Mt_Morris_Times-03-08-2024

oglecountynews.com ShawLocal.com

Included in every subscription

Activate your digital access today. Visit: ShawLocal.com/digital-activation Call: 866-979-1053

OFFICE

113-115 Peoria Ave.

Dixon, IL 61021 815-732-6166, ext. 2592

SUBSCRIPTIONS

1 month – $4.33

13 weeks – $13

26 weeks – $26

52 weeks – $52

To subscribe, make a payment or discuss your delivery, call 815-732-6166, ext. 2518, from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday or send an email to subscriptions@oglecountynews.com. You also can subscribe online by going to oglecountynews.com and clicking on Subscribe.

CLASSIFIED SALES classified@shawlocal.com

HELP WANTED employment@shawlocal.com

LEGAL NOTICES sauklegals@shawlocal.com

OBITUARIES saukobits@shawlocal.com

Deadline for obituaries is 2 p.m. Tuesday for Friday’s edition

SEND NEWS news@oglecountynews.com

Publisher

Jennifer Heintzelman 815-632-2502 jheintzelman@shawmedia.com

General Manager

Earleen Hinton 815-632-2591 ehinton@shawmedia.com

News

Alexa Zoellner 815-632-2590 azoellner@shawmedia.com

Advertising Sales

Jennifer Heintzelman 815-632-2502 jheintzelman@shawmedia.com

The Tri-County Press, Ogle County News and oglecountynews.com are a division of Shaw Media. Ogle County Newspapers also prints the Mt. Morris Times, Forreston Journal and Oregon Republican Reporter.

The TRI-COUNTY PRESS (USPS No. 638-530) is published weekly by B.F. Shaw Printing Co., Shaw Media. Periodical postage paid at Polo, Illinois.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Shaw Media, P.O. Box 598, Sterling, IL 61081 All

Fire chief reminds residents to change batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

By ROB G. HOUGH IV Mt. Morris Fire Chief

This weekend we will turn our clocks forward one hour for daylight saving time. The Mt. Morris Fire Protection District would like to remind everyone to change the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors at the same time.

Having an operating smoke detector more than doubles a person’s chances of surviving a home fire. Changing batteries is a small investment to ensure your family will be alerted in the case of a fire or a carbon dioxide emergency.

Here are some tips for the care and maintenance of smoke and CO detectors:

LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS

OHS to present ‘Music Man’

OREGON – Oregon High School students will present the spring musical “Music Man” on March 8-10 in the OHS theater.

Performances will be at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

“Whether you’ve seen the movie 76 times or you’re unfamiliar with the show, come join Harold Hill to see if he can con the River City citizens into forming a band,” said Andy Eckardt, OHS band director.

Farm Toy and Craft Show

set for March 9

FORRESTON – FFA Alumni will present their 36th annual Farm Toy and Craft Show

MT. MORRIS LIBRARY

Story Time!

Story time is every Wednesday at 11:15 a.m. Bring your little ones. We will be reading books and the children will create a craft.

Dead People of Illinois by John Lynn, 2 p.m. March 10

John Lynn shares his exploration of hundreds of Illinois cemeteries to find interesting graves, headstones, intriguing lives and deaths. Warning: grave subject matter.

Kathy’s Crafty Connections, 2:30 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays

The library is giving crafters an opportunity to come to an open session for working

• Install smoke and CO alarms on every level of the home and outside all sleeping areas. For added safety, install smoke alarms in every room where people sleep.

• To increase safety, have a qualified electrician install hard-wired, interconnected smoke alarms so that when one sounds, they all sound.

• Install a new battery in all smoke and CO alarms at least twice a year. Install a new battery immediately if an alarm “chirps” to indicate a low battery.

• Replace smoke alarms that use extended-life, lithium batteries when the alarm “chirps” or fails to respond to periodic testing. Many of these batteries are good for 10 years but it is still a great time to check their operation. The bat -

teries in these units cannot be replaced.

• Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old. The mechanism that senses smoke and activates the alarm loses sensitivity over time.

• Replace all CO alarms when they are 7 years old. The manufacture date is listed on the bottom of the detectors.

Test alarms every month. Use the test button or an approved smoke substitute and clean the units according to manufacturer’s instructions. Do not use an open-flame device to test the alarm.

Special smoke alarms are made for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. These alarms use strobe lights. Vibrating devices also may help in some cases.

If you have questions, call the firehouse at 815-734-4322.

from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 9, at Forreston High School.

More than 40 farm toy and craft exhibitors will take part in the event. The show is a fundraiser for the Forreston FFA.

A silent auction will be offered from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Farm displays, raffle drawings and a lunch stand offering homemade desserts and Eickman’s meats are part of the day’s event. Raffle prizes will be a $250 and $100 Eickman’s meat processing gift certificate and a $50 Culver’s gift card.

General admission is $3. Children younger than 3 are free.

This year’s show tractors are a Minneapo -

on their craft. Winter is a great time to start a new project or work on an old one. Bring your project, meet other crafters, connect with old friends and make new friends. Any portable craft is welcome: hand sewing, needlepoint, crochet, knitting, felting, beading, painting or any craft you enjoy. Join us each Tuesday.

Ink with a Friend: Card Making at the Library, 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 14

It’s a great time to make homemade cards to send to family and friends. We will be offering a card-making class from local crafter Liz Gullett. You will get all the materials to make two beautiful cards to take home. Fees are by donation.

lis Moline G 1000 Vista 2WD with duals, 1:64 scale, die-cast construction and an Oliver 2255, 1:64 scale, die-cast construction. The price for each tractor is $35.

Mt. Morris Senior & Community Center news

Take a Virtual Trip to Brazil on Monday, March 11, and enjoy a tasty treat. All are welcome.

Adult Easter Egg Hunt: Join us for the annual Adult Easter Egg Hunt on March 23 at dusk on the Campus. Cost is $15 and includes a ticket for the door prize. Those older than 18 are welcome to play. Call 815-734-6335 or stop by Village Hall for tickets.

Lego Club, 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 21

Lego night is the third Thursday of each month. Bring a friend and build some fun with Lego bricks. Children younger than 8 need to bring a parent with them.

Adult Book Club Meeting – 3:30 p.m.

Monday, March 25

The March book is “The Book of Charlie” by David Von Drehle. Everyone is welcome to join this book club group. Copies of the book are available at the library.

Adult Programming

Do you have any program ideas? Email Mary Cheatwood at mmlib@mtmorris-il.org or call 815-734-4927.

HOW ARE WE DOING?

Sheriff, schools launch Handle With Care Program

Program aims to reduce impact of adverse childhood experiences on children exposed to trauma

By ALEXA ZOELLNER azoellner@shawmedia.com

OREGON – Handle with care.

With those three simple words, Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle hopes to make a positive difference in the lives of children that law enforcement knows recently experienced trauma.

The Handle With Care Program launched Feb. 28 in Ogle County and aims to ensure that children exposed to crime, violence or abuse get appropriate interventions so they can succeed in school to the best of their ability, VanVickle wrote in a Facebook post.

“When law enforcement comes into contact with kids, it may not be the kids

VanVickle

who are the problem,” he told Shaw Media. “If we’re at a house at 2 a.m. for the parents arguing, the kids are up. When they go to school, teachers won’t have any idea why this seventh grader can’t stay awake. Well, it’s because he was up all night because there were things going on at home.”

When county law enforcement encounters a child while responding to a call, they send a notice to the child’s school that there was an incident and the child might have academic or behavioral problems that day, VanVickle said.

“The notice includes no details about the incident and contains only the child’s name and three words: Handle with Care,” he wrote. “The school

receives the notice before the start of the school day so that staff is prepared to ‘handle the child with care’ and respond in a trauma-informed way.”

Ogle County school districts were “completely open to the idea and have really come on board and helped facilitate it,” VanVickle said.

Witnessing violence at home or in the community is one example of what are known as adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The adverse childhood experiences study conducted by the CDC and Kaiser Permanente categorizes ACEs into three groups: abuse, neglect and household challenges.

Abuse was divided into emotional, physical and sexual abuse, neglect into emotional and physical neglect and household challenges into mother treated violently, household substance abuse, household mental illness, parental separation or divorce and incarcer-

ated household member.

ACEs can have lasting emotional and physical effects and are linked to chronic health problems, mental illness and substance use problems in adolescence and adulthood, according to the CDC. They also can negatively impact education, job opportunities and earning potential.

“We want to stop the cycle,” VanVickle said. “Our hope is we can stop the cycle at an early age or help mend those issues at an early age so not as much work has to be put in at a later age because it becomes exponentially more difficult to fix the trauma the older the kids get.”

For now, the Handle With Care Program in Ogle County involves only the sheriff’s office, VanVickle said. They have provided other law enforcement agencies in the county with the information necessary to participate and expect more agencies to join in the near future.

Gaming revenue holding fairly steady in Sauk Valley’s biggest municipalities

By KATHLEEN A. SCHULTZ kschultz@shawmedia.com

The year-end numbers are in and they show video gaming has remained fairly steady in Lee, Ogle and Whiteside counties over the past two calendar years.

According to the terms of the Video Gaming Act, which took effect in September 2012, 29% of net terminal income – the money put into a machine minus the player’s payout – is distributed to the state and 5% to the local municipality.

Each establishment can have up to six video gaming terminals.

Most of the remaining 66% is divided equally between the terminal operator (which owns, leases and places the machines in the locations) and the locations themselves. The company Light & Wonder gets .8513% of that 66% as an administrative fee for maintaining the Central Communications System to which all machines connect.

According to year-end figures provided by the Illinois Gaming Board, in 2023, 48 terminals in nine establish -

ments in the unincorporated areas of Whiteside County resulted in $137,503, rounded up to the nearest dollar.

That’s $19,531 more than the $117,972 garnered the year before, which is odd, given there were more machines in 2022 – 54 terminals in 10 establishments.

For Sterling, which had 192 terminals in 33 establishments in 2023, the take was $448,598. Rock Falls, with 168 terminals in 30 establishments, netted $397,532.

In 2022, Sterling’s 183 terminals in 32 establishments brought the city $10,378 less at $438,220.

In Rock Falls, also with slightly fewer terminals (162 at 29 places), the city’s share was almost the same as 2022 –$367,930, or about $398 more than in 2023.

In Lee County, those numbers were $81,345 for the county last year, netted from 48 terminals in nine establishments. That’s an increase of $12,889 over 2022’s $68,456, when there were a dozen fewer machines – 36 in seven places.

Dixon’s 156 machines in 28 establishments brought the city $513,771 in 2023, while its 2022 take was $48,433 less with

four fewer machines over 27 establishments.

Ogle County took in $43,230 from 43 machines in nine establishments, up $8,720 over 2022, when it garnered $34,510 from 36 machines in seven establishments.

Oregon, which had 70 machines in 13 establishments last year, took in $183,057, slightly more – $1,163 – than the $181,894 the year before, even though there were more machines in 2022 – 76 at 14 places.

In most municipalities, the revenue makes up a small part of its overall budget.

