Forreston_Journal-03-10-2023

Back in Court

Tigers Second

Alexa Zoellner/Shaw Media Kamdyn Ruter, 8, points out miniatures for sale at the Polo Lions Club’s 38th Farm Toy Show to dad Kyle Ruter, of Shannon. The event was held at Polo Community High School on March 4. The Forreston FFA Alumni Toy and Craft show is this Saturday at the high school. Story on page 7.

Willard “Bill” L. Gilbert Jr., Roger D. Hartman, Carla Rae Humphreys, Page 8

• Friday, March 10, 2023

/ ShawLocal.com

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SPECIAL EVENTS

Baileyville Reformed Church offers soup supper on March 23

The Baileyville Reformed Church again will hold its annual soup supper on Thursday, March 23. Serving will begin at 5 p.m. The menu consists of chili, vegetable beef soup, chicken noodle soup, ham and cheese sandwiches, egg salad sandwiches, homemade pies, other desserts and drinks.

The basement is handicapped accessible. Carryouts will be available. Donations will be appreciated for Mission Outreach.

Forrestville Valley School District Preschool Screenings

All children who live in Forrestville Valley School District 221, ages 3 to 5, are eligible for a free screening.

The screening is conducted to identify children who may have speech, vision, hearing, learning or behavioral needs. The screening is required to participate in one of the district’s preschool programs.

If you would like your child to participate in one of the district’s preschool screenings and your

FORRESTON LIBRARY

Mixin’ It Up Fundraiser

Monday, March 13 is your last chance to order dips from our fundraiser through Midwest Mixes, one of America’s premiere sites for gourmet veggie dips, olive oil blends, and other great products. With over 50 dips, sauces, and rubs to choose from, there is sure to be something for everyone to enjoy! Please call the library at 815-938-2624 or stop in to order.

Garden Walk

Are you planning a beautiful vegetable garden or an amazing floral landscape this year? We’re

BERTOLET LIBRARY

Big Kids, Big Art

Tuesday, March 21, at 4:30 p.m. Last time, the participants learned about shape and tried their hand at watercolor painting. First- through sixth graders are invited to learn the next element of art Miss Jana will introduce.

BINGO

Monday, March 27, at 5 p.m. Start spring break with us. This free program is open to all ages with a variety of prizes.

Family Movie

Thursday, March 30, at 5 p.m. Puss in Boots discovers that his passion for adventure has taken its toll: he has burned through eight of his nine lives. Puss sets out on an epic journey to find the mythical Last Wish and restore his nine lives.

Story Time

Thursdays at 10 a.m. Miss Jana will have stories and crafts for toddlers through kindergarten-age

child will be 3 BEFORE Sept. 1 and not yet enrolled in kindergarten, call German Valley Grade School to schedule an appointment.

Spring screening dates: March 17 and May 12. Children screened will be eligible for possible enrollment in one of the district’s preschool programs for the 2023-2024 school year.

You will receive screening documentation to be completed at home. All information needs to be returned to the FGS or GVGS offices BEFORE your child’s screening appointment. Call 815-362-2279 for information.

Students currently enrolled in a preschool program do not need to be screened again.

Leaf River Lions to offer ‘Love My Music’ night on April 1

The Leaf River Lions are planning a fun night called “Love My Music” on Saturday, April 1. The evening will be like the old TV program “Name That Tune” and will have local teams competing. As of this time, the United Methodist Church, Leaf River Firemen and the Leaf River Lions have submitted teams. There are a couple of more working on a team.

Each team will have five players with only three

playing at one time. At each intermission, a new participant will replace one of the players on their team. Songs played will range from children’s songs, Christmas songs, movie themes, rock ’n’ roll, country western and gospel songs.

The first player to recognize the song will have to sound their device and name the song. If they are incorrect or none of the five teams can identify the song, the audience will have the opportunity to name the song and win the money. Everyone is eligible.

Some songs may ask for the name of the person singing for bonus money.

The event will be in three 20-minute sessions with a short intermission between them. The first session will be pretty easy songs to identify with each session getting progressively more difficult. Prize money will be awarded to the team that correctly identifies the song being played first. Each round will increase in prize money.

Admission will be $10 regardless of age, so if you enjoy having fun and listening to music you will enjoy the evening.

There will be light refreshments available. Come and support your favorite team and cheer them on to win big money!

looking for local residents who would like to assist in a Garden Walk fundraiser for the library. The event would be held during Sauerkraut Days, which is the first weekend in August, and the only requirement is a willingness to share the beauty of your lovely lawn or garden. If you are interested in participating or would like more information, please contact Julie at 815-938-2624 or forrestonpubliclibrary@gmail.com.

Toddler/Preschool Storytime

Tuesdays at 10 a.m. Bring your favorite toddler or preschooler for a

kids.

Create-a-Card

Saturday, March 18, at 9:30 a.m. Jessie returns on March 18 for card making. Stop in to make a spring card to brighten the day of that special friend.

Microsoft Excel Fundamentals

Monday, March 20, at 5 p.m. Learn the basics to get started using Microsoft Excel. This class will include a hands-on overview of the Excel workspace and creation of a basic inventory spreadsheet where you will apply formatting and complete calculations using formulas and functions. Please bring a laptop if you have one. Registration is required: call 815-738-2742.

Presented by HCC Lifelong Learning.

March Craft

Stop by the circulation desk and pick up all the materials to make your own rainbow and pot of

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.

gold for the month of March.

Adult Book of the Month

Travel to Scotland’s Shetland Islands for the first book in Ann Cleeve’s Shetland Island series. Raven Black follows Inspector Jimmy Perez as he tries to solve the murder of a young girl.

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 Hunter” by Jennifer Herrera and “Arch-Conspirator” by Veronica Roth. Chapter books: “The Superteacher Project” by Gordon Korman.

DVDs: “Armageddon Time” and “Lightyear.”

New hearing date for Malta man accused of killing Mt. Morris woman, her unborn child in 2020

By EARLEEN HINTON ehinton@shawmedia.com

A defense attorney for a Malta man charged with killing a Mt. Morris woman and her unborn son in November 2020 told an Ogle County judge he needs more time to secure medical records.

Matthew T. Plote, 35, of Malta, appeared in court on March 1 with his defense attorney, John R. Kopp, of Geneva, in front of Judge John “Ben” Roe.

Plote is charged with killing Melissa Lamesch, 27, of Mt. Morris, and her unborn son on Nov. 25, 2020, and then setting fire to her house to conceal their deaths.

Lamesch’s baby was due Nov. 27, 2020.

Plote faces four counts of first-degree murder, three of intentional homicide of an unborn child and one each of residential arson, aggravated domestic battery and concealment of a homicidal death.

The March 1 hearing was continued in January after Kopp said he had yet to receive Lamesch’s medical records from before her death.

He said efforts to secure the medical records from DuPage Medical Group through subpoenas have been unsuccessful.

“We’ve been trying to get the medical records since October,” Kopp said. “We’ve sent faxes, emails over the last two months, and now they say the need a court order.”

He asked if Roe would reissue another subpoena asking for the records with his signature clearly visible.

Assistant State’s Attorney Heather Kruse said her office might be able to

APRIL 4 ELECTION

provide the defense another form that could help with the request.

Kruse said the state had secured records from the eight fire departments that provided mutual aid to the Mt. Morris Fire Protection District on the night of the fire.

Roe set the next pretrial hearing for March 14 at 10 a.m., with an April 6 date as a backup.

Plote has been in custody at the Ogle County Correctional Center since

his March 8, 2022, arrest. He appeared in court wearing the standard orange jumpsuit and in handcuffs and leg irons.

Two of his family members sat in one row of the courtroom’s public seating area while two of Lamesch’s family sat two rows behind them.

Lamesch was found about 4:30 p.m. after firefighters responded to 206 S. Hannah Ave. in Mt. Morris, where they encountered heavy smoke and

blaring smoke detectors. She was found on the kitchen floor and pronounced dead at the scene, despite lifesaving measures.

She was a 2011 graduate of Oregon High School and an EMT at Trace Ambulance Service in Tinley Park.

Prosecutors have yet to offer a possible motive in the case, but have said Lamesch and Plote knew each other before the killings.

County clerk outlines procedures for April 4 election

Ogle County Clerk Laura J. Cook has announced that her office complies with the Federal Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act.

“Disabled or elderly (over 65) voters who find it difficult or nearly impossible to go to the polls on Election Day may now ask for a Vote by Mail ballot without having a signature from their physician,” Cook said. “You can

request a Vote by Mail ballot by calling the County Clerk’s Office at 815732-1110 or visiting the Ogle County Official website at www.oglecountyil. gov by going to the “I Want To” tab, apply select ‘Vote by Mail.’

“Once the County Clerk’s Office receives verification of your request, we will then mail the Vote by Mail ballot to the voter. After voting the Vote by Mail ballot, it must be mailed, hand

delivered back to the County Clerk’s Office or utilize the ballot drop box located on the west side of the courthouse. The ballot, if mailed, must be postmarked before or on Election Day,” Cook said.

The Ogle County Courthouse is accessible to disabled or elderly (over 65) citizens by entering on the west side of the courthouse.

“If you are unable to come to the

courthouse and need to be registered or transfer your voter registration, you may register online at ova.elections.il.gov or contact the Ogle County Clerk’s Office at 815-732-1110,” Cook said.

The last day to register to vote or change your address with a Deputy Registrar is March 7 (with the exception of

See ELECTION, Page 4

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

Matthew Plote enters an Ogle County Courtroom on Wednesday, March 1, for a pretrial status hearing.

Photo provided

Melissa Lamesch and her unborn son died Nov. 25, 2020, at her home in Mt. Morris.

Palatine man charged with killing woman, setting fire to her apartment, pleads not guilty

By EARLEEN HINTON ehinton@shawmedia.com

A Palatine man has pleaded not guilty to charges alleging that in September 2022 he fatally stabbed a Rochelle woman and then set her apartment on fire in an attempt to conceal her death.

Gary C. Freeman, 28, appeared in Ogle County Court on March 1 via Zoom and pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree murder, one count of residential arson and one count of concealment of a homicide.

He is charged in connection with the death of Devin K. Gibbons, 28, of Rochelle.

