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Library News
oglecountynews.com ShawLocal.com
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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
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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. MorrisTimes , OregonRepublicanReporter, 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 2021
REGIONAL NEWS
OHS student hospitalized w ith COV ID-19 pneumonia
BY ALEXA ZOELLNER azoellner@shawmedia.com
OREGON – A 15-year-old Oregon High School student was hospitalized for COVID-19-related pneumonia on Christmas Day.
Tyler Russell was taken to the hospital on Dec. 25, where doctors stabilized him before transferring him to the children’s hospital in Peoria, according to a post on GoFundMe made by Tammy Russell, his aunt.
“The doctors are treating him aggressively with fluids, antibiotics, and are planning to do the infusion,” Tammy Russell wrote. “Right now they are trying to keep his O2 stats up.”
The GoFundMe is to benefit Tyler and his father, Christopher Russell, who “has been with him and will be at his bedside the whole time Tyler is in the hospital,” Tammy Russell wrote. Donations will help cover her brother’s lost income and the soon-to-arrive medical bills, she wrote.
Tyler, who has Down syndrome and a compromised immune system, is a fighter and it’s something everyone who knows him knows, Tammy Russell wrote.
“He was upset that he was going to miss Christmas and couldn’t open his Christmas presents,” she wrote. “We promised him that the Christmas tree will stay up and the presents underneath. Once he is able to come home, we will then celebrate Christmas with him and the rest of the family.
Tyler is a “typical kid” who enjoys playing Xbox, watching animated movies and WWE, playing his guitar and singing, Tammy Russell wrote. He also participates in the Special Olympics through Ogle County.
“Christmas is known for miracles and I know that Tyler will beat this,” she wrote. “No donation is too small or little and will be greatly appreciated.” To donate, visit https://gofund.me/7bcbc675. As of Tuesday evening, $6,480 had been raised by 57 donations.
Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media Workers from Martin & Co were busy last week fixing a water line to a home on Third Street in Forreston.
FORRESTON LIBRARY
Holiday Closures
The library will be closed Saturday, Jan. 1, for New Year’s Day.
Library Hours
The library is open the following hours: 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 are closed on Friday and Sunday. Masks are currently required for anyone over the age of 2. Curbside pickup is still available for anyone who wishes to use it.
Library Updates
Please like our Facebook page to stay up to date with the most current information on our plans and activities and also check out our website at forrestonlibrary.org.
If you have any questions or needs, please feel free to contact us by phone at 815-938-2624, email at forrestonpubliclibrary@gmail.com, or through Facebook messaging.
BERTOLET LIBRARY
Paws for Reading: Wednesday, Jan. 19
The next Paws for Reading event will be Wednesday, Jan. 19 at 4 p.m. Register your independent reader for a 15 minute time slot by calling 815-738-2742.
Bertolet Book of the Month Club
Book of the Month Club will return in January!
Story Hour
Join Miss Jana for Story Hour and learn about animals and letters on Thursdays at 10 a.m. Registration requested but not required. Masks will be required.
Craft Kits for Adults
Bertolet Memorial Library is now offering take home craft kits for adults and/or families. The kits provide the materials and instructions needed to make a craft. It’s a great opportunity to be creative and de-stress at the same time. Stop in and check out our January Craft Kit.
Create-a-Card
Hope you have a great holiday season! See you all on Jan. 15.
Masks
Masks are required at Bertolet Memorial Library for all patrons over age 2. We will be happy to provide curbside service as needed.
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: Delia and the Drifter by Melody Carlson; Miranda and the Miner by Melody Carlson; Shadows of Swanford Abbey by Julie Klassen; Dear William by David Magee (NF)
Audio Books: The Last Debutantes by Georgie Blalock
Juvenile Books: Violets Are Blue by Barbara Dee
Picture Books: Alan’s Big, Scary Teeth by Peter Jarvis; Lost Things by Carey Sookocheff; Fuddles and Puddles by Fans Vischer
COUNT Y NEWS
ICC approves crossing improvements near Polo
A railroad crossing east of Polo will be getting a major facelift next year.
