Serving the Mt. Morris area since 1967
MT.Times MORRIS September 10, 2015 Volume 48, Number 28 - $1.00
Third Place
Remember 9/11
Uganda Trip
The Lady Hawks placed 10th during a tough Oregon Varsity Volleyball Tournament. B1
Remember those we lost on Sept. 11, 2001 A10-11
A DLR student earned a trip to Uganda by collecting shoes for a service project shoes. A9
Village official suggests plan for cleaning up plant By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com
community. Corcoran has addressed the board several times in the past, complaining about A Mt. Morris village uncut weeds, holes in the official introduced a plan building, and dangers to local Tuesday for dealing with the youngsters who may wander safety issues and unsightliness onto the property. of the former Quad Graphics “I feel it violates every printing plant. ordinance we have. It’s a “I went down and looked at horrible looking building,” he it. It was eye-opening,” said said. “I want something done.” trustee Jon Murray. “I see a Murray said the gate at the two-stage approach.” plant is now closed and locked, The first stage, he said, which should keep youngsters would be to write a letter to from entering the property. the California corporation that He said he appreciates now owns the building. Corcoran’s concerns but The second would be to pointed out the difficulty of take legal action against the dealing successfully with owners. That, however, would a large corporation located Two crosses marking the traffic fatalities of Andy Conderman and Emily Fleming were placed near the scene of the be expensive, Murray warned. hundreds of miles away. “To take it further, we are “Everything you’ve said is Sept. 4 accident. Photo by Earleen Hinton going to incur considerable true, Chris. It’s an eyesore, it’s expense,” he said. dangerous…” Murray said. Murray’s comments The plant is presently owned came after Chris Corcoran, by Mt. Morris Business Park who lives next to the plant, LLC, Downey, California, an burst into flames. voiced his concerns that the entity completely unrelated to He was pronounced dead at the scene nearly abandoned plant is the Village of Mt. Morris. of the crash. Ogle County Coroner Lou deteriorating and poses safety Quad Graphics currently Finch said an autopsy done on Tuesday and environmental hazards, leases the plant as a warehouse indicated he died of blunt force trauma. By Vinde Wells violates building codes and to store equipment. Fleming was pronounced dead at vwells@oglecountynews.com weed ordinances, exposes They employ two people the Rockford hospital where she was citizens to a liability, and to manage and maintain the Two victims of a Sept. 4 crash south airlifted. Winnebago County Deputy reduces property values in the facility. of Davis Junction will be laid to rest Coroner Bill Hintz said an autopsy later this week. showed the preliminary cause of her A memorial service for Emily death to be blunt force trauma. Emily Andy Fleming, 17, Stillman Valley, will be Koenig was airlifted to OSF St. Fleming Conderman held on Thursday, Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. at Anthony Medical Center, Rockford, She was president of the National Stillman Valley High School where she where she remains in serious condition. Honor Society, played the lead in last was a senior. Seiler was transported by ambulance year’s school play, was on the girls Funeral services for Andy to a Rockford hospital, and has been basketball and soccer teams, active By Chris Johnson The former building was Conderman, 64, Amboy are scheduled released to recuperate at home. in choir and Student Council, and a cxjohnson@oglecounty originally used as the offices for Saturday, Sept. 12 at 11 a.m. at First Ill. 251 from Holcomb Road to Ill. 72 cheerleader. She also played the piano news.com of E.D. Etnyre before the United Methodist Church, Dixon. was closed for several hours after the and sang. company donated it to Ogle Both died as a result of a two-vehicle crash. “She was very involved in her church Plans to demolish the County after its operations crash that occurred around 5 p.m. at the All three teens are seniors at Stillman as well,” he said. former Ogle County Sheriff’s were moved to a new facility intersection Ill. 251 and Big Mound Valley High School. They are varsity Conderman was married and the Office are moving forward. on S. Daysville Road. Road. cheerleaders and were headed to father of four sons and 10 grandchildren. County officials are Plans and specifications for According to a press release issued by Stillman Valley’s football game versus He had worked for the Illinois accepting bids for demolition the demolition are available Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle, Richmond Burton when the crash took Department of Transportation