Serving the Mt. Morris area since 1967
MT.Times MORRIS November 13, 2014 Volume 47, Number 37 - $1.00
Teams Advance
Recycle Lights
Lady Hawks Fall
Oregon High School’s football team loses, but Byron and Forreston advance in playoffs. B1
Don’t toss those old Christmas lights, recycle them instead. A6
The Lady Hawks volleyball team falls to Dakota in the sectional. B2
Veteran talks to DLR students By Chris Johnson Reporter Even after suffering life-threatening injuries in Iraq, Staff Sergeant Brian Sawlsville considers his time in the military as the best years of his life. Sawlsville, a 2003 Rochelle High School graduate, was injured in his third tour of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. “We drove over an IED (improvised explosive devise),” said Sawlsville during a Veteran’s Day program at David L. Rahn Junior High School, Mt. Morris. “It blew the truck off 15 yards and I was thrown out. I did not know what was going on.” Sawlsville, who is currently in a wheelchair, said he had a skull fracture but got up and engaged the enemy despite his wounds. “I woke up in a hospital and saw my dad and doctors looking at me,” he said. “My first thought was I failed my country and soldiers.” It was not until he talked with others about the 2007 incident that he realized what occurred.
“This is a new chapter,” said Sawlsville. “I make the best of the situation. I play wheelchair basketball and I do therapy.” He said at recent sessions at the VA hospital he took his first steps since the explosion and is continuing to improve. “I was told ‘eventually you will walk again’ and I told him [the doctor] I will hold you to that,” said Sawlsville. Sawlsville still thinks about his eight years of service in the Army. At his home in Rochelle there is a room with his uniform, ribbons, and other memories from his service. “I was in there the other day and looked around,” he said. “It was the best eight years of my life.” Sawlsville said the best memory from his service was during that final tour in Iraq before he was injured. “An Iraqi lady said thank you, gave me a hug, and gave me a St. Christopher necklace,” said Sawlsville. “I have not taken this necklace off.” Army Staff Sergeant Brian Sawlsville, Rochelle, talks about his years of service during That necklace along with a Veteran’s Day program at David L. Rahn Junior High Tuesday morning. Photo by his Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Chris Johnson Turn to A3
Spring election will include several boards By Vinde Wells Editor With the fall general election all wrapped up, local taxing bodies can now turn their full attention to the spring consolidated election. Voters will decide who will serve on numerous boards when they go to the polls on April 7. Races on the ballot will include city councils, village boards, school boards, public
library boards, park district boards, fire protection district boards, and forest preserve boards, as well as community college boards and the regional boards of school trustees. Candidates for these races could begin circulating their nominating petitions on Sept. 23. The dates for filing completed petitions, with signatures and other paperwork is Dec. 15-22.
At least one referendum will also be on the April ballot. Oregon Fire Protection District officials will ask voters to give them authority to levy taxes for ambulance services. The fire board has not yet decided how much it will ask but could set that number at its Nov. 12 meeting. The maximum amount allowed by state law is 40 cents per $100 equalized
assessed valuation. That translates into approximately $200 per year, excluding exemptions, for a house valued at $150,000. The Oregon Fire District, which covers 120 square miles, is the only area fire district without a taxsupported ambulance service. Those services were covered by the Oregon Ambulance Service, Inc., from the early 1970s until June 17 when the not-for-
profit business closed its doors for financial reasons. After that, the district depended on mutual aid from surrounding fire departments for ambulance service until officials hired ATS Medical Services, Loves Park, a private ambulance service. Since July 1, ATS has been kept an ambulance and crew at the Oregon Fire Station around the clock. The fire district is paying ATS $6,000 monthly from current funds.
Holiday kick-off is Dec. 6 Christmas on the Village Square begins celebration The Mt. Morris Christmas on the Village Square celebration will be held Saturday, Dec. 6. This all-day free event will include a breakfast bingo for all ages at the Mt. Morris Senior Center including Aspiring Chiropractic’s Christmas elves, a craft/ vendor fair and bake sale at Pinecrest Village, and free kid cones at Main Street Bistro and Gifts. Additional activities include a children’s Christmas party at Evangelical Free Church, a story with Mrs. Claus at the Mt. Morris library, Santa, homemade kettle corn, and cookies. Cinnamon donuts will be served at Pinecrest Manor’s open house, Union Savings Bank, and the post office open houses, and a Christmas proclamation read at the band shell. To end the day’s festivities join the fun at Pinecrest Grove Community Center. The auditorium will be transformed into a winter wonderland with a musical light presentation. Zack Percell from TNZ magic will perform, Brett Belleque will make balloon animals, and Roller-roo the kangaroo from White Pines Roller Rink will hand out roller skating passes. Free cotton candy will be Turn to A2
Ogle County 9-1-1 earns national accreditation By Chris Johnson Reporter A group of individuals works hard every day to keep residents in Ogle County safe. The Ogle County Sheriff’s Office Communications department was recognized Monday morning with a national Accreditation for Quality Assurance from Powerphone after a two-year process. “These are the guidelines and training that we provide to dispatchers for pre arrival instructions,” said Ogle County E9-1-1 Coordinator Sandy Beitel. Powerphone creates the protocols followed whenever 9-1-1 is dialed. “Ogle County has met our standards and is the second department in Illinois to receive accreditation,” said Powerphone Professional Standards Manager, Heather Pierce. “Only five to seven
percent of our customers achieve accreditation.” Ogle County has been designated as a Total Response Accredited Center that is committed to maintaining the highest standards in emergency call handling. Powerphone is a global company and created the standards used for emergency calls. What makes this accomplishment even more impressive is that Ogle County is the first in Illinois to receive accreditation in all three disciplines, Pierce said. Powerphone does training for EMT emergency dispatch, fire dispatch, and law enforcement calls. They have a flowchart and flip book provided to the 9-1-1 center that describes in details each step needed for the call. This includes who to dispatch, how to keep the caller calm, and what first aid steps the caller should take.
In This Week’s Edition...
“We review calls and make sure these guidelines are being followed,” said Beitel. “We are keeping everyone safe.” The review is done each month to make sure telecommunicators are prepared for any call. “The quality insurance is when [telecommunications supervisor] Heather [Butler] and I go through and make sure they are asking the right questions,” said Beitel. “Are they keeping everyone safe?” The county board 9-11 board, and sheriff’s department agreed to spending the money to make sure Ogle County has the best possible emergency dispatchers. “I am proud of the work we are doing. The effort was worth the investment,” said 9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System Board member Marty Typer, Stillman Valley, who is also an Ogle County Board member.
Church Bells, A5 Classifieds, B8-B12 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B7
The Ogle County Sheriff’s Office received accreditation for quality assurance from PowerPhone. The Total Response system is what telecommunicators use when answering calls placed to 9-1-1. Pictured are 9-1-1 Board member Marty Typer, Ogle County E9-1-1 Coordinator Sandy Beitel, and telecommunicator Heather Butler. Photo by Chris Johnson
Marriage Licenses, A4 Mt. Morris Library, A3 Mt. Morris Police, A2 Property Transfers, B5
Sheriff’s Arrests, B5 Social News, A4 Sports, B1-B2, B3 State’s Attorney, B7
Deaths, B6 Betty M. Berger Roberta F. Ingraham
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com