Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal January 23, 2014 Volume 151, Number 39 - $1.00
Polo vs. Forreston
Staying Healthy
Antique Market
The Polo Marcos hosted the Forreston Cardinals Jan. 17 in conference action. B1
Finding time to exercise can be hard but rewards are worth it. A11
An antique and collectable market will be held at the Mt. Morris Moose Lodge Feb. 1. A8
Former school board member questions district By Vinde Wells Editor A former Forrestville Valley School Board member took the current board to task Jan. 15 for some of its recent decisions. “I’ve been a little dissatisfied with the board and some of the things they’ve done,� said Randy Schneiderman, German Valley, who served on the school board from 1987 to 2003.
He urged the board not to base all of its decisions on the district’s financial situation. “You can have all the money in the world but if you don’t have a good education, you don’t have anything,� he said. Schneiderman said he does not approve of the board’s utilization of committees to discuss issues and make recommendations to the board. He said he would prefer to
see the whole board discuss matters and then make its decision. The size of some elementary classes was one of his concerns. Some of the classes are too big, he said, because enrollment was incorrectly projected due to an unexpected number of new families moving into the district. When he served on the board, Schneiderman said, the maximum number
of students was 18 in kindergarten and lower elementary classes. Moving German Valley Grade School’s grades 3-5 to Forreston this year, coupled with more than anticipated new students, created larger than normal classes. The third grade sections began the year with 27 students each, fourth grade had 28 students in one section and 29 in the other. Fifth grade is the largest with 32 in one section and 33 in
the other. German Valley still has kindergarten, first and second grade classes. In addition, the Little Cardinals Preschool Program was moved from Forreston to German Valley this year. Schneiderman also questioned the board’s decision last fall to patch the roof at the German Valley Grade School rather than replacing it as originally planned. The cost of a new roof
was estimated at $150,000 to $200,000, which was slated to come from Health & Life Safety funds. Due to limited finances and a projected deficit, the board opted to repair the roof while they determine if the German Valley building will remain open. The last concern Schneiderman voiced was the board’s decision last month to lease rather than buy buses. Turn to A2
Winter is half over, salt supplies are still holding By Chris Johnson Reporter
So far salt supplies have been holding out for the county. “We are okay with our chip supply but our salt supplier is having a hard time getting all the salt to us,� said Cook. “We are expecting a delivery of salt this week from an order placed Dec. 20.� The highway department has salt orders throughout the winter because the salt needs to be stored inside a building. “We place numerous orders and we have 1,500 tons ordered that have not been delivered,� said Cook. Fortunately for the county, their storage capacity was increased after a winter 2009 shortage. “The county board allowed us to build a second storage building for salt,� said Cook. “Without is we would have been out of salt two weeks ago. Fortunately we have had enough salt so far.� With two ice storms this season, Cook said another ice storm would drastically impact the remaining salt supplies in the county. Already some municipalities including Oregon have reduced the amount of salt being spread on their streets. Oregon street superintendent Michael Bowers informed residents last week that street salting was being limited to intersections, curves, and hills. At that time Oregon had used 75 percent of its salt supply for the winter. In Forreston, Alan Cruthis
the superintendent of public works said their salt supply is doing alright. Winter is officially half “We are doing okay but we over, but for snow plow have used more than typical,� drivers there has been no end he said. “We have gone in sight. though 100 tons.� At the Ogle County He said the village usually Highway Department, which only needs 50 tons of salt at maintains 270 miles of county this point in the season. roads, the employees have “It has been quite a winter,� only had one day off since Cruthis said. “It took 8 hours Dec. 8. to clear the drifting from “Our guys have been out the half inch we received daily dealing with the snow Monday. and ice,� said Ogle County As of Monday morning Engineer Curtis Cook. “While Cook said the county has we may not be getting much ordered about 60 percent of its snow with each storm, the annual salt supply. wind has been blowing and “Despite it seeming like a drifting. Our guys have been lot of snow this season, overall doing a fantastic job in these it has been a normal winter,� conditions.� said Cook. “The last two years This constant winter we were fortunate to not have weather has led to a higher much snow.� demand for salt and chips to One thing Cook would like help keep area roads clear. to remind motorists is to keep The roads in Ogle County their distance from plows. are either maintained by He said plows may have the county, the townships, been down a road but with the state, or individual high winds, the drifting and municipalities. blowing snow may cause Townships in Ogle County patches of the road to become Members of the Forreston Cheerleaders and the student section applaud the Cardinals maintain 918 miles of roads. snow-covered. efforts during their game against Polo Jan. 17. Photo by Chris Johnson The Illinois Department of The continuous winter Transportation maintains Ill. has affected the highway 2, 26, 64, 72, 251, I-39, and department budget. At the US52. end of the season, Cook said Some of the main county he will reexamine his budget roads include German Church to determine if any scheduled Road, River Road, White projects would need to Pines Road, Lowell Park be deferred due to winter could be waived in order for The motion came after Road, Baileyville Road, and expenses. the board to act immediately. Tom Smith, Rochelle, asked Mt. Morris Road. “Right now we are burning “Yes, but we aren’t going the county board for answers Montague Road is $20,000 per week in fuel to to when it involves spending during the “public comment� co-maintained between keep the roads clear,� said taxpayers’ money,� Gouker section of the board meeting. Winnebago, Stephenson, and Cook. “Those costs add up replied, referring to the cost He also asked for a Ogle Counties. quick.� of the proposed forensic forensic audit of the sheriff’s By Vinde Wells audit. department. Editor Petrizzo said he was Smith said he represented proposing the measure in 12 people in the audience A county board member’s light of recent publicity over who shared his views. He motion to have a forensic some expenditures made by also presented a letter to audit of the Ogle County Sheriff Michael Harn, who the county board from Fred Sheriff’s Department’s was present at the meeting. Cederholm, Rochelle, a expenditures was quickly A forensic audit is more retired forensic accountant. quashed Tuesday because Cederholm’s letter extensive than the audit done it wasn’t on the meeting explained what records are every year on the county’s agenda. examined during a forensic financial records. Board member Richard Petrizzo’s motion asked audit. Petrizzo, Davis Junction, “We’re looking for that the forensic audit made the motion under the answers,� Smith said. “I examine sheriff’s department “new business� section of the don’t see this going away expenditures from December meeting. However, board chairman of 2010 when Harn took unless you people [the board] Kim Gouker, Byron, told office to the present, with do something. We elected him the measure couldn’t be special scrutiny given to you to lead.� No other board members the Tow Fund, credit card R Squared Building Components, Freeport, delivered a load of wall panels Monday voted on because it wasn’t expenditures, and the use of commented on either morning to the site of the new Sinnissippi Centers Inc. property at First and Madison listed as an item on the county travel and per diem Petrizzo’s motion or Smith’s Street. The building is being constructed by Rockford Structures Construction Co. agenda. request. Petrizzo asked it that rule allowances.
Go Cardinals
County board member asks for forensic audit Cites publicity over credit card expenditures
New Building Photo by Chris Johnson
In This Week’s Edition...
Births, A4 Church News, A5 Classifieds, B8-B12 College News, A4 Entertainment, A6
Forreston Police, A2 Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B3 Property Transfers, B7 Public Voice, A8
Sheriff’s Arrests, B6 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B7 Weather Forecast, A2
Deaths, B6 John C. Anderson, Rita J. Blumeyer, Robert Dawson, Clifford W. Meyer, W. Walter Spangler
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