Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal October 1, 2015 Volume 153, Number 23 - $1.00
Cardinals Win
Wellness Fair
Local fire departments are recognized. A8, B5
The Forreston Cardinals earned a win 28-22 against a tough West Carroll team. B1
Make plans to attend the annual Wellness Fair at the Rock River Center Oct. 16. A6
Festival marks
45th anniversary By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com
Homecoming 2015 Forreston High School held its Homecoming Sept. 21-26 with a variety of activities. Above, King Logan Rogers and Queen Courtney Wolf were crowned during the Homecoming Dance on Saturday night. Pictured in the back row left to right are: seniors Nick Wilson, Maddie Mershon, Rogers, Wolf, Naeva Gronewold, Brady Bronkema. Front row: juniors Cody Moser and Alexia Gruhn, freshmen Hunter Rogers and Bailey Fyock, and sophomores Ben Sketo and Taylor Shuey. Below, The junior high band followed the honor guard to lead the floats and teams in the Homecoming parade. Photos by Kathie Conerton
It could be a banner year for the Autumn on Parade this weekend, if Mother Nature decides to play along for the all-volunteer festival’s 45th anniversary. A “Flashback to the 1970s” is the theme for this year’s event, held Oct. 3-4 in Oregon. “We wanted to try and do something to celebrate the 45 years of Autumn on Parade. A lot of volunteers have helped make this festival a success since 1970 and we thought the 1970s theme might be fun,” said festival president Marseyne Snow. The ever-popular Farmers’ Market and Craft Show, held Saturday and Sunday, and Harvest Time Parade, held on Sunday, should not disappoint with more than 165 booths taking part. “Starting last fall our sixperson committee has gone to many other craft shows trying to bring in quality homemade items to this years craft show” said Lisa Boehle, co-chairman of the Farmer’s Market and Craft Show. Through cooperation with Ogle County and city officials, the booths will be located on the historic courthouse lawn and on surrounding city streets offering a variety of arts and crafts ranging from handmade wood items to homemade baked breads. On Sunday, the Harvest Time Parade, has more than 125 entries including 12 bands. “It’s going to be one of the largest parades ever. We have 15 to 20 more entries than last year. Most of
the favorites will be back, like the South Shore Drill Team and the Jesse White Tumblers. Besides that we have several high school marching bands and novelty entries like a rocket cycle, stilt walkers, and many other entries,” Snow said. A post parade show by the South Shore Drill Team will again be offered on Sunday, at the conclusion of the main parade on Jefferson Street in front of the Oregon library. Another new event includes a donut eating contest for kids and adults from 9 a.m. to approximately 1 p.m. on Saturday. There will be four-age groups: 5-7 years; 8-10; 11-13; and 14-adult. The contest will be held in the parking lot on Jefferson Street, located between S. Fifth and S. Sixth Streets. Donuts are being provided by Casey’s. “We tried to break it into groups that would be competitive against each other,” said Chris Weber, cochairman of the event. “The winner of each age group will be given a prize.” Create A Canvas The festival will be celebrating Oregon’s rich history of artistic expression with its new Create A Canvas event on Saturday night at the E.D. Etynre manufacturing facility on S. Daysville Road. Under direction of a Dixon artist, participants will be instructed step-by-step on how to paint their canvas. This painting event is already sold out, but tickets are still available for the Oregon Chamber of Commerce’s Autumn on the Vine, an annual wine, craft beer, and appetizers tasting and Turn to A3
Polo Citizen of the Year raises awareness for PTSD By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecountynews.com Polo’s 2015 Citizen of the Year said that while he and his family appreciate the award, they are not seeking recognition. “My family and I truly appreciate this,” said Mike Bowman. “But what we’re about is trying to save lives and change lives.” He was named the 26th Citizen of the Year Monday night at the Polo Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner held at Barnacopia.
Bowman said he and his wife Kim were completely taken by surprise when his name was announced by presenter Mike Faivre. “It’s the first time we’ve ever come to the dinner,” he said as well-wishers crowded around him for hugs and handshakes. “We decided to come at the last minute. I had a hand in building this [Barnacopia] so I thought why not?” He is the owner of Bowman Electric, a family business. Faivre said Bowman was nominated by several individuals for his efforts to bring awareness to post traumatic stress
disorder and suicide prevention for soldiers returning from combat. “Mike testified to the House Committee on Veterans Affairs and has tirelessly pushed for reforms after losing his son Tim to suicide in 2005,” one letter read. “Mike battled through the emotions of his testimony and has championed on to help those returning from war.” Tim Bowman was a decorated combat veteran who had served in Iraq. He took his own life in November of 2005 after returning home. He was just Turn to A3
Belvidere man died in Sept. 25 crash By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com A Belvidere man died Sept. 25 after the sports utility vehicle he was driving struck a tree approximately seven miles south of Oregon, just north of Penn Corner
Road. Thomas W. Ashley, 22, was pronounced dead at KSB Hospital, Dixon, where he was transported by Oregon ambulance. Ogle County Sheriff’s Police said Ashley was on his way to a campground near Grand Detour to attend
In This Week’s Edition...
an outing with a church group from his college. Camping gear and other items were strewn around the crash site and into the nearby soybean field. According to a press release issued by Sheriff Brian VanVickle, Ashley was driving a Chevrolet
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, A7 Marriage Licenses, A4
Suburban southbound on Ill. 2 when he attempted to pass another southbound vehicle. Deputies determined that he lost control of the SUV when pulling back into the southbound lane after the pass and skidded into the west ditch where the vehicle Turn to A3
Oregon Police, A7 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B5 Sheriff’s Arrests, B3
2015 Citizen of the Year Mike Bowman, right, gets a congratulatory hug from Polo Mayor Doug Knapp Monday night at the Chamber of Commerce annual dinner at Barnacopia. Photo by Vinde Wells
Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B3 Weather, A2
Deaths, B4
Judith L. Bocker, Donna Clow, William R. Huskins, Dorothy E. Parkinson, Florence E. Terhune, Max W. Tieman, Robert Weegens
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com