Serving the Mt. Morris area since 1967
MT.Times MORRIS December 5, 2013 Volume 46, Number 40 - $1.00
Wrestling Preview
Holiday Music
Raises Approved
Eight returning varsity wrestlers give Hawks a chance to go downstate. B1
OHS will kick off a fundraiser at its Christmas Concert. A9
The Ogle County Board approves raises for some appointees. A10
Christmas on Village Square is set for Dec. 7 Mt. Morris will usher in the holidays on Saturday, Dec. 7 with Christmas on the Village Square. Many businesses will be hosting open houses including Angel Treasures, Our Place Restaurant, and Sharon’s Salon. The day starts with a pancake breakfast and bingo at the Mt. Morris Senior Center. Free-will donations will be accepted. A craft and vendor fair and bake sale will be held 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. A free children’s program at Evangelical Free Church at 11 a.m. includes a Veggie Tale movie, puppet show, treats, and prizes. The Mt. Morris Library is hosting a story time with Mrs. Claus including treats and a craft from 1 to 3 p.m. Pinecrest Community will host an open house in Pinecrest Manor from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Enjoy cookies, homemade kettle corn, coffee and cider. Don’t forget to stop by and see Santa and tell him what is on your wish list. The day concludes with the lighting of the Village Square at 5 p.m. Sponsors for this free family event are the Mt. Morris Senior Center, Pinecrest Community, Kable Distributing, Angel Treasures, Main Street Bistro, Aspiring Health and Chiropractic, and Country Financial/Richard Montavon-
Hasen Lott. For more information call Brenda Hayden at the Mt. Morris Senior Center at 815734-6335. The day’s activities are listed below. Caramel Corn Fundraiser The Mt. Morris Senior Center will be holding a homemade caramel corn fundraiser. Purchase an eight-ounce bag for $3 at the Mt. Morris Senior Center and on the Kable Square during the Christmas on the Village Square celebration. Pancake Breakfast and Christmas Bingo All ages are invited to join in the fun and enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast complete with pancakes, sausage, applesauce, coffee and milk. Play a game of holiday bingo for a chance to win a fun prize. Children may write their letters to Santa with help from the Christmas elves, then happily parade to the post office at 10:30 a.m. to mail their wishes. This event is from 8 to 11 Bruce Bowman, Leaf River, and Kathy Corbin, Oregon, had a perfect view of the Candlelight Walk crowd from the a.m. Free will donations are balcony at Conover Square Nov. 30 while they await the arrival of Oregon High School Madrigals. Photo by Vinde accepted. Wells Craft and Vendor Fair and Holiday Bake Sale Pinecrest Village will hold its annual craft and vendor fair to benefit the Good By Vinde Wells visited with friends. Mall owner Lou evening.� Samaritan Fund from 10 a.m. Editor Dan Boehle, co-owner of Vanderwyst credited the Youngsters and their to 2:30 p.m. Cook’s Collection, served mid-30s temperatures with parents packed the Oregon Participants include Shoppers in a holiday mood cups of hot cider to the bringing people out to the Coliseum, Dickson said, to made their way to Oregon’s customers in his crowded event. take their turns bending the Turn to A2 downtown Saturday night for shop. “It’s going well. The warm ear of Santa Claus, who set the 27th annual Candlelight He said the crowd was thin weather helps,� he said. up shop on the lower level. Walk. at first, but soon increased. Debbie Dickson, executive “Having Santa downstairs After checking out “We got off to a slow start, secretary of the Oregon along with the Winter Quarter the bargains offered by but we’ve had a good crowd Chamber of Commerce, Festival worked very well,� merchants, Kathy Corbin, ever since,� he said with a the organizer of the event, Dickson said. “Keeping him Oregon, was waiting for smile. proclaimed the evening an stationary was great. There the Oregon High School Conover merchants Bill overall success. was plenty of space there, Madrigals to arrive for their Houston and Roger Ullmark “We’re very pleased with too.