Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal August 24, 2017 Volume 155, Number 18 - $1.00
Season Begins
VW Buses Roll
The high school golf season is underway. The golfers are ready to drive, chip, and putt. B1
Going Green
Volkswagen buses roll through White Pines State Park. A10
The 16th Renewable Energy Fair offered a look at new ideas to save energy. A7
Crowd less than sunny about solar By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecounty news.com A nationwide renewable energy company wants to bring a solar panel farm to the outskirts of Forreston, but nearby community members cast a shadow on those plans last week. Cypress Creek Renewables, a Californiabased company, invited neighboring property owners to participate in a meeting Aug. 17 conducted by senior developer Scott Novack and new market director Matt Baker. CCR has entered into a lease option agreement with Rod Wubbena, owner of Phil’s Fresh Eggs, Forreston. The agreement details using 200 acres of land south of Townline Road, surrounding Ill. 26, owned
by the Wubbena family, to build a 20 megawatt solar energy farm. Construction would be complete in early 2019. The farms use 12-foot tall photovoltaic solar panels, converting sunlight into electricity, which is returned to the grid for distribution. Wubbena attended the meeting, along with his wife, Denise, and mother, Betty. “We want this to be an open question and answer session,” said Novack. “We want to see how you’re feeling, and answer any concerns you have.” The concerns were many, and a group of approximately 14 citizens showed up, including Forreston Village Board members Tim Drayton, Ken Toms, Vickye Norris, and assistant village clerk Michelle Drayton. Turn to A3
Former Polo man arrested in armed robbery By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com A former Polo man, charged with robbing the Casey’s General Store there at knifepoint more than year ago, is in jail in Missouri awaiting extradition, the Ogle County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release. Zachary T. Stivers, 27, was arrested Aug. 18 in Grandin in Carter County. Police said he was masked when he robbed the Casey’s at 120 N. Division Ave. (Ill. 26) around 11:30 p.m. on July 29, 2016, and took an undisclosed amount of cash. Stivers was indicted by an Ogle County Grand Jury
Looking to the Sky Clouds above Ogle County Monday afternoon blocked part of the solar eclipse but residents still were able to see parts. Above, Paul Johnson, Oregon, uses a welding helmet with shade 14 glass to view the eclipse. The three parts of the eclipse he was able to view are pictured above from left to right: near the start at noon, 30 minutes past the 90 percent eclipse, and the end of the eclipse at 2:16 p.m. Photos by Chris Johnson
White lie brings man to awards dinner By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com
Zachary T. Stivers
on July 25 on one count of armed robbery and faces 6 to 30 years in prison if convicted. Stivers also is wanted in Ogle County on a $5,000 warrant for failure to appear in an Oct. 31 traffic case in which he is charged with reckless driving, illegal use of a cellphone, and having no Turn to A2
Getting Oregon’s Volunteer of the Year to the annual Chamber of Commerce dinner last week involved some fancy footwork. Longtime Ogle County Fair Association President Harlan Holm received
the award Aug. 17, and his 17-year-old daughter Halley was recognized for her volunteer efforts — and that’s where the plot thickened. Chamber board members always try to ensure the awards come as a surprise to the recipients. “It was kind of a doubleswitch,” Holm said with a chuckle. “I thought I was
going because my daughter was being recognized. They told me she was going to be recognized but didn’t know about it. They told her I was getting an award. She was supposed to be sure I was there, and I was supposed to make sure she was there.” “It was a surprise, and it was very much appreciated,” he said. Chamber executive
director Debbie Dickson praised Holm’s volunteer spirit, not only for his years of work at the fair but also for helping launch this year’s first-ever Rockin’ River Fest. She described him as the “ultimate can-do guy.” “Of all the attributes this individual humbly displays, the quality to bring out Turn to A3
Homeowner holds burglar at gunpoint By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com A Rockford man was arrested for residential burglary last week after a Creston resident held him at gunpoint until police arrived. Elijah T. Greer, 25, Rockford, was charged with residential burglary, a Class 1 felony, and is being held at the Ogle County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bond. Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle said when the homeowner came home for lunch on Aug. 15, he opened the garage door and found Greer inside holding some of
Elijah T. Greer
his belongings. “He has a concealed carry permit so he held him at gunpoint until we got there,” VanVickle said. He declined to release the homeowner’s name. Greer was arraigned in Ogle County Court on Aug. 18, and a preliminary hearing Turn to A2
In This Week’s Edition...
Scrimmage Night “For you seniors, It’ll be hard to prepare for this being your last ‘first one.’ The most you got is 14 [games] left, and five aren’t guaranteed. Be ready for them.” Forreston Head Coach Denny Diduch gives his players a pep talk after their Water Bowl scrimmage Aug. 18. Photo by Zach Arbogast
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B5 Marriage Licenses, A4
Oregon Police, B3 Public Voice, A7 Property Transfers, B4 Sheriff’s Arrests, B4
Social News, A4 Sports, B1-B2 State’s Attorney, B4 Weather, A3
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com
Death, B5 Joseph D. Deuth