Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal August 27, 2015 Volume 153, Number 18 - $1.00
Volleyball Previews
River Sweep
Golf Results
Seasons are about to begin for the Polo and Forreston volleyball teams. B1
Volunteers are needed to help clean the Rock River Sept. 12. A6
The first week of the young golf season has finished for the Cardinals and the Marcos. B1
Hardware store has a new owner By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com The right opportunity prompted a downtown Forreston store owner to sell his business last week. Forreston Hardware officially became Koeller Forreston Hardware on Aug. 21 when owner Monty Cotter sold the store on the corner of Ill. 72 and 26 to Gary and Jane Koeller. Cotter, 61, said he was planning to retire and sell the business in about three years but that all changed when the Koellers expressed interest in buying it a few months ago. “The opportunity arose to sell,” Cotter said. “I thought about it and decided now is the time. The opportunity might not be here in three years.” The new owners live in Forreston and have roots there, and that was important, he said. “It’s a good thing for the community to keep the store locally owned and in town,” Cotter said. Gary, 54, agreed. “I didn’t want to see it leaving Forreston,” he said. “Jane and I are very excited to be doing this and to continue it. It will be a family-run business.”
Community Picnic
Jane is a lifelong Forreston resident, and Gary moved to town with his family in 1967. He grew up here and left for several years but moved back five years ago. The hardware store is a natural fit for Gary, who is a licensed plumber and has always done his own handyman projects. “I’m familiar with the tools and what’s needed for projects,” he said. Cotter and Gary were busy Monday morning taking care of customers and conferring on everything from inventory to computer programs. Cotter said he has no firm plans for the future, but for the time being will work for the Koellers at the store to make the transition as smooth as possible. Gary said he no plans to make changes in the business at first. “In time we may want to increase inventory and add new products,” he said. “I do plan to do outreach to potential customers in communities without hardware stores.” Cotter bought the store almost 16 years ago from Dennis and Nancy Simler. “I came to work for Dennis, thinking I would buy the store from him and Turn to A3
Above, Wilma Akins, Forreston, visits with Joslyn Brashaw, center, and Taylor Akins, both of Forreston, while they work on making a project with yarn at the Community Picnic Aug. 22 at Faith Lutheran Church. At left, Ericka Alexander, Forreston, tries her hand at grinding corn into meal. Photos by Vinde Wells
County clerk will
step down in March Huntley has served the public for 29 years By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com Longtime Ogle County Clerk Rebecca Huntley announced her retirement last week after almost three decades of serving the public. Huntley, 54, said Aug. 20 that the time feels right for her to step down. Her resignation will take effect after the primary election next March. “It seems like it’s time for me to do something else with my life after serving the citizens of Ogle County for 29 years,” she said. For the last 18 years of that time, Huntley has been the county clerk. She said serving the people in that capacity has been a pleasure. “I appreciate the opportunity to serve the people of Ogle County as clerk and recorder for 18 years,” she said. “It’s been an awesome experience.” Huntley began her career in public service by serving on the county board for five years, and then was the first
victim witness advocate for the Ogle County State’s Attorney’s office for six years. She was first elected county clerk in November of 1998 and was re-elected four times to four-year terms, most recently in 2014. Prior to serving on the county board, Huntley was the legal advocate for HOPE, a domestic violence shelter in Rochelle. She said serving in government was the career she wanted and studied for. “I was a political science major at the U of I,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to serve in elected government.” One of things Huntley has enjoyed the most about being county clerk is elections. “I’ve really enjoyed Election Day,” she said. “Depending on the election, 8,000 to 25,000 people have been able to cast a vote and participate in our democracy. The next day I would look back and think how I was able to be part of the big picture of electing a President or nominating a Governor.” She credited her staff and election judges with getting the work done to make elections happen. “I have a wonderful staff Turn to A3
In This Week’s Edition...
O’Rourke, Eden earn Chamber awards By Chris Johnson cxjohnson oglecountynews.com Little white lies were required to make sure two Oregon men attended the annual Oregon Chamber of Commerce Dinner on Aug. 20. Tim O’Rourke and Stan
Eden were both expecting to represent organizations they volunteer with. Little did they know they would be the stars of the show. “I would have never been here if they hadn’t faked me out,” said O’Rourke after being named the Citizen of the Year. He was attending the event
to represent the Candlelight Walk committee, an event he has been part of for years. “A soft spoken and kind spirit, always professional and friendly, this individual keeps well hidden the countless ways that the seeds of his efforts have taken root and thrived beyond measure,” said Chamber of Commerce
Executive Director Debbie Dickson. “As an educator, his humor and creativity in the classroom captured the attention of our future – the youth of our town - opening minds to the possibility, potential and promise that a cultivated mind can achieve. He has leant a well rounded Turn to A9
At left, 2015 Citizen of the Year Tim O’Rourke tries on his ceremonial glasses while Oregon Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Debbie Dickson enjoys the moment. At right, Stan Eden acknowledges the crowd as he prepares to take the stage to accept the Volunteer of the Year award. Seated with him is his wife, Loretta. Photos by Chris Johnson
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B7-B12 Entertainment, A6 Forreston Police, A3
Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B6 Property Transfers, B4 Sheriff’s Arrests, B5
Social News, A4 Sports, A12, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B3
Deaths, B5
Christopher H. Ascher, Doris R. Blake, Sandra L. Brady, Nancy A. Bunger, Dolores I. Gecan, James A. Hinkle, Lorraine E. Krueger
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com