Serving the Mt. Morris area since 1967
MT.Times MORRIS February 16, 2017 Volume 50, Number 18 - $1.00
Ready for Regionals
Jail Info
Day of Dabbling
Boys basketball teams are playing their final games before next week’s regional. B1
Information about the proposed jail is in the mail. A7
Sign-up now for the annual 4-H Day of Dabbling event scheduled for Feb. 25 A4
Nelson is sending treats to troops
Club marks 100 years
By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecountynews.com
By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com A well-known Leaf River area organization will celebrate 100 years of community service this week. The Merry Martha Club, formed Feb. 22, 1917, will hold its 100th anniversary dinner on Feb. 18 at the Bertolet Memorial Building, Leaf River. The ladies of the Silver Creek community south of Leaf River met a century ago at the home of Mrs. John Long for the purpose of organizing a women’s club. It was the intention of the club to develop community interest, have social affairs, and to aid charitable enterprises whenever possible. Members did sewing projects which were sold and the proceeds given to community projects. The first slate of officers was elected as follows: president, Mrs. Roy Stukenberg; vice president, Mrs. John Long; secretary and treasurer, Mrs. Murray Welty. Since the day of its
Merry Martha Club members Jan Lawrence and Sharon Nordman hold the club’s centennial quilt. The two were selling raffle tickets Feb. 11 at the Leaf River Lions Club breakfast. Lawrence made the quilt. Photo by Vinde Wells
organization was George Washington’s birthday, they chose the name Merry Martha for the club in faithfulness to their country. The 14 ladies present for the meeting became charter members of the Merry Martha Club. They were Mrs. John Long, Mrs. Roy (Bessie) Stukenberg, Mrs. Jack (Ruth) Cornell, Mrs. Martin (Anna) Zellers, Mrs. William (Ada) Hammond, Mrs. Murray (Alice) Welty, Mrs. Grayson (Cora) Welty, Mrs. Clint (Edna) Croft, Mrs. Fred (Emma) Cornell, Mrs. Fred
(Minnie) Paul, Mrs. Merritt (Maude) Felker, Mrs. Floyd (Ella) Zellers, Mrs. Wilbur (Emma) Zellers and Miss Virgie Welty. In the by-laws of the club, membership dues for the year were 25 cents to be paid in advance and each member paid one cent at each meeting. The refreshments were to consist of not more than two kinds of food and one drink. Each member was asked to wear a plain house dress. If any member was absent, she was asked to pay five cents. The meetings were to be held
the first and third Fridays of each month. Eligibility required that members live on either side of the square bounded by Leaf River Road, West Grove Road, Mt. Morris Road, and Town Line Road. Within a few weeks of the first meeting, Mrs. Ben Horst, Mrs. Ray Avey and Mrs. Henry Schreiber became members of the club. During the years, amendments were added to the by-laws of the club such as: Turn to A3
Inspired by her brother, Oregon sophomore Isabelle Nelson is organizing a “Treats for Troops” program that will send care packages overseas to servicemen and women. Snacks, toiletries, hygienic supplies, and simple tokens of appreciation are just some of the items she hopes to include in the packages. The program is slated to launch in mid-April and she is currently seeking donations. Nelson, age 15, found her inspiration through her brother Ian, age 27, an Army Captain who has served twice in Afghanistan - first in 2012 and again last June. “My brother loves getting things from home,” she said. “It got me thinking that it would really stink to see someone getting nice things from people that care about them, and not get any themselves.” That home in question is Oregon, where Isabelle and Ian have grown up with their parents Michael Nelson and Margo Gardner. Nelson first showed the program concept last December at the Open Program Fair at the Oregon High School, which displayed several community service projects being coordinated by OHS sophomores. Since then, she has received donation offers from the local churches and businesses; Oregon United Methodist, Turn to A2
Family gathers for justice and answers By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com The family and friends of a Rockford woman killed last summer in a boating accident came to the Ogle County Judicial Center Tuesday morning seeking justice and answers. “We’re here for Megan. We just want some questions answered,” said Dave Swaziek, Rockford, the father of Megan Wells. Wells, 31, died June 24, 2016 when two boats collided on the Rock River three miles north of Oregon. Swaziek and a dozen or so family members and friends gathered Feb. 14 in front of the judicial center after a pre-trial hearing for Marc Mongan, 46, who has been charged with two misdemeanors in connection with the crash. The group held signs with Wells’ photo, and some also wore pins bearing her picture. Mongan is charged with operating a watercraft while under the influence of alcohol and reckless operation of a watercraft and has pleaded not guilty to both. Swaziek said he believes Mongan has received special treatment from the court
system and should have been charged with felonies rather than misdemeanors. He filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and has received a 149-page document that includes the report of the conservation officer who investigated the accident. “It’s very disheartening to see what’s in here [the report] and what’s happening and what we’ve been told,” Swaziek said. Ogle County State’s Attorney Eric Morrow said Tuesday that an Ogle County Grand Jury met last December and failed to indict Mongan on felony charges. Morrow said he presented all the evidence and called witnesses to testify before the grand jury. “When we presented everything to the grand jury they did not believe there was probable cause,” he said. He said he has met with Wells’ family members several times in an effort to answer their questions. “We’re open to sitting down with them again in the future,” Morrow said. “This is a terrible tragedy.” Wells, the mother of three small children, was a
In This Week’s Edition...
The family and friends of Megan Wells, 31, Rockford, hold her photos Feb. 14 after a hearing for Marc Mongan at the Ogle County Judicial Center. Mongan faces misdemeanor charges in a boating crash on the Rock River in which Wells died June 24. Pictured left to right are her parents Dave and Robin Swaziek, Boots Gillam, Amber Gillam, Jerramie Bertness, Kristen Mitchell, sister Melissa Swaziek, Nick Miramonte, Diane Wall, and Eric Gillam. Photo by Vinde Wells
passenger on a pontoon boat when a johnboat operated by Mongan went over the back of it and struck her, throwing her overboard and killing her. The collision occurred at 8:40 p.m. Nicholas Lamb, 29, Oregon, a passenger in Mongan’s boat was injured
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B5-B10 Entertainment, A6 Marriage License, A4 Oregon Police, B3
and taken to a Rockford hospital. The pontoon boat was operated by David Daily, 52, Leaf River, and other passengers were Phillip Lukes, 52, Chicago; and Sherry Bushre, 59, Chicago. They refused treatment at the scene, as did Mongan.
Property Transfers, B3 Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B3
Mongan’s criminal case was continued in court Tuesday morning with a status hearing set for March 7. Wells’ husband Robbie Wells has filed a civil lawsuit against Mongan. That case is also pending in Ogle County Court.
“Megan didn’t do anything wrong. She was just sitting in a boat,” Swaziek said. “Megan has rights too. We’re not going away.” Editor’s note: Vinde Wells, who wrote this story, is not related to Megan Wells.
Deaths, B4 Donald J. Arshem, Angela G. Bergstrom, Arlyn E. Bryson, Marian I. Ditzler, Robert L. Donegan, Sally M. Fager, Carolyn S. Janicke, Robert A. Karrow, Thomas J. Leddy III, Phyllis E. Mennenga
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com