Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal June 26, 2014 Volume 152, Number 9 - $1.00
Recycling Issue
Family Farms
Let Freedom Ring
Illegal dumping could spell the end of a popular recycling program. B2
Farms are still in the same family after more than a century. Inside
A full schedule of events are in store for visitors at a Mt. Morris festival. A10-A12
Concealed carry policy questioned County board approves policy after discussion By Chris Johnson Reporter
A black bear looks down on the crowd that had formed after he climbed a tree southwest of Mt. Morris last week. Photo by Earleen Hinton
Bear briefly visited Mt. Morris Sightings were also reported in Carroll County By Vinde Wells Editor Mt. Morris’ wild visitor is apparently still on the move. Although the last confirmed sighting was southwest of Mt. Morris last week, Robert Frazier, Acting Regional Commander for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources said Tuesday that the black bear has reportedly been seen in Carroll County as recently as Monday. However, he said that sighting is unconfirmed. The 200-pound male bear spent several hours in and
near Mt. Morris on June 18, spending several hours in an oak tree a mile or so out of town, and then lumbering off through a cornfield to the west in the early evening. According to Mt. Morris Police Chief Jason White, the bear sightings started early in the morning. “Some time around 6:30 in the morning we got calls about a bear seen in the subdivision east of Dillehay Park,� he said. Before that, the bear had been spotted in Chana on June 15. “I feel the bear just took the railroad tracks across the river and to Mt. Morris,� he said. “That would have kept him away from people.� Somewhere around 6:30 a.m., a Mt. Morris resident, who didn’t want to be
identified, saw the bear at the railroad tracks on Ill. 64 at the east edge of town. The bear ran west and was near the medical clinic when he last saw it. From there the bear apparently made his way west across backyards. He was caught on a surveillance camera at Trinity Lutheran Church running through yards on the other side of Brayton Road. Church secretary Barb Diehl checked the tape that morning when she got to work. “He ran from behind LaBashes toward Garrisons [a half block west],� she said. After that several people leaving an exercise session at Dillehay Park saw the bear as he crossed Ogle Avenue. By then, word had spread
Village board rejects all seal coating bids June 16 By Chris Johnson Reporter No roads will receive maintenance this summer after the Forreston Village Board rejected all bids for seal coating June 16. “Jim George and Sons was the low bidder,� said village president Michael Harn. “We had a conversation with concerns with their previous work.� The discussion was held while an Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) official was present at the bid opening. Harn said Fehr-Grahm and Associates, Freeport, could oversee the work done by the Sycamore company. “They would monitor the preparation and application rate,� said Harn. “Jim George
was the low bidder and they meet the requirements.� “In my opinion, I don’t want them back here,� said trustee Jeff Freeze. The company did seal coating a couple years ago in the village. Buss said the stone chips from that project all ended up in the ditch. “We spent $50,000 last time and it was gone,� said trustee Gary Buss. Village engineer Mick Gronewold, Fehr-Grahm, said his office would be around to inspect the work. “I want a guarantee,� said Buss. “You will not get that type of guarantee,� said Gronewold. Gronewold said there are variables that can determine if the materials used will stick.
In This Week’s Edition...
around the community about the bear’s arrival and a crowd was gathering to catch a glimpse or snap a photo. White said he and another Mt. Morris officer, Fire Chief Rob Hough, and Ogle County Deputy Brian Ketter chased the bear out of town after it was seen in the 400 block of South McKendrie Avenue. “We just kind of herded him south out of town,� White said. “We wanted to get him away from people.� Turn to A7
Bringing county policy in line with Illinois law caused a stir during the Ogle County Board meeting last week. The discussion over concealed carry required two votes to approve. “Can we go to private session and hash this over?� said Lee Meyers, Byron, June 17. “This can not be discussed in closed session,� said board chairman Kim Gouker, Byron. “We are bringing our personnel policy in line with Illinois legislation.� “It makes them (county employees) sitting ducks,� said Pat Saunders, Polo. “It bothers me that we adopt something written by Democrats in Chicago. Can we make changes to this?� Board member Skip Kenney, Rochelle, had the same concerns. “I think we are better than that,� he said. “We can develop one for Ogle County.� “This is state law,� said Bill Welty, Chana. “I am not sure you can change this.� A roll call vote on the motion to approve the policy was requested by Zach Oltmanns, Stillman Valley. One of the concerns raised was the wording about bringing a firearm on county property.
Board member Pat Nordman, Oregon, told the board the law is clear on what is allowed and Welty expanded on details of the law. “There is concealed carry and appropriate carry,� Nordman said. “Concealed carry allows loaded handguns in a car in any parking lot,� said Welty. “I can not exit the vehicle with a loaded weapon on county property.� The concealed carry law allows a registered gun owner with a proper license to drive through parks, county, and school property. The gun can also be kept in the vehicle as long as it remains locked. “The new law does not take away any gun rights,� said state’s attorney Mike Rock. “You still have safe harbor rules.� Gouker said if the state changes the concealed carry law the board could revisit and relax the policy. “I think the whole law is dumb,� said Lyle Hopkins, Polo. “Marking these buildings is the stupidest thing.� He said criminals can target these buildings because they know the employees and customers do not have a gun. The law calls for a sign with a gun in a red circle with a line through it to show guns are not allowed. “I think we have county officials in a threatening position,� said Ron Colson, Mt. Morris. Kenney suggested delaying Turn to A2
Well maintenance approved By Chris Johnson Reporter A $20,000 contract was approved for maintenance on the well by the Forreston Water Tower June 18. The board unanimously approved Ernie Olsen, Ridott, for the work. “Do you want to keep it local with Olsen or the
guy doing the work for 20 years out of Dubuque,� said Alan Cruthis, the villages superintendent of public works. “They are all quality companies.� Village Engineer Mick Gronewold, Fehr-Grahm and Associates, Freeport, said his company has worked with them. “They are great
contractors,� he said. There was a $4,000 difference in price between the bid from Olsen and Peerless, Dubuque, Iowa. “Olsen dropped his price $1,200 for sure, and he is local,� said Cruthis. Gronewold said Olsen’s prices were competitive on Turn to A2
“There are two choices,� said Harn. “Yes. No. He met all of the bid requirements.� Gronewold said the board could accept the bid or reject all the bids. “Would someone be there 24/7 to make sure they do not recalibrate their machine?� said trustee Ken Toms. “I would feel more comfortable if they say this guy is good.� “They meet all IDOT rules,� said Gronewold. The bids were rejected by a 3-2 vote. Freeze, Toms, and Buss rejected the bids. Marc Stamm and Tim Drayton cast no votes. Trustee Mark Metzger was absent. Eight Forreston FFA members and their advisor, Robert Nelson, attended the 86th
FFA Attends State Convention
annual Illinois FFA Convention held in Springfield from June 10-12. Members attended
! CALL TO *IM 'EORGE convention sessions, leadership workshops, and heard various keynote speakers. was not returned by press Students also enjoyed visiting historical sites such as the Lincoln Museum and Old DEADLINE State Capitol, as well as a Springfield Sliders minor league baseball game.
Agriculture, A7 Birth, A4 Church News, A5 Classifieds, B8-B12 Entertainment, A6
Fines, B6 Forreston Police, A3 Marriage Licenses, A4 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B6
Sheriff’s Arrests, B5 Social News, A4 Sports, B1 State’s Attorney, B5 Weather, A2
Deaths, B3 Hughling A. Blumeyer, Jessie B. Hinkle, Wayne W. Koeller
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