Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal July 23, 2015 Volume 153, Number 13 - $1.00
Alumni Games
It’s Fair Time!
Recycling Events
Polo played in an alumni football game and Oregon is preparing for theirs. B1
The Ogle County Fair and 4-H Fair is right around the corner. Insert
Ogle County is hosting a pair of recycling events. One for electronics, one for used oil. A6, A7
Lifelong sports fan is honored during game By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@oglecounty news.com
During a halftime presentation at the Polo and Milledgeville alumni game, Chuck Hulke, state director of Alumni Football USA, presented Karen Ludwig with a signed game ball to honor Ludwig’s late husband Stan who passed away in April and was a lifelong Forreston sports fan. Photo by Chris Johnson
Officer informs board of court date By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@oglecounty news.com Forreston Police Chief Mike Boomgarden informed the village board Monday night that he was needed to attend court recently. He received a call of a suspicious car from a concerned citizen in March. “I sent an officer to the scene to investigate,” said Boomgarden. “There was a
motion to suppress. I got it worked out.” Boomgarden said he talked to an attorney from the Ogle County State’s Attorney’s office and the defense attorney and resolved the matter without having to go in front of a judge. Boomgarden said the defendant believed the officer had no legal right to investigate the suspicious car and issue a ticket for a
suspended license. The vehicle was running at night with the driver sitting in the car. In other business, Gene Greene made a proposal from the Lions Club to purchase a swing set for the trailer park on Logan Street. “We would like to put a little playground there,” said Greene. “I would like the board input.” Village President Michael Harn thought it was a good
idea. “The only thing I am concerned about is if there are bases poured,” said Harn. “It is a great idea.” Harn would like to see the set anchored to the ground but not permanently installed on the property. Greene said he would inform the board with what equipment is purchased and ask for further input to ensure the equipment is safe.
An emotional tribute was made in honor of a Forreston man who attended thousands of sporting events over his lifetime. Karen Ludwig was presented a signed football Saturday night during the half-time of the Polo alumni football game in Milledgeville. The presentation was to honor her late husband Stan who passed away in April. “This is really nice,” said Ludwig. “Stan would have said ‘do not do that’ because he did not want the attention. He was a Cardinals supporter and tried to get to every game.” A love of sports started when Stan was a young man and that passion for Forreston athletics continued throughout all his life. “My first date he took me to a movie and the second date we went to a Forreston basketball game,” Ludwig said with a smile. “Through him I became a Forreston fan.” Receiving a signed
football was a fitting tribute for the family since the Cardinals won the state football title this year. “This past season he went to the state football game,” said Ludwig. For a lifelong fan this was especially touching for the Ludwig family, but the good memories continued throughout the basketball season. “When Stan had to go to a nursing home he still made sure to listen to the basketball games on the radio,” said Ludwig. “He was able to watch the state basketball games on TV.” Almost everyone in Forreston knew Stan and if they did not know him they heard him. “Everyone was calling him grandpa at the games,” Ludwig said. “He would cheer for all the players.” He tried to attend every game his children or grandchildren participated in from golf matches to basketball games. Stan also attended games just as a fan on high school sports. Karen and Stan were to celebrate their 50th anniversary this summer. “This is a special moment to remember him,” she said.
Six underground tanks are removed from county land By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@oglecounty news.com Nothing unexpected was discovered after county workers removed six underground tanks last week at a former gas station in Oregon. The Ogle County Highway Department dug up the underground tanks July 16 at 501 W. Washington St. These tanks stored fuel and other gas station chemicals.
“We knew there were six tanks and that is what we found,” said Ogle County Engineer Curtis Cook. “Two of the tanks were partially filled with sand and the smaller tanks had a little product but not a lot. We found what we expected.” The highway department did exploratory digging to verify what was under the property before the final excavation began. Several soil samples were taken throughout the process.
“I am waiting on the test results to see if there was any other contamination to the soil,” said Cook. “We have two piles of potentially contaminated material.” When the level of contamination is verified, Cook will then know how to properly dispose of the material. The soil underneath the tanks was also tested to make sure there was no additional contamination. “We want to make sure
there are no issues with the property,” said Cook. “You want to do what you can to make sure the site is clean.” The Ogle County Board approved a multiple phase project to demolish the former gas station and turn the property into a parking lot. The first phase of the project was to remove the former Jackass BBQ building from 501 W. Washington St. and add parking spaces. This included the removal of underground tanks, left from the gas station, that were
discovered on the property. The board approved a resolution in June to accept a proposal for $15,283 from Stiles Inc., Loves Park, to remove five underground storage tanks from the property. Phase two will include the demolition of the house next door, once the lease expires with that renter. A date has yet to be set for that action. The county purchased this house at 102 S. Fifth St. from Scott and Barb Spoor for $99,500 in December of 2013.
At that time the board entered into a three-year lease with attorney Robert Lowe, who has his office there. The final phase will be completing the entire parking lot, which will have 39 spaces. Costs for the project were estimated at $203,500 for the first phase. The final two phases have an estimated cost of $161,950 to complete. The county board approved a bid on Tuesday from O’Brien Civil Works, Inc., Polo, for $144,386 to blacktop the area, which is Turn to A8
County board debates use of the Long Range Fund By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com
A 6,000 gallon gasoline storage tank was unearthed July 16, along with four other underground storage tanks at the corner of Washington and Fifth Streets, Oregon, once was location. More recently the site was the Jackass BBQ and before that Scoop’s sub shop. Excavating equipment removed the tanks and contaminated soil from the site, which will be a parking lot. Photo by Vinde Wells
In This Week’s Edition...
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B7-B10 College News, A4 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B5
The Ogle County Board debated Tuesday how funds in the Long Range Planning Fund should be used before okaying projects totaling $861,691. Board member Don Griffin, Oregon, who is chairman of the Long Range Planning Committee, asked the board to approve the list of projects to be paid from the Long Range Planning Fund.
Forreston Police, A2 Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B5 Property Transfers, B4
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B4
However, board member Ron Colson, Mt. Morris, protested because, he said, a resolution approved by the board on Nov. 16, 1999 earmarked the money in the fund to be used only for large capital improvements. In the past, the fund has been used to pay for the $15 million judicial center in 2005, the $7.5 million courthouse renovations in 2010, and the $4 million public safety complex this year. Colson made a motion to postpone the vote on the
projects until the board’s August meeting. He said he objected because the Griffin’s list includes maintenance projects. The list includes a new roof on the Pines Road Annex and repaving its parking lot; demolition of the old sheriff’s building, converting that area into a parking lot, and installing exterior LED lighting; redoing the parking lots at Focus House, the jail, courthouse, judicial center, Turn to A8
Deaths, B6 Vicky C. Fisher, Melody Martinez, Harlan E. Rothermel
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com