Gibbons was found dead in her Rochelle apartment, 503 Seventh Ave., after Rochelle police and firefighters were dispatched to that address at 10:46 a.m. Sept. 18, 2022, for a smoke investigation, according to a joint news release issued by the Rochelle Police Department and Ogle County State’s Attorney Mike Rock.

“Upon entry into the residence, fire personnel located a deceased female,” according to the release. “The fire was deemed suspicious and additional investigators arrived on scene.”

Freeman was developed as a sus -

• ELECTION

Continued from Page 3

grace period voter registration and transfer of registration beginning March 8 and ending April 4 in the office of the Ogle County Clerk.)

Early voting will be conducted at the Ogle County Clerk’s Office located at the Ogle County Courthouse, 105 S. Fifth St., Oregon, through April 3, for all Ogle County precincts.

The first day to apply for a Vote by Mail ballot for the April 4 Consolidated Election was Jan. 4. The first day to mail a Vote by Mail ballot was Feb. 23, with the last day for mailing a ballot from the County Clerk’s Office being March 30.

“If there are any voters in Ogle County who cannot get into the polling place, we can send two judges of election within 50 feet of the polling place with the ballot. A request should be made prior to the election on a form provided by the County Clerk’s Office. If we can assist you in any way, within the law, please let us know,” Cook said.

The clerk’s regular office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

pect during the course of the investigation, according to the release.

Rock submitted the case to an Ogle County Grand Jury on Feb. 28, which indicted Freeman. An arrest warrant was issued Feb. 28 and he was apprehended in Palatine.

The first-degree indictments, Class M felonies, allege Freeman “knowingly stabbed” Gibbons “with the intent to kill her or do great bodily harm” and that the “murder was committed in a cold, calculated and premeditated manner, pursuant to a preconceived plan, scheme or design.”

Gary C. Freeman

defense attorney Robert Kerr, who also appeared remotely.

Kerr, who said he had been retained as Freeman’s attorney through his family, told Redington he was considering asking for a bond hearing, but needed more time to review the state’s evidence.

“I have been told the discovery is voluminous and I would ask the court for an opportunity to review,” Kerr said, adding that Freeman’s family is unable to pay the current bond amount to secure his release.

The concealment of a homicidal death indictment, a Class 3 felony, alleged Freeman knew Gibbons “had died by homicidal means” and “knowingly concealed” her death by leaving her body inside her apartment and then starting the fire.

The residential arson charge is a Class 1 felony.

Freeman is being held in the Ogle County Correctional Center on $10 million bond. He must post 10% of that amount to be released.

On March 1, he appeared in court via a video feed, represented by

Assistant State’s Attorney Allison Huntley said the state should have early discovery items to Kerr by next week.

Kerr asked that a pretrial sentence report be completed on Freeman as soon as possible.

Redington set a pretrial hearing at 1 p.m. April 5.

“If he (Kerr) appears remotely then you will appear remotely,” Redington told Freeman. “If he appears in court in person then you will appear in person, too.”

Many agencies worked on the

investigation, according to the release.

“The Ogle County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police, State Fire Marshall’s Office, Red Cross, Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigators, Ogle County Coroner’s Office, Ogle-Lee Fire Protection District, Federal Bureau of Investigation (Rockford and Chicago Offices), Schaumburg Police Department, Palatine Police Department, Sterling Police Department and Shining Star Children’s Advocacy Center assisted with this investigation,” according to the release. “The Rochelle Police Department and Ogle County State’s Attorney’s Office thanks those agencies for their assistance and stands with the family and friends of Devin Gibbons in their grief.”

Counts 1 to 3 of the first-degree murder charges have maximum sentences of 20 to 60 years in prison; Count 4 has a maximum sentence of natural life in prison. Those cases are non-probational.

Count 5, the residential arson charge, has a maximum sentence of 4 to 12 years in prison and also is non-probational. Count 6, concealment of a homicidal death, carries a maximum sentence of 2 to 5 years in prison and is probational.

Oregon officials seeking community input on

city’s

Community, business surveys open for responses

By ALEXA ZOELLNER azoellner@shawmedia.com

Oregon officials are looking to residents and local business owners’ visions for the city to help guide them in setting future priorities.

“The direction of the city is really what the citizens want [it to be],” Mayor Ken Williams said. “Of course, you can’t do everything at once, so we pay a lot of attention to prioritizing what’s highest on the citizens’ list.”

A community survey for residents of Oregon and the 61061 ZIP code was launched Jan. 31 as part of the process of updating the city’s comprehensive plan. A separate sur-

comprehensive plan update

vey was sent directly to Oregon-based business owners.

Gathering community input is part of the second phase of the comprehensive plan update. The first phase – inventory and data collection – took place late last year. Altogether, the entire process is expected to take 10 to 12 months.

“If you want to see diversity and change, we have to speak up and be able to have a vision for Oregon,” 22-year-old Daysha McLain said of the surveys. “We have to understand that we have differences, but be on one accord so that we can build up Oregon.”

McLain, who plans to attend Rock Valley College in the fall, is part of a 15-person Steering Committee serving as local leaders for the comprehensive plan update.

The committee consists of Oregon residents, business owners and executive leaders from key organiza -

tions, City Administrator Darin DeHaan said. Not all members are city residents, but all “have skin in the game for future visioning,” he said.

Steering Committee members are DeHaan; McLain; Hector’s Cocina owner Hector Carreno; the Rev. Craig Arnold, of RiverStone Christian Church; Oregon Elementary School Principal Kelli Virgil; Oregon Park District Executive Director Erin Folk; Village of Progress Director Brion Brooks; Oregon Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Randee Mennenga; former realtor Johanna Hahne; City Commissioner Melanie Cozzi; Planning Committee member Karly Spell; Beautification Committee member and Blackhawk Waterways member Chris Williams; w@sh owner Meggan Dickson-Grennan; City Clerk

See SURVEY, Page 10

OHS presents ‘The Addams Family’

March 9-12

Oregon High School musical students will present their annual spring musical “The Addams Family,” March 9-12.

“Whether you have seen the original show, the 90s movies, the newer Netflix original ‘Wednesday,’ or have only sung the ‘days of the week song’ in elementary school, you will enjoy this story about the Addams family in this musical,” said Zach Hall, choir director. “We witness Wednesday fall in love and all of the havoc that results from it. Is the family ready to accept the prospect of in-laws? Are the potential in-laws the right fit for the Addams family? Will Pugsley ruin the whole thing? Wait, Fester’s in love with what? Come see the show to find out what happens!’

The shows are on Thursday, March 9, Friday, March 10, Saturday, March 11, and Sunday, March 12 in the Oregon High School auditorium.

Rock Falls senior sings national anthem at finals

By EARLEEN HINTON ehinton@shawmedia.com

The start of the Class 2A semifinal session of the girls basketball state tournament started with a spark of Rockets green, thanks to Ariana Diaz.

The 18-year-old Rock Falls High School senior got the session rolling when she unleashed a perfect-pitch version of the national anthem as players from Byron High School and Chicago Noble/Butler lined up on the court at Redbird Arena for their 2:30 p.m. game March 2.

“I loved it,” said Diaz, breaking into a big smile after the performance. “I loved every single minute of it.”

The Thursday, Friday and Saturday shows begin at 7 p.m., and the Sunday matinee is at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children, and admission is free for all Oregon students as well as children under the age 5.

All tickets are purchased at the door. If you have any questions about the show, contact zhall@ocusd.net.

Diaz was selected to sing the national anthem after auditioning at the All-State Honors Choir competition. She performed at the start of the Class 1A session in the morning and the 2A afternoon session.

Diaz was one of four Rock Falls students who were selected for Illinois Music Educators Association All-State Ensembles in November.

She was named an All-State Honors Choir as a Soprano I.

“It was great to be selected. I really enjoyed it,” Diaz said.

Asked if she’d be cheering for Byron – a Big Northern Conference foe of Rock Falls – she replied: “Oh, absolutely.”

This is the second year in a row a student from Rock Falls has sung the anthem during a session of the state basketball finals. Remington Collins, now a junior, performed it last year.

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media Ariana Diaz sang the national anthem before the semifinals of the 1A and 2A girls basketball tournament.

Schryver’s journey included Germany and France Betty

Our weather has been spring like and because of that the sap is running in the trees. It is time for the Hough family to make maple syrup. So our speaker for Polo Historical Society was not able to give the program last Wednesday evening.

Linda had found advertisements on Hough Hardware and I had put together the time line of all the businesses that had been in that building. I also had taken my mother’s red speckled Ransburg ware cookie jar that now sits on my kitchen counter to show everyone. Mom had gotten it from Hough Hardware in the 1940s.

So when I realized that I had to give the whole program, I put together the history of all the early businesses that sprang up on Franklin Avenue at the beginning of Polo. I showed how the early business of L. N Barber at the corner of Division and Mason streets was so successful that it changed the direction of the main thoroughfare of town.

I had enough information and handouts to give the program in place of Rob Hough. He will come in May when they are finished making maple syrup to give us a Hough perspective of Hough Hardware. He will tell about the making of maple syrup and maybe he will bring some of his syrup for us to buy.

We had a good turnout for the evening and they also were interested in some of the changes at the museum. I want to thank Susan and Tim O’Connor for manning the kitchen for the evening in place of Paula. Also Ted Boddiger handled the business meeting for our president Mike. Mike and Paula had gone east for a funeral.

Our next meeting will be in May

POLO HISTORY

Obendorf

and maybe by then we will have the rest of the Dale Blough collection put out on a table so Joe can get it in the cabinet. I do like all the new arrangements and I am eager to get all in order.

But for now I need to get back to Jesse Schryver and the next phase of his life. One of our tables is full of pictures he has taken and his life now is laid out in pictures since he does not have time to write to the newspaper.

Thank heaven he managed to write on some so we have an idea of where he was going from time to time.

His next stop after Oregon maneuvers was San Luis Obispo, California, Germany, France, and other places. I found the picture titled “Hot Spot in Holland” most interesting.

The people in the picture are Jesse, from Polo, Herb from Alaska, Gene from the state of Oregon, John from San Francisco, and the last guy was from New Jersey. The picture was taken in 1944. The soldiers in the picture are leaning against a pile of beets with their machine guns ready.

I also enjoyed the picture of Jesse in front of his tent. At least I think it might be Jesse. Next time we will look at Jesse at the White Pines State Park when he becomes custodian.

