Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal April 21, 2016 Volume 153, Number 52 - $1.00
Extra Inning
Long Hike
The Lady Cardinals fell to Pearl City 4-3 in the eighth inning Monday afternoon. B1
Plant Sale
A retired teacher will step off on a challenging 100 mile hike. A9
The Forreston FFA will hold its annual plant sale starting April 29. A2
Forreston Village Board discusses moving permit By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@oglecounty news.com The Forreston Village Board had a lengthy discussion Monday night about what fees trustee Gary Buss would need to pay for a house project. Gary and Marsha Buss own la vacant lot at 601 Cedar Ave. and plan to move an existing home and garage to the property. They also play to build a garage. “My opinion is moving a
house is a moving permit and building a house is a building permit,” said trustee Mark Metzger. “My interpretation is a building permit for the garage and moving permits for the two buildings. I am open to discussion.” Village President Michael Harn said whatever the board decided, they needed to make sure they did it right. “What you do will set a precedent,” said Harn. After discussing the permitting, the board agreed that the moving permit
would apply. The next question was about water and sewer fees. “He cannot hookup until he pays,” said trustee Jeff Freeze. “I though it was a turn on fee [for water],” said Buss. Buss said plans were to connect to the existing water pipe on the property. A shutoff valve is also on the water line. “My interpretation is anything that needs to be hooked up,” said Metzger. “I am under the belief it is
a hookup not a turn on,” said Harn. “That is my opinion.” Buss said he had no problem paying the hookup fee for the sewer service. “I am more comfortable with a new service,” said Harn. Freeze said the fee to hookup depends on the size of pipes needed. Water can be a 3/4 inch or a one-inch pipe. Sewer can be a fourinch or six-inch pipe. The board approved the following fees for Buss: $25 moving permit for the house,
$25 moving permit for the garage, $250 building permit for the second garage, $650 hookup fee for sewer, and $650 hookup fee for water. The vote was unanimous. Buss abstained because he is the property owner. “What could stop someone from getting a moving permit for a modular home,” said trustee Ken Toms. “I don’t want someone to come in with a two or four-piece home with a moving permit.” “From out of town requires a building permit,”
said Freeze. “I just want to make sure we are on the same page,” said Toms. In other business the board: • Learned about Trevor Drayton’s proposed Eagle Scout project. He would like to clean up the playground equipment at Memorial Park. • Renewed the liquor licenses for Mimmos, Josh’s Saloon, and The Depot. • Approved the village budget for the next fiscal year.
New county jail plan discussed By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com Ogle County Board Chairman Kim Gouker, Byron, said Tuesday that the first decision about building a new county jail could come as early as next month. Gouker and Long Range Planning Committee Chairman Don Griffin fielded questions from board members about the cost of the project and when more information will be available. The questions came on the heels of a presentation by Jeff Goodale, Director of Justice at HOK, a Chicago architectural and planning firm, hired last fall to do a jail needs assessment at a cost not to exceed $10,000. Goodale recommended a jail with 200 beds for adults and 32 beds for juveniles to meet current and future needs. After the meeting, he estimated the cost of the
project at roughly $28 million. Goodale also recommended building the jail on one level for maximum efficiency and said five to 10 acres of land would be needed. Board member Bill Welty, Chana, asked for a schedule for making decisions about the proposed new facility. “I haven’t seen steps being brought out saying we’re going to do A, B, C, or D,” he said. Griffin said the next step is to decide where the jail will be built. However, Gouker disagreed. “First we need to decide if we are going ahead with it and how many beds,” he said. He said the board may be asked to decide that next month. Welty asked if board members will be given an outline of the proposed plan for the facility in time to study it before being Turn to A3
Zoning request tabled By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com
LLC, a company owned by the Morings. Some nearby property owners have voiced opposition to the request, citing environmental concerns. Board member Bill Welty, Chana, said Steve Moring contacted him earlier in the day with changes in the layout of the proposed facility. He asked for the request to be reconsidered by the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), which recommended it for approval at its March 28 meeting. Steve Moring told the board that he is willing to relocate dumpsters on the property to make them less visible to the public.
Spring Harvest A farmer picks corn April 16 in a field on the southeast corner of Mt. Morris and West Grove Roads. A special attachment on the front of the combine helps pick up the flattened corn stalks. Photo by Vinde Wells
Congressional Medal is awarded Melvin Haak died in 2012
By Jermaine Pigee jpigee@saukvalley.com
A Polo man never got the chance to have a medal pinned on his chest for his The crowd of neighbors war service – but that doesn’t who came to Tuesday’s mean he didn’t earn it. Ogle County Board meeting It just took Congress more to see the outcome of a than seven decades to salute zoning request left without a Melvin Haak. Unfortunately, decision. they were four years too late. The board tabled a request Haak died from bone from Mike Stukenberg, cancer in October 2012 when Forreston, and Steve and he was 89. Kevin Moring, also of Now, 71 years after he Forreston, for a special use climbed out of the cockpit, permit to allow a Class Civil Air Patrol Tech. Sgt. 2 Motor Carrier Facility Haak was recognized with a on property zoned for Congressional Gold Medal agricultural use. during a ceremony April 16. The property, at 11123 W. The medal is the highest Ill. 72 just east of Forreston, civilian award given by is owned by Stukenberg and Congress. According to the being purchased by STKE U.S. Senate website, since the days of the American Revolution, Congress has “commissioned gold medals as its highest expression of national appreciation for The Forreston Lions Club will hold its annual Carnation distinguished achievements Sale on Saturday, April 23 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. next to and contributions by Sweetwood’s building. individuals or institutions.” The carnations are $15 a dozen. Haak’s wife, Elaine, 89, Proceeds go toward two scholarships at Forreston High and his three children were School.
on hand Saturday to accept the award on his behalf. A small gathering of friends and family joined them at the ceremony at East Jordan United Methodist Church, just outside Sterling – the same church where he married Elaine on Aug. 12, 1945. “Thank you so much for your husband’s service,” Civil Air Patrol Region Commander Col. Jerry Scherer said as he gave the award to Elaine. “I wish we
would have been able to award this to him in person.” He wasn’t the only one. Melanie Rude, one of Haak’s two daughters, wished he would have received the award years ago. “This was overdue,” she said. “The war ended in 1945.” Still, though, the family was grateful for the belated honor. “This is awesome and very meaningful to get the
Carnation sale will be held in Forreston
In This Week’s Edition...
Birth, A4 Business Briefs, B5 Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10
The Congressional Gold Medal for the Civil Air Patrol.
Entertainment, A6 Fines, B4 Marriage Licenses, A4 Property Transfers, B4
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B3
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com
award now,” said his other daughter, Melissa Haak. Melvin Haak served as a pilot in the Civil Air Patrol for four years during World War II, from 1941 to 1945. The patrol was formed in 1941 as a way for volunteers to put their planes and flying skills to use in defense of their country. It was originally under the jurisdiction of the Army Air Corps, until 1948 when Congress established the group as the auxiliary of the then-new Air Force. Thousands of volunteers like Hawk stepped up and performed critical wartime missions. During the war, every county in Illinois had a Civil Air Patrol group. Sterling and Rock Falls were in Group 4, in which Haak served. “Here is a 22-year-old giving himself to his country at a time when the country was not as friendly toward Civil Air Patrol,” Scherer said. “The members had to perform missions and they had to perform them in a very professional manner because they were under the scrutiny of the U.S. Army at that time.” Turn to A3
Death, B4 John A. Harris