Serving the Mt. Morris area since 1967
MT.Times MORRIS December 1, 2016 Volume 50, Number 7 - $1.00
Tough Finish
Earth Angels
PACT Performs
The Oregon Hawks faced a tough Milledgeville team during the Thanksgiving Tournament. B1
Volunteers are needed to assist with a Christmas tradition. A6
“It’s A Wonderful Life” will be performed in Polo Dec. 2-4 at the Buffalo Town Hall. A8
Row crops remain on village’s conditional use list By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com Certain agricultural activities remain on the list of conditional uses in areas zoned residential in Mt. Morris. The village board rejected a motion by a 3-2 vote Nov. 22 to approve a new ordinance which did not include growing row crops as a conditional use.
Board members Don Sorenson, Shane Pope, and Tim Harvey voted no, while Jon Murray and Phil Labash voted yes. Jeff Pennington did not attend the meeting. The vote is the latest action taken on an ongoing controversy that stems back to early this year when Dan Luepkes requested a special use to plant agricultural crops on his 12 acres that wraps around the bowling alley and is adjacent to both
Mud Creek and Leaf River Roads. Residents of Katie’s Way voiced strong opposition throughout the discussions to having farm crops growing so close to their homes. After lengthy discussion, the board approved row crops, such as corn or soybeans, as a conditional use on parcels of 10 acres or more. However, the board changed its mind and on Oct.
11 approved, by a 4 to 3 vote, a recommendation from the Planning Commission to remove language allowing farming from the zoning code and authorized village attorney Rob LeSage to prepare new ordinances to that end. Village President Dan Elsasser was forced to cast the deciding yes vote, after three board members voted yes and the other three voted no.
Elsasser’s vote was required to break the tie. Voting yes then were Labash, Sorenson, and Murray, while Pennington, Pope, and Harvey voted no. When the new ordinance, without farming as a conditional use, was considered two weeks later on Oct. 25, the motion to approve it died for lack of a second. LeSage explained that the same motion could be
brought up and voted on again so quickly because not getting a second “makes it like nothing happened.” In another matter, Steve Mongan, 407 E. Front St., asked the board to limit parking in front of his house to residential only. Mongan said employees at Sullivan’s Foods are being told by supervisors that they cannot park their vehicles Turn to A2
Christmas on the Village Square Free crafts, visits with Santa and more during annual festive event By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com A live nativity, treelighting, and visits from Santa will highlight Saturday’s Christmas on the Village Square in Mt. Morris. The day begins and ends with visits from Santa, and several businesses will host open houses throughout the day and evening to ring in the Christmas season in the community. More than 100 nativity scenes will be on display at the Old Sandstone Gallery from 5 to 8 p.m., while a live nativity will be in a nearby yard. The lighting of the village Christmas tree on the downtown campus is set for 5 p.m., just after Santa there arrives by firetruck. A display of lighted Christmas trees, sponsored by the Mt. Morris Work Group, will once again decorate the band shell. The trees are provided and decorated by local individuals, organizations, and businesses. Breakfast with Santa Mt. Morris Senior Center will host a pancake breakfast open house fundraiser on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 8 to 11 a.m. Santa’s elves will be at the senior center to assist children with writing letters to Santa, and then at 10:30 a.m. they will walk to the post office and mail their letters. The children may also participate in Christmas bingo and coloring contest. Good will donations will be accepted, and all proceeds benefit the senior center and United Way. Craft Fair The Pinecrest Grove Community Center will host a craft and vendor fair, along
This tree, decorated by the Loaves and Fish Food Pantry, is one of several on display at the band shell in downtown Mt. Morris. Photo by Lynne Wilburn
with a bake sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Kids’ Party All kids ages 4-12 are invited to Christmas party at 11 a.m. at the Evangelical Free Church of Mt. Morris, 102 S. Seminary Ave. This free event will feature a performance by the church’s puppet team and a magic show. There will be treats, balloons, and fun for all. Parents are also invited; children under the age of 8 need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Story Time Story Time with Mrs. Santa will be held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Mt. Morris Public Library. Milk and cookies will be provided. Open Houses Union Savings Bank will