In Sterling, for example, where the fiscal year runs from May 1 to April 30, that extra dab of income is added to the General Fund, which funds the majority of city operations (police, fire, public works, building department, clerk and finance), City Manager Scott Shumard said. The infusion represents only about 2.4% of the overall fund, Shumard said.

Statewide, video gambling revenue generated $762 million for the state the

last fiscal year, which ran from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, a record-breaking number.

It was up more than 52% from the previous fiscal year, according to a recently released report from the Illinois General Assembly’s Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability Office.

That’s due in part to changes in the law in recent years that increased the state’s share of video gambling revenue and allowed venues to add more machines – six rather than five.

At the end of June 2022, the state was generating video gambling revenue from 43,128 machines in 7,967 establishments. That amounts to 7.4% more terminals in 4.5% more establishments than the end of the previous fiscal year.

What about my town?

Wondering what kind of gaming revenue your community is generating? Go to www.igb.illinois.gov/VideoReports. aspx and click on Video Gaming on the left side of the page. Make sure to click on “municipality” next to “report type.”

Ogle County sheriff: 4-year-old Monroe Center child killed in dog attack

By ALEXA ZOELLNER azoellner@shawmedia.com and KATHLEEN A. SCHULTZ kschultz@shawmedia.com

OREGON – A 4-year-old rural Monroe Center boy died Feb. 29 in a Rockford hospital after being attacked by a

dog, the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Brian VanVickle reported March 1.

According to a post on the department’s website, 911 dispatchers received a call about 4:40 p.m. reporting the mauling. CPR was in progress, the caller said.

The child was taken to the hospital, where he died, according to the post.

The dog, a mixed breed, was in a kennel at the time and nothing criminal was involved.

The dog was euthanized March 1, VanVickle said in an email to Shaw Media.

Dr. Thomas Champley has been the Ogle County Animal Control administrator since 1996.

“This is the first time we’ve had a fatality,” he said March 1.

The investigation is ongoing, officials said. No further details were released.

Ogle County Sheriff Brian

Polo museum has books, mugs, cards for sale

I remember this time of year when we would be making lions and lambs in the classroom and discussing if the month came in like a lion or a lamb.

This past week, with the temperature starting out at 71 degrees and falling to 17 by nighttime on one particular day, it seemed as if Mother Nature was a bit mixed up.

It was lovely to work outside in the warm air in that 70-degree weather, but by the next morning we were back to reality. People were discussing the orange sky and severe storms and each day can be a bit unpredictable. The daffodils need to stay tucked away for a while. We are still in lion weather!

At the museum, the guys are working on the new lighting and I went over there a couple of times to spruce up the table that has a few gifty items.

Always remember we have books to sell, a few notecards and some mugs. The mugs have Aplington House and the Burns House on them. When those run out, the cupboards in the Aplington House basement have many more.

POLO HISTORY

Betty Obendorf

I remember the days when people would come in and ask where our Polo gift shop was located. So I put together a little corner with reasonable prices. Museums always have a gift shop somewhere.

I want to thank Deb Patterson for sending us the obituary of Del Tedrick of Rockford. We all remember him and his wife, Phyllis, at our sesquicentennial in 2007. He headed up our Civil War reenactment with Battery G out of Rockford. He was part of Civil War reenactments for more than 20 years.

As I read his obituary, I did not realize how active he was in Northern Illinois in many areas. We have many memories of the reenactment here at Polo. They camped out near the Polo Animal Hospital and we fed 90 people

in record time.

Recently, Kevin from our museum went to Oregon to visit the Ogle County Historical Society. He came back with a new book “Beautiful Dreamer” by Lynn Allyn Young. It is all about the life of Lorado Taft. It is an interesting book to read.

I always loved the Lorado Taft Field Campus next to Lowden State Park. Through Northern Illinois University, I spent two weeks living on the Taft Campus many years ago. It was an outdoor education program and I had a wonderful time that summer.

I loved hiking through the woods looking for red rock and ending up on the bank of Rock River. The red rock was a rock that was almost like chalk. You could write with it on a hard surface. The kids loved it. I remember taking my grandchildren there and hiking through the woods. It was a lovely trail.

The main classroom was most interesting, the food that was prepared was always great and I loved

the view across Rock River as we ate our meals. Sitting around the campfires in the evening was another pleasant memory.

The story of Lorado Taft is an interesting one. At one point in his life he said he was tired of making money off dead people. Important people were too busy to have a bust made of them while they were alive and suddenly they were dead. Taft was called in to make a death mask so he later could do a statue of them. He finally got to the point that he did not like that kind of work.

When Taft died, he only was worth about $10,000 since he gave most of his money to help younger people get started in life. People felt he should have let the younger ones struggle more, but Taft was a very giving person. We have the book at the Polo Historical Society.

• Betty Obendorf is a retired teacher and volunteer for the Polo Historical Society.

President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865

By OTTO DICK

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, was assassinated by well-known stage actor John Wilkes Booth while attending the play “Our American Cousin” on April 14, 1865, at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C.

Occurring near the end of the Civil War, Lincoln’s assassination was part of a larger conspiracy by Booth to revive the Confederate cause by eliminating the three most important officials of the U.S. government.

When it became known that the rebels would surrender, several northern states scheduled a day of thanksgiving to celebrate the end of the Civil War. Ohio Gov. John Brough issued a

When the president and his wife arrived late, the play was interrupted while the orchestra played “Hail to the Chief.” The crowd of 1,700 people in the theater rose and applauded.

The assassination occurred during the third act of the play about 10 p.m. Lincoln was carried across the street to a boarding house and tended for his injuries. He died the next morning.

ert E. Lee surrendered at the Appomattox Court House.

On April 26, at the end of a 12-day chase, Union troops surrounded the Virginia barn where Booth was hiding out and set fire to it, hoping to flush him out.

As the blaze increased, a sergeant shot Booth in the neck.

proclamation establishing Friday the 14th day of April as a day of thanksgiving.

Booth’s original plan was to kidnap the president and take him to Richmond, the Confederate capital. On March 20, 1865, the day of the planned kidnapping, Lincoln failed to appear at the spot where Booth and his six fellow conspirators lay in wait and foiled their planned abduction. Two weeks later, Richmond fell to Union forces. On April 9, Confederate General Rob-

Four of Booth’s conspirators were convicted for their part in the assassination and executed by hanging on July 7, 1865.

This information came from several articles at the Ogle County Historical Society.

• Otto Dick is a retired teacher and has researched Ogle County history for several years.

Otto Dick speaks to Oregon Lions about Lincoln’s visit to Oregon

SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK

contact@shawmedia.com

OREGON – Local historian Otto Dick spoke to the Oregon Lions during the club’s meeting Feb. 22 at the VFW in Oregon.

Dick gave a brief history of the life of Abraham Lincoln and his visit to Oregon, which preceded the presiden-

tial election in November 1856.

Lincoln had no formal education, but thanks to his stepmother encouraging him to read from an early age, he developed the skills that enabled him to become an esteemed statesman and the 16th president of the United States, serving two terms in that office, Dick told club members.

Dick identified the location where

Otto Dick

Lincoln spoke during a political rally Aug. 16, 1856. A stone commemorating the event sits on the private property in Oregon.

According to historical records,

Lincoln spoke with “logic, power and eloquence” and caught the attention of the large crowd attending the political rally.

“Oregon Lions have enjoyed several entertaining and informative programs given by Otto and appreciate the wealth of knowledge that he has shared over his years as our local historian,” Lion Jean Hoff said.

Photo provided by Otto Dick This drawing depicting the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln comes from one of the books at the Ogle County Historical Society in Oregon.

Oregon

mom accused of killing 7-year-old son to appear in court March 12

By EARLEEN HINTON ehinton@shawmedia.com

OREGON – An Oregon woman accused of killing her 7-year-old son in 2021 will appear in court March 12 after her defense attorneys asked an Ogle County judge Feb. 28 for another continuance.

Sarah Safranek, 36, is charged with five counts of first-degree murder and one count of aggravated battery in the February 2021 suffocation death of her 7-year-old son Nathaniel Burton.

Safranek appeared in court Feb. 28 with her attorneys, public defenders Michael O’Brien and Kathleen Isley, who asked that the status hearing be continued to 2 p.m. March 12.

Judge John Redington granted the continuance after Ogle County State’s Attorney Mike Rock said he did not object to the request.

Safranek has pleaded not guilty to all charges. She has been held in the Ogle County Correctional Center since her arrest in April 2021 and appeared in court in person wearing handcuffs and shackles in an orange jumpsuit issued to prisoners.

In some court appearances, Safranek has appeared remotely via video from the jail. She has had numerous court appearances in connection with the case.

On Nov. 3, 2022, Redington ruled

Safranek was fit to stand trial after reviewing a mental health evaluation requested by the defense.

Earlier in 2023, Redington denied O’Brien’s request to hire additional medical experts for Safranek despite O’Brien’s argument that Safranek has “a long history as to past mental health care” and that those health issues are “directly connected to her defense.”

Defense attorneys asked Redington to approve an additional expert to “review and evaluate mental health records” of Safranek, including her condition at the time of the alleged crime.

They argued that extensive mental health records were provided by the state and revealed a “substantial history of mental health issues, mental illness and related services.”

Redington only agreed to have Jayne Braden review Safranek’s history of “mental health issues.” Braden, a forensic and clinical psychologist in Sycamore, was the court-appointed expert who conducted Safranek’s first evaluation when she was charged.

Safranek has been held in the Ogle

County Correctional Center on $2 million bond since her arrest.

In October 2023, O’Brien filed a motion seeking Safranek’s release from jail under the SAFE-T Act because of her “inability” to post the required 10%, or $200,000, of the $2 million bond.

The court found Safranek to be indigent in 2021 after she filed affidavits regarding her finances.

The motion followed passage of the state’s SAFE-T Act, which was upheld by the Illinois Supreme Court and took effect Sept. 18, 2023. The law eliminates cash bail and requires that a defendant be released unless a judge rules the defendant is a likely flight risk or poses too much of a threat to one person or the community to allow release.

Safranek has claimed she has mental and physical issues that are not being treated properly at the jail, including daily headaches and frequent facial numbness; frequent muscle spasms in her arms and legs; excessive fatigue and weakness; frequent chest pains; frequent pain between her shoulder blades; worsening vision problems, including worsening blurred vision and floaters; worsening balance issues; and worsening numbness in one or more fingers.

In a previous motion asking for her pretrial release, her attorneys argued their client is not getting sufficient

medical attention while in custody.

Prosecutors have argued against Safranek’s release, saying she is a danger to the Ogle County community and has “a history of substance abuse and psychiatric issues,” among other things.

On Feb. 28, Redington again denied her release, saying the charges against Safranek are detainable offenses.

Nathaniel, a first grade student at Oregon Elementary School, was found unresponsive and not breathing about 2:30 a.m. Feb. 17, 2021, in his bed at home in the 400 block of South 10th Street. He was pronounced dead later that day at KSB Hospital in Dixon.

Court records indicate an autopsy showed the boy also had a ruptured liver.

