Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal May 22, 2014 Volume 152, Number 4 - $1.00
NUIC Win
Ranger
Building Status
The Polo-Forreston boys track team won the NUIC conference meet May 19. B1
Read about tourism activities throughout Ogle County. Inside
The new storage building at the Ogle County Highway Dept. will move forward. A8
Students encouraged to strive for their dreams By Chris Johnson Reporter Remembering where you come from while pursuing dreams were the messages of the day delivered Sunday during the Forreston High School commencement
ceremony. “We must not forget what we have learned growing up in Forreston,� said Valedictorian Megan Gronewold. “We must not take for granted having teachers know us by name and knowing everyone in the
Valedictorian Megan Gronewold addresses the graduates Sunday afternoon. Photo by Chris Johnson
hallway. Today marks the beginning of the rest of our lives.� Gronewold graduated with a GPA of 4.24 and addressed her 55 classmates, friends, and family during the May 18 graduation. “Each of us has a chance to leave a mark on the world,� she said. “ Be compassionate. Stand up for what you believe in. Each of you is special in a unique way.� Gronewold said success is not measured by your salary, it comes from a life of content. “Wake up each day proud of who you are and lIve a life with no regrets,� she said. “Make lifelong friends. Do what makes you happy.� Salutatorian Abbey Osterloo with a GPA of 4.08 also addressed her classmates during the ceremony. Four other students were acknowledged and received honor awards; Caleb Snider with a GPA of 4.05, Amanda Watter with a GPA of 4.03, Marissa Vesey with a GPA of 4.02 and Kali Janicke with a GPA of 3.98. Retiring teacher Chip Braker presented the teacher address to the graduates. “Back in 2010, I focused on two themes, opportunity
Seniors Curtis Rucker and Tim Forney walk into the Forreston High School gymnasium May 18 during the graduation processional. Photo by Chris Johnson
Village approves permit By Vinde Wells Editor
A Forreston business got the nod from the village board Monday night to go ahead with plans to tear down a building in the downtown. The board approved a demolition permit for Turn to A3 Forreston Mutual Insurance Company, 208 S. Walnut Ave., to remove the former Lefty’s building at the corner of South Walnut Avenue and attend school in the district. The school board has been seeking a new superintendent since Superintendent Lowell A. Taylor tendered Forreston American legion his resignation Feb. 4. The Post 308 will hold its annual resignation is effective June Memorial Day observance on 15. Taylor, who had been the superintendent since 2001, stepped down after an extended medical leave. Taylor went on sick leave By Vinde Wells in early August last year, Editor and the board granted him medical leave under the Three people were injured Family and Medical Leave Monday afternoon in a car Act (FMLA) on Aug. 26, versus semi crash west of the same day it hired Jane Polo. Eichman, Rock Falls, as Ogle County Sheriff interim superintendent for the Michael Harn, who was on current school year. the scene at the intersection The board suspended of U.S. 52 and Freeport Taylor without pay in Road, said both drivers and January and later rescinded a passenger in the car were that action to accept his transported to KSB Hospital, resignation, along with a Dixon. lengthy agreement. “The injuries did not appear to be life-threatening,� he said.
District to hire new leader By Vinde Wells Editor The Forrestville Valley School Board expected to make it official Wednesday and hire Sheri Smith, Freeport, as the district’s superintendent for the 201415 school year. Following a closed session at a special meeting May 14, board president Robert Ebbesmeyer said the board was ready to hire Smith at its May 21 meeting. “We’re excited to offer her a contract,� he said. “She’s got a lot of enthusiasm and skills to bring to the district.� The board met in closed session at a special meeting on May 14 to discuss the contract and compensation package it will offer Smith, who is presently an assistant superintendent in the Belvidere School District.
The proposed contract is for three years and includes an annual salary of $136,500 for each of the first two years and $137,865 for the third year. The compensation package also included district-paid Teachers Retirement System and Teacher Health Insurance Security fund contributions; sick leave and vacation; health, dental, vision and life insurance; reimbursement for further education; and reimbursement for a cell phone. Under the terms of proposed compensation package, Smith will start work May 27. From then until June 30, when the school’s fiscal year ends, she will be paid a salary of $10,500 plus the other benefits. Smith resides in the Forrestville Valley School District and her children
A Polo tow truck owner publicly apologized to Ogle County Sheriff Michael Harn Tuesday at the county board meeting for comments made at last month’s meeting. Greg Wagner was one of three tow truck owners who attended the county board meeting April 15 to voice their concern about being taken off the sheriff’s tow rotation list. Wagner said that since that meeting he has been called by the sheriff’s department
for tow service after traffic accidents. He said he spoke to Harn, who told him he had no knowledge of Wagner purposely not being called. “I want to apologize to the sheriff and the Ogle County Sheriff’s Department,� Wagner said. Harn did not attend either county board meeting. At the April meeting, tow truck owner Doug Aken, Oregon, spoke for himself, Wagner, and Stan Ubben, Mt. Morris. Aken told the board all three
In This Week’s Edition...
tabled the permit until some concerns over a sidewalk, a street light, and a water service could be resolved. Trustee Mark Metzger said those details have been worked out. In other business, the board approved two other permits. Mario Alba, 401 Maple Ave., was granted a fence permit, and Ashley Loomis, 409 N. Walnut Ave., was granted a swimming pool permit.
Memorial Day service is set Monday, May 26 at 10 a.m. at Auxiliary will serve lunch Forreston City Park. after the service. The public The American Legion is invited.
Three injured in crash
Tow owner appologizes to Harn By Vinde Wells Editor
East Cherry Street. Village President Michael Harn said insurance company officials recently purchased the empty restaurant property with plans to eventually expand their present building, which is next door to the north. He said the Lefty’s building will be torn down, and the property will be a grassy area until the firm is ready to build its addition. Two weeks ago the board
Harn said a car driven by James Morgan, 89, Rockton, was northbound on Freeport Road, stopped at the stop sign, and then pulled out in front of the westbound semi, driven by Robert Pottenbaum, 70, Manchester, Iowa. Traffic at the intersection is controlled by stop signs on Freeport Road. Vehicles on U.S. 52 are not required to stop. The semi, which was loaded with sand, came to rest on its side an estimated 150 to 200 feet west of the intersection, partially in a
field. The crash occurred around 1:30 p.m. Morgan and his wife Deloras Morgan, 84, Rockton, a front seat passenger in his car, and Pottenbaum were taken to the hospital by Polo and Mt. Morris ambulances. All were wearing seat belts, and the car’s air bags deployed. The Polo Police Department and Polo Fire Department assisted at the scene. Morgan was ticketed for failure to stop or yield at an intersection.
have been on the rotation list for many years but found themselves being called less frequently under Harn’s administration. Then on March 20, Aken said he received a letter from Harn informing him he was no longer on the list. The letter gave no reason. However, Aken said he believes it was because he supported another candidate in the March 18 Republican primary. Harn was defeated in his bid for a second term in the Three people were transported to area hospitals Monday afternoon after a semi and car collided at the intersection of U.S. 52 and Freeport Road west of Polo. Photo by three-way race.
Births, A4 Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B12 College News, A4 Entertainment, A6
Vinde Wells
Fines, B6 Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B3 Property Transfers, B5
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, A11, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B3
Deaths, B4 Richard H. Adams, John L. Brockwell, Rhonda K. Comer, Annabel Cunningham, Lois M. Cunningham, Harriet M. Fletcher, Jeannette H. Joiner, Judie Lamia, Harry R. Noble, Doris J. Sandvik
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