Serving the Mt. Morris area since 1967
MT.Times MORRIS February 12, 2015 Volume 47, Number 50 - $1.00
Six Advance
Valentine Sale
Library Grants
Six Hawk grapplers earned a spot to compete at this weekend’s sectional in Oregon. B1
Several local libraries received grants to offer services. B3
The annual St. James Valentine Bake Sale will be held on Friday in Forreston. A3
Village board approves new liquor ordinance Teens can go for pizza or bowling By Vinde Wells Editor After a second do-over, the Mt. Morris Village Board unanimously passed a new ordinance Tuesday night that will keep minors out of bars but will allow them to go bowling or get a pizza with or without their parents.
The board started discussing changes to the present ordinance Jan. 13 when a new ordinance was proposed and then tabled for tweaking. A second proposal Jan. 27 was also tabled and sent back for revision. Village president Dan Elsasser said Tuesday that he and village attorney Rob LeSage worked together in the last two weeks to get the wording right.
“It was too strict originally,” LeSage said. “I think we’ve got it now.” The new ordinance prohibits minors — anyone younger than 21 years old — from being in a bar. Minors are allowed to patronize restaurants, convenience stores, and the bowling alley even though they also sell alcohol. However, minors may not sit at a bar in any establishment that holds
a liquor license, even if they are accompanied by a responsible adult. LeSage said that by concentrating on businesses with Class A liquor licenses, he and Elsasser were able to tailor the ordinance to fit the situation. Class A licenses apply to bars, restaurants, and the bowling alley. The new ordinance prohibits minors from being in a business holding a Class
A license, except for the bowling alley and businesses that have kitchens for meal preparation that are licensed by the Ogle County Health Department. LeSage told the board Jan. 13 that the law on the books prohibited minors from being in any business that sells alcohol. “As the village ordinance currently is, families would be in violation as soon as they walked in the door,”
Microwaves set off fire alarms in Oregon
Antique market draws near record crowd By Vinde Wells Editor Mild weather, winter doldrums, and a variety of treasures all led to a near record crowd Feb. 6 at Mt. Morris’ annual antique and collectibles market. The fourth annual February Finds, held at the Mt. Morris Moose Family Center, drew an estimated 500 people, possibly matching the best crowd ever, according to event organizer Edie White. “It was great. We had a great turnout. We don’t have everything totaled up yet, but it may have been our largest crowd ever,” White said Tuesday. Sunshine and temperatures in the 40s offered a pleasant day for people to get out, especially after the blizzard that left more than a foot of snow behind the previous weekend. “I think everyone who came was looking for things to add to their collections,” White said. “And people came out to socialize. I think they wanted to get out because it’s winter.” A varied array of merchandise also drew the crowd, she said. “We had 22 vendors with a lot of different things to offer,” she said. Merchandise included antique furniture, antique
LeSage said that night. One of the problems with that, he said, is that the village hasn’t enforced the ordinance for years. One of the proposed changes allowed minors to be in restaurants that sell alcohol only with their parents or a responsible adult. Board members voiced concern that then teens couldn’t go out for pizza or go to the bowling alley with friends.
