Serving the Mt. Morris area since 1967
MT.Times MORRIS November 6, 2014 Volume 47, Number 36 - $1.00
Teams Advance
New Ornament
PAG Production
OHS football and volleyball teams advance in state playoff action. B1
A handmade Christmas ornament will raise funds for statue repair. A3
“Arsenic & Old Lace” opens Nov. 7 at the Pinecrest Grove Theatre. A6
Harn claims auditor failed to get documents Emails sent by sheriff to Ogle board members By Matt Mencarini Sauk Valley Media Three release forensic County
days after public of results from a audit of the Ogle administrative tow
fund, Sheriff Michael Harn sent an email to six County Board members that claimed the auditor had failed to get necessary documents from his department. That email and others related to the tow fund and the forensic audit were obtained by Sauk Valley Media through a Freedom of Information Act request. Harn did not attend either
of the County Board’s public meetings Oct. 21, including a regular meeting, where the forensic audit’s results were presented by the auditor. “Just want to send you a little FYI,” Harn said in the email sent Oct. 24. “Since all the County Board has [their] opinion about the tow fund and the articles in the papers I want to inform you of this. I met with the auditor on three
different dates, I explained in detail from start to finish, I explained who he needed to speak to and why things [were] done the way they were and WHO told me I could do things the way I did them. “I’m very unhappy with myself that everything gets twisted, lies, bull----, and the attacks. But I assume responsibility because of
[who] I am.” Harn didn’t respond to Sauk Valley Media’s requests for comment. Ogle County State’s Attorney Mike Rock declined to comment on whether he had passed, or would pass, the forensic audit’s results on to an outside agency for further investigation. Rock, like Harn, lost his election in the March
Turn to A7
Combine strikes and kills a man
Taxes will increase in Meridian district
A Park Ridge man died Nov. 1 after he was struck by a combine northeast of Forreston. David Olzeski, 65, was pronounced dead at 8:30 p.m. at Rockford Memorial Hospital where he was airlifted following the accident on West Lightsville Road approximately four miles northeast of Forreston. Ogle County Sheriff’s
By Vinde Wells Editor
Voters in the Meridian School District went to the polls Tuesday to support paying higher taxes to keep and reinstate educational and extracurricular programs. Results Tuesday night showed that a referendum for a 70-cent tax rate hike in the district’s Education Fund passed by 1,990 votes to 1,573. Meridian Superintendent P.J. Caposey said he was very pleased with the election results. “It’s a great day for our kids,” he said. “I think we’ll be able to provide a first-class education for our students moving forward.” School district officials asked voters to raise real estate taxes in the Education Fund from the present $2.78 per $100 of equalized assessed value (EAV) to $3.48 for the next seven years. Voters in Ogle County approved the referendum 1,905 to 1,446, while Winnebago County voters cast only 85 yes votes to 127 no votes. The hike will increase the taxes on a $150,000 home by $350 per year, excluding exemptions. According to the question on the ballot, the referendum would bring an
Police said Olzeski, who was wearing camouflage clothing, was walking with traffic at 6:30 p.m. when he was struck from behind by the combine. Sheriff Michael Harn declined Tuesday to release the name of the combine driver because he said the investigation is still ongoing. He said no tickets have been issued.
