Serving the Mt. Morris area since 1967
MT.Times MORRIS January 14, 2016 Volume 48, Number xx - $1.00
Polo Invite
Cookie Time
Art in Oregon
Hawk wrestlers take fourth place at the Polo Invitational Tournament. B1
Local Girls Scouts are once again selling their tasty cookies. A4
A new book about Oregon’s art legacy will be presented at Lunch’n’ Learn. A9
Grubsteakers to reopen in spring By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com
Ken Foss and Carol Daniels hold a set of the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence offered in the Million Constitution Challenge. Photo by Vinde Wells
Oregon woman is first to accept Million Constitution Challenge By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecountynews.com An Oregon woman is the first person to accept the Million Constitution Challenge launched recently by two area men. Carol Daniels bought the first copies of the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence offered by Ken Foss, Byron, and Jeff Johnson, Genoa. Daniels met with Foss Jan. 7 to pick up her documents at the Pinecrest Grove Community Center, Mt. Morris, where he runs McKendrie Street Cafe. “It’s just a fantastic find,” Daniels said. “It’s a wonderful thing they’re doing.” Foss and Johnson launched the Million Constitution Challenge on Jan. 1 in an effort to get copies of the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence to schools and military veterans, as well as other Americans. They began their association with the documents by chance. Back in 2011, the two began tearing into old wooden crates left behind by former tenants at a warehouse they owned in Kingston. They knew that the crates held fragile printing materials, but they had no idea what kind of connection to U.S. history they were about to uncover. They began pulling out metal press plates, giant lithographic prints, and glass photo negatives and positives that revealed images of the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.
Go to WeThePeoplePrints.com or call Foss at 815-734-9484 or 815-980-9484 for more information about the Million Constitution Challenge. Foss contacted an expert and learned that the prints and the plates that made them were the work of Czech-born lithographer Theodore Ohman. As a boy, Ohman learned the lithographic printing process from his grandfather and became fascinated with capturing and preserving the original look of both documents after coming to the U.S., according to literature written by Walter Mahan, which accompanied the collection. Ohman employed a complicated and painstaking process to create what was considered to be the truest replica of the Constitution. In 1953, he printed thousands of copies on his four-step printing press in Memphis, Tenn. Some of his prints have been displayed at the National Archives, the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., and Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Foss and Johnson’s find included prints of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, along with the original printing plates and glass photo negatives and positives that produced them. “Ohman’s goal was to have a copy of
the Constitution in every school,” Foss said. “We hope to accomplish that.” The price for one set of both documents is $99, either full or three-quarters size of the originals, and anyone who buys a set during the challenge gets a second set free. Their hope is that purchasers will give the second set to a veteran, a veterans’ organization, a police station, or a school, Foss said. Daniels said she read about the challenge in the Oregon Republican Reporter. “I got excited,” she said. “I think education is fantastic.” She plans to donate her second set to David L. Rahn Junior High, Mt. Morris. Her own set will be on display first at the Robinz Nest, Oregon, and later at other public places for everyone to see. “It’s historic and I enjoy history,” Daniels said. “When it comes down to our country, it’s just exciting to have these.” Foss is pleased with Daniels’ decision. “I think the opportunity for someone local to get one and give it to the local school is awesome,” he said. “I’m glad that she is going to display her copy at local places.” Daniels hopes other people will follow her lead. “If anyone is interested in their country’s history and the education of our children, they should do this. It’s well worth the money,” she said.
A well-known Ogle County restaurant is rising from the rubble just 9 months after the most devastating tornado to hit the area in recent memory. Grubsteakers, on the northeast corner of state Routes 64 and 251, was in the direct path of the EF4 tornado that tore through Lee, Ogle, and DeKalb counties on April 9. After months of planning and getting the necessary permits, owner Ava Mirtoska has started rebuilding on the same site, and hopes to reopen sometime in May. “I can’t wait,” she said. “I miss my customers. I can’t wait to see everybody again.” Mild December weather allowed the site to be excavated, the foundation to be poured, and the framework to go up. By now, Mirtoska said, the roof is half done, along with some of the outside brick work. Recent snow and cold temperatures have slowed the work down, but she hopes to have the outside finished by the end of January. “Then they can work on the inside,” she said. Several fundraisers were held, and almost $20,000 was raised to help rebuild
Grubsteakers. She appreciates the support she has received from her customers and the community, Mirtoska said. “I am glad to be living here, where people care about each other.” The tornado touched down in Lee County west of Ashton about supper time, then cut a northeasterly path through Ogle County to the small DeKalb County village of Fairdale, where two women were killed and most of the homes were devastated. Mirtoska was recognized by the Ogle County Board 2 weeks after the storm for her actions that night, when she saw the storm approaching and, with just minutes to spare, ushered her customers and employees into a storm cellar. About a dozen people safely rode out the storm and were rescued a couple of hours later by firefighters. The restaurant, several vehicles in its parking lot, and several nearby homes were smashed before the twister moved on to Fairdale, destroying farm buildings and homes along the way. The National Weather Service determined the wedge-shaped tornado was a half-mile wide at times and was on the ground an estimated 39 miles after moving into Boone and McHenry counties. Aerial surveys done the
Construction work on the new Grubsteakers restaurant is continuing. The popular establishment, located at Ill. 251 and Ill. 64, east of Oregon was destroyed by the April 9, 2015 tornado. Customers and staff took refuge in the restaurant’s storm cellar. Photo by Earleen Hinton
Determination is key to achieving healthier lifestyle By Tina Ketter Communications & Marketing Supervisor Oregon Park District Chris Johnson, Oregon, knew he wanted to make a change. After weighing in at 350 pounds in July of 2014 he started off slowly, walking the central loop at Oregon Park West. As his stamina increased he went from walking .83 miles to the entire trail at 2.13 miles. “When I started I was walking slow and was unable to keep a good pace,” said Johnson, who is a reporter and photographer for Ogle County Newspapers. “By the end of summer I was averaging about 3.5 mph and decided to try and change my food habits.” Johnson, 34, hit a wall with his weight
loss at 340 pounds. He tried a variety of physical activities but nothing was working. Knowing he needed extra motivation and direction if he was going to reach his goal of getting healthy he decided to purchase a membership tothe Oregon Park District’s Nash Recreation Center in November of 2014. “I knew if I waited until New Year’s, I would never stick to a New Year’s resolution. I knew I needed to start right away,” he said. After beginning at Nash, Johnson took things a step further and enlisted Kim Henry, Nash’s personal trainer, for assistance. “I knew if I was paying the money for a membership and a trainer I would take things seriously,” he said. “I did not want to waste that money.” With trainer and membership in hand, Johnson began his journey.
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After going over his basic goals with Kim he left with a basic five-day a week plan to get started. He began with cardio and weights, determined to meet the goals he had set for himself. He admits the first couple of months the workouts were hard, but cutting out the junk food was even harder. “I knew meeting with the trainer would be a good motivator to keep losing the weight and inches,” Johnson said. “I never wanted to go to an appointment for a weight in and find myself heaver than the previous session.” At his one year mark, in November 2015, Johnson stepped on the scale at 290 pounds. He admits the weight loss could have been more, but he has worked with his doctor and is making this a life-style Chris Johnson poses with Scooby-Doo on a trip to change.
Library News, A3 Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B4 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B3
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Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida, in November.
Deaths, B4 Harlan E. Blake, Bradley W. Jewell, Robert E. Luy, Karshan A.L. Peterson, Alexis M. Walker
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com