Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal January 21, 2016 Volume 153, Number 39 - $1.00
Tough Loss
New Book
February Finds
The Lady Cardinals were on the road against a tough AFC team Tuesday night. B1
99-year-old publishes her memoirs of growing up in China. A4
Antiques, collectibles, and more will be featured Feb. 6 at the Mt. Morris Moose Lodge. A8
Village board approves permit for Groenewold Fur By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@oglecounty news.com New tanks will be allowed at Groenewold Fur and Wool after the Forreston Village Board approved the building permit Monday night. The tanks are needed to reduce any chemicals in
waste water from the facility. “These tanks will prevent the foaming issues at the village’s waste water treatment plant,” said Alan Cruthis, the village’s superintendent of public works. “These new tanks are pretreatment.” Having the waste water pretreated will allow the
village’s system to work more efficiently, he said. Plans call for the tank to be buried on the south side of the building and covered with a lean to structure. “There are no issues with visual sight lines,” said village president Michael Harn. “They met with our engineer to discuss this.”
The one concern engineer Mic Gronewold had was ensuring a sampling manhole was constructed between the building and the village sewer. Trustee Jeff Freeze wanted to make sure Groenewold Fur knew about the manhole condition for the permit. Harn pulled out his cell
phone and called the engineer to ask about the manhole and if a meter or electricity was needed at the site. After the conversation Harn relayed the information to the board. “The manhole just needs to meet our specifications,” he said. “I would like to see this approved.”
The permit was approved 4-0. Trustees Marc Stamm and Tim Drayton were not present at the meeting. Cruthis said the manhole could be used in the future to allow the village or the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to gather samples of the wastewater from Groenewolds.
Teens arrested on drug charges Three teenagers are facing drug charges after a traffic stop in Forreston last week. Joshua V.A. Maronde, 18, Forreston, Keegan R. Sanders, 18, Leaf River, and a 15-year-old were arrested in the early evening hours Jan. 14 after Forreston police checked a suspicious vehicle on the north edge of town. Forreston Police Chief Mike Boomgarden said Maronde was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, and Sanders was charged with possession of cannabis, more than 2.5
grams and less than 10 grams, and possession of drug paraphernalia. They were transported to the Ogle County Jail. The 15-year-old was detained for possession of drug paraphernalia and was released to his parents. The Forreston Police Department initiated the investigation and was assisted by the Ogle County K-9 unit. Boomgarden said the investigation is continuing,and more arrests are possible.
County board rejects gun range By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com In a twist of irony, a tie vote derailed a special use permit requested by the Byron Sportsmans & Conservation Club. The Ogle County Board’s decision on a special use permit for a handgun caliber range at the club, located on Town Line Road, ended in a 11-11 deadlock Tuesday evening. The tie vote means the measure failed. The controversial request has been plagued by tie votes. Just last month, it was delayed when the Supervisor of Assessments and Planning & Zoning Committee, which met Dec. 8, ended up in a 4-4 tie twice after two motions, first to approve and then to deny. That meant the committee had no recommendation to take to the county board in December. In an effort to get the request back on track committee member Rick Fritz, Monroe Center, changed his no to a yes, allowing it to move on to the county board. Citing safety and noise concerns, most neighbors of the sportsman’s club have vehemently opposed the expanded range ever since club president O.K. Welty filed it earlier this year. Before Tuesday’s vote, Fritz, who is also a county board member, said he
would vote no. He said he had researched the issue, talked to people on both sides, and visited other gun ranges. “I guess it comes down to would I want it next door to me? The answer is no,” he said. County board member Lee Meyers, Byron, also said he would vote against it. He said the neighbors were told they would have to prove that the gun range would hurt their property. “They did prove it. It fell on deaf ears so far,” Meyers said. “Their property values will decrease, their peace will decrease, but mostly their safety will be jeopardized.” However, board member Ashley Simms, Rochelle, felt different. “I think the gun range is a huge asset to the county,” she said. Simms said she believes more citizens should be qualified for concealed carry and the gun range would be a good place to do that. Board member Pat Saunders, Polo, said she supports concealed carry, but not the gun range. “I agree we need a gun range in this county,” she said. “But I don’t think this is the right place for it. It’s too populated.” Fourteen conditions were added to the special use permit by the Zoning Board of Appeals, which approved it 3-2. Another seven were added by the Supervisor of Turn to A2
In This Week’s Edition...
Byron sixth grader Victoria Kuzlik talks about the coat drive she spearheaded last month to benefit HOPE of Ogle County and the YWCA in Sterling. Behind her at 17 boxes filled with the 939 winter coats and other cold weather gear she collected throughout the community. Photo by Vinde Wells
Girl collected 939 coats for HOPE By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com HOPE of Ogle County Director Ruth Carter was in for two big surprises Jan. 16 when she went to Byron Middle School for the culmination of a coat drive and fundraiser. Byron sixth grader Victoria Kuzlik, who organized the drive and named HOPE the recipient, had much more than met the goals she had set. Waiting for Carter in the main lobby of the school were 17 large boxes filled to overflowing with winter coats, hats, scarves, gloves and mittens. “We collected 939 coats — some of them are brand new,” 11-year-old Victoria told Carter. “Our original goal was 300.” But that wasn’t all. Carter looked stunned and a little bit tearful when Victoria also presented her with a check for $5,070. “I can’t believe you raised this much,” Carter said. “Thank you very much.” Victoria had hoped to raise $4,500 in addition to the coats. HOPE, a domestic violence shelter with offices in Oregon and Rochelle, has suffered a loss of funding because of the state budget crisis. Carter said the agency
Business Briefs, B6 Church Bells, A5 Classifieds, B7-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B4
serves 538 clients. “For our clients there’s enough winter coats here to get them through this winter and next winter,” she said. In fact, it’s more than enough, and Carter said the bounty will be shared with the YWCA in Sterling, Remedies in Rockford, and the homeless shelter in Rochelle. She said the coats would be distributed this week. Victoria began collecting coats in early December after
her father Bob Kuzlik bought her a new one for the winter. “We needed to decide what to do with the one I outgrew,” Victoria said. “Ordinarily we give them to Good Will, but I said ‘let’s have a coat drive.’” She decided on HOPE as the recipient because she and her father used their services a few years back. “My dad and I were victims of domestic violence,” Victoria said. “I wanted to give back to the places that
helped us.” She said they also received help from the Sterling YWCA. Victoria approached BMS Principal Zach Ettelbrick, who backed her idea and allowed her to get started there. As the plan grew, boxes for coats were placed at more and more local businesses. Victoria is a member of the Builders Club at her school, Turn to A3
Surprise shows on the face of HOPE of Ogle County Director Ruth Carter Saturday when Byron sixth grader Victoria Kuzlik presented her with a check for $5,070 raised during a recent coat and fund drive. Also pictured is Byron Middle School Principal Zach Ettelbrick. Photo by Vinde Wells
Library News, A9 Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, A7 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B4
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B3 Zoning B6
Deaths, B5
Edwin C. Bettner, Harlan E. Blake, Jean A. Blakeslee, Robert L. Campshure, Bradley W. Jewell, Robert E. Luy, Karshan A.L. Peterson, Larry L. Travis, Alexis M. Walker
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com