Serving the Mt. Morris area since 1967
MT.Times MORRIS May 25, 2017 Volume 50, Number 32- $1.00
Headed to State
Champions!
Last Yard Sale
Members of the Hawks track team qualify for the state meet in Charleston. B1
The OHS softball team wins the 2A regional in Rockford, B1
The Last Breast Yard Sale begins May 27 after 15 years of existence. A8
Oregon council approves zoning for new jail By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecountynews.com The proposed new Ogle County Jail squeaked past one obstacle Tuesday evening when the Oregon City Council approved a rezoning request by a 3 to 2 vote. The council approved the county board’s request to rezone, from single family residential to commercial, five county-owned lots in the 100 block of South Sixth
WWII recreated near Oregon By Earleen Hinton ehinton@oglecounty news.com Two of the Andrew Sisters sat in the sunshine at the picnic table chatting softly with U.S. Cavalry Captain Ronald Reagan when suddenly a German motorcade buzzed by on the dirt road and shots rang out. The BMW motorcycle sped ahead with the German officer calling out commands, nurses ran through the tall grass as they scurried to their field hospital, a tank revved up, spun around in the mud, and started firing at Allied troops to the east. Within seconds the normally peaceful pasturelike field at the Stronghold Camp and Retreat Center was transformed into a battleground in Austria, circa May 5, 1945. The re-enactment, orchestrated and performed by 360-plus members of the World War Two Historical Re-enacting Society, was one of four re-created battles that culminated a week-long celebration of Armed Forces Week. “Germany has been invaded at this point by the Russians, French, Polish, American, and British troops. There is ever increasing small areas of Germany that are still up for resistance. The German military was very disciplined and they still presented a formidable force in opposition to the Allies in this late stage of the war, ” said a German re-enactor as he addressed Sunday’s audience. The inaugural event was
Street, where the board plans to build a new 180-bed jail. City commissioners Jim Barnes and Tom Izer cast the no votes, while commissioners Kurt Wilson and Terry Schuster and mayor Ken Williams voted yes. However, the biggest hurdle is yet to come on June 27 when the city council considers a second county request to vacate the same block of South Sixth to allow the jail to connect to the judicial center
via a large sally port across where the street is now. That vote will take at least four yes votes for approval. The Oregon Planning Commission recommended both requests by a 4 to 2 vote on May 18. Williams said the request to vacate the street was not considered Tuesday it depended on the rezoning. “If this didn’t pass we wouldn’t need the second one,” he said.
“Now we need to see what the jail would look like if the street isn’t vacated.” County board chairman Kim Gouker said he appreciated the council’s vote on the rezoning. “We’re pleased that the council followed the recommendation of the Planning Commission and approved a rezoning request that is in their Comprehensive Plan,” he said. “It was a difficult decision,”
Williams said. “I think there were good arguments on both sides.” In a presentation to the council, Gouker said the new jail has been part of the county’s long range plan for 17 years. Specifics of the jail plan have been researched for the last two years, he said, “from location to the size and operation.” “The process was completed with the top priority to find a plan that Turn to A8
Casey’s in Polo robbed Police are looking for two white masked men who robbed the Casey’s General Store at 120 N. Division Ave. at gunpoint around 4:15 Sunday morning. The two Caucasian men – who were wearing bandanas and hoodies, and one of whom was brandishing a handgun – took an undisclosed amount of cash and fled on foot, Polo Police Chief Kurt Cavanaugh said in a news release. No one was injured. Illinois State Police crime scene investigators are assisting. Anyone with information Tom and Myrna Snodgrass, Mt. Morris, look over an Army vehicle and visit with a participant in the World War II is asked to call Polo police at 815-946-3912 or Ogle Re-enactment Sunday at Stronghold Castle. Photo by Earleen Hinton County Crime Stoppers at “It was awesome,” Todd prisoners being held in the held Saturday and Sunday at German soldiers tapped out 888-228-4488. Stronghold with German and messages on vintage radio said, though Susan chuckled castle,” said Rich Russo, Allied troops making camp equipment to troops using and said their son forgot to a member of the society’s warn them how loud it would event development team and in Stronghold Castle and its Morse Code. a German re-enactor. SS officers set up their be. surrounding grounds. An SS solider cooked Elsewhere, Kirra Nelson, Saturday’s rain didn’t headquarters on the first deter visitors from making floor and in the Great 4, of Oregon, didn’t mind it cabbage and ham over an open fire near the reflecting demonstrations so much. their way to Stronghold, Room “I like the guns shooting,” pool as soldiers covertly located two miles north of about military uniforms and Motorists on two Ogle lined up on the one roof County roads need to keep an she said. weapons were held. Oregon. Her mom, Jordan Nelson, overlooking