tools, primitives, tins, lamps, vintage clothing and jewelry, tin toys, collectibles, quilts and linens, artwork, stamps, postcards, tin lunch pails, local advertising memorabilia, Depression Glass, pottery, and enamelware. A bake sale put on by the Let Freedom Ring Committee was almost sold out by early afternoon. Robert and Evelyn Thomas took advantage of the almost spring-like day to drive up from Dixon. Robert said they weren’t looking for anything in particular Saturday, but Vendors Roger Garrison, Polo, left, Tom Buskohl, Polo, and Ron Osborne, Mt. Morris, usually come to the event. chat Feb. 6 at February Finds at the Mt. Morris Moose Family Center. Photo by Vinde “We enjoy looking,” he Wells said. “And it’s not far from of people who came to shop. home.” “I’ve had good sales, Vendors were also pleased especially this morning,” she with the crowd. said. Howie Herman, Mt. Across the room, Donna Morris, was enjoying a brisk Rittenhouse, Mt. Morris, and business at the booth of her daughter Tammy Provo, collectibles he was sharing agreed. with Kris Brunner, Stockton. “It’s been busy,” Provo “It’s been a good show,” said. “A lot of people have he said. “It was packed this been going through.” morning and it’s been steady “It’s a good day to visit all day.” with old friends,” Rittenhouse He said the shoppers said. seemed interested in The proceeds from the primitives and in finding event will be split three bargains. ways, White said, between “I’ve seen people walk by the Moose Lodge, the Let with old windows, chests, and Freedom Ring Committee, old jars,” Herman said. and the Mt. Morris Firemen’s Marla Buskohl, Polo, was Association for restoration of Robert and Evelyn Thomas, Dixon, look over an item of interest to them at February Finds. Photo by Vinde Wells also pleased with the number its 1930 fire engine.
By Vinde Wells Editor Oregon firefighters were called to the downtown twice in a little more than an hour Feb. 6 for fires involving microwave ovens. The Ogle County Judicial Center, 106 S. Fifth St., was evacuated at 11:37 a.m. after smoke from a batch of burning popcorn set off the fire alarms in the building. Assistant Fire Chief Al Greene said the popcorn had been cooked in a microwave oven. The building’s maintenance crew reset the fire alarms and issued an “all clear” to allow employees, officials, and the public to return to the building. Firefighters returned to the downtown at 12:41 p.m. for smoke inside Max Media, at the corner of Washington (Ill. 64) and Fourth (Ill. 2) Streets. Greene said a heating pad filled with dried beans ignited as it was being heated in a microwave oven. He said an employee got the fire out but smoke was throughout the business. Greene said the employee left the building and was outside when firefighters arrived. Firefighters set up fans to remove the smoke and odor from the building and allow the business to reopen for customers.
Snowshoe hike offers scenic winter views By Chris Johnson Reporter
Candice Holbrook, Oregon Park District recreation program manager, leads a group of 10 on a snowshoeing trip through Castle Rock on Feb. 7. Photo by Chris Johnson
Hiking through one of the many trails at the state parks in Ogle County may seem like a difficult task in the winter months. However, thanks to snowshoes, the trails open up a unique landscape. “It was beautiful,” said Julie Cheatham, Polo, after finishing a hike through Castle Rock State Park on Saturday morning. Feb. 7. Cheatham was one of 10 people taking part in a snowshoeing event through the Oregon Park District.
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Snowshoeing is an activity that anyone who can walk can accomplish, said organizer Candice Holbrook. “The thing about snowshoeing is you do not have the ability to get out of control,” said Holbrook, who is the park district’s recreation program manager. “In cross country skiing you have the possibility of flipping. You will never get out of control while snowshoeing.” “You are not going to be like ahhhh, there is a tree, I am going to hit it,” said Julie, who was on her third snowshoeing hike. Hikers were shown how to strap on snowshoes and
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prepare trekking poles at Nash Recreation Center before heading to the park. Once at the park, Holbrook had everyone in the group practice walking in snowshoes before heading out onto the trail. “I want to get people to enjoy being outdoors,” said Holbrook. “Having people fall in love with snowshoeing and being outdoors in the winter is fun.” Throughout the hike Holbrook encouraged the group to spread out and enjoy the trail to avoid looking at the “backside of the person in front of you the entire hike.” About halfway through the
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hike the group came across an overlook that offered an uninterrupted view of the surroundings. Except for deer tracks through the snow, the scene was filled with snow covered trees and a blanket of snow covering the ground. “It was a very nice view,” said Craig Cheatham. Just down the hill the hiking trail split into two paths. Group members could choose to finish the short hike, or turn right to add another two miles to the trip. By a vote, the group was Turn to A10
Deaths, B5 Arthur W. Dietze, Albert L. Horrell, Donald L. Miller, Phyllis Ruter, Alice M. Shetler, Bradley A. Thomas
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com