• Betty Obendorf is a retired teacher and a volunteer for the Polo Historical Society.

Here are some photos of Jesse in World War II. The photo above says: “Hot Spot in Holland” Men with guns ready and leaning on a pile of beets. From left to right are Jesse from Polo, Herb from Yakatat, Alaska, Gene from the state of Oregon, John from San Francisco, and the last guy is from New Jersey. The photo below shows Jesse in front of his tent.

Oregon Depot Depot Gang worked to create museum

By OTTO DICK

Driving south on Fourth Street past Mix Park you see the Oregon Depot. The middle line of Fourth Street aligns with the middle of the two entrance doors to the depot.

The first two smaller wooden depots burned and the present depot was built in 1913.

Governor Lowden, during his term in office, influenced the State Legislature to build and fund this wonderful depot. The first depot built in 1872 was a two-story building with the second floor serving as sleeping quarters for the railroad workers.

In1910, the workers slept in the

hotel across the street from the depot, so the second depot was a one-story frame depot.

Each Saturday morning when the Depot Museum is open we have many visitors from out of town stop and visit the Depot.

Mayor Jim Barnes and Bob Rees are the main people who saved the depot. Mayor Barnes stopped the railroad from tearing down the building and a few years later Oregon Commissioner Rees supervised the depot workers.

In 1992, the city acquired the depot from the Burlington Railroad for one dollar.

Members of the self described Depot Gang served each fall for 10 years to

restore the old train depot. They were alumni of Oregon High School.

Members of the classes of 1948-2008 met at Skip Johnson’s for a cookout and planned their strategy for restoring the Depot. They discussed their experiences at the Depot.

Bob Zick remembered a visit by former U.S. President Harry Truman who gave a speech from the back of the train while it was stopped at the depot.

Lorraine Hiscox, a 1950 graduate, recalled her in-laws running Mert’s Cafe located just north of the depot. She said Ronald Reagan would get off the train in Oregon and stop at Mert’s café for a hamburger.

7

Photos provided by Betty Obendorf

Photo provided by Otto Dick Toss Heuerman was busy replacing windows. See DEPOT GANG, Page

• DEPOT GANG

Continued from Page 6

Members of the Depot Gang were Gene and Lois Medlar, Jerry and Pat Medlar, Toss and Carolyn Heuerman, Norma Kearns Miller, Lorraine Moring Hiscox, Bob and Sue Zick, Don Capes, Jack and Ann Kiest, Jim Purcell, Skip Gocken Johnson, Fred and Shirley Giebrich, Jackie Bacon, Chris Christison, Bob Rees, Peter Burright, Joe and Rosemary Underwood, etc.

I included the above names because I thought some of you would recall

SPECIAL EVENTS

Forreston FFA Alumni farm toy and craft show is Saturday, March 11

The 35th annual Farm Toy and Craft Show will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 11 at Forreston Junior-Senior High School.

The featured show tractor is a Massey Ferguson 98 wide front 1/16 diecast model valued at $80.

There will be more than 40 exhibitors, a silent auction starting at 10 a.m., farm displays by K-12 students and adults and raffles for gift cards and certificates.

The event is sponsored by the Forreston FFA Alumni.

having them as classmates, etc. It’s amazing to me that members of this group living as far at New York, Texas and the state of Washington traveled to Oregon to work with their former classmates at the depot.

At the depot we have more than 100 photos of them while they were back in Oregon. We also have two notebooks filled with their photos and stories. Each one had several stories about the depot while they lived in Oregon.

• Otto Dick is a retired teacher and has researched Ogle County history for several years.

Admission is $3, and children age 5 and younger can attend for free.

For information on the toy show, call Rick Garnhart at 815-238-3044. For information on the craft show, call Cathy Kohlbauer at 815-275-6710 or email at forrestonffaalumni@gmail.com.

Chana church’s dinner March 11

Chana United Methodist Church will host its annual Chicken Noodle Lasagna Dinner Drive Thru on Saturday, March 11, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

The cost of the dinner is $12 and includes a hearty portion of homemade (from

scratch) noodles and chicken, a generous piece of homemade lasagna and fresh from the oven apple crisp.

Chana UMC is a certified kitchen and is COVID-19 compliant. The dinner is drive thru only.

Quilt Guild to meet March 20

The Country Crossroads Quilt Guild will meet Monday March 20, at 7 p.m. Judy Bender of Belvidere will be presenting a trunk show of her work with raw edge applique, including some of her original designs. She also will be presenting a workshop for the members, starting at 10 am, teaching Shannon Brinkley’s technique of raw-edge scrappy applique.

Guild meetings are held at the Forreston Grove Church, 7246 Freeport Road, Forreston, the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m., with ample time to meet and greet members before the meeting.

Visitors are very much welcome. For visitors, there is a fee of $5 at the door. For more information, call Program Committee Chairs Dawn Vehmeier at 815-291-4592 or Ann Tully at 815-238-2218 or Guild President Shelly Holverson at 815-297-2381.

Volunteers work on removing tile from the roof of the Oregon Depot.

Photo provided by Otto Dick

CORRECTION

Correction for Jan. 27 bus barn article

Because of incorrect information provided to Shaw Media, a Jan. 27 article about an Oregon School District bus barn project did not contain the correct information regarding the amount of the project cost the state will reimburse.

The Oregon School District will receive 80% of the bus barn construction cost over 50 years, which equates to $13,000 per year, Superintendent Tom Mahoney said. The district will get a little more than $40,000 in additional revenue, he said.

Mahoney previously told Shaw Media that 75% of the bus barn construction cost would be reimbursed by the state over the next 20 years.

Mahoney reached out to Shaw Media after realizing he was mistaken and provided the correct

OBITUARIES

WILLARD “BILL” L. GILBERT JR

Born: October 24, 1938 in Polo, IL

Died: March 1, 2023 in Oregon, IL

Willard “Bill” L. Gilbert Jr., 84, of Polo, passed away Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at Serenity Hospice and Home in Oregon, IL. Bill was born October 24, 1938, at his home in Polo, IL, the son of Willard Sr. and Viola Gilbert. On April 18, 1987, in Rockton, IL, he married Ms. Sherri Beaman. He worked in the Parts Department for Case IH at Coffey Implement, Polo Equipment and Birkeys. Bill finally retired in 2017 and enjoyed serving the farm community. He liked to fish, hunt and do woodworking. Bill enjoyed collecting antiques, finding toy tractors at local sales and auctions. He belonged to the JC’s, volunteered for helping build the Polo Pool and a member of the Good Fellows American Legion. His pride and joy was his family, listening to them laugh, tell stories or telling a good joke.

CARLA RAE HUMPHREYS

Born: September 12, 1949 in Libertyville, IL

Died: February 24, 2023 in Shabbona, IL

Carla Rae Humphreys, age 73, of Polo, died Friday, February 24, 2023 at Prairie Crossing in Shabbona.

Carla was born September 12, 1949 in Libertyville, IL, the daughter of Carl and Emma (Steder) Bruce. She married Richard Humphreys on June 28, 1970 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Dixon. Working as a Registered Nurse, Carla was employed at several healthcare facilities over the years including KSB Hospital, Lutheran

information.

“While the change will not make a significant difference in our overall budget, I wanted to alert you,” he said.

On Jan. 17, Oregon School Board members voted to accept a $1,199,306 bid from Sjostrom & Sons to install a bus barn with wash stations, a storage shed and a concrete apron around the bus barn. The new bus barn is to replace the one located at the former David L. Rahn Junior High School in Mt. Morris, which the district sold last year.

Ground could be broken on the projects as soon as April, Mahoney said. How long it takes to complete will depend on how long it takes to get the materials, which are on a four- to six-month lead time, he said.

Survivors include wife Sherri; daughter Cathy (Daniel) Lawton of Polo and step-daughter Nicole (Tom) Hoyle of Dixon; son Jeffrey (Gayle) Gilbert of Sterling; grandchildren Morgan (Bryan) Becker, Dr. Cort (Maria) Lawton, Shannon (Jake) Scroggins, Lauren (Nick) Vandermyde, Ryan (Elizabeth) Gilbert, Sydney (Hayden) Bittner, Savanna Hoyle, Quinten Hoyle; great-grandchildren Camden and Perri Lynn Becker, Mac and Kane Lawton, Grant and Gabrielle “Gabby” Scroggins, Emery and Jack Vandermyde, Samantha “Sami” and Caysen “Case” Gilbert, Gabriella “Gabi” and Genevieve “Evie” Bittner along with 2 more on the way.

Bill was preceded in death by his Parents; sisters June Boeckh and Elaine Mount; brother Donald Gilbert.

A memorial visitation will be Saturday, April 8, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Polo Family Funeral Home, 110 E. Dixon St., Polo. Burial will be at a later date at Fairmount Cemetery in Polo.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed in his name.

Visit www.polofamilyfuneralhome.com to send condolences.

Social Services of Illinois, Polo Continental Manor and Unity Hospice. In her younger years, she enjoyed painting and teaching art classes. Carla loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband, Richard Humphreys of Polo; two children, Daniel (Sarah) Humphreys of Powder Springs, GA and Carrie (Josh) Ickes of Paw Paw, IL; two sisters, Penny (Chuck) Billman of Durand, IL and Cheryl (Fred) Ayres of West Plains, MO; three grandchildren, Raegan, Chase, and Jack; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 8, 2023. Further details will be announced at a later date.

Online condolences may be sent to www. mcdonaldfuneralhomes.com.

RiverWatch volunteers sought to monitor stream health

The lllinois RiverWatch Network will host several training sessions across the state to teach community members how to monitor the health of their local streams.

RiverWatch training workshops in this region are April 2 in Byron (Ogle County) and May 6 in Galena (JoDaviess County). No previous knowledge or experience is required to attend RiverWatch workshops. The workshops will provide information for volunteers to monitor streams, whether the volunteers have a biology degree or just want to better understand the stream in their backyard.

See RIVERWATCH, Page 9

ROGER D. HARTMAN

Roger D. Hartman, 75, of Oregon, Illinois, passed away February 26, 2023 at Rock River Hospice and Home in Sterling, Illinois, following a brief illness.