� garland. In the past, Santa has The American Legion tree performance at Conover were also pleased with the the turnout,� she said. “Of number of shoppers. course, the weather is a big roamed the downtown is patriotic with a red, white Square. “I enjoy going to the “It’s a real nice crowd,� factor in that. We could and blue theme featuring Turn to A2 not have dialed up a better flags, tiny mittens and shops,� she said, as she Ullmark said. homemade ornaments. The Community Work Group decorated two trees that were donated for the project. lengthy criminal history was batteries.� The big center tree was recounted by Assistant State’s “You went to the donated by former hardware Attorney Josh Versluys in a Department of Corrections store Do It Best and has red hearing before Judge Robert for some of them,� Hanson bows, silver garland red balls Hanson. said. and many lights. Coltrain is accused of Coltrain replied that he has By Vinde Wells The tree donated by the late making racial slurs to another put that all behind him. Editor Marvin Leopold is decorated party-goer and striking him. “They’re charging the with stars, balls and garland Ogle County State’s wrong people,� he said. A Mt. Morris man charged that he also donated. Attorney Michael Rock said Hanson advised him to get Stan’s Performance has a with a hate crime and battery the racial slurs were directed an attorney and to not discuss told an Ogle County judge traditional tree with gold and what happened at the party Monday that he is not a at an African American. red beads and balls. Coltrain’s adult criminal with anyone other than his Serenity Hospice and trouble-maker. history dates back to 2000 attorney. Justin W. Coltrain, 33, is Home chose red and white and includes aggravated A woman who identified charged with a hate crime, a bells and bows. battery and burglary charges. herself as the mother of Justin Coltrain The Mt. Morris Public Class 4 felony, and battery, He told Hanson that he did Coltrain’s ex-girlfriend urged Library tree looks regal with a Class A misdemeanor, in She said she is trying to connection with an underage not commit all the crimes Hanson to lower the bond. gold ribbon and bows. hire an attorney for Coltrain he has been accused of, but “He’s not a flight risk,� Two trees were decorated drinking party in Oregon on pleaded guilty just to get out said the woman who would but is struggling to come up by volunteers who wish to Aug. 10 where a fight broke not give her name after with the $10,000 bail plus a out that resulted in the death of jail. remain anonymous. Hanson left Coltrain’s the hearing. “He lived at retainer for an attorney of The white tree has red of 18-year-old Jonathan bond at $100,000, saying he my house for two and one- $2,000 to $3,000. bows. The second tree is very Williams, Oregon. Coltrain, who had bruises “I’m not a trouble-maker,� is concerned over Coltrain’s half years, and we had no Turn to A3 Turn to A2 of “significant problems.� said Coltrain after his history
People Watching
Candlelight Walk draws big crowd
Downtown glows with tree display Submitted by Joyce Carr The Village of Mt. Morris Campus band shell stage on South Wesley Avenue in downtown Mt. Morris is glowing with the seventh annual Holiday on the Campus lighted tree display. The Mt. Morris Community Work Group sponsored event includes organizations and businesses all decorating trees for the community to enjoy during the holiday season. The beautiful, uplifting tree display will be lighted through Jan. 1 to delight everyone as you drive by or enjoy a close up view. Trees decorated by organizations include the Homemakers Forever tree decorated with red and white poinsettias. The Mt. Morris Lions club has chosen cute stuffed lions with gold and silver decorations to make the Lions tree sparkle. The Community Women’s Club tree is beautiful with gold and red bows and
Coltrain: “I’m not a trouble-maker� Coltrain has been charged with hate crime
In This Week’s Edition...
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B12 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B5
Library News, A3 Marriage Licenses, A4 Public Voice, A9 Property Transfers, B5
Sheriff’s Arrests, B4 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B4
Deaths, B3 Warren E. Bastian, Anna R. Bowman, Craig D. Brinkman, Nellis E. Cherry, James M. Corcoran, Paul W. Graehling
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