Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal June 9, 2016 Volume 154, Number 7 - $1.00
Summer Softball
Jury Duty
Festival Friday
Summer softball is underway and Polo took on Forreston Saturday afternoon . B2
Jury information postcards have been mailed to Ogle residents. A3
German Valley Days is set to begin Friday evening with the Little Mr., Miss contest. A10
Shriners ride through Leaf River Summer Daze By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@oglecounty news.com The sight of small cars and planes driving down the street is a common sight at many local parades. That was the case Sunday afternoon in Leaf River when several waves of Shriners took to the streets for the Summer Daze Grand Parade. “When you get a thank you, you know you are helping the kids,” said Dean White, a member of the Shrine Club in Freeport. “One girl at a local parade had a sign that said ‘thank you Shriners.’ She had surgeries at our hospital.” The local Shriners raise money for the Shriners Hospitals for Children in Chicago. Riding in the parade is a fun way to get the word our about the mission of the organization. “I have been riding in the parades for 20 years,” said White. “All money we raise from parade appearances goes to the hospital. We do this for the children.” White rides one of the small cars, but there are other units that attend parades. The Shriners have an air squadron of airplane themed cars that ride in parades. At Leaf River there were A Tebala Shrine Klown gains some speed as he drives down Main Street in Leaf River Sunday. Photo by Chris also the Tebala Shrine Klowns Johnson working to put smiles on kids along the parade route. “We are all part of the Tebala Shrine in Rockford,” said White. By Chris Johnson Oregon more than 60 years. The members of the cxjohnson@oglecounty The Association of news.com Equipment Manufacturers “Go, Woods. Go, manufacturing,” — invited Rauner to tour Woods Illinois Governor Bruce Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner as part of the trade group’s I Rauner stopped at an Oregon Make America campaign, a factory Monday afternoon to grassroots, bipartisan effort talk about the importance of history, and legislators ended celebrate made in America.” to create more manufacturing manufacturing in Illinois – their session June 3 without The Republican governor jobs nationwide. By Chris Johnson and to roundly criticize his passing one. Jerry Johnson is president began his visit with a tour cxjohnson@oglecounty Democratic opponents for “Go, Woods. Go, of the factory, where 300 of Woods parent company news.com the lack of a balanced state manufacturing,” Rauner workers make Batwing Blount International’s farm, budget. said to Woods Equipment rotary cutters, dirt-moving ranch and ag division, and Village of Forreston The state has been without Co. workers. “America is and landscaping equipment, also is on the association’s officials have been working a budget since July 1, the a great nation because we and, more recently, log board. on a garbage service contract longest lapse in Illinois make stuff. We are here to splitters. It has been in “Having the governor with Moring Disposal. at Woods is exceptionally Monday night, the village important,” said Johnson, board members discussed who led the tour. “It means some concerns over the new a lot to the company, but contract with Larry Moring. it means more to our team “We sat down and went members. They get a chance over concerns and they were to meet the governor.” addressed,” said village In fact, when forklift president Michael Harn. operator Rick VanDrew, “There were two issues. The Polo, pulled over to let the price, the extra bag stickers.” governor’s tour pass, Rauner Harn said he received an walked over to shake his hand explanation but wanted to and thank him for working in have the village attorney go manufacturing. He was one over the revisions. of several individual workers “I would like to proceed but with whom the governor I did not hear back from the talked. attorney,” said Harn. “Manufacturing is the The board members wanted key to our prosperity in to compare the contracts with Illinois,’” Rauner said after other municipalities but that the tour. “We are going to was not feasible. take on the special interests “You can’t look at other in Springfield that keep municipalities contracts to driving taxes through the get a price. The structure is roof and push companies out different,” said Harn. “The of the state. contracts are not apples to “We are keeping our great apples.” companies here in Illinois. Another sticking point with When we take these rascals the contract is how the bill to Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner, left, and Blount International President of Farm Ranch on, I will travel and work for Moring would be paid. The village will be sending & Ag Jerry Johnson shake hands Monday afternoon. Photo by Chris Johnson Turn to A2
Governor visits Oregon factory
Shriners are Masons. “We are all Mason members, but not all Masons are Shriners,” said White. Before or after any parade White said he encourages people to approach a Shriner to ask them about why they are fundraising. The Summer Daze parade also featured the world famous Phantom Regiment. “The Phantom Regiment is a professional organization that performs nationwide,” said drum major Carl Huang. “In August we will compete in the national finals.” The visit to Leaf River is always the ceremonial start to the season for the regiment. “Leaf River is the first public performance the regiment has each year,” said Huang. “This is a showcase of who we are and is the first time we get to perform.” The Phantom Regiment is based in Rockford and auditions are required to join. Huang said 300 musicians perform for the band and another 300 audition for the colors. “It is an honor to be selected to perform with the Phantom Regiment,” said Huang. “Players with skills should audition.” The regiment marched through the streets of Leaf River with military precision while wearing their clean pressed uniforms and polished instruments. A warm sunny day made for the perfect end to the wellattended three-day festival.
Garbage contract discussed Monday
In This Week’s Edition...
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10 College News, A4 Entertainment, A6 Forreston Police, A3
Marriage Licenses, A4 Public Voice, A7 Property Transfers, B4 Sheriff’s Arrests, B3
Social News, A4 Sports, B2 State’s Attorney, B4 Weather, A3
out a single bill for water, sewer, and garbage. Trustee Gary Buss asked what portion of the bill money will be applied to first if a homeowner does not pay the entire bill. “Maybe 50 percent to each,” trustee Jeff Freeze said. “I don’t know. For instance if they pay 50 percent of the bill then spread it out.” The village’s billing system may need to be looked to see how payments can be applied. What is guaranteed is that Moring will be paid. A single bill will be sent to the village each month. The village sends out bills to each of the 591 water and sewer accounts. Board members also asked about if a homeowner will be charged for garbage pick-up when they are out of town for the winter. Harn said the ordinance that will be presented to the board has a snowbird clause to allow for suspending service. The one thing they do not want to have happen is for a rental property to continuously start and stop garbage collection. The board will continue contract discussions during future meetings.
Deaths, B5 Michael R. Armstrong, Everett W. Cassens, Bill C. Driver, Davy L. Duhigg, Julie M. Lehne
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com