Serving the Mt. Morris area since 1967
MT.Times MORRIS December 26, 2013 Volume 46, Number 43 - $1.00
Tournament Results
New Building
The Oregon Lady Hawks finished third after loosing to Prophetstown in the semifinals, B1
The Ogle County Board will begin seeking bids on a new $4.1 administration building. A2
Plug pulled on wind project
Trio of storms causes only a few problems Motorists paid attention to warnings By Vinde Wells Editor Despite three storms bringing freezing rain, sleet, and snow in four days last week, the Ogle County Sheriff’s Department had few weather-related problems to deal with. “We had no power outages and no bad wrecks. I think it was the fewest problems related to a storm since I’ve been sheriff,� Ogle County Sheriff Michael Harn said Monday morning. Freezing rain and drizzle Dec. 19 left a slippery glaze on roadways throughout the
county. That was followed by more of the same in the evening of Dec. 20, topped off by 5 to 8 inches of snow Saturday night into Sunday morning. The most snow fell in the northwest corner of the county, Harn said. The icy roadways put several cars in the ditch in the earlier storms, he said, but that was the worst of the problems. Very few incidents occurred over the weekend. “I think everybody took the weather predictions seriously. They planned ahead and got where they were going before the storms started,� he said. With more freezing rain predicted in the late afternoon Dec. 20, all county offices closed at noon. Harn said because the storm was predicted to begin about the time county
Baileyville Wind Farm owner withdraws By Vinde Wells Editor
Chris Corcoran, Mt. Morris, was out Sunday morning clearing snow from sidewalks in Oregon. Here, Corcoran turns the corner at Fifth and Washington. Photo by Earleen Hinton
employees would be headed home from work, the offices were shut down early. “Due to the weather predicted we wanted everyone to get home safely and in a timely manner,� he said. “The storm began later than expected.�
The decision to close the offices was made jointly by Harn, county board chairman Kim Gouker, county engineer Curtis Cook, and presiding judge Robert Hanson. Harn said although the roads were plowed, salted, and clear after the storms,
drifting snow would continue to cause icy spots on Monday. “The winds are picking up and the north-south roads are drifting,� he said. “Drivers need to use caution because with the winds and cold the roads will still be treacherous.�
Two local businesses run out of salt By Chris Johnson Reporter
An ice storm last Thursday and the threat of another ice and snowstorm over the weekend led to a high demand for salt in Ogle County. Basler’s Ace Hardware in Oregon had customers lined up waiting for shipments of salt to arrive. “We had 40 to 50 customers waiting in line for the salt,�
said owner Jeff Basler. “We had unprecedented salt sales and we sold our average annual salt sales in one week.� An ice storm came through the area Dec. 19 and covered the ground with a layer of ice. On top of that, another storm predicted for late Saturday into early Sunday had area residents searching for salt so driveways and sidewalks could be cleared. “The challenge we faced
was getting enough salt to the store for our customers,� said Basler. “We were able to get a couple hundred bags in each day. We were completely sold out Saturday afternoon.� Basler said the customers were patient and understood the high demand. “We went outside our normal sources to ensure we got some salt in to try and meet the demand,� said Basler. “Our incentive was to
make sure our customers were able to buy locally.� The scene was much the same at Forreston Hardware. “I ran out of salt Friday night,� said owner Monty Cotter Monday morning. “I went through five pallets. I’m out of everything.� That translates into nearly 400 bags of various sizes of salt and ice melter. “Friday was very busy. Person after person after
person came in, and all of them wanted salt,� he said. “It was crazy.� Even without salt, business was still brisk for Cotter on Monday. “With the storm, today I’m selling shovels and snowblowers,� he said. The weekend storm left 5-8 inches of snow in Ogle County, with higher totals in the northwest part where Forreston is situated.
