Serving the Mt. Morris area since 1967
MT.Times MORRIS October 13, 2016 Volume 49, Number 52 - $1.00
State Bound
Free Concert
4-H Sign-Up
Oregon’s Ali Scheidecker’s round of 83 qualified her for the state golf match. B1
The Stephen Lynerd Ensemble will perform Sunday at the Grove. A6
Ogle County 4-H Clubs are seeking new members as their new year begins. A4
Does Ogle County Board have too many members? Bruce McKinney proposes a 16 member board By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com An Ogle County Board member believes the body could do with fewer
members and has asked for a committee to study the issue. Bruce McKinney, Rochelle, told the county board at its September meeting that he would like to see the board reduced from its current 24 members to 16. He asked Board Chairman Kim Gouker, Byron, to appoint a committee to study the issue now, well ahead of
the 2020 census, after which that change could be made. “We’re too large for our size of county,” McKinney, who is also the Rochelle City Clerk, said Oct. 7. “There are other counties larger than us that have 10 or 12 members.” Gouker said last week that while he is willing to bring the question before the board’s Executive
Committee for discussion, he believes its too soon to form a committee. “It’s a little premature,” he said. “It wouldn’t happen until 2022.” McKinney told the board he believes the discussions need to begin as soon as possible. He said last week that the change would save the
county about $50,00 over a 10-year period. Board members are paid $150 per month for attending three meetings, and another $50 per meeting after that. They are also reimbursed for mileage. The board chairman is paid an additional $250 per month. Besides the monthly board
Turn to A8
Wellness Fair offers a tune-up for life
Color Run
By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@ oglecountynews.com
Participants in the second annual Color Run scatter packets of colored powder before beginning the walk and run Saturday morning outside the Pinecrest Grove Community Center. The event raised funds for the Color Me a Memory program for memory patients at Pinecrest Community. Photo by Vinde Wells
LOMC breaks ground for building By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@oglecounty news.com A pastor was honored Sunday afternoon during a groundbreaking ceremony at the Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center. “It is an honor to have a building named after me,” said Pastor Norman A. Nelson. “I will work to honor the name.” The Pastor Norman A. Nelson Program Center will be dedicated in the spring. It will be used for indoor activities at the camp year round. Nelson was reminded of his days as a youth when he put on a hard hat before the groundbreaking. “I worked construction for three summers a long long time ago,” he said. “This was before I became a pastor.” Nelson spent years in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago and worked to bring the local youth into the Lutheran church. “There were thousands of youth in Chicago, but they were not attending churches,” said Nelson. “I spent time calling on the
meetings, board members also serve on numerous committees which also meet monthly. Changing the size and configuration of the board can be done only after a census, and any changes take effect at the first election after the census.
The Wellness and Resource Fair provided flu vaccines, health screenings, wellness activities, cooking demonstrations, and even a bit of pampering to the public. The Rock River Center in Oregon kicked off the 2016 “Tune-Up For Life” Wellness and Resource fair at 9 a.m. Friday, and gave visitors no shortage of information to help improve their quality of life. The Ogle County Health Department, Tri-County Opportunities Council, the Polo Rehabilitation & Health Care Center, Pinecrest Community, and KSB were among the 44 exhibitors present. Susan Skyler conducted a workshop helping families recognize early warning signs of Alzheimer’s. Skyler is the Manager of Education and Outreach for the Alzheimer’s Association. Other workshops included “Caregivers Need Care Too” from University of Illinois Extension Family Life Educator Karla Belzer, and “Color Me a Memory” from Michelle Brown, LPN Memory Care Manager for
Pinecrest Community. OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center provided Cholesterol and Glucose screenings, Connect Hearing gave hearing screenings, and Ear Otoscopes were conducted by Miracle Ear. Several providers at the fair provided blood pressure screenings. In the cafe area, Nutrition and Wellness Educator for University of Illinois Extension Marilyn Csernus was demonstrating healthy recipes to the public by cooking up some pumpkin pancakes. Those looking for a little pampering could enjoy some reflexology from Sole Expressions and hand paraffin dips by Neighbors Rehabilitation, Byron. The Ogle County Health Department was administering flu vaccines at the end of the entrance hallway. “I think this is an amazing wellness fair, and we’re so happy to be a part of it,” said Cindy Schwartz, an RN with OCHD. Visitors could even collect signatures from exhibitors to win door prizes such as gift certificates and fruit baskets. Prizes were donated Turn to A3
Pastor Norman Nelson points to his family Sunday afternoon during a groundbreaking for a building that will bear his name at the Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center. Photo by Chris Johnson
youth for eight years and they began attending the church. Eventually we had a youth group.” Nelson said the congregation grew and a second youth group was created and the younger kids were in one group and the
In This Week’s Edition...
teenagers in the other. “I saw Sunday School attendance rise from 15 to 200 youth,” he said. “Working with the youth was important for me.” He thanked everyone for attending the groundbreaking.
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B4 Library News, A3
Two Lutheran Bishops officiated at the ceremony. Bishop Jeffrey Clements from the Northern Illinois Synod led the prayers and the blessings and Bishop Wayne Miller from the Metropolitan Chicago Synod, was the assisting minister for the day.
Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B5 Public Voice, A7 Property Transfers, B5 Reading Matters, A10
Registered Nurse Cindy Schwartz administers a flu vaccination Oct. 7 during the Wellness Fair at the Rock River Center. Photo by Chris Johnson
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1-B2 State’s Attorney, B3 Weather, A3
Deaths, B4 Chad W. Copeland, William G. Himert, Linda N. Little, David C. Wright
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com