Serving the Mt. Morris area since 1967
MT.Times MORRIS April 27, 2017 Volume 50, Number 28 - $1.00
Bakery to Open
Harp Concert
22-mile Walk
The new Village Bakery is slated to open in May in downtown Oregon. A2
An angelic harp concert will be performed on Sunday. A10
An OHS student vows to walk 22 miles to raise awareness of PTSD suicides. A10
Rep. Demmer pledges support for statue repairs By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com The Black Hawk Statue remains shrouded in black while the state budget is in the red, but a state representative promises to do what he can to help both. “I will strongly advocate for including the Black Hawk restoration project in any capital bill discussions, and will continue to stay in communication with DNR [Illinois Department of Natural Resources] for updates and news regarding the project,” State Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) wrote in an email last Friday. The much-needed repairs to the surface of the 106-year-old Black Hawk Statue at Lowden State Park near Oregon have been side-tracked by the state legislature’s failure to pass a budget and red tape. Meanwhile, the local landmark has been wrapped in black plastic since late last November to protect it from further damage. Demmer said he has been in frequent contact with IDNR officials and has found out that the agency, which
has authority over the statue, has earmarked $50,000 to pay for the architecture and engineering study and scope of work, which has been completed and will be released upon payment, which is expected to happen soon. When the IDNR has received the scope of work report, they will share it with the two conservators who have been approved by IDNR and by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (IHPA), Demmer said. “While DNR has been able to find funds to pay for the study, they do not have budget room to pay for the actual restoration work,” Demmer wrote in his email. “They said they will need funding from a state capital bill in order to complete the restoration.” “Talk of a capital bill has been ongoing during the state budget impasse, and has been talked about as part of a larger deal to resolve the impasse,” he wrote. Attempts to get information from IDNR officials have been unsuccessful, although IDNR Director of Communications Ed Cross Turn to A2
David Swaziek, the father of Megan Wells, speaks to supporters in front of the Ogle County Judicial Center before a court hearing for Marc Mongan on Tuesday. Photo by Earleen Hinton
Parents want special prosecutor By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com A Rockford attorney is asking that a special prosecutor is appointed in a case involving a fatal boating crash last summer on the Rock River near Oregon. Cynthia Koroll, an attorney hired by David and Robin Swaziek, Rockford, filed a motion in Ogle County Court Tuesday asking Judge John
Redington to replace Ogle County State’s Attorney Eric Morrow as prosecutor in the case against Oregon resident Marc Mongan. Mongan is charged with two misdemeanors, operating a watercraft while under the influence of alcohol and reckless operation of a watercraft and has pleaded not guilty to both. The Swazieks’ daughter Megan Wells, 31, Rockford, died June 24, 2016 when
a johnboat operated by Mongan went over the back of the pontoon boat she was riding in and struck her, throwing her overboard. An Ogle County Grand Jury that met in December failed to indict Mongan on more serious felony charges. Koroll also presented a motion to name the Swazieks as crime victims in the case. Redington continued the case until June 13 when he will rule on the motions.
David Swaziek was pleased with the outcome of the hearing because he has been critical all along of Morrow’s handling of the case. “There should have been felony charges,” he said after the hearing. “We don’t think he [Morrow] vigorously prosecuted this. With the mountain of evidence we need someone else to take a look at it.” Turn to A2
Eighth graders from the David L. Rahn Junior High in Mt. Morris pose with the wooden flags they made as a class project. Pictured at upper far left and upper far right are teachers Mark Gale and Danny Gale who spearheaded the project. Photo by Earleen Hinton
Eighth graders create flags from reclaimed wood 126 part of project By Earleen Hinton ehinton@oglecountynews.com It was a sea of homemade red, white, and blue Monday afternoon as 126 eighth grade students from the David L. Rahn Junior High displayed their unique school
projects. Seated in the bleachers in the school’s gym, the students held American flags they created from reclaimed wood. The project was the brainchild of the father-son teacher team of Mark and Danny Gale. “We really wanted to celebrate our veterans this year and we
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thought this would be a good way to show our patriotism,” said Mark Gale, who teaches math. His son Danny, teaches history and art. Eighth grade twins, Jed and Jayden Bothe, explained how the project evolved. “We started out by learning how to safely use the chop saw and nail gun,” said Jayden. “We
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measured out the wood and made it proportional to an actual flag.” “We made a scale at a desk and then we cut the wood,” Jed said. “Then we nailed it all together and brought it the art room to be painted.” Jayden said students had two options when it came to choosing the paint.
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“There was a bold, bright option and the other was more rustic so each student could choose,” she said. “I chose the brighter colors and Jed chose the rustic.” “All the wood was reclaimed wood,” said Mark Gale. Some students planned on keeping their projects while others talked about maybe selling theirs.
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