Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal April 9, 2015 Volume 152, Number 50 - $1.00
Winning Ways
What’s Cookin’
Bird Walks
The baseball and softball teams have been posting wins early in the spring season. B1
Teams are still needed for the annual May 2 cooking competition. A6
The Audubon Society is planning several spring bird walks at stateline areas. A6
Glitches keep officials busy By Vinde Wells Editor
Election Judge Shirley Lovell attempts to find a voter form in her book Tuesday morning for Tim Morris, a candidate for Leaf River Village President. Photo by Vinde Wells
Ambulance referendum passed By Vinde Wells Editor
Voters said a resounding yes Tuesday to paying taxes to support an ambulance service in the Oregon Fire
Protection District. A referendum for the taxsupported ambulance service was approved 1,251 votes to 173. Fire district board president Jim Egyed was
jubilant and relieved with the election outcome. “We’re all very excited, and I guess we’re in the ambulance business,” he said. He said he believes voters
recognized the importance of having a local ambulance service. “I think just the fact that there’s no ambulance service Turn to A3
Unusual situations in two polling places Tuesday morning meant making some quick decisions. A ballot glitch in two Polo City Council wards put election officials to work changing voter instructions, while to the north a candidate for Leaf River Village President arrived at the polling place only to find he was not registered to vote. Ogle County Clerk Rebecca Huntley said the ballot for Polo’s Wards 1 and 3 incorrectly said “vote for two,” when it should have said “vote for one.” With two candidates running in each race for one open position, the glitch led to voter confusion. “It was caught early so we were able to correct the ballot and continue with the election,” Huntley said. The error was discovered about 8 a.m., and she immediately called the State Board of Elections. Following their advice, Huntley said, the “vote for
two” was crossed out on each ballot and replaced with “vote for one.” The change was made before a large number of voters had cast their ballots, she said. “I really don’t think more than 10 or 15 ballots had been voted per ward by then,” she said. In Ward 1, newcomer Phillip Peterson defeated incumbent Louise Hall 97 votes to 45, and in Ward 3, incumbent Randy Schoon defeated challenger Jeremy Heller 78 to 52. Both are four-year terms. Huntley said that when the vote margin is close enough, a losing candidate can file a challenge to the results. She said the error occurred because of mistakes made in certifying the candidates for the two races. “It was certified incorrectly to us,” she said. City and village clerks are responsible for certifying candidates who file in their offices to the county clerk. At the Leaf River precinct, Turn to A3
Summer festival plans proposed to village bd. Questions will be answered by April 20 meeting By Chris Johnson Reporter
A full line up of summertime entertainment will be returning to Forreston when all the paperwork is finalized. Pat Green, an organizer for a joint event between the Forreston Area Business Association (FABA), Forreston Legion, Forreston Lions Club, and Forreston Churches, attended Monday night’s Forreston Village Board meeting to discuss the plans with the board. “We met on this proposal March 31, and we agreed
it was a good thing,” said Green. “We are proposing a beer garden at the city lot.” Events planned for the July 31-Aug. 2 summer celebration, which might be called Sauerkraut Days, include games for kids on July 31. The annual car show will be held on Aug. 1 along with a softball tournament, 3 on 3 basketball tournament, pork chop dinner, a petting zoo, and a roller derby bout. “The River Demons (roller derby team) have committed to a bout,” said Green. This requires the proper insurance to be secured for the event. The beer garden would be held Saturday night in the lot between Josh’s Saloon and the Forreston Public Library, and a band would perform.
“Josh’s would serve the alcohol and Mimo for pizza and food,” he said. “I also contacted churches for Sunday events. We will work together.” Green said he wanted to bring the proposal to the board for consideration before moving forward with plans. “You have a good start,” said trustee Tim Drayton. Village President Michael Harn said street closures and portable toilets should be considered for the event. “We need to call the attorney about the parking lot,” said Harn. The lot is not owned by the village but rented each year from the property owner. Harn asked what the beer Turn to A3
Easter Hunt
Oregon dealership sold By Vinde Wells Editor An Oregon Auto dealership has a new owner for the second time in less than a year. Kunes Country Auto Group, based in Delavan, Wis., has purchased several dealerships, including the one in Oregon, from Pete Harkness Auto Group. Harkness finalized a deal last October to buy the Oregon business from Brian Bemis Auto Mall. Signs indicating Kunes
was now the owner went up at the Oregon site on April 2. Bob O’Neill, a Kunes marketing specialist, said the deal was finalized when officials from both companies met on April 1. “The transition has already taken place. It’s full speed ahead,” O’Neill said Tuesday afternoon. He said Kunes officials met last week with the staff at Oregon dealership and assured them that everyone will be keeping their jobs. Kunes also acquired Harkness dealerships in
In This Week’s Edition...
Above, Lily Rupp, 2, Hazel Green, Wis., waits intently for the signal to begin hunting Easter eggs Saturday morning at the Bertolet Park, Leaf River. At left, Addison Diehl, 2 Leaf River, is all smiles as she puts an Easter egg in her bag Saturday morning at the Lions Club egg hunt. Photos by Vinde Wells
Sterling and Morrison, O’Neill said. Kunes owns two dealerships in Delavan, Wis., two in Elkhorn, Wis., and three in Illinois, one each in Mt. Carroll, Antioch, and Macomb. Kunes sells Ford, Lincoln, Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands. Harkness also has a dealership in Centerville, Iowa. Pam Eggemeier at Sauk Valley Media contributed to this story.
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B7-B10 College News, A4 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B6
Forreston Police, A3 Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B6 Public Voice, A9 Property Transfers, B6
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B3 Weather, A2
Deaths, B5 Karen L. Boren, Viola A. Myers, Norma R. Woessner
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com