Library News

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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.

All rights reserved. Copyright 2022

FHN has announced a schedule of walk-up flu shot clinics at locations throughout northwest Illinois.

All events will be pandemic safe. Health care personnel and patients must wear masks throughout the process.

Adults 65 and younger will get a quadrivalent vaccine that protects against four strains of influenza for $31.

Adults older than 65 will receive a high-dose version of the vaccine for $67.

There is no out-of-pocket expense for those covered by Medicare Part B (present Medicare card) or a Medicare HMO accepted by FHN (list is available at each location – people MUST present the Medicare HMO card instead of the Medicare card for the billing process).

Immunizations may be paid for by cash or check payable to FHN (no credit or debit cards will be accepted). Please note that these prices are only available at these flu shot clinics. Other rates may apply in FHN offices.

No other insurance coverage can be accepted at these flu shot clinics, and per government regulations, no Medicaid cards can be accepted at these locations.

Because of federal guidelines to prevent identity theft, everyone must present a photo ID to receive an immunization.

For their own safety, children should be immunized at their regular health care provider’s office.

People with an allergy to eggs or the flu vaccine, those with an illness accompanied by a fever or those with a depressed immune system should not receive the flu immunization at these locations.

For more information, call FHN Community Services at 815-599-7437.

Some of the location’s for clinics are:

Oct. 16: 8:30 to 10 a.m. at Faith United Methodist Church, 1440 S. Walnut Ave., Freeport

Oct. 20: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Liberty Estates, 2080 Navajo Drive, Freeport

Oct. 21: 2 to 4 p.m. at Freeport State Bank, 1718 S. Dirck Drive, Freeport

Oct. 25: 10 a.m. to noon at Bethel United Methodist Church, 217 S. Hickory St., Shannon

Oct. 28: 3 to 6 p.m. at State Bank of Pearl City, 215 S. Main St., Pearl City

Nov. 1: 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Family YMCA of Northwest Illinois, 2998 W. Pearl City Road, Freeport

Nov. 9: 1 to 3 p.m. at Sullivan’s Foods, 101 E. Illinois Route 64, Mt. Morris

Nov. 10: 3 to 6 p.m. at Sullivan’s Foods, 2002 W. Galena Ave., Freeport

Nov. 15: 9 a.m. to noon at Fitness Lifestyles, 641 W. Stephenson St., Freeport

For more information on FHN’s flu shot clinics and how you can avoid the flu, visit www.fhn.org.

BERTOLET LIBRARY

Story Time - Thursdays at 10 a.m.

Stop in with your Toddlers and Pre-K littles for Story Time each Thursday with Miss Jana. She will have a couple stories and an activity for the kids. Fall sessions started Sept, 8.

Big Kids, Big Art - Tuesday, Oct. 18, 4-5:30 p.m.

Calling all 1st through 5th Graders! Miss Jana has a great beginner art program just for you. Each month will focus on a different element of art. Join her on the third Tuesday of each month!

LEGO Club - First Monday of the month, 5 p.m.

Create with us on the 1st Monday of each month. We will have the LEGOs waiting for you!

Adult Book of the Month

The September book of the month is Forty Autumns by Nina Willner. The book is a memoir of Nina, a former American intelligence officer whose family was separated during the Cold War by the Iron Curtain and how they were reunited with each other after the wall fell. The story covers three generations of five different women. Stop by the circulation desk to pick up a copy of the book.

Craft Kits for Adults

The September craft celebrates the transition of seasons from summer to fall with this cute sunflower. Stop by the circulation desk to pick up your kit today.

Create-a-Card - Saturday, Oct. 15, 9:30 a.m.

Design an encouraging note for your bestie, your child’s teacher, or your secret sister. You can even create a work of art to lift your own spirits! All materials are provided.

Drop Box

Our drop box is closed until further notice due to water leaks. Please return library materials during business hours. You may also return materials to other local libraries, and they will send them to us via our interlibrary loan system. We apologize for the inconvenience.

