Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal April 16, 2015 Volume 152, Number 51 - $1.00
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The Polo-Forreston girls track team finished in first and in fourth during two meets. B1
Tornado Coverage
The new Ogle County Public Safety Complex has opened. A7
An EF4 tornado carved a path of destruction through Ogle and DeKalb Counties. A9-A11, B3
People safe at Grubsteakers after tornado 12 people escape from storm cellar By Andy Colbert Reporter
A large rack containing spices near the backside of what had been Grubsteakers Restaurant remained undisturbed. Fifty feet away, a semi trailer was on its side. That spice rack was one of the few things left standing, as a tornado demolished the landmark bar and restaurant at the intersection of Ill. 251 and 64, six miles north of Rochelle. Slot machines were tossed out of the bar area, alongside damaged vehicles and the semi truck. The driver of the truck, Tod Carlock, Mt. Morris, was one of 12 people that sought shelter in the basement of Grubsteakers. None were seriously injured, but each had to be helped out after part of the building fell over the exit from the basement. Grubsteakers was just one spot in Ogle County where area search and rescue teams from area fire departments were kept busy after a
tornado roared through on a northeasterly path from Ashton towards Fairdale. The estimated one-mile wide swath hit Grubsteakers at 7 p.m. “The whole thing was over in a minute and half,” Carlock said. “You didn’t hear a roar or anything like that. It was more like a heavy wind.” Carlock, a driver for Meyer Trucking in Mt. Morris, was on his way home after delivering a load in Minnesota. Unfortunately, he had a tire blowout on I-39, about four miles from Grubsteakers at 4:30 pm. “I limped in here and called a mechanic,” Carlock said. “He got it fixed and left. I waited another five minutes to do paperwork. I went to pull out and was staring into Tod Carlock, Mt. Morris, was driving the semi pulling this trailer Thursday night when the tornado hit Grubsteakers. the eye of the storm.” Photo by Chris Johnson Carlock immediately threw his semi in reverse and backed it up about 100 feet behind Grubsteakers. “I knew exactly what was going to happen,” Carlock. “I wanted to put the truck away from people and have the building Turn to A10
Tanks discovered under property Land will be used for parking By Chris Johnson Reporter
Two additional tank were discovered last week during an exploratory digging project at the county property in Oregon at Ill. 64 and Fifth Street. Ogle County Engineer Curtis Cook said he was out with an environmental engineer to determine what number and condition of several fuel tanks were under the former Jackass BBQ property. “We helped check to see what tanks were there,” said Cook. “The county board asked my department to assist. We completed an exploratory excavation to prepare for removal.” Besides the two gasoline tanks previously known to be on the site, Cook said two other tanks were discovered. Cook said the tops of all the tanks or the vents were uncovered to check the status
of the tanks. This was done so Cook could complete a comprehensive specification that would be used during the bid process for the tank removal. “The highway department will handle this process but the county board will handle the payments,” said Cook. “We will do the oversight and preparations for the project.” Cook said the Long Range Planning Committee and the county board will make decisions of the project but leave the details to the highway department. “These projects are what we do at the highway department,” said Cook. The two small tanks were discovered on the west side of the building. “There was not anything major that was discovered,” said Cook. “It was as expected.” Long Range Planning Committee Chairman Don Griffin said soil samples were also taken during the excavation.
This 1931 Ford received minor damage when the garage it was in was destroyed by a tornado. The tractors in the garage, two Farmalls, and a John Deere, received damage. The tractors are owned by the Schabackers, Springdale Farm on White rock and Hemstock. The farmhouse received relatively minor damage from the tornado. Photo by Chris Johnson
Family farm destroyed by tornado By Andy Colbert Reporter
In much the same way Ogle County is noted for the natural beauty of its state parks and the Rock River flowing through it, there is also a bucolic charm from an abundance of family farms. One of the most immaculate of those farmsteads was devastated by last Thursday’s tornado. Taking a direct hit was the 260-acre Schabacker family farm, located at Hemstock and White Rock roads, about The price is $15 a dozen. All proceeds are used for two miles northwest of Skare two $500 scholarships for Park. It is also one of the two seniors graduating from oldest, dating back to preCivil War. Forreston High School. “It was a pristine farm,”
Carnation sale April 18 The Forreston Lions Club carnation sale will be held on Saturday, April 18 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Sweetwood Building on Main Street.
In This Week’s Edition...
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B8-B12 Entertainment, A6 Marriage Licenses, A4
said 51-year old Todd Schabacker, the fifth generation to farm at the location. “Over the years, we had so many compliments on its appearance.” Schabacker was showing a visitor a large framed aerial photograph taken in 2013. In the perfectly manicured yard, there were two newer large Morton buildings, five other buildings and a pair of adjoining silos. The tornado, with winds speeds estimated at 200 mph, completely demolished those buildings and damaged all implements needed for planting. Inside were five tractors, two planters, grain and corn headers, sprayer, auger, grain
Oregon Police, B7 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B6 Sheriff’s Arrests, B6
Farm buildings on the Schabacker farm were destroyed by the tornado. Photo by Chris Johnson
wagon, and semi, among other farm equipment. “We were going to be in the field next week,” said a stunned Schabacker. “The timing could not have been
Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B6 Weather, A2
worse.” Schabacker was coming home from Rochelle in the late afternoon April 9 when golf ball-sized hail began to Turn to A10
Deaths, B5 Evelyn M. Forsyth, LaVonne Byrd Frey, Marsha F. Johnson, Tom Jordan, Donald G. Leary, Wilma J. Wolfley
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com