The Illinois Commerce Commission has approved a stipulated agreement to improve safety at the North Union Road railroad crossing.
Under the agreement, BNSF Railway Company will install new automatic flashing light signals, gates with bells which are controlled by constant warning time circuitry and equipped with an event recorder and a remote monitoring system.
The total estimated cost of materials for the crossing upgrades is $223,364.
The ICC staff recommends that the Grade Crossing Protection Fund be used to pay 95% of the total cost, not to exceed $212,193.
All work is to be completed within 12 months of the order date.
“These upgrades are needed and will greatly improve safety at this location. This is good news for the community and anyone who utilizes the crossing. The allocation of Grade Crossing Protection Funds enables important rail safety projects such as this to advance,” ICC Commissioner Michael Carrigan said.
In 1955, the state passed legislation creating the GCPF. Since then, Illinois has strengthened its commitment to public highway-rail safety by increasing funding toward projects such as the closure and consolidation of existing public crossings, installation of new warning systems, highway approach improvements, upgrades to existing warning devices and interconnection to nearby traffic signals, construction/reconstruction of grade separation structures and the construction of pedestrian grade separations.
The commission administers the GCPF, which is funded by motor fuel tax money designated for rail safety improvements.
The General Assembly appropriates $42 million annually for the GCPF.
Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media The railroad crossing on Union Road, east of Polo, is slated to be upgraded next year. The crossing currently has lights, but no stop arms.
REGIONAL NEWS
Road rage shooting spurs civ il suit; man awarded $850,000
BY KATHLEEN A. SCHULTZ kschultz@shawmedia.com
DIXON – Two men charged with attempted murder in an apparent road rage case are being sued by the Dixon man who said they shot at his vehicle, hitting it four times.
Kennedy L. Jackson Jr., 27, of Hele n a , A r k a n s a s , a n d C o u r t n e y D . Gaines, 26, of Memphis, Tennessee, w e r e c h a r g e d S e p t . 3 , 2 0 1 9 , w i th attempted murder and aggravated discharge of a firearm and indicted Sept. 20 in Lee County Court on those same charges.
The two men were employees of Inmate Services Corp., a West Memphis, Arkansas, interstate inmate transport company, when investigators say they shot at a Dodge Caravan driven by David L. Brockman.
Lee County Circuit Court Judge Douglas Lee, presiding over the civil suit, found the company liable in the shooting on Nov. 17, 2020, and on Dec. 29, 2020, ordered it to pay Brockman $850,000 – $50,000 for counseling and the rest for emotional damages.
It was a default judgment, meaning the company failed to respond to the finding of liability, or to come to court the day the judgment was rendered.
President Randy Cagle Jr. is named in the court record as representing the company. He could not be reached for comment.
The suit still is pending against Gaines and Jackson, the only other defendants in the case.
Dixon attorneys Paul and Tom Whitcombe are representing Brockman.
According to the suit:
On Aug. 19, 2019, Jackson was driving and Gaines was the front-seat passenger in a white Inmate Service van transporting at least two inmates in the westbound left lane of Interstate 88. The van’s bright lights were on.
Brockman, who was driving his Caravan westbound in the left lane, moved to the right lane, in front of the transport van, “to get their attention.”
The transport van switched lanes and pulled up next to Brockman, who rolled down his passenger window and yelled to Jackson and Gaines to “turn down your (expletive) brights.”
“Concerned that the security of the inmates they were transporting was being threatened, defendant Jackson produced a firearm from under the driver’s seat. Defendant Gaines told defendant Jackson to ‘scare the (expletive) out of him.’”
Jackson fired multiple shots at Brockman’s van; four rounds hit it, one passing through a case of water bottles behind Brockman’s seat, the suit says.
The shooting happened just before the Dixon toll booth. Jackson got off at the Dixon exit and pulled into the Road Ranger on Route 26, while Brockman followed at a distance and pulled into the Pizza Hut parking lot across the street and called 911.
Brockman’s dash cam recorded the entire incident.
While Brockman was waiting for state police to arrive, Jackson and
