Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal February 6, 2014 Volume 151, Number 41 - $1.00
Regional Action
Register Now
Two Percent Raise
The wrestling regionals are Saturday. Girls basketball regionals start Feb. 10. B1
The deadline to register to vote in time for the primary is Feb. 18. A9
Several Ogle County officials received a two percent pay hike on Jan. 21. A12
School board accept Taylor’s resignation
Miller wins the bee Will represent FGS on Feb. 20 By Vinde Wells Editor Two fifth graders emerged from a field of 30 spellers Jan. 31 to claim the top spots in the Forreston Grade School spelling bee. Taylor Miller spelled her way to first place, and her classmate Isabelle Schultz was the runner up. Taylor was all smiles after her victory. “It felt really good,� she said with a grin. “I practiced every day.� Thirty students in grades 3-5 qualified for the spelling bee, which was held in the school gym, packed with Turn to A2
By Vinde Wells Editor After several months of special meetings and closed sessions, the Forrestville Valley School Board accepted the resignation of long-time Superintendent Lowell A. Taylor late Tuesday afternoon. The board met in closed session for 45 minutes before unanimously approving a resignation agreement with Taylor, 45, who has been on medical leave since August. The board also rescinded its Jan. 8 action to suspend Taylor without pay pending dismissal. After the Jan. 8 meeting, board president Robert Fourth grade teacher Rod Genandt presented plaques Jan. 31 to the winners of the Ebbesmeyer declined to Forreston Grade School Spelling Bee. At right is winner Taylor Miller, and at left is give reasons for Taylor’s runner-up Isabelle Schultz. Taylor also won last year’s German Valley Grade School suspension. Copies of a press release Spelling Bee. Photo by Vinde Wells were made available to the audience of approximately 25 school staff members Tuesday, but Ebbesmeyer
Overtime accumulates with snow By Chris Johnson Reporter A long winter with a seemingly endless duration has led some county employees to accumulate overtime at the same rate as the snow is falling. Ogle County Engineer Curtis Cook oversees the highway department. A crew of 13 work throughout the winter to keep the county roads clear of snow and ice. “We have been focusing on clearing all the county roads we maintain,� said Cook. “Our guys have only had two days off since the beginning of December.� The snowfalls have been steady since the beginning
“Our guys are getting tired of winter. They have been working close to 80 hours per week,� — Ogle County Engineer Curtis Cook of the season with multiple snowfalls each week, he said. “When it is not snowing, we are preparing for the next snow,� said Cook. “We have worked in tandem crews to push back the snow drifts so we can put the snow someplace during the next storm.� As soon as this work is done, there has been another storm which adds to the snowfall.
When it is not snowing, Cook said there has been drifting snow which adds to the workload. “We go back out and plow the drifted roads to keep the county roads safe,� he said. All of this work has led to overtime. “Our guys are getting tired of winter,� Cook said. “They have been working close to 80 hours per week.� This overtime will impact
the highway department budget later this year. Cook said he will need to examine some road projects and maintenance after the winter clean up total is finalized to see what might need to be cut to keep a balanced budged for the year. Keeping the trucks on the roads has been costing $20,000 per week in fuel. “Our equipment is ready for the snow forecast for February,� Cook said. Reporter Christopher Heimerman went on a ride along with Ogle County plow driver Dave Boehle last week. His story appears on page A9.
Birth, A2 Church News, A5 Classifieds, B7-B12 College News, A4 Entertainment, A6
Fines, B5 Marriage Licenses, A4 Public Voice, A11 Property Transfers, B5
Turn to A3
Hearing held on new wastewater treatment plant By Chris Johnson Reporter
A $2.5 million upgrade at Forreston’s wastewater plant is moving forward. Village Engineer Mick Gronewold, Fehr Graham and Associates, held a public hearing on the project Monday night. The hearing is one step needed for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) before building permits or loans can be issued. “There is a 10 day comment period following this hearing with residents can raise additional concerns,� said Gronewold. “We will then need to get the permits and loan approved.� Gronewold said the earliest construction can begin would be in late summer. The village missed last year’s loan cycle due to an anti degradation plan that was being completed. By missing the loan cycle, the village was able to increase the funds that could be used to reduce the initial loan amount. Fees were increased on the sewer bills residents receive. This increased revenue will be used to pay the IEPA loan after it is issued. Plans for the upgrades at the plant have been completed and are ready for approval. The above average snowfall this winter has caused some piles of snow along the roads to grow above the signs A new box screening and due to the drifting and plowing of the roads. This sign warning drivers of a stop sign ahead on US 52 and Ill. 26 is grit removal building will be starting to be covered by the snow. Photo by Chris Johnson added to the plant.
In This Week’s Edition...
said he could not comment further. “There are a lot of legal ramifications,� Ebbesmeyer said. The press release outlined the board’s action taken on Tuesday. “Increasing student achievement remains the focus of every administrator, teacher, and staff member in this district. We made a seamless transition to Interim Superintendent Jane Eichman in September, and the board will undertake a search for a new superintendent for next school year,� Ebbesmeyer said in the release. Eichman, a retired superintendent, was hired as interim superintendent on Aug. 26. Ebbesmeyer said copies of the resignation agreement would be available on Wednesday after it had been signed to anyone who files a
Sheriff’s Arrests, B6 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B4
Other upgrades include repairing existing tanks and adding new equipment. An additional clarifier, which separates solids and liquids, would be built to increase the plant’s capacity. The additional capacity would be approximately 70,000 gallons per day which would allow for new developments in the village. By repairing and upgrading the wastewater plant, Forreston will spend less money than surrounding communities like Polo and Mt. Morris that built brand new plants. Al Cruthis, the village’s Superintendent of Public works, said he hopes the new plant will be easier to maintain. “We have been at the wastewater plant daily this winter chopping ice,� he said. “The cold weather has been tough on the plant.� In other business Cruthis told the board that additional salt is arriving to help with winter road clean up efforts. “The contract we had was for 75 tons and we have received 50 tons,� said Cruthis. “They should have delivered 25 more tons.� He said this salt did not arrive so salt was purchased from a different supplier to ensure the village has salt available for the February snowfalls. “Next year we may consider the state bid for salt,� said Cruthis.
No Deaths There were no obituaries reported this week.
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