Letter

from Mt_Morris_Times-06-17-2022

2 MT. MORRIS TIMES MT. MORRIS TIMES MO RRIS BE AT oglecountynews.com ShawLocal.com OFFICE 113-115 Peoria Ave. MT. Dixon, IL 61021

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Mt. Morris Times / ShawLocal.com • Friday, Jun 17, 2022 $39 in Ogle County, and $52 outside Ogle County. Singlecopy price is $1 To subscribe, make a payment or discuss your delivery, call 1-866-979-1053 Monday-Friday or send an e-mail to subscriptions@ oglecountynews.com. You also can subscribe online by going to oglecountynews.com and clicking on Subscribe. CLASSIFIED SALES 815-220-6942 apicco@shawmedia.com OBITUARIES 815-632-2534 phartman@shawmedia.com Deadline for obituaries is 2 p.m. Tuesday for Friday’s By ALEXA ZOELLNER azoellner@shawmedia.com M t . M o r ri s V i l l a g e B o a r d t r u s t e e s d e c l i n e d t h e O r e g o n S c h o o l D i s t r i c t Board’s offer to take ownership of the David L. Rahn Junior High School building. “We strongly recommend that the Oregon School Board reconsider pursuing any disposition of the DLR building for a period of two to three years,” Village President Phil Labash read from a prepared statement at the village board’s June 14 meeting. “This includes the potential transfer of DLR to the Village of Mt. Morris.” Oregon School District Superintendent edition Tom Mahoney went before the Mt. Morris Village Board on May 24 at the behest of school board members to ask if village officials were interested in the property. Discussion or consideration of the transfer was not on the agenda for that village board meeting, so trustees were unable to talk about, or take action on, the matter at that time.

On Tuesday, village trustees unanimously voted to decline the offer of ownership following a closed session. The closed

Mt. Morris trustees say no to owning DLR

Village board members urge session lasted less than 10 minutes. School board members on Feb. 22 voted Oregon School District to hold 4-2 to close DLR at the end of the 2021-22 school year, despite pleas from Mt. Morris onto building for two to three officials and residents to keep the school open. Seventh grade and eighth grade stuyears as ‘safety net’ dents will attend Oregon High School, which is 5 miles to the east in Oregon. DLR was the last remaining school in Mt. Morris. The Mt. Morris School District David L. Rahn Junior High School is located on merged with the Oregon School District in Brayton Road in Mt. Morris. 1994 because of financial reasons. Mahoney first proposed closing DLR in May 2021, citing decreasing enrollment throughout the district and increasing maintenance costs at DLR as reasons to do so. “We continue to believe this decision is wrong, shortsighted and not in the best interest of students, staff and district families,” Labash said. “Immediate disposition of the building through sale, transfer or demolition will eliminate a critical safety net, should serious issues arise as a result of this decision.”

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Police chief reminds residents of ordinances

To the Editor,

The Mt. Morris Police Department wishes to remind residents of a few ordinances which sometimes are overlooked.

Residents should keep their property in a condition as to not diminish the value of neighboring properties. This includes keeping your property free of trash, garbage, rubbish, building material, car parts or anything obnoxious or offensive in nature.

Vehicles parked on your property outside in public view must be in running condition, licensed, insured and moved on a weekly basis. Vehicles cannot park across a sidewalk or upon the village terrace. Vehicles parked upon a street in a legal parking zone should be parked with the flow of traffic with the right tire not less than 12 inches from the curb.

Vegetation and weeds should be maintained and grass should be kept to a length less than 8 inches. At no time should your law clippings be discharged onto the street.

All swimming and wading pools capable of holding over 24 inches of water must be approved by permit and be surrounded by gated fencing at least 4 feet, 6 inches in height.

Open burning is prohibited, other than an overseen recreational fire contained within a fire pit or ring no greater than 30 inches in diameter and extinguished by midnight.

