoveredillinois. gov. A state website aid.illinois. gov can assist with learning if an individual is eligible for Medicare or Medicaid. Medicare and Medicaid is now available for anyone who meets the financial requirements where before it was limited based on age or being disabled. “Medicaid is expanding so everyone is eligible at 138 percent of the poverty line,� Linda Johnson, Ogle County Health Department Director Health Education, left, talks to Samantha Slagle, DeKalb, said Johnson. about the Health Insurance Marketplace website during the Oct. 25 Wellness Fair. Photo by Chris Johnson Part of the ACA requires that all health insurance plans include benefits for Turn to A2
Budget includes $5.1 million for 2 new buildings By Vinde Wells Editor Two new buildings are part of Ogle County’s proposed $39.1 million budget for next year. The Long Range Capital Expense plan includes a new sheriff’s administration building for an estimated $4.1 million and a highway department equipment storage building for $1 million. The county board got a look at the 2014 budget Monday night at a special meeting. The new fiscal year begins Dec. 1. County board chairman Kim Gouker, Byron, told board members and department heads to look over the 30-page document and contact him with questions or revisions. He said the board will likely vote on the final version of the budget when it meets on Nov. 19. Sheriff Michael Harn said that the new administration building will replace the two-story brick structure that now houses the sheriff’s department at 103 Jefferson St., Oregon.
Judge sets Mitchell pre-trial date By Chris Johnson Reporter
A man accused of stabbing a Leaf River couple more than two years ago had his case continued again Monday afternoon. Michael Mitchell, 29, Leaf River, remains in the Ogle County Jail while his case is proceeding. A leaky roof, old wiring, His public defender Eric and an inefficient heating and Morrow was in court Monday cooling system are just a few of the problems that plague the century-old building. The new one-story building will be located east of present structure. Plans call for the old building to be demolished once the new one is completed. The area where the current building sits will then be freed up for parking or future expansion. “The plan gives the county options in years to come. If they want to expand, they can expand to the west,� Harn said. He said Tuesday that two preliminary drawings for the new building were submitted by Saavedra Gelhausen Architects, Rockford, this summer, and changes are being made to one of the options. The architects are currently working on final plans so that the project can be let for bids, hopefully early next year. Offices for the coroner and his staff were added to the plan, Harn said. The coroner’s office is presently
before Ogle County Judge John Redington for a jury pre-trial. “I have not talked to my client today,� said Morrow. “Based on the reports I would like to set a 402 conference.� Mitchell was not brought over from the jail for the court appearance. During the 402 conference the procedure for going forward with the case would be discussed privately in the
judge’s chamber. Redington, however, decided to set another jury pre-trial, which will be held in open court. “Let’s do this Friday at 1:30,� he said. “We will bring him over [from the jail].� The jury pre-trial will be held Friday, Nov. 1 at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 202. Mitchell is accused of breaking into the home of David and Denise Zellers on
July 3, 2011 and repeatedly stabbing them with two knives he brought with him. Both suffered serious injuries and were taken to the hospital. They have since recovered. Mitchell is charged with four counts of attempted murder, all Class X felonies, two counts of home invasion, both Class X felonies, and four counts of aggravated battery, all Class 4 felonies.
Trick or Treat Monsters, ghosts, fairies, and princesses are invited to scare the town on Halloween. Trick of Treat hours in Polo are scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. Turn on the porch lights for the children. Always go trick-or treating with an adult, never trickor-treat alone, be cautious of strangers and only visit houses where the porch lights are on.
City plans to flush mains
The Polo Water Department will flush water mains throughout the city on Tuesday, Nov. 5 and on Wednesday, Nov. 6. All areas of the city may be Giant spiders spin their web on the front porch of the Fosters’ home on Congress Turn to A2 Avenue in preparation for Trick or Treaters Thursday evening. Hours are 5 to 8 p.m. in affected by rusty water and low pressure on both days. Polo. Photo by Vinde Wells
Trick or Treat — If You Dare
In This Week’s Edition...
Births, A4 Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B14 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B4
Marriage Licenses, A4 Polo Police, A2 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B4
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B5
0UBLISHED EVERY 4HURSDAY BY /GLE #OUNTY .EWSPAPERS A DIVISION OF 3HAW -EDIA s WWW OGLECOUNTYNEWS COM
Deaths, B3 Allen A. Barry, Donna B. Cline, Kathryn L. Weaver