For 2017 04 06

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Serving the Forreston area since 1865

FORRESTON Journal April 6, 2017 Volume 154, Number 50 - $1.00

Doubleheader

Easter Events

Awareness

Forreston split a pair of baseball games against the Byron Tigers April 1. B1

The rabbit is getting ready to make the rounds. Find an activity. A3, A6

Several groups are raising awareness for victims of crimes and abuse. B3

Gouker loses out in township race

Stage presence

By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@ogle countynews.com

Woman has acting passion By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecounty news.com After years of interest in theatre, a Forreston woman finds herself as the lead role in “Agnes of God,” an emotionally powerful play. Molly Bowen spends her days as co-owner of Bowen’s Carpet Dry, along with her husband, Jason, and nephew, Christopher. She says she’s always had an interest in theatre, but never had the time nor the Turn to A2

Molly Bowen plays Dr. Martha Livingstone in Winneshiek’s production “Agnes of God.” Photo supplied by Erin Kuntzelman

Forreston moves forward with TIF By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecounty news.com The Forreston Village Board approved a feasibility study for a Tax Increment Finance (TIF) District

and decided not to vacate Chestnut Avenue or sell the railroad property. On March 20, the board voted to move forward with a TIF district and Business Development District. The next step, as outlined

by Community Funding & Planning Services planner Sharon Pepin, is to have a feasibility study conducted. The study details economic, legal, technological, and scheduling impacts, and determines whether or not the

area qualifies. Information will be send to all taxing bodies in the area, making them aware that the village is having the feasibility study done. Turn to A2

Polo man charged with attempted arson By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com A Polo man is charged with attempted residential arson, a felony that carries 3 to 7 years in prison, after

police say he tried to set the house in which he was living on fire. Polo police arrested Johnathon P. Parker, 32, Monday morning with the assistance of the Ogle County Sheriff’s Department.

An acquaintance of Parker’s called 911 around 1:30 a.m. Sunday to report a disturbance at 302 E. Mason St. The first officer on scene called for the fire department when he smelled an

accelerant and saw a burning TV inside the house, Police Chief Kurt Cavanaugh said. “An accelerant had been poured on the floors, but fortunately, it did not ignite,” Turn to A2

Ogle County Board Chairman Kim Gouker was defeated Tuesday in his bid to earn the Byron Township Supervisor post. The race between Gouker and Terry Reeverts was decided by 1,074 voters in four precincts. Gouker took 37.7 percent of the votes with 405 votes, leaving Reeverts with a solid victory of 628 votes, worth 57.54 percent. For Buffalo Township Highway Commissioner, Hunter Grey claimed victory with 423 votes to William Clothier’s 234. In Leaf River, four positions on the township board and the highway commissioner seat were on the ballot. Anthony A. Peterson narrowly defeated his uncle Paul Bral by 16 votes, 141 to 125, to earn a second term as highway commissioner. Gene Miller, Tyler Wiltfang, Joe Kielsmeier Sr., and Kurt Edler were all elected to the township board in a close race. Kielsmeier was the top vote-getter with 187, Gene Miller received 184, Edler 174, and Wiltfang 167, to defeat Gina Miller who received 152 votes. Rockvale Township was in a similar position, with four seats on the township board in contention, along

with the position as highway commissioner. The highway commissioner seat was claimed by Jason Benesh, who upset longtime incumbent Tim Wiltfang by 18 votes in a close 254-236 race. Township board seats were taken by Richard Montavon Jr., Samuel Thomas, Ron Snodgrass, and Keith Stranberg. Snodgrass received 341 votes, Thomas 311, Stranberg 283, and Montavon 262, to defeat Daniel Libman who garnered 257 votes. Pine Rock Township’s Highway Commissioner seat was won by incumbent Gary Clark with 142 votes, beating out challenger Jeff Winterland’s 112. For multi-township assessor for Pine Creek, Grand Detour, Eagle Point, and Woosung Townships long-time incumbent Rita Dauphin outlasted challenger Garrett Nettz 194 votes to 83 to win another four-year term. In a four-way race for three seats on the Leaf River Village Board, Robert Wilcox, Cheryl Newcomer, and Ben Wagner were successful. Wilcox received 61 votes, Newcomer 57, and Wagner 54 to defeat Jacklyn Flick who garnered 23. Josh Lamping received 72 votes to win a second term as Leaf River Village President. He ran unopposed.

Going once ... Going twice ... And sold!!! Spring consignment sale was held at Hazelhurst Saturday By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecountynews.com The rain clouds parted long enough for a beautiful spring Saturday as crowds gathered west of Polo for the annual Hazelhurst Spring Consignment Sale. The ground was muddy, but a little mud wasn’t enough to stop around 5,000 people from browsing tractors, cars, semi-trucks, tires, four-wheelers, bicycles, welders, ditch-diggers, and just about anything anyone could think of from 8:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. “It’s a junker’s paradise,” quipped a passerby. The sale began in the late 1940s by Sheryl Hopkins’ mother and father, Ruth and Ellery Shank. It has changed locations a few times, but remains at the 30acre Hazelhurst site to this day. “All things considered with the weather, we couldn’t have asked for a better day,” said Hopkins, co-owner and operator of Public Auction Service, Polo, with her husband Lyle. “I love that this sale really helps out farmers; both those in need of some equipment, and those needing to let go of some.” “Letting go” is a key phrase at this sale; intermixed among well-functioning vehicles and machinery were some fringe items, like a classic soda machine and the bed of a Dodge truck. “We’ve got cars with flat tires, steel-rimmed tractors, stuff that never ceases to amaze me - and I’ve been coming since 1969,” joked James Hopkins, Turn to A2

In This Week’s Edition...

John Readle (center), Wayne Konprood (right), and grandson Blake Konprood browse the lanes at the Hazelhurst Spring Consignment Sale. They come from Dakota every year to hunt for good finds. Photo by Zach Arbogast

Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10 College News, A4 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B5

Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B3 Public Voice, A7 Property Transfers, B5

Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B5

Deaths, B4 Richard R. Bentley, Bradon H. Ely, Leonard C. Hagemann, Kenneth V. Imel

Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com


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