Ag News

AGRICULTURE Farmers anticipate crop loss after Aug. 10 storm

Blown over corn can’t be assessed until this year’s harvest

BY JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com

The summer yielded good weather for Ogle County farmers. There were timely rains. Not too much heat. Then there was the Aug. 10 wind storm.

Straight line winds of over 100 miles per hour hit the county, damaging trees, power lines and structures. Farmers saw corn get knocked down or laid over by the winds. The extent of the damage won’t be known until harvest this fall.

“If it went down and snapped, it’s done,” Ogle County Farm Bureau Manager Ron Kern said. “If it just got laid over, it will start to straighten itself out. The guys who have any downed corn will have a trying harvest.”

Harvesting wind-blown corn can be a slow and tedious process, Kern said. Farmers hopefully have a pickup reel on their corn head and go “extremely” slow. Sometimes it can only be picked in one direction.

Being laid over can also cause the corn to not mature fully and there’s an increased tendency for mold.

Kern said he’s unsure how many fields in the county got damage. He hasn’t seen any entire fields blown over, but there are “pockets and holes.” Some of those are out in the middle of fields where they can’t be seen.

The storm brought about frustrations, especially with local farmers hoping for a smooth year after last year’s bad weather that dragged out harvest and COVID-19’s adverse impacts on markets earlier this

FUNDRAISER

Prepared meals offered as fundraiser for Ag in the Classroom

Have you been searching for a way to make dinner preparation simple?

Ag in the Classoom is offering prepared meals as its 2020 fundraiser.

Ten meals have been prepared and frozen for convenience. Each meal serves 3 to 5 people. Meals include: Hickory Smoked Pulled Pork, Sweet

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

The Aug. 10 derecho damaged more than buildings and trees when it ripped through the region. This corn, located in a field between Polo and Forreston, was flattened by the afternoon storm.

year.

“These late storms in the growing season, we had a great crop out there,” Kern said. “You’re looking forward to it, and then you lose 25-30 or 50 percent of it. It’s tough. Hopefully they have crop insurance. Most usually do.”

Polo Farmer Brian Duncan lives about eight miles south of where the storm hit worst in Forreston. Duncan said before the storm, farmers were getting by and feeling confident. Now, it’s “wait and see mode.”

Duncan said there are a lot of unknowns in the middle of fields and damage will depend on hillsides and geography.

“It’s all over the board,” Duncan said. “Some took it worse than others. We feel fortunate that as hard as it blew, what we have is still standing as well as it is.”

Some fields in Iowa were entirely blown over. Duncan said things in the area could be far worse.

As far as the prices farmers will eventually see, that’s another issue, Kern said.

“Commodity prices have been depressed for several years,” Kern said. “They’re not moving much. We still had a backlog in packing plants for hogs and cattle. That’s starting to correct itself. Unless we can increase demand for corn and soybeans, I don’t see these prices being much. It’s going to be another tough year on the farm.”

and Sour Meatballs, Baked Mostaccioli, Cheesy Ham & Potato Casserole, Breakfast Burritos, Cowboy Tator Casserole, Bourbon Pulled Chicken, Cheesy Chicken & Stuffing Casserole, Ham Balls, and Chicken Fajitas!

The cost for the 10 meals is $165 ($3.30 per person per serving) Proceeds will benefit the Ogle-Carroll Ag in the Classroom Program.

To register please mail your name, phone number, number of meal sets (they come in a set of 10 meals), and payment total, checks made out to Ogle-Carroll Ag Partnership (OCAP). Mail address: 811 S Clay Street, Mt. Carroll, IL 61053 or send your payment to U of I Extension, 421 W. Pines Rd, Suite 10, Oregon, IL 61061.

Online orders can be made at https:// forms.gle/iqcj7KX7CKoH7A627

Orders are due by Monday, Sept. 21. Meals can be picked up on Oct. 7.

Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) is a statewide educational program with lessons offered to Kindergarten through 8 th grade. Its goal is to help students, teachers, and the general public gain greater awareness of the role of agriculture in the economy and society.

