Serving the Mt. Morris area since 1967
MT.Times MORRIS December 11, 2014 Volume 47, Number 41 - $1.00
Tournaments
1000th Point
Missing Files
Annual holiday basketball tournaments start in Polo and Forreston on Saturday, Dec. 13. B2
Oregon’s Emy Wright is honored after reaching a milestone. B1
Sheriff’s department files relating to the Ogle County Tow Fund are missing A8
Village board approves $298,000 bid for force main By Chris Johnson Reporter A surprisingly low bid was awarded Tuesday night to repair the south lift station force main in Mt. Morris. “We opened the bids last Thursday,” said village engineer Corey Buck. “$298,000 was the low bid by $25,000 less then our original estimate.” Buck said the range of bids on the project were from $298,000 to $477,000. “There was a huge range,”
said Buck. “The difference between the two low bids was large.” Buck said the contractor, Go Excavating, Freeport, wanted to keep their employees working through the winter. “They do a lot of underground work and I would recommend them,” said Buck. He said they have the experience to complete the project. Trustee Tim Harvey said the final stage of the project
which includes repairing the asphalt could be reduced by changing the thickness of the coating. “We can reduce the cost,” Harvey said. The final bid of $298,648 was approved unanimously. Trustee Don Sorenson was not present at the meeting. Buck said the underground pipe could be completed during the winter. In other business the board will discuss compensating police chief Jason White for being unable to use his
vacation hours. The department had an officer out for six weeks and White was filling in to ensure good police coverage, Harvey said. “This is an extreme situation,” he said. “I would like to see the two weeks paid to Jason.” Harvey said the employee hand book allows the payment in extreme situations but since the item was not on the agenda a vote would need to wait until the Dec. 23 meeting.
“We are back to full staff,” said White. Village president Dan Elsasser suggested the board discuss any employee who has more than two weeks of vacation remaining. Employees in Mt. Morris can earn a maximum of 23 days off per year. The board also approved a $453,400 tax levy for the 2014-15 fiscal year. It was discussed at the Nov. 25 meeting. Village treasurer Bruce True presented the proposed
levy, which is $5,649 less than the village received in taxes this year, at the Nov. 25 meeting. The 2014 levy affects how much the village will receive in taxes in 2015. True explained that the village may not receive all that it levies. For example, village’s 2013 levy was for $462,900, but the actual tax extension (taxes received) was $459,049. The levy must be submitted to the Ogle County Clerk this month.
Rain dampens auction profits
Christmas on the Village Square
By Vinde Wells Editor
Mrs. Santa (aka Joyce Duncan) reads a story to youngsters at the Mt. Morris Public Library Dec. 6 during Christmas on the Village Square. Photo by Vinde Wells
A steady, chilly drizzle dampened the profits Monday afternoon for an Oregon restaurant’s going out of business auction. Andy Riegel, owner of Jackass BBQ, 501 W. Washington St., called the monetary results of the auction “pretty bad” and blamed it on the rainy weather. He said the kitchen equipment brought especially low prices. Last month Riegel announced his plans to close for economic reasons. He said he hopes to find a bar interested in having him provide food for its patrons. Plans will be updated on his Facebook page, he said. The building where Jackass BBQ was located is owned by Ogle County, and Riegel had a lease until June of 2015 with an option to extend it for another year. Riegel was already leasing the building when the county
bought the property in 2013 from John Spoor for $150,000. According to the terms of his lease, Riegel was to pay the amount of the real estate taxes on the property as his rent. The annual real estate tax bill was approximately $3,100. Riegel has not yet paid the second installment of real estate taxes and said he hopes the proceeds of the auction will be enough to cover it. County treasurer John Coffman said the amount owed is approximately $1,800 including the interest and late fees. The second installment was due on Sept. 5. County board chairman Kim Gouker, Byron, said as a government body, county officials could have had the property taken off the real estate tax rolls, but decided to let it remain to allow other government bodies, such as the City of Oregon and Oregon School District, to continue to receive tax Turn to A2
OHS senior excels at clarinet Baldwin selected for all-state concert for second year in row By Chris Johnson Reporter An Oregon High School clarinet player has been selected to perform in the ILMEA All-State concert for his second year in a row. Last year, Ben Baldwin was 10th chair in the entire state and is waiting to learn his chair for this year. During all-state, musicians receive music that has to be learned in two days for a performance. “It is challenging,” said Baldwin, who is a senior at OHS. He has been first chair clarinet player in the district for three consecutive years. “I had to try out and had to practice for the audition,” said Baldwin. “I am glad I stuck with it and was selected for all-
state. It takes a lot of practice.” The all-state performance will be held in Peoria in January. Baldwin has been playing clarinet for seven years. He first picked up the instrument during a band try out night. “Nothing grabbed me that night, but I decided to play clarinet,” he said. With practice, Baldwin has improved his skills and enjoys the music being performed. “I like being able to make great music,” Baldwin said. “This has always been important to me. It clicks when I can play a piece well.” During last year’s all-state, Baldwin recognized some players when he arrived. They were familiar, but it was not until he talked with them that he realized why. “I did the Voice of Democracy essay contest and was at the state level,” said Baldwin. “One other in that contest was in all-state also. It was interesting that that happened.” After high school Baldwin would like
In This Week’s Edition...
Business Brief, B4 Church News, A5 Classifieds, B9-B14 Entertainment, A11 Fines, B7
to study to become a music educator. “It would be cool to be like (Andy) Eckardt,” said Baldwin. “Eckardt is a great teacher. He pushes everyone to do their best. We do challenging music.” Baldwin has also played piano in the jazz band. “I am thankful for my family support over the years,” he said. “They have encouraged me.” Eckardt is excited to have seven students from Oregon selected as allstate. “We have had an outstanding year with these auditions and selections,” Eckardt said. Eckardt said it is a rare accomplishment for a student to be selected in back-toback years. Students selected for all-state this year are: Baldwin, Will Coots, Jacob Ebens, Kelsey Pudlas, Noah Russell, Carly Stephens, and Derek Stienmetz. The band and choir will perform a Christmas Concert on Sunday, Dec. 14 Oregon High School’s Ben Baldwin plays his clarinet. at 7 p.m. in the high school band and Photo by Chris Johnson choir room.
Library News, A3 Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B4 Public Voice, A9 Property Transfers, B4
Sheriff’s Arrests, B4 Social News, A4 Sports, A12, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B4 Zoning, B7
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com
Deaths, B3 Charles E. Diehl, Nadine M. Ross