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Library News
oglecountynews.com ShawLocal.com
OFFICE 113-115 Peoria Ave. Dixon, IL 61021 815-732-6166, ext. 2592
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Publisher Jennifer Heintzelman 815-632-2502 jheintzelman@shawmedia.com
General Manager Earleen Hinton 815-632-2591 ehinton@shawmedia.com
News Alexa Zoellner 815-632-2590 azoellner@shawmedia.com
Advertising Sales Jennifer Heintzelman 815-632-2502 jheintzelman@shawmedia.com
Forreston Journal, Ogle County News and oglecountynews.com are a division of Shaw Media. Ogle County Newspapers also prints the Mt. Morris Times, Oregon Republican Reporter and Polo’s Tri-County Press.
The FORRESTON JOURNAL (USPS No. 205-520) is published weekly by B.F. Shaw Printing Co., Shaw Media. Periodical postage paid at Forreston, Illinois. POSTMASTER Send address changes to FORRESTON JOURNAL, P.O. Box 237, Forreston, IL 61030. Phone 815-732-6166, ext. 2516.
All rights reserved. Copyright 2023 Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media ABOVE LEFT: Forreston’s Brooke Boettner (11) drives to the basket as Polo’s Camrynn Jones guards her during Jan. 6 action in Forreston. ABOVE RIGHT: Forreston’s Keeli Larson (40) shoots as Polo’s Madison Glawe defends. Sports roundup begins on page 9.
FORRESTON LIBRARY
New Materials
We have recently added several books in our Large Print section including: “Every Mother’s Son” and “The Intruders” by William W. Johnstone, “The Seeds of Change” by Lauraine Snelling, “The Walnut Creek Wish” by Wanda E. Brunstetter, and “The Joy and Light Bus Company’’ by Alexander McCall Smith. Stop in soon to look over our other new selections!
Toddler/Preschool Storytime Tuesdays at 10 a.m.
Storytime is back in session! Bring your favorite toddler or preschooler for a time of stories, songs, crafts, and fun! This relaxed program is a great way for little ones to meet new friends and discover the joy of reading. Please call the library to register or if you have any questions.
Community Room
Looking for a place to hold your event? Our community room (with a small kitchenette) is available for meetings, parties, showers, family reunions, and more. Please call the library at 815-938-2624 for additional information.
Plastic Recycling
We are collecting film-type plastic for recycling. This includes plastic bags, zipper type baggies (with the zip portion removed), cereal/snack bags, bubble wrap, and other soft plastic . Please make sure bags are free from debris and remove all paper/sticker labels. We cannot accept hard plastic, such as water bottles, milk cartons, etc., for this program. Thank you!
BERTOLET LIBRARY
Drop Box Update: We have a brand new drop box, and it is open for your returns! All materials except hotspots can be returned in the drop box.
Youth Programs
Story Time: Thursdays, 10 a.m. Story Time returns on Thursdays at 10 a.m. Miss Jana will have stories and crafts for toddlers-kindergarten age kids. We look forward to seeing you then!
Big Kids, Big Art: Tuesday, Jan. 17, 4:30 p.m. Big Kids, Big Art is back! Last time, the participants learned about Shape and tried their hand at watercolor painting. 1st through 6th graders are invited to learn the next element of art Miss Jana will introduce.
LEGO® Club: 1st Monday of the month, 5 p.m. Create with us on the first Monday of each month. We will have the LEGO® bricks waiting for you!
Adult Programs
Adult Book of the Month: Take a journey to an isolated island in Australia with this compelling historical fiction novel. Tom Sherbourne and his wife make a decision to keep an infant they find in a boat and raise her as their own. As time goes on, they must face the consequences of this decision. Pick up your copy of The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman at the circulation desk.
Craft Kits for Adults: Embrace the winter cold with this penguin ornament or coaster
Create-a-Card: Will Return in March 2023!
On The Horizon: Mark your calendars for March 20 at 5 p.m. Microsoft Excel Fundamentals has been rescheduled! Registration will open soon!
Plastic Recycling: We ask that you make sure plastic is clean with no debris in the donation. Also please remove any ziploc-type seals and paper/sticker labels. Thank you for your cooperation.
New Releases
Adult Books: Devil’s Delight by M.C. Beaton; A Quiet Life by Ehtan Joella; The Broken Bow by Larry D Sweazy (LP)
Young Adult Books: The State of Grace by Rachael Lucas; Girl With a Camera by Carolyn Meyer
Chapter Books: Rhinos At Recess by Mary Pope Osborne; The Decomposition of Jack by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb
By ALEXA ZOELLNER azoellner@shawmedia.com
An effort to restore the American Legion Memorial Fountain in Mt. Morris is taking shape.