Safranek was arrested April 21, 2021, and indicted May 4, 2021. She pleaded not guilty May 6, 2021.

According to records obtained by Shaw Local News Network in a Freedom of Information Act request, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services visited the Safranek/ Burton household about a dozen times over two years, following up on five reports of suspected abuse and neglect.

Each time, DCFS closed the case after finding no indications of parental wrongdoing.

Nathaniel was 4 when the allegations first surfaced.

Rochelle man sentenced for fracturing 3-month-old baby’s arm in 2022

Luis Vazquez Jr. sentenced to 60 days periodic imprisonment, 4 years of probation

By EARLEEN HINTON ehinton@shawmedia.com

OREGON – A Rochelle man was sentenced to four years of probation Feb. 26 for fracturing a 3-month-old’s arm, which he said happened as he was trying to change the child’s diaper.

Luis Vazquez Jr., 23, pleaded guilty in September 2023 to aggravated domestic battery and was sentenced Feb. 26 during a daylong hearing before Judge John Redington.

Vazquez expressed remorse for injuring the child in the 2022 incident.

“I am sorry for what I’ve done,” he said to Redington before closing arguments. “I take full responsibility. I am sorry to my family. I hope they forgive me and it will never happen again.”

Ogle County Assistant State’s Attorney Allison Huntley told Reding-

ton a prison sentence was warranted in the case because Vazquez waited two days to tell anyone what had happened.

“This isn’t someone who just made a mistake,” Huntley said. “This is a baby with a broken arm.”

Court records indicate the baby was diagnosed with a fractured arm after being taken to a hospital two days after the incident.

Huntley claimed Vazquez was angry with the child and used too much force when trying to change the baby’s diaper. She said he didn’t tell the baby’s mother because he didn’t want her to be angry with him.

“He hid it for 48 hours,” Huntley said. “He pleaded guilty and he is still trying to hide behind a diaper change.”

Eric Arnquist, Vazquez’s attorney, disagreed.

“No one is hiding behind a diaper change,” Arnquist said. “That is not what happened here. He did take responsibility when he pleaded guilty.”

Arnquist said the baby was fussy

and Vazquez admitted he used too much force when trying to change the diaper.

“Make no mistake, this should not have happened. but he is taking responsibility,” Arnquist said.

Arnquist also said the Department of Children and Family Services had intervened in the case. Supervised visits have been approved by DCFS and Vazquez has complied with counseling and all DCFS conditions, Arnquist said.

“He’s not saying what he did was right. He’s going to have to live with this the rest of his life,” said Arnquist, adding it was not Vazquez’s intention to break the baby’s arm.

Arnquist also said Vazquez had no criminal history and had complied with all conditions set by DCFS and the court in addition to making all court appearances and counseling sessions. He said a prison sentence would result in a loss of income for the family.

“This is different than someone who has been in trouble throughout

their life,” Arnquist said. “He has been complying with everything that has been asked of him.”

In issuing the sentence, Redington said he had reviewed the pre-sentence report on Vazquez and he believed it was “unlikely” he would commit another crime.

“This is a first-time father at 21 years old. It does not absolve him, but I don’t believe he knowingly caused harm,” Redington said. “I don’t think he did this idiotic act on purpose.”

Vazquez was sentenced to 60 days periodic imprisonment in the Ogle County Correctional Center. He received credit for two days served and was ordered to start his 58-day term on March 10.

“You can only leave for work,” Redington told Vazquez.

Vazquez also was ordered to comply with all conditions set by DCFS and the probation department.

As part of the sentence under state law, Vazquez must provide a DNA sample and is required to register as a “violent offender against youth.”

Sarah Safranek

Feb. 20

Spomenka Bela, 59, of Rockford, was cited at 7:08 a.m. for speeding 46 mph in a 30-mph zone in the 600 block of North Fourth Street.

Feb. 21

Dennis M. Demoss, 52, of Rockton, was cited at 6:46 a.m. for speeding 46 mph in a 30-mph zone in the 600 block of North Fourth Street.

Police responded to a two-vehicle crash in the McDonald’s parking lot, 211 S. Fourth St., at 3:04 p.m. involving a 2008 Honda driven by Heidi S. Zimmermann, 41, of Oregon, and a 2007 Jeep driven by Sirena R. Benton, 18, of Oregon. No citations were issued.

Police responded to a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of West Washington and South Fourth streets at 3:32 p.m. involving a 2017 Subaru driven by Barbara A. Murdoch, 56, of Polo, and a 2023 Honda driven by Catherine E. Snyder, 63, of Rochelle. No citations were issued.

OGLE COUNTY SHERIFF REPORTS

Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle reports the following activity:

Feb. 26

Mark Rowe, 38, of Polo, was arrested at the Ogle County Courthouse on an outstanding failure to appear warrant for manufacturing and delivering cannabis/30-500 grams at 9:30 a.m. Rowe couldn’t post the $4,628 bond and appeared in court where his bond was reduced to $525. Rowe posted bond, was released and given a court date of 9 a.m. March 25.

Corey Kelchner, 39, of Steward, turned himself in at the Ogle County jail and was arrested on an outstanding failure to appear warrant for possession of a firearm with a revoked FOID card at 10:45 a.m. He couldn’t post the $4,661 bond and appeared in court where his bond was reduced to $300. Kelchner posted bond, was released and given a court date of 9 a.m. March 25.

Martha Vargas, 30, of Aurora, was arrested at 10:50 a.m. at the Ogle County Courthouse on an outstanding failure to appear warrant with $2,676 bond and a second warrant with no bond, both for driving while under the influence of alcohol. She appeared in court, where bond was set at $500.

Thomas Minton, 41, of Freeport, was arrested at the Ogle County Courthouse on an outstanding warrant for driving while license suspended at 3:30 p.m. Minton couldn’t post the $15,000/10% bond.

Feb. 22

Rebecca A. Jorgensen, 30, of Rockford, was cited at 8:13 a.m. for speeding 43 mph in a 30-mph zone and operating a motor vehicle with suspended registration for no insurance. A passenger, Steven D. Jorgensen Jr., 35, of Rockford, was cited for improper container of cannabis as a passenger.

Reese E. Wamhoff, 52, of LaMoille, was cited at 1:30 p.m. for driving a vehicle with expired registration in the 100 block of North Fourth Street.

Feb. 23

Angelle C. Pottinger, 22, of Oregon, was cited at 1:29 p.m. for speeding 45 mph in a 30-mph zone in the 600 block of North Fourth Street.

Jered T. Vautsmeier, 20, of Pecatonica, was arrested at 1:49 p.m. in the 600 block of North Fourth Street on an outstanding contempt of court Carroll County warrant. Vautsmeier also was cited for operating a vehicle with expired registration, operat-

ing an uninsured motor vehicle and driving while license suspended. Vautsmeier was given a notice to appear for the citations and was taken to the Ogle County jail for the warrant.

Feb. 24

Hannah M. Flint, 25, of Chana, was cited at 9:49 a.m. in the 100 block of West Washington Street for operating a vehicle in violation of the tinted front side windows law.

James V. Beilfuss, 73, of Belvidere, was cited at 12:49 p.m. for disobeying a stop sign at the intersection of 10th and Webster streets.

Kelly S. Schaible, 27, of Oregon, was cited at 6:08 p.m. for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident after police responded to a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of West Washington and South Fourth streets. The crash involved Schaible’s 2002 Jeep and a 2015 Dodge driven by Joseph H. McConaghie, 47, of Oregon.

Feb. 25

Deanna S. Sandrock, 39, of Dixon, was cited at 7:54 a.m. for speeding 48 mph in a 30-mph zone in the 500 block of North Fourth Street.

Shane A. Friant, 44, of Oregon, was cited at 8:15 a.m. for speeding 56 mph in a 40-mph zone in the 200 block of East Washington Street.

Curt A. Ortamnn, 32, of Oregon, was cited at 1:35 p.m. for operating a vehicle without registration and operating an uninsured motor vehicle in the 700 block of North Fourth Street.

Andrew L. Stowell, 32, of Dixon, was arrested at 2:17 p.m. on two outstanding Ogle County warrants. Stowell was taken to the Ogle County jail and left in the custody of correctional officers.

Two parking citations and 21 verbal warnings were issued.

Charges are accusations and all people are presumed innocent unless proved guilty in a court of law.

Jose M. Martinez, 28, of Rockford, was arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol, driving while license revoked, aggravated driving while under the influence of alcohol and two courts of unlawful use of a weapon as a felon after deputies responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle in the 8000 block of North Kilbuck Road at 10:28 p.m. Martinez also was cited for improper lane use, failure to reduce speed and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Martinez was taken to the Ogle County jail and held pending a court appearance.

Feb. 27

Sean Callaway, 28, of Dixon, turned himself in at the Ogle County jail and was arrested on an outstanding Ogle County warrant for driving while license suspended at 8:45 a.m. He appeared in court at 1 p.m. Callaway was released and given a future court date of 9 a.m. April 28.

James G. Strenge, 56, of Rochelle, was arrested for domestic battery after deputies responded to a domestic issue in the 100 block of East Meadowland Drive in rural Rochelle at 3:13 p.m. Strenge was taken to the Ogle County jail and held pending a court appearance.

Deputies, the Rochelle Fire Department and EMS responded to a one-vehicle rollover crash with injuries in the area of Mulford and Bethel roads at 4:16 p.m.

Upon arrival, deputies found a black Ford Escape upside down in the east ditch with heavy damage and the driver,

Pamela Schneiderwind-Lopez, 59, of Rochelle, still in the vehicle. EMS extricated Schneiderwind-Lopez from the vehicle and took her to Javon Bea Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. An investigation showed Schneiderwind-Lopez was traveling north when she had a medical episode, traveled off the east side of the ditch and struck a culvert before overturning. Ogle-Lee Fire Protection District also assisted with the crash.

Feb. 28

Anna Allison, 31, of DeKalb, was arrested for contempt of court at the Ogle County Courthouse at 3:09 p.m.

Corey Stone, 28, of Oregon, was arrested for contempt of court at the Ogle County Courthouse at 3:30 p.m. Stone posted bond and was given a court date of 9 a.m. April 29.

James G. Strenge, 56, of Rochelle, was arrested for violation of bail bond conditions after deputies responded to the 100 block of East Meadowland Drive in Rochelle at 7 p.m. Strenge was taken to the Ogle County jail and held pending a court appearance.

Feb. 29

Jeremy Lopez, 29, of Elmwood Park, turned himself in at the Ogle County jail and was arrested on a failure to appear warrant at 1:15 p.m. Lopez posted bond.

March 1

Marco Hernandez-Mandujano, 30, of Rochelle, was arrested for driving while license suspended after a traffic stop in the 100 block of South Sixth Street in

Rochelle at 8:22 p.m. Hernandez-Mandujano also was cited for equipment violations and illegal transportation of alcohol. Hernandez-Mandujano was released on a notice to appear and given a future court date.