Roger was born January 12, 1948, in Freeport, Illinois, the son of Joseph W. and Mabel (Broege) Hartman. Raised and educated in Mount Carroll, Illinois, he graduated from Mount Carroll High School in 1966. Roger married Janice Brunner on November 25, 1967, in Mount Carroll. He worked as a quality control technician at Clinton Corn Processing Company for 13 years. Roger graduated from Sauk Valley Community College in 1988 and returned to work as a quality control technician at Loparex (Daubert) in Dixon, Illinois, until his retirement in 2011. He was a proud union member, and an enthusiastic Democrat. Roger and Janice made their home in Fulton, Illinois, and raised three children, later moving to Oregon, Illinois. Roger’s greatest priority was his family, always showing his love and devotion to his children and grandsons. Enjoying family meals, going fishing, building O-gauge model

train layouts, and supporting the Chicago Cubs were among his favorite pastimes.

He is survived by his wife, Janice Hartman of Oregon, Illinois; his children, Kate Hartman of DeKalb, Illinois, Phillip Hartman of Sterling, Illinois, and Benjamin and Dawn Hartman, and grandsons, Owen and Emmett Hartman, of Batavia, Illinois; his sister, Nancy Zink of Shannon, Illinois; and his niece, April Zink, of Alachua, Florida. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Karen Coulter of Texarkana, Texas; his brothers-in-law, Robert (Sheila) Brunner of Chadwick, Illinois, and Kurt (Pam Naples) Brunner of Mount Carroll, Illinois; two nieces, Hillary Brunner and Elizabeth (Chris Zwolan) Brunner; and nephew, Nicholas (Noel Leckemby) Brunner of Sacramento, California.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Joseph E. and Frank W. Hartman; and a niece, Emily Coulter.

Family and friends will be invited to a memorial service to be announced at a later date.

Join us in honoring Roger’s memory by supporting the important work of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley https://www. catholiccharitiesrgv.org/Donations.aspx or Rock River Hospice and Home https://hospicerockriver.org/donate/

Fun, games planned for 4-H Penny Carnival March 18

Are you looking for a fun, inexpensive way to spend a Saturday evening with your kids or grandkids? Put the Ogle County 4-H Penny Carnival on your March schedule!

The 4-H Penny Carnival is set for March 18 from 5 to8 p.m. at the Blackhawk Center, 1101 W. Jefferson St, Oregon. This annual event is open to the public and features 4-H club created games that can be played for 25 cents each or 50-cent games for $10.

“Prizes are awarded win or lose! Plus, a free door prize drawing will be conducted, and a snack stand will be available. This is one of the few places where families can still have a whole evening of fun on pocket change,”

Continued from Page 8

“Macroinvertebrates are in all of our streams and many people don’t know they are there,” RiverWatch volunteer coordinator Hannah Griffis said. “The critters in our streams are impacted by changes in the health of our streams, whether natural or caused by humans. Based on what we

said Jodi Baumgartner, program coordinator for 4-H Youth Development.

The 2023 game theme is “4-H Family Game Night!” Two 4-H clubs will be awarded special cash prizes for games that are “Most Entertaining” and “Most Creative.” This year the event is sponsored by Heels and Hardhats.

4-H is the youth development program of the University of Illinois Extension.

For more information about this or any other county 4-H program, call Ogle County Extension at 815-732-2191 or visit online at https://extension. illinois.edu/bdo/4-h-ogle-county.

find living in the stream, we can get an idea of the overall health of the stream.”

RiverWatch, a community science program, is coordinated by the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center at Lewis and Clark Community College.

Each spring, RiverWatch offers workshops where volunteers learn to collect and identify stream macroinvertebrates (water bugs) and describe

the physical condition of the stream habitat.

Upon completing training and becoming certified, volunteers may adopt a stream site where they can monitor water quality and contribute to a statewide dataset using RiverWatch survey methods.

Continuing education credits are available for current Illinois educators. Those interested should make a note on their registration form, which

is available athttps://conta.cc/3ltLaoI.

The registration fee is $50 for adults, which includes a copy of the RiverWatch manual as well as invertebrate identification resources. Up to two children per registered adult may attend at no cost.

For more information, visitwww. ngrrec.org/RiverWatchor contact Griffis athgriffis@lc.eduor 618-4682781.

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

A visitor to the 2019 Penny Carnival swings a rubber wrecking ball at a cardboard box wall at the By-Y=Badgers’ “Demo Daze” game.

City:

No semitruck parking at 212 S. Division Ave.

By ALEXA ZOELLNER azoellner@shawmedia.com

Come May 1, semitrucks no longer will be allowed to park at 212 S. Division Ave., in Polo.

At the Polo City Council’s March 6 meeting, members voted unanimously to discontinue letting semitrucks park at the lot next to the Shell gas station. The land in question is owned by the city.

“It was a nice gesture for us to let them do that, but they [truck drivers] are not all coming to city hall and getting permission to do that,” Mayor Doug Knapp said.

City officials are looking to make the land more functional for the community, he said, pointing to the chili cook-off and farmers market as events that could or should be held there.

“We’ve talked about even possibly making a shelter there and making it more appealing,” Knapp said.

A sign will be posted at the lot, notifying drivers that there will be no parking allowed effective May 1, and that violating vehicles will be towed at the owner’s expense.

• SURVEY

Continued from Page 4

Cheryl Hilton; and Ogle County Board Vice Chairperson Pat Nordman.

Oregon’s comprehensive plan last was updated in 2016, DeHaan said. Usually, such plans are good for 10 years, but officials felt so many of the goals set in the 2016 plan were completed that it was time to take another look, he said.

“The comprehensive plan is kind of our guiding light,” DeHaan said. “When we take a look at what we want to do with land use and how everything impacts the area around that, it’s important to have a vision so you’re not fumbling around in the dark.”

Areas of the plan they’re looking to review and update the analysis of are housing; population; current and potential land use and public assets, etc.; and community priorities for economic and community development, DeHaan wrote in a July 10, 2022, Ogle County Economic Development grant application.

On Aug. 23, 2022, Oregon City Council members approved a $34,500 contract with Northern Illinois University

Two Byron youths were the winners of two firearms donated by the Scott R. Bowers Memorial Fund to the Four Rivers Ducks Unlimited Greenwing drawing. Landon Dempsey, 11, poses here with his new Mossberg youth model semi auto 20 gauge shotgun and Avery Hogan, 7, with her new Rossi youth model 20 gauge single shot shotgun. The banquet was held at Hairy Cow Brewery with a Mardi Gras theme on Feb. 21 (Fat Tuesday). Pictured with the winners are Scott’s father Mike and son Brayden. Scott Bowers, 37 died in May 2020 following a sudden illness. He was a Boone County Sheriff’s deputy and outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, walking in the woods and spending time relaxing with family and friends at home.

Center for Governmental Studies, of DeKalb, in conjunction with Egret+Ox Planning, of Chicago.

Half of the cost is covered by the OCED grant, which Ogle County Board members OK’d in July 2022, contingent upon Oregon providing matching funds. The city’s half is coming out of its American Rescue Plan Act allocation, DeHaan said.

When Oregon City Council members first began discussing updating the comprehensive plan, they agreed they wanted to make a concerted effort to engage younger adults – like McLain – in the process.

McLain said she wants to provide a fresh perspective and input from her generation, which is Gen Z.

Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan fact tank, defines Generation Z as those born in 1997 or later; the organization has not yet set a chronological endpoint for Gen Z. Pew defines millennials as those born between 1981 and 1996.

In a January 2019 article, Pew noted that generational cutoff points aren’t an exact science, and should primarily be viewed as tools that allow for analyses.

“I would say that, for the younger people, if you want to see something

changed, you have to speak up about it,” McLain said. “Closed mouths do not get fed.”

It’s important to get community buy-in as the vision for the city is developed, DeHaan said. That starts with the surveys, which ask things such as why Oregon is attractive, what the city is missing and what a business needs to continue being successful, he said.

“The biggest key is to try and catch anything we’re missing or hadn’t focused on,” DeHaan said. “Times change. Do the business environment and/or residents see something new that keeps us viable as a community?”

He noted that a common misconception about comprehensive plans is the thought that saying, “Go get us this,” is the response sought.

“This is kind of a bigger, broader, bird’s eye view,” DeHaan said. “It’s things like, where does solar fit? Where does light industry fit? How do we revitalize certain areas? … Where does that growth happen, and how does it affect everything else around it?”

Once a large enough dataset is collected from the surveys, the Steering Committee and NIU-CGS will vet it and perform a SWOT analysis, which

stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, DeHaan said.

“It’s just a constant invitation to come to the table and be part of this so we get the best results, for sure,” he said.

Community survey quick facts

The survey can be found at: www. research.net/r/OregonResidentSurvey.

All responses are confidential. Only one survey per household should be filled out.

If desired, survey participants can enter their name for a chance to win one of five $40 gift cards. Survey responses still will be confidential. An end/close date for the community survey has not yet been set.

Other ways to participate

The comprehensive plan update project website is: https://egretandox. mysocialpinpoint.com/Oregon.

Anyone can leave comments, or respond to existing ones, on the comment map, which can be found under the “Comment Map” tab. All documents related to the current comprehensive plan and to the project can be found under the “Documents” tab.

Photos provided by Mike Bowers

Ogle County has some contested races in April 4 election

By ALEXA ZOELLNER azoellner@shawmedia.com

The April 4 Consolidated Election is nearing.

Some of the elections in Ogle County are contested races. Among them are the following races and candidates:

Oregon School Board

There are three seats on the Oregon School Board up for election and five candidates. The candidates are:

Mary Jo Griffin, of Oregon;

Molly Herman Baker, of Mt. Morris;

Bruce Obendorf, of Mt. Morris; Aaron Mudge, of Oregon; Stephanie Haugh, of Mt. Morris. Obendorf and Haugh cannot both be elected because of electoral district boundary restrictions.

Polo School Board

There are four seats on the Polo School Board up for election and six candidates vying for them. The candidates, all of Polo, are:

Jennifer L. Grobe; Michael Z. Collins; Deanna Mumford; Richard Knutson; Suzanne Hall Stout;

HOMES

Jessica May.

Mayor of Oregon

Two candidates are running for mayor of the city of Oregon: Michael Arians; Ken Williams.

