Serving the Mt. Morris area since 1967
MT.Times MORRIS June 1, 2017 Volume 50, Number 33 - $1.00
Softball Ousted Oregon High School’s softball team falls to Sterling Newman in tourney play. B1
Special Run
At the Band Shell
The Special Olympics torch will be brought to Oregon June 7. A6
Lizzi Neal will kick off Friday Night Concerts June 2 and the Kable Concert Band plays June 14. A2
Oregon seniors achieve special milestones May 28 By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com
Nava-Moyotl first in family to get diploma Getting her high school diploma marked much more than a milestone for one member of the Oregon Class of 2017 and her family. Mayra Nava-Moyotl was the first person in her family to graduate from high school. Pride in the well-deserved accomplishment showed in her wide smile Sunday afternoon. “I’m pretty excited,” she said after the commencement ceremony. Nava-Moyotl plans to attend Sauk Valley Community College this fall to pursue a career as a physical therapist. “I can’t wait to be a physical therapist,” she said. “It’s one of my dreams.” She graduated magna cum laude and achieved being a Premier Scholar. Nava-Moyotl was one of 137 OHS seniors who graduated in a ceremony at the Blackhawk Center. Commencement speaker Braden Barton, a member of the OHS Class of 2012, advised the seniors to pursue their dreams despite discouragement from others. Now a filmmaker in Los Angeles, Barton said his family doctor was less than impressed with his career choice. “He said ‘take almost any other job’,” Barton said with a smile. Since then, he said, his response to naysayers has become, “I’ve only just begun,” a tactic he advised the seniors to try. Class valedictorian Taylor Egan encouraged her classmates to imagine
life as a football game with graduation as their first touchdown. “In some places, we may lose yardage,” she said, “but we have to keep pushing toward the goal.” Salutatorian Ellen Reckamp told her fellowseniors she was proud to be a part of the class, as she recounted their accomplishments and awards. Principal Andrew Nelson also listed off the accomplishments of the class, including 15 who earned Silver Service Awards by doing more than 400 hours of community service, and 27 who were named Premier Scholars. Allyse Ketter amassed 1,047 Silver Service points, followed closely by Reckamp with 1,035. To be named a Premier Scholar, students must have a 3.0 grade point average or increase their GPA by a point between the end of their freshman year and beginning of their senior year; participate in eight seasons of athletics, activities, or clubs; complete at least 80 hours of
community service by third quarter of their senior year; exhibit good citizenship throughout high school; and successfully complete at least one advanced placement or dual credit course. Nine seniors were earned the Ultimate Hawk Award by being three-sport athletes throughout their four years at OHS. Nelson also recognized five seniors who are entering the Armed Forces after graduation — Anna Eikstadt, Jacob Hagemann, Zack Hawkins, Rhys Howells, and Blane Powell. He said the class earned approximately $350,000 in scholarships, and 23 of them scored 25 or better on the ACT, with four of those attaining a 30 or better. Fourteen seniors achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA and another 57 achieved a 3.0. Seventy-nine percent successfully completed at least one college level course via the advanced placement and dual credit programs. The class also logged more than 16,456 hours of community service, a school record.
Above, Mayra Nava-Moyotl smiles as she receives her diploma from school board member Corey Buck. Below, Kelsey Handschuh and Luis Guzman smile to the crowd as they exit the Blackhawk Center following commencement on Sunday. Photos by Earleen Hinton
Oregon High School Valedictorian Taylor Egan speaks at the commencement ceremony. Photo by Earleen Hinton
Board give OK for downtown banners By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecounty news.com The Mt. Morris Village Board approved of a set of banners May 23 showcasing Mt. Morris landmarks, attracting travelers, and adding beauty to the area. The double-sided banners will be hung on the north side of the light poles at the corner of East Hitt Street (Ill. 64) and North Wesley Avenue. They will depict the Old Sandstone Building (formerly Watt Publishing) on top with the words “Mt. Morris Welcomes You,” and the historic campus on the bottom half. More banners are in the works for poles further down Wesley. The top halves will
Never Forget Above, little Daniel Dietrich climbed up on his mother Erin’s lap to wait for the Memorial Day ceremony at the Memorial Fountain on Monday. Erin Dietrich and Jennifer Koertner, both U.S. Army veterans, took part in the ceremony. At right, retired U.S. Navy medic Doug Wean, a Vietnam War veteran, positions a wreath in honor of World War II veterans. Photos by Vinde Wells
In This Week’s Edition...
Church Bells, A5 Classifieds, B5-B10 College News, A4 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B3
Library News, A3 Marriage Licenses, A4 Public Voice, A7 Property Transfers, B4 Sheriff’s Arrests, B3
Social News, A4 Sports, A10, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B4 Weather, B3
remain the same, but the bottom halves will include information of what’s happening in the community in terms of arts, crafts, and events. Village president Dan Elsasser asked whether or not a depiction of the band shell would be more appropriate for the location. “I know we have a historic campus, and that’s one of our big draws to this town,” he said. “I’m just wondering if possibly something with the band shell would be appropriate, rather than give all the attention to the Watt building.” According to village trustee Jerry Stauffer, who previewed the banner to the Turn to A3
Deaths, B4 Charles H. Ehmen, Gladys L. Haring, Gene E. Medlar, June E. Rowland, Sherry Siefken
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