Serving the Mt. Morris area since 1967
MT.Times MORRIS March 17, 2016 Volume 49, Number 3 - $1.00
Ready to Run
What’s Cookin’
Conference Champs
Oregon High School’s boys track team is getting ready for the 2016 season. B1
Event raises much needed cash for the Rock River Center. A9
David L. Rahn Junior High eighth graders win the Route 72 Conference tourney. B1
Cook wins GOP nomination for county clerk By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecountynews.com “Totally shocked” is how Laura Cook, Oregon described her reaction to winning the Republican nomination for Ogle County Clerk and Recorder in Tuesday’s primary election. Cook, 50, who has served as chief deputy clerk since 1998, held off
two opponents to earn 5,341 votes in the race. Tiffany O’Brien, 38, a deputy clerk, received 4,600 votes, and Jeff Hallock, 60, an Oregon banker, garnered 699. “I’m totally shocked,” Cook said after the votes were tallied. “I never thought I would do this. I’m glad for the support I got from my family and friends and the county.”
The race was tight much of the evening as the results were tallied, often with Cook winning one precinct and O’Brien taking the next. O’Brien said she was disappointed but proud of the efforts of her campaign committee. “My mission was to be honest and ethical throughout my campaign, and my committee was true to that,” she said. “I’m disappointed I won’t
be able to serve the people of Ogle County.” She expressed her appreciation to all the people who supported her. Cook is so far running unopposed for election in the fall general election for an unexpired twoyear term as Ogle County Clerk & Recorder. Turn to A7
Laura Cook
Reising edges out incumbent By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecountynews. com
Super Tuesday Voters line up to sign in March 15 at Mt. Morris Precinct 2 with election judges Kenneth Duncan and Katherine Cruz. All four Mt. Morris precincts reported at larger than usual turn-out for the primary election early in the day. Photo by Vinde Wells
Polo voters approve two referenda By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@ oglecountynews.com Polo Fire District residents made their voice clear Tuesday during the primary election - the ambulance service needs additional funding. “I think we have provided great ambulance service for 10 years with our fulltime service,” said district
board vice president Mark Bergstrom Tuesday night. “The vote shows the residents support our services.” With all nine precincts in Ogle County counted, the referendum to allow for a tax increase for ambulance service was 142 votes ahead. Voters were deciding if the tax could be raised from 30 cents to 40 cents per 100 equalized assessed valuation (EAV).
The vote total was 667 yes and 525 no. “This referendum was very important on the ambulance side,” said Bergstrom. “We lost our Medicaid funds and our revenue is down.” The district contracts with ATS Medical Services, Loves Park, to provide emergency medical technicians around the clock, and their fees are going up, he said.
The fire district referendum to allow the department to raise the property tax from 30 cents to 40 cents per $100 (EAV) was 60 votes ahead. The vote total was 629 yes and 569 no. “The fire side is sitting in pretty good shape so it won’t go up at all,” he said. “We just wanted to have the ability to go up if we need to.”
Challenger Wayne Reising, Oregon, edged out incumbent Bill Welty, Chana, 832 votes to 737 in Tuesday’s primary election to win the Republican Party nomination for a two-year term on the Ogle County Board in District 2. Facing no opposition from a Democratic candidate so far, Reising should have smooth sailing in the general election Nov. 8 to represent residents of White Rock, Pine Rock, Lafayette, and Oregon-Nashua Townships. “I’m pleased with the results, and I appreciate everyone who supported me,” Reising said. Newcomer Thomas Smith, Rochelle, garnered 1,317 votes for a four-year term in District 2. He ran unopposed. Two Republican incumbents outlasted a father and son challenge in District 6, which covers Byron Township. County board chairman Kim Gouker won the nomination for another fouryear year with 691 votes to 548 for former Ogle County Sheriff Greg Beitel. Beitel’s son, Chad Beitel was defeated 609 to 579 by incumbent Dorothy R. Bowers for a two-year seat. Challenger Garrett Williams upset incumbent
Ashley Simms 402 votes to 363 to win the Republican nomination for a four-year seat in District 3, which includes Flagg Township Precincts 1, 2, 3, 6, and 7. Greg Sparrow, also an incumbent in District 3, had no competition for a twoyear term and received 669 votes. Candidates in the other districts were shoo-ins. In District 1, which includes Dement, Lynnville, Monroe, and Scott Townships, Zachary Oltmanns, Davis Junction, was elected to a four-year term, and Ricky Fritz, Monroe Center, to a twoyear term. In District 4, which includes Flagg Township Precincts 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, and 11, John “Skip” Kenney, Rochelle, was elected to a two-year term, and Kim Whalen, Hillcrest, to for a four-year term. In District 5, which includes Marion, Rockvale, and Leaf River Townships, Marty Typer, Stillman Valley, got the nod for a two-year term, and Donald Griffin, Oregon, for a fouryear term. In District 7, which includes Maryland, Mt. Morris, and Forreston Townships, John Finfrock was elected to a four-year term, and Ron Colson, a twoyear term. Both are from Mt. Morris.
No one injured when car hits Angel Treasures By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com An Oregon woman was not injured Tuesday morning when the car she was driving crashed into the front of Angel Treasures, a resale store on Ill. 64 in Mt. Morris. Loretta Greene, 75, who was the car’s only occupant, was assisted at the scene by Mt. Morris ambulance personnel but refused treatment. The crash, which occurred at 9:48 a.m., pushed in
the front wall of the store, broke the entrance door, and snapped off a support post. Laura Medlar, Oregon, was working at the checkout counter just inside the front door when the crash took place. “It threw me down,” she said. “I’m rattled, but I’m not hurt.” The store is operated by Serenity Hospice and Home, Oregon. Ogle County Sheriff’s Police investigated the incident and were assisted Mt. Morris firefighters prepare to carefully back a car away from the front of Angel Treasures Tuesday morning. No by the Mt. Morris Police and one was injured when the car, driven by Loretta Greene, 75, Oregon, crashed into the store, which is on Ill. 64 at the east side of Mt. Morris. Photo by Vinde Wells Fire Departments.
In This Week’s Edition...
Church Bells, A5 Classifieds, B5-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B4 Marriage Licenses, A4
Mt. Morris Library, A3 Mt. Morris Police, A2 Oregon Library, A6 Oregon Police, B4 Public Voice, A8
Property Transfers, B4 Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B3
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com
Deaths, B4 Helen A. Brunner Arnold A. Buse