Garbage, recycling and landscape waste receptacles shall not be placed curbside prior to 6 p.m. the night before garbage pick up days, and shall be removed from the curb by 6 p.m. on the day in which they were emptied.

The village strives to maintain a clean and wholesome community in which to raise our families. This starts with each resident doing their part to police their own property, as it reflects on the community as a whole.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media Lorna Snapp (center) celebrated her 90th birthday at the Mt. Morris Senior Center on June 8, one day before her official birth date. Seated with Lorna are her children Marilyn Myers and Sharon Saponari and standing, Linda Moore and Kelly Snapp. Lorna attributes her long life to staying active and exercising at the center three times a week. “Don’t stop doing stuff,” she said. “If you stop moving you are old.”

Alexa Zoellner/Shaw Media A group of friends pose for a photo at the Polo pool on May 28. Left to right are Zoe Menke, 13; Emma Dougherty, 14; Cassady Helfirch, 11; Piper Menke, 10; and Ryplee Custer, 13. The pool, located at Keator Park, opened on May 27 for the 2022 season.

Lois Nelson Memorial Walk and Fun Run Pound the Pavement is July 4

Join the community for the 20th anniversary of the Lois Nelson Memorial Walk and Fun Run on Monday, July 4, beginning at 9 a.m. at Dillehay Park in Mt. Morris.

This family focused walk and run commemorates Lois Nelson’s love of the Fourth of July holiday and honors her memory in raising funds for Northwest Illinois Special Olympics and the Let Freedom Ring Festival.

Pound the Pavement is a scenic walk/fun run that travels about 4 miles around the streets of Mt. Morris and follows the route that Lois walked every day in any kind of weather.

Registration for the event is $15 per person and includes the 20th anniversary T-shirt. Registrations and checks made out to the Lois Nelson Memorial Fund may be sent to Brittany Drozd at 408 Bruce Lane Mt. Morris, IL 61054 or emailed to bnelson85@gmail.com.

Registration must be received by June 22 to guarantee a T-shirt. Check-in for the event begins at 8 a.m. July 4.

The walk/fun run is open to all ages and those with strollers, bicycles or in wheelchairs are encouraged to participate.

No prizes or times will be given for the event but water and cookies will be served after the walk. Sponsorships are encouraged and may be sent to Brittany Drozd with the same registration address and deadline.

Kable Band Concerts continue on Wednesday nights in Mt. Morris

Kable Band Concerts will continue Wednesday nights until Aug. 3 in the Warren Reckmeyer Band Shell on the Campus in downtown Mt. Morris. The concerts are free.

The Kable Concert Band will be performing the second concert of its 126th season on June 22 at 7:30 p.m.

Bruce McKanna will be the vocal soloist. McKanna is a well-known Mt. Morris resident and has performed with the Kable Band many times.

“Bench seating is provided on the campus or bring your own lawn chair,” said Sylvia Saunders, band member. “And you won’t want to miss the ice cream socials at 7 p.m. Ice cream socials are served by local organizations.”

The July 4 patriotic concert will be behind the David L. Rahn Junior High School prior to the fireworks.

Swim for free at the Polo pool June 24

The Polo Park Board, in conjunction with Polo High School’s undefeated football teams of 1957 and 1958, are offering a free day of swimming on Sunday, June 24.

“This is a free day of swimming for everyone coming to the pool between the hours of 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.,” Polo Park Board President Larry Loomis said. “The event is being sponsored by Polo High School’s undefeated football teams of 1957 and 58. Spokesperson Craig McGuire announced earlier this year that members of the team wanted to provide for a free day of swimming for Polo citizens given in the name of Polo High’s undefeated seasons some 65 years ago.”

At the conclusion of the 1 to 5 p.m. swim event, a drawing will be held and the winner’s name drawn will be given a crisp $100 bill, courtesy of the 1957-58 football squads.

“The winner must be present to win the prize. Hope to see you June 24!” Loomis said.

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