Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal June 19, 2014 Volume 152, Number 8 - $1.00
Softball Awards
Bear Sighting
Sheriff Concern
The Forreston-Polo Softball team earned a variety of awards following their season. A10
A Chana resident reported seeing a black bear on Sunday. A7
Ogle County Board Chairman Kim Gouker addressed concerns with the sheriff Tuesday. A3
Oregon Ambulance shuttered operation Tuesday By Vinde Wells Editor The sudden closing of the privately-owned Oregon Ambulance Service, Inc., has local fire and city officials strategizing to provide service for residents of the Oregon Fire District. Oregon Fire Chief Don Heller said he learned less than a week ago the ambulance service would shut down early Tuesday morning.
He said Betty Ferris, who manages the service with her husband Jim, informed the fire protection district’s board of trustees at its June 11 meeting. He said he immediately began contacting other area fire districts to enlist their assistance. The ambulance service, officially formed in 1971, is a not-for-profit corporation owned by stockholders. Heller said the fire district will rely on mutual aid from
Fatal crash kills one on Interstate By Chris Johnson Reporter
neighboring fire departments to handle ambulance calls for the time being. “They all agreed to help,� Heller said Tuesday. “They’re going to help us out temporarily.� The district, which is bordered by 10 other fire districts, includes all of Oregon-Nashua Township and portions of Pine Creek, Pine, Rock, White Rock, Rockvale, Marion, Grand Detour, and Taylor Townships. He said the district has been divided up in segments with each neighboring fire department covering the area closest to it. Mt. Morris and Byron have been designated to handle calls within the City of Oregon. He said Ogle County 911 will dispatch the fire departments according to where the ambulance is needed. 911 Coordinator Sandra Beitel declined to comment except to say a plan was in place for handling Oregon
after he started the fatal chain reaction accident at 3:06 p.m. State police said Taylor A Pecatonica man was was southbound on I-39 at killed Monday afternoon in mile marker 112 about a mile a five-vehicle crash when north of Ill. 72 when his semi the sports utility vehicle truck and trailer rear ended he was a passenger in was Jones’ vehicle, causing it to struck by a semi approaching enter the west ditch. a construction zone on According to the ISP crash Interstate 39. report, Taylor failed to reduce David E. Jones, 74, was speed for slower moving pronounced dead on the traffic. At Ill. 72 southbound scene. He was a passenger in traffic enters a construction an SUV driven by his wife zone. Sara J. Jones, 71, Pecatonica. Sara Jones was extricated Three other people were by the Monroe Center Fire By Kimberly Watley injured in the accident which Department and transported Correspondent involved three more vehicles. to OSF St. Anthony’s Illinois State Police Medical Center, Rockford, Out in the country, on Leaf ticketed the semi driver, Jay by Lifeline Helicopter. River Road, a charred pile is S. Taylor, 55, Judson, Ind., She was listed in critical all that remains of the Beltran for failure to reduce speed Turn to A2 home. The family of six wasn’t home June 7 when a heating lamp for chickens, what fire investigators suspect, sparked the blaze. The community has rallied around Steve and Jenny Beltran and their four children, who are staying in a bunkhouse in Pecatonica temporarily. Forrestville Valley School Superintendent, Sheri Smith organized “Rally of Love� as a way to provide a central location for donations. A BMW came to rest next to a semicab following a four “Everyone was asking car and one semi truck accident on I-39 southbound at what they could do. It made milemarker 112. Southbound traffic was diverted off the sense to do something for interstate at Baxter road in Winnebago County. Photo them here. The beauty of
calls. Oregon is the only fire department in the area without an ambulance service funded by property taxes. Ferris shed light Monday evening as to why the ambulance service is shutting down. “The reason we are closing is financial because people aren’t paying their bills,� she said Monday night. “It’s because of lack of financial support and the economic times. We don’t get tax dollars. We are only supported by ambulance fees, memorials, and donations. Anyone is welcome to stop in later in the week and talk to me.� Ogle County records show that the ambulance service building, located at 101 Madison St., is mortgagefree. Ferris said the ambulance service has been tax-free throughout its four decades of existence. “[It’s] been a pretty good deal for Oregon residents,� she said.