Polo City Council

There are two candidates vying for the single open position of Ward 2 alderperson in Polo. The candidates, both of Polo, are: Beth Sundman;

Larry Weaver.

Forreston Village Board

Four people are running for three open village trustee positions. The candidates, all of Forreston, are: Kenneth Vinnedge; Monty Cotter; Mahmoud Zayed; Gary Buss.

Oregon Park District Board

Four people are running for three open seats on the Oregon Park District Board. The candidates, all of Oregon, are:

Mark Tremble;

George Howe Jr.; Brian Beckman; Maia Johnson.

Meridian School Board

Three seats on the Meridian School Board are up for election. Seven candidates will appear on the ballot. The candidates are:

John P. Seper, of Davis Junction; Matthew Reynolds, of Davis Junction; John W. Smith III, of Oregon; Dustin Collins, of Davis Junction; Karl Hall, of Davis Junction; Jennifer Maahs, of Davis Junction; Larry McAnarney, of Monroe Center.

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

The historic Ogle County Courthouse is located at the corner of Illinois 64 and Illinois 2 in downtown Oregon.

Kudos to Kultgen for making all-academic team

With girls basketball wrapping up and the boys state tournament going on, it’s been a smorgasbord of hardcourt activity. Where to start?

How about academics first. After all, isn’t that supposed to be the No. 1 priority for a high schooler and allegedly for so-called college “student-athletes?”

The IHSA has an all-academic team and it may be the toughest of all teams to make as only 26 individuals from the state are selected. Based on citizenship, grades and sports participation, it is the elite of the elite and Byron’s Ava Kultgen was one of the honorees. And the senior also was named to the 2A AP all-state girls basketball team.

In interviewing her after the supersectional win over DePaul Prep, her intellect and poise were quite evident. If I was a high school kid and was interviewed after a game, it would be difficult to respond in an articulate manner, as is the case with most kids I have interviewed.

It’s even taxing on coaches. It would be much better for all parties if time allowed us to wait an hour or so to process the information and sit down in a relaxed environment. An impromptu postgame with a microphone or TV camera in your face isn’t conducive for that.

Anyway, congratulations to Ava and also to the Byron Tigers basketball team for the runner-up finish downstate. They have to be running out of room in the school trophy case for all the state trophies accumulated over the last couple of decades.

Being out of state, I missed covering the state finals, but in listening to WRHL online, it sounded like champion Breese Mater Dei had a gigantic player clogging up the middle. They also had to be pretty decent to knock off Quincy Notre Dame in the semis.

GUEST

VIEW

Andy Colbert

Nonetheless, an outstanding achievement for coach Eric Yerly and his class-act basketball team. With plenty of talent coming back, look for this program to be ranked top 10 to start the 2023/24 season.

As expected, the local 1A boys sectional was about as close as possible, with Scales Mound winning for the third time in a row by a narrow margin. First, it was a 57-53 regional title win over Newman after trailing late in the game.

Then, it took two overtimes to beat South Beloit in the sectional semi, who had decisively beaten the Hornets earlier. In returning to the supersectional for the second year in a row, they edged Fulton 50-46.

All three of those games were coin flips and though the odds were against this tiny school that lost all their starters from last year, they came through. One major component for Scales Mound personnel is living the sport all year and being better equipped to outsmart an opponent in pressure situations.

Supposedly, last year’s squad of four-year starters were a once-in-ageneration team. That term applies to home-grown talent, not basketball programs that have large population bases or can entice transfers.

To have back-to-back sectional champs with 70 kids in the school is amazing. People from Hebron would be proud of you. The year before they became the smallest school ever to win

a state title with the unquestioned best once-in-a-generation team, Hebron was 26-2 in 1951, but lost in the regional.

The local area did well with Rockford Lutheran and Auburn also winning sectionals. That tough regular-season schedule Lutheran played paid huge dividends. The pain of losing can be the touchstone of growth, that’s for sure.

Rockford Auburn gets it done with small, fast kids that out-execute more traditional opponents, with Fred VanVleet being the forebearer.

The one sectional final that had to be the most nerve-wracking was a four-overtime contest in 1A between Altamont and Tuscola, with Tuscola finally prevailing 72-68. There must be a lot of balance in 1A boys, with seven of eight sectional finals decided by single digits.

Glad to report plenty of precipitation out west where I spent some time in Nevada and Utah. It is desperately needed and coming in doses larger than seen in many years.

While in Nevada, I took part in a running festival with a variety of distances offered. What impressed me most was seeing a trio of men over 80 years of age doing a 100-mile race and all three completed it.

They weren’t running fast, but the fact they could stay on their feet for that long says something.

The youngest competitor was a 12-year-old who got 62 miles in.

• Andy Colbert, an avid runner, has been a sports writer for Shaw Media and has covered high school sports in Ogle County for more than 30 years.

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media Byron’s Ava Kultgen shoots during the 2A Elgin St. Edward Supersectional on Feb. 27.

Byron falls to taller Breese Mater Dei 62-46 in Class 2A state final; Tigers take second place

By EARLEEN HINTON ehinton@shawmedia.com

NORMAL – It didn’t take long for Breese Mater Dei’s Alyssa Koerkenmeier to make her 6-foot-5 presence known in last Saturday’s 2A championship game against Byron.

From the opening tipoff, Byron struggled with Mater Dei’s overall height advantage – especially Koerkenmeier’s.

“I couldn’t figure out any answers for their big girl,” Byron coach Eric Yerly said. “Our kids fought all the time and never gave up.”

Koerkenmeier, a sophomore, had a triple-double with 23 points, 14 rebounds and 10 blocks to lead the way in Mater Dei’s 62-46 win.

“Just having me in the lane affects opponents’ shots,” Koerkenmeier said.

Mater Dei (21-7), whose starting lineup included another 6-foot sophomore in Maris Zurliene and a 5-11 senior in Julia Korte, outrebounded the Tigers 43-32, set an IHSA single-game state tournament record with 15 blocked shots, and shot 55% on the night, including 44% from behind the 3-point arc.

Byron (34-3) shot 27% from the field, with Koerkenmeier clearly affecting shots in the paint with her long reach.

“You have to give her credit,” said 5-10 Byron senior Ava Kultgen, when asked how Koerkenmeier impacted Byron’s game. “She did a really nice job inside. We just tried to keep fighting.”

“Her height was a huge advantage,” added Ella Grundstom, the Tigers’ 5-10 senior. “We did our best, but we came up short.”

The Knights never trailed in the game.

Koerkenmeier, Zurliene and Korte combined for six blocks in the first half, while Koerkenmeier dropped in 16 points.

Koerkenmeier gave the Knights a 22-8 lead in the second period before Macy Groharing, one of Byron’s two freshmen in the regular rotation, sank a 3 to close the gap to 11.

But Mater Dei answered with a 3 of its own to bring the lead back to a dozen.

On the next possessions, Grundstrom scored and Kultgen dug out a rebound to find Groharing on the perimeter, and she drained another 3 to make it 25-16.

See 2A FINALS, Page 14

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

ABOVE LEFT: Breese Mater Dei’s Alyssa Koerkenmeier (33) jumps over Byron’s Ella Grundstrom for a rebound during the 2A championship at Redbird Arena in Normal on March 4. ABOVE RIGHT: Koerkenmeier shoots as Grundstrom tries to get a piece of the ball.

Randy Stukenberg/For Shaw Media Ava Kultgen (22) and Ella Grundstrom (13) hoist the 2A trophy for second place after their championship game against Breese Mater Dei on March 4.

Byron wins semifinal game over Chicago Noble/Butler

By EARLEEN HINTON ehinton@shawmedia.com

NORMAL – Seniors Ella Grundstrom and Ava Kultgen took the reins in the Tigers’ Class 2A state semifinal win over Chicago Noble/Butler at Redbird Arena on March 2.

Kultgen led Byron on the offensive end with 17 points in the 55-43 victory, while Grundstrom snared 14 rebounds – 12 on defense – to help offset the second looks the taller Lynx got from 20 offensive rebounds.

“I had so many turnovers I had to make up for something. We could not let them have second chances. We had to limit them to one and done,” Grundstrom said.

At one point early in the half, Grundstrom and a Noble player both grabbed a defensive rebound, but Grundstrom soon ripped the ball away and headed down to the offensive end.

“We knew we had to be really strong with the ball. They were coming from all over to double team us.” Grundstrom said.

Coach Eric Yerly defined that type of determination in one word: seniors.

“That’s seniors this time of year. Rebounding is all about effort,” Yerly said. “We had a senior that wanted to play for the state title on Saturday. That’s just effort, and a senior who wanted to win. When you have 14 rebounds, that’s just unbelievable. And Ella, just so you know, you did not lead us in turnovers.”

Byron went 0 for 6 from the field and didn’t score for nearly three minutes to start the game before Kultgen made a free throw at the 5:35 mark.

She scored the next four points for Byron, and Brittyn Bielskis drained a

• 2A FINALS

Continued from Page 13

But it was Koerkenmeier again scoring for Mater Dei with a bucket and a free throw to make it 28-16 with 1:42 left in the half.

Byron freshman Malia Morton snatched a big offensive rebound for Byron and Kultgen hit a jumper just outside the lane.

Grundstrom then scored off an assist from Groharing to cut the deficit to seven, but Koerkenmeier answered again to bring it back to nine, 30-21.

But this time Byron’s Brynn Green hit a 3 with 12 seconds left to make it 30-24 at halftime.

In addition to her 16 points in the first half, Koerkenmeier snatched nine rebounds.

3-pointer to tie the game at 8-8, but Noble led 11-10 at the end of the quarter.

“It’s all about staying in the moment,” Kultgen said. “At the beginning of the game, everyone is going to be a little nervous. It’s a big stage and we haven’t been here before.”

Byron took the lead early in the second quarter when Kultgen scored and

In the second half, Mater Dei’s Amelia Beer, a 5-10 freshman, scored back-to-back baskets before Groharing found sophomore Karsyn Bielskis on the break to bring Byron to within 34-26, but Beer answered again to bring the Knights’ lead back to 10, 36-26.

After a basket by Kultgen and an answer from Mater Dei, Groharing drained a 3 to cut the deficit to eight, 39-31, with 4:31 left in the quarter.

