Serving the Mt. Morris area since 1967
MT.Times MORRIS June 18, 2015 Volume 48, Number 16 - $1.00
Polo Festival
Microchipping
Polo’s Town & Country Days offers a variety of affordable family activities June 18-21. B1
At the Band Shell Rhythm Ramblers will perform June 19 and the Kable Concert Band is featured June 24. A6
Keep your pets safe by having them microchipped Saturday. A7
Tanks will be
Covering will stay on statue By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecountynews.com Experts will begin testing repair mixtures on the Black Hawk Statue next week. Project conservator Dr. Andrzej Dajnowski, from Conservation of Sculpture & Objects Studio, Forest Park, said Tuesday that he expects to bring his crew to Lowden State Park on June 24 to test the material that will be injected into the cracks of the 104-yearold statue. The testing will ensure the blend to fill the cracks will match the statue. Dajnowski said the scaffolding surrounding the statue was recently beefed up in preparation for the work to begin. The scaffolding put up several months ago provided only a framework for the protective winter wrap of green plastic mesh. The cover will stay around the statue while it is repaired. Dajnowski said he had originally planned to remove the cover when the work began but changed his mind. “I discovered while it was raining that the cover keeps the rain out. It will keep the statue dry,” he said.
Flame of Hope Law enforcement officers step up for Special Olympics By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@oglecounty news.com Local athletes received the send off of a lifetime last week when the Flame of Hope made its way through Oregon. Individuals from the Village of Progress (VOP), including Special Olympic athletes, lined downtown Oregon to see the torch as it passed by June 10. The torch, carried by law enforcement workers, was headed to Bloomington for the annual summer Special Olympics for track and field. “This is the 29th year the Torch Run has been organized for Special Olympics,” said run leader Assistant Deputy Chief Patrick Hoey, of the Rockford Police Department. First responders from the Oregon, Mt. Morris, and Byron Police Departments, and Ogle County Sheriff’s Department were participating in the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics “I am so proud of Sheriff (Brian) VanVickle to do their first ever Torch Run,” said Hoey. “We had a fantastic turnout today. It is fantastic seeing everyone in town.” Along the route the officers participating in the run were greeted by athletes from the VOP and lots of heat and humidity. “We are from the Village of Progress,” said Karen Kereven. “We have our athletes out supporting the group today. It
removed Board approves $15,283 proposal Tuesday night By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com
The Ogle County Board moved ahead Tuesday with plans to create more parking spaces near the judicial center in the next few months. The board approved a resolution to accept a proposal for $15,283 from Stiles Inc., Loves Park, to remove five underground storage tanks on the county’s property at 501 W. Washington St., the corner of Washington and Fifth Streets. Board member Don Griffin, who is coordinating Let Freedom Ring Queen candidates Paige Carlock and Cheyanne Terry fix plates for customers June the project, said he expects 14 at the annual queen’s cookout. The event raises funds for the queen pageant. Photo by Vinde Wells the project to be completed in time for the Autumn on Parade festival, scheduled for Oct. 3-4. Board member Lee Meyers, Byron, questioned why the resolution appropriated $18,000 for project when Stiles’ bid was less than that. Griffin said the extra money was allocated in case unexpected costs arise during the tank removal. He said two of the tanks still have oil in them. Board member Pat Saunders, Polo, said that the bid includes a price per yard to remove any contaminated soil from around the tanks. The price will vary depending on how much is found. Board chairman Kim Gouker, Byron, said the bid also includes a price per gallon to pump out the oil left in the tanks. Neither amount can be determined, he said, until the excavation is underway. The removal of the tanks is part of a three-phase project Oregon patrolman Matt Kalnins runs with members of the Oregon Police Department, Ogle County Sheriff’s that will likely take place Department, Byron Police Department, Mt. Morris Police Department and their family during the Law Enforcement over the next few years to remove the former Jackass Run for Special Olympics June 10. Photo by Chris Johnson BBQ building from 501 is a good cause.” W. Washington St., and the She was with two athletes house next door to the south from the VOP who have at 102 S. Fifth St. and create participated in Special a parking lot with 39 spaces. Olympics. Gouker said last month “Our athletes all love playing that the project will be in the sports,” said Kereven. “It done in phases, with the is fun.” removal of the underground Jenny Meyer is a basketball tanks, demolition of the standout on the team that went Jackass BBQ building, to the state competition this and completing that part year. the parking lot as Phase “I like basketball,” Meyer 1, removal of the house said. “It is good to play on the next door as Phase 2, and team.” completing the rest of the Earlier this year, Meyer parking lot as Phase 3. practiced her skills during The board also approved the annual game between the a resolution with an estimate VOP and the Ogle County from county engineer Curtis Educational Coop at the Cook that Phase 1 will cost Oregon High School. approximately $203,500 During the Torch Run, she including the $15,283 to was there to support her fellow Village of Progress workers and consumers held signs to encourage runners as remove the underground they passed through Oregon on the Torch Run. Pictured here, left to right, are: athletes and cheer on the law
Queen’s Cookout
Jason Roinas, Lori Pederson, Chris Hernandez, Rachel Brooks, Gary Moats,
Turn to B2 Teresa Vaughn, David Rebuck, and Victoria Barnhart. Photo by Earleen Hinton
In This Week’s Edition...
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B7-B12 College News, A4 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B6
Library News, A3 Marriage Licenses, A4 Property Transfers, B5 Public Voice, A9
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 State’s Attorney, B4 Weather, A3
Deaths, B5
Turn to A2
Kathryn L. Donaldson, Everette R. Henderson, Bryan K. Peltz, Roger E. Satterfield, Homer Snyder, Michael J. Stevens
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com