Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal January 29, 2015 Volume 152, Number 40 - $1.00
Road Win
Internal Audit
February Finds
Forreston picked up a 60-57 road win Jan. 22 against a tough AFC team. B1
The Sheriff’s Dept. is doing an internal audit of the Tow Fund. B8
Antiques and collectibles will be among the treasures Feb. 7 at February Finds. A6
County board decides to not transfer funds By Vinde Wells Editor The Ogle County Board last week reversed a decision made three months earlier to transfer more than $60,000 from the county’s Tow Fund to the General Fund. When it met Jan. 20, the board rescinded its Oct. 20 motion to transfer $61,713
improperly deposited into the Tow Fund to the General Fund where it rightfully belonged. County board chairman Kim Gouker said after last week’s meeting that the October action was taken to empty the Tow Fund and ensure that former sheriff Michael Harn, whose term was up Nov. 30, could not
spend any more money from it. “We were trying to protect the funds from a lame duck sheriff,” Gouker said. “It was the only check and balance we had over that fund. We didn’t want to see it spent at the 11th hour for something that might not be appropriate. And we don’t want to hogtie the new sheriff.”
Present sheriff Brian VanVickle took over the post Dec. 1 after being elected Nov. 4. He defeated Harn in the March Republican primary election. The October action came the same night the board heard the results of a forensic examination of the Tow Fund. James Sullivan, director
of dispute advisory for Sikich LLD, Naperville, told the board Oct. 20 that his firm’s forensic examination revealed that more than $10,000 is unaccounted for and that $61,713 was deposited into the Tow Fund that was meant for the General Fund. Sullivan said some of the $61,713 was $10,000
of a $12,920 check from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency which should have gone into the General Fund. He said the other $2,920 of the check was unaccounted for. The IEMA check to help cover overtime paid to Turn to A3
Basketball game was held between All Stars By Chris Johnson Reporter A group of all stars visited the Blackhawk Center Friday morning for an annual tradition. The Ogle County All Stars were taking on the Village of Progress All Stars in a game of basketball. From the moment these athletes stepped onto the court Friday morning they were treated like all stars by the faculty and staff of Oregon High School who filled the bleachers to cheer on the competitors. Music from the pep band filled the air and prepared the crowd for the game. As the clock ticked past 10 a.m. the festivities began when each of the athletes was introduced to standing ovations and loud cheers. The Ogle County Educational Cooperative (OCEC) team and the Village of Progress team got together Village of Progress All Star Joe Neubert puts up a shot Friday morning during the Turn to B2
Village of Progress All Star Matt Otten, left, and OCEC All Star JJ Slaton go for a rebound Friday morning during the annual game between the two teams played at OHS. Photo annual game between the Village of Progress and OCEC. Photo by Chris Johnson by Chris Johnson
Bicyclist injured in hit and run accident last week By Vinde Wells Editor Ogle County Sheriff’s Police are still seeking information about a semi tractor trailer that struck and seriously injured an elderly
Mt. Morris man as he rode his bicycle last week on Ill. 64. Michael Chizzo, 81, remained in serious condition Monday at St. Anthony Medical Center, Rockford, where he was taken after the hit-and-run accident on
Jan. 21 on Ill. 64 east of the Mt. Morris village limits. Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle said the incident occurred at 5:55 a.m. and weather may have been a factor. Chizzo was taken by Mt.
Morris ambulance to KSB Hospital, Dixon, and later transferred to St. Anthony. Medical helicopters were called but could not fly due to the snowy conditions at the time. VanVickle said the semi
driver may not be aware that his truck struck someone. A witness told police that the truck driver slowed his vehicle after striking Chizzo and then proceeded west. The semi was described as a tractor with a sleeper and a
box trailer, both of unknown color. It may have minor damage to the passenger side front bumper. Anyone with information about the accident is asked to call the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office at 815-732-6666.
Forreston High School has 8 Illinois State Scholars Eight Forreston High School seniors have been recognized as 2015 Illinois State Scholars. FHS is honored to recognize the following students as Illinois State Scholars from the 2015 graduating class: Maxwell Barkalow, son of Todd and Lisa Barkalow, Aidan Carr, son of Mike and Jill Carr, Emily Fisher, daughter of Richard and Sally Fisher, MacKenzie Heinz, daughter of Travis and Kelley Heinz, Katie Mulder, daughter of Rodney and Tawnya Lipman, Jacob Norris, son of William and Vickye Norris, Kyle Regole, son of Tracy Regole, Joshua Wiederkehr, son of Robert and Val Wiederkehr. The prestigious award is given annually by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) which is recognizing 18,800 high school students from across the
state as this year’s State Scholars. Illinois State Scholar winners rank in the top ten percent of high school seniors from 671 high schools across the state. Selection is based on SAT, ACT and/or Prairie State Achievement Exam scores, and/or class rank at the end of the junior year. “To be recognized in the top 10 percent of graduating seniors in the State of Illinois is a tribute to the students’ work ethic, desire to succeed, their teachers, and the support they receive at home,” said Michael Mandzen, Forreston High School Principal. “The nice thing about each of these students is that they are not only successful in the classroom. Many of these students are leaders outside the classroom in the many extra-curricular These eight seniors were selected as Illinois State Scholars. Pictured in the front row are: Emily Fisher, Kyle activities they are involved as Regole, Aidan Carr, Joshua Wiederkehr, and Katie Mulder. Pictured in the back row are: Maxwell Barkalow, well.” MacKenzie Heinz, and Jacob Norris. Photo by Kathie Conerton
In This Week’s Edition...
Church Bells, A5 Classifieds, B9-B14 College News, A4 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B8
FHS News, A3 Marriage Licenses, A4 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B6
Sheriff’s Arrests, B5 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B6
Deaths, B3 Dean Fletcher Montes “Polly” L. Ford Lucile G. Wyatt
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com