Library News

oglecountynews.com ShawLocal.com

OFFICE 113-115 Peoria Ave. Dixon, IL 61021 815-732-6166, ext. 2592

SUBSCRIPTIONS $39 in Ogle County, and $52 outside Ogle County. Single-copy price is $1 To subscribe, make a payment or discuss your delivery, call 815-732-6166, ext. 2518, from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday or send an email to subscriptions@ oglecountynews.com. You also can subscribe online by going to oglecountynews.com and clicking on Subscribe.

CLASSIFIED SALES classified@shawlocal.com

HELP WANTED employment@shawlocal.com

LEGAL NOTICES sauklegals@shawlocal.com

OBITUARIES saukobits@shawlocal.com Deadline for obituaries is 2 p.m. Tuesday for Friday’s edition

SEND NEWS news@oglecountynews.com

Publisher Jennifer Heintzelman 815-632-2502 jheintzelman@shawmedia.com

General Manager Earleen Hinton 815-632-2591 ehinton@shawmedia.com

News Alexa Zoellner 815-632-2590 azoellner@shawmedia.com

Advertising Sales Jennifer Heintzelman 815-632-2502 jheintzelman@shawmedia.com

Forreston Journal, Ogle County News and oglecountynews.com are a division of Shaw Media. Ogle County Newspapers also prints the Mt. Morris Times, Oregon Republican Reporter and Polo’s Tri-County Press.

The FORRESTON JOURNAL (USPS No. 205-520) is published weekly by B.F. Shaw Printing Co., Shaw Media. Periodical postage paid at Forreston, Illinois. POSTMASTER Send address changes to FORRESTON JOURNAL, P.O. Box 237, Forreston, IL 61030. Phone 815-732-6166, ext. 2516.

All rights reserved. Copyright 2022

The next Community Men’s Prayer Breakfast will be Saturday, Dec. 3 from 7 to 8 a.m. at the Forreston Reformed Church. Breakfast is pancakes and ham.

Forreston head basketball coach Jake Groom will be our speaker. A freewill offering for the food pantry will be accepted. All men of the community are invited and encouraged to attend.

Angel Project underway in Forreston

The Forreston Lions Club is holding its annual Christmas Angel Project. Angels are available at Solutions Bank and Koeller’s Hardware store. To participate, pick up an angel at one of the two location. Buy a $15 or more gift for the child listed on the angel.

Return the gift with the angel attached to either of the two locations no later than Tuesday, Dec. 14.

The Lions Club also will deliver food baskets on Saturday, Dec. 17. Anyone who knows of someone who could use a food basket is asked to call Larry Dikkers at 815-266-1856 or Randy Ludwig at 815-238-2700.

The schools also will be collecting canned good for the food boxes.

Silver Creek Reformed Church hosts Cookie Walk on Dec. 10

The Silver Creek Reformed Church, 326 S. Bunker Hill Road, German Valley, will sponsor its annual Cookie Walk on Saturday, Dec. 10.

A variety of holiday cookies and baked items, including pies and breads, will be for sale from noon to 4 p.m. You also may purchase baked cinnamon rolls at a cost of $6 for four rolls.

Cinnamon rolls may be pre-ordered by calling the church office at 815 362-2129. Deadline to order is Dec. 3.

Dec. 2

9-11 a.m. Rolls and Coffee (First United Methodist Church); 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Christmas Corner (First United Methodist Church); 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Soup, sandwich and salad luncheon (First United Methodist Church); 4 p.m. until sold out Taste Treats Cookie Sale (Township building); 4-7 p.m. Poinsettia sale (R&S Builders); 5 p.m.: Children’s Coloring Contest winners announced (Koeller Forreston Hardware); 5-5:30 p.m. Light Up Santa Parade registration and line-up (Ash and Cherry streets); 5-6 p.m. FJHS/FHS carolers performing (downtown Forreston and Memorial Park); 5-8 p.m. Food Truck Friday! The Traveling Chef (Memorial Park area); 5:30-6 p.m. Light Up Santa Parade (circuit around Memorial Park); 5:30-8 p.m. Cookies and Cocoa (Forreston Fire Department); 6 p.m.: Community tree lighting with Santa (Memorial Park); 6-7:30 p.m. Santa visit and Christmas list submission (Memorial Park); 6-7:30 p.m. Hot cocoa at the park (Memorial Park); 6-7:30 p.m. S’mores Bar (Memorial Park); 6-7:30 p.m. Crafts and Christmas Tales (Forreston Public Library); 6-8 p.m. Hay wagon tour: Forreston Holiday Lights Contest viewing (circuit from Memorial Park to Forreston Fire Station); 6-8 p.m. Movie, snacks and crafts (Believe in the Children)