Veteran’s Day at DLR Nov. 11
All area veterans are cordially invited to a Veteran’s Day assembly to be held at the David L. Rahn Junior High in The newest voter in Ogle County registered to vote Oct. 31 for the Mt. Morris on Tuesday, Nov. general election. Betty Solyom, Mt. Morris, is 102 years old and decided 11 beginning at 10 a.m. in the she wanted her voice heard so she came to the Ogle County Courthouse junior high gym. to register. Solyom recently moved to the area from Elgin. Photo by Chris Both the junior high band Johnson estimated additional $1.1 million into eliminated junior high sports and other and choir will be performing. district coffers annually. activities in an effort to erase a $1.9 Staff Sergeant Brian “We understand that a burden was million deficit. Sawlsville will be the featured placed on our taxpayers, and we don’t Without the new tax dollars, speaker. take that lightly,” Caposey said. “We Caposey said the board would have The assembly will last appreciate the people who came out to been forced to look at further cuts approximately one hour. support this.” that could increase class sizes, reduce Also on that day, the junior He said the increase was needed to course offerings further, and eliminate high students will be creating balance the budget and avoid drastic the sports program at all levels. holiday cards for hospitalized cuts. The district has faced veterans and participating in a The school board had already boot camp run by Lieutenant Turn to A7 cut staff and course offerings, and Colonel Jerry Newman. The public is welcome to attend. Veteran’s Day Assembly Schedule Tuesday, November 11, 2014 7:45-8:23 a.m. Enrichment Classes 8:26-9:50 a.m. Meet in home room to make Veteran’s Day cards for hospitalized veterans Red, White and Blue clothing count by home room 9:50-10 a.m. Dismiss to gym for assembly 10-10:05 a.m. Welcome. Audience stands for presentation of flag by Boy Scouts Recite ‘The Pledge of Allegiance’ together 10:05-10:10 a.m. DLR Choir, directed by Katie Sheridan, performs “The Star Spangled Banner” 10:10-10:15 a.m. Choral reading/poem by Logan Cann’s ELA class 10:15-10:20 a.m. DLR Above left, Thomas Rogers, dressed as a pirate, offers treats and a fishing game to a trick or treater Oct. 31 at the Choir performs “God Bless Trunk or Treat event sponsored by the Evangelical Free Church. At right, Sparky the Fire Dog helps himself to the bowl of candy offered by Lt. Mark Lewis at the Mt. Morris Firehouse. Firefighters and EMTs passed out treats and America” 10:25-10:45 glow necklaces to youngsters who were out trick or treating. Photos by Vinde Wells a.m. Introduction and speech
Happy Halloween
In This Week’s Edition...
Republican primary; their terms end on Nov. 30. In his Oct. 24 email, Harn also said he had twice told the auditor, James Sullivan, that a lieutenant had 46 documents that could clear up some of the confusion and disorganization with the tow fund. Ogle County Chairman
Business Briefs, B7 Byron Police, B7 Church News, A5 Classifieds, B8-B12 Entertainment, A6
Fines, B6 Library News, A3 Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B7 Public Voice, A8
Property Transfers, B6 Sheriff’s Arrests, B5 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2, B3 State’s Attorney, B6
by Staff Sergeant Brian Sawlsville 10:45-10:55 a.m. Staff Sergeant Brian Sawlsville will field questions from home rooms (One written by each home room and teacher selected representative) 10:55-11 a.m. Choral reading/poem by Renae Leamanczyk’s ELA class 11:00-11:10 a.m. Any veterans from the audience will be asked to come to the front of the stage for recognition (introductions & ovation) 11:10-11:15 a.m. DLR band, directed by Miles Beske, to perform “Armed Forces on Parade” 11:15 a.m. ‘TAPS’ performed by Miles Beske and Dave Nelson Prior to the assembly, the gym will be decorated with veteran’s names on stars and home room banners. 11:15-11:50 a.m. Lunch--7th grade 11:15-11:50 a.m. Boot Camp for 8th grade---Lieutenant Colonel Jerry Newman (gym) 11:55 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Lunch--8th grade 11:55 a.m. -12:30 p.m. Boot Camp for 7th grade 12:35-2:50 p.m. Return to Home Room for movies and Veteran’s Day Mt. Morris Monument search Eighth grade will be watching “Honor Flight” — 83 minutes or movie of choice from: http://news.moviefone. com/2010/11/11/veteransday-movies/ Seventh grade will be watching “Taking Chance”---78 minutes. Time for rest room breaks and discussion. Also time for completion of cards if desired.
Deaths, B5 Marguerite L. Dietz, Janet M. Dunivan, Marcus Soresi
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com