But Beer and Koerkenmeier scored again for Mater Dei, and then Koerkenmeier followed up with another block after Zurliene hit a 3 and it was 46-32 with two minutes left in the quarter.

Kultgen made Byron’s last bucket of the third after a Mater Dei free throw for a 47-34 score with one period left to play.

Mater Dei added to its lead in the fourth quarter, with Koerkenmeier

freshman Macy Groharing converted a fast-break layup to make it 14-11.

After a bucket by Karsyn Bielskis and free throws by Grundstrom, it was Kultgen again as the Tigers outscored the Lynx 12-2 in the quarter to take a 22-13 lead at the half.

Byron extended that lead to 30-13 on a Groharing layup early in the third period. Kultgen, Grundstrom and

making it 54-36 at the 4:37 mark.

Kultgen finally got a foul call to go her way and she hit two free throws to make it 54-38 with 4:25 left to play, but Mater Dei answered with two free throws of its own before Groharing hit another 3 to make it 56-41 with 3:55 left.

Bielskis scored to make it 56-44, and Grundstrom blocked a shot by Koerkenmeier on the defensive end. Bielskis made two free throws to cut the deficit to 10, 56-46, with 2:41 left.

But Koerkenmeier blocked another shot and Mater Dei scored at the other end to halt Byron’s comeback.

Groharing led Byron in scoring with 14 points, which included four 3s, and she also had four steals, two rebounds and two assists. Kultgen had 12 points and six rebounds, Karsyn Bielskis added 10 points and two assists, and Grundstrom finished with

Karsyn Bielskis added buckets to give the Tigers a 38-30 lead, and Groharing nailed a jumper at the buzzer for a 40-32 lead.

The Tigers went on to outscore the Lynx 15-11 in the fourth quarter, with six points from Malia Morton, also a freshman, and four each from Kultgen

See STATE SEMIFINAL, Page 15

seven points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals. Morton chipped in six rebounds and three assists for the Tigers.

Beer was second in scoring for Mater Dei with 13 points, and she also had eight rebounds and seven assists. Korte had 11 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks, Zurliene finished with seven points, four rebounds and two blocks, and Avery Trame chipped in six points and three rebounds for the Knights. Koerkenmeier also dished a pair of assists.

The second-place finish for Byron follows 2A state titles in 2016 and 2017 with Yerly as the Tigers’ coach.

“The score on the scoreboard is secondary,” said Yerly, praising his team’s effort this year. “These kids know that we love them and they love us. And when that happens, it’s special.”

Randy Stukenberg/For Shaw Media Byron’s Ava Kultgen (22) puts up a shot over Chicago Noble/Butler’s Xyanna Walton (11) in their Class 2A state semifinal game March 2 in Normal.

Byron’s Ella Grundstrom (13) brings down a rebound against Chicago Noble/Butler in the Class 2A state semifinals at Redbird Arena in Normal on March 2. Grundstrom had six points, 14 rebounds and seven assists in Byron’s 55-43 victory.

STATE SEMIFINAL

Continued from Page 14

and Grundstrom en route to the win.

“It’s just an honor that I get to play with these seniors,” said Groharing, who had 10 points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists in the game.

Morton echoed that sentiment: “Its great to play with the seniors we have,” she said.

Kultgen led Byron with a gamehigh 17 points and five steals, followed by Groharing and Morton with 10 points each; Morton also had five rebound and two steals. Karsyn Bielskis scored nine points and dished three assists, Grundstrom had six points, seven assists and two steals to

go with her 14 rebounds, and Brittyn Bielskis chipped in three points, four rebounds and two blocked shots.

Yerly, whose Byron teams won state titles in 2016 and 2017, said Big Northern Conference teams have fared well at the state tournament. Winnebago took second last year, falling to Quincy Notre Dame in the 2A championship game. Stillman Valley took third in 2012.

“Our conference has had a great run down here and success when we do come here,” he said. “It’s a great tournament.”

Byron faced Breese Mater Dei in the finals after the Knights upset the 2022 state champ Quincy Notre Dame 61-54 in the other seminfinal March 2.

• Do I really need a will or power of attorney?

• What is a trust?

• What is probate?

• Do I need power of attorney?

• Should I make lifetime gifts?

• What makes up my estate?

• How will I pay for nursing home care?

• Will Federal or Illinois Estate taxes affect me?

Experienced attorneys from Plager, Krug, Bauer, Rudolph & Stodden, Ltd. will discuss these questions and more, as well as review current trends and new developments in estate planning. Please join us for this timely and informative FREE seminar at one of the following locations:

Thursday, March 16, 2:00 pm Co-sponsor Solutions Bank, Forreston at Forreston Public Library, 204 1st Ave., Forreston

Thursday, March 30, 2:00 pm Co-sponsor Citizens State Bank at Freeport Public Library, 100 E. Douglas St., Freeport

Monday, April 3, 5:00 pm Co-sponsor First State Bank of Shannon, 1 S. Linn, Shannon

Tuesday, April 4 at 6:30 pm Co-sponsor Solutions Bank, 996 W. Fairview Rd., Freeport

Wednesday, April 5, 2:00 pm Co-sponsor Community Bank, 401 S. Church St., Orangeville

Tuesday, April 11, 11:30 am Co-sponsor Prairie View Assisted Living, 500 E. McNair Rd., Winnebago

Wednesday, April 19, 6:00 pm Co-sponsor Citizens State Bank at Stockton Country Inn & Suites, 200 Dillon Ave., Stockton

Friday, April 21, 5:00 pm Co-sponsor Keller Williams Realty Signature, 802 Spring St., Galena

Wednesday, May 3, 6:00 pm Co-sponsor Citizens State Bank at Lena Community Center, 497 Lions Dr., Lena

Wednesday, May 10, 6:00 pm Freeport Public Library, 100 E. Douglas St., Freeport

Wednesday, May 17, 2:00 pm Co-sponsor WinnPrairie, 1545 S. Forest Rd., Freeport

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

Randy Stukenberg/For Shaw Media Byron’s Macy Groharing (4) blocks a shot by Chicago Noble/Butler’s Xyanna Walton (11) in their 2A state semifinal game March 2.

Polo Lions Farm Toy Show

The Polo Lions Club’s 38th annual Farm Toy Show notched another success March 4.

“We had about 360 people who paid to go through,” Lions Club member Jeff Short said. “It was a successful day.” The event was held at the Polo Community High School from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. More than 75 vendors were scheduled to attend.

The Polo FFA also hosted a cafeteria and raffle. AT LEFT: Dana Conkrite, of Lanark, talks to nephew Jace Urish, of Milledgeville, while looking at models.

Alexa Zoellner/Shaw Media

Two arrested after Feb. 24 police chase in two counties

By ALEXA ZOELLNER azoellner@shawmedia.com

A police chase that began in Carroll County ended in Ogle County on Friday, Feb. 24.

Johnathon Parker, 38, of Mt. Morris, and Courtney Kredel, 36, of Sterling, were arrested in relation to the incident.

The chase started at 11:50 a.m., a Carroll County

MT. MORRIS POLICE

Mt. Morris Police Chief Michael Cicchetti reports the following police activity.

Feb. 19

At approximately 10:15 p.m., police responded to the Mullarkey’s Bar and Grill for the report of a disturbance. After an investigation, Blake A. Britsch, 21, of Oregon, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Britsch was transported to the Ogle County Jail where he was held in lieu of bond.

Feb. 21

At approximately 7:20 a.m., police responded to the 100 block of S. Wesley Avenue for the complaint of a trespassing. After

Sheriff’s Office representative said. Kredel, who was a passenger in Parker’s vehicle, was taken into custody at 12:16 p.m.; Parker was arrested at 12:55 p.m., they said.

Parker fled on foot, but eventually was apprehended by Carroll County deputies, Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle said.

Parker had outstanding active arrest warrants in Ogle and Whiteside counties, and Kredel had an out-

an investigation, Cha E. Keller, 34, of Mt. Morris, was arrested and charged with criminal trespass to property. Keller was transported to the Ogle County Jail where he was held in lieu of bond.

At approximately 2:40 p.m., police were sent to the 100 block of S. Wesley Avenue for the report of a male subject trespassing.

After an investigation, Cha E. Keller, 34, of Mt. Morris, was arrested and charged with criminal trespass to property. Keller was transported to the Ogle County Jail where he was held in lieu of bond.

Feb. 23

Police conducted a traffic stop at 9:45 p.m. in the 500 block of N. Wesley Avenue. After an investigation, David R. Wendel Jr., 33,

was arrested on an Ogle County warrant for failure to appear. Wendel was transported to the Ogle County Jail where he was held in lieu of bond.

Feb. 28

At approximately 8:50 p.m., police located a subject, Anthony M. Wolfe, 20, of Mt. Morris, near the intersection of N. Mckendrie Avenue and E. 1st Street Wolfe had an outstanding Ogle County warrant for failure to appear. He was taken into custody and transported to the Ogle County Jail where he was held in lieu of bond.

Please note: Any arrests listed are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proved guilty in a court of law.

standing warrant in Whiteside County, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office representative said.

VanVickle said the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office requested that the Ogle County state’s attorney file charges.

Shaw Media’s search of Ogle, Whiteside and Carroll counties’ court records did not reveal any charges or cases related to the Feb. 24 incident as of 3:30 p.m. March 7.

STATE POLICE

Illinois State Police announce results of nighttime enforcement patrols

The Illinois State Police’s Nighttime Enforcement (NITE) patrols in Ogle, Whiteside and Winnebago counties, conducted in February, resulted in 89 citations and 10 arrests.

The NITE patrols allowed the Illinois State Police to focus on preventing, detecting and taking enforcement action in response to impaired driving and occupant restraint violations especially between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., Illinois State Police Troop 1 Commander Capt. Joseph Blanchette said in a news release.

Feb. 24-March 2

Warranty Deeds

Benjamin W. and Jorden J. Sasscer and Dylan R. Simler to Allison L. Blake, 501 S. Second Ave., Forreston, $95,000.

Kevin C. Barry to Thomas Kobylecky and Yedid Sanchez Garcia, 8511 N. Byron Hills Court, Byron, $197,500.

Kable Product Services Inc., also Kable News Company Inc. to John Russell, 16 S. Wesley Ave., Mt. Morris, $125,000.

Sterling Federal Bank and Federal National Mortgage Association to George and Diane Dyer, 622 N. Second St., Rochelle, $165,000.

