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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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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.
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Men’s Prayer Breakfast is Feb. 4 at Forreston Reformed Church
The next Community Men’s Prayer Breakfast will be Saturday, Feb. 4, at 7 a.m. at the Forreston Reformed Church.
Forreston High School Principal Travis Heinz will be our speaker. A freewill offering for the food pantry will be accepted.
All men of the community are invited and encouraged to attend.
Mobile food pantry to be in Mt. Morris on Jan. 26
Loaves & Fish Food Pantry, alongside Northern Illinois Food Bank, will be hosting a Mobile Food Pantry on Thursday, Jan. 26, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
The truck will be located at Mt. Morris Moose Family Center, 101 Moose Drive, Mt. Morris.
Food is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last. Food is free to neighbors in need; no ID, proof of address or income is required.
Loaves & Fish Food Pantry is located on the lower level of the Mt. Morris Church of the Brethren, 409 W. Brayton Road, and is open on the first and third Thursdays from 3:30 to 6 p.m. and second and fourth Mondays from 2 to 4:30 p.m.
Anyone experiencing food insecurity is eligible to receive food. You do not need to have a referral, and no proof of income is required. If you have any questions, call 815-613-8776 and leave a message.
No immediate changes for Polo customers coming following Moring Disposal sale to Republic Services
The only change in garbage and recycling pickup Polo residents might see in the foreseeable future is different uniforms on the truck drivers, according to a Republic Services representative.
“You’re still going to see the same drivers, the same trucks. The invoices are going to still say Moring for the time being,” Republic Services Municipal Services Manager Jim Pozzi told Polo City Council members during their Jan. 16 meeting. “The only difference you may see right away is the drivers may be wearing the Republic Services uniform.”
Moring Disposal was founded in 1977 by Larry Moring; it had property in Rock Falls and Forreston. In December, its operations and land were sold to Republic Services. Republic Services purchased the Rock Falls property for $964,800, and five parcels of land in Forreston for $749,369.
The pickup schedule and routes aren’t changing either, at least for now, he said. There is a chance some routes might be adjusted in the future.
Customers can continue to contact the Forreston office for assistance or questions regarding day-to-day operations, Pozzi said.
Republic Services, which is based in Arizona, became the second largest nonhazardous solid waste management company in the U.S. after purchasing its larger competitor, Allied, in 2008 for $6.1 billion.
Customers can continue to call 815-6220500 (Rock Falls) or 800-423-0759 (Forreston) or go to moringdisposal.com for further questions. Alexa Zoellner, azoellner@shawmedia.com
FORRESTON LIBRARY
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
Family Night BINGO: Monday, Jan. 23, 5 p.m.
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!
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!
Big Kids, Big Art: Tuesday, Feb. 21, 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.
Adult Programs
Family Night BINGO: Monday, Jan. 23, 5 p.m.
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: The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict; Blue Moon Haven by Janet Dailey; Without a Trace by Danielle Steel
Picture Books: King Alice by Matthew Cordell; Paper Mice by Megan Wagner Lloyd
Sen. Duckworth comments on why she supported $1M grant
By ALEXA ZOELLNER azoellner@shawmedia.com
The Mt. Morris Fire Protection District’s effort to secure funds for a new home base still has a ways to go.
A b o u t $ 1 . 1 3 m i l l i o n h a s b e en secured for construction of a new fire s t a t i o n t h r o u g h f u n d r a i s i n g a n d g r a n t s , b u t t h a t ’ s o n l y one-quarter of the estimated cost.
“I’ll estimate our total project will cost $4 million to $4.5 million,” said Scott Diehl, Fire Distri ct Board of Trustees p r e s i d e n t . “ W e ’ r e t a l k i ng maybe two years till we get this thing done; that’s an estimate, too.”
T h e e x i s t i n g s t a t i o n i s nearly 100 years old and features low ceilings and narrow overhead doors, is constructed with porous brick and doesn’t have space for outdoor work. The building originally was a car dealership and farm implement service station.
