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FORRESTON Journal August 14, 2014 Volume 152, Number 16 - $1.00
Vedra Scramble
Serial Killer
Documentary
Sign up now for the annual Vedra Scramble that will be held on Sept. 13. B1
Nicholas Sheley sentenced to life for 2008 Rock Falls murders. B3
Famous Ogle County resident John Deere will be the focus of a new documentary. A8
Motorcycles can travel in packs By Chris Johnson Reporter
Car Wash Above, Annie Timmer, Baileyville, gives a fire truck a thorough scrubbing Aug. 9 at the Leaf River Soaring Eagles 4-H Club car wash at the Leaf River Fire Station. Proceeds from the event were given to the Granny Rose Animal Shelter, Dixon. At right, Olivia Stranberg, Oregon, sprays the suds off a car. Photos by Vinde Wells
IDNR approves Black Hawk plan By Vinde Wells Editor The waiting is over and repairs to the Black Hawk statue can begin. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has given its blessing to a plan to repair the damage the 103-year-old statue has suffered from weather and time. “It’s my understanding that the IDNR has approved the plan,� said Frank Rausa, Sterling, on Tuesday. “Now all that’s left to do is issuing contracts. We’re making progress.� Rausa is a member of the Friends of the Black Hawk Statue, the organization spearheading restoration efforts and fundraising for the project. The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (IHPA) gave its approval to the plan last week. Approval from both agencies was needed for the work to move forward. The IDNR’s approval was required because the statue, which overlooks the Rock River from a high bluff at Lowden State Park near Oregon, is under that agency’s jurisdiction. The IDNR received a $350,000 grant for the project from the Illinois Department
Damage on the arms of the Black Hawk Statue are clearly visible. Photo by Chris Johnson
of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Because the statue has landmark status, the IHPA also had to sign off. Black Hawk has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2009. Created by sculptor Lorado Taft in 1910 as a tribute to all Native Americans, the statue draws thousands of visitors
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each year. It was unveiled in 1911. Testing and evaluations done last fall and this spring by Thornton Tomasetti, Chicago, an architectural firm that provides engineering design, investigation, and analysis services to clients worldwide, showed that three areas of the statue greatly need repairs. Chunks of the concrete have
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fallen from the folded arms of the statue, and more areas are loose and ready to fall. Preparation work began in mid-July when a crew removed the bushes and limestone blocks from around the base of the statue and put up a fence around it. Scaffolding was delivered to the site late last week. Rausa said a special stairs is still needed for the scaffolding. Once that is secured and the scaffolding is in place, the repair team will begin doing “mock-ups� or testing various mixtures of concrete and other materials to see which one will work the best to restore the damaged areas. A rededication ceremony will be held once the work is done, probably next July. So far, approximately $725,000 has been raised toward the repairs. Rausa said an additional $75,000 to $100,000 will likely be needed to complete the project. To donate, checks can be made out to the Illinois Conservation Foundation and marked for the Black Hawk Statue. Donations can be mailed to Illinois Conservation Foundation, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield IL 62702.
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A recent double-fatality involving two motorcycles has raised questions for some area motorists on the legality of motorcycles riding in packs. The Illinois Motorcycle Operator Manual published by Jesse White, Secretary of State, outlines the laws for cyclists. On page 32 of the publication, it is recommended to divide a pack into smaller groups and suggests riders should be staggered in a zig zag formation, not side by side. Sergeant Michael Kuehl, Illinois State Police (ISP) District 1 Interim Administrative Officer, confirmed there is no law against pack riding. “There are no laws restricting the number of motorcycles in a pack,� he wrote in an email about motorcycle safety. Motorcycle riders follow many of the same laws as other motorists on the roads. Drivers following a motorcycle should always be extra aware of motorcycles, but motorcycles also need to be aware of the automobiles and drive extra defensively, he wrote. There are signs around the county advising motorists to start seeing motorcycles, but all motorists need to pay attention to everyone on the road, he added. Distracted driving has become a contributing cause to several accidents, according to Kuehl. “Motor vehicle crashes due to distracted driving are definitely on the rise,� he wrote. Cell phones are one of the major causes of distracted
drivers and a law is on the books requiring cell phone use to be hands free. “The ISP aggressively enforces the new distracted driving laws,� Kuehl wrote. “I would add that hands-free cell phone use means just that... ‘hand-free’. Holding the phone in your hand with the speaker phone on does not count and when a call is made.� A phone needs to be onetouch dialing. According to Kuehl, holding the phone and scrolling through contacts to find the number is unlawful. Also illegal is holding the phone and scrolling through a list of music, tuning into a streaming radio program or reading a map. The phone can not be in the driver’s hand, he wrote. Another piece of advice Kuehl had for motorists is to maintain space between vehicles. “Extra space should always be given, whether it is a motorcycle or not,� he wrote. “We see far too many drivers who follow too closely. Following too closely is unlawful so if the driver rear-ends the vehicle in front of them because the front vehicle had to stop suddenly, it is likely the following vehicle will be issued a citation.� In Illinois motorcyclists are not required to wear a helmet, but the ISP recommends all riders wear protective body wear including helmets boots, gloves and reflective clothing. “Our motorcycle officers wear helmets and consider helmets to be an added safety measure,� Kuehl wrote. Motorcycle safety classes are also offered throughout Turn to A12
Owners share stories at show By Chris Johnson Reporter
Every car has a story — all you need to do is ask the owner. This rang true during the 25th annual Polo Car, Truck, and Tractor Show Saturday morning. Car enthusiasts arrived early to prepare their car for the show. Each one had a different story and a variety of reasons why they love showing their vehicle. Marlin Jensen, Dixon, was at the show with his 1974 Jensen Interceptor. “I needed a car with my name,� said Jensen. “This car is a Jensen. I also own a Marlin.� Having two antique cars that match his first and last name was one thing that made Jensen unique.
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The story of how he acquired the Interceptor was a tale to be told. “The Interceptor was built in West Bromwich, England,� he said. “It has a Chrysler engine and a Jaguar rear end. I bought this car site unseen online.� Purchasing a car online took trust between the buyer and seller. Jensen joked the car looked good in the pictures and description. “The guy was good but did not disclose everything,� Jensen said. “I did not want a project. I wanted no rust, but it had a hole in the hood.� If that was the only problem, it would have been a relatively simple fix, however there were additional dents and major damage to be repaired. Turn to A12
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