Serving the Mt. Morris area since 1967
MT.Times MORRIS May 5, 2016 Volume 49, Number 10 - $1.00
Paying Tribute
AJ’s Jamboree
Plant Sale
Harry Fletcher is remembered for his dedication to sports and community service. A9
The seventh annual AJ’s Garden Tractor Jamboree is May 14. A6
Satisfy your green thumb at the Oregon Park District’s plant sale on May 7. A9
County fair feels the state budget crunch
Tune up at BD Cycles
By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com
incentive to draw the youth to compete we are afraid that the county fair could be approaching the end of an era of old tradition and quite possible the fair itself.” The letter went on to say that if every adult in the county contributed $2, the board would have enough money to pay the premiums. Holm said the premiums will be paid this year as outlined in the fair book. “We’re trying to raise funds so we can continue what we’ve done in the past,” he said. “We don’t want to cut.” Because the fair association is a not-for-profit organization, donations are tax deductible. Individuals or businesses that make larger donations will be recognized by the fair board. Those who contribute $400 for more will be listed on several signs on the fairgrounds. Donations can be sent to the Ogle County Fair Association, PO Box 142, Oregon IL 61061. “The people of Ogle County and the surrounding area have been good to us,” Holm said. “The fair is growing and that’s a plus.”
Add the Ogle County Fair to the growing list of entities feeling the pinch of no state By Chris Johnson budget. cxjohnson@oglecounty As a consequence, the news.com fair board is reaching out to residents for donations Making sure all to keep some aspects of the motorcycles are road ready annual event going. and not sitting in a garage In a letter dated March gathering dust is the goal 21, the 14-member board of a new repair shop in Mt. asked for donations to pay Morris. the premiums paid to project Gary DeSmedt is the cowinners, who are mostly owner of BD Cycles and 4-H club members and other in only the first month of youths. business has seen a steady “The reason we are doing flow of customers. this is that we have lost all When DeSmedt moved Gary DeSmedt, co-owner of BD Cycles in Mt. Morris, works on the clutch of a funding from the state, like a to Mt. Morris last year he Harley Davidson. Photo by Chris Johnson lot of others, due to the lack saw the need for a of a budget,” board president local repair shop. of motorcycle again,” he said. “This is about the business. Harlan Holm said Tuesday. “People have bikes but “I have customers running can be serviced at a love and joy of fixing “We want to be able to they may not run it because tell me that they were BD Cycles. motorcycles. “I want to provide the services we have they needed service. The tired of having to go In the shop DeSmedt had make sure all bikes are on in the past for kids. What it dealers only like working so far for service on cycles by Harley Davidson, the road so the owners can [funds collected through on newer bikes,” he said. their motorcycles,” said Honda, Sazuki, and enjoy the passion of riding donations] will be used for “This was a needed option DeSmedt. Triumph that were being on the roads.” “I am is to pay the premiums for for owners.” DeSmedt, 63, has been offering quality work at a worked on. the projects. It will not be Customers have been fair price.” “Some bikes sit for years fixing motorcycles for used for anything else.” riding past the shop and All the maintenance in the garage and I am 50 years since he rode a According to the letter, hearing from other riders required to keep any brand happy to see them running Turn to A2 the fair association paid out $29,001 in premiums at last year’s fair. Premiums are paid to the top six finishers in each class. “We would like to This year’s fair — the continue this practice but 163rd — will be held Aug. By Chris Johnson Randall Cropp, a 2007 “It is a camping trip with plans for a screen to show the without the necessary 3-7 at the fairgrounds on cxjohnson@oglecounty Oregon High School science fiction. I am going film but would like to show funding we cannot,” the Limekiln Road, just off Ill. graduate, is looking to to have a premiere this the film in Sterling. letter read. “Without 64 west of Oregon. premiere his new film summer.” Cropp is starring in this A local filmmaker is “Ghebbar Woods” in the Found footage was film and also wrote and currently working on Sauk Valley area. popularized by the film “The directed the film. bringing multiple projects to “This film is a found Blair Witch Project.” When writing this film, the screen. footage style,” said Cropp. He is still finalizing the he wanted to use local landmarks that were familiar. “Some of this film was shot at Stronghold,” Cropp By Andy Colbert However, a women’s said. acolbert@ book club would be just as Filming the movie has comfortable in the bar area of been the realization of years oglecountynews.com the establishment as would a of work. Entering Ten Pennies Cafe, slot player at Ten Pennies. Cropp has appeared and Oregon, is like walking into a A person enjoying a worked on 20 films. scene from Taste of Country sandwich or drink may not “’The UnMiracle’ has the Living magazine. even notice the area off to the best chance for recognition,” Far from being a casinoside, which houses the slot he said. “I love the part in type atmosphere, it has machines. that film. I am the mean guy all the touches of home, It’s apparent the two in a religious film.” something women of taste partners of Ten Pennies did “The UnMiracle” stars and sophistication would their research before setting Stephen Baldwin and Kevin appreciate. up shop in Oregon. Sorbo. And why not? That is They looked outside of Having those two actors is the demographic that Ten Illinois at states like West why Cropp thinks he could Pennies is geared to attract Virginia and Oregon that be recognized in the film. for its slot-playing business. had already approved slot “Unknown actors are a “It is 50 years plus, machines and saw a great risk in Hollywood which makes small films like female and retired,” said deal of potential. “We made it clear that slots “Ghebbar Woods” hard to one of the co-owners of the business, who asked not to be were part of our business plan get distributed,” Cropp said. identified. Turn to A3 “The hardest part of making a movie used to be making the movie. Now it is getting people to watch the film. The internet helps get the word out.” His film “Ghebbar Woods” has a Facebook page, trailers on YouTube, and a website ghebbarwoods.com. When asked about why Cropp enjoys working on films he has two answers. “I love the childish answer,” he said. “Playing pretend and dressing up. The mature answer is I just love creating films. It is a synergy The gaming area at Ten Pennies, Oregon, features A promotional poster for Randall Cropp’s film Ghebbar Woods. Turn to A2 comfortable chairs and home-like furnishings.
OHS graduate is making movies
Gaming area has touches of home
In This Week’s Edition...
Church Bells, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B5 Library News, A3
Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, A7 Public Voice, A7 Property Transfers, B5 Reading Matters, A8
Sheriff’s Arrests, B5 Social News, A4 Sports, A10, B1, B2
Deaths, B4 L. Jane Barr, Sadie Doreen Doyle, Harry W. Fletcher, Beverly A. Fry, Harold “Andy” Martin, Roman Porembski, Paul E. Shriber
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com