Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal October 31, 2013 Volume 151, Number 27 - $1.00
Postseason Preview
Fall Back
Ag Outlook
The Forreston Cardinals will square off in a rematch with Le-Win on Saturday. 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
Judge sets date in Mitchell case 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. His public defender Eric Morrow was in court Monday 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 Forreston High School students tried to keep warm during halftime of the EPC game on Oct. 25. Photo by Earleen the hospital. They have since Hinton recovered. Mitchell is charged with four counts of attempted murder, all Class X felonies, two counts of home invasion, By Vinde Wells told board members and building will be located east The architects are currently both Class X felonies, and Editor department heads to look over of present structure. Plans working on final plans so that four counts of aggravated the 30-page document and call for the old building to be the project can be let for bids, battery, all Class 4 felonies. Two new buildings are part contact him with questions or demolished once the new one hopefully early next year. of Ogle County’s proposed revisions. is completed. Offices for the coroner $39.1 million budget for next He said the board will The area where the current and his staff were added year. likely vote on the final building sits will then be to the plan, Harn said. The The Long Range Capital version of the budget when it freed up for parking or future coroner’s office is presently Expense plan includes a meets on Nov. 19. expansion. on the third floor of the Ogle new sheriff’s administration Sheriff Michael Harn said “The plan gives the county County Courthouse. building for an estimated that the new administration options in years to come. If Harn said once the plan is $4.1 million and a highway building will replace the they want to expand, they can completed by the architects A costume contest will be department equipment two-story brick structure expand to the west,� Harn and approved by the county held in Leaf River at 4 p.m. storage building for $1 that now houses the sheriff’s said. board, bids for the building’s on Halloween. million. department at 103 Jefferson He said Tuesday that two construction will be sought. Everyone is encouraged to The county board got St., Oregon. preliminary drawings for the He said he hopes stay safe on Halloween by a look at the 2014 budget A leaky roof, old wiring, new building were submitted construction will begin in the Trick or Treating in groups Monday night at a special and an inefficient heating and by Saavedra Gelhausen spring. and going around in groups. meeting. The new fiscal year cooling system are just a few Architects, Rockford, this The county board voted Parents are encouraged to begins Dec. 1. of the problems that plague summer, and changes are to hire Saavedra Gelhausen inspect all candy before the County board chairman the century-old building. being made to one of the Architects on Nov. 20, 2012 kids are allowed to have any. Kim Gouker, Byron, The new one-story options. Turn to A2
Staying Warm
County budget includes new buildings
Hours set for Trick or Treat Ghosts, goblins, princesses, and other create costumes will be walking around the area Thursday night on Halloween for Trick or Treat. In Forreston Trick or Treat hours will be from 5 to 8 p.m. German Valley will hold Trick of Treat from 5 to 7 p.m.
Affordable Care Act assistance is now available 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 Linda Johnson, Ogle County Health Department Director Health Education, left, talks to Samantha Slagle, DeKalb, Turn to A2 about the Health Insurance Marketplace website. Photo by Chris Johnson
In This Week’s Edition...
Births, A4 Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B14 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B4
Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B4 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B4
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B5
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Deaths, B3 Allen A. Barry, Donna B. Cline, Kathryn L. Weaver