Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal June 16, 2016 Volume 154, Number 8 - $1.00
Summer Ball
Butterfly Release
Memorial Walk
Read about how some of the summer baseball and softball teams did last week . A10
Registration is underway for the annual Lois Nelson Walk. A4
Remember loved ones by releasing a butterfly at Serenity Hospice July 9. A4
Stein is named German Valley’s VIP June 10
Protesters Alice Gerrard, Jim Durdin, and Barbara Hoffman hold signs June 8 in downtown Oregon protesting the federal prison system. Protesters are walking from Chicago to Thomson to protest the prison. They had 13 in their group Wednesday morning. Photo by Chris Johnson
Protesters pass through Ogle County last week By Rachel Rodgers rrodgers@sauk valley.com As the heat index climbed into triple digits Saturday, a group of activists ended their 150-mile trek to protest isolation cells being built at the federal prison in Thomson. Representatives from the Chicago-based organization Voices for Creative Nonviolence began walking from the Windy City to the village of 600 residents on May 28, traveling 10 to 19 miles a day and averaging about eight hours per stretch. About 50 people, ranging in age from 6 months to the mid 80s, participated in the walk, sleeping in churches and at campsites along the
way. The group was at the Ogle County Courthouse June 8 for a stop before heading west to Polo before getting to the prison. In for the long haul was 73-year-old Razia Ahmed, a Pakistan native who traveled from her home in Scottsdale, Arizona, to be at the starting line in Chicago. She became involved with the organization in 2007. “It’s been very hot, but I think about the prisoners, and conditions are much worse for them,” Ahmed said while holding a picket sign above her head for a reprieve from the sun. The 25 protesters finishing the last mile to Thomson oppose
several practices by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, including plans to build as many as 1,900 isolation cells at Thomson, and talk of transferring some of the 91 remaining Guantanamo Bay prisoners to the facility. Tim Meadors, La Plata, Missouri, said solitary confinement is a form of torture that is immoral. “This would be the largest concentration of solitary confinement in the U.S.,” he said. “Being in a cell 23 hours a day doesn’t pacify anyone; it leads to more violence in society because they don’t know how to cope.” Maya Evans, a London Turn to A3
Carnival Time Workers from Great American Shows were in downtown Polo Tuesday afternoon setting up the carnival rides for Polo Town & Country Days. The carnival opens Thursday evening. Photo by Chris Johnson
In This Week’s Edition...
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B5-B10 College News, A4 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B4
Longtime German Valley resident Larry Stein was named his community’s Most Valuable Person June 10 at the kick-off for German Valley Days. Program emcee Donna Smith recounted Stein’s dedication and service to his community and family. “His commitment as a former local volunteer fireman, his charter membership in the Lions Club, his involvement with the German Valley Days festival, his devotion to his church, dedication to his family, friends, and community, and his pride in being a lifelong citizen of German Valley are the reasons that the German Valley Lions Club is happy to present the German Valley Area’s Most Valuable Person Award to one of its own, Mr. Larry Stein,” she said. Stein is a former local business owner in the community and a charter member of the German Valley Lions Club and has served the group as its president and director. “He remains a faithful member and whether he is placing pancakes and bacon on plates at one of our Applebee’s Flapjack Fundraisers or coordinating
Courtney Flemming, left, and Donna Smith offer their congratulations to Larry Stein who is the recipient of the 2016 German Valley Area’s Most Valuable Person Award. The honor was presented June 10 during German Valley Days.
our annual Candy Day campaign in the fall he is always ready to lend a helping hand,” Smith said. “He has been active in the planning of German Valley Days accepting the position of parade committee chairman for several years. He has served on various German Valley Days Committees, most recently in charge of location.” Stein was also a German Valley Fire Department volunteer for 24 years and serves a trustee on the German Valley United Methodist Church board.
“He can be seen around town, always wearing a friendly smile,” Smith said. “He loves to share his memories of German Valley. He is always willing to share a history lesson about his hometown and can be seen pictured in several areas of the local museum.” This is the 27th year the German Valley Area’s Most Valuable Person Award has been presented. The tradition was begun in 1990 by the local Girl Scouts and later taken over by the Lions Club.
Law Enforcement Torch Run brings joy to Oregon By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@oglecounty news.com Special Olympians were glowing with excitement last week when the Flame of Hope was brought into Oregon. The torch, carried by local law enforcement workers June 8, was heading to Illinois State University, Normal, for the annual summer Special Olympics for track and field. When the torch reached downtown Oregon, all the athletes were waiting to cheer them on. Athletes from the Village of Progress (VOP) made signs to cheer on and thank the law enforcement officers for the assistance with spreading the word about the Special Olympics. Having the torch in Oregon was extra special for five athletes from the VOP. Five athletes won gold medals to qualify for the summer games that were held June 10-11. The Flame of Hope was handed from community to community before reaching the opening ceremony. Dan Daub, court security for the Ogle county Sheriff’s Department organized the
Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, A7 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B3
Tammy Sigler, Oregon, adjusts her glasses as she supports the Law Enforcement Torch Run June 8. Photo by Chris Johnson
local run for the second year. He was joined during the run by fellow Sheriff’s Deputies and members of the Oregon, Byron, and Mt. Morris Police Departments. Each law enforcement officer raised $100 for Special Olympics through the Law Enforcement Torch
Sheriff’s Arrests, B2 Social News, A4 Sports, A10, State’s Attorney, B2
Run. The Oregon run was held between the Black Hawk Statue scenic pull off north of town to downtown Oregon. Following the run in Oregon the torch was brought to Dixon, Sterling, and Rock Falls.
Deaths, B3 Mary A. Fassler, Marie A. Nanninga, Bettie R. Withers
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com