Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal May 28, 2015 Volume 153, Number 5 - $1.00
Ten Events At State Memorial Walk The Polo-Forreston track team will compete in 10 events at the state track meet May 28. B1
It is time to sign up for the annual Lois Nelson Memorial Walk. A7
Regional Title The Forreston-Polo baseball team picked up their first regional title May 23.. B1
County agencies do well on power plant safety drill By Chris Johnson Reporter Ogle County agencies showed they are able to protect residents in the event of an emergency at Byron’s Exelon Nuclear Power Station. Emergency plans were tested last week to prepare for a potential emergency at the power plant. “FEMA concluded that they demonstrated the ability to protect the area,” Sean O’Leary, US Department of Homeland Security National Preparedness Division Chief, Technological Hazards Branch, FEMA These findings were similar to what the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) found during the exercise at the power plant. “The preliminary results are adequate,” said Greg Hanson, NRC Region 3. “The Licensee (Exelon) can implement a plan and protect the public.” He said the strength of
the sheriff’s department was shown during the exercise. “They performed well,” said Hanson. FEMA and the NRC were conducting a post exercise press conference May 22 at the Ogle County Public Safety Complex. The preliminary findings for the exercise were announced at this time. Evaluators staged a hostile based scenario for the power plant and outside agencies May 20. The exercise simulated armed attackers trying to gain access to the power plant. “We had evaluators in Ogle County, Winnebago County, and Illinois,” said O’Leary. “We assessed 113 criteria.” A final report on the exercise will be released 90 Historian Edward Finch was the guest speaker during the Forreston Memorial Day Service Monday morning. Photo days after the preliminary by Chris Johnson findings on the NRC’s ADAMS (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System) By Chris Johnson Sixty-five years ago was website located at www.nrc. Reporter the start of the Korean War. Forty years ago was the Turn to A2 Remembering the end of the Vietnam War. sacrifices made by veterans Twenty-five years ago was was one point made during the start of the first Gulf War. the Forreston Memorial Day “The question we have to Service. ask is how do we remember “I grew up knowing this these events?” said Finch. is the way that Americans “Obviously there is nobody Washington St., including honored those who have here from the Civil War. I $934 to remove the natural gas served their country,” said believe no veterans are left service, $2,592 for asbestos historian Edward Finch, from World War I. From assessment and abatement, Freeport. “We need to World War II since then, we $2,450 for assessment of comprehend and remember Three candles were lit to honor service post members have people that remember five underground tanks, and what people went through.” who have past. The candles were for Korean War and served. How do we $16,250 for design work. He said Memorial Day Veteran Harry Noble, Korean War Veteran Robert Tudor, remember them? We put up He said considerable is only one day a year, but and World War II Veteran Joe Twigg. Photo by Chris monuments and can hold money was saved by having Americans need to remember Johnson ceremonies.” the county’s Highway every day. During the ceremony a Finch hopes that everyone Memorial Day. Department handle the bid “I would suggest to you will be safely reunited with “The beginning of the end bell is rung 13 times. This process and do excavating that while it is appropriate their family and offered a of war lies in remembrance” symbolizes each conflict and demolition work on the that we not only on this day, prayer. the United States has been - Herman Wouk. property. but everyday remember those “I would like to pray for all Finch said in 2015 there involved with throughout the Gouker said the long range who sacrificed,” said Finch. of those who are separated are significant anniversaries country’s history. plan is to also remove the “We need to remember those from the ones they love in American history. Three veterans who have house from the property at who served by standing because they are in service to passed over the past year April was 150th of the end 102 S. Fifth St., which is next and waiting. The family, our country,” he said. “And of Civil War. were also remembered door to the former gas station, mothers and fathers, brothers that by this time next year, In August the country will during the ceremony. and create one large parking and sisters, children who all families are reunited.” Harry Hoble, Korean War; mark the beginning of the lot with approximately 40 went through the anxiety He said a quote by second year of World War I. Robert Tudor, Korean War; Turn to A2 of a loved one in service. Herman Wouk’s War and Seventy years ago this and Joe Twigg, World War We need to remember that Remembrance is a reminder September was the end of II, were honored by having sacrifice.” candles lit. of the significance of World War II.
Remember sacrifices of veterans
Former gas station to be demolished By Vinde Wells Editor Sometime later this year, an Oregon gas station turned restaurant will be razed to make way for a parking lot. Ogle County Board Chairman Kim Gouker, Byron, said last week that the building that most recently housed Jackass BBQ, at the corner of Washington and Fifth Streets, will be coming down “sometime this year.” He said the exact timeline is not yet certain. Gouker told the county board May 19 that so far, the county has incurred an estimated $21,668 on the property at 501 W.
Drug charges pending against FHS student Charges are pending against a 16-year-old Forreston High School student after a small amount of cannabis and drug paraphernalia found in her vehicle last week during a K-9 search at the school. The Forreston Police Department along with the Ogle County Sheriff’s Department conducted the K-9 search May 20 at approximately 9 a.m. at the Forreston Junior and Senior High School. The search was limited to the common areas of the school along with lockers and the vehicles in the parking lot.
As the result of the search, the cannabis and drug paraphernalia were seized from the girl’s vehicle. She was temporarily detained and then released to her mother pending charges to be filed in Ogle County Juvenile Court. The following K-9 teams assisted in the search: Ogle County Sheriff’s Department, Carroll County Sheriff’s Department, Lee County Sheriff’s Department, Jo Daviees County Sheriff’s Department, Dixon Police Department, Rochelle Police Department, and The Forreston Color Guard presents the flags Monday morning at the start of the Memorial Day Service. Photo by Freeport Police Department. Chris Johnson
In This Week’s Edition...
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B8-B14 College News, A4 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B5
Marriage Licenses, A4 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B7 Sheriff’s Arrests, B3
Social News, A4 Sports, A12, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B4 Weather, A2
Deaths, B3 Robert A. Gigous, Nancy J. Kaczmarzyk, Paul S. Kaminski, Darrell D. Rothermel
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com