Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal September 8, 2016 Volume 154, Number 20 - $1.00
Football Blowout The Cardinals had their way with Galena in the first half of their Sept. 2 game. B1
Color Run
New Judge
Clayton Lindsey has been appointed as a 15th Circuit Judge. A10
Pinecrest is sponsoring a 5K color run in Mount Morris on Oct. 8. A4
Concern over possible 911 board change Fire departments might not have a seat on the board By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com
Construction work has started on an addition to Smokin Gun owner Keith Ruter’s new business at the north edge of Forreston. The building was formerly Bailey’s Edge, a restaurant and bar. Photo by Vinde Wells
Village approves sewer extension By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@oglecounty news.com A new sewer line will be built on the north edge of Forreston, allowing a local businessman to expand a building he owns – and perhaps helping to persuade a chain store to move into town. The village will move forward with the $200,000 project now that the board has agreed to pay for the sewer main to Baileyville Road with money from the water and sewer fund. “They are going to drill
samples for the project, and I contacted the property owners to keep them informed,” village President Mark Metzger said at Tuesday’s meeting. “We also need to have in our minutes that [the village is] paying for the project,” documentation that’s required by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The vote was unanimous. Trustee Tim Drayton was absent. The new sewer line will run on the east side of state Route 26 on the east edge of the property. It will connect to the former Bailey’s Edge
Restaurant, now owned by Keith Ruter. Ruter, who plans to open an indoor gun range, is building an addition that has forced him to remove his septic field. Bringing the sewer line out to Baileyville Road also will be beneficial if Dollar General decides to build a store there. The company has expressed interest in the village, and said it would require the sewer line be extended under the road to the property across from Ruter’s. Ruter has offered to buy an acre of village land to help
with the project’s cost, while Dollar General has offered to pay $22,000 for the sewer line. The village would pay the up-front costs, and use sales tax from the businesses to recoup its money. Metzger plans to meet with the village attorney Sept. 7 to discuss an annexation agreement for the Dollar General property. “We will talk about the timeline for the project,” he said. “After the meeting, it will go to the planning commission for review.” A public hearing will be held before an annexation decision is made.
A possible change in the size of the Ogle County 911 Emergency Telephone System Board (ETSB) has raised the concerns of fire department officials across the county. The concern apparently stems from a suggestion made by county board chairman Kim Gouker to reduce the number of board members from nine to five, possibly eliminating the posts currently held by fire department and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) representatives. That concern was further bolstered in July when the county board approved applicants to fill two of four open positions on the 911 Board, but did not consider the other two, who were for the fire department/EMS posts. The fire chiefs of all 11 Ogle County fire departments signed a letter dated July 26 and addressed to Gouker and the county board. The letter was not part of the county board’s packet at its Aug. 16 meeting but was presented to each board
member prior to the meeting. The letter read in part, “In May the count board posted requests for applications to the 911 ETSB. The four open positions were two fire/EMS, the citizen at large, and the sheriff’s office representative. Applications were submitted in a timely fashion for all four positions. Only the citizen at large and the sheriff’s office representative were presented to the board for appointment. It appears that if a resolution to reduce the size of the ETSB comes about, all the reductions will come from the fire/EMS positions on the ETSB.” The letter went on to recommend that the 911 ETSB remain at nine members and that the county board reappoints Richard Mott, Lindenwood, and Corey Tveit, Stillman Valley, the only two applicants for the fire/EMS positions. Gouker declined to comment Sept. 3 on the situation, except to say that further discussions will be held. However, at the Aug. 16 county board meeting, Gouker said that the concerns stem from a discussion he had with Sheriff Brian VanVickle a year ago. Changing the size of the 911 ETSB takes the approval of the county board. Currently the board is Turn to A10
TOSOC ride will benefit VOP By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@oglecounty news.com
Senior Night The footballl season kicked off the home opening with the annual senior night. Here, Forreston’s Cameron Timm hugs his father Scott during the event. Photo by Chris Johnson
In This Week’s Edition...
Bicycling has been increasing in popularity throughout Ogle County and the upcoming Tour of Scenic Ogle County (TOSOC) will showcase the area while benefitting the Village of Progress. “We are excited about this ride,” said Village of Progress Executive Director Brion Brooks. “We have close to 100 riders registered so far and would like to se 250 by the day of the event.” The Tour of Scenic Ogle County, called TOSOC on all event brochures and bison signs scattered around Oregon, will be held on Saturday, Sept. 24. The bison riding a bicycle, seen on the signs, was created as the mascot for the ride because two of the rides will go past Nachusa Grasslands and the bison herd there. “The reason for this ride is to be a nice fundraiser for our attendance grant program,” said Brooks. “The grant helps provide funding to those with disabilities who
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10 College News, A4 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B3
A bicycle hangs on the side of the Oregon sign. Bicycling has been promoted throughout Ogle County with Oregon being the center of new bike routes that were created. A new website bikeogle.org was created this summer which shows all the routes that go to the different communities in the county. Photo by Chris Johnson
are on the state waiting list.” Brooks said currently 27,000 people are on that waiting list and the grant program helps local people who are on the list. Riders have the choice to sign up for a 10-mile family run ride, a 32-mile route, or a 62 mile (metric century) route. All rides leave from the
Marriage Licenses, A4 Public Voice, A7 Property Transfers, B3 Sheriff’s Arrests, B4
Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B4 Weather, A3
Village of Progress. Each ride costs $30 for adults and $8 for children 12 and under. Adults must accompany riders under the age of 18. Registration includes a barbecue lunch, ride refreshments including baked goods and fresh fruit. Rest stops are scheduled throughout the ride.
“The ride came about at the same time Bike Ogle was being created,” said Brooks. “We are helping promote each other. We are working to showcase the beautiful scenery in Ogle County.” Organizers for the event decided to have the 32 mile route follow the Bike Ogle County Nachusa-Bison John Turn to A3
Deaths, B5 Linda G. Jenkins, Bernita E. Kuhn, Christina M. Lee-Grogan, Helen L. Myers, Kyle J. Pusheck, Judith A. Turek, Daunene Vaessen, Ruby M. Wakenight
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com