Tuesday morning, she declined to comment further on the situation, saying she didn’t have time to address questions because she was taking her husband, who suffers from cancer, for chemotherapy. Oregon Police Chief Darin DeHaan said Ferris informed him June 13 that the business would be closing at 6 a.m. Tuesday. He said he and Mayor Tom Stone met with Heller and other fire district officials to come up with a permanent solution and explore ways the city can help in the meantime. “We need to find a solution as soon as we can,� DeHaan said. “We can’t rely on mutual aid long term.� Heller said one solution would be for the fire district to add an ambulance service. Doing that, however, requires voter approval of a referendum allowing the fire district to tax for the ambulance service. “State law does not allow us to use fire department funds to run an ambulance
service,� Heller said. The referendum could be on the November ballot. If approved by taxpayers, the earliest that money from the referendum would be available to the fire district is a year from now. Earlier this year Heller said the cost of an ambulance service to taxpayers would be approximately 40 cents per $100 of equalized assessed valuation. That translates into an extra $200 per year in real estate taxes on a $150,000 home excluding exemptions. The Oregon Ambulance Service is licensed through the Rockford Memorial Hospital Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Anthony Cellitti, EMS System Coordinator, said Tuesday afternoon that he had been informed the ambulance service was shutting down. “We’re checking into that,� he said. “We’re working with the Oregon Fire Department. I can’t comment much Turn to A2
Community rallies to help family
by Chris Johnson
being in a small town is, people will step-up to help get them through this,� Smith said. School staff volunteered to accept donations, as well as brought in items. Coaches dropped off apparel and equipment for the children, Jeremy, 12, Julianna, 12, Matthew, 10 and Max, 3. Library aide Barbara Miller coordinated the volunteers, most of whom are school staff, and she said were quick to offer a hand. Jenny is a substitute teacher through the Lee-Ogle County Education Consortium, often in the school district. The children also attend school in the district. Smith created an online survey that lists all of the items received and still needed for the family. Much like a guest registry, it helps
Steve Beltran holds the charred serenity coin that belonged to his late uncle. He found the coin while sorting through the burned remnants of his home on Leaf River Road. Photo supplied
limit duplicates. Pots and pans, dishes, clothing, toys, cash and gift cards were among the many items people brought to Forreston Junior-Senior High
School June 12. “If the school is open, people are welcome to continue bringing items after today,� Smith said. Turn to A7
Couple to host field day Saturday at berry farm By Vinde Wells Editor For taste treats from smoothies to jelly to a fullbodied wine, a Mt. Morris couple is growing the right ingredient — with health benefits. Jeff and Julie Warren are raising aronia berries organically at their 20-acre BerryView Orchard, 7504 W. Midtown Rd., northwest of Mt. Morris. The Warrens will open their recently established orchard to visitors for a field day on Saturday, June 21 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Jeff said the purpose of the field day is to attract customers to the operation and to interest other people in the area to become aronia growers. The event will feature field tours and information, as well as samples of aronia products. Small green berries are already abundant on the 1,600 aronia bushes the Warrens have planted over three years, starting in 2010. Jeff said they started planting them in the fall of 2010, planted more the following fall, and the last batch in the spring of 2012.
In This Week’s Edition...
The round berries are similar in size to blueberries and ripen to an almost black purple by early to midSeptember. “I like the health aspect,� Jeff said. The fruit is noted for being high in anti-oxidants and provides various health benefits. So far the Warrens have used the berries to make wine, jellies, and various baked goods. One woman came to pick them to add to smoothies because of the rich purple Jeff Warren has planted 1,600 aronia berry bushes in his orchard on Midtown Road color, as well as the flavor. Turn to A3 with plans to market the healthful fruit. His dog Dudley sits at his side. Photo by Vinde
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10 Entertainment, A6 Marriage Licenses, A4
Wells
Oregon Police, B5 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B2 Sheriff’s Arrests, B2
Social News, A4 Sports, A10 State’s Attorney, B3 Weather, A3
Deaths, B3 Jennie M. Birkholz, Debra S. Ford, Ruth V. Nevenhoven, Willard G. Runte
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