Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal November 5, 2015 Volume 153, Number 28 - $1.00
Muddy Victory
New Game
The Cardinals advanced by defeating Dakota 8-0 during a muddy game Oct. 31. B1
Scam Alert
A Polo native created a new Christmas themed game. A9
Consumers should be on the lookout for new credit card scams. B3
Zoning and permitting discussed by village board By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@oglecounty news.com A variety of zoning issues were discussed during Monday night’s Forreston Village Board meeting. Discussions began when the board looked at a permit request by Linda Hendrick, 605 South Walnut, for a pole building shed. Hendrick would like to put the structure up to store a motor home. The building would have a 14 foot door. “We talked about pole buildings and I just want to make sure,” said trustee Mark Metzger. “I know there were discussions on larger
buildings.” Metzger said he wanted to make sure the board knew any concerns with approving the permit. “I tried finding this in the ordinances,” said trustee Marc Stamm. He said there were no rules against a pole building within the village limits. Hendrick’s property is a lot and a half which is large enough to allow the building without covering too much land. The setbacks are also following the ordinance. “I vaguely recall the discussions with other buildings,” said village president Michael Harn. “We can’t go backwards.”
Metzger said the permit is compliant with the ordinance. “My question was to confirm pole buildings,” he said. “Nothing says you can’t.” Harn entertained a motion to approve the permit which was unanimously approved. Another zoning issue discussed concerned a possible request by Victor Cavasos, 505 Fifth Ave., for a garage. No permit has been filed, but Metzger did not think the building could be built on the property as it is currently platted. “I was looking at referring him to Ogle County for the parcels,” said Metzger. “He would need a re-plat,” said village engineer Mick
Gronewold. “There are legal lots and there are zoning lots.” Forreston’s ordinances prohibit building across lots, which prevents a larger building from being built on three lots and then having a property owner sell the third lot. “That allows a building to be built that is non-conforming once the land is sold,” said Gronewold. “Communities have used zoning lots and legal lots.” Harn suggested the ordinance committee meet to discuss whether the village should switch between the way lots are designated within
the village limits. Another concern is if a garage addition would require the property owner to address water run-off. The village adopted water detention rules earlier this year to prevent an over abundance of water entering the villages storm sewer. “There is an exemption for small residential projects,” said Gronewold. He said the rules address new construction and larger projects within the village limits. The board also discussed a fence put up by Steve Moring, 204 W. Avon St.
Metzger said he and Harn met with Moring to discuss the fence. “The fence is three feet off the gravel alley,” said Metzger. “I thought it was measured from the gravel but it is wider than that. I was not correct with my interpretation of the alley.” The edge of the alley is actually where the village’s right of way is. The fence needs to be three feet from the property line, which is the legal edge of the alley. Metzger suggested a variance should be filed. This could potentially allow the fence to stay where it was built.
Fundraising underway for new Lowden statue By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com Fundraising has begun for a marble statue honoring for Illinois Gov. Frank O. Lowden on the Ogle County Courthouse lawn. Stacy Flanagan, chairman of the Gov. Lowden Memorial Committee, said Monday that foundation committee members plan to raise at least $200,000 to cover the cost and installation of the statue, which will be situated on the northeast side of the courthouse lawn facing Ill. 2. The statue will be sculpted by Stillman Valley native Cody Janes, who currently lives in Volo. Janes said the statue will be slightly larger than life and be mounted on a marble base. “It will commemorate everything Lowden did for Oregon and Ogle County,” he said. Once the funds are raised, Janes estimated that the work to complete the statue
will take about two years. “It takes some time to carve a statue from stone,” he said. “The process is not as fast as casting it in bronze.” The county board gave its approval in June of 2013 to locate the statue on the courthouse lawn. Lowden, who served as the 25th Illinois Governor from 1917-1921, sponsored picnics each July 4 for several years on the courthouse lawn. Lowden and his wife Florence Pullman Lowden purchased land in Ogle County in 1899, which they developed into Sinnissippi Farms, southeast of Oregon. They lived there for many years. Besides serving as Governor, Lowden served as a U.S. Congressman and was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Illinois National Guard. He was appointed by President Calvin Coolidge as a member of the Memorial Commission for the Mt. Rushmore National Park in South Dakota. Lowden was also law
professor at Northwestern University, Evanston. Several local areas are named for him, including Lowden State Park, Lowden-Miller State Forest, and Boy Scouts of America Camp Lowden. Flanagan said the statue project will be funded by private donations. The committee recently received its 501c3, not-forprofit designation, and can now begin the fundraising phase of the project. “The committee will be contacting potential donors,” Flanagan said. “And we will apply for grants.” She said the tiered giving system will come with incentives. Every donor will receive a commemorate gift depending on the amount of the contribution. The incentives range from a print of Lowden for a $500 donation to a marble bust of the former governor for a $100,000 donation. For more information about the project call Flanagan at 815-9704801 or email her at stacyflanagan81@hotmail.
Festive Costumes Children were enjoying Halloween in Leaf River Saturday evening. Above, Hunter Miller, 7, and Logan Miller, 10, Baileyville, were dressed as a bee and beekeeper for the Lions Club Halloween Costume Contest at the Bertolet Memorial Building, Leaf River. Both won prizes in their age divisions. At left, Amara Dietrich, 2 1/2, Leaf River, looks a little shy as she hangs onto her grandmother Karen’s hand. Additional Halloween photos appear on page A3. Photos by Vinde Wells
Members of the Gov. Lowden Memorial Committee are pictured left to right: Dave Stenger, Oregon, Chris Martin, Oregon, Stacy Flanagan, Oregon, sculptor Cody Janes, Volo, Paul White, Forreston, Dan Janes, Stillman Valley, Tom Suits, Polo, and Marty Typer, Stillman Valley. Photo supplied
Shop with a Cop
Forreston Police Chief Mike Boomgarden will be in Freeport Dec. 5 for the annual Shop With A Cop shopping trip to Farm & Fleet. The program helps students from preschool through high
In This Week’s Edition...
school. They are referred to the program through the school, churches, and police officers. Volunteers are needed to help with the shopping trip. Contact Boomgarden at the Forreston Village Hall.
Birth, A4 Church News, A5 Classifieds, B7-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B6
Marriage Licenses, A4 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B3 Sheriff’s Arrests, B3
Social News, A4, A7 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B4 Weather, A2
Deaths, B4 Mary C. Fox, Lois L. Hagemann, Cindy A. Walker
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com