Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal August 7, 2014 Volume 152, Number 15 - $1.00
Lucky Goat
Fair Scenes
Rodeo Action
One goat at the fair needed some help from his owners during the county fair. B1
More Ogle County Fair photos at oglecountynews.com.
The rider carrying the American Flag enjoyed the honor at the Ogle County Fair. A12
Weather was beautiful during Sauerkraut Day By Vinde Wells Editor
Aug. 2 at Sauerkraut Day at Forreston’s Memorial Park. “We had very good cars Cars, motorcycles, and bikes, the weather was traditional German food, beautiful, everyone was and family fun were featured happy,� said Bret Schemel,
Zachary Griffin, Oregon, takes a ride down the bouncy slide Aug. 2 at Sauerkraut Day at Forreston Memorial Park. Photo by Vinde Wells
one of the event’s organizers. The annual event, sponsored by the Forreston American Legion, includes a car and bike show, a sauerkraut dinner, raffles and door prizes, as well as activities for youngsters. Several new exhibitors entered their vehicles in the show, Schemel said, and those who attended seemed pleased with the gun raffle, 50-50 raffle, and door prizes given throughout the day. “More and more people are coming for the sauerkraut,� he said. “And we had bouncy rides for kids and bingo. We had a little bit of everything.� The bouncy rides were sponsored by Forreston Area Business Association. Other activities included a bake sale sponsored by Faith Lutheran Church, along with cash bingo, petting zoo, craft booths and ball games, all sponsored by the Forreston Lions Club. George Marrill, Emmettsburg, Iowa, was in town to visit with his old friend David Menz, who lives Turn to A3
Rented equipment vandalized By Chris Johnson Reporter Vandalism to a rented bulldozer cost Forreston taxpayers $1,300. “We had borrowed a tractor from a farm owner to clear some property,� said Village President Michael Harn. “The batteries were stolen and cables were cut.� The cost to get the damage fixed was $1,300. An insurance deductible on the equipment is $1,000 and Harn asked opinions about
whether the claim should be filed. Board members agreed that for the small amount, the village should pay the entire cost to avoid having premiums rise. Police Chief Michael Boomgarden is investigating the incident. Anyone with information about the vandalism should contact village hall. In other business Robert Dillavou asked about closing Second Avenue for a community lunch.
“This is the third year Faith Lutheran is having a picnic in front of the church,� he said. “I wanted to come and ask for tables and barricades.� The community picnic is being held on Saturday, Aug. 23. Second Avenue will be closed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dillavou said free food, games, and karaoke are planned. “Anyone is welcome to attend the picnic,� he said. The event is being organized by Faith Lutheran and the Forreston Church Council.
Delbert Boelkens, Forreston, checks out a 1952 Chevy pick-up owned by Pete Estruda, Sterling, Aug. 2 at the car and bike show held at Sauerkraut Day in Forreston. Photo by Vinde Wells
Blacksmiths gathered at John Deere Historic Site By Earleen Hinton General Manager Boot scrapers, triangular dinner bells, Celtic crosses, and even a few twisted shovels were just some of the steel creations that came to life at the John Deere Historic Site’s 2014 Hammer In Aug. 2-3. The biennial event, held at the Grand Detour homestead of John Deere—inventor of the first self-scouring steel plow nearly 177 years ago, featured blacksmiths from several states doing what they do best, hammering steel. “We have a great turnout,� said Brian Holst, manager of the historic site. “And you can’t beat the weather.� Sunny skies and 80 degree temps on Saturday welcomed a steady stream of visitors to the site that is marking its 50th anniversary this year.
“We can’t wait to come down and see all this. We just really enjoy it,� — Mary Zettle, Forreston Visitors could learn about Deere’s early life in Illinois touring his home and the excavation site of his original blacksmith shop where he forged his plows before winding their way past current-day blacksmiths who were happy to talk about their trade to onlookers. Nearly 10 people watched as Paul Novorolsky, Elburn, made a one-piece twisted shovel at his blacksmithing tent, heating the steel and then hammering it into a usable tool. “It takes me about 3 hours to make this here because I’m always stopping to talk about what I am doing,� said
Novorolsky. “At home it usually takes me about half that time.â€? Novorolsky said he uses scrap metal for most of his projects. “It’s steel from junkyards, scrap yards‌ leftover pieces. Blacksmiths are great recyclers,â€? he said smiling. “A lot of what we do is made out of a piece from here or there.â€? What blacksmiths “doâ€? is the reason the Zettle family from Forreston makes sure the Hammer In is on their “to doâ€? list every other year. “We can’t wait to come down and see all this. We just Turn to A2
Smoke filled action for the annual tractor pull By Chris Johnson Reporter
front tires, and loud engines These were coming from were found at the Ogle a variety of tractors being County Fair Thursday driven in the annual tractor Black smoke, bouncing afternoon. pulls at the Ogle County Fair July 31. Local resident Bill Clothier, Polo, was competing in the afternoon tractor pull. He brought his Farmall 1466 Turbo to the line and went down the track in the 12,500 pound division. When the flag was waived to end his run, Clothier finished with a 313 foot pull. Two feet short of a full pull. “I just missed the pull off,� said Clothier after missing the full pull. “I was close today but I am in the hunt. Other tractors have 200 hp more than this one.� Clothier used to compete in the antique tractor pull Mary, Stephen, and Richard Zettle, Forreston, look at the new plow sculpture that was Bill Clothier, Polo, rides his International down his lane and decided to try the larger unveiled at the John Deere Historic Site in Grand Detour on Aug. 2. The bigger-thanThursday afternoon in the afternoon tractor pull at the show. lifesize-plow honors John Deere,who invented the steel plow in Grand Detour. Photo Turn to A11 Ogle County Fair. Photo by Chris Johnson by Earleen Hinton
In This Week’s Edition...
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B7-B12 College News, A4 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B4
Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B3 Property Transfers, B6 Sheriff’s Arrests, B3
Social News, A4 Sports, A9, A10 State’s Attorney, B6 Zoning Permits, B6
Deaths, B2 Veda May Cole, Susan M. Jorgensen, Aileen Personette, Darrel L. Strite
0UBLISHED EVERY 4HURSDAY BY /GLE #OUNTY .EWSPAPERS A DIVISION OF 3HAW -EDIA s WWW OGLECOUNTYNEWS COM