Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal May 7, 2015 Volume 153, Number 2 - $1.00
Fourth Place
Graduations
The Marcos placed fourth during a tough 19team track meet in Oregon May 1. B1
Fundraiser Armed Forces Day and a Memorial Fundraiser will be held at Barnacopia May 16. A6
Area schools have scheduled commencement exercises in May. A8
Village receives loan forgiveness IEPA loan was reduced $275,000 By Chris Johnson Reporter
Spring Cleaning Sixth grader James DeWall was cleaning up Monday evening during the middle of the seventh grade band performance of “Revenge of the Dust Bunnies.” DeWall was asked to perform on the vacuum cleaner. Photo by Chris Johnson
Railroad worker dies on job site A Kentucky man died last week in a work-related incident on the Canadian Pacific railroad tracks on North Baileyville Road approximately a mile north of Forreston. James C. Campbell, 20, Prestonburg, Kentucky, was pronounced dead April 30 at the scene approximately a quarter mile west of the
railroad crossing. According to a press release from Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle, Campbell was employed by R.J. Corman Company, a private contractor working on the tracks. The press release said a piece of equipment owned by the company was being used to pick up metal railroad spikes with a large magnetic
boom arm. While the boom arm was in operation it spun out of control. The large magnetic portion of the boom arm struck the top of a four seat all-terrain vehicle, also owned by the R.J. Corman Company, which was parked nearby. The boom arm pushed the ATV over on its side.
Campbell was the driver and only occupant of the ATV. He was ejected from the ATV and suffered an injury to his head. Forreston Fire Department and Ambulance responded to the scene along with React Helicopter and the Ogle County Coroner. The accident remains under investigation.
Polo man killed in crash May 2 A Polo man was killed May 2 when the motorcycle he was driving failed to negotiate a curve. Douglas A. Weidman, 44, Polo, was pronounced dead at the scene following the 9:05 p.m. accident that occurred at the intersection of North Union and West Canada roads, north of Polo.
Ogle County Sheriff’s Deputies determined that Weidman was driving his 1994 Yamaha south on Union Road when he failed to negotiate a curve in the road. The motorcycle skidded on the roadway for approximately 60 feet before it left the roadway on the west side of Union Road.
The motorcycle continued off the roadway for approximately 190 feet before striking and snapping a utility pole on the west side of union road where the motorcycle and driver came to a rest. Police said speed was a factor in the accident. The Ogle County Sheriff’s
Office was assisted at the scene by the Polo Police department, Ogle County Coroner’s Office, and the Polo Fire and ambulance services. The accident remains under investigation, pending the results of laboratory tests. An autopsy was conducted at the Ogle County Morgue.
Annual Plant Sale Forreston FFA member Naeva Groenewald arranges flowering plants May 2 during the annual plant sale in the high school’s greenhouse. Photo by Vinde Wells
In This Week’s Edition...
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B7-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B5 Forreston Police, A2
Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, A7 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B5 Sheriff’s Arrests, B3
Forreston officials learned the loan on the wastewater treatment plant has been lowered. Village President Michael Harn told the board that he received a letter from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. “I am not sure why this happened,” said Harn. “$275,000 is being forgiven on the $2.8 million loan.” He said the IEPA provided the village an additional subsidy principal forgiveness for the project. “That’s great for us,” Harn said. The village is in the process of upgrading the
wastewater plant. Work includes a new clarifier and upgraded equipment to operate the plant. Also on Monday, the board approved the second payment on the project. The $177,463 payment on the project covers work that has been completed including the concrete for the clarifier. Harn said the drying building needs to have some walls and trusses replaced and he is waiting on the contractor to provide cost estimates before asking the board to approve the work. “They do not know a cost but are supposed to work out a number,” said Harn. “We will discuss it.” In other business, trustees Mark Metzger and Gary Buss were sworn in for another term in the position.
Officials meet to discuss quality of tornado response By Vinde Wells Editor Ogle County’s emergency crews drew praise from a state official for their response last month when an EF4 tornado destroyed an estimated 40 homes and damaged nearly 180 structures. “Ogle County first responders are very professional and dedicated to public safety,” said Brian Brackemyer, coordinator for Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) Region 2, which includes 17 counties in northwest Illinois. Region 2 is headquartered in Dixon, and Brackemyer was on the scene April 9 after the tornado swept through two subdivisions west of Rochelle, where most of the destroyed homes were located. “Everyone was very professional and concerned about the general public,” he said. The tornado, a half-mile wide at times, stayed on the ground for an estimated 39 miles, according to the National Weather Service. It first touched down in a field just west of Franklin Grove and moved in a northeasterly direction, damaging Crest Foods outside of Ashton before moving into Ogle County just after 6:30 p.m. Grubsteakers Restaurant at the intersection of Ill. 64 and 251 and nearby farms and homes were destroyed by the twister as it continued on its path to Fairdale, a tiny village on Ill. 72 just over the DeKalb County line.
Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B3 Weather A3 Zoning Certificates, B4
“Ogle County first responders are very professional and dedicated to public safety—” Brian Brackemyer IEMA Region 2 Coordinator Two women died there in their homes, and many of the 50 homes and structures in the village were flattened. The tornado also damaged structures in Boone and McHenry Counties. Brackemyer and other Region 2 officials held an evaluation Monday to determine how well the Ogle County Emergency Management Agency (OCEMA) and other agencies handled the rescue and recovery operations after the storm. Representatives of Ogle County police and fire departments, as well as county officials were invited to the evaluation, held at Rochelle Township High School. The response was evaluated on 10 points, each of which included several target items. Those attending were encouraged to weigh in with their assessments of what was done well and what needs to be improved. Each target item was graded P for performance without challenges, the highest rating; S for performance with some challenges; M for performance with major challenges; and U for unable Turn to A7
Deaths, B6 Nolan Deets Jr., Lea A. Spengler, Robert J.M. Tudor
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com