Serving the Mt. Morris area since 1967
MT.Times MORRIS December 19, 2013 Volume 46, Number 42 - $1.00
Buried By Treys
Dear Santa
Spending Questions
The Polo Marcos were hot from the 3-point line when they defeated Oregon Dec. 16. B1
Area children send their Christmas lists to St. Nick. Special Section
Ogle County Sheriff ’s credit card spending is called into question. A7
County will buy house next to judicial center By Vinde Wells Editor Ogle County will soon own another piece of property near its judicial center. The county board voted 20-4 Tuesday to authorize board chairman Kim Gouker, Byron, to sign documents to purchase the house at 102 S. Fifth St., Oregon, for $99,500, and to enter into a three-year lease with the current occupant. The purchase of the house has been a long time in the making. “It’s a piece of property we’ve looked at ever since
we built the judicial center,� Gouker said. The judicial center, which is next door to the house to the south, was completed in 2005. The county board purchased the property north of the house, where Jackass BBQ is located at 501 W. Washington St. (Ill. 64), last June from John Spoor for $150,000. The county leases that property to restaurant owner Andy Riegel. The board will purchase the house from Scott and Barb Spoor, and lease it to Robert Lowe, who currently
has a law practice there. Lowe has a contract to buy the house from the Spoors for $89,500 but is willing to forego the purchase if he can rent it from the county, Gouker said. Lowe will pay the county $300 a month rent for the property, pay the real estate taxes, and take care of maintenance, Gouker said. Gouker said an appraiser hired by the county valued the house at $89,500. Board member Lyle Hopkins, Polo, voiced his opposition to the purchase price. Turn to A2
Weather delays testing Experts will try and return in January By Vinde Wells Editor Early winter weather this month has delayed the final tests on the Black Hawk Statue. Frank Rausa, Sterling, who is heading up an effort to repair the 102-year-old world renowned icon, said experts Todd Meyers, Oregon, and his daughter Abigail look over a Christmas tree for sale will likely return in early Dec. 14 at the White Pines Lodge. Photo by Vinde Wells January to Lowden State
Selecting A Tree
Park, where the statue stands of a high bluff overlooking the Rock River. Three experts, a structural engineer, preservation architect, and conservation architect, will be on the site to do further study of the repairs that are needed to reverse the effects of time and weather and preserve the statue. “They’re going to spend a couple of days doing some sound testing,� Rausa said. “We just need a little weather cooperation.� The experts had planned to do the last tests early this month until several
snowstorms and frigid weather prevented that. A team of experts spent nearly a week in October examining the damage to the statue and performing tests. Engineers used high-tech scanners which allowed them to see inside the concrete to assess its condition and to determine the amount and location of steel reinforcing. The locations of the steel were then marked on tape placed on the statue’s hollow interior. Another crew scanned the Turn to A3
Blanks fired during Polo’s Active Shooter Training By Chris Johnson Reporter Blanks were fired, books were thrown and police officers were wrestled to the ground during an exercise Dec. 11 at the Polo High School. “Shootings can happen anywhere,� said Rock Valley College police chief Joe Drought. “We need to develop plans on how to respond.� Knowing what to do during an active shooter event can help reduce the loss of life, he said. Faculty, staff, and school officials in the Polo School District participated in the active shooter drill. “I applaud Polo for wanting to do this training,� Drought said. While direct confrontation with a shooter is not preferred, Drought said it may be necessary to prevent further loss of life. “Fighting back is an option to help save lives,� said Drought. “Since Sandy Hook there is more interest in learning how to deal with these situations.� One year ago a lone gunman entered Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown Conn. and killed 20 students and six adult staff members. Since that tragedy, school districts across the United
States have been taking measures to prevent a similar incident from occurring. “During the class, the teachers and faculty will learn practical measures they can take during an active shooter situation,� said Drought. They include how to barricade a classroom, the best ways to flee the school, and how to fight back if needed. Drought said Rock Valley College has been offering these classes for five years. The course, titled Practical Responses to Active Shooters, required everyone to learn about active shooters and to get hands on demonstrations during the drill. “Our primary objective is to survive,� said Drought. “We are going to be firing blanks today because people ask what a gun sounds like. Blanks are as close as we can simulate to a real shooting without real bullets.� The training instructs participants on how to a defend themselves or the life of another including the use of deadly force, Drought said. “You need to ask yourself ‘what if,’� said Drought. “You need to prepare mentally.� Drought said part of preparing is getting rid of any thoughts that an incident “can not happen here.� “It can happen here, but
In This Week’s Edition...
hopefully we can prevent it,� another school shooting in If we are prepared we can a school include evacuation, said Drought. Colorado on Dec. 13. find ourselves acting instead lock down, prepare to fight Two days after the class “The purpose of this class of panicking,� he said. Turn to A8 was held in Polo there was is to build a database or plans. The responses available in
Polo School Board President Gene Schmidt holds sergeant Sean Knight’s arm during a take down drill Dec. 11. Photo by Chris Johnson
Births, A4 Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B12 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B5
Library News, A3 Marriage Licenses, A4 Pine Creek News, A3 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B4
Sheriff’s Arrests, B5 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 Weather, A3 Zoning Permits, B5
Deaths, B3 Hortense Ludwig, Michael McPherson, Joan B. Mock, Frederic A. Yoder
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