Ag in the Classroom is offered through the University of Illinois Extension Ogle County in partnership with Ogle County Farm Bureau, Carroll County Farm Bureau, Ogle County Soil & Water, and Carroll County Soil & Water.

EDUCATION NEWS ROE putting out the call for substitute teachers

COVID-19 pandemic complicates finding subs for teachers

BY ERIC INGLES eingles@saukvalley.com

The area’s pool of substitute teachers already was getting pretty shallow.

Now comes COVID-19, which could result in more teachers using sick days and more subs needed in the classrooms.

“We had trouble last year, before this even started,” said Bob Sondgeroth, superintendent of the Lee-Ogle-Whiteside Regional Office of Education.

“It’s a statewide issue. There is a shortage of substitute teachers.”

What was a shortage to begin with will be exacerbated by the likelihood of teachers falling ill. Districts are doing symptom screenings and temperature checks at the door at the start of a school day; staff members who test positive or show symptoms will find themselves in quarantine for up to 2 weeks or more, which means someone else will have to step into the classroom.

Sondgeroth is asking anyone interested in being a sub who has a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution to sign up through the regional office. Those with associate degrees from an accredited institution also can sign for short-term sub work, which means working in one classroom for 5 days.

The ROE pool was stretched even thinner by districts that have hired full-time subs just to be in the building, on call, Sondgeroth said.

“I understand. I think that’s a really good idea for them, because you never know when a teacher has to leave,” he said. “To have a sub in the building is fantastic.”

The Chadwick-Milledgeville School District is hoping to head off some potential problems. Monday, its board voted to raise sub pay to $110 per day, in an effort to attract them at a time when they might be hard to find.

Other districts are planning ahead, too.

“I think we’ve called about every sub on the list to try to add to that pool as best we can,” Rock Falls High School Superintendent Ron McCord said. “We have a couple ... who sub all the time who will not be in due to this situation and their own health risks. It’s going to be a challenge from day one.”

Sterling Superintendent Tad Everett built a lot of flexibility into this district’s reopening plan with the knowledge that things could change, especially if teachers and staff fall ill.

“If we get enough teachers that are ill that we can’t replace them in the in-school learning environment, we may be forced to go remotely,” Everett said. “Those are all things we’re going to have to be flexible and fluid with.”

From district to district, there are different COVID-19 procedures in place, and Sondgeroth is instructing subs to ask each district what those procedures are.

“If I’m a substitute, that’s the first thing I ask when I walk in to a building: Where are the wipes, what should I be doing, how do I wipe things down, what are your rules for the masks?” he said.

“Our health departments have been amazing. Lee, Ogle and Whiteside County health departments have worked with our administrators. They’ve been on many Zoom meetings with our administrators.”

There is another Zoom meeting next week to go over Illinois Department of Public Health school guidelines issued a week ago that left a lot of the details up to local health departments. Sondgeroth and school district and health department administrators will go over their plans.

The ROE office is at 1001 St. Mary’s Street in Sterling. Call 815-625-1495 for more information on signing up for sub work.

POLO CHAMBER CHATTER 50-50 Raffle Tickets

The Polo Chamber is selling 50-50 raffle tickets from the Car Show that was canceled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Tickets are available at Scholl Insurance Agency, Inc., Chesty P’s, Jeff Refs, Haldane Custom, and First State Bank. Please stop by one of these businesses to purchase your tickets. Thank you for supporting the local businesses and the Polo Chamber of Commerce. The drawing will be at 4 p.m. Sept. 26 at Louise Quick Park, 102 W. Mason St.

Jeff & Joe’s First Annual Jeep Jamboree, Saturday, Sept 26, 1 to 5 p.m.

Downtown Polo. Sponsored by Jeff’s Refs and Chesty P’s. Free drawing for shirts at 4 p.m.

Chili Cook Off

OBITUARY

KATHERINE G. JOHNSTON

POLO – Katherine Grace Johnston, 88 ,of Polo, passed away Wednesday, August 19, 2020, at her home surrounded by family.

Katherine was born June 24, 1932, in Dahlgren, the daughter of Clarence and Flora Bennett.