Ariel C. Williamsen, 32, of Sterling, was arrested for driving while license suspended and an active Lee County warrant for failure to appear after a traffic stop in the 100 block of North Grant Street in Byron at 9:06 p.m. Williamsen also was cited for no front registration and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Williamsen was taken to the Ogle County jail, released on a notice to appear and given a future court date.

March 2

Marcia Frey, 66, of Mt. Morris, was cited for improper U-turn after deputies and Polo Fire Protection District and EMS responded to a two-vehicle crash on Illinois Route 64 at Summer Hill Road in rural Polo at 10:20 a.m. An investigation showed Frey was driving a 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix and traveling directly in front of a 2021 Subaru Ascent when she performed a U-turn at the intersection of Route 64 and Summer Hill Road, causing a collision with the Subaru. Two occupants of the Subaru were taken by ambulance to FHN Memorial Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Both vehicles were towed because of disabling damage.

Defense attorney files motion seeking additional information as 2016 double-murder case continues

By EARLEEN HINTON ehinton@shawmedia.com

OREGON – The attorney for a Stillman Valley man charged with killing his ex-wife and their 3-year-old son in 2016 and then setting their home on fire is asking prosecutors to provide additional information regarding evidence that could be used at the trial.

Christopher DeRango, the attorney for Duane Meyer, 41, told Ogle County Judge John “Ben” Roe on Feb. 27 that he had filed an additional motion for discovery relating to cellphone data and any testimony related to it.

Meyer is charged with four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated arson and one count of concealment of a homicidal death in connection with the Oct. 19, 2016, Byron house fire in which Margaret “Maggie” (Rosko) Meyer, 31, was found dead.

Their son, 3-year-old Amos Meyer, also was home at the time of the fire and later died. Charges against Duane Meyer were filed in October 2019.

On Feb. 27, Ogle County State’s Attorney Mike Rock said his office would need at least three weeks to reply to DeRango’s request.

“We just received this. We need time to reply,” Rock said.

Roe set the next court date for 9 a.m. March 26.

At a hearing in December, DeRango said that because of the “cyberdata age” there were hundreds of “antiquated file formats” that the defense team was trying to review.

In the motion filed Feb. 27, DeRango asked for “disclosure of reports and

summaries, draft or final” and “any and all reports of any examinations or tests.” DeRango also is seeking a written summary of testimony he said prosecutors intend to use, as well as any report from FBI analyst Joseph Raschke, who is expected to testify during the trial.

“The summaries should describe the witnesses’ opinions, the bases and the reasons therefore,” according to the motion.

It also asks for additional information about “Call Detail Record” as it would have been provided to law enforcement from the carrier.

“Without this disclosure, defense counsel cannot adequately prepare his challenge to Raschke’s qualifications and opinion,” the motion reads. It also asks for Raschke’s “specific” training that qualifies him to interpret the data.

In a September 2022 hearing, Rock and Assistant State’s Attorney Matthew Leisten said Raschke was a member of the FBI’s cellular analyst support team and had “plotted the estimated locations” of Meyer’s cellphone on Oct. 18 and 19, 2016, using methods he has employed in hundreds of cases.

Such analytical evidence has been allowed in state and federal courts for well over a decade and Raschke has testified multiple times as an expert in cellsite analysis despite defense objections, Leisten told Roe at that hearing.

Leisten cited several cases involving

Raschke in which the reliability of cellsite analysis and Raschke’s qualifications to perform such an analysis were upheld.

It would be “preposterous” for a court in Ogle County to disallow evidence and expert testimony that’s been ruled admissible over and over again in state and federal courts, Leisten said.

In September 2023, DeRango petitioned prosecutors for any data obtained by electronic service providers, internet service providers, mobile phone carriers and digital investigation platforms.

After receiving that information, DeRango requested and received a continuance, telling Roe he needed more time for his expert to review the reports and data provided by prosecutors.

Leisten said the state has provided the defense with “major forensic copies,” including phone records and text messages.

In January 2023, DeRango entered 21 motions in limine and asked that they be sealed before debate in open court.

During a May 2023 hearing, DeRango asked Roe to exclude information gathered by the prosecution from being presented to a jury, arguing that some of it was “irrelevant” or would be “prejudicial” to his client.

The purpose of a motion in limine, Latin for “on the threshold,” is to determine whether certain evidence may be presented to the jury.

Motions in limine commonly are entered and argued before a trial begins, allowing evidentiary questions to be decided by the judge. The motions are made by attorneys when seeking to exclude certain evidence from being

presented to a jury.

Some of the motions pertain to crime scene photos, autopsy photos, internet searches, cellphone photos, text messages between Meyer and others, surveillance videos of vehicles and comments made to police officers during the investigation.

Prosecutors have argued that the evidence is relevant and, based on case law, should be allowed, adding that “the jury can weigh the evidence.”

DeRango said there were 6,000 pages of discovery and more than 1,000 text messages between Meyer and a friend before the deaths. He said the messages were made amid a “contentious divorce” and he argued that some of the messages were taken out of context and should not be allowed as evidence.

Prosecutors have disagreed, arguing that the messages showed it was a “planned homicide” and showed “what was going on in the defendant’s mind.”

Roe has yet to rule on all the motions in limine.

Maggie (Rosko) Meyer, a teacher at the Chana Education Center, filed for divorce in 2014. Court records show the divorce was finalized in September 2016.

The hearing was one of many since murder charges were filed in October 2019.

In November 2022, Roe ruled that Duane Meyer’s cellphone records would be allowed as evidence at the trial.

Meyer remains at the Ogle County Correctional Center on a $10 million bond. A trial date has yet to be set.

• Reporter Kathleen Schultz contributed to this story.

Man faces 5 counts of possessing images depicting sexual abuse of children

By EARLEEN HINTON ehinton@shawmedia.com

OREGON – A Rochelle man accused of possessing an image of a child younger than 13 being sexually abused appeared in Ogle County court Feb. 28 and was released from custody with a long list of court-ordered conditions.

Thomas W. Dettman, 44, is charged with five counts of possessing images of sexual abuse of children. Court records allege the offenses occurred on or about Feb. 27.

Dettman appeared in court with his attorney, Ogle County Public Defender Michael O’Brien, who asked Judge John Redington to release Dettman from the Ogle County Correctional

Center as his case proceeds through the court system.

O’Brien said the court could impose conditions on Dettman if he were released.

Assistant State’s Attorney Allison Huntley disagreed.

Thomas W. Dettman

“This is a detainable offense,” said Huntley, adding that 100 images of children had been discovered on Dettman’s cellphone.

Huntley said Dettman should remain in custody since he has a minor child, but the child’s mother spoke from

the courtroom gallery, telling Redington that the child lives with her in a different household in a different town.

Redington said he would release Dettman on a $1,000 recognizance bond only if he agreed to “a bunch of conditions.”

“You are to have no contact with any children under the age of 18, including your own,” Redington told Dettman. “You are to have no cellphone or any access to a tablet, computer or any social media accounts.”

He ordered Dettman to give the Ogle County probation department access to all his passwords for any accounts, including email, that he has for any electronic devices. Dettman also is barred from looking at sexually

explicit material or visiting any virtual reality sites.

Further, Redington banned Dettman from exploring the internet on any device or at any establishment.

“Do not possess any devices to access the internet,” Redington told Dettman.

He set Dettman’s next status hearing for 10 a.m. March 13.

Under the SAFE-T Act, which was upheld by the Illinois Supreme Court and took effect in September 2023, cash bail has been eliminated and requires that a defendant be released unless a judge rules the defendant is a likely flight risk or poses too much of a threat to one person or the community to allow release.

Duane Meyer

Oregon man hit with 23 counts related to illegal hunting

Lowell, Lowden Miller parks and Lost Lake were sites of some of the violations: police

By KATHLEEN A. SCHULTZ kschultz@shawmedia.com

An Oregon bowhunter is facing multiple charges of poaching whitetail deer in Lee and Ogle counties, including one case in which Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police accuse him of illegally taking six deer from Lowell Park, a Dixon city park and nature preserve that is off-limits to hunters.

Brandon Scott Miller, 30, was indicted Feb. 16 in Lee County court on a charge of unlawful use of game, which is punishable by two to five years in prison.

However, because of a previous felony burglary conviction in Ogle County within the past 10 years, Miller is eligible for an enhanced sentence of two to 10 years.

According to the indictment, Miller “knowingly possessed any animal part or parts, namely six whitetail deer, a species that is protected

under the Illinois Wildlife Code, having a value greater than $3,000.”

According to statute, the value is $1,000 per whitetail deer, plus $500 per point for antlered deer up to 10 points and $750 per point for 11 points or more.

In this case, Miller is accused of taking four does and two bucks, one with an eight-point rack and one with an 11-point rack, for a total value of $18,250.

If convicted, Miller will be required to pay that sum in mandatory restitution to the IDNR, plus court fines and fees.

The indictment also includes one count of unlawful use of game – multiple violations, which accuses Miller of knowingly violating the statue multiple times.

The animals were taken on six occasions, from Sept. 27 to Oct. 14, 2023, conservation police said.

The charge carries one to three years, but because of the burglary

conviction, Miller faces an enhanced sentence of one to six years if convicted.

Miller’s initial hearing is March 20.

According to the Conservation Police field report, Miller was interviewed on Oct. 17, 2023, by officer Randy Leannah about multiple deer takings between Sept. 27 and Oct. 4. Miller initially said he took five; Leannah learned of the sixth during the interview.

During the interview, Miller said he shot does on Sept. 27, Oct. 3, Oct. 4 and Oct. 8, the 11-point buck on Oct. 10 and the eight-point buck on Oct. 14, all with a crossbow.

The penalty is $1,000 for each doe, $5,000 for the eight-point buck and $9,250 for the 11-point buck.

Miller lied to Leannah about where he took the last three and also falsified his harvest reports by claiming it was on private land, but then provided Leannah with cellphone pictures of all six killings, the report said.

They were date and time-stamped and provided the geolocation where each photo was taken, which showed

all were taken in Lowell Park.

Asked if he knew hunting was illegal there, Miller said, “No, I didn’t read the sign,” adding he is dyslexic. He also admitted to climbing an 8-foot fence to get into the park and to knowing that hunting season didn’t begin until Oct. 1, “but I couldn’t wait,” he told Leannah.

Miller also failed to affix permit tags to at least four of the deer, according to the report, which includes photos of him holding the dead bucks by their racks and dressing a doe.

Ogle County charges

In addition to the two felony counts in Lee County, Miller is charged with three more felony counts and 18 misdemeanor counts in Ogle County, court records show.

Miller was charged Dec. 29, 2023, with two counts of unlawful use of game and faces the extended term of two to 10 years in prison, plus mandatory restitution, and another unlawful use of game – multiple violation, for which he also is eligible for the extended sentence of one to six years.

See ILLEGAL HUNTING, page 9

Brandon S. Miller

Mt. Morris man accused of attempted murder freed, to

By KATHLEEN A. SCHULTZ kschultz@shawmedia.com

OREGON – An 18-year-old Mount Morris man charged with attempted murder was released from jail Feb. 29 with a list of conditions that he must obey to remain free, including obtaining inpatient mental health treatment.

