Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal July 21, 2016 Volume 154, Number 13 - $1.00
Marching Band The Blue Devils came to Oregon Sunday afternoon for a rehearsal. A7
Game On
Classic Tour
Local residents are playing a new popular app. A3
AMC car enthusiasts will be touring Ogle County July 28. A6
Dollar General interested in building store By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@oglecounty news.com
Dog Days of Summer Above, Debra Heidler and Macy were just two Forreston residents who ventured outdoors Monday afternoon. Above, Heidler throws a disc for Macy from the shade. At left, Macy brings the disc back. Hot temperatures were expected to remain in the Ogle County area through the week. Photos by Earleen Hinton
New county jail proposal discussed By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@oglecountynews.com Ogle County officials have decided where they would like to build a new jail. Long Range Planning Committee Chairman Don Griffin, Oregon, who is also a county board member, told the county board Tuesday that the consensus of the committee is that the jail should be built on South Sixth Street in Oregon across the street from the judicial center. The county already owns the property. Just prior to that announcement, Griffin attended an Oregon Planning Commission meeting to make a formal request that city officials consider vacating a portion of Sixth Street for the new jail. “We presented to the Long Range Committee the comprehensive plan the city adopted,” said Griffin. “We will take it to the county board next month for the location where we will put the jail.” The county board has been discussing options for jail locations, including the highway department property south
of Oregon, the Sheriff’s Department property on First Street in Oregon, and the Sixth Street property. “The Long Range consensus is Sixth Street,” said Griffin. “It is only proper to get together with you about the project.” The county is asking to have Sixth Street between Washington and Jefferson vacated. The county has the judicial center on the east side of the street and currently owns all the vacant lots on the west side of the street. “Do you know about the size of the jail?” asked Planning Commission member Rick Ryland. Griffin said the county has been working with a 230 bed facility, but the exact size has not been determined. “A lot that come through are in there [the jail] for one night,” he said. “Currently juveniles are sent out of the county.” In June the county board discussed building a jail large enough for 180 to 200 beds for adults and 32 beds for juveniles, which would cost an estimated $27 million. Griffin said the legislation governing jails is constantly changing. “Do you remember all the hullaballoo
In This Week’s Edition...
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B5-B10 College News, A4 Entertainment, A6
before?” asked Ryland. “Are we increasing because of need?” The current jail was built in 1969 and is inadequate, Griffin said. “Our goal is to not build a jail that is too small,” he said. Planning Commission member Joe Ebens asked Griffin what the vision for the property is if the street was vacated. Griffin said the site on Sixth Street could have architecture that compliments the judicial center. As for city concerns, it boils down to utilities. “Our biggest problem is what do you do with the snow,” said street superintendent Mike Bowers. “I called JULIE and there is gas and electric going to the county, and there is also water and sewer through there.” Oregon Mayor Ken Williams said the purpose of the discussion was to make a motion to proceed with a study to investigate the possibility of vacating the street. “The sewer only goes 80 feet (down south Sixth Street),” said Williams. “That can be rerouted to the other side Turn to A9
Fines, B4 Marriage Licenses, A4 Public Voice, A7 Property Transfers, B4
A sewer main extension to the north edge of Forreston is required to bring a new business to the community. Village President Mark Metzger told the board that Dollar General is interested in opening a store but needs sewer and water service to their property on Baileyville Road. The costs for a gravity sewer to the location were estimated to cost $196,000. “Dollar General offered $22,500 for the project,” said Metzger. “Dr. (Keith) Ruter is interested in purchasing one acre from the village.” The sale of that acre would also be used for the project. Ruter owns the former restaurant Bailey’s Edge and is currently working on an expansion to the building. When completed, he would need sewer hook-up for the property. Currently, his property only has village water and a private septic system. “Basically we have one option for this project,” said Metzger. “I wanted to let the board know. This amount is not budgeted.”
Having Dollar General commit to a project is contingent on the village committing to the project. Metzger said tax revenue from the store and Ruter’s business would pay for the project over five years. “I do not see a plan B at this point,” said Metzger. “I would like to move the project quickly.” Trustee Ken Toms wanted to see the Dollar General property annexed into the village before committing to the sewer project. Property owners along the proposed sewer line have been contacted. In other business, three Forreston residents have applied for the vacant trustee position left open when Metzger resigned to become village president. The appointment will last until April when the remaining two years of the four-year term will be on the ballot. Ken Vinnedge, Matthew Poll, and Vickye Norris introduced themselves to the board during public comment. A recommendation and approval on filling the vacancy may be made at the Aug. 1 meeting
Hometown Days kicks off Friday By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com Forreston will roll out the red carpet this weekend for Hometown Days. The newly reinstated festival will be held July 2224. Green Gene, president of the Forreston Area Business Association (FABA), said a Kids Fun Run will at Warnken Park will kick off the event at 6 p.m. Friday, June 22, followed by a 5K Fun Run and Walk at 6:30 p.m. The Forreston Legion Auxiliary will serve food at the park from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Forreston’s Hometown Days festival was formerly held every June, but was discontinued more than a decade ago. “We started it back up
this year,” Green said. “It’s a community effort.” An all-day 3-on-3 basketball tournament will start off Saturday’s activities beginning at 8 a.m. in the junior high parking lot. A craft and vendor show is planned from 8 am to 4 p.m. at Memorial Park. The Forreston FFA will hold a tractor show from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Memorial Park with a food stand from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. FABA will sponsor a Bouncy House and obstacle course at Memorial Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. The Lions Club will hold its cheese sale, and a petting zoo will be available during the same hours at Memorial Park. A car wash to benefit Relay for Life will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at Turn to A2
Pork chops on July 23 The Forreston Lions Club will serve a pork chop sandwich dinner on Saturday, July 23 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Forreston Fire Station. The menu will include one or two chop sandwiches, potato salad or chips, Drake’s Sweet corn with butter, ice
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1-B2 State’s Attorney, B4
cream, and pop or water. Prices are $7 for one chop or $9 for two chops. A hot dog sandwich with chips, sweet corn, ice cream, and pop or water will be served for $5. Take out orders are also available.
Deaths, B4 Michael W. Carpenter, Dorothy M. Galor, Karen L. Groves
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com