The Polo Chamber of Commerce Chili Cook Off that was schedule for Saturday, Sept. 26 is canceled this year due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Town Wide Garage Sales

Garage Sales will be Sept. 26. Be sure to visit the local downtown business’s while visiting the garage sales.

Dinner Cancelled

The Polo Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner the last Monday of September is canceled.

Citizen of Year, Volunteer of Year

Each year the Polo Chamber of Commerce recognizes one Polo citizen as the Citizen of the Year and one citizen as the Volunteer of the Year. Eligible nominees should consistently show civic leadership through volunteerism and service to their community. Services provided to the community should be based on volunteerism outside of the nominee’s normal employment duties. Those wishing to nominate a candidate that they feel is deserving of these prestigious awards can send in your contact information, the nominee information and the reason you feel the candidate is deserving of this prestigious award to the Polo Chamber of Commerce at P.O. Box 116, Polo, IL 61064

Weekly Events

Kids Café lunch has begun on Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to noon at the First United Methodist Church.

Business after Hours

If you are interested and would like to host a Business after Hours or Breakfast before Business call the Chamber at 815-946-3131.

Certificates of Recognition

The Polo Chamber of Commerce would like to issue Certificates of Recognition to any Polo Chamber of Commerce business members who are celebrating five years of being in business, or those with five-year increments of being in business in Polo.

Get the Word Out

Contact The Polo Chamber of Commerce at 815-946-3131, polochamber@ gmail.com or mail to P.O. Box 116, Polo, IL 61064.

On April 17, 1949 in southern Illinois, she was united in marriage to Samual Johnston.

Samual and Katherine celebrated over 58 years of marriage before his passing in January of 2012.

She retired from the United States Postal Service after over 30 years.

Katherine was a very kind woman, enjoyed dancing and doing crossword puzzles, and her strong will was admired by most.

She and her late husband raised their grandchildren, opened a restaurant and volunteered with many organizations, including the Masonic Lodge and the Camping Club.

Survivors include her son, Dennis (Laura) Johnston of Florida; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Samual; daughter, Paula Mason; three sisters, Marguerite, Betty and Mary Louise; and three brothers, Bill Jo, Phillip and Lawrance.

Visit www.polofamilyfuneralhome. com to send condolences.

EDUCATION Polo, Forreston begin classes amid COVID-19

BY JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com

At Polo’s Centennial Elementary School, parents usually stay with their children for a time and help unpack their bags on the first day of school.

That couldn’t happen this year.

The Polo School District returned to in-person school for the fall on Aug. 20. Changes during the COVID19 pandemic included masking, social distancing and symptom screening. There are no visitors allowed to the school.

“Parents usually stay longer with their little ones, but this year everyone was good about moving along so we didn’t have too many people,” Polo Superintendent Kelly Mandrell said.

Mandrell said the district’s first day went “very well” and her district couldn’t have asked for a better first day.

Twenty one percent of Polo families chose remote learning to start the semester in a system that has kids “Zoom” into in-person classes at the school.

“It was one of those things, we’re in the business of educating children,” Mandrell said. “Yes, it’s difficult. But we can see them and make a difference in their lives. I can’t thank my staff enough for all the extra work and help.”

Polo’s first day was a half day. The district’s first full day was on Aug. 21. Mandrell’s chief concern after two days was communicating with

• JAMBOREE

Continued from Page 11 ity Lutheran Church, Rat Worx, Byron Snyders Pharmacy, Marv

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

A Polo High School student holds the door for another student as they enter the high school on Tuesday. School resumed for Polo School District students last week.

remote learners and their families and making sure everything is good at home.

The district did have one COVID19 related issue. A teacher at the high school had a potential exposure and taught from home on the first day.

“The potential exposure wasn’t in one of our buildings,” Mandrell said. “They got a negative test before Miller & Ted Gesin General Contractors, Flow-Right Seamless Gutters, PEO Chapter CU and Ken Kaufman. “Gracious thanks to all of these, as well as to an anonymous donor and to those of you who have supported coming in to teach today.”

Forreston

The Forrestville Valley School District had its first day on Aug. 19.