On Feb. 14, Malachi M. Voight hit a 62-year-old man in the head with a dumbbell and tried to strangle him, and he also bit off a piece of a toe of a 60-year-old woman, the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Feb. 28.

All three were treated at KSB Hospital in Dixon. Voight was arrested upon his release 14 days later on Feb. 27. His physical injuries, if any, were not specified.

A detention hearing was held two days later on Feb. 29. The state failed to

• ILLEGAL HUNTING

Continued from page 8

According to the charging documents, on Dec. 8 and 15, Miller had two whitetail deer heads each day and both times they were worth more than $3,000. On Dec. 4, he possessed a whitetail worth less than $3,000.

Miller has hired attorney Eric Morrow and has a pretrial hearing April 22 in that and the following misdemeanor cases:

Miller was cited Oct. 3, 2023, at Mix and Monroe streets in Oregon with unlawful taking of a whitetail and transporting an uncased bow and cited Dec. 14 with using the hunting license of another, unlawful taking or possessing deer and a deer hunting permit violation.

According to the Conservation Police citations, the last three violations happened Oct. 29 in Lowden Miller State Forest in Oregon.

Most recently, Miller was charged Jan. 22 with 11 misdemeanors – two counts of unlawful taking or possessing deer, two deer hunting permit violations, wasting usable meat, unlawful possession of animal parts, taking animals along a highway, unlawful transportation of a weapon (an uncased bow), harassing an animal with his vehicle lights, hunting within 300 yards of an inhabited dwelling and

persuade Judge John “Ben” Roe “by clear and convincing evidence” – as required by the Pretrial Fairness Act, also known as the SAFE-T Act –that the following three conditions existed in order for Voight to be held:

• That the proof is evident or the presumption is great that Voight committed a detainable offense under the act

• That he poses a real and present threat to the safety of any person(s) or to the community

• That no condition or combination of conditions can mitigate the real and present threat or the risk of Voight’s willful flight to avoid prosecution

hunting at night.

According to the citations, the 11 violations took place the morning of Dec. 17, 2023, at Lost Lake in Dixon.

Miller was charged in a separate case that same day with trespassing and littering from a vehicle. According to the citations, Miller was at Lost Nation park after the owner told him he could not be there and he threw beer cans out his vehicle window.

All of the violations in both counties took place while Miller was on probation in the Ogle County burglary case, court records show.

On Jan. 4, 11 and 13, 2022, Miller entered one building twice and then a trailer at the Lake LaDonna campground in Oregon, intending to steal something.

He was charged Jan. 31, 2022, with three counts of burglary, for which he could have gotten three to seven years on each of two charges and two to five on the third.

He pleaded guilty on July 15, 2022, to one count that was punishable by three to seven years and was sentenced to three years’ probation. The other two counts were dismissed according to a plea agreement.

On Feb. 16, in the wake of the Ogle County game charges, a probation violation report was filed with the court, which means Miller could be resentenced and imprisoned for the burglary.

Voight’s defense team at Tess, Krull & Arnquist, which is based in Rochelle, released a statement March 1 noting: “We believe the court properly considered all relevant factors, including Malachi’s age, the wishes of the alleged victims to have Malachi released and Malachi’s desire to further participate in mental health services, which were ordered by the court.”

According to the terms of his release, Voight, formerly of Rockford, must stay at a home in Machesney Park when not in treatment, wear a GPS monitoring bracelet, attend school, check in daily with the Ogle County probation department and comply with any recommendations from its staff and not break any laws or consume any alcohol or nonprescription drugs.

Voight, who turned 18 four months ago, also is charged with two counts of

aggravated battery of a person older than 60 and two counts of aggravated battery. He was scheduled to have a preliminary hearing March 7.

According to the sheriff’s office post, deputies responding to an altercation at the Mount Morris Estates Trailer Park at 3:40 a.m. found Voight and the two people fighting. The two people suffered serious injuries, it said.

Attempted murder is punishable by six to 30 years in prison and each of the battery charges carries three- to seven-year sentences. If convicted of any of the charges, Voight must serve 85% of his sentence before being eligible for parole.

When reached by phone at 12:30 p.m. Feb. 28, the person who police said was hit by the dumbbell said he was at home and recovering and that Voight “is a good kid” with mental health issues who was having an episode.

Malachi M. Voight

John Finfrock - board member

Zach Oltmanns - board member

Tom Smith - board member

Austin Gillis - board member

Jackie Ramsey - board member

Ryan Reeverts - board member

John “Skip” Kenney - board member

Stanley Asp - board member

Dan Miller - board member

David Williams - board member

Rick Fritz - board member

Dean Fox - board member

Sheriff Brian & Marla VanVickle

Treasurer Tiffany O’Brien

State’s Attorney Mike & Margaret Rock

Mayor John & Dina Bearrows

Winnebago Sheriff Gary Caruana

Former Congressman Don Manzullo

Illinois Senator Andrew Chesney

Illinois State Representative John Cabello

2024 CANDIDATE FOR OGLE COUNTY CORONER

Vote Tuesday, March 19th for the QUALIFIED and ENDORSED candidate!

Chad is an experienced Ogle County Deputy Coroner working since 2018.

Andre & Marguerite Brass

Becky & Kim Huntley

Tricia & Ralph Herrera

Kaleb & Jubilee Kennay

Mike & Tricia Mallon

Scott Jaeger

Lynn & Ed VanVickle

John & Melinda Russell

Kip Norup

Tim & Jami Bruns

Eric & Courtney Arnquist

Geri & Tim Hayden

Cheri Grennan

Smith Jackson

Eric Morrow

Julie Mann

Larry & Joyce Groenhagen

Pete & Josie Alfano

Jack Kerns

Ryan Gibbs

Paul & Kaycee Chadwick

Jeff & Michele Glen

Phil Nye

Karla & Rod Brown

Rae Boyer & Jeff Boyer

Bob & Jan Aubry

Chris Willis

Ray & Barb Reineck

Kathy Marchesi

Ed & Jan Kissick

Emily & Nic Anaya

Russ Crull

Brent & Jackie Ohlinger

Brent Baker

Kara & Zach Prewett

Amy & Casey Kilduff

Diane & Chuck Davidson

Daniel & Allison Huntley

Pauline Brass

Nathaniel Brass

Yvonne Brass

Joe & Donna Drought

Karen & Spencer Hayden

Dave & Jean Tess

Mike Schabacker

Mark Gale

Dana Cox

Sam Thomas

Judy & Wayne Williams

Chad graduated with the Dr. I.M. Feinberg Memorial Award for Excellence in the Study of Pathology and Mu Sigma Alpha Award for Academic Performance from Worsham College in 1995.

Chris Millard

Adam & Brittany Frisbie

Mike &

Kelsey Kersten

Cathy & Marlin Cluts

Dorothy Vargen

Naomi Baldwin

Kathy Hollonbeck

Tom & Julie Huddleston

Sandy Eyster

Doris & Rick Kennay

Sheriff Greg Beitel (ret)

Sandy Beitel

Brad Auker

Ryan Considine

Vito Lozzo

Jamie & Leslie Messer

Andrew & Audrey Wilt

Jeremy

Don

Brandon

“Everyone matters to Chad and that is what makes him stand out.”

Bob Thompson, Thompson Law, PC

Kate

John

Tina

Angie Agnos

Kelsey &

Kristen

Courtney

Kelly

Joel

Jim

Gary Nefstead

Bob & Nota Lichty

John Dickson

Lee Hadick

DeWane Adams

Pat Casey

MT. MORRIS POLICE

Feb. 12

Wanda L. Chest, 57, of Oregon, was arrested and cited for no valid driver’s license at 6:20 p.m. after a traffic stop in the 3000 block of West Illinois Route 64 for a traffic violation. Chest was transported to the Ogle County jail where she was released with a notice to appear.

A 16-year-old of Polo was issued a citation at 8:55 p.m. for expired registration after a traffic stop in the 300 block of West Hitt Street. The juvenile was released on scene.

Feb. 17

Richard L. Gallagher, 40, of Oregon, was issued citations at 9:30 p.m. for no valid registration and operating an uninsured vehicle after a traffic stop in the 200 block of South Wesley Avenue for a traffic violation. Gallagher was released on scene.

Jonathan E. Blackburn, 23, of Polo, was issued a citation at 10:30 p.m. for expired registration after a traffic stop in the 300

• SHERIFF REPORTS

Continued from page 6

Lukus Hicks, 27, of Lanark, was cited for improper passing and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident after deputies and Polo Fire Protection District and EMS responded to a single-vehicle motorcycle crash on U.S. Highway 52 near the intersection of Goose Hollow Road at 4 p.m. Hicks was taken by Polo EMS to KSB Hospital in Dixon.

Rosalind Kastner, 48, of Sycamore, was arrested for an active DeKalb County warrant after a traffic stop near the intersection of Illinois Route 251 and

block of East Illinois Route 64 for a traffic violation. Blackburn was released on scene.

Feb. 18

A 17-year-old juvenile was issued citations at 2:44 a.m. for driving while license suspended after a traffic stop in the 100 block of East Illinois Route 64 for a traffic violation. The juvenile was released to a parent/guardian.

Benjamin J. Taylor, 25, of Oregon, was issued citations at 11:45 a.m. for no valid registration and operating an uninsured vehicle after a traffic stop in the 200 block of East Hitt Street for a traffic violation. Taylor was released on scene.

Feb. 22

Terry V. West, 60, of Rockford, was issued a citation at 1:20 a.m. for operating a vehicle with suspended registration after a traffic stop in the 3000 block of West Illinois Route 64 for a traffic violation. West was released on scene.

Lindenwood Road at 9:48 p.m. Kastner was taken to the Ogle County jail and held on a no-bond warrant.

March 3

Kaylee Johnson, 22, of Oregon, was arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol after a traffic stop in the 200 block of South Fifth Street in Oregon at 1:22 a.m. She also was cited for improper lane use. Johnson was taken to the Ogle County jail, released on a notice to appear and given a future court date.

Charges are accusations and all people are presumed innocent unless proved guilty in a court of law.

OBITUARY

MARJORIE GENANDT

Born: January 12, 1932 in Oregon, Illinois

Died: February 28, 2024 in Polo, Illinois

Marjorie N. Genandt, 92, passed away, Wednesday February 28, 2024, at Polo Rehab and Health Care Center. Marjorie was born January 12, 1932 in Oregon, Illinois, the daughter of Clarence and Jessie (Martin) Book. She married Ralph R. Genandt on February 8, 1953, in Leaf River, Illinois. Mr. Genandt died April 24, 2007. She was a member of Adeline Zion Evangelical Church for 70 years, where she taught Sunday School. She worked with her husband at Ralph’s CITGO, Forreston. Marjorie also worked as a secretary at Ken’s Appliance.

