Serving the Mt. Morris area since 1967
MT.Times MORRIS
March 8, 2018 Volume 51, Number 21 - $1.00
Signing for College
Spring Ahead
Primary Profiles
Four Oregon High School athletes will continue to play at the collegiate level. B1
Set your clocks one hour ahead at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 11.
Learn about the candidates for county offices in the March 20 Primary Election. B2
Village board hears proposal on solar project Zoning change needed for project approval By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com A solar project may be in the offing for Mt. Morris, but will require a zoning change if approved. The village board heard a proposal Feb. 27 for a small solar farm on 23 acres now being planted to farm crops on the north side of the village. Patrick Dalseth, of SunVest Solar, Inc., Geneva, said the project means lower electricity costs for customers and higher real estate tax revenues for government bodies. The parcel is owned by David Luepkes and is within the boundaries of the Mt. Morris Industrial Park. Dalseth said the site has Cloverbud 4-H Club Member David Wehler helps Autumn Bonte, age 4, of Byron, pick out a prize after herding balloon been identified a suitable for a pigs at the herding game run by the Leaf River Soaring Eagles 4-H Club during the Penny Carnival on Saturday. Photo by community solar project of up to Earleen Hinton two megawatts. He asked the board to consider
amending its current zoning code to allow the project to go forward. The area is zoned light industrial, which does not currently allow solar projects. Dalseth told the board that several solar companies are actively seeking sites for projects since the Illinois Future Energy Jobs Act was passed by the Illinois General Assembly and signed by Gov. Bruce Rauner just over a year ago. FEJA is aimed at increasing renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, as well as increasing energy efficiency, providing job training in the energy field, and cutting costs to consumers. The project would consist of solar panels running from east to west in the field, Dalseth said, and tilted to the south to collect the maximum amount of sunlight. The electricity generated will be put into the ComEd power grid at the substation next to the field, and will most likely be used by local customers, he said. Local businesses and residents can sign up to use power from the solar farm, and those who
Creativity shows at Penny Carnival By Earleen Hinton ehinton@oglecountynews.com Herding pink balloon pigs with a flyswatter or tossing plastic cowpies into a wagon were just two examples of Ogle County 4-H Club members’ creativity at the “Down on the Farm” Penny Carnival. The event, housed on both floors of the Oregon Coliseum March 3, showcased booths created, constructed, and operated by 4-H Club members. “The kids came up with the ideas.
The kids plan everything,” said Carmen Conderman, a leader with the By-Y Badgers Club. At the Badgers’ booth, kids pedaled a John Deere tractor and wagon around a circle picking up plastic cowpies at the “Git ‘R Done” booth. A sign reading “Every Kiss Begins with Cowpie” was one of the clever signs at the event. For a mere 25 cents a ticket or 50 for $10, participants ages 5-18, could try their hand at similar farm-themed games.
Turn to A3
The Carefree 4-H Club made a giant Holstein cow where kids could try their hand at “Cow Surgery” fashioned after the icon Operation board skill game. At the Pine Creek Valley booth, kids tried to lasso a wooden cow while mounted on a wooden horse and at the Grand Detour Greens booth kids plucked cotton balls out of laundry basket at the “Shear the Sheep” booth. For more information about Ogle County 4-H Clubs and programs, call Native wildflowers and grasses will be planted around the solar panels. Photo supplied by SunVest Solar. 815-732-2191.
Ownership of Blackhawk Center set to change Park district to transfer facility to school district By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com The Blackhawk Center in Oregon will change hands later this year under the terms of an agreement between the Oregon School District and Oregon Park District. The boards of both districts are expected to approve an intergovernmental agreement this month which will transfer ownership of the facility from the park district to the school district as of Sept. 1. The park board meets on Tuesday, March 13 and the school board meets on Monday, March 19. The decision will be made
based not only on the facility’s proximity to Oregon High School, but also on the fact that most of the building’s current use is school-related. “It just seems to made sense that we should own the facility that we use 90 percent of the time,” School Superintendent Tom Mahoney said. “The school district is pleased to work hand in hand with the park district to provide our students the best possible facilities. We believe Blackhawk Center is a tremendous asset for our students and schools.” Park district Executive Director Erin Folk agreed. “The school and park district both feel they are in a good position financially for the transfer to take place,” she said. “Besides that it just makes sense.” Both said the change will not affect real estate tax bills. The park board approved the construction of the Blackhawk
In This Week’s Edition...
Center to address overcrowding at the high school in 1996, Folk said. The building is on school grounds and is connected to the high school by a corridor called the “link”. “This building serves as a premier facility in our area for athletic events, recreation, and academic programs,” Folk said. “Fiscally, this was the right time for both organizations to consider a transfer in ownership due to the facility being mainly utilized by the school district.” Since its completion the school and park districts have shared usage of the building, with the park district maintaining and staffing it and the school district paying rent annually. Under the terms of the agreement, the park district will make some needed repairs
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B5-B8 Entertainment, A6 Library News. A3
The Blackhawk Center is located just west of the Oregon High School and is connected
Turn to A8 with a fully-enclosed walkway called the link. Photo by Earleen Hinton
Oregon Police, B4 Public Voice, A7 Property Transfers, B3 Senior Center News, A3
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1 State’s Attorney, B4
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com
Deaths, B4 Richard R. Voss Lyle D. Wright