the serene eye on the speedometer. On the other side of Isaiah Akins, age 11, of Polo, was at the event the castle, a European 26, of Oregon, said they saw courtyard scene. Then the The county board voted served bratwurst the signs advertising the battle took place with guns May 16 to lower the speed with his family to collect Cafe sauerkraut dishes battle and thought it would blaring and soldiers falling. limits on portions of Daysville information for his upcoming and “We try to make everything and Ridge Roads. to workers as women in be interesting to see. Ogle County Fair project. County engineer Jeremy “I liked it all,” Jordan said. look as historically realistic “He took pictures, held uniforms hammered out some guns, and wore a communications on manual “ I’ve never been to one of as possible,” Russo said to Ciesiel said the changes went the crowd surrounding the into effect immediately and these, so it’s cool.” German helmet,” his mom typewriters. will be enforced as soon as the Later in the day, the courtyard. Three of the battles were said. Katelynn Opalka, age new signs are in place. When visitors entered re-enacted in a large open Battle for Castle Itter, was The speed limit will be the main gate at the event field, located northwest of recreated. With Waffen SS 20, of Medina, Ohio, was coming to possibly execute a member of the German reduced from 55 mph to they were given a copy of the castle. The crowd erupted into the French prisoners still Field Hospital, located in the 50 mph on Daysville Road a German passport to enter between Second Street in the castle, which had been applause as the battle in the being held in the castle, an castle’s courtyard. Daysville and Lowden Road. “I play what is kind of transformed into Castle Itter, field wound down Saturday Austrian resistance officer On Ridge Road, the speed an Austrian castle that was and medical scenarios began talked to American soldiers like a candy striper,” she limit will be in two steps. The actually used by the SS as playing out in the field in the area and the two said at the USO Show on 40 mph will now extend from entities ended up fighting Saturday night. “I’ve loved the north of the curves going a prisoner of war camp for hospital. history my entire life and my into Grand Detour to near Todd Mann, 50, and together against the SS. high profile French prisoners “One of the strangest grandfather was in World Wisconsin Street, and the 55 his wife, Susan, 52, both throughout the war. A round room just of Geneva watched with battles of World War II was War II.” mph limit will be reduced to 50 Mark Ferry, age 22, of mph from north of the curves under the first archway their son Wyatt, 20, also of the Battle of Itter Castle Americans and Crown Point, Indiana, who to Edgewood Road. to the Stronghold Castle, Geneva, as he played his where was transformed into a part in the re-enactment as a Germans fought together In other business, the board Turn to A2 posted the following vacancies against the SS to protect the communication center where German soldier. on area committees and boards: • one on the Franklin Grove Fire Protection District Board, • one on the Lost Lake River Conservancy District, Speakers will be Marine Protection District Color their honor at the Memorial The public is invited to the • one on the Board of Health, veteran and American Legion Guard will present the colors, Fountain. sixth annual Memorial Day Vice Commander Mike Fay accompanied by a member of The Mt. Morris American Potluck from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at must be a dentist, • four on the Civic Center and Commander Stan Ballard. the American Legion. Legion firing squad, the the Mt. Morris Moose Lodge. Authority Board The event includes the The program continues at 11 benediction, and “Taps” will Sandwiches will be • one on the Byron Museum reading of “The a.m. at the American Legion’s conclude the service. provided. Bring a dish to pass. District Board. Gettysburg Address” and Veterans Memorial Fountain, In case of rain and storms, Admission is free. The deadline to submit “In Flanders Fields” as well also located on the campus. the event will be held at the applications and resumes is as vocal selections sung by The names of deceased Mt. Mt. Morris Moose Lodge, 101 The potluck is co-hosted 4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 2 Nellie Winters. Morris veterans will be read Moose Drive, beginning at 10 by the Moose and American at the Ogle County Clerk’s The Mt. Morris Fire and wreaths will be placed in a.m. Legion. office.
Speed is reduced
Legion, Moose to co-host Memorial Day program Mt. Morris American Legion Post 143 will host the annual Memorial Day Program on Monday, May 29 at the Mt. Morris Campus Band Shell at the corner of Wesley Avenue and Main Street, one block south of Ill. 64. The band shell program begins at 10 a.m.
In This Week’s Edition...
Church Bells, A5 Classifieds, B8-B12 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B6 Marriage Licenses, A4
Mt. Morris Library, A3 Mt. Morris Police, A2 Oregon Library, A6 Public Voice, B4 Property Transfers, B6
RRC Activities, A6 Sheriff’s Arrests, B5 Social News, A4 Sports, A10, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B6
Deaths, B5 Bonnie Jean Daniels, Mark O’Hara, Eugene C. Vogt
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com