Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal June 22, 2018 Volume 156, Number 9- $1.00
District Honors
Ready to Golf ?
Coffman Retires
Robert Nelson and Vikki Anderson were honored for service to Forrestville Valley. A3
It’s time to register now for the John Herrmann Playday to help VOP. B3
The Ogle County Treasurer steps down after 18 years of service. A9
Village board considering building own solar array By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecounty news.com The Forreston Village Board is looking at the possibility of putting in its own solar array. During the June 18 meeting, Village President Mark Metzger said that while the village is still on board with Microgrid Energy to put in solar arrays within the village limits, he would like to look into the possibility of funding and building the arrays themselves, instead of going through a company. Microgrid proposed two arrays, which would supply electricity to the Water Treatment Plant and the community with 265 kilowatt and 650 kilowatt direct current solar arrays, built on four acres of land at 407 N. Locust St. and the former railroad right of way that runs along North Chestnut Avenue, respectively. Metzger cited that the Village of Mt. Morris and Highland Community College are both looking into the same situation of selffunding a solar array. “I will probably reach out
to Mt. Morris, maybe even talk to their consultant, to look into what it would take to put one up ourselves,” said Metzger. The decision came from a combination of factors, including receiving the state benefits from the Future Energy Jobs Act directly to the village, as well as possible doubts surrounding the viability of getting the 650 kilowatt railroad array, intended for the community. “Hundreds of propositions for solar farms are being submitted for the first wave of FEJA, and I think something like 26 of them will actually be awarded,” said Metzger. “Currently, every project that has been accepted has been a larger project, and all are within southern Illinois. So far, none have been accepted here in the northern part.” FEJA is providing as much as $15 billion for solar projects being built in Illinois by 2030. However, acceptance for projects comes in waves. “All of the ComEd representatives I’ve talked to say Illinois is becoming oversaturated with proposals for his first wave,” said Metzger.
Forreston Boy Scouts led the village board through the pledge of allegiance Monday evening. Pictured from left to right are: Village President Mark Metzger, and Scouts Logan Miller, Tymon Runkle, Dylan Lewis, Christopher Symons, Aaron Anderson, Johnathen Kobler, and Daniel Derrer. Photo by Zach Arbogast
The board also accepted a merchant agreement with GovPayNet, a service which allows citizens to pay their water and sewer bills with a credit or debit card.
The service costs nothing to be adopted and implemented by local governments, including fee liability and hardware and software costs. Service fees include $1.50
for bills up to $50, $1.75 for bills up to $75, $3 for bills up to $100, $5 for bills up to $150, and $7 for bills up to $200. After $200, $1.75 is added for every additional
$50. The village board meets again on Monday, July 2 at 7 p.m. at Forreston Village Hall, 102 S Walnut Ave. The meeting is open to the public.
Mongan gets 30 months probation in boating death By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com The parents of the Rockford woman killed in a boating crash nearly two years ago were less than satisfied with the sentence handed down Tuesday to the Oregon man responsible for her death. “We were certainly hoping for more,” said David Swaziek, of Loves Park, the father of Megan Wells, 31, who died on June 24, 2016 when a johnboat operated by Marc Mongan, 47, struck her as it went over the back of the pontoon boat she was riding in, throwing her overboard. She died from blunt force trauma. Ogle County Judge John Redington sentenced Mongan to 30 months probation and, along with other conditions, banned him from consuming alcohol or operating a motorized watercraft during his probation. He also ordered Mongan to pay $9,837 in restitution to Wells’ family. Mongan pleaded guilty April 19 to reckless conduct causing great bodily harm, a Class 4 felony. According to the charge, Mongan was operating his boat “at a faster than reasonable speed” when the crash occurred and failed to “give way” to the pontoon boat. He had been charged with seven felonies, including drunk driving, in Wells’ death
on the Rock River three miles north of Oregon. The other six charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement. “Is 30 months probation enough for a taking a life?” said Swaziek after the hearing. “I’m still trying to wrap my head around that. We’re fighting as hard as we can for justice for Megan. I think we fell a little short today.” Swaziek vowed to keep fighting. “We aren’t done yet. We’ll be pursuing some things,” he said. He said he would be following the three civil cases that are ongoing against Mongan with the hope that his daughter’s three young children will be “taken care of.” Swaziek and six other family members, including her mother Robin, and two sisters, gave tearful victim impact statements before the sentencing. “There are no words that will ever bring Megan back,” Swaziek told Mongan. “Megan’s blood will forever be on your hands.” Her sister Kristy Driscoll said every family event and holiday is now marred by Megan’s absence. She spoke about her sister’s “contagious smile and awesome sense of humor.” “Trying to go on without her is one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to do,” Driscoll said. “You should be held
In This Week’s Edition...
Marc Mongan wipes away a tear as he addresses the courtroom audience at Tuesday’s sentencing hearing. Photo by Earleen Hinton
accountable. You should go to jail,” Robin Swaziek told Mongan. Mongan repeatedly apologized to Wells’ family during his statement before sentencing. He also apologized to his wife, three daughters, and mother, who were all in the courtroom. “I’m sorry for what I have put you through,” he said to Wells’ parents. “I’m not the evil person you want me to be.” He said he has been ridden with guilt and anxiety since the accident.
Church News, A5 College News, A4 Classifieds, B5-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B6
“Three children will grow up without a mother. That’s the one thing I live with every day,” Mongan said, his voice breaking with emotion. Special prosecutor David Neal, from the Illinois State’s Attorney’s Appellate Prosecutor’s office, asked the judge to sentence Mongan to the maximum penalty under the law, which is one to three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Defense attorney David Tess, Rochelle, asked for 24 months probation for his client.
Byron Library News, B2 Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B5 Public Voice, A8 Sheriff’s Arrests, B5
He said Mongan has pleaded guilty and accepted responsibility for Wells’ death. “There’s no evidence of alcohol,” Tess said. “Alcohol consumption by Mr. Mongan has played no part.” Neal objected. “There was a finding of probable cause that alcohol was involved,” he said. Tess said Mongan has no criminal history, has sought counseling since the accident, has already lost his driving privileges, and will be required to surrender his FOID card.
Social News, A4 State’s Attorney, B6 Zoning, B5
Published every Friday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com
“No sentence will bring Megan back. No sentence will change what happened that night,” Tess said. Before passing sentence, Redington voiced his empathy for both Wells’ and Mongan’s families. “This is an extremely emotional case. I can’t throw a rock at anyone on either side for feeling the way that they do,” he said. “This case can’t be settled on emotion,” he continued. “The law doesn’t allow me to settle this on emotion.” He explained that he could not consider any of the charges that were dismissed when passing sentence. Neal voiced appreciation for Redington’s deliberations on the case. “We respect the judge’s decision. This is a very difficult case,” he said. “While the state recommended prison time, the judge careful considered everything appropriately. It was a well thought out decision.” “This is a sad day,” Neal said. “There’s nothing worse than the loss of a child.” Tess expressed sympathy for Wells’ family. “First of all, on behalf of everyone involved, I want to express condolences to the family,” he said. “This is a horrible incident. We hope all parties can now move forward to the best of their ability.” Tess said he believed the sentence was fair.
Deaths None