Public Voice

Polo Women’s Club and American Legion Polo Post 83 members were present when a wreath was placed on “Cross of the Unknown” at Fairmount Cemetery. Pictured, left to right, are: James Reynolds; Dan Ford, American Legion Past Post Commander; Pat Kuhn, Polo Women’s Club Vice President; Cynthia Reynolds; and Melanie Konecny, American Legion Senior Vice Commander.

Wreath placed for those who served

The GFWC Illinois Polo Women’s Club placed a remembrance wreath on the “Cross of the Unknown” on Sunday, Nov. 8. at Fairmount Cemetery north of Polo to honor those who gave their lives for our freedom.

Women’s Club and American Legion Polo Post 83 members were present.

PUBLIC VOICE

White Oak Cemetery

White Oak has about 55 veterans of the Civil War. The stone in the picture sits at the front of Chattanooga, Tennessee by Lookout Mountain, where the battle changed the outcome of the Civil War. You will notice the stone credits the 104th Infantry of Illinois.

The death toll was so severe that General Ulysses S. Grant immediately instituted the day of national thanksgiving and prayer with his announcement that the Confederate Army had been beaten.

Lookout Mountain is very high and straight up, where the position of the confederate army. The federal climbed almost straight up the mountain for battle.

The cost of death was so severe that General Bragg was relieved of his duty. Look at the cost of our democracy and to protect our way of living.

What about Iwo Jima. The first flag raising atop Mount Suribachi was Feb. 23, 1945. The U.S. Forces were supposed to take the island and overrun it in three days. But it took 31 days of pure death and destruction.

Just think of what some veterans went through to protect our country.

I don’t even want to talk about Korea. Can you believe 25 below zero and a horrible wind blowing at you called a blow torch of death? Did you ever think that there is a reason why some veterans won’t even talk about their horrible duty? Remember the veterans and don’t forget our wonderful United States and make sure you fly the American Flag!

The improvement committee at White Oak is Russ Ruter, Lloyd Wubbena and Rick Stuckenburg.

We will have the 11 flags flying, which represents the 11 wars the United States declared on,other wars are declared police action.

Be proud to be an American because freedom did not come cheap!

SPECIAL PROGRAM District holds Veteran’s Day live stream program

BY JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com

Area veterans were not able to attend schools this year for Veteran’s Day as usual, but Oregon School District music teacher Miles Beske worked hard to make it feel like any other year for them.

Oregon Elementary School and David L. Rahn Middle School broadcasted a live stream performance on YouTube on Nov. 11.

“Just to watch a veteran tear up at the music and poems, it just won’t be the same,” Beske said. “I wanted to still offer them something . We’ve done this for 30 years. Usually there’s someone local that gives a speech and each one talks about their experience. It’s phenomenal for kids.”

From 9:45 a.m. until 10:10 a.m. on Wednesday, the bands were scheduled to perform the star spangled banner, a Pearl Harbor hymn and the different armed services marches. Taps was also played at the end of the show. Students spoke about each song performed.

Beske was unsure how many students he would have for the performance due to COVID-19. This week, he was missing nine kids from his brass section. He usually has 60-65 students. Students will have an entire day with Veteran’s Day themes that will end with the live stream performance.

DONATIONS SOUGHT

Oregon VFW post 8739 will be assembling and delivering food baskets for Christmas to families and individuals who are in need in the Oregon area.

“This has been a tough year for everyone with the COVID-19 which has led to lost jobs and sick families,” said VFW Commander Bob Coulter. “We are asking those who donate to this purpose to please be generous this year.”

Coulter said the Post normally provides at least 120 baskets.

“We feel the number will be much larger this year,” he said. “We want to send a heartfelt thanks

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

Miles Beske directed the fifth grade band in front of a packed house at the Blackhawk Center during the 2018 Band Extravaganza. Beske organized a virtual Veteran’s Day performance for Nov. 11.

