Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal December 10, 2015 Volume 153, Number 33 - $1.00
Tourney Time
Yummy!!!
Open House
Forreston hosts its 56th annual Holiday Tournament starting Saturday. B1
St. James Lutheran Church’s Christmas Bake Sale is Dec. 11.A3
A retirement open house will be held for Don Griffin at the Nash Center on Dec. 11. A4
Former businessman charged with murder By Jermaine Pigee jpigee@saukvalley.com Bond was set at $5 million Monday morning for a Freeport man accused of shooting and killing his wife on Dec. 5. Morgan D. Hake, 49, is in Carroll County Jail, charged with two counts of first-degree murder and was scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 15. Public Defender Jerry Kane has been appointed to represent him. Hake operated a woodworking business in
downtown Forreston in the 1990s and is the owner of Hake’s Hardwood Floor Co., 1884 W. Becker School Rd. in Freeport. Suzanne M. Hake, 46, Freeport, was found shot to death around 2:15 Saturday morning in a home in the 200 block of West Locust Street in Lanark. Morgan D. Hake was arrested without incident less than an hour later in Freeport, after calling police and turning himself in, Deputy Chief Matt Summers said. One of the Hakes’ three daughters made the 911 call
Morgan Hake
Suzanne Hake
to police, Carroll County Sheriff Jeff Doran said Monday. He declined to name the daughter, or to release any other information, except to
say that an autopsy was done Monday, and it may take about a month for the report to be completed. Carroll County State’s Attorney Scott Brinkmeier
did not return a call seeking comment. In December 2003, Hake was charged in Stephenson County Court with being a felon in possession of a weapon, but pleaded guilty to an amended charge of obstructing justice by destroying evidence. He was sentenced to 30 months probation. Among others, Suzanne (Ruester) Hake, a hospice social worker, is survived by three daughters, Alix Birkner of Dayton, Tennessee, and Hannah and Abbi Hake of Freeport. She was working for Gaffey Home Nursing
and Hospice in Sterling at the time of her death. This is the first homicide in Lanark, a village of 1,500, since the late 1800s, said Mayor John Huggins, who also confirmed that the Hakes were still married. Her visitation is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 4 p.m. followed by a memorial service at 7 p.m. at HeilSchuessler Funeral Home in Marrisa. Go to heilschuessler.com for the complete obituary and to post condolences. Memorials may be made to Gaffey hospice.
Music filled the church for an annual tradition By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@oglecounty news.com
Visiting Santa Connor Politsch explains how he got his broken arm to Santa Claus Dec. 4 at Forreston’s Christmas in the Country. Santa visited with kids at the library. Photo by Vinde Wells
The sounds of Christmas surrounded packed pews Sunday afternoon in Mt. Morris. A standing room only crowd gathered at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church for the annual Christmas Concert. This program described the story of Christmas through singing linked with narration. “Bethlehem’s Child” was performed by a dedicated group of volunteer singers and musicians from northwest Illinois. When driving up to the church Sunday afternoon, it was clear that the church was the place to be in Mt. Morris. Cars lined the streets for four or five blocks. Anyone not knowing the concert was being held would have wondered why so many cars were in the area. For those in the church, they knew that the musicians and singers were putting on a fantastic show. The performance, led by Dr. Matthew Guschl, Davis
Andy Eckardt and Daniel Welle perform during the annual Christmas Concert Sunday afternoon at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mt. Morris. Photo by Chris Johnson
Junction, was a powerful rendition of traditional music. In 2004 the first cantata was held and over the years has turned into an annual tradition. “It was a big undertaking, getting singers from local churches, assembling an orchestra, and integrating bell choirs from the host churches in Mt. Morris,” said Nelson Miller, who directed the 2004 cantata. “People loved it.”
Over the past 10 years the performances have raised approximately $9,000 for local causes including the Lifeline Food Pantry in Oregon and Loaves & Fish in Mt. Morris. The concert is always free but donations are accepted. To end the performance the audience joined in to perform Handel’s Hallelujah chorus. This is a tradition started during the original 2004 performance.
Election lottery was held to determine ballot order By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@oglecounty news.com For the final time, Ogle County Clerk Rebecca Huntley raised an American Flag basket over her head Monday morning. Huntley was conducting the election lottery ritual she has done for the past 18 years. “This basket was a gift from (former county board member) Shirley Clayton,” said Huntley. “Using it for the lottery always gives me warm feelings.” Huntley announced that she was retiring from her position early in the election cycle so candidates had time to file nominating petitions to run during the primary. This was done, she
said, to ensure the public has the choice in who her replacement will be. Huntley has enjoyed her time as the county clerk. “I have enjoyed this job and serving Ogle County,” she said. “I left the position on the ballot and the voters will have a choice.” When Huntley first ran for the position 18 years ago she was one of three candidates running. It is only fitting that after her replacement will be one of three candidates running for the position. Chief Deputy Clerk Laura Cook, Oregon, Deputy Clerk Tiffany O’Brien, Chana, and Jeff Hallock, Oregon, are all seeking the Republican nomination for a two-year term.
In This Week’s Edition...
Ogle County Judge John Redington had the honor of pulling numbers out of the basket. These numbers will determine the order the candidates will appear on the ballot. O’Brien will be listed first, followed by Cook. Hallock will appear third on the ballot due to filing his paperwork after the date to be included in the lottery. Redington signed the lottery paperwork to make it official. He then gave Huntley a hug and thanked her for serving the county. The Primary Election will be held March 15, 2016. Huntley will step down from her post on March 18. Two years are left in a fouryear term she was elected to in 2014.
Chamber Chatter, A9 Church Bells, A5 Classifieds, B7-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B5
Ogle County Clerk Rebecca Huntley holds a basket Monday morning to allow Ogle County Judge John Redington to randomly select the ballot order for the primary election. Photo by Chris Johnson
Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B4 Polo Library News, A8 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B4
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1-B2 State’s Attorney, B4 Zoning Permits, B5
Deaths, B6 Mary Beth Etnyre, Duane E. Linscott, Norma J. Nalley, Jacob L. Ramp, Cassie Ross, Evelyn L. Whildin
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com