The Mt. Morris Economic Development Corporation, a nonprofit 501(c) (3), has acquired ownership of the lot on which the fountain is located, said Rob Urish, a member of the Mt. Morris Economic Development Corporation. The property address is 16 S. Wesley Ave., Mt. Morris.
“The fountain was erected in 1926 in honor of World War I servicemen,” U r i s h s a i d . “ T h e l o c a l A m e r i c a n Legion Post [No. 143] underwrote the erection of it. There are stones there from all over the world, but predominately North America and the Midwest.”
Kable News Co. and Kable Product Services deeded the property to the EDC for $0 in exchange for a property appraisal the company could use as a tax write-off, Urish said. Originally, Kable executives wanted $10,000 for the property, he said.
The appraisal came in at $125,000, and the tax benefit of a donation of that amount “far exceeds the $10,000” originally sough, Urish said.
The EDC has been in contact with the Wisconsin-based Kohler Foundation regarding restoration of the fountain, he said.
The tentative plan is to deed the property to the Kohler Foundation, which in turn will underwrite the restoration of the fountain later this year, Urish said. Before that can happen, t h o u g h , t h e K o h l e r F o un da t i o n ’ s board has to approve the project.
Once the fountain is restored, the property will be deeded back to the village of Mt. Morris, Urish said.
“If it all comes to pass, we’re hoping to have a centennial celebration in 2026,” he said.
Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media The memorial on the campus in downtown Mt. Morris was created by the Mt. Morris American Legion in 1926.
Off icials exploring barrier poles near intersection
Commissioners discuss options following Sunday auto accident
By ALEXA ZOELLNER azoellner@shawmedia.com
A weekend crash has prompted Oregon city officials to ask the Illinois D e p a r t m e n t o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n whether barrier poles can be added to the northwest corner of Illinois Routes 2 and 64.
A n S U V e n d ed u p i n t h e g l a s s garage door of Ogle County Brewery –which is located on that corner – after it was struck by another vehicle whose driver ran a red light early Sunday afternoon. No one was injured, according to police.
“We were really lucky. We dodged a bullet on this one that nobody was there [in the way] when this car went through,” Streets and Public Improvements Commissioner Tim Krug told fellow council members Tuesday. “It’s just a matter of time. It’s going to happen.”
Ogle County Brewery’s address is 400 W. Washington St., which is the name of Route 64 within city limits; Route 2 is called Fourth Street in city limits.
The barrier poles are relatively easy to install, Finance Commissioner Terry Schuster said. It’s an idea worth pursuing, he said.
“We were lucky there was no one sitting at a table by the door because the door just swept in,” Mayor Ken Williams said. “We also talked about, had they gone in closer to the street, they would have gone through the window and knocked over one of those tanks because that little knee wall’s not going to stop an SUV from coming through.
“So you hear about those things and you have to look and say, ‘What can we do to keep our citizens safe and our community safe?’” he added.
Krug noted that while the city isn’t legally liable for the intersection, there still is a level of moral responsibility. As such, he has instructed Public Works Director Bill Covell to reach out to IDOT.
“We don’t want somebody to get seriously injured or dead and thought we could have done something,” Krug said.
In other business, council members:
Unanimously approved a preliminary elevation and water line designs for a proposed Dollar General at 1192 Illinois Route 64 (E. Washington St.). The approval was sought by the developer prior to it doing full site plans to bring to Dollar General, City Administrator Darin DeHaan said. The project is not yet a sure thing, he said.
Unanimously approved job descriptions for a deputy police chief and a Public Works mechanic/heavy equipment operator.
SPECIAL EVENT
Recycle your electronics Jan. 27 in Oregon; permits are required in advance, but they are free
The Ogle County Solid Waste Management Department (OCSWMD) will host a residential electronics recycling event on Jan. 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 909 Pines Road in Oregon.
This event is for Ogle County residents only and a free permit is required in advance of the event.
To obtain a free permit call 815-732-4020 or email solidwaste@oglecountyil.gov by 4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 26.
Accepted items include all televisions and computer monitors, computers, computer hardware and cables, laptops, tablets, cellphones, printers, FAX machines, scanners, shredders (no tubs), copiers, video gaming equipment, DVD/VCRs, cable/satellite boxes, stereo equipment, radios, digital clocks, cameras, calculators, phone systems, holiday light strands, extension cords, rechargeable batteries, printer ink cartridges, CD/DVDs, and
CFL bulbs.
Microwave ovens are accepted for $5 per unit. Cash or check is accepted.
There is a limit of seven large or bulky items per permit and one permit per county household per month.
Business or institutional electronic materials are not accepted at these events.
For more information about this recycling event call the OCSWMD at the number listed earlier, visit www.oglecounty.org, or go on Facebook at Ogle County Solid Waste Management Dept.