William J. and Teresa A. Sutton to JC Self Storage LLC, 207 N. Barber Ave., Polo, $150,000.

OGLE COUNTY SHERIFF ACTIVITY

Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle reports the following police activity.

Feb. 27

Kimberly Sanford, 51, of Dixon, was arrested for no valid driver’s license after a traffic stop at the intersection of South Chana and East Flagg roads at around 3:48 p.m. Sanford also was cited for speeding. Sanford was released from the scene on a I-Bond and given a future court date.

March 1

Victor Bundy, 31, of Sycamore, was arrested for driving while license suspended after deputies performed to a motorist assist near the intersection of Twombly Road and Illinois Route 251 at 6:48 p.m. He was released on a $2,500 I-Bond and given a future court date.

March 2

David Coil, 35, of Ashton, was arrested for no valid driver’s license after a traffic stop in the 11000 block of East Flagg Road at around 7:21 a.m. Coil also was cited for suspended registration. Coil was released from the scene on an I-Bond and given a future court date.

March 3

At around 8:55 a.m., deputies responded to a two-vehicle crash with injuries at the intersection of North Freeport and West White Oak roads. An investigation showed Peter Leeson, 22, of Belvidere, was driving an Audi passenger car west on West White Oak Road when he approached the two-way stop

Sawyer and Alisha Fraker to Justin R. Spangler, 6857 N. Alpine Drive, Stillman Valley, $230,000.

Oregon Fire Protection District to Melissa J. and Karl W. Nolan Jr., 5995 E Honey Creek Road, Chana, $151,018.

Alojzy and Eva Czaplinski to Ashley and Teslin Kerley, 1033 Carrie Ave., Rochelle, $250,000.

Edward, Kelly and Mckaylee R. Beeter to Brian and Janet Cunningham, 104 N. Carr Court, Mt. Morris, $75,000.

Quit Claim Deed

Kenneth R. and Megan L. Johanning to Askvig Boys Construction LLC, 1251 Springdale Drive, Rochelle, $0.

Trustee Deeds

Laurie F. and David M. Sherrick Trust, Laurie F. and David M. Sherrick, trustees, to Bocker-Ruff Grain LLC, 13461 W. Fulton Road, Polo, $377,560.

Bankruptcy Estate of Tracy Lynne Roberts, Brian A. Hart, trustee, to Christopher S. Palmer and Angela A. Tayon, 1752 E. Town Line Road, Byron, $0.

Bettner Family Trust and Edwin C. and Agnes H. Bettner Trust, Agnes Bettner and Elizabeth A. Hegel, trustees, to Jacob D. and Caitlyn N. Bettner, 812 W. Hay Road, Oregon, $147,000.

Deed

Sheriff of Ogle County, Jestin Shane Akins and Sterling Federal Bank to Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., 204 W. Second St., Leaf River, $34,980.

Sheriff’s Deed

Sheriff of Ogle County and Timothy Paul Prehn Jr. to His Corner LLC, 1008 Monroe St., Oregon, $113,151.

Source: Ogle County Recorder’s Office

intersection of North Freeport Road. At the same time, Porchia Moore, 31, of Freeport, was driving a Chevrolet passenger car south on North Freeport Road while approaching the intersection and had the right-of-way. Leeson pulled out in front of Moore and was struck on the passenger side by Moore’s car. Both vehicles sustained heavy damage and ended up in the southwest ditch. Moore was transported to FHN Memorial Hospital by Forreston Fire Protection District EMS for non-life-threatening injuries. Leeson was transported to FHN by Shannon Fire Department EMS for minor injuries and later was released. Leeson was cited for disobeying a stop sign and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. The Forreston Police Department and Illinois State Police assisted.

Miroslava Oliveros, 24, of Rockford, was arrested for no valid driver’s license after a traffic stop at the intersection of Illinois Route 251 and Big Mound Road at around 3:26 p.m. She also was cited for improper passing in a no passing zone and failure to change address with the Secretary of State. Oliveros was released from the scene on an I-Bond and given a future court date.

Damian Rodden, 23, of Oregon, was arrested for driving while license suspended after a traffic stop in the 9000 block of North Kishwaukee Road at around 5:30 p.m. Rodden was released from the scene on an I-Bond and given a future court date.

March 4

Corey Stone, 27, of Oregon, was arrested for driving without a valid driver’s license after a traffic stop in the 200 block of East Hitt Street in Mt. Morris at 12:48 a.m. Stone also was cited for operating a motor vehicle without insurance and failure to signal. Stone was released on a $2,500 I-Bond and given a future court date. Mt. Morris police assisted.

Jeffrey Bardell, 24, of Polo, was arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol after deputies responded to a power pole in the roadway at 3:15 a.m. Bardell also was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, use of an electronic communication device while driving, expired registration and improper lane usage. Bardell was transported to the Ogle County Jail and held in lieu of bond.

Eric Hentges, 59, of Rockford, was arrested for driving while license revoked (Class 4

felony) and possession of stolen property (Class 4 felony) after a traffic stop in the 8000 block of north Illinois Route 251 at around 12:11 p.m. He also was cited for driving while license revoked (Class A misdemeanor), operating an uninsured vehicle and no valid registration. Hentges was transported to the Ogle County Jail and held pending a court appearance.

Savannah Siron, 22, of Dixon, was arrested for driving while license suspended after a traffic stop near the intersection of South Ridge and West Pines road at around 4:31 p.m. Siron also was cited for operating a vehicle with suspended registration and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Siron was released from the scene on an I-Bond and given a future court date.

John Hitchcock, of Mt. Morris, was arrested for criminal damage to property and violation of pretrial release conditions after deputies and Mt. Morris police responded to Mt Morris Estates Mobile Home Park at 9:41 p.m. for a disturbance. James Hillard, of Mt. Morris, was arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol. Hitchcock and Hillard were transported to the Ogle County Jail and held in lieu of bond.

Please note: Any arrests listed are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proved guilty in a court of law.

New wind, solar zoning law a concern for county officials

By ALEXA ZOELLNER azoellner@shawmedia.com

Members of an Ogle County ad hoc committee formed in response to a new law that restricts local zoning authority of wind and solar facilities lamented the law’s “silent spaces” during their Feb. 28 meeting.

“There’s all these ‘silent spaces’ where they [local municipalities] are not sure how they’re going to be handled because there’s nothing agreed upon,” said Dan Miller, a member of the Special Strategic Zoning Response Ad Hoc Committee. “It was just a base bill. The people who wrote it threw stuff at the wall, cherry-picked it and threw it together. That’s going to create a lot of opportunity for disagreement litigation.”

The eight-member ad hoc committee was created following the passages of House Bill 4412 and Senate Bill 1602, which were signed into law on Jan. 27 by Gov. JB Pritzker as Public Act 102-1123.

The bills were passed by the Illinois General Assembly during January’s “lame duck” session, with state representatives voting 73-36 in favor, and state senators voting 33-17 in favor.

“What it [the law] does is, it basically removes the counties or any local

governments from having any say on what’s decided,” committee Chairperson Ben Youman said Feb. 21, following the committee’s first meeting.

“The state basically put no restrictions and said, ‘Anything with wind and solar, it has to be passed.’”

Counties with existing zoning ordinances that conflict with the new law

have until May 27 to make the changes necessary to comply.

Ad hoc committee members didn’t take much action Feb. 28.

Most of the hourlong meeting was spent sharing information each had gathered, hearing updates from other county officials and discussing potential next steps.

One action members did take was to unanimously approve the committee’s mission statement:

“Identify and act on preserving and highlighting safety of residents by establishing refined zoning guidance and strategies in conjunction with requirements of Public Act 102-1123 (HB 4412/SB1602).”

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

This solar array is located on the north side of Oregon Trail Road, west of Oregon.

CLAIM NOTICE

Notice is given of the death of MARVIN A. KUNDE of Oregon, Illinois

Letters of Office were issued on February 28, 2023 to SHARI J STUMP, as Independent Co-Executor whose attorneys are WILLIAMS McCARTHY LLP, 120 W. State St., P.O. Box 219, Rockford, IL 61105.

RITA M.

MILLENBINE, Deceased 2023 PR 6

CLAIM NOTICE

815-994-0540,

Don't need it? Sell it! Place a classified ad with us!

833-584-NEWS

IN

CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 15TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

OGLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS

In the Matter of the Estate of: MARVIN A. KUNDE, Deceased No. 2023-PR-10

CLAIM NOTICE

Notice is given of the death of MARVIN A. KUNDE of Oregon, Illinois

Letters of Office were issued on February 28, 2023 to SHARI J STUMP, as Independent Co-Executor whose attorneys are WILLIAMS McCARTHY LLP, 120 W. State St., P.O Box 219, Rockford, IL 61105.

The estate will be administered without court supervision, unless under Section 28-4 of the Probate Act (755 ILCS 5/28-4) any interested person terminates independent administration at any time by mailing or delivering a petition to terminate to the Clerk.

or with the representative, or both, on or before September 11, 2023, or within 3 months from the date of mailing or delivery of notice to creditors, if mailing or delivery is required by Section 18-3 of the Probate Act, whichever date is later Any claim not filed by the requisite date stated above is barred. Copies of a claim filed with the Clerk must be mailed or delivered to the representative and to the attorney within 10 days after it has been filed.

Shari J. Stump Independent Co-Executor

March 10, 17, 24, 2023

EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT

The estate will be administered without court supervision, unless under Section 28-4 of the Probate Act (755 ILCS 5/28-4) any interested person terminates independent administration at any time by mailing or delivering a petition to terminate to the Clerk.

ACCOUNTANT

Erie Foods International is seeking to fill an Accountant position at its Erie, Illinois corporate office location The successful candidate will preferably have previous accounting experience and have working knowledge of Microsoft Windows, Word and Excel programs. Working knowledge of other Microsoft office programs would be a plus.

The person in this position will be responsible for performing duties related to maintaining financial records of ERIE Foods as well as the daily banking activities. The person in this position would also be responsible for performing duties to prepare for and assist with financial audits, oversee Accounts Receivable and provide backup for Invoicing, Sales orders and Accounts

Claims against the estate may be filed in the office of the Clerk of the Court, Ogle County Courthouse, 106 S 5th Street, # 300, Oregon, IL 61061 or with the representative, or both, on or before September 11, 2023, or within 3 months from the date of mailing or delivery of notice to creditors, if mailing or delivery is required by Section 18-3 of the Probate Act, whichever date is later Any claim not filed by the requisite date stated above is barred.