Dec. 3

7 a.m. Mens prayer breakfast (Forreston Reformed Church); 9 a.m. to noon Poinsettia sale (R&S Builders); 9:30 a.m. to noon: Doughnut holes and stories with Santa (Forreston Public Library) 3:30-4:30 p.m. Community Christmas Concert (Forreston Reformed Church); 4:30-6:30 p.m.: Super soup supper (Forreston Reformed Church basement or takeout)

BERTOLET LIBRARY

Mittens to wear; Hats for their hair; Scarves

for their neck; Gloves too? Our annual Mitten Tree is now on display through the end of December. Please help decorate our Mitten Tree with thick, warm mittens, gloves, hats, and scarves for all ages. Items will be distributed through New Life Community Center in January.

Youth Programs

Reindeer Scavenger Hunt - Visit Bertolet Memorial Library in December and scout out the reindeer displayed throughout the library. Solve the puzzle and get a prize at the circulation desk!

Story Time: Dec. 8 & 15, 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.

Big Kids, Big Art: Tuesday, Jan. 17, 4:30 p.m. LEGO® Club: 1st Monday of the month, 5 p.m.

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

Adult Programs

Adult Book of the Month: Look for the next title in January!

Craft Kits for Adults - Stop by the circulation desk and pick up the December take and make craft. All the materials are provided to make a reindeer candy pot.

Create-a-Card: Will Return in March 2023!

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: Diana, William, and Harry by James Patterson (Non-fiction); Painting Beyond Walls by David Rhodes; Defending Alice by Richard Straton

Chapter Books: Nowhere Better Than Here by Sarah Guillory; Memories and Life Lessons from the Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne

Picture Books: Pig the Elf by Aaron Blabey; Unicorn Christmas by Diana Murray

FORRESTON LIBRARY

Christmas in the Country - Dec. 2-3

The library will be open Friday, Dec. 2 from 6-7:30 p.m. for our annual Crafts for Kids and Book Sale. Saturday, Dec. 3 Santa will be here to visit with your little ones from 9:30 a.m. until noon. Refreshments will be provided and the Book Sale will also be open on Saturday.

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.

Community Room

Looking for a place to hold your event? Our community room (with a small kitchenette) is available for meetings, parties, showers, family reunions, and more. Please call the library at (815)938-2624 for additional information.

Plastic Recycling

We are collecting film-type plastic for recycling. This includes plastic bags, zipper type baggies (with the zip portion removed), cereal/snack bags, bubble wrap, and other soft plastic . Please make sure bags are free from debris and remove all paper/sticker labels.

We cannot accept hard plastic, such as water bottles, milk cartons, etc., for this program. Thank you!

Brian K. Taylor faces eight charges in Ogle County court for Nov. 22 incident

By ALEXA ZOELLNER azoellner@shawmedia.com

An Ohio man has been charged with attempted first-degree murder after police say the car he was driving veered out of its lane toward an Ogle County deputy and then crashed into a Stephenson County squad car on Nov. 22 during a police deployment to stop a speeder.

Brian K. Taylor, 49, of Massillon, Ohio, was charged Tuesday afternoon by the Ogle County state’s attorney with two counts of attempted first-degree murder, one count of aggravated battery to a police officer, one count of aggravated assault of a police officer, two counts of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, one count of unlawful display of a license plate and one count of Class A speeding 35-plus mph over the speed limit.

“After review of the reports, we believe these are the most appropriate charges,” Ogle County State’s Attorney Mike Rock said. He emphasized that Taylor is presumed innocent until proved guilty.

Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle said in a report his department was advised by Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office that its deputies were pursuing a Mazda MX5 southbound on I l l i n o i s R o u t e 2 6 from Freeport. The pursuit continued south onto Freeport Road.

