Serving the Mt. Morris area since 1967
MT.Times MORRIS November 17, 2016 Volume 50, Number 5 - $1.00
Season Preview
Polo Theater
Elkhorn Creek
The Lady Hawks are ready to begin the 20162017 basketball season. B1
“It’s A Wonderful Life” will be performed on Dec. 2, 3 in Polo. A6
The Audubon Society will host a field trip Saturday to learn about biodiversity. A6
Former sheriff had his day in court last week Michael Harn pleads not guilty to theft charges By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com Former Ogle County Sheriff Michael Harn pleaded not guilty in Ogle County Court Nov. 10 to charges that he used county funds for his own use while he was in office. Carroll County Judge Val Gunnarsson, who is presiding over the case, set Harn’s bond at $10,000 on his own recognizance.
Under the bond conditions, Harn is prohibited from possessing firearms. Gunnarsson set Harn’s next court appearance for Dec. 19. Harn, 54, was charged Oct. 12 with two counts of felony theft. According to court documents, he is accused of buying numerous items with county funds, including electronic equipment, boat equipment, radio-controlled toys, party tents, coolers, weapons, hunting guns, Harley-Davidson clothing and accessories, adult novelty items, and outdoor fountains. Mt. Morris American Legion Commander Stan Ballard addresses a crowd of veterans, students, and parents at the Turn to A8 Veteran’s Day program Nov. 11 at DL Rahn Junior High, Mt. Morris. Photo by Vinde Wells
Veterans Day
County Board votes for Sixth St. jail plan
Big heart, little library
By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com
Mary Gardener was surprised by friends By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecountynews.com A surprise dedication brought tears and smiles to a longtime reading teacher Saturday morning. Mary Gardner, Mt. Morris, was clearly touched by the presentation of two Little Free Libraries – one in her honor and the other in memory of her late husband Ewell. “He would have loved that,” Mary said, as she looked over the twin, roofed book cabinets. “I’m very honored.” The Oregon Elementary School Literacy Team, which Mary was part of before her retirement, presented Mary and her family with the little libraries. The event clearly took her by surprise, which was exactly what the
Mary Gardener, Mt. Morris, examines the two new Little Libraries that are dedicated to her and her late husband Ewell. Photo by Vinde Wells
team had planned. Her sons Brad and Ben and daughter-in-law Amy were in on the plot, and came from Chicago and Des Moines, Iowa, for the dedication. They brought Mary to the home of fellow-teacher Donna Wells where she was greeted by her enthusiastic co-workers. The Oregon Lions Club and Oregon Boosters helped sponsor the project.
For the presentation, the libraries were temporarily situated on a hay rack on Wells’ front lawn. Wells said Ewell made macaroni and cheese and sandwiches for the youngsters who attended the Lot 12 mentoring program at Mt. Morris Estates. He died last July, and one of the little libraries will go to Lot 12 in his Turn to A2
Fire stands made for Candlelight Walk y Earleen Hinton B ehinton@oglecounty news.com Visitors to this year’s Candlelight Walk will want to give a nod to the employees of an Oregon manufacturing company while they warm up by one of the brand new fire stands on Candy Cane Lane. Workers from E.D. Etnyre & Co, located on S. Daysville Road, designed and then created the metal fire stands last week, just in time for the annual Nov. 26 event in Oregon. “The Oregon Chamber of Commerce and The Candlelight Walk Committee are so excited and extremely grateful for this generous contribution from the E. D. Etnyre crew,” said Debbie Dickson, executive director of the Oregon Chamber of Turn to A7
Here are some of the E.D. Etnyre employees who worked on the fire stands for Candlelight Walk. Pictured left to right, are: Kathy Taylor, Sarah Cahill, Shawn Schwartzrock, Nate Linboom, Joshua Hawkins, Doug Heilemeier, Kurt Vail, and Jesse Mazanec. Employees Al Jensen, Bryan Geiger, and Byron Hogan were not present when the photo was taken. Photo by Earleen Hinton
In This Week’s Edition...
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B5-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B4 Library News, A3
Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B3 Public Voice, A7 Property Transfers, B3 Sheriff’s Arrests, B3
South Sixth Street in Oregon is the preferred location for the proposed Ogle County Jail. The Ogle County Board approved a resolution Tuesday evening for the concept design of the new jail located in the 100 block of South Sixth Street across the street from the judicial center. Jeff Goodale, Director of Justice at HOK, a Chicago architectural and planning firm, presented a design which was fine-tuned from the one he bought to the board last month. HOK was hired a year ago to do a jail needs assessment.
Like last month’s the drawing shows South Sixth Street closed to traffic with a sally port across what is now the street connecting the new detention center to the judicial center. Oregon Mayor Ken Williams said Tuesday that the city council has not yet discussed whether or not to close South Sixth Street between Washington and Jefferson Streets. However, he has received a formal request from Ogle County Board Chairman Kim Gouker asking the city to vacate the street. “We’re doing an engineering study,” Williams said. “Once we have the results of the study, it will go to the Planning Commission and then to the city council.”
Proposed railroad is opposed by officials By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com Following the lead of other affected counties, the Ogle County Board came out in opposition Tuesday to the proposed Great Lakes Basin Railroad. The board approved a resolution, by a vote of 23 to 1, that says members believe “the purported gains in efficiency from the proposed rail line would be far outweighed by the negative environmental impact.” The decision was applauded by a large group of people in the audience who are opposed to the rail line. Board member Ron Colson, Mt. Morris, cast the only negative vote. “We really don’t know what we’re dealing with,” Colson said. “There’s already been two plans; there
Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B4 Weather, A3
could be four or five.” “I can’t really see any benefit to our county of this railroad,” said board member Bill Welty, Chana. The rail system would be funded by private investors led by Frank Patton, Crete, a former software developer. If approved by the Surface Transportation Board of the U.S. Department of Transportation, the rail line will extend from Milton, Wisconsin, to La Porte, Indiana, passing through Scott, White Rock, Lynnville, Dement, and Flagg Townships on the east side of Ogle County. Tom Smith, Kings, who was elected to the county board Nov. 8, spoke in behalf of residents opposed to the project. He said information about the proposal has been sketchy. “There’s so many Turn to A3
Deaths, B4 George D. Chester, Rosa Ditto, Theodore (Ted) M. Gapinski
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com