Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal March 13, 2014 Volume 151, Number 46 - $1.00
Coach Resigns
Farm Focus
Contest Results
The varsity boys basketball coach in Forreston announced his resignation from the post. B1
Learn about what’s going on down on the farm. Special Section
The Forreston High School Music Dept. competed at Solo & Ensemble March 8. A3
Child molested walking home Police seeking public assistance By Vinde Wells Editor
Gary Hess, Byron, examines a toy truck and trailer Saturday morning at the Forreston FFA Toy Show. Photo by Chris Johnson
Crowd turns out for farm toy show By Chris Johnson Reporter
wide variety of home-made items in the craft fair and new and used toys at the toy show. Vendor Robert Heath, Janesville, Wis., told customers about the quality of antique toys. He joked with one customer that these were toys that could be played with and still look new.
Some of his toys were from the early 1900s and were all metal. He said that if an axel Hundreds of farm toy or part of the toy was bent or enthusiasts and craft show broke, it could easily be fixed hunters descended on with a hammer or a pair of Forreston Junior/Senior pliers. High School March 8 for the Other vendors were selling annual FFA Farm Toy Show farm related items including and Craft Fair. Dave Ball from Clinton, Shoppers were browsing a Iowa, who had a large collection of signs. Some of the signs were vintage while others were reproductions. What they all had in common was classic artwork that some collectors use to decorate the walls of a barn. “The show was extremely well-attended,� said Forreston FFA Advisor Robert Nelson. “Both parking lots were full and I don’t think the weather hurt our attendance at all. I think with the harsh winter, people wanted to get out of the house for awhile.� In the morning the roads had slick spots due to melting snow from the day before. The weather was hovering Lorene Stamm talks with a customer about the football around the freezing mark. figures she was selling Saturday morning. Photo by There was also a light snow/ Chris Johnson
sleet mix in the morning. The show featured another toy tractor in the line of Forrreston Toy Show exclusives. This year was a toy Oliver tractor. “This year’s show tractor was very popular. We sold out in a very short time,� said Nelson. “Oliver tractors always sell well in this area as we had an Oliver dealer here.� The toy show proceeds support the Ag Department and FFA programs at Forreston High School. “We have a great alumni chapter that benefits all the agriculture students here,� said Nelson. “They provide funding for classroom resources, various FFA activities, student FFA jackets, FFA judging trips, scholarships, tractor restoration expenses, and maintenance of the school greenhouse.� Organizers are still calculating the exact turnout and money raised from the event.
Polo police remain on the lookout for a man who is accused of sexually molesting an 11-year-old boy last month. “We haven’t received anymore reports or sightings or leads,� Police Chief Dennis Christen said Monday. “We’re keeping our eyes open.� Christen issued a news release March 6 that said early last month a man stopped the boy, who was walking home from school, and groped the child’s genitals. The press release was issued a day after the boy reported the incident, which is believed to have happened about 3:30 p.m. around Feb. 5 in the 100 block of South Pleasant Avenue, just two blocks from Centennial Elementary School. Authorities are looking for the man based on the boy’s detailed description. The man physically stopped the boy and groped him, but did not speak to the youth, according to the release. The boy told police he hit the man in the face, causing him to release the child, who ran home. “The juvenile decided not to tell anyone about the incident until now,� the release said. Before the incident, the boy had seen the man five different times in the area of South Prairie Avenue and East Mason Street, but hadn’t spotted him since. According to the police description, the man is white,
between 50 and 60 years old, five feet, 11 inches tall, thin build with bright blue or baby blue eyes and white hair. He was not wearing glasses or gloves. He had white facial hair that looked like he hadn’t shaved in several days, according to the police. The man’s upper lip was normal but his lower one had a triangular hump in the middle. His fingers were crooked, possibly arthritic. He was wearing a blue jumpsuit, believed to be coveralls, and a black stocking hat. Under the coveralls was some type of coat with a blue hood that was also pulled up over his stocking hat. He wore black, lace-up winter boots. Christen, who has been with the department for 24 years, said he has seen “nothing quite like this.� “It’s odd how it happened,� he said. “The typical thing is they try to lure them away from the street. I have discussed this with my officers. We’re keeping an eye out.� Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call the Polo Police Department at 815-946-3412. Christen said parents should be sure their children have safe methods of travel to school. “Hopefully, parents are keeping an eye on their kids to make sure they get safely to and from school,� he said. If they must walk, be sure they walk with a friend and make them aware to avoid strangers and to report any suspicious activity immediately, he advised. Sauk Valley Media CONTRIBUTED TO THIS ARTICLE
Lions Carnation Sale is March 29 Spring is on the way, and it’s time for the annual Forreston Lions Club Carnation Sale. The annual event funds two scholarships given annually to two seniors graduating
from Forreston High School. Carnations will be available on Saturday, March 29 at the Sweetwood building at the corner of Ill. 26 and 72 in downtown Forreston.