Surviving is her son Regan (Susan) Genandt of Forreston; granddaughter, Jodi (Jeff) Toepfer of Rockford; grandson, Rob Plum of Valley,

Alabama; great grandson, Dr. Jake (Haley) Toepfer of Phoenix, Arizona, and Josh Toepfer of Rockford; sister, Mildred Samons of Orland, California; brother David (Linda) Book of Pecatonica; and sister-in-laws, Irene Dieken of Warren, Rhowena Genandt of Forreston, and Beverly Book of Pecatonica.

Marjorie was preceded in death by her husband, brothers, Albert (Helen) Book, Harold (Cheryel)Book, Glen (Nellie)Book, and Everett Book; sisters, Dorothy Butt, Helen (Glenn) Meyers, Doris Book, and Delores (John) Davis; also numerous nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

Marjorie’s family very much appreciated the exceptional care Margie received from Polo Rehab and Healthcare and Serenity Hospice. Funeral services will be 2:00 pm Monday March 4, 2024 at Burke Tubbs Funeral Home, FREEPORT. Rev. Larry Jameson will officiate. Visitation 1:00 pm until time of service. Burial will be in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. A memorial has been established in Mrs. Genandt’s memory.

Byron builds big lead, punches ticket to state finals

By TY REYNOLDS Special to Shaw Media

STERLING – On the biggest stage in program history, Byron came out ready to roll Monday night at the Class 2A Sterling Supersectional.

The Tigers earned their first-ever trip to the state finals, building a double-digit lead early and holding off every Chicago Latin surge for an 85-71 victory at Musgrove Fieldhouse.

“We just want to be violent and aggressive right out of the gate,” senior guard Ryan Tucker said. “Our key word the whole year is just be violent, set the tone. We wanted to stay steady, no matter how high we got, and that fast start got us going for sure.”

Byron (30-2) shot 73% (11-for-15) in the opening eight minutes to take a 28-15 lead after one quarter. And every time Latin cut into the lead, the Tigers had an answer.

For the game, Byron hit 61% from the floor (30-for-49), including 50% (8-for-16) from 3-point range, and also finished 74% (17-for-23) from the free-throw line. The Tigers were 8-for-10 from the line in the final 2:19 to ice the game.

“We came out knowing the reward and we came out on fire. We wanted to play our best. This game meant a lot and we really wanted to set the tone right away,” senior forward Jack Hiveley said. “We have a lot of leaders on our team and that’s what got us here. We kept our composure, played defense, did the little things and that’s what got us this win.”

The “little things” included forcing 14 turnovers on defense – including a pair of 10-second violations in the first half – and sharing the ball on offense. Four Tigers scored in double figures and they assisted on 22 of their 30 baskets.

“We came out fast, just threw the first punch. We shot well, we played as a team and we got out to that early lead, which helped a lot,” sophomore guard Cason Newton said. “We just played fast and we were aggressive. We got all over them and they weren’t ready for it.”

The transition game was a big key. Byron turned steals and long rebounds into runout layups. And using their length in an aggressive three-quartercourt press and half-court zone took Latin (22-11) out of what it wanted to do offensively.

“These are the games we really love to play, getting it out in transition and running up and down the floor,” senior guard Carson Buser said. “We definitely like to play fast, so it helps any time we can get out and run and we don’t have to get in an offensive set. And we can force a lot of turnovers, so that helps us a lot, too.”

Byron opened the game on a 17-6 run,

capped by a Tucker dunk off a steal and assist from Buser and a Hiveley threepoint play as he went coast-to-coast on a steal for another fast-break basket.

Latin battled back. Trailing 30-17 just two minutes into the second quarter, the Romans found some rhythm on offense thanks to the slashing ability of senior Ryan Mbouombouo. As he started getting to the basket and finishing with layups or pull-up jumpers, the Tigers’ lead started to shrink.

Mbouombouo sparked a 13-3 run to cut the deficit to 33-30 with 1:55 left in the first half, but Byron answered with 3-pointers from Newton and Tucker. Tucker’s came off a skip pass from Buser with 3.9 seconds left in the second quarter to push the lead back to 41-32 at the halftime.

“Our coaches got on us a little bit when they went on a run, so to just come back out and extend the lead was big for us,” Buser said. “Our coaches can help us regroup and I think we did that well tonight.”

Hiveley and Tucker both hit 3s to lessen the impact of Latin’s surge to start the second half, but the Romans got to within four twice and five two more times. Free throws by Newton, a transition basket by Tucker on a pretty pass from Hively, a 3 by Newton and Hiveley’s sprint down the court on a long rebound for a layup turned a 56-51 lead into a 65-51 margin with 6:40 left in the fourth.

The Romans never got closer than seven points the rest of the way.

“We trusted each other,” Tucker said about the key to answering Latin’s runs. “Every day we’re working hard together. We see each other in school, we’re best friends, so we’ve got trust in each other when we’re on the court. It’s just a tight-knit team.”

Tucker led the Tigers with 28 points to go with three rebounds, three assists and three steals. Hiveley stuffed the stat sheet with 21 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two steals. Newton hit four 3s and finished with 17 points, three assists and two blocks. Sophomore forward Caden Considine scored 13 points on 5-for-6 shooting and added three rebounds and two blocks. Buser scored only two points, but he had a strong floor game with nine assists, four rebounds and two steals.

“We’ve got a lot of team chemistry. We like to share the ball,” Considine said. “It might look like Ryan Tucker scores all our points, but he makes great passes to us all and gets us all involved and his shots just go in about 90% of the time, so we like when he shoots it. But we’ve got a lot of guys who can make plays for us.”

Earleen Hinton

Byron’s Cason Newton brings the ball up the court against Chicago Latin during the Class 2A Sterling Supersectional on March 4.

Pecatonica and Byron advanced to supersectionals

Congratulations to Byron and Pecatonica for decisive sectional wins. For both, it was a long time coming. Pec had never won a sectional. Byron (29-2) won one in 2007.

The Byron sectional loss that stands out most to me was in 2012 to Rockford Lutheran. The Tigers came into that game 28-0 and already had beaten Lutheran twice.

What I remember most is how demoralized coach Tom Schmidt was afterward. As reporters, we’re supposed to be impartial, but I also felt that pain.

Here’s why Lutheran won after losing the previous two contests: Its squad was composed of players who hadn’t been together as long as the homegrown Byron talent.

The Byron kids had played together for so many years that they came into the season in top form. Lutheran, although more athletic, was like a rough draft that needed to be refined.

By the time the sectional came around, Lutheran finally caught up to Byron and in all likelihood surpassed it in talent.

Unless you’re a primo basketball power, it’s a chore to burst through the gauntlet of the IHSA postseason.

A few of these elites seem to win

GUEST VIEW

Andy Colbert

sectionals with impunity. If I had to rank programs that not only can win a sectional, but win state titles, here are the tops I’ve seen:

No. 1 is Thornridge during the 1971 and 1972 seasons. Without a doubt, they are the best team ever to come out of Illinois.

The remaining few include Quincy 1981 and 1982, East St. Louis 1987 through 1989, Proviso East 1991 and 1992, Peoria Manual 1994 through 1997 and Chicago Simeon 2010 through 2013.

With the boys basketball state tournament back in Champaign this weekend, I have faint memories of Assembly Hall first hosting it in 1963. We lived a few miles away in St. Joseph at the time. Although Chief Illiniwek become a political hot potato and was retired several years ago, I recall my Mom talking about how much she enjoyed Chief Illiniwek strutting around the arena.

Of course, in the 1960s, you had a team named the Pekin Chinks winning

state titles. Yes, that name has been changed, too. Probably the strangest mascot state title game was in 1964 between Pekin and the Appleknockers of Cobden.

Getting back to the sectional final between two schools with the same nonoffensive name of Tigers, Byron came in as the favorite over Princeton and the law of averages came true in the second half.

Byron trailed 25-24 early in the third quarter before completely taking over. What was the difference?

Byron finally got its highly effective transition game going. When Byron runs, few teams can keep up with the Tigers. Not because of speed but because of how smart they run and pass.

There is an art to transition and Byron has it. Another aspect that gave Princeton trouble was the press. Sure, you can handle it for a half, but after awhile you get worn down.

In Pec’s 60-50 win over Eastland, it was a different story. Pec had control of the game, leading by as much as 19 points midway through the third quarter.

But the pressure of being in a highstakes game in a gymnasium packed to the rafters with 1,300 fans led to one

turnover after another. Suddenly, it was only a four-point lead and Eastland was in possession of the ball with four minutes left.

Plus, Eastland knew what it was like to win a sectional. Pec hadn’t won one. But the 22-7 run was all Eastland would muster. Pec regrouped for the win and a chance to avenge an earlier overtime loss to Aurora Christian in the supersectional.

Similar to the Eastland game, Pecatonica led by 21 points but fell apart and lost 68-66 in overtime to Aurora Christian in the Northern Illinois University Supersectional.

In the girls basketball state tournament, the best game was in 2A, where Peoria Notre Dame scored on a layup as time expired to beat Nashville 48-46. Watch out for Nashville in 2025. Its four best players were freshmen and sophomores.

The best team in the state might be 3A Lincoln. It crushed everyone it played, often winning games by 40 to 50 points. It would have been interesting to see them in 4A.

• Andy Colbert, an avid runner, has been a sports writer for Shaw Media and has covered high school sports in Ogle County for more than 31 years.

Byron turns up the heat, knocks out Princeton

By KEVIN HIERONYMUS khieronymus@shawmedia.com

MENDOTA – It was 24-23 at halftime of the Class 2A Mendota Sectional championship game March 1 when the Byron Tigers decided the game was theirs for the taking.

Byron turned up the defensive pressure and outscored the Princeton Tigers 14-4 in the third quarter to open up an 11-point lead and outscored Princeton by 15 in the second half to win 59-43.

“They definitely picked up the defensive end, scoring transition points. First half, we didn’t have too many turnovers, but second half the turnovers picked up and they feed off that defense,” Princeton junior Noah LaPorte said. “Our half-court defense wasn’t too bad. They really feed off that 1-2-2 press.”

LaPorte scored at the start of the third quarter for a 25-24 Princeton

Tigers advantage.

Then it was all Byron.

Byron scored eight straight points.

After a LaPorte basket, Byron scored six unanswered points to take a 38-27 lead at the end of third quarter.

Byron continued to roll in the fourth quarter with the first two points and a 10-4 start to go up 48-31. Ryan Tucker had three straight buckets to cap that run.

“Once we were able to limit them to one shot and get into transition, we got on a couple runs,” Byron coach Matt Huels said. “They’re big and strong, but I thought we had the speed advantage. We just couldn’t get the rebound in the first half to get those transition buckets.

“Once we made a run, I think our press started to wear on them.”

Tucker led all scorers with 26 points. Teammate Jack Hiveley had 16 points.

• BYRON

Continued from page 13

Mbouombouo had team highs of 25 points, nine rebounds, three assists and three steals to pace Latin. Nicholas Rotter added 14 points, three rebounds, two assists and three steals. Rogan McClendon finished with 11 points and four rebounds. Ryan McLaughlin chipped in six points, two assists and a steal.

The Romans were hot early on as well, shooting 67% (14-for-21) in the first half and 57% (20-for-35) through three quarters. They cooled off a bit in the fourth, finishing at 48% (27-for-56) from the field for the game and 76.5% (13-for17) from the free-throw line.

