Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal June 15, 2017 Volume 155, Number 8 - $1.00
Summer Ball
Porchfest
The Polo and Forreston summer baseball games are underway at area parks. A10, B2
Milestone
A unique festival was held in Mt. Morris on June 10. B1
A benefit yard sale has raised $150,000 for the American Cancer Society. B4
Dale Wilken is named German Valley MVP By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecounty news.com A man who’s spent his life in service of his country and community was honored as German Valley’s “Most Valuable Person.” German Valley Days takes place at Ben Miller Park, bordered by Church Street and College Street, and it was fitting that this year’s “Most Valuable Person” went to Dale Wilken - a man who personally cares for the park. Every year, German Valley Days hosts games and food for the community, alongside annual traditions like the Little Miss and Mister Pageant and Trivia Contest. Another such tradition, however, takes the community away from sheer entrainment for a brief moment to pay real admiration toward a pillar of German Valley’s community, in the form of honoring a “Most Valuable Person.”
This year was no different, as Donna Smith, German Valley Lions Club secretary, took to the stage during the pageant voting to speak on Wilken’s behalf, citing his personal history of service and dedication to Ben Miller Park. “He takes that job very seriously. You may have passed the park and seen him hard at work moving, trimming, or performing other duties,” said Smith. “The park is always under his watchful eye.” Before he was the park’s watchful eye, Wilken served in the U.S. Army following the Korean War. Afterwards, he worked as a farmer due west of German Valley. He’s served as co-leader of
A story and pictures from the Little Miss and Mister contest appears on B1
the Webelos Scout program, participated in the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) plays, served the German Valley Historical Society, and worked with the food pantry. Wilken has also served actively at Adeline Zion Evangelical church, having been a deacon, elder, Sunday School teacher, and youth group leader. “How ironic that he is now taking care of the property that once was home to his high school, the Pleasant Prairie Academy, from which he graduated years ago,” said Smith. After Smith’s declaration, Wilken came on stage to accept his sash and plaque, commemorating him as 2017’s “Most Valuable Person.” “It’s an honor, and I never expected it,” said Wilken. “This is just how I was brought up; this is what you do, for yourself and your Dale Wilken embraces Donna Smith after being named German Valley’s 2017 Most Valuable Person. Photo by Zach Arbogast. community.”
Third committee votes for denial of dog kennel request
Carrying a message for everyone By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecounty news.com The Special Olympics torch made its way through downtown Oregon, carried by a Village of Progress athlete and escorted by local law enforcement last week. Law enforcement from Oregon, Mount Morris, Byron, Rochelle, and the Ogle County Sheriff’s Department joined Jake Werner, a village of progress worker and basketball player, at 10:15 a.m. on June 7 as he ran from the old Silo Restaurant at 1490 North Illinois 2 to Illinois 64, and downtown Oregon before heading on to Daysville Road. A pit stop was made on the lawn of the Ogle County Courthouse at the corner of Washington and Fourth streets. More than 20 VOP members held colorful signs of encouragement for the runners, thanking them for their support. “I’m thrilled to see our members and athletes downtown, watching the
By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com
Teresa Vaughn, Tammy Sigler, and Cloceal Holman hold encouraging signs and cold water for the torch runners. Photo by Zach Arbogast
runners,” said Dawn Todd, Village of Progress coach. “It means so much for them to see our local people devoting time and energy to this cause.” Illinois’ first law enforcement torch run was in 1986, and included less than 100 runners. It raised a little over $14,000. Thirty-one years later,
“I’m thrilled to see our members and athletes downtown, watching the runners. It means so much for them to see our local people devoting time and energy to this cause.” Dawn Todd, Village of Progress coach Illinois raised $4.2 million, making it among the highest rated torch runs in the country.
Each run is organized by local law enforcement personnel, with liaisons from Special Olympics.
Jake Werner, village of progress worker and athlete, carries the torch on the run towards Oregon’s Old Courthouse Lawn. Werner was escorted by law enforcement from Oregon, Mt. Morris, Byron, Rochelle and the Ogle County Sheriff’s Department. Photo by Zach Arbogast
In This Week’s Edition...
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B7-B10 Entertainment, A6 Marriage Licenses, A4 Public Voice, A7
Oregon Police, B5 Property Transfers, B4 Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4
Sports, A10, B2 State’s Attorney, B6 State Police, B5 Weather, A2
A DeKalb County dog breeder’s request for a special use permit to expand her business into Ogle County hit another setback Tuesday. The Ogle County Planning & Zoning Committee voted 7-0 to recommend denial of a special use request from Christie Hardt, owner of B&C Kennel, Clare, and her husband Robert DeCosta. Hardt and DeCosta have requested the special use permit to operate a commercial dog kennel on property they own at 14189 E. Dutch Rd., northeast of Kings. The site is zoned for agricultural use, and the request asks for a special use permit to allow dog breeding, import and sale of puppies, dog grooming, and dog obedience training at the kennel. Planning & Zoning is the third committee to recommend denial to the Ogle County Board, which is expected to vote on the matter on June 20. The Zoning Board of Appeals recommended denial by a 3-2 vote on April 27, and the Regional Planning Committee voted 4-1 for denial on March 23. Planning & Zoning Committee member Ron Colson said Tuesday that he sees inconsistency in the ZBA decision because they denied it on the basis that the requested special use would be incompatible with the zoned agricultural use in that
This sign against puppy mills “or their affiliates in Ogle County!” is located on South Fourth Street in Oregon. Petitions with 2,500 signatures were presented to county officials during a zoning hearing on the proposed kennel in April. Photo by Earleen Hinton
area. “It would seem that standard was met,” he said. Committee chairman Dan Janes asked if other committee members shared Colson’s concern, but none did. All seven are also county board members. Several county residents spoke in opposition to the kennel at the ZBA hearing, voicing concern that it is a “puppy mill,” and 2,500 signed a petition against it. Hardt read a statement refuting allegations that she runs a puppy mill, and several people also testified in her behalf during the 5-hour ZBA hearing. Hardt and DeCosta have also run into road blocks with their DeKalb County facility, which was found to be in violation of their permit there. The DeKalb County Zoning Board voted last month to limit the number of dogs they can keep on their Turn to A2
Deaths, B5 Eva M. Cline, Helen R. Jones, Glenn G. Van Raden
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com