Copies of a claim filed with the Clerk must be mailed or delivered to the representative and to the attorney within 10 day f-

Claims against the estate may be filed in the office of the Clerk of the Court, Ogle County Courthouse, 106 S 5th Street, # 300, Oregon, IL 61061 or with the representative, or both, on or before September 11, 2023, or within 3 months from the date of mailing or delivery of notice to creditors, if mailing or delivery is required by Section 18-3 of the Probate Act, whichever date is later Any claim not filed by the requisite date stated above is barred. Copies of a claim filed with the Clerk must be mailed or delivered to the representative and to the attorney within 10 days after it has been filed.

Shari J. Stump Independent Co-Executor

March 10, 17, 24, 2023

The requisite affidavit for publication having been filed, notice is hereby given you

CLASSIFIED

OGLE COUNTY, OREGON, ILLINOIS NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC

D/B/A MR COOPER PLAINTIFF, -vsDaniel Garcia; Josefa Garcia a/k/a

Josefa C. Garcia; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS; UNKNOWN OCCUPANTS DEFENDANTS

NO. 22 FC 4 PUBLICATION

Josefa Garcia a/k/a

Notice is given of the death of RITA M. MILLENBINE. Letters of Office were issued onFebruary 15, 2023, to M THOMAS SUITS, as Independent Executor Claims against the estate may be filed within six (6) months from the date of first publication, or within three (3) months from the date of mailing or delivery of Notice to creditors, if mailing or delivery is required by Section 5/18-3 of the Illinois Probate Act, 1975, as amended, whichever date is later Any claim not filed by the requisite date stated above shall be barred. Claims against the estate may be filed in the Office of the Circuit Clerk, Ogle County Judicial Center, 106 South 5th Street, Oregon, IL 61061 - or with the estate legal representative, or both Copies of a claim filed with the clerk must be mailed or delivered to the representative and to the attorney within 10 days after it has been filed.

By: M. THOMAS SUITS

Independent Executor Law Office s of M. THOMAS SUITS, P.C. 114 West Mason Street Polo, IL 61064 (815) 946-2276 tom@suitslegal com

February 24, March 3, 10, 2023

HAZELHURST ANNUAL SPRING CONSIGNMENT AUCTION

SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2023 8:30 AM

Contact us by March 15 with your list for the sale bill/advertising

Consignments can be brought to the auction sight: between the hours of 7:30 am & 5 pm (gates locked) March 21 thru 29 except (Saturday March 25 between 7:30 & noon, closed Sunday, March 26). We reserve right to reject, loads will be screened!!!

INFO - LYLE HOPKINS (IL#440.000185) POLO, IL 815-441-1251

815-946-2660 EMAIL - SLPASPOLO@GMAIL.COM

JOHN HOPKINS 815-994-1836

LENNY BRYSON (IL#440.000158) POLO, IL 815-946-4120

STATE OF ILLINOIS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COUNTY OF OGLE I n re the E state of: RITA M. MILLENBINE, Deceased 2023 PR 6 CLAIM NOTICE Notice is given of the death of RITA M. MILLENBINE. Letters of Office were issued onFebruary 15, 2023, to M THOMAS SUITS, as Independent Executor Claims against the estate may be filed within six (6) months from the date of first publication, or within three (3) months from the date of mailing or delivery of Notice to creditors, if mailing or delivery is required by Section 5/18-3 of the Illinois Probate Act, 1975, as amended, whichever date is later Any claim not filed by the requisite date stated above shall be barred. Claims against the estate may be filed in the Office of the Circuit Clerk, Ogle County Judicial Center, 106 South 5th Street, Oregon, IL 61061 - or with the estate legal representative, or both Copies of a claim filed with the clerk must be mailed or delivered to the representative and to the attorney within 10 days after it has been filed.

LOCATION - MRS. SHERWOOD SHANK FAMILY FARM 17748 W. MILLEDGEVILLE RD, POLO 61064

By: M. THOMAS SUITS Independent Executor Law Office s of M. THOMAS

22-095536 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 15TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OGLE COUNTY, OREGON, ILLINOIS NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC D/B/A MR COOPER PLAINTIFF, -vsDaniel Garcia; Josefa Garcia a/k/a

Josefa C. Garcia; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS; UNKNOWN OCCUPANTS DEFENDANTS NO. 22 FC 4

PUBLICATION

NOTICE

The requisite affidavit for publication having been filed, notice is hereby given you

Josefa Garcia a/k/a

NOTICE

The requisite affidavit for publication having been filed, notice is hereby given you

Josefa Garcia a/k/a

Josefa C Garcia; Unknown Owners and Non-Record Claimants; Unknown Occupants Defendants in the above entitled suit, that the said suit has been commenced in the Circuit Court of Ogle County, by the said Plaintiff against you and other defendants, praying for the foreclosure of a certain Mortgage conveying the premises described as follows, to wit:

LOT ONE (1) IN WINDOVER PARK IN THE VILLAGE OF HILLCREST, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN PLAT FILE C, PAGE 34, IN THE RECORDER'S OFFICE IN OGLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS; SITUATED IN THE TOWNSHIP OF FLAGG, COUNTY OF OGLE AND STATE OF ILLINOIS

Josefa C Garcia; Unknown Owners and Non-Record Claimants; Unknown Occupants Defendants in the above entitled suit, that the said suit has been commenced in the Circuit Court of Ogle County, by the said Plaintiff against you and other defendants, praying for the foreclosure of a certain Mortgage conveying the premises described as follows, to wit:

430 E. WASHINGTON ST., CEDARVILLE, IL, 61013

1/16-1/32-1/64 FARM TOYS & SEMI TRUCKS (90% NIB):

Josefa C Garcia; Unknown Owners and Non-Record Claimants; Unknown Occupants Defendants in the above entitled suit, that the said suit has been commenced in the Circuit Court of Ogle County, by the said Plaintiff against you and other defendants, praying for the foreclosure of a certain Mortgage conveying the premises described as follows, to wit: LOT ONE (1) IN WINDOVER PARK IN THE VILLAGE OF HILLCREST, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN PLAT FILE C, PAGE 34, IN THE RECORDER'S OFFICE IN OGLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS; SITUATED IN THE TOWNSHIP OF FLAGG, COUNTY OF OGLE AND STATE OF ILLINOIS

1/8 JD 6500 Sprayer; Ford 8970, 8770; AC 7080, 50 yr; Case 1170 Black Knight; MM G940; JD 4010; Agri King 1170; CIH 5250 MFD; 2 AC 220; MH 1100; IHC 4366, 660; National Farm Toy Show Tractors: AC D-19, MF 1500, Case 2470, MF 444, JD 7020, AC 7580; Sugar Valley 1655 Cockshutt; Toy Farmer 1155 Spirit; MM-UTE, 4 star; Precision IH Regular; 1/32 Claus Chopper w/ cart; Rite 750; AC 8010, 7060, 7010, 8030; 9 IHC 1/64th Historical Sets; Oliver 770, 880 single, 880 WF, 80 WF, S66, 70, etc; Oliver Cletrac HG; Big Bud 1/64th NIB:310, 370, 440, 500; JD 8870, 4x4; MF 1150 NF Show Tractor; Many Toy Farmer Tractors; 1/32 MF 1500, Case 2470, Oliver 2655, IH 4366, AC 7580, IHC 2+2, Oliver 1950T, JD 7020, Steiger Tiger 525, Steiger Panther 325; 1/64th Farm Sets NIB; AC 220-ROPS, D-19 w/ loader; Structo Trucks; 35+ 1/64th Semi Trucks, NIB; 1/64thFirst Gear Construction Semis; JD 2520 NF, B; F.P. AC 190; NI Anniversary Spreader; IH 1568, V-8; CIH 7120 FWA; White 2-135 Gray & Red Stripe; Tractor Literature; 100+ Old Toy Farmer Magazines; 250+ 1/64th Tractors, Combines, Implements, Oliver, Ford, JD, MF, Steiger, etc; Custom 1/64th Show Cases, wall mount; Plus much more high quality farm toys in this collection.

Commonly known as 100 Windover Park Drive, Rochelle, IL 61068 Permanen t Index No.: 24-12-154-008 and which said Mortgage was made by Daniel Garcia and Josefa C. Garcia Mortgagors, to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as mortgagee, as nominee for OCMBC, Inc. as Mortgagee, and recorded in the office of the Recorder of Deeds of Ogle County, Illinois, Document No. 201804963. And for other relief; that summons was duly issued out of the said Court against you as provided by law, and that the suit is now pending.

LOT ONE (1) IN WINDOVER PARK IN THE VILLAGE OF HILLCREST, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN PLAT FILE C, PAGE 34, IN THE RECORDER'S OFFICE IN OGLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS; SITUATED IN THE TOWNSHIP OF FLAGG, COUNTY OF OGLE AND STATE OF ILLINOIS

SPECIAL: J.D. 4020 Pedal Tractor w/ cast seat.

Note: Large sale of high quality Toys, many NIB Items. Auction held inside w/ seating, Lunch, and restrooms

Now therefore, unless you, the said above named defendants, e-file your answer to the Complaint in the said suit or otherwise make your appearance therein, on or before the 30th day after the first publication of this notice which is APRIL 3, 2023.

Check website for many pictures. www.Proauctionsllc.com

Commonly known as 100 Windover Park Drive, Rochelle, IL 61068

Commonly known as 100 Windover Park Drive, Rochelle, IL 61068 Permanen t Index No.: 24-12-154-008 and which said Mortgage was made by Daniel Garcia and Josefa C. Garcia Mortgagors, to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as mortgagee, as nominee for OCMBC, Inc. as Mortgagee, and recorded in the office of the Recorder of Deeds of Ogle County, Illinois, Document No. 201804963. And for other relief; that summons was duly issued out of the said Court against you as provided by law, and that the suit is now

RICK

Default may be entered against you at any time after that day and a judgment entered in accordance with the prayer of said Complaint

E-filing is now mandatory for documents in civil cases with limited

THE