Serving the Mt. Morris area since 1967
MT.Times MORRIS June 15, 2017 Volume 50, Number 35 - $1.00
T&C Days in Polo
Sale a Success!
At the Band Shell
A carnival is just part of the fun at Polo’s Town & Country Days this weekend. A9
The Breast Yard Sale raises $150,000 for cancer research. B4
Bluegrass Reunion is featured June 16, and Robert Taylor will solo June 21. A2
New festival to put spotlight on the riverfront
Musical talent on doorsteps By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecounty news.com Rock & roll, country, and blues were delivered right to residents’ homesteads June 10 in Mt. Morris for the firstever Porchfest. Spearheaded by Encore! Mt. Morris, Porchfest is set to be an annual music celebration held on the second Saturday in June. From 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., four to five bands at a time played on the porches of Mt. Morris homes, scattered around the neighborhood within the boundaries of Main Street, South Mulberry Avenue, Brayton Road, and South Ogle Avenue. With 19 bands and solo artists, the music was every bit as varied as the locations; country, blues, classic rock, jazz, blues rock, Gospel, and even Spanish folk could be heard. “It’s a big event, and
By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com
Home By Nine entertained the crowd with some traditional folk and country songs at the Pinecrest Community Gazebo. Photo by Zach Arbogast
we’ve got good-sized crowds everywhere I’ve seen - especially down on Mulberry,” said Encore! Mt. Morris Steering Committee chairman Jeff Bold, as Wade Buzzard played his mix of “feel good, country boy blues” on the Bolds’ porch on East Front Street. Bold was referring to the crowd of around 50 outside the Zabran home on South Mulberry Avenue, who showed up to see The Crunchy Frogs, a 2010 Rockford Area Music Industry award
winning classic rock band. “This whole event it really cool - and these guys are great,” said Oregon School Superintendent Tom Mahoney, referring to The Nealy Project playing at the corner of South Mulberry Avenue. The day was every bit as hot as the music, but luckily for listeners, vendors were scattered all over as well, offering food and drinks to beat the heat. The final porch bands wrapped up at 5 p.m., but
the music wasn’t over. Grass Attack played at the band shell on the downtown campus at 5:30 p.m. Porchfest originated in Ithaca, New York, in 2007. Gretchen Hildreth and Lesley Greene came up with the idea and gathered 20 bands to play on porches around the community. The event was so popular, it caught on all around the country. Including Mt. Morris, there are over 60 Porchfest events in North America.
Dog kennel gets another no vote By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecountynews.com A DeKalb County dog breeder’s request for a special use permit to expand her business into Ogle County hit another setback Tuesday. The Ogle County Planning & Zoning Committee voted 7-0 to recommend denial of a special use request from Christie Hardt, owner of B&C Kennel, Clare, and her husband Robert DeCosta. Hardt and DeCosta have requested the special use permit to operate a commercial dog kennel on property they own at 14189 E. Dutch Rd., northeast of Kings. The site is zoned for agricultural use, and the request asks for a special use permit to allow dog breeding, import and
This is sign is located in Oregon. Petitions against the kennel were presented to county officials during an April zoning hearing. Photo by Earleen Hinton
sale of puppies, dog grooming, and dog obedience training at the kennel. Planning & Zoning is the third committee to recommend denial to the Ogle County Board, which is expected
to vote on the matter on June 20. The Zoning Board of Appeals recommended denial by a 3-2 vote on April 27, and the Regional Planning Committee voted 4-1 for denial on March 23. Planning & Zoning Committee member Ron Colson said Tuesday that he sees inconsistency in the ZBA decision because they denied it on the basis that the requested special use would be incompatible with the zoned agricultural use in that area. “It would seem that standard was met,” he said. Committee chairman Dan Janes asked if other committee members shared Colson’s concern, but none did. All seven are also county board members. Turn to A10
A fun-filled festival aimed at showcasing the Oregon community and its unique features is set to make its debut this Saturday. The first-ever Rockin’ River Fest, slated for Saturday, June 17, will provide an opportunity to enjoy the riverfront landscape in downtown Oregon. “We are all very excited for the launch of this new event,” said Oregon Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Debbie Dickson. “A lot of people, organizations, and leadership have come together to spotlight Oregon, Illinois — who we are, what we have to offer, and what a great community we live in.” The event is co-produced by the Chamber and Oregon Together. Two festival stages will feature a variety of local and regional musical entertainers. The River’s Edge Stage sponsored by Ukulele Station America showcases local entertainers performing from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Performers include Rock River Center’s Boot Scootin Seniors; Ukulele Station’s Rock River Strummers; John Lindhorst with original guitar and ukulele music; “Bad Columbus” featuring Patrick Shea and Max Dragoo on guitars; Joshua Hendrickson, guitar and vocals; Mary Ley and Chris Kolling, Aireloom Studio with river songs; and Mary Ley , native American flute songs. The festival beverage garden Riverside Chill Zone Stage kicks off at 3 p.m. with