A site for the new station hasn’t yet been finalized, but they’re working on it, Diehl said. He declined to comment on specific locations, citing ongoing negotiations.
“We’ve got a couple locations in mind,” he said. “I’m trying to get it done as soon as possible, but I don’t have it done yet.”
The Mt. Morris Fire Foundation, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is shooting to raise $2 million through donations and fundraisers. Fire District trustees and staff are working to secure $2 million to $2.5 mill i o n i n g r a n t s , a n d h a ve hired a specialist to help them seek and obtain such funding. Fire Foundation fundraising The foundation has raised “just a hair over $89,000” so far, Foundation Board President Susan Scott Druschel said. “ I d o t h i n k w e ’ v e d o n e well,” Scott Druschel said. “We’ve got a long way to go, but everything starts with one small step.”
The Mt. Morris High School alumni Facebook group is running a Mounders legacy donation challenge to see which graduating class can raise the most money, she said. The challenge kicked off Jan. 3 and will run through March with a class being highlighted each week.
“The One Mounder and Mt. Morris High School symbol is still visible every day – it’s on every Mt. Morris
fire engine,” Scott Druschel said. “The legacy remains.” She encouraged anyone interested in making a legacy donation to also Sen. Tammy Duckworth contact classmates and let them know about the fundraiser. “It takes a lot to get to $2 million,” Scott Druschel said. “I’m really proud of the community. They’ve done an
Photo provided The Mt. Morris Fire Protection District is seeking to construct a new fire station. Their current one, pictured here, was built in 1924 and is too small to offer a safe environment from which to serve the community, Fire Chief Rob Hough IV said.
See FIRE STATION, Page 4
Temporary r umble str ips not holding up well at L owell Park, Pines Road intersection
Permanent rumble strips to be added later this year as part of paving project
By ALEXA ZOELLNER azoellner@shawmedia.com
Roughly 60% of the temporary rumble strips on Lowell Park Road at its intersection with Pines Road remain.
“The temporary rumble strips are holding up as well as anticipated, which isn’t very well,” County Engineer Jeremy Ciesiel said following the Jan. 17 Ogle County Board meeting. “You can still feel them. They’ll still g r a b y o u r a t t e nt io n a s y o u c o me through, but the snowplows did tear them up as we were thinking they would.”
T e m p o r a r y r u m b l e s t r i p s w e r e installed at the end of July 2022 in hopes of alerting northbound and southbound motorists on Lowell Park Road that they are to stop at the intersection, which is located in rural Polo. Motorists on Pines Road do not have a stop sign.
See COUNTY BOARD, Page 7
Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media Temporary rumble strips were placed on Lowell Park Road leading to the intersection with Pines Road last year. The Ogle County Highway Department put the strips in place hoping to alert northbound and southbound motorists driving on Lowell Park Road that they are to stop at the intersection. Motorists on Pines Road do not have to stop at the intersection.
• FIRE STATION
Continued from Page 3
excellent job. It’s not where we need to be, but they’re supporting us.”
Fire District grant applications
O n J u n e 2 1 , 2 0 2 2 , O g l e C o u n t y Board members approved the Fire District’s application for a $42,500 econ o m ic d e v e l o p m en t g r a n t . T h o s e funds are coming from the county’s American Rescue Plan Act allocation.
“We can put that toward site assessment and purchasing real estate,” Diehl said.
The Fire District is working on a loan application to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Program for the full project cost, but first must secure a location for the n e w f i r e s t a t i o n , D i e h l s a i d . T h e USDA’s Rural Development Program supplies loans for capital projects, he said.
“It’s our cheapest interest rate,” Diehl said. “That’s why we’re going that direction. There’s just an awful lot of paperwork involved. The loan application is 50 to 60 pages.”
They might or might not receive the full amount they request, he said. It will depend on how their loan application is analyzed.
The majority of the money secured so far is coming from the federal government’s fiscal 2023 budget.
The federal government allocated $1 million to the Fire District for design, engineering and site work of the new fire station in its fiscal 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Act, which was signed into law by President Joe Biden on Dec. 29, 2022.
