Serving the Mt. Morris area since 1967
MT.Times MORRIS January 12, 2017 Volume 50, Number 13 - $1.00
Polo Invitational
Masquerade
Heart Healthy
The Oregon Hawk wrestlers traveled to Polo and earned sixth place. B1
The Polo Area Community Theater is hosting a masquerade ball. A6
Learn how to eat healthy for your heart during a Feb. 2 Extension class. A6
Proposed jail site criticized by residents
usical passion at f irst f ridays Free open stage music event held at Pinecrest Grove Community Center By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecounty news.com Friday evening kicked off 2017’s First Fridays, and the cold didn’t stop local musical talent from rocking at Pinecrest Grove Community Center. For those unfamiliar, First Fridays is an acoustic openstage music show held the first Friday of each month where musicians share their talents in 15-minute sets. Musical styles typically include country, bluegrass, gospel, blues, R&B, folk, soft rock, and even blends of the different styles. Both group and solo acts are strongly encouraged. Around 90 were in attendance Jan. 6, but the event routinely attracts around 200 people, according to Ron Colson - who has been running the show for 16 years. “I think the temperatures
dipping into the negatives might have some affect on the attendance today,” said Colson. “However, that goes to show you just how many people love the event - get out in this cold to be here.” Attendance and performance sign-up are both free, with a good-will donation jar located at the front table to help offset building rental costs. Typically, the donation is appreciated, but not pressured. However, Friday night came with special circumstances: a local performer in trouble. Chadwick resident and country musician Ray Rose is well-known to attendees of First Fridays, and he is currently at OSF St. Anthony’s after suffering a massive stroke. “I know we don’t typically push the donation jar, but we’re breaking that rule today, folks,” said Colson in between
By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com
Ron Colson offered words of support and encouragement for friends and family of musician Ray Rose, who suffered a stroke days prior. Photo by Zach Arbogast.
“I think the temperatures... might have some affect on the attendance ... that goes to show you just how many people love the event - get out in this cold to be here — Ron Colson, show organizer
Turn to A2
The Ogle County Board has drawn fire in recent weeks after announcing its intention to build a new jail on the edge of a residential area in Oregon. The board approved a design concept in November that would put the jail in the 100 block of South Sixth Street, across the street from and connected to the judicial center. City Commissioner Jim Barnes, a former County Board chairman, is one of those who has voiced disapproval. “That’s residential area and the heart of our downtown,” he said. “We have a beautiful town, and that won’t add to the beauty of it.” The county owns the east half of the block, which has been vacant since the houses there were razed several years ago. The west half has several homes and a large, stately Victorian house now converted into a law firm’s offices.
At the December county board meeting, Bryan Zobeck, who lives a block west of the proposed site, also urged members to carefully consider the location, because the downtown as well as the riverfront have been identified as development areas to promote tourism. County Board member Don Griffin, Oregon, who also is head of the county’s Long Range Plan Committee, said other sites were considered, but the Sixth Street location is the best spot. “The main reason is for transporting prisoners [to and from court],” Griffin said. “It’s a safety and security consideration.” The design concept calls for Sixth Street to be closed to traffic, with the new detention center connected to the judicial center by a large sally port across what is now the street. That means prisoners could be walked from the jail to their court appearances. The proposed sally port will be large enough to Turn to A8
Conover project receives a $25,000 anonymous donation By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com An unexpected and generous donation means an Oregon volunteer organization can take the next step in its first project. Hands on Oregon (HOO) received an anonymous gift of $25,000 last week, a perfect start to the new year. Committee member Rick Ryland said the money will be used to hire a contractor to repair the upper level of the south wall of Conover Square. “We’ve worked very hard, but we, as volunteers, do not have the equipment or expertise to finish these upper floors. Now we can hire professional help,” he said. “I thank God for watching over this project. With this anonymous giving of $25,000, we can really move ahead. I personally thank the donor, whoever you are, and may the Good Lord bless you.” HOO, a not-for-profit, was formed in 2015 by Ryland and Jeff Hallock with the purpose of enriching the lives of Oregon citizens through local caring and creating excitement through volunteerism. Moisture and age had caused the south wall of the century-old Conover Square building to deteriorate and bow out — an obvious
“We’ve worked very hard, but we, as volunteers, do not have the equipment or expertise to finish these upper floors. Now we can hire professional help.” — Rick Ryland place to begin. It became the organization’s first project. When HOO offered it assistance, building owner Lou VanderWyst had already shored up the inside of the wall with jacks and was doing what he could to deal with the problem. However, money was tight, and he lacked the amount needed to make the extensive repairs. Ryland, who spearheaded the project, rolled up his sleeves and he and VanderWyst began the arduous process of removing the stucco from the wall’s outside and shoring up the studding, then insulating the wall and sheeting it with plywood and metal siding. More volunteers stepped forward to help, and donations started to come in. Since last December, Ryland said, volunteers have worked more than 1,000 hours to complete 15 of 36 sections of the wall needing repair. The entire south wall will be a solar wall, which will drastically lower the heating cost of the massive 100,000 square foot building, of which 60,000 square feet is heated.
In This Week’s Edition...
Once completed, the outside of the wall will feature a large mural of the American flag, and the names of those who have donated. With this anonymous donation, HOO has now collected over $50,900 with two large donations totaling $40,000; both anonymous. The two-story building with a full basement started as the Schiller Piano Company in 1890. It remained in operation until 1971. The company produced thousands of pianos over the years, and in 1936 merged with the Cable Piano Company and produced pianos under the name Cable and Conover. The original part of the building, VanderWyst said, was built in 1893. Two brick additions were built in the late 1800s or early 1900s. The building became the Conover Square Shopping Mall in 1975, and at first was filled with small shops offering a variety of merchandise. When VanderWyst bought the building 16 years ago, only eight businesses remained.
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B4-B8 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B2 Library News, A3
Hands on Oregon (HOO) recently received $25,000 from an anonymous donor to help with the repairs at Conover Square. Pictured left to right are: HOO members Lou VanderWyst, Sharon Wallace, Clint Strouse, Jeff Hallock, Roselani Aluli-James, Fran Strouse, and Rick Ryland. Photo by Vinde Wells
Ordinances on the agenda By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com Tightening up village ordinances was on the agenda for Tuesday night’s Mt. Morris Village Board meeting. The board was expected to discuss and possibly vote on adopting the 2015 International Property Maintenance Code. As its name suggests,
Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B2 Public Voice, A7 Property Transfers, B3 Sheriff’s Arrests, B3
the code addresses how properties within the village should be kept up. The board has discussed adopting the code as a way of encouraging property owners to keep their homes and businesses cleaned up and well-maintained. In a related matter, the board was scheduled to consider increasing the fines and penalties for violating village ordinances. Also on the agenda was
Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B3 Weather, A2 Zoning Permits, B3
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a presentation from Mike Mudge from Rock River Energy about seeking bids for electrical aggregation. Sewer back-up claims from two residents were also on the list of discussion items. The village board meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 7 p.m. at the village hall, 105 W. Lincoln St. The meetings are open to the public.
Deaths, B3 Kathryn L. Kueking