Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal October 23, 2014 Volume 152, Number 26 - $1.00
Undefeated Teams
Wellness Fair
Barn Fire
Forreston will take on Eastland-Pearl city for the conference title Friday night. B1
Health was the topic at the Rock River Center on Oct. 17. A7
A rural Rochelle man was injured when his barn exploded on Oct. 16. B3
Audit leaves board members with questions By Vinde Wells Editor An auditing firm’s findings about the Ogle County Sheriff’s tow fund left county board members searching for answers. James Sullivan, director of dispute advisory for Sikich LLP, Naperville, told the board Tuesday night that his firm’s forensic examination revealed that more than $10,000 is unaccounted for and that $61,713 was
deposited into the tow fund that was meant for the General Fund. The tow fund ledger was inaccurate and incomplete, Sullivan reported. Cash payments were kept in a file drawer in the Harn’s executive secretary’s office, which was sometimes left unlocked, he said. In many cases records simply cannot be found, Sullivan said. “There are some outstanding issues we can’t
get answers to,” he said. “We identified a complete breakdown of internal controls.” Board member Martin Typer, Stillman Valley, said the situation is an offense to other county departments and employees who do their best to carefully spend and account for their funds. Board chairman Kim Gouker, Byron, agreed. “This whole situation is an unfortunate stain on this county,” he said. “This
gross malfeasance has hurt everyone.” Sullivan told the board the forensic examination revealed that more than $10,000 is unaccounted for and that $61,713 was deposited into the tow fund that was meant for the General Fund. The tow fund ledger was inaccurate and incomplete, Sullivan reported. Cash payments were kept in a file drawer in the Harn’s executive secretary’s office, which was sometimes left
unlocked, he said. In many cases records simply cannot be found, Sullivan said. “There are some outstanding issues we can’t get answers to,” he said. “We identified a complete breakdown of internal controls.” Gouker said the lack of records makes it impossible to determine if money was misappropriated. Sullivan said the very first deposit made into the
tow fund was a check from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency for $12,920 which should have gone into the General Fund. Besides that, only 10,000 of the check was deposited. The whereabouts of the remainder is a mystery, Sullivan said. “The check was from IEMA, and it had no business being in the tow fund,” Gouker said. Board member Pat Saunders, Polo, said her Turn to A3
Hazardous waste will be disposed properly By Chris Johnson Reporter
Ready for Action Above, the Leaf River American Legion post presents the colors before the Oct. 17 football game. At right, the Forreston Cheerleaders can be spotted on the sidelines at all the Cardinals football games. Here Minka Stukenberg cheers on the team Oct. 17. Photo by Chris Johnson
Polo beekeeping caused small town controversy By Vinde Wells Editor Before allowing public discussion about honey bees Monday night, Polo Mayor Doug Knapp put his foot down. “We’re going to make a decision on this tonight. Then that’s the end of it. This has gone on long enough. I am ‘beed’ out,” he told the audience of 20 people at the city council meeting. Knapp said the controversy over Polo resident Mike Scholl’s hobby of beekeeping has been going on for approximately three years
without resolution. “It’s not about the topic anymore; it’s on a personal level,” he said. “It’s not healthy for our city.” After a lengthy and sometimes heated debate with input from several residents, the council rejected a motion made by alderman Louise Hall to change the beekeeping ordinance to prohibit beekeeping equipment in the city limits. The motion failed by a 2-4 vote, with Hall and Cheryl Galor voting yes, while Troy Boothe, Randy Schoon, David Ackeberg, and Jim Busser voted no.
In This Week’s Edition...
A long line of vehicles was the sight for workers at the hazardous waste collection Saturday morning in Oregon. “We had 441 vehicles representing 520 households at the collection this year,” said Ogle County Solid Waste Management Director Steve Rypkema. “The morning was the busiest time of the event. Residents were allowed to bring batteries, old paint, and chemicals to the collection to ensure they are properly recycled and disposed. Rypkema said the overall numbers for the event were lower then he expected but that could be due to education. “It is hard to predict the turnout for these events,” said Rypkema. “Next time we would like to do this in the spring.” The department has been working on educating the public over the years about proper disposal of household chemicals. “We have educated the public about all the options available for proper disposal and this event is only one of these options,” said Rypkema. “It is very important to keep these chemicals out of our sewers and rivers.” Once chemicals enter the water system it can cause
John Haley, Lamont, pushes a cart of old paint Saturday morning during the hazardous waste collection hosted by the Ogle County Solid Waste Department. Photo by Chris Johnson
numerous side effects for (compact florescent light bulbs) are hazardous.” plants and animals. These bulbs contain “We need to avoid accidental poisoning and we mercury. “CFLS were a stepping need a solution to the common items that are hazardous,” Turn to A2 said Rypkema. “Even CFLs
The city’s livestock ordinance makes it unlawful “to keep or maintain” bees, as well as certain other animals, within the city limits. At an Ordinance Committee meeting Oct. 15, Hall had proposed a change allowing no more than six bees per square foot in the city and prohibiting all equipment that attracts bees. She later amended her proposal to prohibit paraphernalia pertaining to beekeeping to be kept anywhere in the city. However, on Monday
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B5
Turn to A3
Steve Rypkema, Director of the Ogle County Solid Waste Department, directs traffic at the hazardous waste collection Saturday morning. Photo by Chris Johnson
Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B3 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B4
Sheriff’s Arrests, B5 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B5
Deaths, B4 Orrie L. Allen, Barbara Jean Bordner, James A. Daws, Dorothy V. Martin, Robert B. Pelsma, Hazel V.A. Schwiegart, Roy Van Raden
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com