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: Hellburner by Clive Cussler, Oath of Loyalty by Vince Flynn, Captive by Iris Johansen, Desperation In Death by J.D. Robb, Dreamland by Nicholas Sparks, Daisy Darker by Alice Sweeny

Juvenile Books: The Do-Over by Jennifer Torres, Lies I Tell Myself by Beth Vrabel

FORRESTON LIBRARY

FVVYN Online Auction - Sept. 19-29

Forrestville Valley Youth Network is holding an online auction at 32auctions.com/FVVYN2022 to raise funds for the district mentoring program, scholarships, and insurance. All of the approximately 50 items will be on display at the library during the auction but bids must be submitted online.

Library computers and staff will be available to assist with creating an account and the online bidding process, if needed. Winning bidders will pick up their items in the Community Room at the library on Saturday, Oct. 1 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.. Please support our students and this valuable program by participating in this much needed fundraiser. Preschool Storytime - Tuesdays at 10 a.m.

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.

Snow Removal Bids

The library is currently seeking bids for snow removal from our sidewalks, ramp, and front steps/porch. Following an overnight snowfall, snow will need to be removed by 8 a.m. and some daytime removal may also be necessary. Please submit your written proposal to the library in person or by email to forrestonpubliclibrary@ gmail.com. Bids must be received by Monday, Oct. 10. For more information, contact Julie at (815)938-2624.

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.

Library Hours

The library is open: Monday 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., 2-7 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 10 a.m. -1 p.m., 2-6 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. We may be reached by phone at 815-938-2624, email at forrestonpubliclibrary@gmail.com, or through Facebook messaging. Of course, we always love to see you in person, too!

By ALEXA ZOELLNER azoellner@shawmedia.com

Nearly 1,000 people flocked to the Nachusa Grasslands on Saturday for the return of Autumn on the Prairie.

“The day went very smoothly,” said Bill Kleiman, Nachusa Grasslands project director. “The weather was excellent – sunny and warm, but not hot.”

Nachusa Grasslands is a 4,000-acre preserve consisting of large remnant prairie, woodlands and wetlands being reconnected through habitat restoration, according to the conservancy’s website. It creates “one of the largest and most biologically diverse grasslands in Illinois.”

Autumn on the Prairie drew about 930 visitors and recruited 70 volunteers, Kleiman said.

“That’s pretty high for us,” he said. “We might have had 1,200 five years ago when we first got bison, but getting near 1,000 is a pretty solid number.”

Visitors filled five wagons on rides to look for bison, Kleiman said.

“Frequently, the bison were very close by and people were visibly excited to see them up close,” he said. “We also had hiking tours every half-hour and most of those were full all day long, too.”

There wasn’t really anything new at this year’s event, but they’re always making adjustments to improve Autumn on the Prairie based on feedback, Kleiman said.

Alex T. Paschal - apaschal@shawmedia.com ABOVE: Visitors check out the bison herd at the Nachusa Grasslands’ annual Autumn on the Prairie. LEFT: A male bison stands guard in the prairie during Autumn on the Prairie on Saturday. The event also offered hikes (below) and educational displays and wagon tours on the prairie to see the bison herd.

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20 E. Stephenson Street Historic Downtown Freeport 815-235-4911 • ritewayfreeport.com Monday through Friday 9am-5pm Saturday 9am-4pm

Visit 4 local businesses north of Mt. Morris

The third annual Back Roads Market is Saturday, Sept. 24, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Participants can spend the day traveling the countryside amid corn fields while making four stops along the way, each featuring a variety of items to purchase.

