Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal March 20, 2014 Volume 151, Number 47 - $1.00
Track Previews
Science Fair
Body Identified
The Polo-Forreston boys track team is gearing up for the spring track season. B1
A record number of students took part in the OES Science Fair. A4
Police have identified the man found in the Kyte River last week. A9
Harn loses by 136 votes By Vinde Wells Editor A Rochelle police officer was the successful candidate in a three-way race for Ogle County Sheriff in Tuesday’s Republican primary election. Challenger Brian VanVickle, 37, a Rochelle K-9 officer, defeated current sheriff Michael Harn, 52, Forreston, by 136 votes. VanVickle garnered 3,470 votes to defeat Harn, who received 3,334 votes, and Joe Drought, 50, Rochelle, who received 2,821 votes. “I’m so appreciative of all the people who stepped up Walter Paul, Forreston, casts his ballot Tuesday morning in the Maryland Township and took part in this vision,� precinct with the help of election judge Sandy Bauer. Photo by Vinde Wells VanVickle said after the votes were tallied. “It’s all
Primary Voter
come to fruition.� Drought wished VanVickle well as he conceded defeat. “It was a very close race obviously. We gave it our best shot and thought we could do some good things in the county,� he said. “The voters have spoken. Congratulations to Brian VanVickle.� Harn did not answer his phone or return a phone call by 10:30 p.m. Tuesday. As the early returns came in, Harn led the race by a strong margin — sometimes as much as 400 votes. However, the tide turned as the votes were counted from the Rochelle area. VanVickle has served as a Rochelle police officer
since 2009. Prior to that he had 13 years of management experience in the private sector. He and his family reside in Rochelle, where he serves on the Rochelle Township High School Board. He will likely be elected sheriff in the Nov. 4 general election since no other candidates have filed from other parties to run. Harn was elected sheriff in 2010 after he defeated incumbent Greg Beitel in the primary. According to state statute, Harn received enough votes to challenge the election results and ask for a recount. He has until mid-April to file a challenge.
Eric Morrow defeated Michael Rock in primary No challengers for Nov. election By Chris Johnson Reporter
Ogle County will have a new state’s attorney this fall. Challenger Eric Morrow defeated current state’s attorney Michael Rock Tuesday in the Republican Primary 4,925 votes to 4,448. “If these numbers ring true I am excited and I look forward to serving the
people in Ogle County,� said Morrow minutes after the last precinct reported. Rock was planning on calling Morrow. “I am going to call Eric tonight to congratulate him,� said Rock Tuesday evening. Rock will continue serving as state’s attorney through Dec. 1. “When we get closer to the fall we will work together to ensure a smooth transition,� Rock said. Rock, 47, Byron, was appointed state’s attorney
“If elected I would like to work with Mike Rock and the staff to ensure a smooth transition,� — Eric Morrow in January 2013 after then state’s attorney Ben Roe was appointed as a judge. Tuesday’s primary election was the first time voters weighed in on who they wanted as the county’s prosecutor to replace Roe. Morrow, 38, Oregon,
graduated law school in 2000 and was an assistant state’s attorney before joining the law firm of Smith, Hanson, Morrow, and Floski in 2002. Morrow also serves as an Ogle County public defender. Morrow is cautiously optimistic with his chances
in the November general election. Currently no independents or Democrats are on the ballot leaving Morrow running unopposed for the general election. “If elected (in November) I would like to work with Mike Rock and the staff to ensure a smooth transition,� said Morrow. The term as state’s attorney will be for two years, which is the remaining half of Roe’s post.
Experts examine historic statue By Vinde Wells Editor
Arson investigator Mitchell S. Kushner and his K9 Zoe walk on the porch of Whiskey’s River Smokehouse Monday morning. The shuttered restaurant burned Sunday night. Photo by Earleen Hinton
Cause of fire is ruled accidental By Vinde Wells Editor A fire that destroyed a local restaurant Sunday night in Oregon has been determined to be accidental in origin. Oregon fire officials and investigators from the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) determined that the fire that destroyed Whiskey’s River Smokehouse and the apartment above it, located at 123 N. Second St. was an accident. “We know it was accidental and started in the basement area, but we don’t
know the cause yet,� Oregon Fire Chief Don Heller said Tuesday afternoon. Two representatives from the OSFM and a dog went through the inside of the burned-out building on Monday morning. The restaurant, which has been closed for some time, is located just north of the Oregon Fire Station. Heller said a jogger saw smoke coming from the structure and flagged down an on-duty Oregon Policeman who alerted the fire department at 8:20 p.m. The building’s owner Kevin Wedel, who lived in
In This Week’s Edition...
Eric Morrow
the upstairs apartment, was not at home when the fire occurred, Heller said. Firefighters found heavy smoke when they arrived on the scene. “The building was still intact and showing a lot of smoke,� Heller said. Oregon firefighters were assisted at the scene by the Mt. Morris, Polo, Byron, Stillman Valley, Franklin Grove, Dixon City, and Dixon Rural Fire Departments and the Oregon Ambulance. Temperatures in the teens and a brisk wind made fighting the fire difficult,
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10 College News, A4 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B5
Heller said. “The cold was the reason we had so many crews there,� he said. “That allowed us to change them out often and let them warm up.� Best Beginnings Child Care across the street from the fire was forced to close on Monday due to the smoke inside the building. Owner Jeff Croegaert said he anticipated the facility would be open as usual on Tuesday. “The smell of smoke is really strong inside,� he said. “We’re just airing it out today to be on the safe side.�
Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B5 Public Voice, A9 Property Transfers, B3
Mild temperatures and sunshine last week brought experts to further size up what it will take to repair and restore Ogle County’s bestloved statue. Restoration architects arrived at the Black Hawk Statue around noon March 10 to take core samples from the bottom portion of the Black Hawk State at Lowden State Park, near Oregon. The information the samples will yield will help experts determine what exactly needs to be done to repair the 50-foot concrete statue that has overlooked the Rock River from a high bluff at the park for more than a century. The statue has developed cracks, and large pieces of its concrete surface have dislodged. The folded arms of the 50-foot monolith have been especially affected. Large chunks have fallen out of the elbow of the right arm and from underneath the left arm. The cold and snow this winter have taken an additional toll on the statue. Frank Rausa, Sterling, who is heading up an effort to repair the 103-year-old world renowned icon, shook his head as he surveyed the damage and watched as the crew set up to get their samples.
Sheriff’s Arrests, B5 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B5 Weather, A8
“It’s quite a bit worse than it was. The arm is crumbling,� he said. “And we’re so far behind with the weather.� The crew, made of up Andrzej Dajnowski, director of Conservation of Sculpture & Objects Studio, Inc., Forest Park, Anne T. Sullivan, an architect from Sullivan Preservation, Chicago, and Amy Woods, an architect from Thornton Tomasetti, Chicago, planned to take samples from the bottom of the statue Monday and then return in warmer weather with a lift to take more core samples from the top. They had intended to do the final sampling in December but had to cancel when snow and cold settled into the area early and stayed. Rausa said the samples will be analyzed to determine the composition of the concrete. Restorationists will then match that when making repairs. A team of experts spent nearly a week in October examining the damage to the statue and performing tests. Engineers used high-tech scanners which allowed them to see inside the concrete to assess its condition and to determine the amount and location of steel reinforcing. The locations of the steel were then marked on tape placed on the statue’s hollow interior.
Deaths, B3 Walter P. Howald, Waynes L. Schumacher
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