Oregon Police

The Ogle County Solid Waste Management Department (OCSWMD) is again partnering with local fire departments and villages to offer several convenient drop-off boxes so those frustrating, nonfunctional holiday light strands can be recycled and kept out of the landfill.

Drop-off boxes are available at the following fire departments: Rochelle, Byron, Stillman Valley and Mt. Morris. They will be located at village halls in Polo, Forreston, Davis Junction and Creston.

Light strands also are accepted at the Ogle County courthouse and at the OCSWMD office at 909 Pines Road in Oregon. Boxes will remain at these locations until Jan. 20.

Accepted light strands include Italian mini-lights, traditional lights, LED lights and other holiday light strands. Extension cords also are accepted. Material not accepted include rope lights, wreaths, garland, metal stakes or silhouettes, live greens, plastic decorations, timers, and light packaging, plastic bags or cardboard boxes. Placing just the light strands and cords into the bins increases material value and makes the recycling process more efficient for the processor.

Lights and cords will be shipped to Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations in Onalaska, Wisconsin, to be recycled. In 2021-2022, more than 1,400 pounds of material was collected and recycled through this program.

So as you prepare to untangle, test and put out those holiday lights this season, remember you can help the environment and recycle all those strands of lights that have brightened our homes in the past but now refuse to light up anymore.

For more information and to learn about other recycling opportunities in Ogle County, call the OCSWMD at 815732-4020 or visit www.oglecounty.org.

ILLINOIS STATE POLICE

Illinois State Police District 1 troopers issued 331 citations, 472 written warnings, and made two criminal arrests during the month of November.

Troopers issued 194 citations for speeding, 20 citations for distracted driving violations, and 20 citations for seat belt violations.

There were 16 arrests for no valid driver’s license or driving while license suspended/revoked.

Troopers investigated 19 traffic crashes, assisted 87 motorists, and conducted 101 commercial motor vehicle inspections. There were two arrests for driving under the influence.

District 1, which encompasses Carroll, Lee, Ogle and Whiteside counties, investigated no fatal traffic crashes in November.

sTEP Results

Results of the Daytime Special Traffic Enforcement Patrols (sTEP) in Lee and Ogle Counties in November were occupant restraint violations, 1; driving while under the influence and drug/alcohol-related citations, 0; speeding citations and warnings, 73; distracted driving citations and warnings, 1; total citations, 62; and total written warnings, 44.

“These sTEPs allowed the ISP to provide increased enforcement for impaired driving, occupant restraint, speeding, and distracted driving violations during the National “Click It or Ticket” Campaign,” a state police news release said.

OREGON POLICE

Oregon Police Chief Joe Brooks reports the following police activity.

Nov. 21

Jacob A. Rogers, 21, of Greensboro, North Carolina, was issued a citation at 12:50 a.m. for speeding, 52 mph in a 30 mph zone. This violation occurred in the 500 block of N. 4th Street.

Joseph M. Stewart, 34, of Mt. Morris, was arrested at 8:19 a.m. on an outstanding Ogle County warrant for probation violation. Stewart was transported to the Ogle County Jail.

Nov. 22

Kenneth B. Koivisto, 41, of Rochelle, was issued a citation at 7:37 p.m. for speeding, 43 mph in a 30 mph zone. This violation occurred in the 600 block of N. 4th Street.

Nov. 23

Wendy M. Seibert, 57, of Oregon, was issued a citation at 11:40 a.m. for failure to wear a seat belt as a driver. This violation occurred in the 300 block of S. 3rd Street.

Bajram Kamberovski, 64, of Woodhaven, Michigan,was issued a citation at 9:43 p.m. for speeding, 55 mph in a 40 mph zone. This violation occurred in the 500 block of W. Washington Street.

Nov. 24

Joshua J. Drew, 26, of Dixon, was issued a citation at 12:02 a.m. for operating a vehicle with an expired registration. This violation occurred in the 100 block of S. 4th Street.

Joshua M. Batt, 17, of Oregon, was issued a citation at 9:48 p.m. for operating an uninsured motor vehicle. This violation occurred in the 1300 block of W. Washington Street.

Nov. 25

At 3:22 p.m., police responded to a two-vehicle traffic crash at the intersection of 3rd and Franklin Streets involving a 2017 Nissan driven by Christopher G. Short, 56, of Johnson City, Tennessee, and a 2009 Saturn driven by Melissa C. Cooper, 50, of Lindenwood. No citations were issued.

Andrew J. Holloway, 47, of Sterling, was arrested at 5:36 p.m. for driving while license suspended. This violation occurred in the N. 4th and Washington Street intersection. Holloway was transported to the Ogle County Jail.

Poe N. Pierce, 26, of Beloit, Wisconsin, was issued a citation at 6:52 p.m. for operating an uninsured motor vehicle. This violation occurred in the 100 block of S. 4th Street.

Brenda K. Harrolle, 65, of Oregon, was issued a citation at 9:32 p.m. for disobeying a traffic control signal. This violation occurred in the 100 block of S. 4th Street.

Nov. 27

Robert A. Milliman, 69, of Oregon, was issued a city citation at 10:01 a.m. for allowing his dog to run at large. This violation occurred in the 700 block of Monroe Street.

Amber L. Berg, 34, of Morris, was issued a citation at 9:59 p.m. for speeding, 51 mph in a 30 mph zone. This violation occurred in the 600 block of N. 4th Street.

Nov. 28

Hannah J. Cantrell, 20, of Chana, was issued citations at 12:34 p.m. for operating a vehicle when registration is suspended for no insurance and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. These violations occurred in the 600 block of S. 4th Street.

Nov. 29

At 7:28 a.m., police investigated a car vs deer traffic crash in the 1500 block of W. Washington Street involving a 2010 Toyota driven by Samantha M. Smidt, 32, of Oregon. No citations were issued.

Ahmad M. Ashour, 34, of Dixon, was arrested at 10:48 a.m. on an outstanding Ogle County warrant for possession of drug paraphernalia. Ashour was transported to the Ogle County Jail.

At 9:52 p.m., police responded to a disturbance call in the 200 block of N. Jones Terrace resulting in the arrest of Eugene F. Collins, 55, of Oregon, for elder abuse/ neglect. Collins was transported to the Ogle County Jail.

Nov. 30

At 9:03 a.m., police investigated a two-vehicle traffic crash in the rear parking lot of the Oregon Post Office, 500 W. Washington Street, involving a 2012 Freightliner box truck driven by Eric B. Jeffers, 43, of Brandon, Florida, and a parked 2011 Chevrolet belonging to Allison J. Geuther, 48, of Amboy. No citations were issued.

At 3:10 p.m., police responded to a two-vehicle traffic crash in the 100 block of N. 4th Street involving a 2008 Lincoln driven by Darlene E. Josel, 79, of Lanark, and a parked 2022 GMC belonging to Andrew K. Bush, 36, of Oregon. No citations were issued.

Dec. 2

Jacob A. Swartz, 17, of Forreston, was issued a citation at 3:30 p.m. for passing a school bus while loading/unloading. This violation occurred in the 100 block of E. Washington Street.

Jason D. Paul, 48, of Oregon, was issued a citation at 8:41 p.m. for disobeying a traffic control device. This violation occurred at the intersection of Monroe and 5th Streets.

Nathan R. Brown, 31, of Warrenville, was issued a citation at 11:07 p.m. for speeding, 47 mph in a 30 mph zone. This violation occurred in the 500 block of Gale Street.