Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal March 10, 2016 Volume 153, Number 46 - $1.00
Primary Election
Farm Focus
Spring Ahead
Find out who’s running for what in March 15 primary election and why. A7, A8 & A9
A farm family rebuilds after the April 9 tornado. Special Section
Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday. Turn your clocks one hour ahead.
Gun shop owner may open an indoor range Public hearing will be held for the special use application By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@oglecounty news.com A special use application has been filed for a proposed gun range and store in the former Bailey’s Edge restaurant, north of
Forreston. Smoking Gun Worx owner, Keith Ruter, made the request for an indoor shooting range and retail store. The property, located at the corner of Baileyville Road and Ill. 26, is within the village limits. Ruter currently has a gun store at 304 South Oak Ave. in Forreston. He also owns a dental practice, Forreston Dental at 208 N. Walnut. “He is asking for a special use for the building itself,”
Farm Toy Show collectibles and more March 12 Collectibles, craft items, raffles, a silent auction, and food will all be featured at the Forreston FFA Alumni’s 28th Annual Toy Show and Craft Fair on Saturday, March 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Forreston Junior and Senior High School. The Toy Show will be in the Forreston High School gym. The Craft Fair will be in the Forreston Junior High School gym and cafeteria. More than 50 farm toy and craft exhibitors will be at the event. The Toy Show features toy tractors, farm equipment, memorabilia, and collectibles. Proceeds will support the Forreston High School agriculture and FFA programs. The featured collectible tractor is the Oliver 1800 NF with New Idea Loader for
$65 each. The Craft Fair will have a large number of vendors offering crafts, food, candles, and other items. A raffle drawing will be held for $250 and $100 gift certificates at Eickman’s Processing, Seward, and a $50 gift card from Applebee’s. Raffle tickets are $1 each, 6 for $5, and 25 for $20. A silent auction will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants do not need to be present to win. Lunch will also be available featuring Eickman’s meats, and homemade desserts. For more information go to www.forrestonffaalumni.org, Call Rick Garnhart for the Toy Show at 815-238-3044 or Cathy Kohlbauer for the Craft Fair at 815-275-6710. Admission is $3 per person. Children age 5 and under are admitted free.
said Forreston Village President Michael Harn Monday night. “He will then come back to the village for permits to set up the business when the time comes.” The village board was deciding whether to send this special use request to the village planning commission. “They will discuss this and send a recommendation back to the village board for a final decision,” said Harn. The board unanimously approved sending the special use to the planning commission. A public hearing will be scheduled to discuss the proposal. During that hearing, any
questions residents have may be addressed. A gun range request in rural Byron was turned down by the county board earlier this year. The Byron Sportsman & Conservation Club on Town Line Road had applied to the Ogle County Board for a special use permit to build an indoor range at 1509 Town Line Road. Several adjacent property owners voiced safety and noise concerns over that project and after numerous delays, the permit was denied with an 11-11 vote by the full county board on Jan. 19. The tie vote meant the measure failed. In other property business,
Harn informed the village about a county zoning request that the board needed to be informed about. Steve Moring and Kevin Moring have applied for a special use permit to allow a Class II Motor Carrier Facility in the AG-1 Agricultural District at 11123 West Ill. 72. The property is in Maryland Township and is less than a mile and a half to the east of the village limits. “We have the authority to make a complaint on this zoning request,” said Harn. “My understanding is Moring will store trucks on the property.” “I have no problem with it,” said trustee Tim Drayton.
Trustee Gary Buss asked if the property would used only for parking the trucks. “They are willing to abide by the county regulations,” said current property owner Mike Stukenberg. The purchase of the property is contingent on having the zoning change approved. A public hearing will held on Tuesday, March 22 at 6 p.m. in the Ogle County Board Room at the Ogle County Courthouse in Oregon. “March 22 is the deadline for a formal complaint,” said Harn. No trustee raised any objections to the zoning request Monday night.
Deb Proctor, Sterling, directs her dog Joey, a cock-a-poo, through the agility course at Granny Rose Animal Shelter’s new K-9 Enrichment Center. Photo by Earleen Hinton
New K-9 enrichment center will offer a wide variety of training Open house is this Saturday from 2-4 p.m. By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com
Out Of This World Casey DeVries, a member of the Summerhill Huskies, adds his face to the cardboard picture of an astronaut. at the Penny Carnival March 5. Photo by Chris Johnson
In This Week’s Edition...
Old and young dogs and their “people” can learn some new tricks at a brand new training facility in Dixon. The Granny Rose K-9 Enrichment Center will host an open house this Saturday, March 12 from 2 Mark Knie, president of the board of directors of the Granny Rose Animal Shelter, to 4 p.m. to give the public points to some of the agility equipment in a storage area of the new K-9 Enrichment a good look at what it has Center. The facility will host an open house on March 12. Photo by Earleen Hinton to offer. someone adopts a dog from The new facility is next well as ample space and begin April 1. amenities to host related Knie said the idea for a the shelter we can offer to the Granny Rose Animal events. training facility started out them classes.” Shelter at 613 River Lane, “It’s not just training,” with obedience training but Dogs of all breeds — just off Ill. 2 on the west said Granny Rose President quickly grew into much mixed or otherwise, sizes, side of town. Mark Knie. “It’s about more. and ages will be welcomed The $1 million 13,500 enriching the relationship “The reason most dogs with their owners to come square foot center will offer between the owner and the end up in the shelter is and learn. the full range of classes for obedience issues,” he said. The center will offer dogs and their owners, as dog.” Turn to A9 Classes are slated to “The whole idea is when
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B7-B12 College and Service, A4 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B5
Forreston Police, A2 Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, A9 Public Voice, A10 Property Transfers, B5
Sheriff’s Arrests, B4 Social News, A4 Sports, A12, B1 State’s Attorney, B4 Zoning, B5
Deaths, B6 Esther G. Hagemann, Eugene A. Stukenberg, Joanne G. Styles
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com