Serving the Mt. Morris area since 1967
MT.Times MORRIS August 13, 2015 Volume 48, Number 24- $1.00
Alumni Fun
Police Chase
Veteran’s Coin
A large crowd and a festive atmosphere helped propel Oregon alumni past Amboy. B1
An armed robbery suspect was arrested in Oregon after a chase. A2
A commemorative coin will help raise money for a new Veteran’s Memorial in Oregon. A8
Broken sewer main causes back-up in home Homeowner cites damages between $10,000-$25,0000 By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecountynews.com A century-old broken sewer has the Mt. Morris Village Board scrambling to find the funds to fix it and a resident questioning how soon permanent repairs will be made. Jay Holley, 303 W. Main St., told the board Tuesday that raw sewage backed up into his finished basement twice within a few days in early July.
He said the clean-up has cost him $10,000 and he expects the total bill will come to $25,000 by the time he restores the area and replaces furnishings. “It’s been over six weeks since this happened. You’re lucky it was only one house. I need to know what you’re going to do for me,” Holley said. He said bedrooms used by his family were in the basement, and they are now sleeping on air mattresses. His homeowners insurance won’t pay for the damage, Holley said, because the break did not occur in his sewer line. Trustee Jeff Pennington, who is the chairman of the Water & Sewer
Six-year-old faces illnesses with a smile By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com
A Mt. Morris first grader has a brave outlook despite two tough health conditions. Emmalyn Freeze, 6, the daughter of Matt and Stephanie Freeze, has already had two surgeries and is getting ready for another one in a few weeks. “She does it all with a smile,” said her mother Stephanie. “She’s a very resilient little girl.” Emmalyn suffers from severe chronic neutropenia, a rare blood disorder that leaves its victims susceptible to high fevers, mouth sores, and infections. It’s something she will have to deal with all her life. The disorder requires regular blood draws. “She just smiles and sticks out her arm,” Stephanie said. Testing started when Emmalyn was just 2, Stephanie said, because she frequently had infections, mouth sores, and fevers as high as 105 degrees. A hematologist in Madison, Wisconsin, diagnosed neutropenia, but at first thought the little girl would outgrow it. However, by the time she was 4 he determined the condition was chronic. Emmalyn gets a shot every other day, which helps
somewhat — the mouth sores are gone and the fevers are lower. But she will need them for the rest of her life. She is part of a trial at the University of Wisconsin and gets the shots at no cost. Normally the cost is $3,000 for 10, Stephanie said. Emmalyn will also need a bone marrow biopsy annually to make sure no leukemia cells are present. As if that wasn’t enough, Emmalyn has also been diagnosed with Chiari malformation, a congenital condition affecting the brain and spinal cord. The condition gives her severe leg pain and headaches. Her brother, Colton, 8, also has Chiari malformation, which is genetic. He was diagnosed at age 5 and
Committee, said the sewer main was possibly 100 years old and made of clay tiles, which apparently disintegrated. He said emergency repairs were made but aren’t holding. A 163-foot area of the main was televised after the back-up and showed lots of cracks, tree roots, broken sections, and that the temporary repair had already moved out of position. Pennington recommended replacing 500 or more feet of the main between two manholes in the affected area. He said he would not favor replacing just the 163 feet. “If the 163 feet is deteriorated as bad as I saw in the videos, so is the rest of it,” he said. “I feel it’s
in the village’s best interest to go from manhole to manhole and do it right.” Pennington said he has two estimates for the project, one for $37,950 from Go Excavating, Freeport, and another for $72,394 from Kelsey Excavating, Durand. He said the difference between the two is that Kelsey’s cost is higher for disposing of the debris. The only problem is that the sewer fund doesn’t currently have enough money to pay for the project and still meet its regular bills. Pennington said $35,000 was budgeted for repairs, but $11,000 of that has been spent. Village treasurer Bruce True said the shortfall could be borrowed
