Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal July 24, 2014 Volume 152, Number 13 - $1.00
Rugged Runner
It’s Fair Time!
New Facility
A Polo native wins the Rugged Run at Oregon Trail Days on July 20. B1
The Ogle County Fair and 4-H Fair is right around the corner. Insert
Sinnissippi Centers, Inc., dedicated its new facility in Oregon last week. A8
$2.7 million for system upgrade Wastewater plant needs to receive updates By Chris Johnson Reporter A $2.7 million project to repair and upgrade the Forreston wastewater treatment plant was approved Monday night. “There were only two bids for the project which is hard to swallow,� said village president Michael Harn. “The low bidder is doing the sewer plant in Stillman Valley.� Harn said Fehr, Graham & Associates, Freeport, recommended awarding the project to the low bidder, Leander Construction, Canton. The board unanimously approved the project contingent on receiving the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) loan. “The next step is to submit the loan paperwork to the IEPA,� said Village Engineer Mick Gronewold, of Fehr, Graham & Associates. “We will then receive a notice of a loan commitment. We then can award the project. In a perfect world we will hear back in four to six weeks.� He said the loan cycle for the IEPA ends in September
which could cause a delay in the application. “I am expecting six weeks,� said Gronewold. “We will see.� After receiving the loan approval from the IEPA it might take four weeks to complete the award paperwork and another four weeks for shop drawings, he said. “The bulk of the work will be completed next spring because they have to order equipment.,� said Gronewold. The upgrades will include a new box screening and grit removal building, new equipment, repairs to existing tanks, and a new clarifier to increase the plant’s capacity. The payments on the loan will begin six months after the project is completed. “Will the sewer rates cover the expense?� asked trustee Gary Buss. “Or raise rates again?� “We planned to borrow $2.5 million at 2.5 percent interest,� said Gronewold. “We will see.� Harn said the village raised rates early to get money put aside in a fund to help offset the loan. “We will know when we get the loan approval if we need to raise the rates,’ said Gronewold. “Your rate structure is based on $2.5 million.�
Board approves gaming policies Proceeds split with the county and state By Vinde Wells Editor Video gaming is now allowed in the unincorporated areas of Ogle County. Reversing its stance from a year ago, the county board voted 17-5 on July 15 to allow video gaming at the 14 establishments that hold county liquor licenses. Board member Greg Sparrow, Rochelle, said the county board’s decision last year put rural establishments at a disadvantage because municipalities in the county had approved video gaming. “All this will do is level the playing field,� he said. Board member Dick Petrizzo, Monroe Center, said he was surprised to see how much revenue is coming in from the gaming machines. “In my little corner of the world, it looks like people are spending about $200,000 per year on these machines,� he said. “It’s a staggering amount. I’m sorry to see that.�
Board chairman Kim Gouker said the county’s ordinance stipulates that at least 65 percent of an establishment’s income must come from nongaming income. Proceeds from the machines are split between the bar owner, the company that provides the machines, the state, and the city or county. The money is collected by the state which then distributes it. The city or county gets 5 percent, the state gets 25 percent, the machine provider and establishment each get 35 percent. The Illinois Video Gaming Act enacted in 2009 legalizes the use of video gaming terminals in certain establishments that hold liquor licenses. Voting against the video gaming ordinance were board members, Lyle Hopkins, Polo, Dan Janes, Stillman Valley, Patricia Nordman, Oregon, Zach Oltmanns, Stillman Valley, and Ashley Simms, Rochelle. In related action, the board reduced the number of available liquor licenses from 20 to 15.
In This Week’s Edition...
Lori Blask, Baileyville, drafts a barn quilt on graph paper July 20 during Oregon Trail Days. Photo by Chris Johnson
Trail Days festival drew a crowd By Vinde Wells Editor Perfect weather and a worthy cause drew an estimated 4,500 people to the fifth and final Oregon Trail Days festival last weekend. “It may have been our highest attendance ever,� said Beth Henderson, one of the festival organizers. She said the two-day event, held July 19 and 20 at Lowden State Park, went off without a hitch. “It was phenomenal!� she said Tuesday. “The weather was perfect and everything fell into place. Several people came up to me and said we should keep it going.�
The festival, featuring a Native American and western theme, was organized in 2010 to raise money for repairs to the renowned Black Hawk statue, which is situated on a high bluff overlooking the Rock River at the park. Time and weather have caused significant damage to the 103-year-old concrete landmark which was created by sculptor Laredo Taft. Since most of the money has been raised for the repairs, Henderson said it’s time to discontinue the festival, which has been held on the third weekend in July. “We’ve met our goal,� she said. Amy Trimble, also an
organizer of the festival, said Tuesday that the event has raised $50,000 over its five year history for the statue repair fund and has increased public awareness of the statue’s condition. “We’ve raised $50,000,� she said. “Where we were important was bringing in the media and for public relations. We brought in television stations from Chicago and Rockford.� So far, $725,000 has been raised of the estimated almost $1 million that will be needed to repair the statue’s surface damage. Henderson said one of the best-received events this year was American Indian dancer
Ronald Preston, a newcomer to the festival. “Ronnie Preston was just great. He was very educational,� she said. Preston, a member of the San Carlos Apache nation, performed dances and explained the tradition behind them. Other activities at the festival included a 5K run, breakfast at the Taft Campus, a quilt show, tipi camping, kid’s activities, and a Cowboy Arena where trickshooters and whip wranglers showed their skills. Participants in the Mountain Man area offered Turn to B1
Lowry is named Ogle Fair Queen By Chris Johnson Reporter
Lowry was competing with seven other women for the crown. Contestants in the 2014 Ogle County Fair Queen Pageant were Khrysta Oleson, Stillman Valley, Shelbi Massolle, Oregon, Rachel
Book, Byron, Lowry, Carly McMurray, Lindenwood, Korrin Cogswell, Byron, Paityn Perks, Rockford, and Jaide Farbo, Stillman Valley. The competition consisted of a swimsuit competition, speech, formal dress
competition, and on-stage questions. Lowry was asked why she wanted to be crowned the fair queen as one of her questions. “I want to be Miss Ogle County because I am involved Turn to A2
It almost felt like dejavu for an Oregon teenager Saturday night during the Ogle County Fair Queen Pageant. But fortunately for Katrina Lowry, 17, it ended differently then the previous two years. Lowry first received the Miss Congeniality award for the pageant. When the runner up was announced, there was still a chance for Lowry to be named fair queen. So when the winner was announced, Lowry’s name was called this year. She is the 2014 Ogle County Fair Queen. To use an old phrase, the third time’s a charm. “I can’t even explain my excitement right now,� said Lowry, 17, after being crowned queen. “I am so like overjoyed and so excited its crazy.� For Lowry, this was the third time she entered the competition. “My parents have been 2014 Ogle County Fair Queen Katrina Lowry, Oregon, is embraced after winning the supportive through the whole July 19 pageant. Also pictured is contestant Khrysta Oleson, Stillman Valley, clapping. thing,� she said. Photo by Chris Johnson
Business Brief, B6 Church News, A5 Classifieds, B8-B12 College News, A4 Entertainment, A6
Fines, B6 Forreston Police, A3 Marriage Licenses, A4 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B6
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 State’s Attorney, B7 Weather, A3
Deaths, B3 Reuben H. Barnhart Jr., Everett Lundin, Mervel E. Wood
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