Voters will decide on candidates during primary By Vinde Wells Editor Voters will have a choice of candidates for only two Ogle County posts in the March 18 primary election. The only contested races are for sheriff and state’s attorney. Three Republican candidates are seeking for their party’s nomination for Ogle County Sheriff. Sheriff Michael Harn, Forreston, is being challenged by Brian E. Van Vickle and Joe Drought, both of Rochelle. All three are
currently law enforcement officers. State’s attorney Michael Rock, Byron, faces opposition from Oregon attorney Eric Morrow, for the Republican Party nomination for state’s attorney. County clerk Rebecca Huntley, Chana, and treasurer John Coffman, Polo, also both Republicans, are running unopposed for reelection to their current posts. Also seeking the Republican nomination for the Lee, Ogle, and Whiteside Regional Superintendent of Schools is Robert
In This Week’s Edition...
Sondgeroth. On the Ogle County Board, all races are uncontested and all but one of the candidates are Republicans. Current board member Kimberly Kirkolis, Davis Junction, who was elected to her first term in 2012, is not seeking another term in District 1, which includes Dement, Lynnville, Monroe, and Scott Townships. Instead J. Nick Bolin, Holcomb, is seeking the party nomination. Incumbent Patricia Nordman, Oregon, is the sole candidate in District 2, which
Agriculture, A7 Church News, A5 Classifieds, B7-B10 College News, A4 Entertainment, A6
includes White Rock, Pine Rock, Lafayette, and OregonNashua Townships. Veteran board member Bobbie Colbert, Rochelle, the only Democrat running for a county post, is seeking reelection in District 3, which includes Flagg Township, Precincts 1, 2, 3, 6, and 7. Incumbent Bruce W. McKinney, Rochelle, is running in District 4, which includes Flagg Township, Precincts 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, and 11. Richard Daniel Janes, Stillman Valley, is seeking another term on the board
Fines, B4 Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B2 Public Voice, A9 Property Transfers, B4
in District 5, which includes Marion, Rockvale, and Leaf River Townships. In District 6, which includes Byron Township, incumbent Leroy Meyers, Byron, is on the ballot. Incumbent Rich Gronewold, Forreston, is seeking another term in District 7, which includes Maryland, Mt. Morris, and Forreston Townships. Longtime board member Lyle Hopkins is running in District 8, which includes Brookville, Lincoln, Eagle Point, Buffalo, Pine Creek, Woosung, Grand Detour, and
Sheriff’s Arrests, B2 Social News, A4 Sports, B1 State’s Attorney, B3 Weather, A9
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Taylor Townships. All terms are four years in length. The configuration of the county board changed in 2012 after board districts were reapportioned following the 2010 census. The county board candidates running in 2014 drew two-year terms. The population shifts indicated by the census meant increasing county board districts from four to eight. Consequently, some board members elected in 2012
Deaths, B3 Charles J. Knie, Mariella Zettle
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