host an open house from 9 a.m. to noon with cookies in the lobby. Stop by the Pinecrest Grove home from 12 to 3 p.m. and pick a gift from under the tree - one per family while the supply lasts. Pinecrest Community’s annual Christmas open house will be held at Pinecrest Manor from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Enjoy homemade cookies, a Cliff’s donut, freshly made kettle corn, and holiday entertainment. Santa will be here to listen to your Christmas list. Don’t forget your camera. Pictures with Santa will be available for a $1 donation to the Good Samaritan Fund, one per person please. Be sure to notice the trees throughout the Manor decorated by local businesses and organizations. This year’s trees are decorated by Dixon Church
of the Brethren, Polished Hair and Nails, Crosswalk Community Church, Union Savings Bank-Mt. Morris, 4-H, and Serenity Hospice. If you would like to purchase donuts, Cliff’s will be in Pinecrest Manor’s parking lot (414 S. Wesley Ave.) from 2:30 to 4 p.m. selling donuts. Mel’s Custom Graphics, 3 E. Ill. 64, will hold an open house from 5 to 9 p.m. They will do live T-shirt painting demonstrations throughout the evening. Personalized gifts will be on hand or bring yours in to be personalized. Santa Claus will be at the Mt. Morris Shell Station, at the corner of Hitt Street (Ill. 64) and Wesley Avenue, on Saturday, Dec. 3 after the tree lighting at Christmas on the Village Square. Youngsters and their parents are invited for complimentary hot chocolate and treats while they visit with Santa, who will be at the gas station until 7 p.m. Nativities on Display A free gallery show of nativity scenes from around the world will be open from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Old Sandstone Gallery on the Mt. Morris campus, just west of the band shell. The show includes more than 100 nativity scenes shared by Ginny Hough, a local Mt. Morris collector, and other families who are sharing their nativities and stories associated with them. A live nativity scene will also be present in the nearby yard, along with luminaries, special lighting outside and inside the Gallery, live music by Mary Ley and vocalists from Oregon High School, hourly Bible readings of the Christmas story by area pastors, and refreshments.
Hannah Dinderman, age 6, Pearl City, works on a Christmas craft at a kids activity at the Winter Carnival during Candlelight Walk as her sister Elizabeth, age 9, watches. Photo by Earleen Hinton
Candlelight Walk had a good crowd By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com What may be a record crowd came out Saturday evening for the official kick off of the Christmas season at Oregon’s 30th Candlelight Walk. People of all ages thronged the streets, downtown businesses, Coliseum, and Conover Square to enjoy the decorations, music, bargains, tasty treats, and holiday atmosphere. “We are extremely
pleased at the attendance,” Oregon Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Debbie Dickson said Monday. “We don’t have the numbers tallied yet, but it appears it was the largest crowd in several years. At least 550 people rode the wagon rides.” Horsedrawn wagons, complete with sleigh bells, provided rides all evening throughout the downtown. Dickson said she talked with several people who were attending the event for the first time. Turn to A9
Retiring county board member recognized for service By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com Longtime sheriff and county board member Jerry Brooks was honored recently for his half-century of service to Ogle County. The county board approved a resolution Nov.
15 naming Brooks, 84, Oregon, an honorary Ogle County Board member for life. According to the resolution, Brooks has served the county for 53 years, beginning as a deputy sheriff in 1963. He went on to serve 20 years as sheriff from 1970
In This Week’s Edition...
to 1990, the longest of any sheriff, and then served on the county board for another 21 years. Brooks said he did not expect the award that came at his final board meeting. He did not seek re-election this year. “I was surprised,” he said Friday. “I felt very honored
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B4
that the board would do that for me.” Brooks also served on the National Sheriff Board of Directors for 17 years while he was sheriff. According to the resolution, Brook’s name has appeared on 44 different ballots without a single loss. Over the years, he ran for
Guest Columns, A7, B3 Library News, A3 Marriage Licenses, A4 Public Voice, A7
sheriff, the National Sheriff Board of Directors, county board, and Republican precinct committeeman. He said he enjoyed his years on public service. “I want to thank the residents of Ogle County for allowing me to serve them all those years,” Brooks said. “This is a good county, and it
Property Transfers, B4 Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2
has good people.” Born and raised in the county, Brooks said he really didn’t set out to be a police officer. His career started with Ogle Service Company where he sold farm supplies. He then took a job in Dixon Turn to A4
Deaths, B4 & B5
Richard W. Bentley, Helen E. Borneman, Michael C. Greve Sr., Grant G. Groenewold, Kenneth I. Heeren, Virginia L. Schnorr, Arlen C. Wright
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com