Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal October 22, 2015 Volume 153, Number 26 - $1.00
Regional Schedule Regional volleyball action will begin for area teams on Monday, October. 26 B2
Armed Robbery
Halloween Several safety tips will keep kids safe while trick-or-treating. A6
Two men and a juvenile are arrested for robbing a Davis Junction liquor store. A9
Ardis Kump named to Sports Hall of Fame By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com A longtime Forreston school staff member was one of the 2015 inductees into the Northwest Illinois Sports Hall of Fame. Ardis Kump was honored Oct. 17 for her 25 years of keeping the basketball scorebook for Forreston Junior and Senior High School. She has worked as a school secretary for 37 years in the Leaf River and Forrestville Valley School Districts. Keeping the scorebooks has been interesting, Kump said. “It was fun meeting all the officials, opposing team scorekeepers and coaches, plus having the best seat in the gym,” she said. Kump started keeping the books in 1990 when thencoach Robert Fry asked her to do the junior high girls’ games. The task was something she had already been doing for years for her sons, who played basketball from seventh grade through high school. Since they always wanted to know how many points
and fouls they had, Kump made up her own score sheets. Kump remembered one time when junior high coach Dave Gesin gave her the time the bus would pick her up in Leaf River for a game in Byron. After a long wait, she finally got a call telling her they forgot to pick her up and asking her to drive herself to Byron. She and Gesin still chuckle over the mix-up. Kump’s best memory is the trip to Peoria last year for the Final Four boys basketball games and receiving the fourth place medal with the Cardinal team and coaches. “For many years, I’ve watched the games on television, never imagining I would be part of it,” she said. “I will cherish these memories forever.” FHS boys varsity coach Travis Ross said Kump has touched the lives of many over the years. “A well-deserved honor School secretary Ardis Kump helps student Logan Rogers with his lunch ticket Monday morning in the Forreston for Ardis, she is the best Junior High office. Photo by Vinde Wells at what she does,” he said. “Over the years Ardis has devoted her time and passion to basketball and her job at the school.” By Vinde Wells closed session, the board out in the spring when a new Gouker said the health vwells@oglecounty voted 20-3 to offer $190,000 building is completed. department currently pays news.com to purchase a building in Gouker said the hospital $43,000 annually to rent Rochelle from Rochelle put the building up for sale space in Rochelle, and the The Ogle County Board Community Hospital. because of the facilities that probation department pays voted to spend more than Board members Lyle are under construction. $7,500 in annual rent. $600,000 Tuesday on real Hopkins, Polo, Pat Saunders, “They can stay as long The board also approved a estate, maintenance projects, Polo, and Lee Meyers, as they like,” he said. “But bid of $97,115 from N-Trak and a jail study. Byron, cast the no votes. once they move out we are Group LLC, Loves Park, to exploitation of an elderly The money will come from Nic Bolin, Holcomb, did not looking at moving the health demolish the old sheriff’s person, theft, and aggravated the Long Range Planning attend the meeting. department clinic that’s in building at 103 Jefferson St., identity theft, all Class 2 Fund, the revenues of which Board chairman Kim Rochelle to that location.” Oregon. felonies. come from the host fees Gouker, Byron, said the Probation offices already Architect Guy Gelhausen State’s Attorney Eric paid by garbage collection county currently rents the located in Rochelle may also said he expects the project Morrow filed the charges on firms to dump refuse in the basement of the building at move into the building, he to be completed early next Oct. 16. landfills within the county. 510 Lincoln Highway to use said. year after asbestos and According to court The fees currently amount as its Emergency Operations The moves hinge on an underground tank are documents, Brashaw, who to approximately $3 million Center (EOC). whether or not hospital removed. was providing in-home care per year. Rochelle Clinic is in the officials accept the county’s A bid for $339,848 from Following a 20-minute upstairs but will likely move offer. Turn to A3 Turn to A2
County Board spends $600,000
Brashaw facing three charges By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com A Forreston woman was charged last week with financially taking advantage of a Polo woman she was caring for. Leslie M. Brashaw, 38, was charged in Ogle County Court with financial
Sculptor pays tribute to dogs Service dogs used in Vietnam By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@ oglecountynews.com
A Vietnam veteran’s dog will be remembered forever through a bronze sculpture that was cast in Oregon. While the sculpture War Dogs by Renee Bemis, Saint Charles, did not use a specific soldier’s or dog’s likeness, many elements link the sculpture to Johnny Mayo, Columbia, South Carolina, and his dog Kelly. “I supplied the canteens, the ruck, the harness, the uniform, and the weapon so the artist could use them,” said Mayo. “The artist put my dog’s id number in the ear. He was 819-Alpha.” These items were used by
Mayo from 1969-1971 when he was in Vietnam as an Army scout dog handler. “I kept my original harness and leash for the dog. No one else had possession of this until I shipped them to Renee. It was scary to let them go,” he said. Once Renee finished the sculpture, the items were safely returned to Mayo. Seeing the completed sculpture Tuesday morning at Art Casting of Illinois, Inc., Oregon, brought back memories of Vietnam for Mayo. “My first dog was killed fourth day out,” he said. “Kelly I had the rest of my time.” When Mayo left Vietnam in 1971 he never saw Kelly again. Harry Spell, Art Casting of Illinois, Oregon, and Sculptor Renee Bemis, St. Charles, examines her finished bronze “Tragically the dog teams War Dogs Tuesday morning before the sculpture was shipped to Memorial Park in Columbia South Carolina. Photo Turn to A12 by Chris Johnson
In This Week’s Edition...
Church Bells, A5 Classifieds, B7-B12 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B6 Marriage Licenses, A4
Oregon Police, B6 Public Voice, A9 Property Transfers, B6 Sheriff’s Arrests, B3
Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B3 Weather Forecast, A10
Deaths, B5 Delores M. Barnhart, Patricia M. Fay, William R. Fay, Veva L. Manthei, Beverly J. Shuman
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com