“We’re very resilient. That’s our motto: We never back down, we keep going no matter what. They did get a nice lead at the beginning, went on a nice run on us. We started by missing two free throws and they kind of jumped on us,” Latin coach Aubery DeNard said. “But we clawed back, got it within four or five a couple of times, but the ball didn’t fall our way tonight. We made history here at Latin this year. We’ve never won a sectional, so that’s big. Our hope was to win a supersectional and go on and play in the Final Four down in Champaign, but it

just didn’t happen. I’m so proud of these guys. All year, they gave me their all.

“It takes so much energy to come back and Byron’s a very well-coached team. Give them a lot of credit. They shot 60% from the field and they deserved it tonight. They worked their tails off. Two great teams going at it and they got the best of us. Kudos to them. They made their shots tonight and they live to fight another day and move onto the Final Four. Congratulations to them. It’s a blessing.”

Byron took on Benton in the second Class 2A state semifinal Thursday at State Farm Center in Champaign. Benton defeated Teutopolis 43-36 in the SIU Supersectional in Carbondale. The first state semifinal was Williamsville vs. Chicago Phillips.

In their first trip to the state finals, the Tigers will look to add a state title in basketball to the crown they won in football in November.

“It means everything. I mean, that’s history,” Tucker said. “To be able to lead a team to state, to be on a team that goes to state, it means everything. I’m really looking forward to it.”

“This feels amazing,” Hiveley said. “Knowing that you get to keep on playing and you get to have an experience that a lot of people don’t. We just get to keep playing more basketball. That’s the best part about it.”

Earleen Hinton

Byron’s Caden Considine shoots as Chicago Latin’s Ryan Mbouombouo defends during the Class 2A Sterling Supersectional on March 4. The Tigers beat the Romans 85-71 to advance to the state finals this week in Champaign.

Dixon artist’s Nachusa Grassland photography featured at exhibit in Oregon

SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com

OREGON – March brings a new lineup of artists on display at the Coliseum Museum of Art, Antiques & Americana in downtown Oregon with exhibits by Stephen Hart of Dixon and David Van Delinder of Cherry Valley.

Hart is the Feature Artist for March with his display of digital photography of local and regional scenes with an emphasis on the Nachusa Grasslands. Starting at the young age of 13, his hobby has been evolving

LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS

Award-winning quilter to speak at quilt guild meeting March 18

FORRESTON – Karen Grover, an award-winning quilter from Rockford, will present the program for Country Crossroads Quilt Guild at 7 p.m. Monday, March 18.

“Karen is known for her unique, original designs and her generous sharing of knowledge in creating these,” said Ruth Whitney, publicity chair. “Karen plans to share some of her favorite quilts along with some of her recent creations, which

from film to today’s modern cameras that offer so many features.

Van Delinder has his work on display in the Lowden Gallery through April 30. His fine art is rooted in traditional technique and classical composition. His pen-and-ink drawings of abandoned barns and jazz musicians, impressionistic florals, landscapes and classical oil portraits all display virtuosity and inspiration.

The work of these two artists as well as the many others on display throughout the Coliseum Museum will be highlighted with an artist

reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 15. Slainte will perform Celtic music for the evening’s entertainment.

The reception is sponsored by Merlin’s Greenhouse & Flowers and The Other Side Boutique in Oregon.

The CMAAA’s mission is to present art, antiques, Americana and history through permanent and rotating exhibits, workshops, music, theater and more.

More information can be found at www.cmaaa.org and the museum’s Facebook page.

include this year’s challenge, her ‘Temperature Quilt.’ We will get to learn some tips and tricks for creating this specific quilt. The program will be followed by refreshments, a business meeting and show and tell.”

Guild meetings are at 7 p.m. at the Forreston Grove Church, 7246 Freeport Road in Forreston, on the third Monday of each month (except December). There is ample time to meet and greet members before the meeting.

Visitors are welcome; there is a fee of $5

at the door. Membership dues are $20.

For more information, call Program Committee Chairs Shelly Holverson at 815-297-2381 or Karen Bolen at 815-2339836 or Guild President Chyree Rohde-Lincoln at 815-275-2759.

Women’s Club’s antiques show is March 23-24 in Oregon

OREGON – The Oregon Women’s Club’s 72nd annual Antique and Vintage Show will be Saturday and Sunday, March 23-24, at the Blackhawk Center, 1101 W.

Jefferson St.

The event includes more than 40 dealers from the Midwest.

Entry fee is $8 a person.

Hours for the show are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

The event offers free parking and homemade concessions. The event is handicap accessible.

Antique appraisals will be offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday for $5 an item.

Money raised goes to local charities and projects.

Photo provided by Stephen Hart Photography

A photo of a winter bison at the Nachusa Grasslands by Stephen Hart.

Recycle old electronic devices March 22

p.m. Thursday, March 21.

OREGON – The Ogle County Solid Waste Management Department is hosting a residential electronics recycling event from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, March 22, at 909 Pines Road in Oregon.

The event is for Ogle County residents only and a free permit is required in advance.

To obtain a free permit, call 815-7324020 or email solidwaste@oglecountyil. gov and provide your name, address, phone number and email address by 4

PROPERTY TRANSFERS

Feb. 23-29

Warranty deeds

Michelle B. and Travis J. Brown to Carlos J Villavicencio Iriarte, 310 W. North St., Creston, $$172,000.

Flagg Road Rochelle Properties LLC to Brent T. and Danielle M. Carmichael, one parcel in Flagg Township, $660,000.

Flagg Road Rochelle Properties LLC to Daniel and Natasha Carmichael, 74 parcels in Flagg Township, $290,000. Moises Lopez to Meghan Rush and

Accepted items include all TVs and computer monitors, computers, computer hardware and cables, laptops, tablets, cellphones, printers, FAX machines, scanners, shredders (no tubs), copiers, video gaming equipment, DVD/VCRs, cable/satellite boxes, stereo equipment, radios, digital clocks, cameras, calculators, phone systems, holiday light strands, extension cords, rechargeable batteries, printer ink cartridges, CD/DVDs and CFL bulbs. Microwave ovens are accepted for $5 a unit. Cash or check will be accepted.

Kevin Piotrowski, 914 West Avenue B, Rochelle, $174,000.

Diana Alexandra Singleton to Abel Vasquez, 211 Wisconsin Lane, Dixon, $5,000.

Jeremy and Viengnapha Jones to Eric D. and Kristin M. Pence, 825 N. Seven Hickory Road, Byron, $232,000.

Brett Hollewell to Robert P. Dault II, 215 S. Franklin Ave., Polo, $65,000.

Craig L. Hermes to Richard Haan Jr., 205 Main St., Leaf River, $43,500.

Jose and Maria A. Acosta to 709 First

There is a limit of seven large or bulky items per permit and one permit per county household per month.

Business or institutional electronic materials are not accepted at these events. Business or institutional electronics are accepted by the OCSWMD via a separate program. Call 815-7324020 for more information and pricing for business electronic recycling and to make an appointment for drop-off of the materials to be recycled.

For more information, call the OCSWMD at 815-732-4020 or visit www.oglecountyil.gov.

Street Land Trust, Jose and Maria A. Acosta, trustees, 709 S. First St., Oregon, $0.

Richard L. McCanse to Blue Crew LLC, one parcel in Oregon-Nashua Township, $75,000.

Catherine M. Heng to Carla Maria Phillips, 201 Jefferson St., Oregon, $155,000.

Haywell LLC Westwood to Jacob E. and Kimberly J. Pelling, 5623 S. Forester Drive, Rochelle, $204,000.

Quit claim deed

Thomas J. Hartnett III to Troy Scott, 406 W. Sixth Ave., Rochelle, $30,000. Trustees deed

Donald N. Sofolo Living Trust, Donald E. Sofolo, trustee, to Vanessa Rene Pontnack, 109 N. Hannah Ave., Mt. Morris, $95,000.

Sheriff’s deed

Ogle County sheriff and the late Udell A. Foss to Hub Shuttle Inc., 5946 E. Scott Drive, Stillman Valley, $164,376.

Source: Ogle County Recorder’s Office

COURT OF THE FIFTEENTH

CIRCUIT OGL E COUNTY, ILLINOIS

In the interest of: Xenya Conti, a minor

Case No: 21 JA 40 NOTICE BY PUBLICATION

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OGL E COUNTY, ILLINOIS

In the interest of: Xenya Conti, a minor

NOTICE

FALLS EFFICIENCY -Furni shedUtili ti es incl. $175/wk. 815-626-8790

Don't need it?

Sel l it!

Ogle County Classified 833-584-NEWS

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OGL E COUNTY, ILLINOIS

In the interest of:

Xenya Conti, a minor Case No: 21 JA 40

NOTICE BY PUBLICATION

Case No: 21 JA 40

NOTICE BY PUBLICATION

Associated Bank N.A.

PLAINTIFF

CLASSIFIED

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE 15TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OG LE COUNTY - OREGON, I LLINOIS

Vs. Kenneth Hopkins II; et. al. DEFENDANTS No. 2023FC39

To: All Whom It May Concern, respondent(s), and to all whom it may concern, take notice that on February 27, 2024, a petition was filed under the Juvenile Court Act by ASA Richard Russo, in the Circuit Court of Ogle County entitled “In the interest of Xenya Conti, a minor”, and that in courtroom 304 at 106 South Fifth, Oregon, Illinois on April 16th, 2024 at 10:45 a.m. or as soon thereafte r as this cause may be heard, an adjudicatory hearing will be held upon the Petition to have the child declared to be a ward of the court and for other relief under that act. The court has authority in this proceeding to take from you the custody and guardianship of the minor.

spondent(s), and to all whom it may concern, take notice that on February 27, 2024, a petition was filed under the Juvenile Court Act by ASA Richard Russo, in the Circuit Court of Ogle County entitled “In the interest of Xenya Conti, a minor”, and that in courtroom 304 at 106 South Fifth, Oregon, Illinois on April 16th, 2024 at 10:45 a.m. or as soon thereafte r as this cause may be heard, an adjudicatory hearing will be held upon the Petition to have the child declared to be a ward of the court and for other relief under that act. The court has authority in this proceeding to take from you the custody and guardianship of the minor.