The Veteran’s Day performance can be found at https://fb.me/e/3fHiusZ4g

Beske said his music students have missed out on quite a few performances so far this fall due to COVID-19 cancellations.

“Missing AOP was huge,” Beske said. “We did our own version of that at the stadium. There weren’t high school halftimes this fall. The Christmas concert can’t happen because it’s indoors. It may be vir-

Oregon VFW seeks donations for Christmas baskets drive

tual or live streamed.” to those who donate. It truly makes people happy.”

Families or individuals in need must call the VFW Post (815-7326851) between 3 and 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Each individual or family representative must call for themselves. An adult must be home on Dec. 19 to receive the basket. Deliveries will start around 8:30 a.m. and should conclude by noon.

The VFW will start taking phone calls on Nov. 16, The VFW Post is also seeking volunteers to help deliver the baskets. Call 815-7326851 to volunteer.

COVID-19 UPDATES Ogle County cases up to 1,930 as of Nov. 10

389 new cases in a week; Whiteside also sees major increase

BY JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@shawmedia.com

The Ogle County Health Department reported 40 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, Nov. 10, for a new total of 1,930.

One hundred and forty eight cases were reported Saturday through Monday. 389 new cases have come in the past week. Ages and locations of the individuals that test positive are not being released to protect their privacy.

Recoveries of documented cases stand at 1,407, with 107 new ones reported Tuesday.

The county’s ninth death was reported on Tuesday, a male in his 80s. Its eighth came on Oct. 29. The county’s seventh death came on Oct. 16.

The Illinois Department of Public Health site said Tuesday that there are 757 cases in the 61068 zip code that includes Rochelle, Creston and White Rock.

Stillman Valley’s zip code had 88 cases according to the IDPH site with Byron at 384 cases and Davis Junction with 108 cases.

Other zip code totals were: Oregon 161; Mt. Morris 85 cases; Polo 95; Leaf River 45; and Forreston 75.

The Whiteside County Health Department on Tuesday announced 102 new cases following Monday’s new total of 79 new cases which included 13 people under the age of 20, nine in their 20s, 12 in their 30s, 11 in their 40s, 15 in their 50s, seven in their 60s, two in their 70s and 10 over the age of 80.

Whiteside County also had 46 recoveries.

For the week ending Nov. 8, there were 520 cases in Whiteside County, up from 431 the previous week,

with most age groups showing slight increases. The 70-79 age group saw a decrease from 40 new cases to 35, while the 80+ age group stayed steady at 27 new cases.

Lee County had 35 new cases from Sunday which it reported on Monday, of which 13 came from an outbreak at Dixon Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center. In addition, Lee County reported 67 new cases and 27 recoveries on Monday. Ogle County announced 148 new cases for Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Whiteside County has had 2,498 cases and 49 deaths. Lee County has had 1,165 cases, 701 recoveries and four deaths. Carroll County, which did not report updated statistics on Monday, has had 653 cases, 452 recoveries and 19 deaths.

The North region (Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside and Winnebago counties) has seen eight days of positivity increases and nine days of hospital admission increases. The region’s positivity rate increased from 16.8% to 17.6%. This remains the highest rate of any of the state’s 11 regions. Currently, 31% of medical/surgical beds are available and 39% of ICU beds.

The region’s counties that are reporting the highest positivity rates are Carroll (21.2%), Boone (21%), Whiteside (21.6%), Stephenson (19.1%), and Ogle (18.7%). DeKalb County’s positivity rate increased from 12.1% to 12.6%.

The seven-day rolling average for hospitalizations for COVID-like illness in Region 1 has tripled in 30 days, from 9 to 27.

To get back to the standard Phase 4 restrictions, the region will need to maintain an average positivity rate of less than or equal to 6.5% over a three-day period.

Illinois had 12,623 new cases and 79 deaths on Tuesday. The state has seen 511,183 cases and 10,289 deaths.

More COVID-19 coverage appears on pages 12-19.

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