An Ogle County d e p u t y d e p l o y e d s t o p s t i c k s i n t h e area of Freeport and Milledgeville roads in an attempt to flatten the fleeing vehicle’s tires and end the pursuit, the report said.

The report read: “As the driver of the fleeing vehicle approached the deputy, he veered left in an attempt to strike the deputy, who was on the shoulder of the opposite lane of traffic. The deputy was able to move out of the way of the fleeing vehicle.”

The Mazda struck the Stephenson County squad car after it entered the roadway, according to the report.

“It definitely appears to be intentional,” VanVickle said. “He [Taylor] could have gone around the other side, but he chose to go to the side the deputy was on.”

VanVickle said he believed Stephenson County was chasing Taylor for traffic offenses.

Taylor was in court on Nov. 23 for a bond hearing, where bond was set at $500,000, he said.

Taylor is set to appear in Ogle County Circuit Court on Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 10 a.m. for a preliminary hearing.

Brian K. Taylor

Mt. Morris garbage rates are set to r ise in May 202 3

By ALEXA ZOELLNER azoellner@shawmedia.com

The increase in garbage pickup rates for Mt. Morris residents is a ways off, but it’s coming.

Effective May 1, 2023, garbage rates will rise $3.25 per household, going from $14.50 to $17.75. On Nov. 22, Mt. Morris Village Board members voted 4-1 to renew the village’s contract with Northern Illinois Disposal with the increased rate; Trustee Jim Hopkins voted no.

Village Clerk Paula Diehl told board m e m b e r s t h a t t h e r a t e s h a v e n o t increased in about 12 years.

“The fact [is] that they have been an excellent partner for us for 12 years and holding our rates firm,” Village President Phil Labash said. “As much as I don’t like to see the increase, I certainly understand the increase. I wish less. They gave us some options, but that means I would have to cut services.”

Mt. Morris has a “significantly better plan” than surrounding communities when it comes to what Northern Illinois Disposal will pick up, Labash said. He said he isn’t interesting in limiting the number of items that residents can put on the curb, how much brush or grass clippings can be put out or having customers charged an additional cost to put those things out.

T h e v i l l a g e i s e x p e r i e n c i n g increased fuel and oil expenses for vehicles because of inflation, he said.

“Well, our garbage service is running with a whole bunch of really big trucks running around,” Labash said. “So the reality is that they are seeing the same inflationary pressures that we’re seeing.”

Oregon super intendent to retire; board picks replacement

After 13 years serving the Oregon School District 220 as its superintendent, Tom Mahoney has announced that he will retire effective June 30, 2024. The school board has appointed P J C a p o s e y , f o r m e r O r e g o n H i g h School principal and current Meridian School District superintendent, as his replacement.

“It has been an honor to serve as Oregon’s superintendent these last 13 years,” Mahoney said. “I love the OCUSD community, and I have loved b e i n g i t s s c h o o l s u p e r i n t e nd e nt . OCUSD is a remarkable place to learn, work and live. I know the district will continue a successful path led by Caposey.”

Caposey served as principal of Oregon High School and most recently as Superintendent of Meridian School District 223. He was named 2023 Superintendent of the Year by the Illinois Association of School Boards, leading Stillman Valley High to the designation of “Top Achieving High School” for the past six years by US News & World Report.

Caposey earned a bachelor’s degree f r o m E a s t e r n I l l i n o i s , a m a s t e r ’ s degree from National Louis University and a doctorate from Western Illinois University.

Caposey will begin his role as superintendent on July 1, 2024.

“The Oregon School District Board of Education is excited to work with Dr. Caposey in his new role,” said Bryan Wills, board president. “Dr. Caposey has the experience and background needed to help the district reach its future goals and drive academic success.”

“Dr. Mahoney has done an admirable job leading the school district, and we appreciate his contributions to our schools, students and staff. He will be missed, and we wish him a happy retirement.” Wills said. “We are fortunate Dr. Mahoney will work with Dr. Caposey over the next 18 months to ensure a smooth transition for the district and its families.”

Tom Mahoney PJ Caposey

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

Oregon Republican Reporter • Mt. Morris Times • Tri-County Press • Forreston Journal Only $39 a year for subscribers living in Ogle County! Call 815-632-2520 to subscribe!