Superintendent Sheri Smith said the first day went better than expected operationally. There were no issues with students wearing masks us all these years and continuing thanks to those asking about the shows and expressing their concerns,” Ubben said.

Ubben believes it is up to individuals to get the community back and symptom screening at the door took shorter than expected.

The one issue Smith cited was getting remote learners connected and logged in during the mornings. That took longer than expected, she said. Smith hopes those issues will be remedied by the end of week two. Fifteen percent of Forreston learners will do it online to start the semester.

Smith said that there was an overwhelming happiness among staff on the morning of the first day.

“It’s been a long process,” Smith said. “We started planning in June. It’s been a bit emotional. All we worked for, finally they’re here. It was all worth it to see them walk in that door.”

Forrestville Valley’s elementary schools have one done a couple full Zooms with students so far. Most of the first week was reviewing rules and new procedures. Elementary kids in the district have had devices before, just not at home.

Smith said students have adapted so far to masking and social distancing in person. For parents in the district, like herself, it could take some getting used to.

“For my student, he’s excited to see his friends,” Smith said. “For us, There’s nervousness. The parameters in place, it’s getting over those and then it’s school as normal.”

Forrestville Valley has not had any potential exposures or positive COVID-19 tests thus far, Smith said.

“We just had a great week and

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want to continue it,” Smith said. to a safer environment where large gatherings are allowed again.

“If we all diligently follow public health safety guidelines, with any luck we’ll be back with a great season in 2021,” Ubben said.

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LOCAL BUSINESS BerryView Orchard adding storefront building

Opening day is Saturday, Aug. 29

BY JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com

Jeff and Julie Warren planted trees at BerryView Orchard eight years ago.

On Aug. 29, the owners of the Mt. Morris apple and aronia berry orchard will have a new store building to sell the fruits of their labor.

“I think it adds more professionalism,” Jeff Warren said. “We added a concession trailer as well that we’ve used to sell donuts and aronia berry lemonade slushies. In the past years we’ve served those out of the garage and now we’ll have the trailer on the property.”

Last year was the first that BerryView was open every weekend. The years before were “hit and miss.” The aronia berries will be ready on Aug. 29 and will be good for picking for two weeks after that. Apples will start to pop up around that time as well.

The orchard is on the same property as the Warren’ home.

“We’ve outgrown the garage,” Jeff Warren said. “We built the new store ourselves. We had an existing barn from when we had horses we built 10-12 years ago. We put walls up and finished the ceiling and electric. It’s a repurposed barn. My son and a friend helped do it.”

Berries, apples, and some other local small business products will be available on Saturday. The trailer will be there for slushies.

The Warrens expected to use their new trailer off the property more this year, but COVID-19 had other plans. They did make it to Oregon and Sauerkraut Days in Forreston where they did “well” selling slushies and donuts. They got familiar with the selling process in the trailer.

BerryView planned on making the now-canceled Ogle County Fair and other gatherings. It remains to be seen what impact COVID-19 will have on this fall’s operations at the orchard.

The couple has worked with the Ogle County Health Department on how to operate safely. Edwards Orchard in Poplar Grove and Winnebago will be doing a drive thru this fall.

“We’re hoping we don’t have to do that,” Jeff Warren said. “We haven’t had that kind of crowd in the past. But there’s less places to go now. It could be good for us, but it could be too good for us and we have to limit things. We’ll have signage and sanitation in the store.”

Warren has enjoyed seeing his orchard grow over the years. He thinks customers have enjoyed it, too.

“What has amazed me is the community support,” Warren said. “A lot of people say, ‘There’s an orchard in Mt. Morris?’ They come out and say how convenient it is. We don’t have the bounce houses and crowds and chaos.

“It’s an old-fashioned community orchard. And people like that. They enjoy nature and relax.”

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media ABOVE: Jeff Warren stands in the center of his new store at BerryView Orchard. The new store officially opens this Saturday, Aug. 29. BELOW LEFT: A big pumpkin hides under its leaves at the orchard. BELOW RIGHT: Golden delicious apples grow at the orchard.