The City Council of the City of Polo, Ogle County, Illinois will hold a public hearing on March 18, 2024, at 6:30 p.m The hearing will be held in the City Hall loca ted at 115 South Franklin Avenue, in Polo, Illinois. The purpos e of the hearing will be to receive public comments on the proposal to sell bonds in an amount not to exceed $1,250,000 for the purpose of (i) financing various capi tal improvements within the City including, but not limited to, the construction of a new city hall, and (ii) paying certain costs of issuance of the Bonds

STATE OF ILLINOIS

THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 15TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

NOTICE OF SHERIFF'S SALE OF REAL ESTATE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Forecl osure and Sale entered in the above cause on 11/17/2023, the Sheriff of Ogle County, Illinois will on April 5, 2024 at the hour of 10:00 AM at Ogle County Public Safety Compl ex, 202 S. 1st St. Oregon, IL 61061, or in a place otherwise designated at the time of sale, County of Ogle and State of Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described real estate: PIN 11-34-479-001

Improved with Residential COMMONLY KNOWN AS: 204 Main St Holcomb, IL 61043

To: All Whom It May Concern, respondent(s), and to all whom it may concern, take notice that on February 27, 2024, a petition was filed under the Juvenile Court Act by ASA Richard Russo, in the Circuit Court of Ogle County entitled “In the interest of Xenya Conti, a minor”, and that in courtroom 304 at 106 South Fifth, Oregon, Illinois on April 16th, 2024 at 10:45 a.m. or as soon thereafte r as this cause may be heard, an adjudicatory hearing will be held upon the Petition to have the child declared to be a ward of the court and for other relief under that act. The court has authority in this proceeding to take from you the custody and guardianship of the minor.

Sy dney Bartel t City Clerk March 8, 2024

COUNTY OF OGLE GERMAN AMERICAN STATE BANK, Plaintiff, vs. STEVEN O. BUSHEY, STATE OF ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, UNKNOWN OWNERS and NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS, Defendants.

Case No. 2024 FC 12

PUBLICATION NO TICE

To: All Whom It May Concern, respondent(s), and to all whom it may concern, take notice that on February 27, 2024, a petition was filed under the Juvenile Court Act by ASA Richard Russo, in the Circuit Court of Ogle County entitled “In the interest of Xenya Conti, a minor”, and that in courtroom 304 at 106 South Fifth, Oregon, Illinois on April 16th, 2024 at 10:45 a.m. or as soon thereafte r as this cause may be heard, an adjudicatory hearing will be held upon the Petition to have the child declared to be a ward of the court and for other relief under that act. The court has authority in this proceeding to take from you the custody and guardianship of the minor.

If the Petition requests the termination of your parental rights and the appointment of a guardian with power to consent to adoption, you may lose all parental rights to the child Unless you appear you will not be entitled to further written notices or publication notice s of the proceedings in this case, including the filing of an amended petition for a motion to terminate parenta l rights.

If the Petition requests the termination of your parental rights and the appointment of a guardian with power to consent to adoption, you may lose all parental rights to the child Unless you appear you will not be entitled to further written notices or publication notice s of the proceedings in this case, including the filing of an amended petition for a motion to terminate parenta l rights.

Sale terms: 10% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the auction; The balance, including the Judicial sale fee for Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calc ulated at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fracti on thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any r epresentati on as to qua lity or quantity of title and without recourse to Pla intiff and in "AS IS" condition The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Unless you appear at the heari ng and show cause against the petition, the allegations of the petition may stand admitted as against you and each of you, and an order for judgment entered Dated this 27th day of Feb ruary, 2024

As sumed Name Publication Notice Public Notice is hereby given that on February 21, 2024, a certificate was filed in the Ogle County Clerk's Office setting forth the names and postoffice address of all of the persons owning, conducting and transacting the business known as: OFF-GR ID GREENS loca ted at 704 Adams St Oregon, IL 61061 Dated February 21, 2024.

The requisite Affidavit for Publication having been filed, notice is hereby given you, UNKNOWN OWNERS and NONRECORD CLAIMANTS, Defendants in the above- entitled cause, that the above-entitled Mortgage Foreclosure action was fil ed on February 13, 2024, and is now pending.

1. The names of all Plaintiffs and the Cas e Number are identified above.

2. The Court in which this action was brought is identified above.

3. The name of the titleholder of record is: Steven O Bushey.

4. A legal description of the real estate sufficient to i dentify it with reasonable certainty is as follows:

Part of the Northwest Quarter (1/4) of the Northwest Quarte r (1/4) of Section 10, Township 24 North, Range 8, East of the Fourth Principal Meridian, desc ribed as follows: Commencing 2 rods South of the N orthwest Cor ner of said Quarter (1/4) Section; thence South on the Section line 8 rods; thence East 10 rods; thence North Parallel with the Section line 8 rods; thence West 10 rods to the Place of Beginning, situated in the Township of Lincoln, County of Ogle and State of Illinois PIN:07-10-100-001

Laura J. Cook

5. A common addr ess or description of the location of the real estate is as follows:

11947 W West Grove Road, Forreston, Illinois 61030

6.An identifi cation of the Mortgage sought to be foreclosed is as follows:

If the property is a condominium and the foreclosure takes place after 1/1/2007, purchasers other than the mortgagees will be required to pay any assessment and legal fees due under The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4).

If the property is located in a common interest community, pur chasers other than mortgagees will be required to pay any assessment and legal fees due under the Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no fur ther recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee or the Mortgagee 's attorney.

If the Petition requests the termination of your parental rights and the appointment of a guardian with power to consent to adoption, you may lose all parental rights to the child Unless you appear you will not be entitled to further written notices or publication notice s of the proceedings in this case, including the filing of an amended petition for a motion to terminate parenta l rights.

Unless you appear at the heari ng and show cause against the petition, the allegations of the petition may stand admitted as against you and each of you, and an order for judgment entered Dated this 27th day of Feb ruary, 2024

Kimberly A. Stahl Clerk of the Circuit Court

By: JD, Deputy Clerk March 8, 15, 22, 2024

NOTICE

Laura J. Cook Ogle County Clerk March 1, 8, 15, 2024

a. Name of Mortgagor:Steven O. Bushey

b. Name of Mortgagee:German American Sta te Bank

c. Date of Mortgage: July 29, 2016

d Date of Recording August 3, 2016

e County Where Recorded:Ogle County, Illinois

f. Rec ording Document Identification:

Document No. 201604173

Upon pay ment in ful l of the amount bid, the purchaser shall rece ive a Certificate of Sale, which will entitle the purchaser to a Deed to the real estate after Confirmation of the sale. The successful purchaser has the sole responsibility/expense of evicting any tenants or other individuals presently in possession of the subject premises.

The property will NOT be ope n for inspection and Plaintiff makes no represen tation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the Court fil e to verify all infor mation

I3238473

If the Petition requests the termination of your parental rights and the appointment of a guardian with power to consent to adoption, you may lose all parental rights to the child Unless you appear you will not be entitled to further written notices or publication notice s of the proceedings in this case, including the filing of an amended petition for a motion to terminate parenta l rights.

Kimberly A. Stahl Clerk of the Circuit Court By: JD, Deputy Clerk March 8, 15, 22, 2024

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.

For informati on: Examine the court file or contact Plaintiff's attor ney: Codilis & Associates, P.C., 15W030 North Frontag e Road, Suite 100, Burr Ridge, IL 60527, (630) 794-9876. Please refer to file number 14-23-04179.

February 23, 2024 March 1, 8, 2024

Unless you appear at the heari ng and show cause against the peti-

Unless you appear at the heari ng and show cause against the petition, the allegations of the petition may stand admitted as against you and each of you, and an order for judgment entered Dated this 27th day of Feb ruary, 2024

Kimberly A. Stahl Clerk of the Circuit Court

By: JD, Deputy Clerk

The City Council of the City of Polo, Ogle County, Illinois will hold a public hearing on March 18, 2024, at 6:30 p.m The hearing will be held in the City Hall loca ted at 115 South Franklin Avenue, in Polo, Illinois. The purpos e of the hearing will be to receive public comments on the proposal to sell bonds in an amount not to exceed $1,250,000 for the purpose of (i) financing various capi tal improvements within the City including, but not limited to, the construction of a

NOW THEREFORE, unless you, UNKNOWN OWNERS and NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS, Defendants, file your Answer to the Complaint for Foreclosure in this cause or otherwise make your appearance therein, in the offices of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Winnebago County, 400 West S tate Street, Rockford, Illinois 61101, on or before March 24, 2024 (which is the 30th day after the first publication of this notice), default may be entered against you at any time after that day and a Judgment for Foreclosure may be entered in accordance with the prayer of said Complaint.

RENO & ZAHM LLP

BY: /s/ Michael G. Schultz

Michael G. Schultz, Attorney for German American State Bank, Plaintiff RENO & ZAHM LLP

Michael G Schultz (#6297569) 2902 McFarland Road, Suite 400, Rockford, IL 61107 (815) 987-4050 mgs@renoza hm.com

February 23, March 1, 8, 2024

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE 15TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OG LE COUNTY - OREGON, I LLINOIS

Associated Bank N.A.

PLAINTIFF

Vs. Kenneth Hopkins II; et. al. DEFENDANTS

est. 1851

2024 FC 12 been filed, and NONe- entitled losure action nding. are idenidentified Steven O i dentify it t Quarte r ast of the Commencd Quarter 8 rods; he Section Beginning, Ogle and

of the 61030 oreclosed Sta te Bank 201604173

WNERS

No. 2023FC39

NOTICE OF SHERIFF'S SALE OF REAL ESTATE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Forecl osure and Sale entered in the above cause on 11/17/2023, the Sheriff of Ogle County, Illinois will on April 5, 2024 at the hour of 10:00 AM at Ogle County Public Safety Compl ex, 202 S. 1st St. Oregon, IL 61061, or in a place otherwise designated at the time of sale, County of Ogle and State of Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described real estate: A PART OF THE SOUTH EAST QUARTER OF SECTION 34 IN TOWNSHIP 42 NORTH, RANGE 1 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIP AL MERIDIAN, DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS:

est . 1851

BEGINNING AT A POINT 48 FEET SOUTH OF THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF BLOCK 7 OF SHEAFF'S ADDITION TO HOLCOMB, THENCE WEST 102 FEET, THENCE SOUTH 103 FEET, THENCE EAST 102 FEET, THENCE NORTH 103 FEET

TO THE PLACE OF BEGINNING; SITUATED IN OGLE COUNTY IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS

PIN 11-34-479-001

Improved with Residential COMMONLY KNOWN AS: 204 Main St Holcomb, IL 61043

Sale terms: 10% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the auction; The balance, including the Judicial sale fee for Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calc ulated at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fracti on thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any r epresentation as to qua lity or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in "AS IS" condition

The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

If the property is a condominium and the foreclosure takes place after 1/1/2007, purchasers other than the mortgagees will be required to pay any assessment and legal fees due under The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4).

If the property is located in a common interest community, pur chasers other than mortgagees will be required to pay any assessment and legal fees due under the Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no fur ther recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee or the Mortgagee's attorney.

Upon pay ment in ful l of the amount bid, the purchaser shall receive a Certificate of Sale, which will entitle the purchaser to a Deed to the real estate after Confirmation of the sale. The successful purchaser has the sole responsibility/expense of evicting any tenants or other individuals presently in possession of the subject premises.

The property will NOT be ope n for inspection and Plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the Court fil e to verify all infor mation

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.

For informati on: Examine the court file or contact Plaintiff's attor ney: Codilis & Associates, P.C., 15W030 North Frontag e Road, Suite 100, Burr Ridge, IL 60527, (630) 794-9876. Please refer to file number 14-23-04179.

I3238473 February 23, 2024 March 1, 8, 2024