for 39 of old building at the corner through the office of the Conderman was driving his pick-up place. years prior to his retirement in 2010 and of South Second Street and architect or may be emailed truck south on Ill. 251 when it was The game was cancelled when school had been working as a consultant for Jefferson Street in Oregon. in PDF format upon request. struck by a car driven by Alison Seiler, officials were alerted to the crash. IDOT for the last five years. The scope of work includes A mandatory pre-bid 17, Stillman Valley. Meridian (Stillman Valley) School He was a member the Army Reserves demolition and removal of conference is scheduled at Seiler was westbound on Big Mound Superintendent PJ Caposey said and the Illinois National Guard. the two-story structure and 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. Road and failed to stop at the stop sign Monday that all athletic events in the The crash remains under investigation. foundations, demolition and 10, in the Training Room at at the intersection with Ill. 251, the district have been cancelled until Friday. The Ogle County Sheriff’s Department removal of associated items the Ogle County Sheriff’s press release said. He said 40 grief counselors from is being assisted by the Illinois State and utilities, permitting and Office at 202 S. First Street in Fleming and Carly Koenig, also 17, neighboring districts were at the high Police accident reconstruction team. removal of underground fuel Oregon. Stillman Valley, were passengers in school Tuesday to meet with students Fire departments that assisted at the oil storage tank, abatement of Sealed Bids are due to the Seiler’s car. when they returned for classes after the scene include Lynn-Scott-Rock, Davis asbestos containing materials Ogle County Sheriff’s Office The vehicles came to rest in a soybean Labor Day weekend. Junction, Stillman Valley, Monroe and provide and install at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. field at the southwest corner of the He said Fleming was a leader and Center, Rochelle, New Milford, and engineered backfill. 17. intersection, where Conderman’s truck well-liked by fellow students. Rockford. Ogle County used the The public is allowed to building as the sheriff’s attend the bid opening on office for approximately 30 Thursday, Sept. 17 at 2:15 years before opening the new p.m. The bid opening is in Ogle County Public Safety the training room at the Ogle By Vinde Wells the two vehicles that collided Stillman Valley’s football Complex in April. County Sheriff’s Office. vwells@oglecounty at the intersection of Ill. 251 game versus Richmond news.com and Big Mound Road around Burton. 5 p.m. The truck was fully A rural Leaf River man The crash claimed the engulfed in flames when he was one of the first Good lives of Emily Fleming, 17, got there, Morrison said, but Samaritans who pitched in to Stillman Valley, and Andy he still approached it to try to help at a crash that claimed Conderman, 64, Amboy. get the driver out. two lives Sept. 4 near Davis Conderman was “The fire was so intense I Junction. pronounced dead at the couldn’t get close,” he said. “Quite a few cars had scene, and Fleming was “At first, I thought the car already stopped when I pronounced dead at a was on fire, too, so I wanted got there,” Mike Morrison, Rockford hospital where she to help whoever was inside 48, said. “I was one of the was airlifted. to get them out.” first people who tried to do Conderman was the driver Although the two vehicles Mike Morrison stopped to of the pick-up truck, and were close together in help at the accident scene, Bids are being accepted for the demolition of the old something to help.” A pediatrician was also on Morrison was on his way Fleming was one of three a soybean field on the Ogle County Sheriff Office at Jefferson and Third Street the scene, Morrison said, and home from work when he Stillman Valley High School southwest corner of the in Oregon. The county opened a new administration he assisted her. saw the flames from the students in the car. They intersection, the car did not building in April at Second and Jefferson. Photo by Turn to A3 pick-up truck that was one of were cheerleaders headed to catch fire. Chris Johnson
Services set for crash victims Two killed on Sept. 4 near Davis Junction
Bidding begins for demolition
LR man tried to help at fatal crash
In This Week’s Edition...
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B7-B12 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B5 Library News, A3
Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, A7 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B4
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B4
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com
Deaths, B5 Nora J. Mead, Earl B. Straley