This year’s stops are: • Hough’s Maple Lane Farms, 3788 North Mount Morris Road, in Mt. Morr i s . S a t i s f y y o u r m a p l e c r a v i n g s , choosing from syrup, cinnamon rolls and candies. Also find some local honey, fresh varieties of garlic, popcorn, dog treats, mums, plants, gourds, pumpkins and old finds. • BerryView Orchard, 7504 West Midtown Road. A variety of juicy apples, aronia berries, a farm store filled with treats, locally made Simple Comforts Candles, Lynnie’s Kitchen goodies, Nelson Farms Meats and much more. Grab an aronia berry lemonade slushie and the best fresh cider doughnuts. Food concessions at this location will be gourmet grilled cheese served by Jen’s Artisan Breads. • “Funky Junk” and more, 6410 West Grove Road. Vendors here will have vintage goods, refurbished furniture, retro items, primitives, relics, collectibles, junky jack-o’-lanterns and more. Grab some yummy baked goods from Bobbi’s County Catering. Food concessions at this location will be served by Sunset Golf Club.

• Vintage Chicks and Feeds, 700 Illinois Route 72, Leaf River. Browse through this quaint store filled with vintage wares, soaps, lotion, local honey, antiques, barn goods and so much more.

There are no admission fees.

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media BerryView Orchard and Hough’s Maple Lane Farms are two of the stops on the Back Roads Market scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 24.

Polo f ire distr ict receives $16,000 g rant f rom count y

The Polo Fire Protection District recently was awarded a grant through an Ogle County Community Grant program as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which made grant funds available to communities and entities who were adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In its grant application, the Polo Fire Protection District indicated to the Ogle County Board its intent to purchase a Stryker power load system for its primary ambulance.

“Such a power load system allows the ambulance cot to be fully supported throughout the loading and unloading processes, rather than relying on the strength of EMS personnel alone. This boosts both EMS operator and patient safety. Additionally, the system helps decrease the need for extra manpower, which is often necessary when loading and unloading bariatric patients,” said Denise Clothier, a Polo EMT in a news release. “Overall, the addition of the power load system is expected to reduce caregiver injuries, improve job performance and satisfaction for the EMS staff and provide increased service to patients in Polo and the surrounding community.”

“Upon review of the application made by the Polo Fire Protection District, the Ogle County Board agreed to grant an award to Polo Fire to pay onehalf of the total cost of the Stryker power load system, which is $32,010,” Clothier said.

The Ogle County grant award provides the Polo Fire Protection District with the sum of $16,000 toward the purchase and installation of the Stryker system. The remaining one-half of the cost will be paid directly by the Polo Fire Protection District.

On Aug. 15, Ogle County Board member Susie Corbitt attended the Polo Fire Protection District monthly board meeting to present a check in the sum of $16,000 to the Polo Fire and Polo Ambulance District Board members.

B o a r d m em b e r s p r e s e n t w e r e Dustin Finkle, President, Charlie Clothier, Treasurer, John Hopkins, Secretary, Lon Feary, Trustee and Ken Yingling, Trustee. Also present were Chief Jim Ports, Paramedic April Rivers, Paramedic Sabrina Stock and EMT Denise Clothier.

Photo provided Pictured, left to right, are EMT Denise Clothier, Paramedic April Rivers, Polo Fire Board Secretary John Hopkins, Paramedic Sabrina Stock, Polo Fire Board Trustee Ken Yingling, Ogle County Board Member Susie Corbitt, Polo Fire Chief Jim Ports, Polo Fire Board President Dustin Finkle, Polo Fire Board Treasurer Charlie Clothier and Polo Fire Board Trustee Lon Feary.

ELECTION NEWS

Petitions for Polo’s April 4, 2023, consolidated election available now

Sydney Bartelt, Polo City Clerk, is notifying the citizens of Polo that petitions may be picked up and circulated for the April 4, 2023, consolidated election, starting Sept. 20, at City Hall, 115 S. Franklin Avenue.

Filing dates for candidates for the consolidated election are from Dec. 12 through Dec. 19. Offices to be elected are Alderman for Ward I, Ward II and Ward III, all for a four-year term, and Alderman Ward II for a two-year term.

Petitions may be picked up at City Hall, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. For additional information, call 815- 946-3514.

Ogle petition packets also available

Ogle County Clerk Laura J. Cook announced that petition packets for the consolidated election on April 4, 2023, will be available Sept. 20 on the Ogle County website.

Petition packets may be accessed at www.oglecounty.org. See 2023 ELECTION, Page 7