Band shell named for W. Reckmeyer By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com It’s official...the band shell in downtown Mt. Morris now has a name. The village board voted unanimously Tuesday to name it the Warren G. Reckmeyer Band Shell in honor of the long-time band director who retired two weeks ago after 59 years of leading the Kable Concert Band. Resident and band member Sylvia Saunders spoke in favor of the action. Emmalyn Freeze bravely sticks out her arm to have “It’s a way to honor Warren blood drawn. Photo supplied Reckmeyer for 60 years of has undergone corrective although the family has surgery. insurance through All Kids, Emmalyn has had surgery it doesn’t cover all the twice already for Chiari medical costs or travel. malformation and will undergo a third surgery this Besides the doctors By Vinde Wells fall after the family returns in Madison, Emmalyn vwells@oglecounty from a Make A Wish trip to sees other specialists in news.com Hawaii. Indianapolis, Indiana, Stephanie said that regularly. Bond conditions have been modified for a Peoria man who led Ogle County She will be having surgery two free outfield tickets to deputies on a high speed later this year. a Chicago White Sox game. chase in early May. Daniel Swisher, 40, will The benefit will help her To qualify for this raffle family with the ongoing the registration must be now be allowed to drive for medical costs. completed and received by work purposes and may live with his wife and children. Registration is limited to Friday Aug. 14. Ogle County Judge Robert the first 16 teams to sign up. The drawing will take The deadline for registering place on Saturday Aug. 15 Hanson granted a motion is Tuesday, Sept. 1. at 5 p.m. and the winner will filed by Swisher’s attorney Paul Whitcombe, Dixon, on The cost is $60 per six- be notified by phone. person team. Each team may Contact Cari Berg at July 28 to modify the bond register seven players for dcberg1@frontier.com or conditions. At a June 4 hearing, Hanson $70 if a sub is desired. 815-997-3118 for more Register a team now to information or a team had set strict bond conditions for Swisher’s release from be put into a drawing for packet.
keeping the Kable Band going,” she said. Oregon High School Band Director Andy Eckardt asked the board two weeks ago to name the band shell for Reckmeyer. He also asked if a plaque could be purchased from the village band fund. The Kable Concert Band has performed weekly concerts in downtown Mt. Morris for more than 100 years. Eckardt directed the band this summer and will be Reckmeyer’s successor. The band shell did not have an official name prior to Tuesday’s meeting.
Bond is modified for Peoria man
Dodgeball benefit is set for Sept. 12 A dodgeball tournament will be held Saturday, Sept. 12 to help a six-year-old Mt. Morris girl and her family. The benefit for Emmalyn Freeze, the daughter of Matt and Stephanie Freeze, will begin at 11 a.m. in the David L. Rahn Junior High gym in Mt. Morris. Emmalyn suffers from severe chronic neutropenia, a rare blood disorder requiring frequent medication and many trips to see specialists.
from the water fund, and paid back gradually as revenues come into the sewer fund. The money must be paid back by the end of the fiscal year on April 30, 2016. Resident Jerry Stauffer asked why the project was not let for bids. Pennington said he was planning to ask the board to waive the bid process due to the emergency nature of the project. However, village attorney Rob LeSage said a motion to waive bidding could not be voted on because it was not on Tuesday’s agenda. The board set a special meeting for Friday at 5 p.m. to consider the matter.
jail that included no driving under any circumstances and required him to live with his parents. According to testimony presented in court, Swisher and his wife were divorcing. Ogle County State’s Attorney Eric Morrow said he did not object to the modified bond because Swisher is complying with other bond conditions that include adhering to a treatment plan outlined by his psychiatrist and taking his prescribed medications. Swisher has been undergoing treatment for bi-polar disorder for several years. Turn to A2
Above, Mt. Morris Fire Chief Rob Hough talks with Oregon Assistant Fire Chief Randy Travis and firefighter Rich Rhoads in the early moments of responding to a garage fire at 606 Timberlane Street in Oregon. The fire was reported shortly before 10 p.m. Tuesday night. Turn to A2 for details. Photos by Earleen Hinton
In This Week’s Edition...
Byron Police, B4 Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B5
Library News, A3 Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B3 Property Transfers, B4
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B3
Deaths, B5 Mary Virginia Brattrud, Lawrence Martin, E. Dale Peters
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com