The termination of a longstanding plan for building a wind farm in northwest Ogle County has officially ended wind development in Ogle County — at least for now. Ogle County Zoning Administrator Mike Reibel confirmed Dec. 20 that he recently received a letter from an official of Apex Clean Energy informing him that they have discontinued development of the Baileyville Wind Farm. “It’s over. It’s done,� Reibel said. “We have withdrawn from the PJM Interconnection queue and removed our meteorological towers, and are in the process of formally terminating our land leases,� read the letter from Karlis Povisilis, Apex Director of Project Development. PJM Interconnection, headquartered in Valley Forge, Pa., is an organization for marketing wholesale electricity. Although no wind towers were ever constructed, the Baileyville Wind Farm was Turn to A2
New cell phone law take effect January 1 By Chris Johnson Reporter Motorists in Illinois will need to adjust to a significant change in the laws when the new year begins next week. House Bill 1247 prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle on any road in Illinois while using a mobile phone. The bill makes exceptions for hands-free devices, including headsets that can initiate a call using a single button or a voice command. The change comes a year after Illinois restricted cell phone use in construction and
school zones. “The new law will make it easier on police officers to enforce,� said Oregon Police Chief Darin DeHaan. “There is now no difference in zones and the law is more clear cut. Drivers can still use bluetooth devices and anything hands free.� He said drivers in the area will face a learning curve for the law. People are used to being on their cell phones while driving,� he said. “Overall it is easier on everyone because there is only one rule.� It is still illegal to text
while driving. “Distracted driving is not only dangerous — it’s deadly,� said Illinois Governor Pat Quinn in an Aug. 16 press release. “Too many Illinois families have suffered because of accidents that could have been prevented. These new laws will save lives.� When the law goes into effect Jan. 1, Illinois joins 11 other states and the District of Columbia in banning the use of hand-held devices while driving. Fines for violating the new law start at $75.
The bill adds additional penalties drivers can face if they are using a phone while driving and cause an accident. If the accident causes great bodily harm, the driver can be sentenced up to one year in prison. A fatal accident can result in a one to three year sentence. Previously the law only allowed for drivers to be charged with traffic violations. Officers who see a driver holding a cell phone up to their ear can pull the vehicle over without any other traffic offenses.
Jury finds man guilty of selling heroin By Vinde Wells Editor An Ogle County jury found a Rockford man guilty last week of a felony drug charge. Jay Moore, 39, was convicted Dec. 18 of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance in a public park, a Class X felony, and resisting a peace officer, a Class A misdemeanor. “I am proud of my office’s
successful prosecution of this individual who came into our county to distribute heroin,� said Ogle County State’s Attorney Mike Rock. “This case will send a message to heroin dealers throughout the area.� The case stemmed from an investigation a year ago by the Rochelle Police Department and the Ogle County Sheriff Department.
In This Week’s Edition...
Ogle County Sheriff’s Police arrested Moore Dec. 4, 2012 on charges he and two other Rockford men, Shasta C. Alonzo, 40, and Tyler M. Smith, 24, sold heroin to an undercover police operative in the Byron area. They were charged with delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a park. Sheriff Michael Harn said at
Agriculture, A7 Birth, A4 Church News, A5 Classifieds, B7-B12 Entertainment, A6
the time of the arrests that the three were involved in the sale of 24 bags of heroin. Moore will be sentenced Feb. 5. He faces 6 to 60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections without the possibility of probation. Alonzo pleaded guilty last December and was sentenced to six years in state prison. Smith is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 13.
Fines, B4 Library News, A3 Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B3 Public Voice, A10
Gift Wrapping The Oregon girls basketball team helped wrap presents for Earth Angels Saturday morning. Here, Madeline Sanders, a senior on the team, wraps one of the presents that was delivered to a child in Ogle County. Photo by Vinde Wells
Property Transfers, B5 Sheriff’s Arrests, B5 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B4
Deaths, B3 Janet E. Guist, Jason A. Miller, Terry Olson, Brian J. Strite
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