a dynamic performance by “Love & Thunder.” The popular Rockford band “Dirt Road Rebelz” takes the stage at 5:30 p.m. and “The Party Doctors” round out the evening with a variety of music from the 70s to present day country, rock and pop starting at 8 p.m. There’s plenty of activity for those who enjoy games and competitive events. The “Game Spot” will feature a variety of games and competitions for kids 1 – 100. The “Rock River Adventure Tri” will be a real test of strength and stamina as participants compete in a three-mile run, 10-mile bike ride, and five-mile canoe and kayak paddle. Four local teams of pullers will compete for the crown of Tug Champion in the “Tug Across the Rock” at 1 p.m. and the “Toss ‘Em Tourney” bags tournament competition begins at 4 p.m. Onsite registration is available for Toss ‘Em Tourney” participants. “Oregon Rocks the Arts” will feature gallery tours at the Oregon Public Library, home to the famous Lorado Taft Collection of artworks of the Eagle’s Nest Artists Colony. Art Casting of Illinois and Adagio Gallery (where the Michael Jordan Statue at the United Center and numerous other well-known sculptures have been created) will be open for viewings from 1 to 3 p.m. The Eagle’s Nest Artists Group Workshop at Conover Square featuring works Turn to A3
Judge denies motions for special prosecutor By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com The family of a woman killed in a boating crash was disappointed Tuesday when an Ogle County judge denied their motions to investigate Ogle County State’s Attorney Eric Morrow and replace him as prosecutor in the case. Judge John Redington denied motions filed by Rockford attorney Cynthia Koroll in behalf of the family of Megan Wells, who died on June 24, 2016 after a jon boat operated by Marc Mongan, 47, Oregon, went over the back of the pontoon boat she was riding in and struck her, throwing her overboard. 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. Redington ruled Tuesday that insufficient allegations were presented in the motions to warrant the appointment of a special prosecutor to either investigate Morrow or prosecute Mongan. “My problem with these allegations is that none of them points to an emotional tie that Mr. Morrow would have had to have [according to state statutes],” Redington said. “I find all of these allegations to be extremely tenuous and removed from the prosecution of Mr. Mongan.” Wells’ father David Swaziek, 63, Loves Park, was hoping for more. “Obviously, we’re disappointed, but the judge made his decision on the information he had,” he said after the hearing. “We’re looking forward to going
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to trial and having the truth prevail.” After Redington ruled against appointing a special prosecutor, Mongan’s attorney David Tess, Rochelle, withdrew a motion to dismiss the charges against his client and requested a jury trial. Redington set Aug. 21 for the trial to begin. He set that date after conferring with Tess and Koroll. “We were certainly hoping a special prosecutor would be appointed,” Swaziek said. “With Morrow still on the case we will be watching. It’s a year later and we’re missing Megan so bad. Why do we have to do through this?” “The people of Ogle County need to stand up too,” he said. “The story is not over. We will continue to fight for Megan and justice. We look forward to seeing a trial where all
Church Bells, A5 Classifieds, B7-B10 Entertainment, A6 Marriage Licenses, A4
Robin and David Swaziek speak to the media in front of the Ogle County Judicial Center following the hearing for Marc Mongan on Tuesday morning. Photo by Earleen Hinton
the evidence is presented. We need to really look at each piece of evidence. This was a homicide, a reckless homicide. He took a life. We have not seen any reaction
Oregon Police, B5 Public Voice, A7 Property Transfers, B4 RRC Events, A6
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B2 State’s Attorney, B6
from Mr. Mongan. We have never seen remorse.” Morrow said he was not surprised by Redington’s decision. “We had contended all
along that there wasn’t a conflict that required a special prosecutor,” he said. Swaziek and other family Turn to A3
Deaths, B5 Eva M. Cline, Helen R. Jones, Glenn G. Van Raden
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com