Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal June 8, 2017 Volume 155, Number 7 - $1.00
Coach Hired
Oregon’s City Wide Garage Sales are June 9-10. A9
Jonathan Schneiderman will again lead the varsity boys basketball team. A10
Co-Op a Success A co-op between the Forrestville and Polo school districts has success on the track. B2
Vandalism and wreckage cleared By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecounty news.com Forreston experienced a couple of civil issues over the past week, and the Forreston Village Board issued a thanks to all who helped sort them out. Village employees and officials pitched in to clean up after a car struck a fire hydrant and vandals spray painted graffiti in various places. While fleeing from police at high speeds May 28 around 6 p.m., Richard Feigl, Roscoe, struck a fire hydrant at the corner of South Walnut Avenue and East Cherry Street. He was first southbound on Ill. 26 and then on South Walnut Avenue. After hitting the hydrant, Feigl’s vehicle spun out Little Nyxi Doan, 4, Pecatonica, discusses one of the kids games with Lions Club member Leatrice Bicksler Saturday and hit a nearby tree, which at Leaf River Summer Daze. Nyxi was with her Grandma Darci Eisele, Byron, at right. Photo by Vinde Wells spun him into a second tree, before leaving his car sitting in pieces approximately 30 feet from the hydrant.
Weather almost perfect for festival By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com With the exception of a brief downpour Saturday evening, the weather was picture-perfect for Leaf River Summer Daze. “I think everything went well,” festival committee chairman Paul Lindstrom said Monday. “I think the vendors and everyone there was happy — at least until the storm hit.” An unexpected and fastmoving thunderstorm put a stop to the Badger State tractor pulls about 8:30 p.m., just as they were nicely off
to a good start. Otherwise, persistent blue skies and 80-degree temperatures brought out several hundred people, by Lindstrom’s estimate to enjoy Friday night’s fireworks, Saturday’s numerous events, and Sunday’s parade. “We had a big crowd for the fireworks,” Lindstrom said. “The car show Saturday had more cars and people than other years, and the firemen were pleased with the turnout for their breakfast. More signed up for the bags tournament, too.” Cars lined the side streets
surrounding the parade route on Sunday afternoon for the hour-long parade featuring Rockford’s Phantom Regiment. Jim Dirksen, Oregon, came to the festival on Saturday for the tractors. “I want to see the tractor pulls,” he said as he and his dog Scotty browsed through the rows of old International, John Deere, and Case tractors at the Tractor & Antique Engine Show. Allan Genandt, Forreston, had the same idea. “I’m here for the tractor show and pulls,” he said. “They’ve got a real nice car
show, too.” Kids were lining up Saturday to ride the barrel train, a row of blue wheeled barrels pulled by Ken Wilson on his lawn tractor. The train ride wended its way through the vendor and food booths, the tractor show, and around a couple of blocks near the River Valley Complex, where most events were held. The Leaf River Historical Museum down the street on Ill. 72 was open Saturday and Sunday. A petting zoo in its backyard on Saturday offered kids a chance to pet rabbits, goats, and kittens.
The fire hydrant was damaged. Feigl attempted to flee on foot, but was shortly apprehended by Stephenson County Sheriff’s Police. Earlier that weekend on May 26, graffiti was spraypainted on the cement at the eastern edge Warken Park’s shelter house, the sidewalk on the east side of Forreston High School, the track and field shed near the football field, and on the fence at Police Chief Mike Boomgarden’s home. Public Works Superintendent Allen Cruthis, village workers Scott Timm and Mike Glick, and Boomgarden were joined by the families of village president Mark Metzger and trustee Ken Vinnedge in cleaning up the graffiti in time for the Memorial Day service at Veteran’s Memorial Park. Glick had returned early from vacation to help in the efforts. Turn to A3
Buckets of Fun in German Valley
The 44th annual German Valley Days festival will get underway on Friday, June 9 with the theme, “Buckets of Fun.” Activities will take place in the Ben Miller Park, along Church Street and at the German Valley Grade School. The Silver Creek SWIFT will serve a celebration supper beginning at 5 p.m. Friday. Open coloring for all ages will be held at the information booth from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday and 9 to 10 a.m. on Saturday. A Little Miss and Mister Pageant, the presentation of the German Valley Area’s Most Valuable Person Award, and the announcement of “Bucket of Junk” competition winners will begin at 6:30 p.m. At 7:30 p.m. “The German Valley Days Trivia Wars Game Show” will begin. Saturday activities will start with a pancake breakfast served by Silver Creek ACTS Ministries from 7 to 10 a.m. at the German Valley Fire Station. The fire station will also be the location for free FHN health screenings from 7 to 10 a.m. Those wishing the glucose test must fast for eight hours prior to the screening. At 8:30 a.m., registration for an Antique Tractor Show, sponsored by the German Valley Golden Eagles 4-H Club, will begin at 310 Church St. Tractor games are scheduled at 3 p.m. Registration will begin at Darrell Kump and Jim Dirksen, both of Oregon, discuss an old International M tractor on display at the Tractor Show 9 a.m. for the German Valley at Leaf River Summer Daze June 3 while Dirksen’s dog Scotty keeps cool in the shade of an old Oliver. Photo by Lions Car Show to take place
at 310 Church St., across from the fire station. Car show awards will be presented at 2:30 p.m. At 9 a.m. a pig scramble for children age 3 through 10, will take place behind the historical museum. Preregister by calling 815-3623671. At 10 a.m. a euchre tournament will begin at the fire station and a Kiddie Tractor Pull will start on the ball diamond infield. Entries in the “Buckets of Fun” coloring contest, sponsored by the New Hope Veterinary Clinic, will be judged in the park shelter at 10:30 a.m. and a petting zoo, provided by Kriss Mulder will open. At 11 a.m., an “Around the World (in GV)” Basketball Shooting Contest will begin at the park basketball court. At 11:30 a.m., “Grass Attack” a bluegrass band will be onstage. The German Valley Days parade will begin with a flyover by Albertus Airport Pilots at 1:30 p.m. Andy Linder will share his Hacky Sack skills at 2:30 p.m. A pie-eating contest in the park shelter is sponsored by Christina’s Bakery and young singer and song writer Adam Linder will perform onstage. A wristband special is available for the inflatable rides from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. A bags tournament begins at 3 p.m. on the park basketball court, sponsored
Vinde Wells
In This Week’s Edition...
Business Brief, A4 Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B4
Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B3 Public Voice, A7 Property Transfers, B4
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B2 State’s Attorney, B4
Turn to A2
Deaths, B5 Carroll Gene Coffman, Kathrine M. & William L. Incontro Sr., Mark Knie, Robert S. Law, R. Dean Macklin, Betty J. Reagan
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com