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth submitted the project for inclusion in the federal budget as congressionally directed spending. She said the project earned her support for several reasons.
“The fire station, it’s been 100 years without any updates, so these updates are critically needed,” Duckworth said. “I put my priority on this, gave this to the leadership and said, ‘When the Omnibus passes, this is a top priority for me. Of all the things I’m asking for, this is one of my very top priorities.’”
That the project went up against similar projects across the country and was able to secure the full funding requested said a lot about the Fire District’s need, she said.
“The fact that they have continued to operate and meet the needs of the community despite having a fire station that is essentially obsolete by any modern standards” is remarkable, Duckworth said. “They’re performing and stepping up to the plate and continuing to do the work instead of just walking away from it.”
A project’s fiscal responsibility is very important to her, Duckworth said.
“I’m not going to throw money if this Fire Protection District had not gotten their ducks in a row and had an actual plan, knew what they needed to do, knew exactly what they needed to fund, was willing to come up and do the fundraising themselves,” Duckworth said. “If they didn’t have all of that in a row, no matter what the need was, I wasn’t going to fund it.”
Diehl said that if the USDA Rural D e v e l op m e n t l o a n a p p l i c a t i o n i s approved, the $1 million will flow directly there and come off the Fire District’s loan balance.
“The biggest thing is we can’t put so much money into the project that we can’t operate as a Fire District,” Diehl said. “We have to fund our ambulance and fire.”
— Senator Duckworth
Card shower planned for Ila Mae Sieberns’ 90th birthday
The family of Ila Mae Sieberns of Oregon is holding a card shower in honor of her 90th birthday on Feb. 3.
Ila was born in 1933, the daughter of Howard and Eva Rogers, of Ohio, Illinois. Her family includes her late husband, Ken Sieberns, who passed away in April 2020 after 70 years of marriage; her late daughter Susan, who passed away in August 2020, and husband Hilo Hanson, of Plano; daughter Sharon and husband Brent Stanford, of Homewood; grandson Sean of Denver, Colorado and granddaughter Maddi and husband Jonah Buckels of Homewood.
Cards of congratulations will reach her at The Meadows, 510 N. State St., Apt. 202, Franklin Grove, IL, 61031.
Ila Mae Sieberns Ila Mae Sieberns was born in 1933.
Pat Bronkema to mark 85 years on Jan. 24 with card shower
A card shower is planned to celebrate the 85th birthday of Pat Bronkema on Jan. 24.
Cards and well wishes can be sent to: 204 W. Logan St., Forreston, IL 61030.
“Happy 85th birthday to a very special mother. Love you,” your daughters Deb Brady and Dawn Wood. Pat Bronkema
A lumni games are Saturday, Jan. 21, at Forreston High School
Forreston High School’s girls and boys basketball teams will be holding alumni games on Saturday, Jan. 21, in the high school gym.
The event will begin at 3 p.m. with the women’s game followed by a co-ed game at 3:30 and the men at 3:45.
The number of alumni participating will determine game matchups. Twenty-minute games will be played with decades playing against each other based on alumni’s graduating year falling on an even or odd year.
Band, Cheer and Dance also will be hosting their alumni night at that time.
Contact Kristin Crase (cheer) at kcrase@fvdistrict221.org, or Hanna Kasten (dance) at hkasten@fvdistrict221.org.
Band members can contact Travis Cunningham at tcunningham@fvdistrict221.org.
Participants are asked to bring a white and a red T-shirt for the games. Shirts also will be available for purchase.
All participating alumni, including past coaches and their immediate family, will be admitted free to the game.
The high school boys basketball game versus Oregon High School will follow the alumni games starting at 5:30 p.m., with the JV contest followed by the varsity game around 7 p.m.
Anyone interested in attending and/or playing in the alumni game can contact Jake Groom at jgroom@ fvdistrict221.org. with your name and graduating year.
We ask for a $10 donation the day of the game to cover the costs.
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